KitchenAid KSB5010CA Torrent Review – Is This The Future Of Blenders?

Shop for any blender right now in the market and all of them use a drive system that physically connects the motor and the blade.

Cheaper brands use a plastic drive that wears out faster, while more expensive brands like the Vitamix, use a metal drive that will stand the test of time.

The main problem with this technology is that it can be prone to leaking depending on how good or bad the seal is.

KitchenAid may have solved that issue with their new magnetic drive system found in the new Torrent series blenders.

Related: Looking for a great blender deal? Check out this page to get the best blender deals in Amazon just in time for Christmas!

Instead of using a metal gear, a magnet is used to spin to blades thus eliminating need for any hole on the bottom of the jar for the drive.

This eliminates the risk of leaking in the long term. That’s all good in theory but let’s see how this performs in the real world from consumers who’ve actually used this.

A quick look at the features

• Uses magnetic drive technology in place of the plastic or metal drive connection other brands use
• Has up to 1.8 HP of blending power
• Rotary control has a pulse and 4 pre-programmed settings
• MagnaLock system locks the pitcher in place securely
• BPA free juice jug (60 ounce capacity)
• Has a food/ingredient funnel that allows you to add ingredients while the blender is on
• 7 year warranty

Pros

• Magnetic drive eliminates the need for a physical connection
• This means the pitcher doesn’t have a hole under it – it eliminates the risk of leaks in the long run
• Strong 1.8HP motor
• Pitcher fits securely
• Long warranty

Cons

• Freaking expensive (over $400)
• Long mechanism could be a weak link in the long run (so far reviews are positive)
• Rotary control has to be turned back to the off state if you want to do another blending cycle (more of a hassle in my opinion)

What to expect

Design wise the Torrent Magnetic does not look like any traditional blender. At first glance, it looks more like coffee maker if you ask me.

If you look at it closely this is by design to save vertical space and to allow users to add ingredients in the middle of a blending cycle.

At the base sits the magnet that powers the blades. This is what makes this machine unique. It uses magnetic forces to spin the blades that eliminate the need for physical gear contact.

The absence of a gear means no holes at the bottom of the pitcher. When there are no more holes, there is no risk of leaking.

Have a look at this short video from KitchenAid…

Another unique feature is the rotary control located on the upper part of the pitcher. It comes with a pulse function and four preset settings.

To use the pulse function you’ll have to turn the dial to the “P” setting then press the play button in the middle.

The preset settings are timed so there is no need to press the play button a second time.

You also adjust the speed settings of the blade with the pulse option if you want more control on the recipe you’re making…

What can this make?

This machine has a pretty strong motor capable of making smoothies, frozen desserts, soups or salsas.

Unlike the Vitamix, the KitchenAid Torrent won’t be able to make pizza dough.

Check out this video comparing the Torrent with the Blendtec making frozen fruit smoothies, crushing ice.

In the first test making smoothies both the KitchenAid and Blendtec did a pretty good job of blending frozen fruit and water.

The juice from the Torrent was a bit darker probably because there was less air introduced inside the liquid.

In the second test, the blades of the KitchenAid didn’t even spin because there wasn’t enough power coming from the magnets to spin it. Remember that when making shakes, you’ll always need to add water at least for this.

In the third test, KitchenAid was able to make a smoother textured nut butter thanks to the four blade system compared to the two from the Blendtec.

Is it easy to clean?

Like with most blenders, just fill up the pitcher with around 4 cups of water, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid then pulse it on high for 30 seconds then rinse well. That’s all it takes to clean it.

You also have the option to use the dishwasher to clean this just make sure to rinse off the food particles well before doing so.

Product Specifications

Model	KSB5010CA Torrent Magnetic Drive
Motor	1.8hp (peak power)
Jug capacity	60 ounces
Blade Type	4 blade system
Max RPM	N/A
Preset blending cycles	pulse (with a variable speed option) preset settings: - juices - soups/sauces - milkshakes - icy drinks/shakes
Tamper/Plunger
Crush ice?	* only with water
Smoothies
Juice
Warranty	7 years

Customer Reviews

So far this blender has gotten rave reviews to say the least! Nearly all of the people (those who actually purchased this product) said the magnetic drive technology is a great innovation that doesn’t need actual metal gears that wear out over time.

In terms of blending performance, it produced consistent smooth drinks like smoothies and shakes.

As you’ve seen in the video, it produced better nut butter consistency than the Blendtec because of the 4 blade design.

The preset settings also is handy as well as the ability to adjust the pulse speed. Some consumers think that a glass pitcher would be a better option though the plastic version feels substancial.

Consumers also loved the 7 year warranty which gave them some peace of mind. In my opinion with the enormous cost of this machine, KitchenAid ought to give them that 7 year warranty or this will not sell.

Some warned that this machine will take up a lot of space and may not for small homes.

Overall, consumers liked how this machine performed, especially the magnetic drive. Let’s see if it can keep up its great rankings.

Where can I buy this?

You can buy this blender in Amazon for less than $525 and it’ll be eligible to their free 2-day shipping if you join Prime. Extended warranties of up to 4 years is also available if you want that extra peace of mind.

To wrap up

This product is great for people who have deeper pockets and willing to try a new blending technology. As you’ve seen in the videos above, for making smoothies, nut butter or soup this machine will do its job very well.

The magnetic drive removes the need for the manufacturers to drill a hole underneath the pitcher that may leak in the long run depending how good the rubber sealant is but the downside is you cannot crush pure ice without water.

Hopefully in future models KitchenAid will be able to resolve this issue to really compete with the Vitamix 5200.