After yesterday’s refreshing summer soup, I figured you’d want to know a bit more about the blender I used to make it: the Torrent™ Magnetic Drive Blender from KitchenAid®. A good blender means the difference between a velvety smooth puree and a soup where you’re left picking leftover watermelon pips out of your teeth. Because we all know seedless watermelons aren’t truly seedless, and those little white half-seeds would be maddening to remove by hand. Not surprisingly, this blender can pulverize those pesky pips without a second thought. A good blender liquefies all the ingredients thoroughly and evenly. I’m sure we’ve all made smoothies with sub-par blenders and you end up diving in with a spatula to release the stubbon frozen chunks before trying again. Not anymore, with this blender you can just push the smoothie button and leave it to do its business. I think my favorite feature of this blender is the variable speed option. I like to start things off slowly when I’m dealing with extra thick or chunky mixtures, gradually increasing the speed up to maximum; doing so allows the blades to catch and pulverize the chunky fruit and vegetables without getting stuck and spinning out into nothingness. While the low speed isn’t as low as my Vitamix, it’s still a huge step up from the instant take-offs that most blenders consider low speed. Other features to note: Dishwasher safe. Since there aren’t any complicated cogs or gears, the entire pitcher can be washed in the dishwasher. Or turn the blender into it’s own dishwasher by filling it part-way full with water and splash of dish soap and turning it to high speed. Instant clean. BPA free. The plastic pitcher is thick and durable and BPA free. You get the look of glass without the added weight. Pre-set programs. While I tend to prefer to manually control the speed and length of my blend cycles, the blender comes with an assortment of pre-set programs for everything from soups and sauces to frozen drinks to juice, which makes it super easy to just push a button and let it do its thing. Ingredient funnel. This nifty feature allows for the addition of ingredients during the blending process, complete with built in measuring cup. Since the magnetic drive takes a bit longer to start/stop than most blenders, this feature will definitely come in handy for making additions mid-way through the blend process. Granted, it is a heavy appliance, which is not ideal if you (like me) store your blender in a cabinet and pull it out every time you use it. However that solidity is one of its selling points too: you can tell this is a blender that will make perfect soups, smoothies, and milkshakes for years to come. Long story short: I won’t be getting rid of my Vitamix anytime soon, but this is the first blender than can even hold a candle to it in terms of features, power, and functionality. Not to mention the sleek retro design (finally, no deciding between form over function). Much like the iconic KitchenAid® mixer, it’s pretty and practical: a blender that you’d want displayed on your counter, not embarrassingly stashed away inside a cabinet. Want one of these amazing machines for your kitchen? Click through for your chance to win one in the color of your choice (a $599 value!)

One lucky winner will receive a KitchenAid® Torrent™ Magnetic Drive Blender (MSRP $599.99) in Sugar Pearl Silver (pictured above), Onyx Black, or Candy Apple Red.

Giveaway is now closed.

Thanks to everyone who entered! The fine print: This post is sponsored by KitchenAid®. As always, all opinions are our own. No purchase necessary. Giveaway open to US residents only. Void where prohibited. Winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise an alternate winner will be chosen. Bonus entry requirements will be verified if selected as the winner, otherwise an alternate winner will be chosen.