The Verdict
The KitchenAid K400 variable speed blender pairs a 3-part blending system with Intelli-Speed Motor Control to power through fibrous produce and dense ingredients without stalling. Finished in Blue Velvet and packaged with a dedicated tamper, it offers reliable precision for smoothies, icy drinks, and everyday kitchen prep.
Why We Love It (Key Features)
- 3-Part Blending System with Intelli-Speed Control: Combines a ribbed vortex jar, an asymmetric blade cutting at four distinct angles, and a motor that senses jar contents to maintain optimal speed through dense items like almonds and kale.
- Soft Start Technology: Starts the motor at a slower speed to draw foods downward into the blade before accelerating, helping keep your kitchen clean by preventing sudden lid splatters.
- 5-Speed Dial and 3 Preset Programs: Lets you dial in exact textures from smooth to chunky, or choose one-touch cycles for Ice Crush, Icy Drink, or Smoothie.
- Dedicated Self-Clean Cycle: Simplifies maintenance after blending by cleaning the jar with just a splash of water and a drop of dish soap.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Handles notoriously tough ingredients like whole almonds and kale | Accessories like the 6-oz and 16-oz expansion jars must be purchased separately |
| Comes with an included tamper to push stubborn contents into the vortex | A dedicated countertop appliance that requires allocated storage or prep space |
| Built-in Soft Start feature minimizes jar mess and lid splatter | |
| Includes three automated preset recipe programs alongside 5 manual speeds |
Who Should Buy This?
This appliance is well-suited for home cooks and smoothie enthusiasts who regularly prepare whole-food drinks, marinades, or crushed-ice beverages and need a dependable workhorse to handle tough ingredients like nuts and fibrous greens with consistent texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What comes included in the box with the KitchenAid K400 variable speed blender?
Model KSB4028 includes the blender base, one 56 oz BPA-free blender jar, a blender jar lid, and a tamper designed to guide stubborn ingredients into the vortex.
How does the self-clean cycle work on the KitchenAid K400 variable speed blender?
Clean-up is straightforward: add water and a single drop of liquid dish soap directly into the blender jar, then run the dedicated self-clean cycle.
Can I use smaller personal blending cups with this model?
Yes, the blender is compatible with a 6-oz Small Batch Jar Expansion Pack (KSB2040BBB) and a 16-oz Personal Blender Jar Expansion Pack (KSB2030PJB), though both accessories are sold separately.
5.0 out of 5 stars Decent Blender I researched blenders, watched a ton of videos and narrowed it down to the vitamix, ninja and ka k400. I ended up picking the KA k400 because it has a strong motor and comes with a tamper, is only 15 inches in height so it fits under my cabinet with no problem, standard countertop to cabinet distance is 18 inches. This blender also came in the same contour silver as my other KA countertop appliances. It is very easy to use just turn the knob to either a number or picture icon and hit the on button. The picture icons have predetermined times and will automatically stop after the determined time is complete. It can make ice into snow. it is loud but I just expect that from a blender. It is aesthetically pleasing alot of blenders are just ugly. So far I have only used this blender for smoothies. It does an excellent job of making a frozen fruit smoothie super smooth in a short amount of time, BUT I have to use the tamper to help move the fruit & ice around and monitor it to see if I need to add more liquid to get the ‘vortex’ mixing started. After watching lots of blender reviews, I knew I wanted a blender with a ‘tamper” like the vitamix brand offers. Not all brands of blenders of a tamper although they should. The tamper is invaluable to help move stuff around in the blender. The tamper does not touch the blades. All and all I am happy with my purchase.Variation: Color: Contour Silver
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing American made machine I’ve had this for a few months now and it’s amazing. Got an extra personal container and now I use it all the time. Just set it to smoothie with my personal container and I have a perfect drink in like a minute, ready to walk out the door. I’ve learned that some KitchenAid appliances are made in the USA and some are made in china, this being one of the American made products definitely makes it work the price. Especially as I’ve hear other brands known for blenders specifically have outsourced parts and gone down in quality, the most recent online blender review video I saw also places this second to a Breville blender that’s more than double the piece, personally I’d take pay less for designed and made in America, than designed in Australia and made in ChinaVariation: Color: Contour Silver
5.0 out of 5 stars Purees Leafy Greens with No Problem, Is Powerful! This blender is the best I’ve owned. It makes fabulous smoothies, and crushes ice with no problem. It’s very powerful. In my opinion it works just as good as a juicer. It has a heavy base which makes it sturdy, has a cleaning cycle, and I paid much less than the cost of higher brand models. It purees leafy greens with no problem.Variation: Color: Contour Silver
5.0 out of 5 stars Top-tier blender, highly recommend!This blender is worth every penny. The build quality is excellent, and it feels very sturdy. It blends everything effortlessly in seconds. It is very easy to use, easy to clean, and the performance is outstanding. If you are looking for a durable, high-performance blender, this is the one to get.Variation: Color: Contour Silver
5.0 out of 5 stars Great blender, nice design Great blender. Had a vitamix that died and had to be sent back for repairs after 6 months. Bought this one to make smoothies while our other one was repaired. This is a great blender, half the price of the vitamix and just all- around better design.Variation: Color: Contour Silver