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Best Vitamix Blenders: Ratings & Reviews

A cult favorite among chefs, home cooks and fitness buffs alike, the Vitamix blender is rapidly becoming a must-have appliance for every kitchen. Some users would even choose it as one of the first things to save if their house was on fire!

With the huge number of tasks that these versatile gadgets can do, and the number of delicious results they are capable of producing, which one is the best Vitamix blender?

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Contents

What is a Vitamix Blender?

A Vitamix blender is a high-performance appliance which can be used to produce a wide variety of foods by pulverizing natural ingredients. While Vitamix blenders cannot be used as food processors, they offer a strong motor and numerous blending functions which can be adjusted to suit whichever food or drink they are being used to produce.

The Vitamix brand originated in 1937, when William Grover Barnard discovered a product that he had never seen before: the blender. Having previously established a business in 1921, called ‘The Natural Food Institute’, which was already selling modern kitchen products, he immediately saw the potential in the blender. It was a quick and easy way to make tasty and healthy food, and he named it the Vitamix; the word ‘vita’ translates to ‘life.’

Over the next few decades the company expanded, and the Vitamix lays claim to being advertised in the first infomercial in history. The blenders evolved to become more powerful and versatile, and soon became leaders in the market. The Vitamix 3600 was the first blender capable of making hot soup, ice cream and dough for baking bread.

More recently, the performance and durability of Vitamix products has been further improved and commercial blenders have been added to a range of products available throughout the world. Although the company has existed since 1937, it is still owned and run by the same family, with the original founder’s great grandson now in charge.

What Can I Make With a Vitamix Blender?

A Vitamix blender is capable of producing far more than the regular soups and smoothies you would expect. It is easy to make all of the following items using a Vitamix blender:

  • Dressings and sauces
  • Flour mixes
  • Bread doughs and cake batters
  • Nut butters and non-dairy milks
  • Coffee beans ground to your liking
  • Dips and spreads
  • Baby food
  • Juices
  • Sorbet
  • Frozen yogurt and ice cream

With such a powerful and versatile product, it seems that the options are only limited by your creativity! Check out this YouTube video for a demonstration of how to make some of these foods:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1_YPINsXWQ

Best Vitamix Blender Uses

As there are slight variations between different models of Vitamix blenders, it is always best to consult the instructions which will be provided with your new blender. The product will come with a motor base, an attachable container and a tamper, which is used to help remove thicker foods from the container.

In general, you need to attach the provided container to the motor base and then fill it with the food or liquid you wish to blend. Close the lid and ensure the blender is switched on at the wall, then either start the program of your choice or activate the blender manually, as required. Switch the blender off at the wall before removing your food or drink from it. The provided ‘tamper’ is useful for removing thicker foods, like nut butters.

How to Choose

When choosing the best Vitamix blender model for yourself and your needs, there are a number of factors to take into consideration.

The size of the blade circumference and the power of the motor will affect the efficiency and performance of the machine. While there isn’t a huge amount of difference in these areas for many Vitamix blender models — and some smaller and less powerful units may be sufficient for many uses — bigger (and more powerful) is generally better!

The weight of the unit is important to check, if you are planning on transporting your blender, or moving it around a lot. The height of it also needs to be considered if you have particularly limited storage space, or low cabinets that your unit needs to fit under.

All Vitamix blenders come with at least one plastic container, and some may offer a selection of sizes. Even if your chosen model only comes with one option, it may be possible to purchase extra containers if they are compatible.

While any Vitamix blender is going to do the obvious and pulverize your food, you may wish to have a number of different options available. Vitamix models come with function options which range from a simple high or low switch, to manually controlled speed and pulse capabilities. The high-end models are even equipped with a range of pre-set functions.

Some top-end Vitamix blenders have specialized high-tech features, such as Wi-Fi connectivity, self-detection of container size, touchscreen controls and the ability to pair with the Vitamix app, which offers even more pre-set functions and recipes.

Best Place to Buy

Vitamix blenders are available to purchase from a variety of stores and online stockists. The best place to buy a Vitamix blender is from their online store, as you are dealing directly with the manufacturers, so they will be able to help you if any issues arise.

However, if you a looking for a Vitamix blender best price, you may be better off buying one from a large store, such as Costco, or an extensive online stockist such as Amazon or Best Buy.

Benefits

There are numerous benefits to the best Vitamix blender. It is a very convenient and versatile product which is capable of preparing piping hot or frozen foods in a matter of minutes, or even seconds.

Hot soups can actually be made from cold ingredients, as the friction created by the blades can warm soup to a servable temperature in less than ten minutes. Iced desserts can be made with speed by placing frozen ingredients in the blender and creating sorbets, ice cream or frozen yogurt.

The motor used in a Vitamix blender maintains an even torque while in use and keeps a cool temperature, which means you get consistent power from your unit. The stainless steel blades are aircraft grade and have been especially designed for optimal function.

Vitamix blenders are also self-cleaning, and some models have a specific setting for this. The process takes 30-60 seconds, with the help of some water and liquid soap.

A Vitamix blender is a solid investment to make if you are looking for an appliance that has the ability to perform a variety of functions and produce a wide range of food products as a result.

Vitamix Blender Models

With so many models to choose from, and new and improved versions being rolled out all the time, trying to find the best Vitamix blender for your needs can be very difficult. Each product comes with its own list of specifications, features and benefits, and some are better suited to certain lifestyles and uses than others.

We have done all of the hard work for you and selected five of the most popular Vitamix blenders currently available on the market. We have evaluated each of these on their features, specifications, benefits and price in order to find out what sets them apart from each other and establish which is the best Vitamix blender for you and your needs.


1. Vitamix A3500

Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender,...
  • Program Settings: Five program settings...
  • Touchscreen Controls give the machine a...
  • You're in Control: Variable Speed...
  • Built-In Wireless Connectivity: The...
  • Programmable Timer: A built-in timer...

Description: If you are after a Vitamix blender with all of the bells and whistles, then the A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender is the one for you! It’s hard to know where to begin with this model as it is so chock full of high tech features.

For starters, it has the same five-program setting as the Vitamix Professional Series 750 model. These include: smoothie, hot soup, frozen desserts, dips and spreads, plus a self-cleaning cycle. Although these are pre-set functions, the variable pulse and speed control features allow you to alter these settings as you see fit.

On top of that, this blender has a built-in wireless connectivity and the motor base is able to sense the size of the container you are using. This feature allows the unit to automatically adjust the time length of your chosen program and maximum blend times accordingly. The wireless connectivity feature makes this product a worthy investment, as it will continue to evolve with future innovations.

The Vitamix A3500 has the ability to pair with the Vitamix Perfect Blend™ App, which is compatible with iOS and Android. This allows you to access a further seventeen blending programs as well as offering more than 500 new recipes to try. A built-in timer helps to prevent over processing your custom recipes.

And still there is more!

This is the only product we looked at that features touchscreen controls, which help to create a sleek and chic look for the blender, but they also ensure that it is very easy to wipe clean. At 14.9 pounds, it is the heaviest blender we evaluated, but it more than makes up for this with its benefits.

This product has a full ten-year warranty, which is the longest out of all the models we evaluated. All in all, this is one very powerful, versatile, reliable and highly adaptable blender – with the Vitamix A3500, you won’t have to think for yourself ever again!

Pros: Powerful and capable product will blend anything no matter how hard or tough, the pre-set program settings are useful and convenient, the Vitamix app gives extra program choices, perfect results with smoothies and nut butters, built-in timer is very handy

Cons: The heaviest blender that we evaluated, the pulse function is less responsive than that of other Vitamix blender models, plastic dial switch is rather flimsy compared to the rest of the unit, no discernable difference at higher speeds, we had some difficulty connecting it to a Samsung phone


2. Vitamix 7500

Vitamix, Black 7500 Blender, Professional-Grade, 64 oz....
  • Variable Speed Control: Ten variable...
  • Pulse Feature: Layer coarse chops over...
  • Low-Profile 64-ounce Container: Perfect...
  • Hardened Stainless-Steel Blades: Our...
  • Self-Cleaning: With a drop of dish soap...

Description: The Vitamix 7500 Low Profile Blender comes with a seven-year warranty; it was the cheapest low profile blender that we evaluated. This is a very useful feature as it allows the unit to fit into kitchen and storage spaces easily.

This blender boasts a variable control that can be changed at any time, and it is capable of achieve ten different speeds. This, along with the variable pulse feature, allows you to personalize your blending to the exact consistency and texture that you want, whether you are after a pulp-free juice or a chunky soup.

The Vitamix 7500 Low Profile Blender has slightly larger blades than the Vitamix 5200 Blender and the Vitamix TurboBlend Two-Speed Blender. Therefore, it works more efficiently, is quieter to use, has the convenient low profile design, and is easier to clean, thanks to its wider base.

However, this model has been found to have defective motors which can shut off without warning or fail altogether. It has also been reported to leave Teflon particles as an added extra in your smoothies and soups!

Pros: Quieter to run than other makes and models, easy to use, versatile enough to produce many items efficiently, capable of blending ice in a smoothie, easy to clean, blends smoothies in 30-45 seconds

 Cons: Model is incapable of blending frozen fruit without added liquid, there is an issue with Teflon particles ending up in your food or drink, can have a burning smell while being used, some motors can be defective, can shut off automatically when trying to process harder or thicker foods


3. Vitamix Professional Series 750

Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender, Professional-Grade,...
  • Automated Blending: Five pre-programmed...
  • You're in Control: Variable Speed...
  • Low-Profile 64-ounce Container: Perfect...
  • Hardened Stainless-Steel Blades: Our...
  • Self-Cleaning: With a drop of dish soap...

Description: The Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender is a step up from many of the other Vitamix models, with ten variable speed and control programs, along with a range of five pre-programmed settings for automatic blending and consistent results.

It is possible to control your blending manually using the variable speed control and the pulse feature, which means you can create a variety of different textures and consistencies. It’s also easy to change the settings at any point during the blending process.

This model comes with a convenient 64-ounce low profile container, and the blender also has a six-foot cord. The two-piece lid is handy, as you can throw in extra ingredients without having to stop and start the unit. A getting started guide and an instructional DVD are both included, along with the motor base and low profile tamper.

While it has a seven-year warranty and many positive features, the Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender also has a few negatives that you need to be aware of. Like the Vitamix 7500 Low Profile Blender, this unit can leave Teflon flakes in your food. It is prone to leaking and, even with a 2.2 horsepower motor, it does struggle with hard or dry foods if too little liquid is added.

Pros: Easy to use, easy to clean, product runs very quietly, produces most items in under one minute, good for smoothies and soups, two- piece lid allows you to add extra ingredients while blending, able to process meat for burgers

Cons: Unit is prone to leaking, blender tends to overheat and smoke when trying to mix ingredients that are too dry, can stop working within the time frame of the guarantee, unit has trouble with ice and frozen fruit, can leave Teflon flakes in your food, container does not lock to the base


4. Vitamix 5200

Vitamix, White 5200 Blender, Professional-Grade, 64 oz....
  • Variable Speed Control: Easily adjust...
  • Large Batches: The size and shape of the...
  • Hot Soup: The blades in the Vitamix...
  • Hardened Stainless-Steel Blades: Our...
  • Self-Cleaning: With a drop of dish soap...

Description: The Vitamix 5200 Blender features a speed control dial that can be easily adjusted at any time, in order to achieve a variety of different textures.

Like the TurboBlend Two Speed Blender, this product has a motor with two peak horsepower, and three-inch diameter stainless steel cutting blades, which are designed to be able to handle difficult ingredients. However, we found that, while it was effective for juicing, it had problems with blending solid foods when no liquid was added to the container, and the blended portion of food got stuck at the bottom, while the rest remained unprocessed.

The Vitamix 5200 blender comes with a generously sized 64-ounce container, which is ideal for producing larger quantities in one go. The container is classic as opposed to low profile, so you may find it a little tricky to fit the unit under lower kitchen cabinets. However, there are smaller, compatible containers available from Vitamix.

This model also comes with a classic tamper for maneuvering ingredients inside the container, a free DVD and getting started guide. It also has a full seven-year warranty.

The drawbacks of this product include manufacturing issues which can cause it to shut off temporarily or stop working completely. Sometimes there is a noticeable burning smell during use, it is noisy and moves around a lot when operating. It is also difficult to clean as food tends to get stuck at the bottom of it.

Pros: Unit is effective for juicing, the manual control allows you to manipulate power as required, easy to use, the blades are strong enough to crush ice in a smoothie, good for making hummus

Cons: This product can be unreliable within the warranty period, makes a lot of noise, moves around a lot when in use, an electrical burning smell can be noticed at times, manufacturing issues can cause this product to fail to work correctly, ineffective for producing nut butter, hard to clean, poor design, hard to blend solid food if there is no liquid added, difficult to get food out from the bottom


5. Vitamix TurboBlend

Vitamix TurboBlend Two Speed Blender, Black
  • Classic 64-ounce Container is ideal for...
  • With a drop of dish soap and warm water,...
  • 2-peak horsepower motor
  • High/Low control efficiently processes...
  • Blades: Laser-cut, stainless steel...

Description: The Vitamix TurboBlend Two Speed Blender is a basic model with a shorter warranty of five years. However, it still contains a number of useful features which are adequate for producing many different items.

This Vitamix blender has a two peak horsepower motor and laser cut, stainless steel hammermill and cutting blades with a three-inch diameter. This means it is capable of blending a wide range of items, although harder fruits and vegetables were found to be a little difficult for it.

The controls are simple and therefore rather limited for anyone looking for extra features. However, for those who are after a no-frills product, there is simply a high and a low setting. This was found to be versatile enough for most tasks, including pancake mixtures and nut butters.

The 64-ounce container that the motor base comes with is a generous size for blending large batches of food or drink. While it is classic as opposed to low profile, it is possible to buy other compatible Vitamix containers to use with this model.

The downsides to the Vitamix TurboBlend Two Speed Blender include the high level of noise the unit makes, the inability for the container to lock onto the motor base, and the level of shaking that happens when the unit is used. The motor is also not the most powerful available, and there were problems found with the unit’s tendency to smoke while in use.

Pros: Lightweight, aerates pancake mixes well, produces nut butters with ease, liquids of all kinds are blended to a pleasant texture, simple and straightforward to use

Cons: Limited functions available to use, harder to store as this model does not have a low profile, two horsepower engine is not the most powerful available, this blender can smoke when carrying out simple tasks, makes a lot of noise when used, container does not lock onto the base, has difficulty blending hard foods such as apples, hard to clean as food gets stuck at bottom of container, moves and shakes a lot when used, this model has been found to have motor problems within the warranty period, shortest warranty period of all the models we looked at


Our Choice

After evaluating the above five products on our quest to find the best Vitamix blender, it is obvious that Vitamix products are similar in many regards, and are also prone to similar issues, such as overheating and automatically shutting off.

This being said, the standout performer for us was the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender. Although it was the most expensive of the models we looked at, we believe it more than makes up for this with its extensive range of high-tech features that are not available with any of the other models we looked at.

With touchscreen controls, a built-in timer, the ability to sense the size of container used and Wi-Fi and app connectivity, this product will keep up with further innovation and development in the future, instead of becoming obsolete.

The combination of its features, performance and the fact that it is a worthy investment for the future, make the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender the best Vitamix blender model currently on the market.

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