I need a good blender. Do I just bite the bullet and buy a Vitamix, or are there actually good alternatives?

[Gongoozler]

I've had a basic blender from Target for years, and while it works fine, it's not good enough. I grow peppers and make a lot of hot sauce and I want a blender that will get it silky smooth without having to strain it after. I also want a better blender for things like Mole sauce and the like.

The obvious choice is to just spend the hefty price and get a Vitamix. Before doing that though, I just wanted to check with you fine folks to see if anyone knows of any less expensive options that actually approach Vitamix results. I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but it doesn't hurt to check!

 

[Heckel7302]

Can’t say enough good things about vitamix. Buy once, cry once. You can save a bit with a reconditioned unit, that’s what we did. We’ve been using ours almost daily for frozen fruit smoothies going on 12 years and never had an issue. Replaced the container once and a couple new plungers in that time, but vitamix customer support is amazing. The plungers they always sent me for free.

 

[Gongoozler]

I came across this model for $299. Pretty damn tempting at that price, since the next one up is the Explorian E310 which is $379 and has a smaller jar.

https://www.qvc.com/vitamix-creatio...able-speed-blender-wbooks.product.K60550.html

 

[Naftoor]

Also can’t say enough good things about vitamix. Not making protein shakes as much as I used to but it simply laughs at frozen fruit.

Immersion blenders have come a long way, I imagine they might be able to get you to a roughly similar spot, but the high ends for those will still put you only 100 off from a vitamix since they’re around 150-250 for things like bamix or the vitamix immersion blender.


I picked up the venturist V1200. No major complaints. Loud as a jet and twice as powerful. The low profile container fits under kitchen cabinets which is a win for me.

That said, if the 5200 (narrow base OG container with none of the stupid ascent series smart features they put on all the low profile containers) fits under your cabinet, I’d get that. Less electronics to fail, no stupid DRM container (although that doesn’t matter to me since I’d never trust a third part container with the speeds the blender gets to), and narrower base lets you blend smaller quantities which is nice when you want single servings or small sauce quantities. Having the low profile container I essentially have to make recipes that are at least a few cups, or pick up an immersion blender or the smaller low profile container which is slightly annoying.

The 5200 was on sale last month for 299. They also periodically put up some refurbished units.

 

[Hualicopter]

I think the Ninja ones are pretty good that said the Vitamix just keep working. Very pleased with my purchase, can't even remember how long ago I bought it.

 

[AT5760]

I've got a Ninja and I've never used a Vitamix. The Ninja was a big update on my old, old blender. But it does not make "silky smooth" smoothies, salsas, soups. It's good enough for someone who needs a blender from time to time. It gets decently hot if I make back to back smoothies. My gut says that the reason Vitamix is at a different price point is build quality/durability is substantially better than the lower priced options.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

as the outlier, I'll comment. I don't blend a lot of stuff. I don't like smoothies. but I do make sauces and stuff like that.

mine is a janky Breville. wasn't expensive at all. 1/3$ of a vitamix if I had to guess. 2x a year, I put it thru the wringer making red Mexican "enchilada sauce". it hangs like a champ!!

where it stumbles? my recent fascination with homemade soy milk. blending the beans, I've have run my poor blender to the point where I ask myself, "hey what is the electrical burning smell?" I think the Breville just isn't the beast I need for soy milk. I will run it to the point it burns out I suppose. then think of a replacement...

but 20 gallons of soy milk in - I still have not killed my blender.

 

[Stevem627]

If you shop some you can find a VITAMIX for an affordable price. You won't ever be disappointed in it, and you wont be changing it out for a LONG time.

We use our Vitamix a lot and its great for frozen fruit drinks in summer months...both regular and alcoholic

 

[Gongoozler]

I bought the one I linked. Excited to get it!

 

[knifeq2121]

i also bought a vitamin for my hot sauces after years of straining and using subpar blenders. the difference is amazing and there really is no comparison. 5200 was perfect for this use

 

[Gongoozler]

i also bought a vitamin for my hot sauces after years of straining and using subpar blenders. the difference is amazing and there really is no comparison. 5200 was perfect for this use

Yeah, it really sucks when I ferment a batch of peppers for a month +, get the seasoning just right while processing the fermented peppers into sauce, and can't get an acceptable texture without straining, which results in a thin sauce and leaves behind a ton of flavor and thickness/body in the strainer. I currently have a batch fermenting and I'm really excited to use the Vitamix to process it.

I'm not sure if NBD will hit quite as hard as NKD, but I'm looking forward to it nevertheless!

 

[knifeq2121]

it’s honestly better than getting a new knife. I really like the vitamin for emulsifying in oil, I use xanthan to give it a nice texture and body with the oil but it isn’t necessary depending on the peppers you use. i’ve got some calabrians going rn!

 

[Gongoozler]

it’s honestly better than getting a new knife. I really like the vitamin for emulsifying in oil, I use xanthan to give it a nice texture and body with the oil but it isn’t necessary depending on the peppers you use. i’ve got some calabrians going rn!

I took one last big harvest of the season from a few of my plants and threw them all together to ferment for a kind of "end of season cornucopia" type of vibe. It's Poblano, Jalapeno, Habanero, and a few Bhut Jolokia. Still trying to decide if I want to add any fruit for the blend or maybe just some roasted onion and garlic, perhaps some carrot.

 

[Uncle Danny]

I bought a Ninja BN800 - it’s strong like a small boat motor.

 

[M1k3]

Waring is another brand to keep an eye out for.

 

[Johnsmyname]

FWIW, I only have experience with department store junk ones and my Vitamix. That said, I absolutely adore the Vitamix.

 

[btbyrd]

Commercial Warings are good Vitamix alternatives, but they've gotten pricier over the years compared to the cheap deals you can find on consumer Vitamixes. But if you can find a good deal on the model with two switches and a knob, go for it.

Also, don't buy any blender that has settings apart from on/off, pulse, and a speed knob.

 

[aporigine]

Commercial Warings are good Vitamix alternatives, but they've gotten pricier over the years compared to the cheap deals you can find on consumer Vitamixes. But if you can find a good deal on the model with two switches and a knob, go for it.

Also, don't buy any blender that has settings apart from on/off, pulse, and a speed knob.

You are evoking memories from over half a century ago. The family blender had two modes: Off, and On.

I remember dad rapidly pulsing the switch a few times on startup. “It keeps stuff from flying onto the lid.”

 

[Bill13]

Costco will occasionally have the basic Vitamix at a good price.

 

[DitmasPork]

I've had a basic blender from Target for years, and while it works fine, it's not good enough. I grow peppers and make a lot of hot sauce and I want a blender that will get it silky smooth without having to strain it after. I also want a better blender for things like Mole sauce and the like.

The obvious choice is to just spend the hefty price and get a Vitamix. Before doing that though, I just wanted to check with you fine folks to see if anyone knows of any less expensive options that actually approach Vitamix results. I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but it doesn't hurt to check!

Delighted with my Vita-Prep 3, it’s been an awesome kitchen essential for years. No regrets on the splurge.

 

[btbyrd]

 

[HolyDiverScallop]

Are Vitamixen and the like good for anything other than rendering solids into silky smooth liquids?

I have an old Oster that still works well, but I often blend things that I don’t want silky smooth. Can you do chunky with a Vitamix and dial in your desired level of chunk?

 

[daveb]

You can pulse the vmix to get product to desired conistency- but the control is on you

i.e. Whole tomatoes can come out chunky or puree (but not diced).

 

[Heckel7302]

it’s honestly better than getting a new knife. I really like the vitamin for emulsifying in oil, I use xanthan to give it a nice texture and body with the oil but it isn’t necessary depending on the peppers you use. i’ve got some calabrians going rn!

It's like getting four short, dull knives that spin really fast!

Interesting, vitamix blades are not actually sharp. They work by beating/pulverizing the food into submission. And they do it so well.

 

[timebard]

I've got a Ninja and I've never used a Vitamix. The Ninja was a big update on my old, old blender. But it does not make "silky smooth" smoothies, salsas, soups. It's good enough for someone who needs a blender from time to time. It gets decently hot if I make back to back smoothies. My gut says that the reason Vitamix is at a different price point is build quality/durability is substantially better than the lower priced options.

Ditto. I make smoothies a couple times/week and it's fine. Had it about 5 years and it's going strong.

 

[dchang21]

i’ve had both vitamix and thermomix
sold the vitamix because i just use it for making 1 smoothie a year. thermomix i still have but want to sell that too as i also stopped using it, but it is a good small batch dough mixer if you can control the heat.

 

[Justinv]

The build quality is definitely excellent on the vita-mix. Its exactly the right tool for the uses you mention. Mine is at least 15 years old and I haven’t replaced anything. They still make the model.

Cheaper blenders/food processors are disposable appliances and good luck finding a new blade or bowl in 5 years. So they actually cost more since you have to replace the whole unit. I have a breville boss blender and they never sold spare parts for it; plastic started degrading and crumbling after a few years.

 

[Michi]

The Vitamix 5200 is not sold in Australia. I can't import one either because I have been unable to find a 240 V version.

I've read lots of reviews and found that, apparently, the Ascent series has lots of problems, from the container not being recognised to things just plain breaking.

In the end, I settled for a blender attachment for my Kenwood Chef XL Titanium. I doesn't work as well as a Vitamix, but it works much better than I expected, especially considering that it cost less than USD 50. The Chef has an 1800 W motor, which really does move things along; the attachment can be tucked away easily and I don't have to dedicate counter space to an appliance that I don't use all that often.

 

[Dan-]

Vitamix all the way. Get a Pro 750. It’s actually a de-rated (lower duty cycle) commercial model but uses many commercial parts.

 

[Kitchenchem]

Has anyone tried Blendtec? I understand it’s a 2hp motor.