Vitamix Technique

[julesmoz]

I am a green smoothie fiend, and finally got a Vitamix!!! I was so excited, but just tried to make a green smoothie and it wasn't mixing. Didn't crush the ice and only crushed the leaves after much ado. Is there a "Vitamix technique" that's different from normal blenders? Do you Vitamixers load your blender in a certain order (one thing at a time vs. all of it at once)?

[Tk2dsky]

I'd check with the rep who you bought your vitamix from. It should blend up really fast no matter what order you put stuff in. Your vitamix may have a problem. When I turn mine on, I generally sart on the lowest setting of variable, quickly move it up to the highest, then switch to the high setting.

[Pierre]

I find that it works best if 3/4 of what I put in is frozen. If I put a chunk of frozen pineapple with the core, and only half of the total is frozen, I end up with unground core pieces. So I load it with the unfrozen stuff (not always - sometimes I decide later what to use unfrozen) and the frozen stuff, put the lid on, and push it into the blade with the pusher.

[SeaRose]

Did your Vitamix come with a wooden stick thingy? It is almost impossible to use it without this stick. I have found that if you are trying to blend something on the thick side, an air pocket will form around the blades, and if you use the stick, (kind of swirl it around), it starts to blend. ONLY USE THE STICK WHEN THE LID IS ON!!!!!!

When I make fruit smoothies, I always put my frozen ingredients in first, then add liquid (water, juice, etc.). I add enough liquid until it is at the level of the frozen stuff. I still need to use the stick thingy. Sorry, I know there is a proper name for it, but I don't remember. I have had my Vitamix for about 10 years. Anyway, give that a try. Also, the reverse mode is great to chop up the stuff on the bottom.

Good luck and enjoy your smoothies!!

[julesmoz]

I got mine used, so it didn't come with a wooden stick. What does it look like? Maybe I can rig one. Also, my lid is weird - it's really tall, with a hole at the top that doesn't have a cover. Is your lid like that?

[Pierre]

The hole is for pushing the pusher into. Mine is black plastic, not wood, and reaches to about 1 cm from the blade. It has a handle and a hilt. The stick is 157 mm circ. just past the hilt, 110 mm circ. at the tip, and 240 mm long past the hilt.

You should also have a clear plastic cover for the lid. It has two bosses/detents? at the bottom. The hole is squarish. You put the cover into the lid and turn it 45 degrees to lock it.

Do not use a wooden spoon! I was at a friend's house and we made smoothies using a blender (not a VitaMix). One of us used a wooden spoon in the hole in the lid. I found a chip of the spoon in my smoothie. Do that with a Vita-Mix and you may get splinters in your stomach.

Sometimes I have to open it up and break a frozen chunk with a knife. If you do this, turn it off and wait until it stops spinning before you take the pitcher off.

[tvillemom]

I'm just now researching a vitamix...and I know you can buy replacement parts. Good luck.
Wendi