Do I need Vitamix AND food processer

[veggievamp]

I did a search and couldn't find any answer to my burning question:D

I just broke my old blender and was thinking of getting a Vita Mix but thought what is dif between that and food processor, of which I have two already.

Also - is there any point in getting a juicer? I know I can drink more juice that way then by making a smoothie, but what do you do with all the left over pulp? (I don't have any receipe books yet so don't yell at me for this question :rolleyes: )

Thanks for any help. If I do need a Vita Mix then I have to decide which one:confused:

[Veganforlife]

Those two tools - the Vita-Mix and my Food Processor (FP) are my main tools.
The VM is awesome for green smoothies - powerful motor that will liquify almost anything. The FP is great for more chopping of food.

[Zuri]

Yep yep, vitamix and a food processor and youre set! I just got my vitamix, probably about a month ago and it has been THE BEST investment on this raw journey. It does some pretty amazing things and I also use the dry blade to grind herb roots as well as make powders and such. IMO if you have a blender a juicer is last on the list to get unless you have specific use for it. :)

[145ish]

At first I thought I needed everything. :) I never got a vitamix and I’ve never had a need for one, I considered it though. I have an itty bitty food chopper that is like a mini food processor and that works great for me. The main things I use are my juicer (I have a cheapy and it works just fine) and I have the Cuisinart version of a Salad Shooter. Those are my main 2 things that I use the most. I’m on my 10th week raw and the longer I’m on it the more I find I don’t need a lot of stuff. If your new I would hold off on any major purchases (especially if your on a budget) until you find out where raw will take you. Some thrive on smoothies, some on juice, some on whole fruits, some on dehydrated foods. You just never know until it “hits” you. I’m glad I didn’t buy a Vitamix or a spice/coffee grinder because I don’t think I would ever use either of them. Even the dehydrator that I bought when I went raw is now under the counter along with my microwave and it’s only been 10 weeks. That said....if it gets you excited about going and staying RAW then buy it!! :D

[veggievamp]

I was reading about VMs and notice there is a dry and wet blade? Some don't have both? So I guess I need one with both?

Now I have to decide what size dehydrator. I read threads that say go for biggest and grow into it, but I am just uncooking for me, I can't imagine ever needing 9 trays! There are SO expensive in Canada and can't find one that includes the non stick sheets so those are extra yet!:eek:

[Veganforlife]

I have a 4500 VM - perfect for what I need. One blade. Covers all my needs!
I am one person and got the 9 drawer dehydrator. SO glad I did!

[145ish]

I am just one person too and I bought the small Excalibur. It has 4 trays and each one is about 12"x12" and I have never used all 4 trays at once.

[rawsurfer]

i barely use my dehydrator, but when i do its a big batch of something and i use all the space pretty much (its the 9 tray); i am finding though that it makes me very bloated when i eat dehydrated food.

[Veganforlife]

Well, there you go, two different perspectives. But when I've made like Alissa's lasagna? I've taken out different trays and had the "room" for the deeper dish.

I have had all trays going at once. Especially if I make a double batch of something, like Maraw's pancakes (which freeze great and then they are ready to go). Or trays of apples.

It depends how much you're gonna dehydrate.

[Veganforlife]

i barely use my dehydrator, but when i do its a big batch of something and i use all the space pretty much (its the 9 tray); i am finding though that it makes me very bloated when i eat dehydrated food.

Drink more water when eating dehydrated foods...

[Zuri]

At first I thought I needed everything. :) I never got a vitamix and I’ve never had a need for one, I considered it though. I have an itty bitty food chopper that is like a mini food processor and that works great for me. The main things I use are my juicer (I have a cheapy and it works just fine) and I have the Cuisinart version of a Salad Shooter. Those are my main 2 things that I use the most. I’m on my 10th week raw and the longer I’m on it the more I find I don’t need a lot of stuff. If your new I would hold off on any major purchases (especially if your on a budget) until you find out where raw will take you. Some thrive on smoothies, some on juice, some on whole fruits, some on dehydrated foods. You just never know until it “hits” you. I’m glad I didn’t buy a Vitamix or a spice/coffee grinder because I don’t think I would ever use either of them. Even the dehydrator that I bought when I went raw is now under the counter along with my microwave and it’s only been 10 weeks. That said....if it gets you excited about going and staying RAW then buy it!! :D


Yeah, true. I said the same thing 'til I was raw about 1 month or so and got bored, so then I got a dehydrator (6 tray L'equip that i love and usually use once or twice a month and make big batches of crackers and now testing out some nut balls...dehydr food can be funky :D) then i got bored with that and got the vitamix. if you find yourself being drawn to green smoothies id get it eventually. i have the wet and dry blade super 5000 with the extra small container. i got wet and dry because i ll also be using it to grind herbs. not into grinding grains.

so, yeah it depends on how you feel. i like the vitamix people because they ll let you do a three payment plan, just give them your credit cd no. and they take the money over 3 months, basically one payment once a month with the first payment up front when you call them.

thats the joy of being raw. you have a lot of freedom to do what you want. :)

[yasi]

I have had a vitamix for 5 yrs- long before going raw... I LOVE it. I used it at least once a day before going raw and now I sometimes use it up to 10 times a day. Granted I am feeding 4 but I love it. It is FAR better than any blender I ever had. It grinds up almond milk, melon seed milk, etc in a snap (I pour it through a strainer). You can make juice in it (get a nut milk bag and pour the pulverized liquid through it. Clean up will be easier and it will go faster). I use my dry container to grind herbs etc. I also make breads for my family in my dehydrator. I found for us it works best if I soak and sprout my grain, dehydrate it, grind it, and then reconstitute it before proceeding with my recipe. A lot of work for bread... but I have small kids who are just starting on this raw journey with their mommy :)
Marisa

[pixiepolar]

I was reading about VMs and notice there is a dry and wet blade? Some don't have both? So I guess I need one with both?

Now I have to decide what size dehydrator. I read threads that say go for biggest and grow into it, but I am just uncooking for me, I can't imagine ever needing 9 trays! There are SO expensive in Canada and can't find one that includes the non stick sheets so those are extra yet!:eek:

I generally agree that it is best to have the 9 tray dehydrator, but when you start you never know, you might not use it at all, but if you do, you can do things in bulk even for yourself only. I make flaxseed crackers in a small dehydrator and usually eat them within 3 days, so my next purchase will be the 9 tray one, but I'm glad I got the small one now. I had it for two years and it was great for getting into it. Probably still get some money on ebay for it. Its a swiss one cold stoeckli. Not sure if its available in Canada.

[yasi]

Forgot to say-
I also have a food processor. The VM and the cuisinart serve DIFFERENT purposes... I find that to grind up nuts, the VM gets unhappy if I am trying to make a floury grind- it will make buttery grind. I don't like the consistency of hummus in the VM but I don't like chunky sesame seeds (rather than tahini I just use straight sesame seeds) in my hummus either... so I grind my sesame seeds with all the liquids I will be using in the VM and then dump into the food proccessor!. Perfect every time. So, to answer your original question specifically... YES! I could not give up either of my machines... they sit next to eachother and are my best friends.

[Zuri]

Great to know Yasi, on both your entries. :)