Vitamix vs. blender

[lamount03]

Hey,

is the Vitamix really worth it or is a good quality blender sufficient?

I'm new to all of this.

Thanks!

[ladypeace82]

Hey,

is the Vitamix really worth it or is a good quality blender sufficient?

I'm new to all of this.

Thanks!

From what I've read, most definitely. I've asked everyone in my family for one for christmas. :p

[EZ rider]

I have an older vitamix that I bought new many years ago and all I can say is that it is a real work horse. I like my smoothies thick so I rarely put liquid water in them. I pile in ice on the bottom and then just pile in the produce and I don't cut it in small pieces I just pile it in including greens or whatever. When I turn it on it kinda slows down and speeds up for a minute as it "digests" all that stuff and it pulverizes it completely. I have been "blending" this way for years now and my vitamix has never broken, its never stopped, and it still works perfect. Now you tell me -- is that a work horse or what ? I have been and continue to be happy with my vitamix. :)

[ladypeace82]

just don't stick your hand in there.........

(biggest fear, that and garbage disposals!)

[veeg]

There's no question that the Vitamix is pricey, but I recently purchased one, and have used it virtually every day since getting it.
I love the idea of putting whole fruit and veggies in for smoothies -- something that most blenders aren't powerful enough to do. It's also great for dressings.

[Nurse in the Raw]

I have a blender that I am about to pitch and I am ordering a Vitamix. Winter is coming and it works great at blending soups.....heats them too.

[CaliRaw]

If you use it, absolutely! I like that I can put nuts in there for salad dressing and have them completely liquified. No lumps! No crunch! It's great for smoothies too, as many have already indicated. I haven't had mine long, but I am glad that I got it.

[Dimond]

Since you are new we should mention that at the beginning, you don't have to have one esp if finances are an issue. It will definitely make your raw journey easier and enjoyable, but many have gotten buy on a high quality blender & then upgraded later. It is definitely worth getting when you can.

[EZ rider]

just don't stick your hand in there.........If a person stuck their hand in a running vitamix they would have a hand smoothie. Years ago when I bought it they had a demo where they stuck a block of wood into the vitamix and it pulverized it into sawdust. I knew if it would do that it would do my produce just great. :)

[JoannaG]

I waited until our blender bit the dust and took the plunge. It was expensive, but I LOVE my new Vitamix! The textures of my green smoothies and nut milks are so much smoother!

[lamount03]

Thank you so much for the responses!!!!! Now I'm going to put this on my Xmas wish list too... now what about the dehydrator... excaliber or whatever... Necessity? The drying thing kinda scares me.. well, not scares me, but it seems so labor intense/takes so much time... do you all do it?

[CaliRaw]

Thank you so much for the responses!!!!! Now I'm going to put this on my Xmas wish list too... now what about the dehydrator... excaliber or whatever... Necessity? The drying thing kinda scares me.. well, not scares me, but it seems so labor intense/takes so much time... do you all do it?

I have an Excalibur. It's worth it to me for the variety.

[ladypeace82]

If a person stuck their hand in a running vitamix they would have a hand smoothie. Years ago when I bought it they had a demo where they stuck a block of wood into the vitamix and it pulverized it into sawdust. I knew if it would do that it would do my produce just great. :)

OMG. that freaks me out!!!! I'm totally going to have VITAMIX nightmares! :p

[solongng00dnite]

I have an older vitamix that I bought new many years ago and all I can say is that it is a real work horse. I like my smoothies thick so I rarely put liquid water in them. I pile in ice on the bottom and then just pile in the produce and I don't cut it in small pieces I just pile it in including greens or whatever. When I turn it on it kinda slows down and speeds up for a minute as it "digests" all that stuff and it pulverizes it completely. I have been "blending" this way for years now and my vitamix has never broken, its never stopped, and it still works perfect. Now you tell me -- is that a work horse or what ? I have been and continue to be happy with my vitamix. :)

I am curious, how old is old? Ive been search ebay for a cheaper vitamix and there are a lot of older ones. What one do you have? Can it do the dry grinding as well?

[EZ rider]

What one do you have? Can it do the dry grinding as well?I think it was about 1995 give or take a year, I bought a new Vitamix Maxi 4000 with the stainless steel square can on top. It still works as good today as the day I got it all those years ago. I have never tried dry grinding in it. What I appreciate most about it is the way I can put a lot of ice in it with the produce, greens, and unground seeds and in just a minute its got a SMOOTH smoothie ready to go.

[EZ rider]

PS, When I bought the Vitamix Maxi 4000 I really liked the design. I'm not sure if they are made the same now or not ? It has four "hamermill" blades that are like square sided bats and when they impact the food it hits it hard enough to smack it out of the ballpark. But the food dosn't go far because it impacts one of the stainless steel square can sides and splats off rebounding right into the path of another oncoming bat that hits another Homer. Thats how it is able to pulverize the food so completely and also why the blade never needs sharpening. I regularly put extra seeds like the Chia etc into the can and they just disappear into the smoothie blended smooth with the rest of the stuff like greens etc.

[EZ rider]

PSS, I really like the way the old Vitamix pulverizes the seeds in the smoothie because I think thats a big part of the feeling of hunger satisfaction that ocures after drinking a smoothie. I think its because the seeds are a storehouse of nutrients and provide the nutrients the body is looking for. I like my old Vitamix - its an oldie but a goodie.