Question about the vita-mixer

[Livdom]

Hi I'm new to this forum and eating raw (I'm not ready to go completely raw but I love a lot of the recipes and have cut out almost all processed foods). I've had my eye on a vitamixer for awhile now as my blender isn't cutting it and I do not have a FP. I just can't decide on which package to get. How useful is the dry blade (I take care of a glutton intolerant girl so I thought I could make my own rice flour) and are all those recipe books they offer useful or can I find the info elsewhere? I'm on a budget so I'm trying to keep the price down but I want to make sure I get the most useful package. What about the refurbished ones - any problems with those?

Thanks!

[Ilse W.]

Hi Liza,
I have no experience with the vitamix.
I mean absolutely no disrespect, but I just couldn't help myself.....I HAVE to say it: We should ALL be more glutton intolerant!:D

[rawstrength]

Refurbished vitamix blenders are as good as new. A vitamix on a low setting works like a food processor.
I grind wheat, oats, nuts, and flax seeds into powder using the wet blade and it works fine.
As for recipe books, you can find all you need on the internet. And they are doubly unneccesary if you have Alissa's book, too :) .

[saxmaam]

Hi I'm new to this forum and eating raw (I'm not ready to go completely raw but I love a lot of the recipes and have cut out almost all processed foods). I've had my eye on a vitamixer for awhile now as my blender isn't cutting it and I do not have a FP. I just can't decide on which package to get. How useful is the dry blade (I take care of a glutton intolerant girl so I thought I could make my own rice flour) and are all those recipe books they offer useful or can I find the info elsewhere? I'm on a budget so I'm trying to keep the price down but I want to make sure I get the most useful package. What about the refurbished ones - any problems with those?

Thanks!

I got a package with both dry and wet containers and I've never had any regrets. I used to grind wheat berries for bread machine bread in the dry blade container (still do, when I have visitors). Now I find it handy for grinding flax or psyllium seeds. I DON'T like it for nut butters because even my inexpensive food processor does that job better.

If price is a big concern, you might skip the dry blade container. I use it much less than the other.

[SheLovesToEat]

i just bought a vita mix bar boss at a resturant supply store. its a very simple machine....just and on off switch and a pulse switch. it was a floor model so i got a good discount.
its container is a wet blade which is a very sturdy blade.
be careful using the dry blade as it can break if try to grind anything hard.

[Nutmeg]

I bought an old 1800 on ebay and loved it - except for the draining spout which always had gunk that was hard to wash out. Now I have a new one since last Xmas and I didn't bother with different containers or blades. I have just the one container and the standard wet blade (I guess) and it does all that I could possibly want - dry ingredients or wet. And I agree with Rawstrength, don't fuss with the recipe books - just use the internet and this site.

[goobygirl]

I love my vitamix, have had it ten years with no issues. I use both the wet and dry, but agree, you can do almost everything with the wet.

[Jubner]

I purchased mine last month as a reburbished from Vitamix. Came to $404 total but I would have never known it wasn't brand new. Vitamix also offers 3 install payments for new blenders. By the time one covers tax and shipping, it's a great deal less to go with the refurbished. Seriously, I would have never known.

I used my food processor for about 8 months but the Vitamix now gets used 2-3 times a day in its place. Definitely worth the investment.

[Crazy Healer Lady]

I have only had my Vita-Mix about six months, but I love it to pieces. It makes eating healthy and raw SO much easier, and it's a snap for any cooked food, too (Currently I am cooking for a not-so-raw S.O.). What I love is that for raw soups, I can keep blending until it gets slightly warm, so I'm not eating ice-cold soup, but it's still Raw. I don't have the dry blade, and to be honest, don't need it. I have considered it once or twice, but I really have no need of it.

The Vita-Mix is the most useful appliance in my kitchen, and I will never regret buying it. Currently I use it 2-3x/day, and it's so quick to clean. 30 seconds, done. I heartily recommend it!!!

[rayofsunshine]

I love my vitamix and only have the wet blade. It does everything I need too. I have used my juicer's blank panel to make nut butters and for food processor items before I had one of those.

As for raw books, I love them and have many. I love Alissa's book. I have found recipes and info on raw living from every book I have.

Before I jumped fully into raw, I would check out different raw food books from my library. They have added quiet a few recently. That could be an option for you.