Vita Mix or Food Processor -- need to make quick decision!

[joya]

Sorry, I am sure there are previous threads about this... the thing is I have limited time to make this decision. There is a Vita Mix 5200 combination set on sale at the Costco for around $320. From what I can tell that's a great deal, and the sale ends today (in 3 hours).

I am been thinking about a Vita Mix for years. However...

I do already have a juicer (that is pretty good, an older Omega) that I use regularly with great results. (Have only done veges & fruits with it, though it says it can handle nuts, etc.) I also have a regular ol' blender.

And... I just got Alissa's book today (yay!!!) and from skimming it, it seems like a food processor is used a lot more than then need for a Vita Mix.

So, before I drop a lot of money on a Vita Mix I am wondering if I truly need it, and was curious to hear other's experiences on Vita Mix vs. Food Processor. Can I use the Vita Mix AS a Food Processor??? If so, I might invest in the Vita Mix.

The countdown in on... I leave for the store in the next few hours. Thanks so much in advance for your thoughts! (Also, I am definitely wanting to buy a dehydrator, most likely a large excalibur... so maybe I should just save my money for this instead of the Vita Mix...) ?

[Aleesha Sattva]

Yes you can use the Vita-Mix as a food processor... I love using it for my flax seeds to grind them up nicely.

A VM is soooooooooooo worth it. I would definitely buy mine again... over and over again.

[lori ann]

I would get the vita mix-it has so many features. I love my vitamix!! Also you can always get a food processor latter-I just have a $30 black and decker food processor that I got at a discount store that works GREAT. At this point I am using my vitamix more than the food processor. Hope this helps-good luck :)

[lori ann]

also let us know what your decsion is.

[snoops]

yes - the Vitamix - you can always get a cheap FP but cheapy blenders aren't worth it!!

[Green_Woman]

I use my Vitamix three times a day, on average. I use my Food Processor once a week, if even. I do EVERYTHING in my Vitamix.

It is the SUPERMAN of the Raw Kitchen!!!!

Also, if you're going to jump on board with GREEN SMOOTHIES (God's gift to Rawbies ;)) you will want a Vitamix. :D

[Veganforlife]

GET IT!
get the vita-mix...!

[Tirza]

I already have a Champion juicer, so if I want something really mushed and it's too dry for the blender, I often put it through the Champion with the blank thing in that you use when you want to make nut butters or ice cream.

Also, for those mixtures that are too thick for the blender, I got a nice large electric meat grinder with a few different blades for coarse, medium and fine grinding. Everything tends to be much more uniform with it. Then I realized I just should have gotten a good large manual meat grinder with all the blades. Manual because I like not depending totally on electrical appliances and I can take it on trips and use it anywhere. And honestly, it is just as quick and easy. I have a small manual one now and almost use it more than the FP.

I do have a Black and Decker cheapie FP that I got on ebay NEW for only $3. It works alright, (not as sturdy or as good a job as my Cuisinart) but the advantage with it is that it has one of those lids with a chute that throws your chopped/shredded veggies out into an outside bowl which I like. So if you need to chop veggies, that is a bonus you don't want to disregard.

I also have a big Cuisinart, and I like it too, but it ends up that a lot of mixtures don't need to be totally pulverized. When I do it in the Cuisinart, while some of it gets pulverized, some of it does not get chopped enough. I've had enough of this uneven chopping. And yes, I do use "pulse", but I'm still not satisfied with that.

So yes, get your good blender if you really want it. Many do say that cheaper blenders do just fine too, so maybe you should save for the dehydrator if you think you'll use it a lot. The only thing I would miss if I didn't have my super-blender is the ability to make fantastically SMOOTH green smoothies. That IS an issue with me, so I must have the good blender. As for flax and other seeds, I never do them in my big blender. I use a coffee grinder and it is much more efficient.

When I have simplified down to my satisfaction, I'm going to post what I think is REALLY needed to do raw food preparation.

Let us know what you did and if you are happy with your decision. Sorry if I put so many confusing options up, but they are things to consider according to your needs and lifestyle.

[appifanie]

i love my VM, but a good fp is important - i've killed about 3 fps in the last 2 years because cheapies don't like nuts and/or dates. my current one is a 7 cup cuisinart that was about $99

[Tirza]

i love my VM, but a good fp is important - i've killed about 3 fps in the last 2 years because cheapies don't like nuts and/or dates. my current one is a 7 cup cuisinart that was about $99

...which is exactly why I love a grinder. Nuts and dates don't kill it. Especially if it's manual (non-electric).

I've used my large Cuisinart for chopping everything from nuts and dates to mixing bread dough. It HAS a bread dough blade, right? Well, after only a few years of that, the poor thing started to heat up and stop on me. Hubby told me to stop putting such a load on the motor, even if it was the top-line Cuisinart. That is when I started looking into the grinder option if I wanted to keep my Cuisinart going longer, especially since I wasn't even mixing the bread dough anymore. I don't want to give the impression that the Cuisinart is weak. No way. I really love it but I loved it way too much for too long.

FYI - I find a grinder is no harder to clean up than the FP, maybe even easier.

[joya]

Thank you all for your quick and thoughtful responses.

I actually left here all pumped up (after reading all the posts) to go buy it. I was anxious all the way to the store, since I remembered it was a traveling vendor who was selling at the store, not the store itself, so he might have left before the store closed.

Alas, he was there with the Vita Mix! But the price was $398, not $320 like I thought it was for some reason. I put it in my cart though, still intending to buy it... but after talking with my fiance on the way to check-out, I felt I was being too hasty... especially since we also purchased a fridge today, and now have a mortgage on a new home... along with many other upcoming expenses.

So, I put it back. I did however end up purchasing a Cuisinart Food Processor for $150. I'm hoping that, along with my Omega juicer, and his cheapie blender will make do. And, I still am planning to order a dehydrator.

Anyway, again, thank you for your replies. Much appreciated. This forum is awesome. :)