Blender vs Food Processor

[neurosport]

So i am still trying to decide on a blender. I am considering the following:

Blendtec HP3A ($400)
Vita-Mix 5200 ($450)
Vita-Mix Vita-Prep 3 ($500)
Vita-Mix Blending Station Advance ($900)
Blendtec Extreme Tom Dickson Edition ($1,000)

I am seeing that they will all do the job when it comes to smoothies. The real test that seems to trip them up is the NUT BUTTER.

Now the way to go for Nut Butter would be the Blendtec Extreme as it has all the power to get it done as well as a container from which it would be easy to scoop out. Problem is that for the money i could get another blender PLUS a MagiMix food processor and still have $$$ left over. Then i could simply make that nut butter in the food processor.

So question is - does it really make any sense to demand from a blender to do a good job on food processor tasks when u can just use a food processor for them ?

Is there something (aside from blending smoothies) a Vita-Mix 5200 can do that a MagiMix 5150 can't ?

Is nut butter better made in a blender or a food processor or using something else altogether ?

thanks in advance for any help !

[neurosport]

I am having a hard time understanding the purpose of VitaMix 5200 and Vita-Prep 3.

On Vita-Mix site the Vita-Prep is listed as a food preparation device as opposed to drink preparation for most other Vita-Mix commercial products.

So it's basically not a blender but a food processor. But aren't products like Cuisinart and MagiMix better at processing food ?

If you're crazy enough to spend hundreds of dollars on a blender chances are you already have a food processor - no ?

please help me understand.

[DebB]

I'm not familiar with over half of what you've listed. I've got a BlendTec and a Cuisinart Food Processor. Between the two, I can sure get it done!

I haven't made nut butters though - but when I do, I'll be trying it in my Cuisinart.

Back to add - to answer your question - yes, the Cuisinart is better at processing food than the blender. They're not meant to do the same jobs. If not for my daily green smoothie, I actually use my FP more than my blender. I use my FP for blending, slicing and grating - things I would not care to do in my blender. The blending I do in the FP is different than the blending I do in the BT. I hope that makes sense - ha!

*Ü*

[neurosport]

Thanks for your response Deb


The blending I do in the FP is different than the blending I do in the BT. I hope that makes sense - ha!

Yes and no. It "sort of" makes sense. I would appreciate if you could make it a little clearer though :)

I never had a food processor and the only blender i ever had is pretty useless - so it's hard for me to visualize the difference.

[DebB]

I'm happy to explain! I use my BT (BlendTec)for certain blending items ~ like a green smoothie. A FP (food processor) is not going to come *close* to the blending power of the BT for blending a green smoothie. I know, I tried before I got my BT. The BT blends a smoothie like silk. My FP (Cuisinart) left it chunky and not well blended. My BT grinds flax seed into meal in a snap. For that, it works faster & better than the FP. However, my little coffee grinder does a great job of grinding flax seed - but it would take me a very long time as I can only do about 1/4 cup at a time. With the BT - I dump it all in at once and grind away.

Now that I think of it - once I got the feel for each machine, then it became intuitive which one to use for different purposes. If I'm making something like Ani Phyo's Donut Holes (video on YouTube), I'll use my FP - because if I used my BT say, it would over blend the nuts and for this recipe I want them in chunks. The FP is going to do a better job for grinding the almonds and leaving them chunky. The blender would want to grind them down into a powder. It would be more difficult to control the grind to leave chunks than it is in the FP.

Have you watched any demo videos? You might find them informative. You could check out YouTube - just put something like VitaMix or BlendTec demonstration in the search box. You could do the same for FP. You might also try VM's website or BT's website and watch their demos. I haven't been to VM's site, only BT and they do have demos. You could also try QVC. I believe they sell Kitchen Aid FPs and watch a demo there.

That way you'll get a feel what each machine does. I'm a visual person and it helps me out to watch a demo. But, I'm happy to answer any questions you might have if I can!! I love my kitchen gadgets and appliances and am always willing to talk about them. *Ü*

[neurosport]

Thanks for outlining the differences. That's more or less what i was thinking.

I already watched like *all* of the videos on youtube - even this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRdLsrl6Czk

My favorite part is how he says he's using insulated pliers but he's touching the metal part with his thumb. kids, water and 120V - so cute :eek:

[DebB]

Whooh! I wonder if those boys had their Mom's permission before they tore into her Cuisinart...? LOL

[neurosport]

ok i placed an order for a blender.

food processor will have to wait.

can't wait to try those green smoothies :)

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

If you're going to make lots of nut butters then it would be better to invest in a masticating juicer. Both blenders and food processors produce a lot of heat so you need to pause it all the time so that it won't "cook" the butter. The juicers are much more gentle, grinding it fairly slowly.

[DebB]

You will *LOVE* green smoothies in a high speed blender! I remember the first one I made ~ I was hooked :)

Good point SKofC ~ It will be a while since we already have a Champion juicer (have had it since the early 80s), but I'd love to get a juicer that will handly my wheatgrass. I bet if it does WG it would handle nuts too. *Ü*

[rkk]

For those considering the Vitamix 5200 vs the VitaPrep 3, I would recommend the 5200. I have the 5000 model (same as the 5200 with the old plastic) and got my parents the VP3, as I assumed it would be better. I even paid more for theirs. However, we can't really see the difference between the two as they seem almost the same. However, mine has a much longer warranty than their's did (I think theirs was only 3 years? versus mine being 7 years). If I had to get buy one all over again, we would get the 5200 (which we did, as we later got my sister the 5200 model). I have no idea about BlendTec, as I've never tried that one.

[babeak]

Good choice. I take my 5200 with me when I travel and I can get by doing food processing chores by hand or using my VitaMix, but I can't blend any other way. I wonder if I should get some frequent flyer program for it. I just got the smaller 32oz container and that is wonderful, but still it takes up quite the space in my luggage. I got both of the smaller dry and liquid containers during a recent sale and use now use all 3....sometimes all 3 are dirty at the same time. So, I love my Vitamix.

[klomasius]

I make divinely creamy nut butters (when I could be bothered lol!) in my $270 blender. It's a Sunbeam PB 9600 and I'm yet to find out what the vitamix does that my sunbeam cannot do.

I have a food processor, one that came free from hard rubbish collection that's been doing a great job for years.

Why do people worry so much about these sorts of things? :confused:

[DebB]

I make divinely creamy nut butters (when I could be bothered lol!) in my $270 blender. It's a Sunbeam PB 9600 and I'm yet to find out what the vitamix does that my sunbeam cannot do.

I have a food processor, one that came free from hard rubbish collection that's been doing a great job for years.

Why do people worry so much about these sorts of things? :confused:

Will you share how you make your nut butters please? I haven't tried them yet - well, I guess I did once in the BlendTec, but it didn't turn out well. It's something I want to be able to do though. Thanks in advance! *Ü*

[TheNewLucilleBall]

I know you already placed the order, but you really should just make nut butters in your food processor. A blender and a food processor are two different tools that do two different things and should be treated as such. Otherwise you will ruin your blender like my mom did with her Vitamix. It might seem impossible, as they're like a car engine on your counter top, but they do have their limits. Please be gentle with your blender and read all the information on care and all the warnings first before you try to make something like that! Best of luck!

[neurosport]

For those considering the Vitamix 5200 vs the VitaPrep 3, I would recommend the 5200. I have the 5000 model (same as the 5200 with the old plastic) and got my parents the VP3, as I assumed it would be better. I even paid more for theirs. However, we can't really see the difference between the two as they seem almost the same. However, mine has a much longer warranty than their's did (I think theirs was only 3 years? versus mine being 7 years). If I had to get buy one all over again, we would get the 5200 (which we did, as we later got my sister the 5200 model). I have no idea about BlendTec, as I've never tried that one.

theres a video on the tube that compares the two:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whWI5NmM5sQ

basically the main difference is the cooling fan is bigger on vita prep. so if you do a lot of continuous processing like in a professional kitchen it will help prevent motor overheating.

unless you intend to do a lot of nut butters there really is no point in paying extra for the vita prep.

in fact even if the price was the same you should probably still get 5200 for the warranty and BPA free jar.

[neurosport]

I know you already placed the order, but you really should just make nut butters in your food processor. A blender and a food processor are two different tools that do two different things and should be treated as such. Otherwise you will ruin your blender like my mom did with her Vitamix. It might seem impossible, as they're like a car engine on your counter top, but they do have their limits. Please be gentle with your blender and read all the information on care and all the warnings first before you try to make something like that! Best of luck!

agreed 100%.

when they start listing how it can do this and that and that - that's just their way of tricking you into buying a piece of junk that you don't need.

kinda like Americans were sold on SUVs. buy this Hummer you will be able to drive it in the middle of Antarctica ! oh wow i really need THAT.

i have to say both VitaMix's and BlendTec's marketing tactics are insulting to the intelligence. Vitamix wants you to buy a blender because you can make soup in it and BlendTec wants you to buy a blender because you can mash iPhones in it.

No thanks ! I will rather get a blender that can make smoothies ...

[DebB]

I love watching the demos for both the BT and VM and Costco :) They're fun to watch in action! *Ü*

[gracemine]

I just wanna join this conversation here, and I want to share my experience while I was looking for food processor over the internet. I found cuisinart and when I tried it, I was impressed because it is really good and it has something that I can share of. :)