The Blender Debate - Again

[Tirza]

Now I have some first-hand experience...

I have a KTec (Blendtec) which I bought second-hand several years ago and have been very happy with the results with it. I like the quality of the products made in it, I like the ease of scraping out and cleaning the square jar, I LOVE that I never have to push and prod and probe the food to shove it down to the blades or to get rid of air bubbles.


(Well honestly, I DID do it maybe 2 times in all the time I have had it even though I have used it several times a day and HEAVILY with lots of tough and frozen ingredients. I found a silicone spatula that had a handle that was the right length and I reached it in the little hole in the top and wiggled it a bit to get rid of a bubble.)

However my electronic control pad failed and for the last 4 years I've been just using the ON/OFF switch at the back. So it's either full-on or nothing. But at least it is timed and stops by itself.

I might have put it in the fridge with liquid in it or left it soaking too often when I should have just swished it out with a brush or given it a run-through with a drop of soap and then let it dry. So...the bearings in the jar started to growl and I have been very worried I'd be without a blender soon. I have twice gotten a new jar when that happened before and things went perfectly after that.

But this time I felt that maybe I should try the Vitamix after all the good I've heard about it. Yesterday at Costco, they had their twice-yearly demo and Vitamix special. My husband brought home the Total Nutrition model (5200). I was stoked.

The first time through I did a smoothie using (unsoaked) cashews, dates, chia with frozen banana and strawberries - exactly as I would do in my KTec. The resulting smoothie was the same, but I couldn't believe it...I had to push with the tamper for most of the time. Yes, I started it off on Variable and Slow at 1, then increased it, then switched it up to High. My husband pointed out that the VM is (only) 1,100 Watts vs 1,500 in the KTec and we wondered if that was why. But I wonder also if it is the jar design?

I'm a little deflated and since Costco has such a great return policy, I'm wondering if I should just take it back and get either another KTec or just get another jar again with fresh bearings.

What I'd REALLY like is the KTec model with 2,400 watts and 20 Amps!! But that baby is over $1,000!

When cleaning out the jar after the smoothie, I made sure to whiz it with water and a drop of dish soap, but because of the cashews and the chia, after a couple of minutes I still had milky film and even a few seeds stuck to the inside so I had to brush it out with a dish brush anyway.

I guess the main thing that took me aback a bit was the need to push it down so much so it wouldn't just sit there with an air bubble and frozen strawberries sitting on the top...and then lifting that tamper up out of it, all dripping with smoothie gunk...

Has anyone else noted and been a little annoyed with that difference? I'll try several other things in it and do them the very same way I did in my KTec and see how it goes.

[luvmyzoe]

I own a Blendtec.

I purchased it in May 2007. Well, in May 2010 it started to act up, so I sent it back to Blendtec. Since I was within my 3 year warranty period, they sent me a new blender. What is the warranty with a Vitamix?

I use it almost everyday for a smoothie with frozen bananas, strawberries, etc., green smoothies, fudge, hummus, you get the drift.

The reason I purchased the Blendtec as opposed to Vitamix is because from what reviews I read about the Blendtec said that is it comparable to a Vitamix but would fit under your kitchen cabinets. Eventhouh I am very happy with my Blendtec, I often wonder if I should get a Vitamix, but then I stop and wonder if I really need all those bells and whistles. So I guess it depends on what you plan to do with it.

I haven't replaced my Blendtec jar yet, but I think it may be time......

Hope this helps.....
Grace

[Tirza]

Thanks.

I did want to also mention that I really like the idea of the manual controls on the Vitamix. I am usually a "gadget freak" but I am still realistic about the inconvenience when something electronic fails.

With the Blendtec you have to figure out all those preset speeds and programs. Even though I like the timer aspect, I still like the ability to decide how fast I want to ramp up the speeds, and how long I want them to run. And those kind of controls still seem the most reliable.

* Speaking of that, I wonder why Vitamix discontinued the Reverse Speed action on their motor. What was it for? I liked the sound of that, and was tempted to get an older one off ebay that still had that feature.

[Revvell]

I often hear about people's BlendTec's breaking down. I don't hear that with the VM. I know people who have purchased OLD VM's which continued to run for years longer.

I had my first VM for 14 years. Sold it last summer and got a new, purdy red one. As far as it sitting under the counter. Mine does. I put the container next to the base. No problem. IF there was no room on the counter, I'd stick it under the counter next to my BT. ;)

I have both. Prefer my VM. Yeah, plunging is good for us. :)

[January Noir]

I often hear about people's BlendTec's breaking down. I don't hear that with the VM. I know people who have purchased OLD VM's which continued to run for years longer.

I had my first VM for 14 years. Sold it last summer and got a new, purdy red one. As far as it sitting under the counter. Mine does. I put the container next to the base. No problem. IF there was no room on the counter, I'd stick it under the counter next to my BT. ;)

I have both. Prefer my VM. Yeah, plunging is good for us. :)

I have both machines as well and I find I reach for my Vitamix more.

[k8sl8]

I'm a VM fan... Don't know why you had so much trouble with your smoothie - may just be getting used to the new machine... I don't plunge even 2% of the time although starting with a little liquid is always a good thing.

[Dimond]

I've had my Vitamix for years and I barely ever use the tamper (maybe a couple times a yr). You need liquid for it to blend well. Then it should blend quickly and clean up quick. It normally takes me only a couple of minutes to make a smoothie. I tried the blendtec and there was too many issues for me to like it enough to keep it.

[Tirza]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I use a couple cups of water in it too. I appreciate hearing what you all said about not having to use the plunger very much. I'll get used to it. And maybe it doesn't seem like such a "scream machine" as the KTec does because I'm used to the KTec starting out at top speed with my ON/OFF switch.

[RawKnitster]

I like my old car, and I like my Vita-mix 5200. Both have fewer electronic parts and computer chips that might go bad.

The sequence of ingredients can make a difference in whether I need to use the plunger. I add the frozen ingredients last and rarely need the plunger. If I'm making something super thick like ice creme or pate, or filling the container with more than 6 cups of something thick, then I need to do some plunging.

As for cleaning, let it run longer. Every few weeks I let the soapy water blend for about 4-5 minutes. Heats it to boiling and gets the container super clean. Just remember not to splash yourself when emptying it out!

[greentooth]

I now have both a Vitamix and Blendtec because I couldn't decide, even after buying a Blendtec.

If you are deciding between the two I find this Blendtec vs Vitamix (http://gotgreensrevolution.com/Vitamix-versus-blendtec-review.html) comparison to be extremely helpful.

I like each one for different reasons but you can't go wrong with either one.