Vitamix- not yet impressed

[rawgirl00]

Am I the only one disappointed in vitamix? After burning out my mini cuisinart FP and breaking the glass container of my blender I decided to splurge on a vitamix, thinking I would be able to use it for everything and that it would last forever. I received it two days ago and decided to make a raw dessert of some nuts, cocoa powder, coconut nectar and dates. It chopped some of the nuts but some were left whole, it was not good. After reading posts on here I realize that you can't use a VM to do a FP's job. BUT when you watch the demonstrations on VM they make you think the VM will replace your FP & blender. I feel like if the thing can make nut butters it should have been able to make my dessert.
I made a couple smoothies with it which was good but no better than my old blender. What else is this thing good for? because I really can't afford a $400 smoothie maker:( I'm thinking of returning it and betting a blender and a FP. What do you guys think? Should I keep my vm or trade it in for a good blender and fp?

Thanks,

Melissa

[DebB]

Hi Melissa ~ John Kohler has a great video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J6oQCfYxrY)that explains the differences between a blender and a food processor.

For myself - I *love* my high speed blenders, I have a Blend Tec and a Vita Mix. I also have an 11 cup Cuisinart Food Processor. I wouldn't want to substitute one for the other. I wouldn't want to give up one over the other.

I don't know why they pitch VM as a one appliance wonder.... It's not a FP that's for sure.

What you mentioned blending - "raw dessert of some nuts, cocoa powder, coconut nectar and dates." There is not enough liquid in there to properly blend. This would have been better in the FP.

I don't know why you're getting 'chunkies' and not 'smoothies'. What are your ingredients? If you have dates in there and they're chunky - I would definitely recommend soaking the dates overnight in enough water to cover and then adding the dates AND water (cuz it's very sweet and yummy) into your smoothie. No way should you be getting a chunky-smoothie :)

[rawgirl00]

Hi, thanks for your reply. My smoothies were fine, not chunky :) But I feel like $400 for a smoothie maker is a little steep when the blender I had before the pitcher part of it broke on the ceramic floor worked just as well. I don't know I guess I'll use my VM a few more times before I make a decision.

[Revvell]

What Deb said... 'xactly.

[climbing]

I have a 40$ Oster blender/food processer from wal mart. Works for absolutely everything I've ever needed. I don't understand why people spend so much money on vitamix. My old Oster blender was still running after about 6 years before I bought this one, and the only reason I replaced it was it was getting really stained and gungy looking...

If it were me I'd definitely replace it with a cheaper one and use that money for something better! But that's just me.

[snoops]

I had a $40 Oster blender too. If you've never had a fruit or green smoothie in a Vitamix you don't know what you are missing. It is miles above the ones from my Oster. There is no way the Oster can get it as smooth. Mine were always chunkies. I use 4-6 cups of greens per smoothie. No way an Oster would blend that well.

[sacrifice]

I have had a Vitamix for over 30 years. We use it for smoothies, grinding grain to make flour and chicken scratch, and making salsa that I then can. We have had a variety of good blenders also, and there is absolutely no comparison between the two. Blenders are good, but are woefully lacking when it comes to power, speed, and durability. I hate chunks in my smoothies - with the Vitamix - no chunks, just smoothness.
.
A few years ago I gave my daughter my old 30+ year old metal Vitamix and I purchased a new one - While I like the old one better, the new one is equally capable. Interested to see if a daily used Oster blender will last 30+ years. I know mine never have.

[sport]

I use a vita mix. It does make good smoothies but boy is it annoying to make them. I have plenty liquid in mine but it is still painful.

[climbing]

I had a $40 Oster blender too. If you've never had a fruit or green smoothie in a Vitamix you don't know what you are missing. It is miles above the ones from my Oster. There is no way the Oster can get it as smooth. Mine were always chunkies. I use 4-6 cups of greens per smoothie. No way an Oster would blend that well.

Weird, mine works fine, super smooth. I fill it to the top and there's not a chunk left in the mix. Maybe some of them are crappier than others, I dunno?

[holistica]

If it were me I'd definitely replace it with a cheaper one and use that money for something better! But that's just me.

Like a dehydrator!

I hate the VM. My $30 Wal*Mart blender makes better smoothies... And everything else too.

[jevans]

I have to agree with the other VM owners that commented how the VM does a better job. I bought a $100 Ninja blender BEFORE the VM. It did a good job making smoothies, etc. I then bought a VM and couldn't believe the difference. Everything comes out much smoother. It is a must for green smoothies. There is no way that cheaper blenders will blend all leafy greens smoothly. Try putting wheatgrass in a cheaper blender and see what you get.

To rawgirl 100 - the VM needs more liquid too operate properly with your recipe. It is NOT a FP yet it will do some things that a FP will do. As others have mentioned, you can also make your own flower with grains, etc.

It is the only blender that not only makes soup but heats it up (not that RAW requires that).
But yes, you can get good results with FRUIT smoothies with a cheaper blender but I have yet to see a cheaper blender make silky smooth GREEN smoothies.
I just saw a video on YouTube where a lady made a veg smoothie with a $150 blender. She put in normal ingredients and blended for about a minute. When she poured it into the glass it was obvious that it was thick and somewhat chunky. It looked good in the glass but not when she poured it.

Believe me, I had a very difficult time handing over $400 for a blender compared to the $60-$100 blenders. But I felt I was investing in a product that will not fail me and do just about everything I threw at it. It's also important to note that you really should follow the "directions" on which ingredients go in first. VM has done a lot of testing and there are reasons why they say to i.e. "...put the banana in first, then...".

[speltrong]

We use an Oster blender that we bought from Target about 6 months ago, and it is still going strong. We almost upgraded to a VitaMix, but after seeing a demo of the vitamix at a store, we decided that it wasn't better enough to warrant the price difference. So yeah, if I were you, I'd buy the FP and something like this Oster: http://www.target.com/p/Oster-Fusion-Blender-Black-Stainless-Steel/-/A-12185661

[climbing]

my Oster makes beautifully silky smooth green smoothies all the time. Not trying to argue, just saying. I use it for everything and the smoothies come out like cream. I guess if you're going to get a cheap one, get an Oster.

[rawgirl00]

Thanks everyone for your help/posts. I am leaning towards keeping my vitamix. I'm not thrilled with the idea of essentially having a $400 smoothie maker. But it does make a pretty awesome smoothie and hopefully it will last close to forever .

[DebB]

There are so many more things to blend for recipes other than just smoothies. Do you have any raw food recipe books? YouTube has a wealth of raw recipes! I'm so addicted to YT! *Ü*

[Basenjimamma]

I love my VM, use it mainly for smoothies...have a old original oster as well, does great work, but not near as good as VM, key is use of liquid or juicy fruits/veggies and if needed the plunger that came along with it...takes all of 50 secs. to make a huge 64 oz smoothie.
Use it for grinding seeds/nuts or grain, make nutbutters, salsas, dips, soups, heck even some kind of "doughs"...it is amazing..imho.
Now..my FP I still wouldn't do without, I just don't pull it out as often anymore.

[Dirkg]

High speed blenders are great to have, but you can definitely live without them. Unfortunately if a you are new to raw food there is the impression that it's absolutely essential and many people will splurge on it even when its outside their budget.

[GoingtoRAW]

I love my Vitamix. I have made everything from smoothies to soups, to ice-cream, to salad dressings - you name it. Check out some of the recipes in the book that comes with the Vitamix as well as other raw food books. Everything I have made in my Vitamix has come out exactly the consistency I wanted. I burned out several, (four, I think), "high-speed" blenders trying to do with them what I am able to do with my Vitamix. I had had enough. I finally just spent the money and got the Vitamix. I've had it for about a year and a half and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[MsGreen]

I love my Vitamix too. I had a Hamilton Beach blender for years and just couldn't justify the price as my blender was "good enough" for green smoothies. It wasn't until I tried blending kale in my Hamilton Beach that I knew it wasn't going to cut it. It's the Best $400 investment I've ever made. :)

[rawgirl00]

Well, it (the vitamix) went back yesterday. I bought an Oster single serve blender with a to go cup and that's been working wonderfully for my smoothies. Since the VM can not do the job of a FP I know I wouldn't have used it enough to get my money's worth. Thanks gain for everyone's comments.