Have to Choose One: Vitamix or Juicer?

[AMVeggieTales]

Hello, I'm new here (just introduced myself on the meet/greet board). I'm gearing up for my 30 day challenge! :)

I'm prepared to invest in EITHER a Vitamix OR a good quality juicer. I LOVE veggie juices so I'm leaning towards a juicer.

I just wanted to ask some veterans here for their input first. I did some searches and found lots of hits, but nothing specifically about which one would be more helpful for a raw foods lifestyle overall.

Thanks in advance for any insight!
Best,
Anne

[Revvell]

VitaMix. Sooooo much easier and less time consuming and clean-up to make smoothies rather than juicing.

R.

[Punky]

Definately a vitamix...love mine!
Just got one a couple of months ago; I've had a juicer for 4 years.
Juicers are nice to have, but I use my Vitamix way more...

[Rawkinlocs]

I agree! Definitely the Vitamix. You can do more with it than you can with a juicer AND, you can make juice in the Vitamix...just put your fruit or veggies in and if you don't want to drink it as is, pour through a nutmilk strainer bag and strain off the pulp and drink the remaining juice!

[AMVeggieTales]

Thanks for the replies, looks like the VitaMix is quite the favorite around here! I am curious if ANYone would go with the juicer -- and why. I am most certainly not liking the idea of complicated clean up every time I want a glass of juice, lol -- so that is one reason the VitaMix sounds like a good investment.

I just love, love, love V-8 juice and want to make my own. I can see how a thicker version might be yummy too, though (for example, I love gazpacho, the kind that is very smooth, so in a way that's kinda like V-8!).

Anyway, just rambling here. I'm willing to invest some $$ but don't want to end up with something just taking space up on my counter, LOL. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the input!
Anne

[Rawkinlocs]

The only way I would go with the juicer was if I had an okay blender already that did most of what I needed it to do and I wanted/needed a high quality juicer for juicing wheatgrass or to make nut butters.

But the VitaMix claims you can make nut butters in them. I don't even own a VitaMix...I have a cheaper model blender. I only say go with the VitaMix because I feel you will get more use out of it than a juicer. I own a Champion Juicer and it had been under my cabinet on a shelf until just recently when I pulled it out to make some almond butter. I've been using it lately, though...once a day to make juice for my husband who is on a sort of juice kick...for the time being. But I use my blender WAAAY more than that juicer. I make smoothies, soups, salad dressings, and other stuff in it. Though my cheap little model does what I need it to do, I wish I had a VitaMix just for more power so it wouldn't take as long to get things smooth like I figure they would in a VitaMix.

So, that's why if I, personally, had to choose it would be the blender and not the juicer. I love smoothies more than juice and again, if you really wanted juice you can still make it right in the VitaMix...either thick by not straining it or thinner by straining it.

Happy decision making! ;)

[AMVeggieTales]

The straining is a great idea, I can see how a Vita Mix would have many more uses. I do love soups, and my current blender is a very mediocre one, so a Vita Mix would certainly help me there....

When I was pregnant with my 3rd child, I used my blender every single day making the gazpacho that I craved so much!

The more versatile product would make the most sense....AND my husband LOVES smoothies! So a VitaMix is in the lead so far, it looks like. :)

Best,
Anne

[Revvell]

I've got two quality juicers ~ Green Power and a Green Life. The Green Life is under the counter and been there since we moved here in Mar. I'm about to put the other down there as well. I think I've used it twice since moving here. I've used my VitaMix daily, sometimes 3x a day and even use my K-Tec Champ a few times (prefer the VitaMix). Blenders rock!!!!


R.

[margi]

I would also say go for the Vitamix. I have had one for years and I find it much more useful than my juicer which I really only break out when I have some time to spare with cleaning and I want non-pulpy juice. Another thing I do when i want juice is to just blend stuff in the Vitamix and then add water to the juice to dilute it and make it less pulpy. Straining with the nut mylk bag is a great idea, too!

[HydroRaw]

Definitely Vita-Mix -- a very handy all-around kitchen tool!

[Cinnamon]

Vitamix all the way! I used mine daily and wonder now how I lived without it for so long... ha! I got the Professional Series and it works like a charm.

[AMVeggieTales]

WOW, lotsa VitaMix fans! Nothing like real users' opinions to "seal the deal", so to speak. :)

Okay, now that I know VitaMix seems to be so popular, are there any blenders at all that come even close to being really good? I ask this as a courtesy to my husband who I'm sure would appreciate a less costly kitchen appliance. :p

Of course, being the wonderful man that he is, he WOULD get me one if I truly wanted it, I just want to see if there are any 2nd place blenders out there that anyone would recommend?

Thanks!
Anne

[SedonaSun]

Okay, now that I know VitaMix seems to be so popular, are there any blenders at all that come even close to being really good? I ask this as a courtesy to my husband who I'm sure would appreciate a less costly kitchen appliance. :p

Of course, being the wonderful man that he is, he WOULD get me one if I truly wanted it, I just want to see if there are any 2nd place blenders out there that anyone would recommend?

Yup, the K-Tec HP3. It's shorter than the Vitamix so it fits under your cabinets :) HP3 stans for the 3-horsepower motor. Very powerful. Obviously you know a lot of people love their VM, but I knew the tallness of it would just grate on me. Not sure how much cheaper it is, though.

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, if the motor hadn't burned out on me, I'd recommend the L'Equip Blender. It was pretty nice in terms of power and I liked that I could grind nuts and even flax seeds into powder in it!

But again, it died on me. They DO have a warranty though...forgot how long it lasts and I just need to send mine in provided I didn't dilly-dally around too late :rolleyes:

[Revvell]

I would look at a Black and Decker although, if you plan on using something a lot and for a REALLY long time, get the VitaMix. If height is a problem do what I do... put the container next to the base.

btw ~ the k-tec is at least as expensive as the vita-mix and has a smaller container. The other reason I don't like it as much is, the vita-mix starts at a very low speed and can then go VERY high whereas the k-tec starts at about the vita-mix's mid-speed.

Revvell

[Sharon in Colorado]

Blenders rock!!!!


R.

But do they blend rocks, that is the question of the day!

I have the Champ HP3 blender like Sedona Sun...I like it a lot better now that I use an extra container for when I make smoothies for the entire fam. Used to be, the liquid would seep out every which way until I got my thinking cap on and got the other container. It is way faster making smoothies with 2 containers.

My hubby uses a Breville juicer, excellent by the way. It is a basket-style juicer and does a quick job at carrots and apples and celery, etc. I know the Samson, Green Life/star twin gear types are supposed to be great for juicing greens, but many experts are now recommending eating greens, or throwing them in the blender for a green smoothie along with your fruit smoothies. My husband juices carrots and apples in the AM in the Breville. He needs the sugars before he works out.

If I had to decide I'd get the high speed blender first. I feel juicing in large quantities can be a bit wasteful. Not only moneywise, but dietwise, because you aren't taking in the whole fruit/vegetable, just the juice and then you aren't getting in any bulk to fill up on.

The one thing I do like to juice in the juicer is navel oranges. When valencias are in season, I use our OJEX citrus press. Navels don't press well, since they are more of an eating orange. I use the juice in the smoothies and they taste wonderful.

[AMVeggieTales]

Wonderful ideas, everyone -- thanks! :)

Starting to think about getting a second hand juicer for less cost (b/c I really do want to make juices, esp. for my kids), and then invest in a really good blender for DAILY use...

If I seem to be "overthinking" this, well I probably am, LOL, but I don't want to be 10 days into my challenge and then sputter out b/c I'm not prepared! :rolleyes:

Thank you again for all the input, it is really helpful.
Best,
Anne

[misslinda]

sorry, i've never owned a vitamix. i'm real simple in preparations so i own a juicer. i either eat the fresh stuff or juice for fasting. now i'm curiosu as to waht this vitamix even looks like. :)

[Revvell]

now i'm curiosu as to waht this vitamix even looks like. :)

https://www.vitamix.com/household/store/showprod.cfm?&DID=7&CATID=14&ObjectGroup_ID=57

[misslinda]

Oh Revvell you doll, i was going to go to the store......500 points for you! ;)

[Lady Green Jeans]

AMVeggieTales,

Good questions on the juicer vs blender. I bought a used Norwalk about 7 years ago, a centriful juicer right before that, a green star two years ago for my sister, had a KTec for a coffee shop/juice bar, and recently purchased and use almost daily the VitaMix. I have only been 6 weeks raw and so thankful of Alissa's book and DVDs that really made everything cohesive.

What I use daily is the Cuisinart food processor, spiralizer, and VitaMix. I do use my juicer, but surprisingly not that often. Not a big fan yet of the green smoothies, but given the positive feedback--will probably learn to do them where I like the flavor/texture since they will do the body so much good.

Don't know if any of this helps but really am loving the raw cuisine and having so much fun working my way through Alissa's recipes.

Best of luck and best of health to you on your journey.

[rawpriestess]

Just so everyone knows, the Vita Mix, has now come out with two new containers, one has a soft handle and the other one is shorter, so it will fit under your counter now.

Vita Mix says it has listened to it's customers about needing a shorter container.

[Dandelion Girl]

Anne, Try looking on Ebay. I got my Vitamix on Ebay for less than $200. That is also where I got my Cuisinart new in the box for about half the price of getting it from the manufactor. I get a lot more use from my Vitamix than my juicer, but if you really want a juicer, you may be able to afford both if you find good deals on ebay.

[Revvell]

Oh Revvell you doll, i was going to go to the store......500 points for you! ;)

Heh! Collects me points then looks around for where I can circulate them. :D

[AMVeggieTales]

Ohhh, I love Ebay -- I'm a big fan. :D

I've already done searches on VitaMix and also blenders; possibly the post-holiday weeks will have some good deals!

Thanks for the encouragement and good wishes, by the way -- I plan on daily reading and/or involvement on these boards for support, ideas, and help during any possible rough spots.

I will also prob. use the journal here. If I feel accountable, it will help a lot.

No matter what appliances I end up with, I do feel these boards are going to be the very best help. I already have gotten so many "a-ha" moments and good ideas!

Best,
Anne

[edie]

I have a Magic Bullet. Love it, I only use the small containers but I don't know what I would do without it now. It is very powerful , I have had it for almost 2 years, use it everyday and is still going strong. You can make small quanities fresh...and is very easy to clean. Hardly use my vitamix anymore. It is such a treat to make fresh dressing from just about anything daily. Anyway haven't run across any raw folk that uses it like me and I don't understand why? :confused: EDIE Buy the way I don't recomend the jucier that comes with it or the large container I threw them out!