Which blender?

[TwoWheelGreg]

Can anyone offer advise as to which blender to get out of these three?

Vita-Mix 5000 - $399
Vita Mix Super 5000 (comes w/ wet and dry blades) - $479
Blendtec Total Blender - $399

Any quality differences between Vita Mix and Blendtec?
Would the dry blade come in handy?

Thanks!
Greg

[Lay-Lay]

I have the vita mix super and lovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeee it!

[meinleben]

the vitamix 4500 is perfect for home use....i love it...i believe the 5000 is used more for commercial use....coffee bean....jamba juice....where they are blending all day....

[Sheryl]

I'd go the $399 Vitamix 5000. That's what I have and have never needed a wet and dry blade (and I do buckwheat flour, flax meal too). Sometimes it would be convenient to have two jugs though on busy kitchen days!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[TwoWheelGreg]

I'd go the $399 Vitamix 5000. That's what I have and have never needed a wet and dry blade (and I do buckwheat flour, flax meal too). Sometimes it would be convenient to have two jugs though on busy kitchen days!

Cheers,
Sheryl

So you just use the standard blade (I guess the wet blade) to do the dry things to? Do you know what the difference is between the blades?

Greg

[Lay-Lay]

I love my dry blade. It is great!

[Jackie1995]

I've owned a Vitamix for years with both wet and dry containers, and recently have been test-driving the Ktec. Here's what I found out:

NOISE:
Vitamix has a 2 hp motor. It is loud, but lower on the scale loud, not high pitched. I usually run a smoothie for 90 seconds, and it's bearable.
Ktec has a 3 hp motor. It is really loud, higher on the scale, so much higher pitched that it drives me nuts. BUT I only have to run it on level 10 for 50 seconds to get a perfect smoothie.

CONTAINER:
Vitamix container seems designed to let the ingredients flow toward the blades, so they don't get stuck any one area. It ALL goes into the blender.
Ktec container is OK, but several times I had to stop it and get the top part moving towards the bottom part. After it hits the blades, well, it's all good. Just doesn't seem to be as efficient.

SIZE OF CONTAINER:
Vitamix is a huge 8 cup PLUS container, and I like drinking huge smoothies. Suits me just fine. It also holds enough to share with buddies.
Ktec container is smaller, holds 5 cups PLUS, but I always run out of room cramming the veggies etc. into it. Just fine for regular folks who aren't total smoothie pigs like myself. Makes enough for two normal portions.

TOTAL SIZE:
Vitamix is tall, fits fine on my super modern counters, with a heavy base. But if I had a kitchen like my last one, it wouldn't fit on the counter under the cabinets.
Ktec smaller, lighter base, fits anywhere.

I've had my Vitamix for 10 or so years, and just burned out the bearings on my wet container earlier this year. (It started when I just threw a whole apple in there, instead of cutting it up. Boy that was dumb.)
The new container/blade assembly cost me $90 and I guess it'll last me another 10 years. I'm happy with it.

The Ktec will live ... who knows how long. I also hear they're coming out with a newer model that is quieter, also 3 hp.
I might consider it if my Vitamix ever bit the dust. Maybe. If they made a bigger container. And if it was a LOT quieter.

The dry blade was great when I used to bake stuff, because I'd throw in the whole wheat or whole oats or whatever and make my own flour. I haven't used it lately, since I don't cook anymore. When I blew out the motor on the wet container, I used the dry container for smoothies while waiting for a replacement. It didn't work as well, the blades are different and designed to push stuff UP not pull it down. So IMHO you don't really need the dry container.

Hope that helps.

[TwoWheelGreg]

Thanks for all the feedback. I decided to go with the Vitamix 5000 (w/out the dry blade).

Greg

[Sharon in Colorado]

Jackie is right - there are pluses and drawbacks with both. I've used both for long periods of time.

I currently use the K-tec. On the upside, K-tec has an 8 year waranty and I've had the entire motor replaced when I burned it out a couple years ago. I've also had the blender jars replaced numerous times free of charge.

What I mostly liked better about the Vitamix is the tamper. K-tec doesn't have one.

And Jackie is right, K-tec is very loud. I wear soundproof headphones because my ears started to ring and I'm sure it was from the daily blending.

Whichever blender you choose, I highly recommend using ear protection.

[ellenalesa]

Pardon me for butting in, but I have not seen a need to spend $$$$$ on a blender. I have one I got from Walmart or Kmart, for about $30 or so. It has a glass jar (I don't like plastic) and it's great for smoothies.

What is it about Vitamix and the others that makes them worth the $$? (This is meant respectfully, I really would like to know).

Ellen

[Sharon in Colorado]

If it works for you, go for it.

The high speed blenders are great for frozen fruits, ice, denser foods plus the Vitamix can work up enough friction to warm a soup.

I've been through tons of lower quality blenders and they don't do much more than liquid and soft fruits. They can't handle nut butters, hummus or banana ice cream like the higher speed blenders.

[mbf]

I too have been through a few cheap$ blenders. If you are blending greens or frozen food you really have to try a VitaMix. I used to have to let my frozen fruit thaw for 30 minutes in my not so cheap$ kitchenaid blender! And my green smoothies were not very smooth, I would have to chew bits of kale as I drank!

Ellen, If you are not blending that stuff then perhaps you don't need it, I almost live on smoothies and I personally don't know how I survived without it ....to each his own.

Mara

[Pierre]

I have 460 mm under the cupboard. Will a Vita-Mix fit?

What's the power of the motor in watts? I saw a lesser blender at the drugstore today (I had to buy pens) with a 350 W motor.

From the noise standpoint, it sounds like I should get a Vita-Mix.

[Raw Jewelrylady]

I LOVE my Vita-Mix 5000. I use it several times a day.

I make smoothies, soups, ice cream, dressings, etc...-but the best thing is *cheese sauce* OH ...How I love *cheesey sauces* -I could not get even close to the consistency with my cheap blender.

Lana

[Green Life]

The dry container is helpful if you want to save the blades on the wet container for grinding grains.

My Vitamix super fits under my cabinets just fine.

I have gone through many many wall mart blenders until I finally bought a Vitamix and so it's worth the extra expense not having to run to wallys every other month to get another blender.


Vita mix has been around a long time, the Ktec (Blendtec) hasn't, and they have changed the name and God only knows what else they have done to the Ktec to make it more saleable. Vita Mix has never changed their name. That seems to mean alot to me for some reason.


Cheers!
Green Life