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.

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.

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.

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

[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