If you have spent any time at all watching late-night infomercials, you're probably familiar with the VitaMix blenders. They chop! They crush! They pulverize food to a pureed pulp!
And they cost as much as a new car.
Okay, they really don't cost that much, but at nearly $500 for the Vita Mix 5000, this isn't exactly a bargain blender.
So is it worth the money? Does it do everything it promises and more?
In a word, yes.
Even if you are quite thrifty when it comes to kitchen gear, you are likely to find that the Vita Mix blender is one of the best investments you can make.
What's So Great About This Blender?
It is truly the only blender that reliably makes smoothies the healthiest way: with frozen fruit, rather than ice, to provide texture.
If you put frozen fruit in most blenders and smoothie-makers, they'll just grind a few seconds, then stop, no matter how small you cut the fruit. It has nothing to do with wattage, mind you. It's a function of the way the blender operates. Not so with the Vita Mix. It can grind a whole orange without clogging.
The Vita Mix is like a Second Food Processor
What's more, the Vita-Mix is almost like a food processor, as well. You can make everything from black bean dip to split pea and barley soup in it, and, of course, use it to crush bread crumbs or corn flakes.
It doesn't work as well as a food processor in every case. A food processor purees things evenly, even sticky things, like cheese dip. And it's easier to control how much you puree something with a food processor. For example, if you're making roasted red pepper and artichoke tapenade, it should be rather chunky, something that's certainly possibly to achieve with the VitaMix, but is really better done by pulsing just a few times with a food processor.
Still, the Vita Mix is a workhorse, and it has some helpful features, including measurements on the container, a spill-proof vented-lid and a variable control for blending at any speed you like. The VitaMix is also incredibly easy to clean -- you just fill it 1/3 of the way with warm water, add a splash of dishwashing soap and blend. Then rinse and let it dry. Much easier than pulling apart a blender and scrubbing pieces individually.
If you just make occasional smoothies or dips, it isn't necessary to buy a Vita Mix. A basic Hamilton Beach Wave-Action blender will work fine in the short run, and it's cheap enough that you can replace it every year if need be.
On the other hand, if smoothies, pureed soups, dips and salsas are part of your daily diet, or you just want to have a second food processor at the ready, the Vita Mix is worth the money for the long term.
Try these recipes in your Vita Mix:
- Antioxidant Smoothie
- Carrot Cake Smoothies
- Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
- Tropical Smoothies
- Strawberry Smoothie
- Pumpkin Smoothies
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Bean Soup with Hot Dogs
- Cauliflower Cheese Soup
- Guacamole with Tomatillos
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Tofu Pie
