Which Vitamix Blender Ought to You Purchase? We In contrast (Virtually) All of Them

Straight to the Level

We advocate the Vitamix 5200 Skilled-Grade Blender. It is a longtime Critical Eats favourite and includes a tapered mixing jar that creates a strong vortex. It has a no-frills, straightforward to make use of interface, making it a sensible choice for cooks who simply need an amazing blender however do not care about presets or digital controls.

For those who’re seeking to purchase a Vitamix blender, chances are high you’re overwhelmed. There are virtually a dozen totally different Vitamixes on the market, and so they all sound confoundingly related. What’s the distinction between the Vitamix A3300 Ascent and A3500 Ascent? Or the Vitamix Skilled-Grade vs. Skilled Sequence fashions? Including to the confusion: There’s certainly a large variance in performance and value between all the totally different Vitamix fashions.

For those who’re in search of a fast reply about the perfect Vitamix, right here’s the TL;DR model: Our long-time favourite high-end blender is the Vitamix 5200 Skilled-Grade Blender. At about $400, it’s costly, however it’s additionally in no way the highest-priced Vitamix.

Nonetheless, we have been interested by how different Vitamixes stack-up (together with among the pricier, newer touchscreen fashions). So, we rounded up 10 well-liked ones and put them via the paces.

How We Evaluated the Vitamix Blenders

Right here's the factor: Once you get a Vitamix, you're assured to get a strong blender that works fairly nicely. Our purpose wasn't to find out which Vitamixes have been the perfect and the worst, as we stand by our longterm favourite the 5200 and a number of these blenders' utility in the end comes right down to what options you need and what you propose to make use of them for. As a substitute, we needed to ascertain a efficiency baseline and share any useful UX observations to function extra of a information when figuring out which Vitamix is best for you.

So, we carried out two duties with every of the blenders (together with the 5200, as form of a management). The primary was inexperienced smoothies (15 grams of 1-inch kale stems, 30 grams of kale leaves, 4 ounces of frozen pineapple, and eight ounces of orange juice). We blended the smoothies for 15 seconds, then poured six ounces of it via a superb mesh strainer and weighed, in grams, the fibrous materials that remained to gauge mixing effectivity. We continued to mix the remainder of the smoothie for one minute, once more strained and weighed the quantity of fibrous materials left within the remaining smoothie, and famous the smoothie's closing texture and aeration. For our second take a look at, we made peanut butter in every blender with two cups of roasted, unsalted peanuts. On fashions with variable speeds, we blended the peanut butter first at medium velocity, whereas agitating the contents with the tamper, for 30 seconds. (Fashions with simply two speeds have been examined first on low). After 30 seconds, the consistency of the peanut butter was evaluated, then blended for a further 10 seconds.

In fact, we thought of person expertise and design. Dealing with, the blender's controls, and ease of cleanup have been all evaluated. We additionally measured in decibels, utilizing a sound decibel meter, how loud every Vitamix was and took be aware of its value.

Right here's what you’ll want to find out about every Vitamix blender that will help you determine which one's (largely) ultimate to your kitchen.

Vitamix 5200 Skilled-Grade Blender

Vitamix 5200 Skilled-Grade Blender

Purchase on Amazon

This extremely highly effective blender has been our high decide for years and for good purpose: Its slim, tall jar creates a vortex that pulls elements down and retains them near the blades, creating silky-smooth smoothies, soups, purees, and nut butters.

Finest For:

You may mix most something with the 5200. It's has a no-frills, 10-speed management panel and lacks presets, however this has by no means bothered us: with a little bit use, you'll determine which speeds work greatest for what. A whole lot of Vitamixes, together with this one, have an auto shut-off characteristic ought to the motor begin to get overworked, which offers good peace of thoughts. It additionally includes a slow-start which lets you mix soups with much less hassle (an excessive amount of turbulence too quick may cause sizzling soup to launch steam, sending a blender's lid off and soup all over the place).

We Examined Excessive-Finish Blenders—Right here Are Our Two Favorites

Challenges or Shortcomings:

Its tall, slender jar makes it more durable to suit your hand and sponge into the bottom (though operating the blender with soapy water does the trick). At 84 decibels, it's not the quietest blender and if you happen to're excited by a ton of presets/features, it doesn't have them.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 84 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 64 ounces
• Guarantee: Seven years

Vitamix One

Vitamix One

Purchase on Amazon

Whereas $250 is definitely is not low cost, the Vitamix One is the least costly Vitamix mannequin on the market. However, it has its limitations (which you’ll be able to examine under) and we won’t advocate shopping for this blender until you are utilizing it to only make smoothies occasionally. And even then, this blender is just too costly for what you get.

Finest For:

For infrequent mixing of smoothies, sauces, or dips, this blender will work. However, once more, for $250 there are higher, non-Vitamix blenders that may do all that and extra.

Shortcomings or Challenges:

Testers famous the “borderline insupportable” sound of this mannequin’s motor. Certainly, at 93 decibels, it was the loudest blender we examined. Whereas we did make peanut butter with it (which was gritty), it’s value noting that the producer’s care directions state that making nut butter, mixing sizzling soups, or grinding grains with the ONE will void its two-year guarantee. The plastic blender base felt low cost compared to different Vitamixes and the ONE was additionally smaller (a 32-ounce said capability). The management panel has a single dial and lacks one other on/off change, so if the dial is turned to the correct in any respect once you plug the blender in, the ONE will begin.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 93 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 32 ounces
• Guarantee: Two years

Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender

Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender

Purchase on Amazon

A small and tidy blender, the E310 Explorian has a handbook interface that resembles the 5200 and a management dial that permits you to simply toggle between 10 totally different speeds. Vitamix considers this mannequin its entry into professional-level mixing, so you possibly can count on a average value and efficiency.

Finest For:

This mannequin is greatest for these in search of a compact blender for smoothies, sauces, and less-tough mixing duties. It's a little dearer than the ONE, however if you happen to're looking for a smaller, starter blender, it's a greater funding.

Shortcomings or Challenges:

It’s one of many weaker Vitamix fashions, as evidenced by the fibrous smoothie it produced (14 grams of mass was left within the strainer after one minute, which was the best of the bunch and double that of the 5200). Throughout the peanut butter exams, its motor emitted an overworked scent.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 84 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 48 ounces
• Guarantee: 5 years

Vitamix A3500 Ascent Sequence Sensible Blender

Vitamix A3500 Ascent Sequence Skilled-Grade Sensible Blender

Purchase on Amazon

This blender options an LED, touchscreen show, a management knob, and a built-in timer that testers discovered useful (no setting a separate timer to inform you when one-minute of mixing is up). For these in search of a blender with pre-programmed settings, this comes with 5 of them, together with ones for smoothies and sizzling soups. For those who preserve your blender out on the countertop, this can be a nice-looking equipment and is available in six finishes.

Finest For:

This blender excelled throughout our smoothie take a look at, leading to a {smooth}, frothy smoothie with super-fine grit. It struggled extra with peanut butter and if nut butter is one thing you wish to make on this blender, we propose doing so with the tamper, which is able to assist to an extent.

Shortcomings or Challenges:

Normally, we discovered that Vitamixes with extensive jars struggled with small-batch duties, missing the stronger vortex of tapered containers that pulled elements in direction of the blades. With a tapered container, the tamper can be capable of make extra contact with the elements and push them downwards simply. With extensive jars, all of this may make cleanup more difficult, too, as bits of elements are extra readily thrown upwards, sticking on the partitions and lid. The A3500 can be the most costly mannequin we examined.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 69.8 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 64 ounces
• Guarantee: 10 years

Vitamix A3300 Ascent Sequence Sensible Blender

Vitamix A3300 Ascent Blender

Purchase on Amazon

This blender is similar to the A3500 and in addition has a LED, touchscreen show and a built-in timer. It lacks the presets the A3500 has, which makes the A3300 about $100 cheaper. It's a contact louder (at 72 decibels) than the A3500, however nonetheless pretty quiet for a blender.

Finest For:

This was additionally high-performer for smoothies and left 9 grams of mass leftover after a one-minute mix. Compared, the A3500 left 11 grams and the 5200 seven grams.

Shortcomings or Challenges:

The A3300 shares the identical struggles as the opposite wide-canister blenders: It couldn't efficiently make {smooth} peanut butter—a small-batch, more durable job that actually advantages from a blender with a narrower, tapered jar.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 72 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 64 ounces
• Guarantee: 10 years

Vitamix Ascent Sequence A2300 Blender

Vitamix Ascent Sequence A2300

Purchase on Amazon

At a barely extra palatable value level, the A2300 is a part of Vitamix’s Ascent line. Like the remainder of the Ascent fashions, the A2300 is healthier suited to liquids and bigger batches of meals, because it has a large blender canister. It additionally has a LED display screen with a built-in timer, a pulse button, and a 10-speed management knob. We preferred this mixture of digital and handbook management options.

Finest For:

This blender is a superb alternative for liquids (smoothies, soups, sauces) and we discovered that it produced an ultra-smooth, well-aerated drink.

Shortcomings and Challeges:

Once more, the extensive design of this canister required the next quantity of elements to correctly mix.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 77 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 64 ounces
• Guarantee: 10 years

Vitamix Ascent Sequence A2500 Sensible Blender

Vitamix A2500 Ascent Sequence Sensible Blender

Purchase on Amazon

This mannequin has wi-fi connectivity, a LED display screen with a built-in timer, and a management knob with 10 settings. It additionally has three totally different program settings (smoothies, sizzling soup, and frozen desserts), which so far as we are able to inform is the one distinction between the the A2500 and A2300 and the rationale for the $50 value distinction.

Finest For:

The A2500 carried out practically identically to the A2300. It made an amazing smoothie—maybe a hair smoother than that of the 2300, however the distinction was actually negligible.

Shortcomings and Challenges:

One other extensive jar meant one other mannequin that struggled with the robust, small-batch job we gave it of creating peanut butter. For these wider jars, we propose scaling up the quantity you make or simply choosing a mannequin with a tapered jar.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 75 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 64 ounces
• Guarantee: 10 years

Vitamix Skilled Sequence 750 Blender

Vitamix Skilled Sequence 750 Blender

Purchase on Amazon

This blender has analog controls (i.e. a handbook management knob, not a digital interface), but additionally 5 presets. For these in search of a large-canister, non-smart blender with some "further" options, this can be a superb choice.

Finest For:

The phrase “skilled” on this blender’s identify is essential: We discovered it to be missing for small-scale house cooks. The jar is extensive and it struggled with a small-batch mixing job. That mentioned, if you happen to actually solely make smoothies, like cooking in batches, or usually deal with large-scale initiatives, this can be a good funding. 

Shortcomings or Challenges:

The extensive, squat blender jar resulted in much less peanut butter being properly blended and extra of it thrown upwards, sticking within the lid and jar's grooves.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 75.1 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 64 ounces
• Guarantee: Seven years

Vitamix 5300 Blender

Vitamix 5300 Blender

Purchase on Walmart

The management panel of the 5300 is paying homage to the 5200, with a handbook knob that may be adjusted mid-purée. We discovered its no-frills, simple interface to be very straightforward to make use of and preferred the blue mild situated in direction of the underside, entrance left of the blender's base, indicating whether or not or not the blender was switched on.

Finest For:

The 5300 produced one of many silkiest smoothies we made, with simply 4 grams of fiber left within the strainer after a minute of mixing (the 5200 had seven grams, for reference).

Shortcomings or Challenges:

This was one other wider blender jar that didn't measure as much as a tapered jar's skill to create the vortex needed for the more durable job of mixing a smaller batch of peanut butter (its motor emitted a "cooked" scent after about 40 seconds as nicely). The tamper instrument additionally seemed to be product of cheaper, skinny plastic and didn’t match snugly into the lid, permitting meals to splatter up and out.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 87 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 64 ounces
• Guarantee: Seven years

Vitamix 7500 Blender

Vitamix 7500 Blender

Purchase on Amazon

At about $500, the Vitamix 7500 sits solidly within the center in the case of value and it has a easy, no-frills interface, however it fell quick in some fundamental standards. It was the second-loudest mannequin we examined And just like the Ascent collection, this blender will greatest serve smoothie drinkers or these seeking to mix liquidy meals.

Finest For:

This produced a properly, if barely inconsistently, aerated smoothie with superb grit, containing simply 4 grams of unprocessed fiber on the finish of mixing. For those who're largely mixing smoothies, soups, sauces, and enormous batches of meals, it'll work nicely.

Shortcomings or Challenges:

This mannequin actually struggled with the peanut butter; one tester famous that the peanut butter “painted” the within of the jar as an alternative of being pulled down into the blender's blades and processed to a {smooth} consistency.

Key Specs:

• Noise degree: 92 decibels
• Acknowledged capability: 64 ounces
• Guarantee: Seven years

FAQs

Is a refurbished Vitamix mannequin value it?

Sure, with a caveat. For those who’re seeking to purchase a used Vitamix, it’s advisable to purchase instantly from the model. Used, or as Vitamix calls them “reconditioned” blenders, are totally inspected and repaired by their professionals earlier than reselling. Though an authorized reconditioned Vitamix blender could value greater than a Fb Market rating, it comes with a three- to five-year guarantee. 

For those who’re available in the market however not in a rush to purchase, it’s value usually checking the licensed choices obtainable—the inventory is all the time rotating and refreshing.

What's the quietest Vitamix blender?

The A3500 is the quietest Vitamix mannequin. That is a part of the model’s Ascent collection, that includes good know-how, a touchscreen, presets, and extra. In fact, you’ll pay a premium for the noise management, in addition to all a bunch of different options. At slightly below $600, it is one among Vitamix’s most costly fashions.

Are you able to clear a Vitamix within the dishwasher?

It is a “are you able to” vs. “must you” state of affairs. Some Vitamix blender jars are dishwasher-safe (on the highest rack). However as with all high-quality kitchen tools, you’re higher off cleansing your Vitamix by hand. For liquid jobs, like smoothies and soups, a drop or two of dish cleaning soap and a splash of water within the carafe will get the job achieved—simply mix the detergent, then dump it out. Refill with water and repeat till the cleaning soap and meals particles are gone.

Sticky or stable objects are a little bit trickier to scrub from a blender jar, which is the place the correct instrument will come in useful. Lengthy-handled bottle brushes deal with stuck-on bits whereas maintaining your fingers protected from the blades. 

It’s additionally value noting that the dishwasher can go away behind a filmy residue that may lend off flavors, so if you happen to do go that route, make sure to manually rinse it a number of instances earlier than utilizing it.

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