Best Vitamix blenders
Sure, blenders are useful kitchen tools. They blend up smoothies, milkshakes, frozen drinks, soups, sauces and gravies. But many of the blenders on today’s market do the same basic no-frills job.
Vitamix blenders are an exception to that rule.
Talk to anyone who owns a Vitamix, and they’ll rave about its versatility, effectiveness and power. That’s because a Vitamix doesn’t just blend smoothies and drinks. It also juices fruits and vegetables, makes hot soup without a stove, churns nut butters, and chops and grates veggies and hard cheeses.
But these professional-grade blenders come with a price tag to match. When you’re investing so much — at least a few hundred dollars — you want to be certain the Vitamix you buy is the right one for you. With so many Vitamix models, options and extra features available, how do you choose?
You might start by checking out our top pick, the Vitamix 5200 Blender. It features a large, durable 64-ounce container and aircraft-grade stainless steel blades that can easily slice through any ingredient.
Best Vitamix Blenders available now
How are Vitamix blenders different from other blenders?
Because a Vitamix blender features at least a 2-horsepower motor, it can blend almost anything, including many items that traditional blenders cannot. The motor keeps even torque to maintain a cool temperature so the Vitamix doesn’t overheat when blending harder items.
In addition to the powerful motor, the aircraft-grade stainless steel blades on a Vitamix blender can tackle the toughest ingredients. The blender container is designed to create a controlled vortex that continuously moves ingredients back toward the blades to make blending faster and smoother, no matter what you’re making.
What are the benefits of a Vitamix blender?
With its powerful motor and blades, a Vitamix blender can change the way you work in the kitchen. Here are some of its benefits.
A Vitamix can replace multiple appliances in your kitchen. Not only can you use it to blend, but you can also use it in place of your food processor, juicer, ice cream maker and, in some cases, stand mixer. Because of its high power, things like hummus, which you could make in any blender, turn out smoother and creamier in a Vitamix.
It's made to last. The sturdy design and high-quality materials of a Vitamix lend themselves to the appliance’s extreme durability. And because the motor is so powerful, you don’t have to worry about it burning out as traditional blenders often do. Vitamix offers 7- to 10-year warranties on its blenders, too, so you can expect years of use.
It can jumpstart a healthy diet. It can grind the toughest fruits and vegetables — skin and seeds included — into delicious smoothies or raw juices, which are chock-full of vitamins and minerals.
What should you look for when buying a Vitamix blender?
Capacity
Depending on the model, Vitamix blenders primarily come with either a 64- or 48-ounce container.
- 64 ounces: Most Vitamix models are equipped with a 64-ounce container that makes them ideal for large households or preparing large batches of food and beverages for parties. Our top picks with a 64-ounce container include the Vitamix 5200, Vitamix Ascent 3300, Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series, Vitamix A2300 Ascent Series and Vitamix 6500 Blender.
- 48 ounces: When you don't need quite so much, this is the next most popular container size. A 48-ounce container can provide one to four servings of your favorite soups, smoothies and more. Our top picks with a 48-ounce container include the Vitamix Explorian Series E310, Vitamix Propel 510, Vitamix Quiet One Blender and Vitamix Ascent X2.
If you want something smaller, you can often purchase Vitamix containers in other sizes that are compatible with your model, so you can adjust the capacity based on what you’re preparing. For instance, the Explorian Series E310 can be purchased on the Vitamix website with the personal cup adapter and two 20-ounce personal cups, so you can blend smoothies right in your cup to take on the go.
Motor power
A blender’s motor determines how effectively it blends and pulverizes ingredients. Most Vitamix blenders feature a peak horsepower in the range of 2 to 2.2, which translates to over 1,400 watts. This is what makes them so much more powerful than conventional blenders.
Think you need even more power? The Vitamix Quiet One has a peak horsepower of 3, making it the most powerful of our top picks.
Speed
Nearly all Vitamix blenders feature variable speed dials with as many as 10 speed settings. Variable speed control allows you to get the exact texture you want for all the ingredients you put in the blender.
The more speeds a model has, the more control you have over your blend.
Preset programs
Many Vitamix blenders have preset program settings that make whipping up your favorite smoothies and hot soups foolproof.
Simply put your ingredients in the container, press a button or turn the dial, and the blender will choose the right speed and duration for the food or beverage you’re preparing.
For instance, the Vitamix Propel 510, Vitamix Ascent X2 and Vitamix 6500 have programs for smoothies, hot soups and frozen desserts, and the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series has programs for smoothies, hot soups, dips and spreads, frozen desserts and even self-cleaning.
Controls
Vitamix blenders typically have dial or digital touchpad controls. Some use a combination of the two, with a dial to control speed and touchpad buttons to control preset programs.
With dial controls, you have to turn through all the settings to reach the one you want.
Digital touchpad controls, on the other hand, can sometimes be accidentally activated by spills or splashes. Both dial and touchpad controls are easy to clean if spills occur, however.
Models with touchpad or touch screen controls include the Vitamix A3300 Ascent Series, Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series and Vitamix Quiet One.
Like other blenders, Vitamix models also have a pulse feature that’s typically in the form of a button or switch.
Timers
Some Vitamix blenders are equipped with built-in digital programmable timers that make achieving the perfect texture even easier.
The digital timer clearly displays how long your blender has been working, so you know if it needs more time or not.
Some models have an advanced timer. With this feature, the Vitamix will blend for your specified time and then turn itself off (such as the Vitamix A3300 Ascent Series and Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series). If you’re often multitasking while working in the kitchen, this can be a very helpful extra.
Accessories
All Vitamix blenders come with a tamper to press ingredients down toward the blades and a cookbook with recipe suggestions for the blender.
You can also purchase additional containers in various sizes for many Vitamix blenders.
How much do Vitamix blenders cost?
Before you decide which Vitamix model is right for you, consider the price. Because they are high-performance blenders, Vitamix models tend to be expensive, ranging from around $400 (such as the Vitamix Explorian Series E310, which retails for $380) to more than $1,000 (such as the Vitamix Quiet One, which retails for $1,463). You'll find that the majority of Vitamix blenders range in price from $500 to $700.
Tips and tricks for using your Vitamix blender
- Register your Vitamix blender at the Vitamix website. This will ensure that you’re protected by the warranty should anything go wrong with the blender.
- It’s normal for a Vitamix blender to give off a slight burning smell during the first few uses. As the motor gets warmed up, the smell should go away.
- Layer ingredients when adding them to a Vitamix. Start with liquids, add soft or small items next, and top off the container with hard or large items.
- If possible, add a little water to the bottom of the container before blending. It will help the ingredients move around the blades more easily.
- You can easily clean a Vitamix blender by adding some hot water and a squirt of dishwashing soap to the container. Run the blender on high for several minutes, then drain it and wipe down the interior of the container.
- You can use your Vitamix blender to make beauty treatments such as body scrubs, face or hair masks and body butter. It even works for making homemade play dough.
FAQ
Q. Are Vitamix blenders noisy?
A. Because it’s a high-performance blender, a Vitamix is going to make noise when it’s in use. It can be fairly loud when you’re using it at higher speeds. However, keep in mind that Vitamix blenders tend to be quieter than other high-performance blenders.
Q. Can you wash a Vitamix blade assembly in the dishwasher?
A. The blade assembly for the 8-ounce blending bowls and 20-ounce blending cups is dishwasher safe. To be cautious, though, wash it on the top rack of the dishwasher.
Q. Do Vitamix blades require sharpening?
A. Vitamix blenders feature hammermill blades that pulverize instead of slice, so they never require sharpening.
