Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

We own a Blendtec. I researched them both and came up with that they are both excellent. We simply got a better price on the Blendtec. Can't go wrong either way.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

A has the Blendtec and it's cool. For smoothies, the Vitamix is a little better due to the plunger. My buddy thinks his Blendtec is better...

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Showed my wife this last night before ordering Vitamix. Didn't matter to her as she wanted what she wanted.
The much cheaper $150 blender was the overall winner.
Too funny if you ask me.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FkcgBwbE7nw

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

I don't think they are good tests to get a sense of what the blenders can do. The plunger is critical for many applications in the Vitamix.

If you do go Vitamix route, get the one with presets.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Yup, got the Professional 500 with three presets and pulse.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

How do you like it? We buy frozen fruit and make our own nut milk. Been using frozen whole turmeric, about a .5" per smoothie for added health benefit.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Picked it up via mail order.
Probably wont have it until sometime next week.

I better get use to what it makes fast as I think that is all she will feed me for a while.:r
Good thing I can always go outside and use my Weber.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Have to call BS on that video. I've blended hundreds of whole apples with my Vitamix. Never once had an apple top left over.

Also.. if you can't blend an apple with a Vitamix or Blendtec in 5 minutes then you have much larger issues and probably shouldn't be reviewing anything.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

That is how wife felt when I showed her the ninja infomercial that compared it to the Vitamix.

Just got shipping notice. Should be here my mid week.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Drinking a breakfast smoothie now - strawberries, blueberries (frozen), banana, whey protien powder, strawberry keifer, and ice cubes.

I also make a green smoolthie - spinach, kale, cucumbers, ginger, lemon, whey protein powder, and ice cubes. It tastes like lemonade and is very healthy.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Whoops, the green smoothie also has carrots. I knew I forgot something.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Yeah something is wrong with that. Our Blendtec would turn an apple into sauce in a matter of seconds. I usually quarter the apple though and remove the seeds.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Made almond milk last night. I take about 2 cups of raw almonds, soak them in salted water for several hours. Drain the water, put almonds in vitamix with about enough cold water and ice to double the volume in Vitamix. Added about 4-5 pitted dates for sweetness, a dash of cinnamon and vanilla extract. Add two cardamom pods. Blend on high until smooth, add water as needed.

It's best to add some ice in this as it'll get a little hot from spinning and you don't want the almonds to heat up at all.

Use some of the almond milk with water for quick snack. Really tasty!

*** Best to keep all raw nuts in freeze until you want to use them. They can be eaten right out of the freezer. Protects them from getting rancid. ***

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Looks like ours gets here tomorrow.
I can already see a huge grocery bill tomorrow, followed by lots of noise in my kitchen, followed by more smoothies and soups than I can taste in one day and tell her how good they are, even if they aren't.:r
Can't wait.:dance:

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Costco and frozen fruit!

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

I should have seen this coming like a speeding locomotive.
Thought she would make me smoothies.
Turns out I made the mistake of helping her make one and now tells me I make them so good that I should make them for her.
And I thought I was the brains in this relationship.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

I'd assume make them myself and have it the way I want. Elys and I differ on what is an ideal smoothie. The frozen raw turmeric rocks in the smoothie; really adds some zip to the fruit with unquestioned health benefits of raw turmeric.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Made one today that reminded me of an orange cream sickle from my youth.

Took plain Greek yogurt, added vanilla extract, frozen bananas, fresh squeezed orange juice and all I can say is I thought I was drinking an orange cream sickle Ina smoothie form.

Going to pick up some kale and spinach to make some green ones.
I have been freezing fruit and plan on buying already frozen in the future. Does anyone know if I can also freeze kale and spinach or that has to be fresh?

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

I'd think you could freeze the kale or spinach and it would be just fine. You're going to purée the heck out if it, so I don't see why you couldn't use frozen.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Went to the sort of "green" side today for the first time. Green only in the sense of using spinach and kale as the blueberries impacted the final color.

Used fresh baby spinach and kale and added almonds, flax seeds, ginger root, low fat yogurt and some fresh squeezed OJ.
Then threw in frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, banana and papaya.

What a great drink.
We will definitely be doing that one again.

BTW, ruined my first tamper.
Was a bit sideways from making frozen cocktails for friends and forgot to use lid.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

A few weeks ago, I decided I finally needed something better and with a larger pitcher than the 17 year old Osterizer that I have, but, in my mind, I couldn't see paying $350-700 for a Vitamix. So, I picked up the Kitchen Aid Diamond w/ 60 oz pitcher at costco for $120 and decided to give it a try.

End result is that I now own a Vitamix 5200.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

:r

Congrats!!!

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Yup... I told my friend to take off his skirt and just buy the Vitamix and shut up... He did so and is loving it. He has the short squat pitcher style. To me, I noticed a difference in how it makes a smoothie over the higher pitcher, but the Vitamix salesperson was not so quick to say they are different.

In the taller pitcher, I feel like it creates more vortex when spinning.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Wife just bought me the Ninja Mega and I'm loving it.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

I just bought my wife a Ninja Ultima for Xmas, 2.5hp in a blender for half the price of the others out there... pure awesome.
Great reviews everywhere I looked. While not as nice as the Vitamix, it is said to keep up in performance aspects. Haven't used it yet though so who knows. I do know that my Osterizer was garbage at making fraps and smoothies.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Guys,
Nothing wrong with the Ninja for the nitch it fills.
My son owns one and loves it.
However, he would love a Vitamix more,

While it appears the same, they are not.
The Vitamix is built solid as compared to the Ninja.
The Ninja clearly has less quality plastic parts.
The Ninja will not blend as smooth as the Vitamix.
The Ninja will not cook soup as the Vitamix will.
The container on the Vitamix is glass.
The lid on the Vitamix is better made and easier to use.

Again, not knocking it all. I frankly wanted a Ninja and save the extra money but in the end, wasn't worth hearing wife ***** (other word for complain) forever after. I really think the Ninja serves a great purpose but I assure you, the cost difference is for a very apparent reason.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

I do wish the Ninja was all glass. For my budget and the wifes needs, the Ninja Ultima was the better fit. Not saying the Ninja is better, it is not.
Time will tell if I made the right choice, hoping I don't have to upgrade.

Reviews (Such as THIS one) made up my mind.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

The $150 KitchenAid Diamond I had bought also had great reviews.

While I didn't initially buy it to use it like a Vitamix, I ended up using it like one. Once I did, I found myself underwhelmed with it, so I returned it a week later and bought a 5200 instead ($379+tax at Costco).

I know, $350-700 for a blender seems nuts, but I couldn't be happier with the 5200. It's breezing through everything I've thrown at, or more correctly, in, it. The first time I ran it, my comment was "Holy shitballs! This thing is fast." It was done in 60 seconds with what would normally take 3-4 minutes in the KitchenAid.

After a few weeks of use, I can say that I have no remorse about the $400 I spent on this.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

General reviews would have not meant much to me but the review I linked tested it against the Vitamix. For very very light use with an occasional smoothie the Vitamix is clearly overkill for somebody such as myself. Do I wish I had one? Yes. Do I need one? I hope not... Maybe I will be back in here in six months raving about my new Vitamix.:r

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

I wasn't talking about general reviews, IIRC, it was consumer reports, which is at the very least equal to Cnet, who rated the KA higher than the vitamix.

"or very very light use with an occasional smoothie the Vitamix is clearly overkill for somebody such as myself." Funny, that's almost exactly what I thought too when I bought the KA. Then I decided to test it out and see how well it did. I found that one - it didn't, two - that I actually could (did) use the appliance more than I had imagined I would.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

The problem is you do need that kind of power to make a smoothie. Tried many a-blender and they just don't cut it. I can carve a turkey with a butter knife, but it does not come out nearly as nice or as efficient as a chef's knife.

Similar to espresso machines; they just cost money and there's no way getting around it. Vitamix is a lifelong purchase, so think of it in the big picture.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Are you guys underestimating the Ultima? It has "that kind of power" :tu

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Again, not knocking the Ninja as I was quite close to ordering it.
BUT, I think the Vitamix is similar to the it's just like like iPad, it's like a Ferrari, etc.
Unfortunately, they are not.
I really didn't understand it and wouldn't have understood it had my wife not busted my darn chops so much for a Vitamix. After owning it, whatever regrets I had over the cost have long subsided.
I think the ultimate example of just how good they are is as result how observant I have since become of blenders at bars. It is only now that I realize that no matter where I go that sells smoothies or frozen drinks, they use a Vitamix.

I really hope my posts are not taken as mine is bigger, better, etc. as that is not my intent as we all buy what out wallets will permit and what we see best for our needs.
Just my honest thoughts based on being very familiar with both units.

BTW, my son spent quite a bit of time explaining to me how his Ninja was no different than my Vitamix. I didn't say a word and brushed it off to his mom's lunacy. That was until the day he saw it in action. He learned the same lesson with the espresso coffee maker he bought compared to my Rancilio, for which I am very grateful to all on this board that steered me in that direction.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

That was a good post! :tu I think all Vitamix owners are "mine is bigger", but for good reason.
Does your son have the Ultima or another model Ninja? What does he use it for? Just curious.
I know there is a big difference between the two I just hope that the Ultima will do good enough smoothies and fraps, I will have huge buyers remorse if not. Every other blender I have tried sucked at making fraps.

I KNOW the Vitamix would do anything without question, but I took a chance on this less expensive one. I already feel like I should have just waited and bought a Vitamix, now I just have to see if it will sufice.

I hope to contribute some frap recipes if the blender will work.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

The one drawback for me with the Ninja, and Shane correct me if I'm wrong, the multi blade setup doesn't come out. That's would be a royal pain for me as I use my VM for making peanut butter.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

I will have to try it. I know it comes out but not certain it will work with it removed because I read somewhere the lid must be secured or the machine will shut off. How could that happen if the lids presence wasn't detected by applying pressure to the shaft? *thinking out loud.
I will get some feedback after a couple uses and tell you all what I think. I never considered making butter or soup, but I bet it is awesome.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

So it will come out after youre done mixing/grinding? If not, it would be difficult to get it all out.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Yes, it is definitley removable just not certain if it will operate while it is removed. It is just a solid shaft with blades on it that lifts right out.
I agree that would be a nightmare to empty and clean if not, plus a huge safety risk.
I wouldn't want to reach in around those blades.

I didn't know Vitamix was made in USA, assumed all mass produced electronics are made over seas these days.
Hell I would have saved for the Vitamix for that fact alone. Dayum I hate not supporting American companies when possible.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Not only made in the USA, but made with US made parts/materials. The KA I returned also touted "made in the USA" - until you read the fine print and found where it said "from imported parts". All they were doing was assembling it here, none of it was actually fabricated here. :td

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Just think about what you spend on cigars. Now that's nuts. :tu

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Well so far the Ultima has been making perfect smoothies and made a nice salsa.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

I was getting ready to be a smart a$$ and ask, but can it make soup?
Then I realized that not one freaking time since I have had my Vitmamix that my wife has made me one freaking soup.
And to think that is how she sold me on it.:r

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

:r I was actually thinking about asking the same thing, but thought to myself "Nah, I'll keep quiet and I bet that Carlos will ask it and have more fun doing it."

BTW, your wife hasn't made me soup either, so don't feel so bad.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Even better than soup is the Vitamix for hot chocolate.

100 gm. dark chocolate bar
Dash of vanilla
10 oz. of milk

put in Vitamix on soup setting; best hot chocolate you'll ever have! If I don't drink it all, I save it use a spoonful of it my coffee to make a "mocha".

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

No soup for me :(

Moses, that hot chocolate sounds good. I could have sold my wife on the Vitamix if I knew that was possible.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

Great recipe.
I will go ahead add a floater of Van Gough Chocolate flavored vodka to mine.

Re: Vitamix - Anyone into them?
 

The ratio of milk to chocolate is not engraved in stone, but I would only use dark chocolate.