You have likely heard of Vitamix by now. It’s the brand that most home cooks and professionals consider the gold standard of high-performance blending. Vitamix blenders are extremely powerful, multi-functional, and the most reliable on the market. (1) But the quality comes with a high price tag many people are hesitant to pay.

So, in this Vitamix blender review, I dive into what makes Vitamix so great and whether it’s worth your money.

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Why Consider a Vitamix Blender?

Some people think that splurging on Vitamix is a luxurious overspend. Why pay more than you have to for a kitchen appliance?

Well, because it works. Before owning a Vitamix, I went through four different blenders in seven years. If you’ve ever owned a sub-par blender, you know how frustrating it can be to stop the blending process each time a piece of frozen fruit or stringy kale gets caught in the blade. How about having to add extra liquid to whatever you’re blending just so the blade doesn’t create an air pocket, leaving your food unblended and stuck on the sides of the blender jar?

I also went through one explosion when I (perhaps stupidly) put a steaming tomato soup into a glass blender jug. The jug burst into pieces within minutes of blending. The tomato soup sprayed all over the ceiling (and the kitchen cabinets, and the microwave, and the stove top, and my brand new shirt, and…). There was nothing wrong with the motor, so I saved it and bought another jug. Well, the motor burnt out a few months later when I attempted to make ice cream. Seeing smoke coming from the base of a blender is never a good thing.

As they say, “buy cheap, buy twice” (in my case, four times!). So, my rule of thumb for home purchases is now the following: if you use something regularly (at least weekly, especially if it’s daily!), you should always buy quality.

What Sets Vitamix Apart

Vitamix machines go above and beyond in every aspect. Here is what sets Vitamix apart from other blenders.

Performance

Low-cost standard blenders have trouble pureeing anything but the softest items. Trust me, I know. I have owned a few of them.

Vitamix, on the other hand, is powerful enough to process tough, fibrous vegetables into smoothies, heat up soups, liquify produce into juices, crush ice into fine-textured snow, grind grains into flour, and pulverize nuts into nut butter. With the food processor attachment, Vitamix machines can also chop, shred, and slice.

Some of the features that set Vitamix apart are:

• Cool-running motor: the main component that makes Vitamix lasts so long is its cool-running motor. Vitamix engineers have designed a perfect airflow circulation around the motor, channeling a controlled amount of air to the places that need it most, so the motor doesn’t overheat or stall out when processing tough ingredients. The motor can handle running for several minutes at a time and produces enough power to heat up food from the friction of the blades. Should its motor overheat, the Vitamix is equipped with an automatic shutoff feature to keep it from burning out. 
• Metal gear coupling: Vitamix uses metal for the gear coupling on the blender jars and the drive socket on the blender base. This is one big reason these blenders last so long – the metal won’t wear down like plastic does in cheaper blenders.
• Air-craft grade stainless steel blade: Vitamix blenders come with patented, precision-cut, full-hardened, high-grade stainless-steel dual-performance blades. Unlike ordinary blenders that have either sharp blades or dull blades, Vitamix blades are precision engineered to provide both actions and never need to be replaced or sharpened.
• Uniquely designed container: every angle of the Vitamix container is designed to create uniquely controlled vortex, systematically folding ingredients back to the blade for faster, smoother blends.. In case the vortex power isn’t enough, a tamper is included with each Vitamix blender to help move ingredients without having to pause and scrape the sides of the jar. 

Interface

A powerful blender is no use if it’s confusing to operate. Whether you opt for manual switches or a digital touchscreen interface, Vitamix machines are designed with the user in mind. As Vitamix proudly displays on their website, “Because easy-to-use means you’ll use it more often, getting the most out of your investment”.

What’s more, in 2016 Vitamix released their newest line of Vitamix blenders called the Smart System. These blenders inherited a powerful motor and an efficient blending ability from the Legacy line, but added many new technology features that promise to make the Smart System blenders the most advanced and easy to operate for many years ahead. Using near-field communication (NFC), Vitamix blenders automatically identify the size of the container being used and adjust the program settings and times accordingly, changing up to 140 parameters. With a press of a button, you can essentially walk away from the blender while it does the all the hard work.

Quality

When it comes to blenders, you get what you pay for.

Today, Vitamix is one of the most reliable blender brands available. According to Consumer Reports, the likelihood of a Vitamix experiencing mechanical problems within the first four years of ownership is about 6%. This is significantly lower than any other brand. For example, two other high-end brands, Blendtec and Breville, had problem rates of 15% and 16% respectively. (1)

Warranty

When you invest in a Vitamix you can rest assured your machine will work for a long time. The warranty spans 5-10 years (depending on the model) and covers parts, performance and return shipping both ways. According to Vitamix though, less than 1% of Vitamix machines have every been returned for service. They’re just that durable and dependable.

In addition, Vitamix customer service is amazing. If you ever have any questions or need another container, give them a call. Vitamix is a family-owned business and as such the customer representatives are truly caring. 

Is Vitamix Worth the Price?

It’s not just me who thinks that Vitamix makes the best blenders. The chefs at Cook’s Illustrated know it, reviewers at Wirecutter and Consumer Reports know it, Vitamix’s all competitors know it… The question isn’t whether Vitamix is worth the price (it absolutely is). The question is whether you actually need one.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you make the investment:

1. Can a traditional blender keep up with you? Have you gone through a series of blenders that have quickly become busted, broken, or burned out? Many decent quality appliances can’t keep up with a truly dedicated blending enthusiast. If this sounds like you, then the answer should be getting clearer.
2. How often will you use your blender? Are you looking to mix up the occasional margarita or make green smoothies every morning? If you plan to blend sparingly, a standard blender is a safe bet. However, if you plan on making smoothies with a variety of tough or fibrous ingredients every day, you will probably benefit from a powerful blender.
3. Are you interested in cooking with whole foods? High-speed blenders have the functionality to liquify produce into juices, grind grains into flours, pulverize nuts into nut butters, and blend seeds into plant milks. Sure, you can buy all these ingredients in the store, but if you would like to come up with your own blends (and save money in the process), it’s time to pull the trigger.
4. Is space an issue? Are you debating whether to buy a high-speed blender or a food processor? Have you always wanted a juicer but could never justify cluttering your kitchen with another appliance? Well, then Vitamix might be the answer. Every Vitamix blender is able to perform more than 10 different culinary techniques, replacing multiple kitchen appliances.
5. Is warranty important to you? Vitamix offers an industry-leading 10-year full warranty for their Smart System blenders (Legacy blenders have a 7-year or a 5-year warranty, depending on the model). Blendtec – Vitamix’s leading competitor – comes with an 8-year warranty while standard blenders typically offer no longer than a 1-year warranty. 

Vitamix Blender Review

If you have made the decision to buy a Vitamix, the next question is which model to buy. There are so many options!

To make things easier, here is a brief summary of which Vitamix blender is best for whom:

• Best on a budget: E310 or Certified Reconditioned
• Best value: 5200
• Best features without new technology: Professional Series 750
• Best you can get (the most advanced with the newest technology): A3500

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. I respond to all comments within 24 hours.