Not a long time ago, I posted an in-depth comparison between a Vitamix blender and a food processor. In that post, I broke down the differences between a high-speed blender and a food processor, what I use each appliance for, and why I think the Vitamix is a better choice.
Well, now you don’t have to choose anymore because Vitamix just announced their newest product release – the Vitamix Food Processor Attachment. With this attachment, the Vitamix blender has essentially become a 2-in-1 appliance – a high-speed blender and a powerful food processor. This is truly a game-changer for Vitamix owners. And those who have been on the fence about Vitamix might finally jump in.
Vitamix Food Processor Attachment – Compatibility
The Vitamix Food Processor is compatible only with the Smart System, that is the Ascent and Venturist blenders.
I have now heard from several Vitamix representatives that they are trying to phase out some the Legacy blenders and accessories, and are slowly doing so as certain items go out of stock. The Smart System is the system on which Vitamix is building its future. So, it makes sense that the food processor attachment works only with the Smart System.
The Smart System blenders are unique because they utilize SELF-DETECT™ Technology, based on near-field communication (NFC), which allows the base to communicate with the container. Each container is equipped with an NFC tag that communicates with the NFC reader in the blender base once it’s attached to the machine. The container tells the machine what it is and verifies its authenticity, so the blender knows it’s working with an original container that’s safe to use. The container then describes how it is to be handled, and the blender automatically adjusts its settings, changing up to 140 parameters. That way, ingredients in the smaller container aren’t over-blended, items in the larger container get the blending force they need, and the operating parameters always remain within prescribed safety limits.
If you’re not sure whether your Vitamix blender will work with the food processor attachment, here is a list of all the compatible models:
Note: If you just purchased a Vitamix blender that is not compatible with the food processor attachment, Vitamix will accept a return if the item was purchased within the last 120 days.
Vitamix Food Processor – Features
Motor
The Vitamix food processor attachment uses the standard blender base as the motor.
Vitamix Smart System models rely on a 2.2-peak-horsepower electric motor, which translates into 1,380 watts. For a comparison, my Breville Sous Chef food processor features a 1,200-watt motor and is advertised to “easily handle the toughest food processing job”. Standard food processors typically come with a maximum 700-watt motor (anywhere between 400 and 700 watts is the norm). So, the power of the Vitamix motor is more than sufficient to handle any task you throw at it.
Of course, the more powerful the motor, the longer it can run without heating up the motor and the more labor-intensive tasks the appliance can handle.
Interface
Since the food processor is simply just an attachment sitting on top of the Vitamix base (instead of a blender container), the interface will depend on the Vitamix you already own or are yet to purchase. This will be either one of the Ascent models or the Venturist.
Here is a simple breakdown of the interface differences between individual models:
| Features | A2300 | A2500 | A3300 | A3500 | V1200 |
| Variable Speed Dial | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pulse | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Program Settings | – | 3 | – | 5 | – |
| Timer (Count Up) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Programmable Count Down | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Touchscreen | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| SELF-DETECT™ Technology | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Attachments
The work of a food processor is to perform multiple tasks to simply food prep. They effortlessly breeze through food prep tasks, food processors typically come with a lot of attachments and accessories. The Vitamix food processor is no different. Here’s what’s included when you purchase the food processor attachment:
12-Cup Bowl
Food processors come in three basic sizes – mini (2-5 cups capacity), compact (5-7 cups capacity), and full-size (9-16 cups). While mini and compact food processors are great help for a single person or a family of 2, the ideal size for most home cooks ranges in capacity from 11 to 14 cups. A food processor is an investment that will last you many years, so if you cook for a family or simply cook a lot, the 12-cup bowl makes a lot of sense.
The Vitamix food processor bowl is made of tritan – a BPA-free plastic – which is the same material as Vitamix blender containers. I wish Vitamix came up with a glass bowl (just like I wish there was a glass blender container option) because glass is scratch-resistance and less likely to retain odors. However, you can only find glass food processor bowls in standard food processors because the power of a high-speed blender motor can make glass shatter.
Bowl Lid & Food Pushers
Other than the bowl, a food processor also has a lid with a feeding tube and a pusher to safely push the food down to the blade.
The Vitamix food processor comes with a large and a small feed tube. Whole potatoes, large onions, or big wedges of cabbage benefit from the larger tube, while narrow carrots, zucchini and celery work best in the smaller one.
Both the lid and the food pushers are made of the same material as the food processor bowl.
Multi-Use Blade
Every food processor, including the Vitamix, comes with at least one S-shaped blade (also known as a sabatier blade) that sits at the bottom of the bowl.
It is designed to chop hard nuts, mince delicate herbs, pulverize chickpeas into hummus, blend bananas into no-churn ice cream, and knead sticky dough. When the machine is on pulse, the blade will mix and chop. When the machine is on continuously, the blade will blend and purée.
The Vitamix S blade is made of durable stainless steel, sharp out of the box, and durable enough to remain sharp over years of use.
Reversible Discs
The Vitamix food processor attachment comes with two reversible discs – a small shred/thin slice disc and a large shred/thick slice disc – that sit at the top of the bowl allowing food to be sliced and fall down into the bowl.
The small shred/thin slice disc is perfect for grating carrots for carrot cake, shaving cabbage for slaw, or shredding lettuce for a salad. The reverse side is great for slicing potatoes for chips or zucchini for gratins. The large shred/thin slice disc is similar to the small shred/thin slice disc but the shreds are coarser and the slices are thicker. It’s ideal for coarsely shredding chocolate for a dessert decoration or chopping broccoli for a crunchy salad. The reverse side is useful for slicing apples for a pie or cutting eggplant for grilling.
Both discs are made of durable stainless steel and sharp out of the box, so they need to be handled carefully.
Vitamix Food Processor – Price & Warranty
The Vitamix food processor attachment is priced at $199 ($259 CAD).
Vitamix provides a 3-year warranty on the food processor attachment and a 1-year warranty on the blade and discs. Of course, the actual blender base comes with a 10-year warranty (along with the superb Vitamix customer service). There is also an option of an extended warranty at an additional cost.
Vitamix Blender vs Food Processor
You might have heard that if you have a Vitamix blender, you don’t really need a food processor.
Vitamix has always been more than just a blender. However, a blender can never fully replace a food processor and vice versa. You can find out which appliance is best suited for which task in this in-depth Vitamix vs food processor comparison.
In short, a Vitamix blender is a winner when it comes to blending, grinding, and crushing. The food processor attachment has a clear advantage in precision food prep tasks like chopping, grating, shredding, and slicing. Both can knead dough – a blender works beautifully for pastry batters in need of aeration, while a food processor is more suited for heartier bread dough, pie crusts, and biscuits – and mix ingredients – a blender will produce a perfectly smooth mix while a food processor offers more versatility if you don’t want the result to be completely smooth.
Is the Vitamix Food Processor Worth It?
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. 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. The Vitamix is simply the best on the market and worth the investment.
I also think that if you already own a Vitamix blender, it’s a no-brainer to purchase the food processor and extend the functionality of your Vitamix base. It’s cheaper than buying another food processor, takes up less space, and easy to use.
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