It may not seem like it now, but it took me a while to jump onto the high-speed blender wagon. When Austin and I moved to Los Angeles nearly 10 years ago, I brought with me a blender that I thought was pretty good at the time. (It was made by Breville, which I usually consider to make quality kitchen appliances.)
I remember hearing about high-speed blenders in the magazines and health books I was reading at the time, but I always thought to myself, “How much better could they really be?” I felt like my smoothies turned out good enough in my standard blender, so I stuck with it until it died… which only took about a year and a half.
Even though we didn’t have a lot of spending money at the time, I couldn’t help but think I’d be saving money in the long-run by investing in a high-speed blender the next time around, since many of them came with a 7-year warranty. I had been buying a “good” $100 blender every year or two since I was in college, so spending $350 once, and then not buying another one for 7+ years sounded like a pretty good deal to me. However, I didn’t know which high-speed blender to buy– at the time, I had heard that Vitamix and Blendtec were pretty comparable.
Choosing the Vitamix
I couldn’t find any reviews online saying that one brand was decidedly better than the other, but my decision was helped by the fact that two of my friends had just gotten a Blendtec. I only had one experience using theirs– making frozen margaritas at their house– and I wasn’t super-impressed by it right off the bat. I remember that we had to start and stop the blender a couple times to use a spatula to help the ice reach the blades, because the Blendtec doesn’t come with a tamper. It was also REALLY loud. (Though, all high-speed blenders are fairly loud.)
Because I wasn’t blown away by my initial experience with the Blendtec, I decided to go with the Vitamix because I thought the tamper seemed necessary. I had never even tried a Vitamix before buying it, but Amazon had a great deal on this 2-speed model at the time, so the timing seemed perfect. The moment it arrived, I was hooked. The tamper helped my smoothies blend in seconds, and they were always thick, creamy, and super-silky-smooth. It even breaks down seeds from berries, like raspberries and strawberries! I’ve been a happy Vitamix customer ever since– owning the same old blender for nearly 8 years now. I’ve only ever had one issue with my blender, and when I called Vitamix customer service they immediately sent me out a free brand-new replacement; no questions asked. Keep in mind that I use my blender up to 4 times a day, especially when I’m testing recipes for a cookbook, so it gets quite a workout!
My Experience with BlendTec
Because I’ve had such a good experience with my Vitamix, I’ve never looked into using another blender… that is, until Blendtec reached out to me a few months ago. They offered to send me a complimentary blender so I could see for myself how they compare to Vitamix. I’m always up for seeing if there is something better out there, so I happily accepted their offer and soon received the new blender. Right out of the box, I was super-impressed by the sleek design and light-up electric touch pad. It seemed nicer than any car I’ve ever owned! Another nice perk of the Blendtec is that it fits under my kitchen cabinets fully assembled– the Vitamix container is taller, so I have to store the blender pitcher next to the base, rather than on top of it. (Not a big deal either way, but I think it’s worth mentioning in case you’re OCD about how your countertops look!) Regardless of how it is stored, you still have to pull the blender away from the wall to add anything inside– I couldn’t keep the blender under the cabinets on my counter while actually using it.
While I was very impressed by the look and feel of the Blendtec, my first experience blending was not love at first use. I made my usual go-to chocolate smoothie in the Blendtec using their smoothie pre-set “smoothie” button, and it took significantly longer than the Vitamix to create a smooth consistency– probably because I wasn’t using a tamper to help stir it along like I usually do with the Vitamix. I think it’s also worth noting that I’m used to my shakes being super-thick and smooth, like a traditional chocolate milkshake, and it was difficult to achieve this texture since the Blendtec doesn’t come with a tamper to help keep everything moving towards the blades. (The Blendtec’s electric touch pad actually kept warning me that my smoothie was too thick– it wanted me to add liquid, which would have resulted in a thin and runny smoothie.) I stopped and scraped down the blender twice, and even after that I found small bits of dates in my final product– enough to clog my straw while I was attempting to drink it. I’m so spoiled by how smooth my smoothies are with the Vitamix, that I was really disappointed to have a less-than-perfect smoothie! (My other family members were disappointed by the texture, too, to the point that my son wouldn’t even drink a smoothie made in the BlendTec.)
After that first experience, I didn’t use the Blendtec again for a few days because I didn’t want to risk my family members not enjoying another smoothie. In fact, I didn’t try it again until the Blendtec reps reached out to me, asking how my experience was. They were surprised to hear that my first experience wasn’t great, but I promised them I would try again to see if it was just beginner’s bad luck. I later tried making an all-fruit smoothie using the manual settings instead of the pre-set button (because I prefer manual settings and having full control), but the final result was also disappointing because the seeds from the strawberries didn’t totally break down, and I had to add more liquid than I would have liked to in order to keep the smoothie blending without a tamper– so the overall smoothie was too runny. Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed the second time around, either.
To give them a fair shot, I also tried blending a smoothie in the smaller Twister jar that came with my BlendTec package, to see if the spatula-like attachments on the side of the lid would help with a smoother blend. Unfortunately, the Twister jar is not intended for liquid smoothies (it’s intended for making nut butter or dips like hummus and guacamole), so I ended up with a messy disaster there, too. I would consider the optional smaller blender jar for nut-butters a “perk” of the BlendTec, but it’s not enough in my opinion to make up for the lower-quality smoothies, since that’s what I use a blender for the most often.
After reporting my unsatisfactory experience to the BlendTec reps, they recommended that I call their customer service line to see if I could be doing something wrong. I had already read the instruction manual and used the pre-set smoothie buttons– shouldn’t it be that easy to use such an expensive blender? (As a side note, I’ve never had to call a customer service line for any other brand of blender I’ve used to make sure I’m not the problem.)
Side-By-Side Comparison
In a nutshell, here’s how I feel that the two blenders compare:
To me, the Vitamix is the clear winner and that’s what I would ultimately recommend you buy if you’re trying to decide between the two. To be fair, I think if you’re upgrading from a standard blender, anyone would be impressed by the texture of a smoothie made in the Blendtec, because it’s definitely going to be an upgrade from what you’re used to. However, I think it would be very difficult to enjoy using the BlendTec after using the Vitamix. (But maybe that’s just me– all I can share is my own opinion.)
To be clear, this is not a sponsored post and I have no affiliation with Vitamix. They did not send me a free blender, and I’m still using my 8-year-old, two-speed model that I bought myself. In my opinion, my old Vitamix blender creates better smoothies than the free newer model that BlendTec sent me. (I’ve heard that BlendTec is amazing at milling grains into flour, but I find the Vitamix to be perfectly adequate in that regard as well.) Clearly, I’m under no obligation to post a positive review on BlendTec’s behalf, despite the fact that they sent me a free blender. (I will always post my honest opinions!)
Money-Saving Tip:
If you’re looking to buy a new blender but don’t want to pay full-price, I’d recommend looking into the refurbished options, like this certified refurbished Vitamix model, which still comes with a 5-year warranty. Vitamix also makes a new low-profile model that fits under kitchen cabinets, and that model is available in a cheaper certified refurbished option, as well.
Note: I would like to eventually add some other blender recommendations to this post, especially if I get the chance to try the new Ninja blender model. When testing recipes for my last cookbook, I did borrow a friend’s Ninja, and the results were terrible– but it was a very old model, and I’m guessing the newer models are better. Are they comparable to the Vitamix, though? I’ll report back when I know for sure!
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Reader Feedback: Do you have a favorite blender? I hope this post is helpful if you’re shopping for a new one! I know there are some fervent BlendTec fans out there, so also feel free to chime in if you think I missed something. I always try to keep an open mind!
Thank you so much for the review. I am looking at taking the splurge on a high speed blender as my food processor does not cut/mill/pulverise ingredients as finely as I would like. However, I have been sat on the fence, trying to decide and researching to the enth degree due to the financial commitment required. I was/am leaning in one direction and this post has further cemented it! Thank you so much for sharing.
I’m so glad it helped! If my current Vitamix ever dies, I will buy another one in a heartbeat– we don’t go a single day without using it. Totally worth the investment. However, looking at some of the other comments on this post, it looks like my current Vitamix might last me another 20 years! 😉
Oh my goodness, I am sorry to hear that your experience with the Blendtec didn’t go as well as it should have. I LOVE my Blendtec and I’ll tell you why it beats the Vitamix. 1) first off for the ultimate incredible smoothy without stopping/scrapping poking etc…you have to use the sealed lid from (the twister jar) on the mini twister jar for short time–just the initial blend. When the blades spin without blending, then you switch lids. You take off the sealed spill proof lid and put the twister lid on the mini twister jar. Your super thick concrete type smoothies (the way I luv them) will blend ultra smooth by twisting the lid!! No kidding. If you don’t at least try it this way, it really isn’t a fair blender race. You have to try it this way. Blendtec will send you the right equipment for the job! Do try Megan, because otherwise it really isn’t fair. It would be like trying you Vitamix with out the tamper! The Blendtec is the king with the sealed lid to keep initial liquid in and the twister lid for the blending. Please try it!! XXOO Cassie
The twister jar is not standard like the tamper and switching lids is more complicated so this is not very compelling for the Blendtec.
My mom has had her same Vitamix for over 25 years. Only had to replace the jug once because she dropped it and it cracked (about 10 years old at the time). We even used it when we ran a restaurant and it held up well.
You can even get a smaller jug, that will fit under the counter, and they make a dry jug for grinding things like oats/flour.
Vitamix is the best!
Thank you Megan for your very honest review…it’s quite refreshing! I definitely need a new blender, I have a Ninja, but like your friends, it’s the older version and I have mixed feelings about it. It’s ok! But I do get frustrated by it sometimes. Definitely in the market for a new blender and have wanted a Vitamix but it is out of my price range for now. Love your idea of buying a refurbished one….I did that with my vacuum. Got a $599 used Dyson for just $75. Honestly, it’s the only way I could have afforded it. Interesting review!
I’ve had a Vitamix that I bought at a county fair in L.A. 25 years ago. It’s moved cross country with me twice, gets a lot of use, and still works like the day I bought it. My sister has had her Vitamix since I was a teenager…so probably 35 years…(so old it has a stainless steel container with a spigot…we used to make frozen yogurt with it and pour it out through the spigot)…and hers works perfectly to this day also. In my opinion, the Vitamix is worth it’s weight in gold. You will NEVER regret this purchase!!!!!
Ah haha! I have 7 blenders I have one from each company BUT Vitamix! I know I would actually use a blender if I had a vitamix! I’ve never heard anyone NOT like vitamix. But from the Blentec, Ninja, and every other blender brand…none of them work well enough for me! I use a food processor for everything 😛
Great post! Very helpful and I’m glad you’ve given an honest, thorough review of both blenders. I am interested in the Vitamix…. but the purchase has to wait because of financial priorities! But it is good to know that the money is worth if for the Vitamix.
About the Ninja – I entirely agree with your one time experience. I have not put our Ninja to much use because it can’t do much! My mom likes to use it to make pie crust. I have tried to make both almond and coconut butter and I gave up. I have a hard time giving up so this was a bad experience; I stopped to push everything out of the corners a lot. It’s the corners of our version of the Ninja that caused problems.
Thanks again for your thoughts on blenders!
I tried the new upgraded Ninja in an attempt to avoid the high cost of the vitamix. I ended up returning the ninja. Though it did an adequate job, I didn’t like the chunks of almonds left in my smoothie. I decided to just bite the bullet and take the plunge. I had blender envy fir 10 years before I purchased my vitamix. I love it and have never regretted my decision. I did buy the one with the preset smoothie, frozen dessert and soup settings. I got mine at Costco and the cost savings was definitely worth it.
I’ve always had vitamix. When my oldest child got married I wanted to gift them a high speed blender and they chose blendec. They now are saving for a vitamix for the same reasons you listed in the comparison. I will never be without a vitamix in my kitchen.
I’m glad to know it’s not just me. I will replace my Vitamix in a heartbeat if it ever dies!
I’m not usually one to comment on blogs but wanted to add my vote for the Vitamix. I bought a refurbished Vitamix at least 15 years ago and it’s still working fantastic! I bought the model that has a variable speed knob and also a second container that has different blades so you can blend your own nut butters and flours. We bought it when it was a real splurge in our budget, but I have never regretted this purchase. If and when it ever needs replacing, it will be another Vitamix for me! 🙂
I have a Vitamix and love it! Couldn’t be without it! Vitamix does make shorter, under the cupboard models, which I don’t have…but want lol. For someone who makes a lot of smoothies this is a no brainier!!
We got the Oster Versa a few months back, and I love it. It’s a high-speed blender, and it does come with a tamper (although I rarely have to use it). Going from making hemp milk in our old $30 blender to the Oster was practically life-changing. Plus, clean up is ridiculously easy – just blend dish soap with warm water. I’ve never used the Vitamix or the BlendTec, but I’m very happy with the Oster (so far), and with the cheaper price tag! 😉
Thank you so much for this review. I have a vitamix and love it but was considering a blend tech as I have about worn out my vitamix. I think I will stick with the vitamix after reading your comparison.
I have used both also and have stayed with using a Blendtec. I don’t agree with this review, in my experience the Blentec makes a just as smooth and creamy smoothie. She didn’t mention that Blendtec uses a vortex action so you don’t need to use a tamper. Also I’m not saying that Blendtec is better, I’m just saying that after using both, I like being able to start my blender and walk away to do something else and then come back and it’s done, instead of babysitting the blender. And have no issues at all with graininess or chunks in my smoothies.
I’ve had my Vitamix for probably 6 years now, best thing I ever bought for my kitchen. My Sister, wanting to begin a healthier lifestyle bought a refurbished model after using mine for the week she visited me. She was able to get a newer model than mine AND make payments for six months. I think she ended up paying $300 for hers. As a result she’s eating healthier (starting her day with a veggie loaded smoothie), started walking regularly and has dropped 40 pounds. I’ve had to make one service call to Vitamix, they responded quickly and took care of the matter immediately. My Sister and i would DEFINITELY recommend Vitamix.
I really appreciate your comparison between these two blenders. Even though I’m not in the market for a new blender at this time ,I often wonder how they compare to each other. Most of the time when a person comes upon a demostration it’s the company that selling their product and they aren’t always completely honest. Thank you.
Thank you so much for posting such an honest review! I stalked the Vitamix for about 5 years before finally just buying one 3 months ago. I didn’t do too much research comparing it against the BlendTwc, even after a good friend said he bought a BlendTec specifically for green smoothies which is what I bought my Vitamkx for! I really couldn’t get anyone in my life to understand why I needed a $500 for smoothies but after years of literally chewing my spinach smoothies and being grossed out to the point of not drinking them anymore, I finally made the decision to buy a Vitamix. The only way I found it to be affordable was going through QVC. They had as a special value one day and made it available through their Easy Pay offer. I paid $80 for 5 months and no interest and couldn’t be happier! I picked one of the newest models in a pretty light blue color. I’m obsessed with it and use it everyday. I really don’t care if other people don’t get it-that blender has changed my life and made me so happy! I was slightly nervous as I started to read your post, and was afraid you were going to say the BlendTec was superior. I’m very happy that your research has proven Vitamix the winner!
Thanks for this post. I am considering getting a high speed blender because I would really like to try making things like cashew cream and other things that require the power of a high speed blender. Your post and the other comments have helped me to know that Vitamix is the way the way to go!
Thank you so much for the honest review! Looks like I’ll keep on keepin’ on with the Vitamix!
I would love to eventually get a Vitamix, but it’s definitely something I’m going to have to save up for.
I’ve been using my Nutribullet for the past 4 years and LOVE it.
I love how small it is, it’s super powerful, and it makes amazing smoothies.
I’ve had some problems with the sealing rubber section of the blade part, but I just return it to Bed Bath & Beyond and they give me a brand new one!
Now that I’ve moved in with my boyfriend and we have 2 Nutribullets, I’ve taken mine to work so I can make fresh smoothies on my lunch break! (I like them very cold and fresh, I may be a little bit pregnant)
I would also recommend the Nutribullet for trips! Because it’s so small and easy to use.
I really wish I would’ve paid for the preorder bonus in order to get your famous chocolate shake recipe 🙁
I have your Everyday Detox cookbook and your Warm & Cozy Detox recipe set and there isn’t anything in there close to what your preorder chocolate shake sounds like 🙁
I have a vitamix I got three years ago. I did get the model that is shorter and fits under my cabinet. It came with a tamper and I have never had to use it. I love the dial on mine if j go between slow and fast manual I do not need a tamper or spatula. I love how the smoothest are super smooth but still cold and thick not runny. Vitamix is amazing and worth it. I use mine 1-2 times daily.
Thanks for this Megan. My husband and I are smack in the middle of discussing whether to invest in a Vitamix. I own a Nutribullet right now, which is great, but it has a few technical issues that are starting to drive me a bit nuts. I briefly owned a Vitamix a few years back and didn’t appreciate the tamper, but maybe I’ll feel differently now. 🙂
Best investment ever. Leap of faith. Just do it. If you hold off till Christmas they are often cheaper. Vitamix also has payment plans.(which I’m sure you all would already know). If you buy from manufacturer its automatically under warranty and if you ever upgrade I believe I read they will deduct 100 off your next machine and recycle your old one for you. If you have or want kids. It is a godsend to help them eat their greens.
WOW! I’m impressed by how many comments this post has already!!! I’ve tried a few things so thought i would add my thoughts:
I used to have a large vitamix and it was amazing!!! It was only a loan one so had to give it back and ended up with a bullet as I was moving and didn’t want to invest in a large blender and with the large blade it made smoothies that were liquidy and banana icecream with a lot of shaking, not comparable but fine, the big blade broke after 6 months and you can’t just buy replacement blades so it seems like a lot to through out instead of just getting new blades!
I went home on vacation and used my Mum’s blendtec and agree with this review, it just didn’t get my smoothie as smooth but I didn’t use it heaps/have time to experiment too much. (I also have a thermomix – which I have lent out as i live overseas- which aren’t sold in the US I think and that was great for making nut butters really thick and for smoothies but the next level of machine and super expensive)
This year i bought a vitamix S30 (the personal size) and it’s pretty amazing!! It makes smoothies soooo smooth, you do have to babysit it from walking across the table it is so powerful. I haven’t made nut butter in it as I can get it at the store freshly made but the base of the blender is pretty small so I think it would struggle. It’s not as good as the big one but it is perfect for me, cooking for 1 and small amounts, like a couple of cups of sauce etc.
I also have a ninja fit at work for smoothies and it works fine, blends smoothies much better than the magic bullet (and doesn’t sound like it’s dying) but in comparison to the vitamix it doesn’t come close, still little bits in it but perfectly fine for a smoothie with kale, ice, frozen fruit.
So I’ve tried a few things and if you can afford Vitamix I would go with that, and the refurbished model since it’s cheaper 🙂
I agree:) My friends have a BlendTec and I tried making them your chia chocolate smoothie. Same problem with bits of dates and seeds not completely pulverized. When we got home and made it the next day with our vitamix my husband mentioned how much better it was than the ones I made with the BlendTec…They have a problem for sure!!
So Glad I made the right choice too:)
My vote is for Vitamix! I love mine!
I appreciate this honest review….when I started reading it, I thought for sure you would say Blendtec was the winner, LOL
I’ve been using a hand-me-down 2-speed Vitamix for over a year now and my husband and I both agree that if it ever breaks down, we are slugging on a brand-new one.
We absolutely love it and use it all the time.
Thanks for sharing! Do you have any tips for an easy to carry/lightweight travel blender? I looked at the Nutribullet but found it still quite big.
I was really happy with the Tribest Personal Blender I tried a few years ago. I love that you can blend things directly in glass mason jars, so that you don’t use a plastic pitcher or dirty an extra glass. My only complaint with that one was that the rubber O-ring around the blender opening got caught during a blender cycle once, and then the blender is useless because the glass jars won’t release from the base when the rubber is missing. It sounds like that is a common complaint in the Amazon reviews: http://amzn.to/1TFHwNG Perhaps there’s a better personal blender out there, but I haven’t wanted to spend the money on trying one since I’m usually blending for three people these days! 😉
Interesting review! I have had a Blend Tec for 2 or 3 years and use it for soups and smoothies. I think it’s fantastic and don’t have problems like you mention. Everything I blend is always smooth, even if I add ice or huge chunks of frozen fruit. My only complaint is the noise.
I agree! I LOVE my vitamix and it is worth every penny. I got a model that has presets as well as the regular speed dial – so it checks the “pro” box fors “presets” functionally! Thanks for the great review and reinforcing my choice! Love your site, book and recipes!!
I bought a smaller pitcher at Costco for my
Vitamix so it would fit under my cabinets. For the everyday smaller uses its great. When I need a bigger pitcher when I’m entertaining I get the bigger one out.
Love myVitamix!
I already wanted a Vitamix, but settled for a Ninja bc I don’t make many smoothies. But I’m pretty sure you won’t be impressed upon comparison — it does get stuff fairly smooth but it takes a bit of work to get it there.
Btw, I found it funny that Blendtec had you call their “customer seevice line”– assuming that means their 1-800 number where you get a random rep. They seem to not care too much abou their reputation if they can’t even get you their best rep after personally sending you a blender. Makes me wonder how they’d handle little ole me.
LOL, I was thinking the same thing!
We love our Vitamix and have tried the others without the same love. It gets used several times a day…the one thing we have difficulty living without when we travel.
Nice review. I’m fortunate enough to have both a Vitamix and a Blendtec. I agree that the Vitamix is better when it comes to smoothies, however I love the Blendtec Twister jar for sauces. It’s the perfect size and blends cashew based sauces super smooth. I had problems with making sauces in the Vitamix as there just wasn’t enough ingredients (at least I assume that’s why) – even with using the tamper I would have to keep adding liquid – which would thin the sauce. I don’t use either for nutbutters. I think the noise is comparable on both = loud! Thanks for your thorough and honest review.
Megan, thank you, I truly appreciate this post, (well, all your posts!!)!!
We purchased a 40 year old Vitamix, for $40, (at an Estate Sale), about 30 years ago. Loved from day one!! A friend had borrowed it a few years later to grind grain, and ended up having to replace a small part on the stainless steel canister for $40. Also, rubber gaskets in the lid were replaced a few times. Two years ago, a part on the canister broke, and though the motor was still going strong, decided to hold off having it repaired. Two months ago, my awesome husband decided to surprise me, and bought me a brand new Vitamix 5300 (from Costco). I use it daily, and am so very blessed to have it….I am one very satisfied Vitamix owner!!
I love my vitamix. I just wanted to share that the model I have fits perfectly under my counter. I do pull it out to use it, though. Just thought you might want to add that some of the newer models do fit. I’ve had mine for about 2 years.
Aww! I love my Blendtec! My smoothies do not come out too liquidy, and my dates/kale/etc always blend well. I’ve used the Vitamix as well, and it is, of course, a great machine. There IS a difference, I realize in how you have to load the container. I did a side by side compare with my girlfriend who had a Vitamix, and she loaded the Blendtec exactly the same way as her blender. Mine didn’t work as well as usual. But if i put the same ingredients in the correct way, all is well! You do have to load it correctly, and you don’t have to over do it with the liquid so that is runny. I don’t think I prefer one over the other, and maybe it’s because I’ve not used the other as much. But I do LOVE that I can set it and leave, then come back to a perfect smoothy. I always tell people that either is a great choice!
I have an older model Vitamix and mine fits under the cabinet. It just depends on how much space is between the cabinet and countertop. Granted, I do have to pull it out to use it but I think you have to do that with the older model as well
Hey Megan! Have you ever looked into getting the Magimix? I believe they’re from the same company and I hear everyone talk about the vitamix but I feel like a magimix is more multipurpose/ multifunctional. I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🙂
I started out with a Blendtec, had it 3 years and the motor went out on it. Thank goodness I bought it at Costco, they took it back and returned my money, no questions asked. I then bought the Vitamix. I love it! My smoothies come out silky without chunks of fruit in it. It’s a tad bit quieter than the Blendtec too.
Vitamix all the way. I love mine! Going on 6 years now.
I’m so glad I read your review. I had a blendtec that I bought last year from Costco (my second one in 10 years) and haven’t been thrilled with the performance. After reading your review I took it back yesterday and got the Vitamix 5300 to try instead. I can’t wait to blend and see the difference.
V.i.t.a.m.i.x. Hands down! My favorite appliance, I use it multiple times a day– 7 years and going strong. I always wondered if I was missing something with the Blendtec…apparently not. Thanks for the honest review Megan…thick smoothies are VERY important ?
I but the bullet and got a vitamix. I ordered it straight from manufacturer. Which actually has a few benefits. 1. You can pay through a payment plan ( I did). 2. It automatically is registered for its warranty (if u buy from somewhere else you have to call to register). And 3. If you ever want to upgrade your vitamix you can call them. If you send it back for a newer better model they will recycle your old machine for you and then give you 100 dollars off your new machine! (At this time I believe they only do that if you order t straight through them)
Your right. Their customer service is amazing. and they don’t ever hesitate to replace anything it seems is you have an issue.
I also have their dry grain container that is different because it expelled grains away from blade instead of sucking them in and getting clumped in the bottom. I have made my own chickpea flour. Ground my own wheat berries to make my own flour, oats, flax… Anything really. He only thing is you can’t grind more than 2 min or else it could overheat and ruin container. So I usually set a clock for one min.
If I could change one thing about vitamix (and blendtec) is that I wish it had optional child safety features.
I’ve also used a blend tech blender years ago when I worked at a coffee shop. I found it did well most of the time. But yes. There were times when if there wasn’t enough water you really had take t off and scrape it. Add more water. Try it again. Repeat. I am curious as to how much better the newer version is to the old vitamix. I debated agains the two. But in the end went with the c model thinking it had a narrower base so would be more efficient at smaller servings than the newer one with the wider base. But the newer one has more power. I don’t know if it makes that much of a difference. But I’ve seen some YouTube trials and run it through a siv after. You can see a difference. Is the difference with the price difference? I have no idea.
I really appreciate your review, especially since you got the Blend Tec for free. I have read enough blogs with the reviews on comped items that have made me question their credibility. How can every single review of a free item be so enthusiastically positive?! I appreciate your honesty here.
I was recently in the market for a blender but I couldn’t get past the plastic pitcher of the Vitamix. I don’t want anything leaching into my food and I am just not comfortable using a polycarbonate. Do other people worry about this? I settled on a $70 Oster with a glass picture and I have been very happy with it but who knows how long it will last .
I do wish they would offer a glass pitcher, but I assume there is some scientific/logistical reason that no high-speed blender on the market offers the glass option. It doesn’t concern me too much mostly because I use my blender 95% of the time for blending cold or room temperature items, and I usually think of leaching happening when heat is involved. For hot soups, they are only in the blender for a minute or less, so hopefully not too much can happen in that time, though I prefer lately to just use an immersion blender to avoid washing an extra dish.
Thanks Megan! I have had the VERY same experience with Blendtec. I’ve reached out to the company twice because of blending issues and each time they have assured me I am the problem – not the blender! They have even “listened” to my blender over the phone and assured me it’s running properly(???) So frustrating! Because of this I would never recommend a Blentec.
Awesome review! I currently use a vitamix and love it. However, I have been on the search for a high power glass blender. I’m really not a fan of plastic, it holds smells and isn’t good for the environment. Other reviews I have read haven’t been very helpful. Do you know of any glass, high power blenders? That would be amazing if you reviewed some!
I recently spent a week at my folks house, without my Vitamix. I used their Oster and found it to be just as good for everything I tried. If I ever need a replacement, I’m looking into the Oster.
I’ve had a BlendTec for 7 years now. It was the one with the regular jar and it blends well. When the Wild Side jar came out, I had to buy that, of course. The Wild Side jar is larger and is great for making two quarts of smoothies, HOWEVER, it does not blend as well and leaves small bits of dates, etc. I have to blend it through two 90 second runs. This heats up my green smoothies a little. My mother in law bought a VitaMix the same time I bought a BlendTec. Although it seemed a little cumbersome compared to my smaller BlendTec, it made the absolute BEST smoothies. Everything was silky smooth and I tucked that information away in my brain. Costco has a sale right now for the VitaMix with the tall jar and I believe I will buy it. I am not interested in their shorter wider jar due to my experience with the BlendTec wider jar, not sure if it will be as good so I will stick with what I know. Thank you for your thorough review. The smaller twister jar is really meant for nuts, grains, ice cream, but not liquid smoothies. Again, thank you for your review.
It’s so refreshing to read an honest review, especially about a product as important as a high-speed blender! Thanks for keeping it on the up and up:)
Thanks for this. I’ve been wanting a high speed blender for a long time now and I just haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Part of my sitting on the fence is not knowing where to start in my research. The other is the cost. It isn’t a purchase I can take lightly. I wanted to be absolutely sure of what I wanted before I bought. This gives me good guidance. BTW, LOVE your Detox book. I ordered it just as soon as it was available and it’s everything I’d hoped it would be!
Thank you so much! I’m glad to hear you’re loving the book. 🙂
Yay! I’m so glad you chose the Vitamix as it is what I have- I bought a refurbished one a few years ago and absolutely love it! I have zero complaints (except that pesky not fitting under the cabinet thing).
I own both a Vita-Mix & BlendTec. Smoothies are best in the Vita-Mix, (plus it holds more volume) and dates get blended better with the Vita-Mix. When doing thick sauces that do not pour out very well and that I need to scrape out, that is the only time I like BlendTec better is that I can get a spatula down in the bottom easier to get most of the mixture out because of only having two blades instead of four.
I love my VitaMix. I bought it for myself one year as a combination Christmas/Anniversary gift. I have mainly use it for smoothies while changing to a healthier way of eating with the goal of losing weight. However, I just had the flu with a horrendous sore throat and swollen glands. I could barely swallow. Used my VitaMix to make a thin soup using previously pan-grilled chicken, onions, shiitake mushrooms, zucchini and crookneck squash and organic bone broth. The soup was tasty and healthy. The next day I made a green smoothie using a pre-made Greek style salad with chicken which I blended with organic free range chicken soup that I also had in my fridge. I was thrilled because having my VitaMix made it easy to make a healthy meal when I felt terrible plus none of my healthy leftovers had to be tossed out. My VitaMix saved the day! Today, still ill but improving and better able to swallow, I made a simple fruit protein smoothie. Will make at least one more smoothie today. Wouldn’t trade my VitaMix for anything, but would love to have the shorter container.
I love my Vitamix. My only complaints are that the container is made out of plastic, I prefer glass. And the design of the inside makes it so you can’t successfully scrape out all the goodies, something is always left behind. Regardless, it is completely worth it and I hope they bury me with it.
My father gave me a BlendTec and I have experienced the same issue that you did. I bought the fat speed vitamix from Costco and LOVE it. I needed sunseed flour and so I put a cup into the Vitamix. Voila, it ground the seeds to flour!
Ther’s no going back to BlendTec.