Is Vitaminix worth it? I asked several experts to weigh in

The first time I got my hands on it Vitamix blenderI was in culinary school. While I honestly thought I was making some delicious soups and purees using an immersion blender or traditional juicer model, the Vitamix made it all seem like child’s play after one go.

Gone are the tiny vegetable particles that defined my early attempts at velvety butternut squash soup. Obviously, a truly emulsified and homogeneous mixture was only available with a professional device, a fact I will admit time and time again, no matter which Vitamix model I encounter in various restaurant kitchens.

However, professional devices come at professional prices, and I have never enjoyed the exceptional results available from a Vitamix in the privacy of my own home. But small kitchen gadgets have come a long way in the past decade, and with high-performance brands like Ninja in the mix, it begs the question: Is the Vitamix worth it?

What makes a Vitamix blender better?

One of the primary features that sets the Vitamix apart from many other blenders is its high-speed motor. If you also have the privilege of using one of these blenders, you will know very well that their highest speed settings put most other blenders directly in the rearview mirror. Its power sounds like something that could reasonably be used for supersonic travel.

Unlike a food processor and some standard blenders, which have sharp blades that slice up their contents into smaller and smaller pieces, the Vitamix also relies on dull-edged stainless steel blades that essentially crush your food when combined with their ultra-fast rotation and the gravitational pull of the vortex they create. This creates its unparalleled smoothness, as nothing inside the jug is cut into small pieces.

Vitamix vs. Ninja Twisty

In our latest collection of The best blendersthe Ninja Twisti model was neck and neck with the entry-level Vitamix Explorian for top ranking. Here’s a side-by-side look at how they compare in terms of features, power, and price.

price	$370	$140
power	1400 watts	1600 watts
Blades	Laser cut, stainless steel	Stainless steel hybrid bezel
kettle	48 oz., BPA-free plastic	34 oz., BPA-free plastic
Settings	10 variable speeds plus pulse	5 speeds plus additional pre-set functions
Dishwasher safe	Yes	Yes
Self cleaning	Yes	Not mentioned
weight	10.5 lbs	7.2 lbs
a guarantee	5 full years	One year limited

One thing that stands out here is that although the Ninja model has more power available, its lighter base may make mixing less stable at top speed, especially with harder items like nuts. The jug is smaller, which is fine for smoothies, but it may make blending soup more complicated, as you’ll likely need to do it in several batches. The warranty also pales in comparison to the Vitamix. Does this guarantee justify the Vitamix’s price, even though it’s roughly 2.5 times what you’d pay to take the Ninja home?

Is Vitaminix worth it? Experts weigh in

I asked several chefs and kitchen experts to share their thoughts on whether Vitaminix is ​​worth it. Similar to the results of the same experiment with The crucible – Standard bearer (expensive). Dutch ovens — Brand loyalty is a real thing, though everyone I queried brought up valid considerations about function, longevity, warranty, provenance and whether or not you’ll actually use the thing often enough to justify it.

First, “Ask yourself, ‘How often do I use a blender?’” suggests Joan Gallagher, co-founder and recipe developer at Inspiring taste. “Think about what you actually cook in a week,” she says. “If the blender is on your counter and is used constantly, the investment is worth it.” “If you make a smoothie every day, love making your own nut butter, or blending hot soup straight from the bowl, the Vitamix may be your best friend.”

You probably think you would do all this more regularly if you had a world-class device that inspired you to do so. “I end up cooking and trying new things the more confident I feel in the kitchen,” Gallagher says, and the right appliance can help. “When you know you’re going to get the perfect tomato soup, for example, you’re more likely to branch out and try new recipes and cooking methods,” she says. There’s merit to this thinking, of course, but it’s a potentially expensive gamble if you don’t already do these things on a regular basis.

As for the quality of production, he says: “In the past, I struggled with cheap blenders that left the juices chunky and couldn’t handle hard spices like cinnamon when making homemade mole sauce.” Jessica Randhawafounder and head chef of Forked spoon. “I now have two Vitamix blenders, one in each of my test kitchens,” she says. “One of the models is an entry-level model, which is a great blender and does everything a blender should do perfectly every time.

The other is one of Vitamix’s newest products, top models With food processor attachments, which allowed me to get rid of my old food processor in this kitchen.

Not all chefs think it’s worth it if you don’t use it all the time. “For most home cooks, I don’t think Vitaminex is really worth its price,” says Rina Awada, chef and restaurateur. Healthy fitness meals. “Unless you make soup, nut butters, etc. daily, or run a small food business, the speed and smoothness they offer rarely justify the cost.”

Chef Molly Pesola Vanilla Bean Kitchen Offers an alternative solution. “The price is high, however Refurbished mixers Available, and even sold directly on Vitamix website“She says.” (“Renewed” in Vitamix-speak.) “And Amazon often runs big Black Friday sales on Vitamix blenders.”

However, if you gamble on the cost of a new model, Randhawa points out some serious upsides: “I love that the Vitamix is ​​made in the USA, and it comes with a better warranty than most.”

My Vitamix Alternative Experience: Chefman Obliterator

I recently acquired a Schiffman disinfectantwhich has very similar specs to the Vitamix Explorian model, including a self-cleaning mode and a speed dial of up to 5. (Each speed setting is divided into 5 hashtags, effectively making 25 speed settings.) Its price is listed at $75 on Amazon, which puts it squarely in the camp of budget blenders. Although I don’t want to give away the moral of the story too early, without telling you my process: Run, don’t walk to pick up this blender at this price.

I freely admit that I was initially drawn to Obliterator by the hyperbole alone. “Blur” is such a serious claim that it seems like the blender should also come with a wand and spell book. It turns out that these props are not even necessary.

Since butternut squash soup seems to be my personal standard for evaluating the success of a particular blender, a butternut squash soup was created. Into the generous Obliterator chamber, a chunky, “country-style” mixture went before the mash, and then out came something that could reasonably be called a blur, but in a good way. It was as smooth and grainy as what would have been served at any upscale restaurant, and pretty much blurred the fantasy that I might one day be drinking a Vitamix.