This disadvantage is a non-issue if most of your blends are over 2 cups, or if you are willing to spend a bit more to buy an additional narrow container, which will give you the best of both worlds. I like the 32-oz container for this purpose, although the 48-oz container has the same narrow bottom so it works just as well. The 48-oz container is just a bit bulkier on the outside because it sits outside the centering posts instead of inside of them, and its top is wider as well.
In May 2016 Vitamix came out with a new no-variable speed machine, the TurboBlend Three Speed($499). It is exactly what it sounds like: it has three speed settings: low, medium, and high. It also has a pulse switch, which does the same thing as switching the start-stop button on and off. The pricing on this model is a bit strange, since for $50 less you can get a machine with fully variable speed. Plus, the TurboBlend 3-Speed comes with a 5-year warranty, instead of the 7 years on machines like the 5200.
Clicking on any Vitamix link on this page will automatically apply a promotion code, which gives you free shipping on your order of a Vitamix machine (or anything else on Vitamix.com over $50) in the U.S. or Canada. For more details, see my page about the Vitamix promotion code.
Thank you so much for the base & container compatibility info! I am going to purchase a low profile Vitamix & want to use my 48oz wet & 64oz dry containers with the new machine. And thanks for the info on all the different models. A lot more to look at & decide since I bought my 5000 series, which still works & is being used for papermaking now.
Vitamix has a healthy selection of different sizes and shapes of containers to achieve different purposes, as well as a 12-cup food processor attachment that sits atop the motor of the Ascent and Venturist lines. Containers come in 32-ounce, 48-ounce, and 64-ounce sizes, some of which are available in a low profile height; a stainless steel container is available in the 64-ounce size as well. For those interested in milling their own flours, like rice or nuts, the dry-grains container comes in various sizes, with the added bonus of processing doughs without clumping around the blades. The Aer container is specially designed to pull in liquids through holes in the disc/blade, making it particularly excellent for emulsified sauces like hollandaise, as well as chopping items like ice and herbs without pureeing. With all attachments and containers, make sure that it is compatible with your line of Vitamix.
Most Vitamix blenders come with a 64 oz capacity blending bowl, which, on some models, can make it tricky to blend small portions, like a smoothie for one. Fortunately, Vitamix does offer adapters that allow you to blend smaller amounts. Although most models come with the same capacity blending bowls, some favor a taller, slimmer bowl that may be difficult to store under standard cabinets, while others feature a shorter, wider bowl with the same capacity.
Any blender should be simple and intuitive to use, no matter how versatile it is. Vitamix blender controls range from simple switches and knobs to digital touch screens with presets for a variety of functions.
With their hefty price tags, you should feel confident that Vitamix blenders are built to last. Any issues that arise from normal wear and tear will be covered for years to come. Vitamix offers warranties on all of their machines, varying by model from two to 10 years. These warranties cover parts, labor, and two-way shipping.
With its tall and narrow container, the chef-inspired 5200 may be the best pure blender ever made. This is the reconditioned version of that. Great if you want a Legacy model and don't need pre-programmed settings.
If you have any Legacy containers, an Ascent Series might not be for you: Ascent Series Vitamix blenders are compatible only with SELF DETECT containers. These containers have a small chip inside that the Ascent Series base looks for and requires to run. In other words, an Ascent Series cannot blend with Legacy containers. So if you have a fleet of containers from a Legacy model, you may want to get another Legacy Vitamix while you still can.
The Vitamix ONEONE is the best Vitamix for most people who live alone. While it is limited to classic blender tasks (smoothies, shakes, etc), it outperforms every Vitamix alternative at that price point.
At this price point, the Recon V1200 with $100 off in-cart makes more sense for most people. That is unless you want non-Ascent, in which case a Legacy budget pick is a better choice here.
The E310 comes with a 48-ounce container, which is ideal for those who live alone. But the V1200 has more features and is less loud. Plus, it comes with a free 20-ounce kit and $100-off in-cart via our link. So for around the same price, the Recon V1200Recon V1200 is the better pick.
A great blender should be able to smoothly process tough items like fibrous kale, frozen berries, and ice without burning out the motor. How efficiently a blender does this depends on a combination of the blade length and position, the shape of the mixing jar, and the motor strength. All three of those elements combine to create a vortex that pulls food down around the blade.
Whether you choose a blender with manual controls or preset functions is largely a personal preference. But we appreciate a powerful blender with a simple interface that includes an on/off switch, a pulse button, and a variable-speed dial. These easy controls allow you to quickly adjust the speed or turn off the machine if things get messy.
Additionally, we noted how easy or difficult each blender was to clean, how noisy each model was, whether any of them produced a burning smell while the motor ran, whether the jars were difficult to attach to the bases, and how easy the interfaces were to use.
No high-powered blender we tested could be described as quiet, but we found the noise from the Vitamix to be much less offensive than the high-pitched whine of the Blendtec, and it was quieter than the roar of our runner-up, the Oster Versa.
The Vitamix Explorian E320 is 99% identical to the 5300. A Vitamix customer service representative told us that the two blenders had the same motor base, jar, tamper, and functionality. The main difference between the blenders is that the 5300 has a small on/off switch located just below the control panel. On top of that, the E320 is available only as part of a package with two personal cups and an adapter.
This Oster model, like other high-performance blenders, is a beefy machine. The base takes up 8 by 9 inches of counter space. But at 17Â inches tall to the top of the lid, the Oster will fit better on a counter under most kitchen cabinets than the Vitamix or the Cleanblend, both of which are more than 19 inches tall.
In our tests, the Cuisinart CBT-1500 Hurricane struggled to process foods. Blending thick smoothies and peanut butter required adding more liquid, a lot of starting and stopping, and banging the jar on the counter. It did make mayonnaise on the first try, though, unlike the more powerful Cuisinart CBT-2000 Hurricane Pro. But without the Turbo button of the Hurricane Pro (more on that below), this model is just another middle-of-the-road blender.
We've currently tested 13 Vitamix blenders. This manufacturer specializes in full-size blenders that fall on the higher end of the price range for blenders. They're consistently some of the best-built blenders we've tested, and most are available with a U.S. warranty that lasts between five and ten years, compared to the more typical one-year warranty for blenders.
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