Anyone have a Vitamix? - YouLookFab Forum

After my Kitchenaid started leaking through its second replacement pitcher I have had enough. The model is too old for them to carry the replacement pitchers anymore, but as far as use goes, it wasn't old. I only started making smoothies daily after my gum surgery this summer so really it has only seen 6 months of regular use on this pitcher and has been leaking for the past 2. For the second time.

Reviews were consistently high on Vitamix...every brand had good and bad reviews, including this one, but mostly they were high and even the lower reviews did not mention leaking. So I splurged, on sale. ($300, was $400). It has a 7 year warranty and I think if I stuck with Kitchenaid I'd spend that much over 7 years just on replacement pitchers.

I feel for sure it is more than I need. All I really do is make smoothies. The first one today was excellent...makes me think my Kitchenaid was messed up in more ways than leaking, because those were never this smooth. Cons: above speed 5 it wants to walk across the counter, and I feel like I should wear earplugs to operate it.

If you have one, do you like it, and what do you make with it? Do you feel it is worth the price?

5 years ago

Anonymous

I do not have one, but my best friend does! She would agree with you that it is "more than she needs," BUT she loves it and uses it a lot. I think if push came to shove, she would endorse this product with great enthusiasm.

Speaking for her. She did pay a lot for her Vitamix. She is more attuned to what others think about how much she paid than what she thinks she paid. Does that make sense? I might have worded it wrong. That is the reason she always adds the "it is more than I need, but ...." In her heart of hearts, she loves it. She uses it. She is happy.

She works hard. She deserves to be happy.

kellygirl

Veteran

It's the best blender I have ever used and worked hard making smoothies for DDs from middle school through high school when I was too cheap to spring for Jamba Juice all the time. It crushes ice like nobody's business. I'm pretty sure the hefty price was off set although I'm not really sure--it did give me more control as to what I put in the smoothies (even sneaking in spinach and oats.) I only drink smoothies when it's hot so it's not coming out any time soon. It is super noisy but it's so fast that it's only noisy for a short while...

Molly Mac

I have a Vitamix and love it. It is much more than just a blender. The recipe book that comes with it gives lots of ideas for use including soups, dips and spreads, salad dressings, and desserts. You can even use it for bread dough. It is my favorite kitchen tool second only to my KitchenAid mixer.

I have one - it’s now a good 5 years old (?) and gets used almost daily . Love it . Primarily used for smoothies and keto / coffee drinks , but also for blending soups . All 3 of us in our house drink at least one smoothie daily each - so that thing gets a good workout , and yes is absolutely worth the price .

rachylou

I lived my whole life with an Oster blender of some sort. I watched my dad make vichyssoise and so forth in it.

Then I added a Cuisinart and an immersion blender, and the Oster got pushed to the back of the cabinet. But mind, none of them ever earned a place on the countertop.

Then this year I got into making soups and decided enough was enough: I’d ask for a blender for Xmas. At work we have a Vitamix. It’s powerful. It’s durable. But it’s also $400 for the model with only basic blending functions. So I went with the Ninja Foodi and it totally earned a place countertop in one day. Throw the ingredients in, push a button, and walk away - and presto, hot soup! I’m looking forward to trying ice cream in it now.

I *do* like to cook. I also like to eat - and the two aren’t necessarily the same. Daily dinner, I want to be easy and fast. When it comes to cooking, I think the more difficult the better better. I lived with a $19 deep fryer from Big Lots with no temp controls until I couldn’t stand it, but I learned A LOT.

And then professional cooking is yet another animal. There are home cooks in my life that go on about having professional quality at home. Kitting out from restaurant supply stores and all that. I always have to hide my ‘eh’ reaction. Professional quality isn’t necessarily the greatest. It has to stand up to a lot of abuse yet be cheap enough to be replaced on a regular basis. You don’t get the bells and whistles, the refinements, you could get with home gear.

So... I really think it depends. I personally don’t see myself making enough soup to ever make me want a Vitamix. I don’t think it would ever have a place on my counter; I’d probably put it away because I don’t think it’s fun. But if I was a daily smoothie maker, that could change my mind.

nemosmom

We have one, but we received it as a gift, so I can't speak to whether we are getting the most bang for our buck out of it. I use it mostly for making pesto. I prefer a stick blender for blending soups (easier to clean; makes less mess) I had a really old Osterizer that made excellent frozen margaritas and smoothies.

rebekahphoto

I love ours, its right out on the counter and when it dies I will have no problem spending the extra to replace it. I mostly make smoothies, soups, sauces--I recently pureed all the chilies for tamales!

Suz

(website)

I have one. Mine is -- I am serious here -- about 25 years old. I inherited it from my sister in law (she died). And it is definitely more than I need but I love it. It doesn't look pretty at all. She must have used it quite hard before we took it over. The plexiglass is dull and scratched. But honestly, it works like a dream, so I don't care.

donnat

Mine is 10 years old and used daily for smoothies. Also soups, hummus, coctails, it was expensive but I have never regreted it.

Peri

Thank you all, these stories are very encouraging! I'm just happy to hear how they last because I'm over all the leaking problems.

It's kind of motivating to hear what else I can do with it. When I say it's more than I need, it's not really about the cost, it's because I'm not any kind of a cook. Maybe I can make "become more adventurous" a NY resolution.

Preppy Pear

Just wanted to mention I got a refurbished model (with a new, unused carafe) on sale from Amazon last summer for less than half the price. I’d definitely recommend a refurbished one if you can find it - ours still has a warranty and you’d never know it wasn’t new. We love it!

April

I have a Vitamix, from an era when I was making a lot of nut-based vegan cheeses and ice creams. For smoothies, I would say that a Ninja will get the job done at less than half the price.

Be careful, however -- the Ninja blade is like razor wire and it's so easy to cut yourself while washing it.

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