I’ve used my parent’s Vitamix before and I love it for making smoothies and milkshakes. apparently it is very versatile as you can make soup from it and consistent bread dough judging from the recipe books provided and the loaves of bread my mother has made. I’ve found that it is really easy to clean and fairly easy to use, and it’s quick. (and love how it can make apple seeds digestible by the human body)

If there is anything I dislike about it, it’s that it isn’t very forgiving if operated incorrectly. Turn it on and if it isn’t at the lowest speed setting, you’re going to smell burnt rubber all day. However a little diligence helps solves the this problem.

Money-wise… I don’t know. I know my parents got theirs from Costco and it was something half it’s usual price so if I came across a deal like that, I’d probably go for it. I like the blender and perhaps it is worth the full price, but I don’t need it.

Another blender doesn’t spring to mind, the Vitamix is definitely the best one I’ve used thus far. There are probably better blenders or ones of comparable quality for lower prices, but I have no idea what.

Can you make Vitameatavegamin with it?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AZK2-Tfc84

My blender was $40 from Kohl’s and it’s holding up just fine in making my daily protein smoothies. I’ll be damned if I’d spend $300–600 on a blender, no matter how good it is. I’m sure they’re great if you’ve got several hundred dollars to throw away. I mean, they better be good for that price.

I have one and have never regretted the purchase.

If the reconditioning was done by the Vitamix company (rather than a third party) I would feel confident about buying it.

There are very few companies that I would make that statement about. The only other one is Apple.

I got mine when QVC was having a sale and I got the extra container and blade configuration for grinding grain thrown in for free.

Another important thing to remember in this day of decreasing quality for many iconic products, it is 100% Made in America (Ohio).

Vitamixes have the reputation of lasting a lifetime (and even being passed down to the next generation for another lifetime). If you take a look on eBay, you’ll see that they hold their value very well as there are much older units still regularly selling for several hundred.

Oh,i just remembered, one of the few complaints I’ve heard in the past was that the unit plus the container makes it so tall and inconvenient for fitting on a lit of countertops with overhead cabinets.

Nowadays, they have as an option to get containers which are lower but wider so they still hold the same amount.

If you get a Vitamix, you’ll never buy another blender for the rest of your life (and likely pass it down to your children as well.)

@Buttonstc Have you used the grain-grinding blade?

I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t yet :)

I’ve owned one for a couple years. It has allowed me to take my soups and sauces to the next level. I didn’t realize it when I originally purchased it, but it actually cooks the food.

I’d imagine factory reconditioned is fine, these blenders should last a long time.

There is a comparable blender, the ninja I think. I considered it at the time, but it seemed to have too many parts to clean each time. With the vitamix you just add a drop of soap and leave it on high for a minute.

We have the Breville Hemisphere which we chose because it is very highly rated by America’s Test Kitchen and other sites, and we’ve been pleased with it thus far. We have the old Ninja prep system that works well for chopping and such, but doesn’t puree as well as a traditional blender.

I have friends with $400 Vitamixes.

I get the same results with my $60 blender.

@jaytkay: Doesn’t the Vitamix cook and freeze? I think so but am not positive. Does your blender do that (again, I’m not sure if there are regular blenders with that technology).

@jca you can cook some soups with it for certain. Freezing, I’m inclined to say no… but I haven’t gone through the user manual nor the recipe books that came with completely.

@Winter_Pariah: Right, so my point to @jaytkay is does the $60 blender do that?

No, a $60 blender does not heat things. I own a gas stove and a microwave for that.

@jaytkay: Right. So when you say that “I get the same results with a $60 blender” that’s not a correct statement.

Same results, I get the same food.

For $300 or $400 I can manage to pour food out of the blender and heat it on the stove.

Also, the people I know don’t heat food in their Vitamix. I would be surprised if they even know about the feature.

@jaytkay: Yes, I agree, but my point is that it is not the same, then, as your $60 blender.

@jca

For the record, the Vitamix does cook but does NOT freeze.

In fairness, however, you might have seen a TV demo of it being used to make ice cream.
That’s done with frozen strawberries (or other fruit) combined with either yogurt or milk and blended smooth.

If you have the proportions right, it ends up the consistency of soft serve ice cream.

I’ve used my Vitamix for both soups and ice cream as well as smoothies.

For people who just want to make common smoothies or soups, there are other blenders which can do similar.

But if you want a machine that can handle items like Kale or carrots and blend them into a smooth consistency, then a Vitamix will do it. Other blenders will end up with burnt out motors or will produce something that is chunky but not really drinkable.

It all depends upon what usage you need it for. And there are many people who are perfectly happy without having a Vitamix in the kitchen.

Also, I don’t know of many blenders which can handle kneading dough like a VM can. Granted, there are SOME food processors that can handle it (but then you’re also talking in the $300–400 range with the larger bowls) Quite a few people have burned out the motors on their food processors trying to knead pizza dough.

The primary point is that there really is nothing that a VM can’t handle. The same cannot be said of most other blenders and food processors.

And none of them come with a lifetime guarantee on the motor. The VM does.

And as usual, excellence doesn’t come cheap. (but there are plenty of used ones available for considerably less)