Vitamix!

[Cascadian]

So....was your Vitamix totally worth it? It's so spendy...$600 or so after taxes. I've been scouring the net for youtube vids and going on sites, comparing them to other blenders like Blendtec, and have decided (in theory) that this is the one for me.

My MAIN goal is to deal with what I percieve as incomplete nutrition - picky kids, my own bad habits. If I could drink my greens, get tons of fibre, increase bioavailability by breaking down cell walls of the veg/fruit...I want to combat my adrenal fatigue/tiredness. I've imagined all kinds of neat things in my head, adding spirulina, protein powders, making healthy icecream for breakfast (eg. strawberries and frozen yogurt)...

So...thoughts?

Do you use it every day?

Is it overrated?

[OvenSeeksBun]

Subbing

[marimara]

Yeah I'm interested in hearing what others have to say. I am currently *thinking* about buying one. I'm not sure it's worth it though. Right now I use my el cheapo blenders for green smoothies every morning and while the texture isn't super great, it gets the job done. I'm toying with getting an upgrade blender from mine but not quite into Vitamix territory. I've read that the Oster Beehive Classic Blender is a good blender for those not into spending mad cash on a blender. That coupled with a food processor might cover it. But I'm interested in hearing what others have to say about it. Still thinking it over...

[Sayward]

Originally Posted by OvenSeeksBun

Subbing

What does 'subbing' mean?? I always see this and idgi!!!

[Cascadian]

'Subbing' = subscribing to a thread...to get thread update notices in your email

[avendesora]

You can get older new models for $350ish. Way less than $600.

Aven

[mamadelbosque]

Yes, it was worth it. But only because I burnt through 2 $100 kitchenaid blenders in as many years before we broke down and bought a vitamix (whcih we've now had for 2 going on 3 yrs But thats all it is, really - a *very* powerful blender. Its not a food processor. Its not a stand mixer. It will not replace those things. Its just a really, really powerful blender. And if your burning through regular blenders, then yes, its worth it. If your not, and only use your blender occasionally for light weight blending, probably not. (For the record, I burnt through blenders by pureeing beans into bean dip. Apparently beans are really rough on blenders...)

[Sayward]

Originally Posted by Cascadian

'Subbing' = subscribing to a thread...to get thread update notices in your email

Ahhh, thank you!

[jessafina]

I really like mine. A lot. It's a blender on steroids. And it's true, you'll still want a food processor, but if you use your blender a lot and can work it into your budget, you'd probably love a Vitamix. We had one growing up (my mom still has it and uses it ALL the time... going on 20 years) and my parents got us one as a wedding gift. I LOVE it for making baby food, not to mention smoothies and soups. It's also great for grinding up organic waste. Whenever I cut open a watermelon, I grind up the rinds with a little water and then just dump them down the garbage disposal. I WISH I was somewhere where I could compost; I'd grind up all of that stuff and pour it on a compost heap. You can grind up just about anything in seconds. If I didn't have a Vitamix I'd probably be plotting a way to afford one!

[ian'smommaya]

Originally Posted by avendesora

You can get older new models for $350ish. Way less than $600.

Aven

really? the best deal i found was on a yahoo group a branie new one for 500 or so. maybe less.

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by ian'smommaya

really? the best deal i found was on a yahoo group a branie new one for 500 or so. maybe less.

same here. i want a vitamix so very badly! i browse the internet & watch videos drooling over the ease of it all. but justifying the price to my husband is going to be a bit of a challenge, lol.

[avendesora]

Now it's $389
http://www.amazon.com/Vita-Mix-1700-...0218906&sr=8-1

[Laedi]

Don't forget to check craigslist! I bought a new one, 5200 super deluxe, for $600 dollars. Used it about 10 times in 1 year and decided to sell it. I sold it on craigslist for $350 dollars and the 6 years on the warranty was transferable to the new owner.

[pwit]

I have one and it was definitely worth it for us. I mostly use it for very simple fruit smoothies- just frozen fruit and water and or juice. I've made hummus with it several times too. Oh and I will puree veggies to hide in meatloaf or pasta sauce. I have used it some for baby food as well. We do all those things enough times though and like other posters have said- I've worn out enough other blenders that I know in the long run I've saved money. We also bought ours off ebay an older model for around $350 I think.

Its not a mixer, its not a food processor- just an awesome blender. But if my kitchen burned up to smitherines it would be one of the first things items in my kitchen I would be seeking to replace.

[Cascadian]

I'm totally not a sucker for the 'here's the newest model' thing, but the current one is the 5200 with a BPA-free canister..

[momofboys2]

Totally worth it. I use it every day for my boys' smoothies. I can add red cabbage to the fruit smoothies and they can't tell, because the Vitamix does such a great job. I also make ice cream from almonds for them. The smoothies alone are totally worth it, as my boys like it and the nutrition from those is important. There are a couple of other things I make with the Vitamix, which another blender wouldn't be able to do.

[StoriesInTheSoil]

I recently purchased a Vitamix 5200 from the Vitamix website that was factory reconditioned and was $379 before tax, $404 after. I used a coupon code for free shipping that I found online. Reconditioned models have the same 7-year warrenty and are in like-new condition.

From the vitamix FAQ:

Q: What is a reconditioned Vitamix machine?
A:Reconditioned machines may have been used for live demonstrations or in a photo shoot. They may also be machines that have been returned within the 30-day trial period. In any case, a Reconditioned Vitamix machine has seen very limited use. Upon return to the factory, the motor base of each machine is cleaned, inspected and repackaged with a brand new container plus a bonus kit that includes Recipes for Better Living Cookbook, Getting Started Cookbook, Tamper, and Let's Get Started DVD.

I love it! I make smoothies with fruit, yogurt, spinach, spirulina, raw honey, and pollen. They are great! I also love making soft-serve from raw milk. It made good salsa and raspberry vinaigrette as well.

[hjrowan]

Originally Posted by mamadelbosque

For the record, I burnt through blenders by pureeing beans into bean dip. Apparently beans are really rough on blenders...)

Thanks for the tip! I've been trying to burn out my Cuisinart so I could justify getting a Blendtec/Vitamix, and ordinary smoothies weren't working

[To-Fu]

I have one and use it all the time for soups and smoothies and dips. It's amazing! I love the recipes on the site, too. It's been totally worth it for us b/c I ended up with a picky toddler. The Vitamix allows me to sneak whole foods into his diet in a way that won't upset his texture preferences.

[lisabc311]

I bought mine a year ago and LOVE it!

Sometimes I use it 3x a day...sometimes I go a few days without using it. On average, I would say it gets used once a day.

The quality and longevity is so good that the investment is most definitely worth it. We used part of our tax refund for it last year.