Does anyone own a Vita-Mix Super 5000?

[lovemyfamily6]

I'm really considering getting one. They're really expensive, but you can do so much with them. The things I know I would use it for would be making baby food, ice cream (if I can ever find a good vegan non-soy recipe), soups and possibly juicing.

I don't like to have a lot of appliances and this can do so many things. I wonder if it's a lot of hype though or if it really is as fabulous as it sounds.

It's about $474 for the super 5000 and $574 for the deluxe 5000 that comes with a third container (super gets a second) and every attachment. I don't know what all those attachments do though and can't find it on the website. It's also $75 for an extended 10 year warranty.

For anyone that owns one, would you recommend the super or deluxe and also would you recommend the warranty?

[USAmma]

You can get a refurbished one for a lot less . .. . they are on the website too.

I have an old 3600 that I got for free for the purpose of making blended food for my tube-fed daughter. It worked really great. She's on a special diet now and I no longer need this Vitamix and am passing it on to another tube-feeding family. It's a really great machine but I'm not sure I would have spent that much money on a new one. You still need to strain for juicing sometimes and it does have its limits. You have to blend or grind with limited amount of liquid at first to keep the food on the blades. Then add liquid slowly to the right consistency.

[callmemama]

I'm drooling at the prospect of owning one, but alas, I don't. I'll be reading replies with interest. Do you know if they include new jars on the reconditioned blenders? We haven't eaten meat in years and I don't want those mad cow prions sticking to the blades.

[BeanyMama]

My Mom has one of these, we had to stay with her for a while. I miss it sooo much. Really really handy. I've got to save up

[lovemyfamily6]

So I told dh last night and he just about fell over when I told him the price.

Has anyone made soymilk in one? I've also been looking at those. I don't even like soymilk but dh and the kids do. We buy the DHA Silk stuff now, but it would be a lot cheaper if we could make it and just take a DHA supplement. If the VM is as good as a soymilk maker, it would make it more enticing for dh. I think if I figured out the appliances we would need for the functions I'd really use, it would probably be a better price than buying them individually, but I'm not sure.

I'd love to bake bread and since this can knead it, it would help a lot. I had a bread machine but it didn't make very good loaves or make them consistently well, so I returned it. Plus I'd prefer a traditional loaf shape.

It's such a big purchase, but I noticed it comes with a 7 year warranty. That's a pretty long time.

[californiajenn]

I have one and I LOVE it!

To be honest, I don't use it as much as a thought i would but I don't regret getting it at all.

I use it to grind grains, for smoothies and nut butters, and sometimes to puree soups/sauces. I find that I like a stick blender better for soups/sauces (less mess) but mine broke so I'm using the blender.

I have never made milk with it but I have read that others have success.

[milk4two]

I have a super. Definitely worth the money. I've had it for a few years & no problems with it.

[Elsaraw]

I use mine several times a day. You really don't need those extra containers... the normal one does dry foods too. Or the extended warrenty - these things are tough!! Just be sure to get one with the variable switch, that is super handy.