Q. SHOULD I BUY A VITAMIX COMMERCIAL BLENDER RATHER THAN THE HOME MODEL?
A. Not for home use. Vitamix home models achieve 100% the same blending results as their commercial counterparts and share the same commercial-grade motor. Commercial models are designed for specific commercial applications and for a constantly running business environment. Home models have a 5-7 year warranty, parts and labor. Commercial models only have a 1 year service, 3 year parts warranty.
Q. VITAMIX HAS TOO MANY MODELS ON THEIR WEBSITE. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?
A. There are currently 5 different models. Pro 750, 7500, Pro 500, 5200 and Turbo Blend Two Speed. All other models are the same as the ones above (less the Pro 750) but are packaged with different recipe books.
Q. WHY DOES VITAMIX ONLY HAVE 2HP MODELS WHEN BLENDTEC HAS 3HP? DOESN'T THAT MAKE BLENDTEC BETTER?
A. Horsepower alone does not equate to performance. There are several factors involved such as blade design, motor efficiency under heavy loads, how well the machine blends under heavy loads and blending container design. Many of Vitamix's commercial line have 3 hp motors but the extra horsepower is to drive the fan to keep the machine cool in a busy commercial environment. While horsepower certainly plays a role in motor design, when it's the main feature being advertised it is generally overblown hype.
Q. I SAW THE NINJA MEGA KITCHEN SYSTEM 1500 ON A TV INFOMERCIAL ADVERTISED TO BE EQUAL TO THE VITAMIX FOR HALF THE PRICE. IS THE NINJA REALLY A BETTER DEAL?
A. Infomercials that challenge competitors are designed to make their lower-priced product (such as the Ninja 1500) look better than the leading competitor. Beware of camera edits in infomercials, over-hyped horsepower ratings and products that are packaged with several accessories to increase feature set. These machines generally have much lower build quality and may not produce the same blending results or have the same product longevity as the leading competitor they are challenging. For more information on this please check out my NInja 1500 vs. Vitamix Showdown video here.
Q. IS THE VITAMIX DRY BLADE CONTAINER REALLY NECESSARY?
A. If you're an active baker or a person that grinds a lot of grains weekly the Dry Blade Container would be best suited. While you certainly can use the included Wet Blade Container and grind grains very well, the Dry Blade Container does this much more efficiently, especially for grains containing oils.
Q. I wash my Vitamix blender jar daily, why does it look old and cloudy?
A. This may be caused by several reasons. Minerals from leafy greens, fruits and other various produce may leave a film inside the container. It's recommended that you perform a deep cleaning by filling the container half full of water and pouring in 1 cup of vinegar. Allow to stand in an upright position soaking for several hours. Pour contents out and use a soft (non-scouring) sponge to clean as usual. Grinding hard ingredients often such as dry grains may cause small scratches inside the blending container resulting in a cloudy appearance. This cloudy look is purely cosmetic however it is permanent. For grinding grains on a consistent basis it's recommended to invest in the Vitamix Dry Blade Container.
Q. ISN'T A VITAMIX JUST A GLORIFIED OVERPRICED BLENDER?
A. Review the blenders you have owned over the years and ask yourself, "Have my blenders lived up to my expectations and have blended without issue, providing me results equal to my local smoothie shop's drinks?" You will most likely say no to those questions. To love a Vitamix is to own one.
Q. WHY DOES VITAMIX USE A PLUNGER WHEN IT'S NEARBY COMPETITOR DOES NOT?
A. The Tamper Accelerator Tool (plunger) is designed to assist with very thick or frozen ingredients, making certain that the ingredients reach the blades properly. It is a very valuable tool. Vitamix's nearby competitor offers a similar tool combo called the Twister Jar which is designed to perform the same tasks as the Vitamix Tamper Accelerator Tool. The Twister Jar is sold separately. All power blenders still need tools to help get the job done.
Q. WHY DOES VITAMIX USE A PLASTIC JAR RATHER THAN GLASS?
A. The Vitamix motor is extremely powerful offering much higher blending speeds and torque than your typical $50-100 blender that may have a glass jar. Current glass technology for blenders cannot withstand such powerful blade speeds when crushing ice or hard ingredients resulting in a possible shattering of the glass jar. Something to keep in mind, a glass jar is very heavy without ingredients. Adding ingredients adds weight and may not be ideal for most people, including persons who may have dexterity issues.
Q. ARE RECONDITIONED VITAMIX MACHINES WORTH PURCHASING? AREN'T THEY JUST RE-STOCKED RETURNS?
A. Vitamix Certified Reconditioned machines are an extremely good value. Vitamix performs a full servicing on the motor base, provides a new outer-shell casing, a brand new blending container with new blades and a new recipe book. It's virtually indistinguishable from a brand new model. The main difference is the warranty. New models have a full 7 year warranty and Certified Reconditioned models have a full 5 year warranty, with the option to upgrade to 8 years. Check out the great selection of Vitamix Certified Reconditioned models here.
