Vitamix: Am I crazy for thinking of getting one?

[naturallove]

Thanks everyone for the great feedback! I am going back and forth with myself, as I am about to do a LOT of traveling this summer, move cross-country and start a new faculty position in the fall (where I will be earning considerably more $$ than as a postdoc!!) My mom just told me she was sending me money for my birthday so I still don't know whether I'll get one today or wait...such delicious raw recipes I could conjure up this summer!

[dela]

LOVE my vitamix, big vote here for yes buy it. My father's has lasted with very frequent and heavy use for over 10 years, and mine is going on 3-4 years with daily use, most days more than once. I use it primarily for smoothies with frozen fruit or just ice, but I broke 3 blenders before this one, so the up front cost is a lot, but in the long term, it will save me money.

One note about using rinds, I have used lemons or limes occasionally in smoothies with just berries and water, and blended it with the rinds on. I have no idea if there is any health benefit, but you really get a great intense taste from them. My father has also made his fruit drink in a huge batch in the AM, and then drinks it through the day, he also adds ginger to his, he was the one who gave me the idea to leave the rinds on the lemons or limes.

[Lorelai]

Originally Posted by naturallove

Thanks everyone for the great feedback! I am going back and forth with myself, as I am about to do a LOT of traveling this summer, move cross-country and start a new faculty position in the fall (where I will be earning considerably more $$ than as a postdoc!!) My mom just told me she was sending me money for my birthday so I still don't know whether I'll get one today or wait...such delicious raw recipes I could conjure up this summer!

I would say that if you're mostly just hesitant about when to buy it, then this time of year is probably the best time to do it, because you'll have access to so much more fresh, local, organic produce. I suppose that will probably depend on where you live (I'm spoiled in the Pacific Northwest), but I think it will be true on some level anywhere you are.

[mizach]

Originally Posted by naturallove

Thanks everyone for the great feedback! I am going back and forth with myself, as I am about to do a LOT of traveling this summer, move cross-country and start a new faculty position in the fall (where I will be earning considerably more $$ than as a postdoc!!) My mom just told me she was sending me money for my birthday so I still don't know whether I'll get one today or wait...such delicious raw recipes I could conjure up this summer!

Congrats on the faculty position and the $$ too.

[DachsieDogMom]

I bought one from QVC earlier this year and got it on easy pay. I don't regret getting mine at all. I use it daily and I love it.

[wendy2]

My husband got me one for my birthday in January, and I have used it at least once every day since then. Green smoothies every morning, frozen margaritas this weekend, mayo, nut butters, hummus... This is the best kitchen tool I own--I LOVE it!

[Terry]

We decided on the BlendTec over the VitaMix, then found out that at least one major restaurant chain also uses only the BlendTec (for their milk shakes). We use it at least twice a day and sometimes as often as six times a day.

Our Ninja is boxed up for one of the kids.

Go to You Tube and search for "Will it blend?" or "BlendTec". The guy puts golf clubs, hockey pucks, magnets, marbles, cell phones, and other odd things into the BlendTec and it shreds them.

If I had purchased a VitaMix or a BlendTec long ago, I wouldn't have spent $100 five or six times trying to find a cheap blender that would make great smoothies and slushes.

[lundquist93]

I've had one for a few months now and LOVE it! And, we use it daily.

A great thing for me is being able to hide vegetables into smoothies that my little boy will drink. Clean up is a snap. And the best part is there aren't a million little gadgets and parts that come with it.

Also keep in mind that even though it's a big machine, you can get rid of your food processor and other mixer/blenders. This machine does everything.

Good luck with your decision!

[Kathryn]

Originally Posted by lundquist93

Also keep in mind that even though it's a big machine, you can get rid of your food processor and other mixer/blenders. This machine does everything.

I disagree,

For me, it is not a sub for a food processor. There are some jobs, such as chopping (or using the shredder attachment, which I never do) that a FP does better (or that a VM can't really do at all).

Anything blended, creamed or liquified = Vitamix. Anything chopped, shredded or chunky = food processor. (Sure, you can shred potatoes and onions in a VM, but you have to add water and it's more of a work-around than something it's really built to do).

[ddj]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

I disagree,

For me, it is not a sub for a food processor. There are some jobs, such as chopping (or using the shredder attachment, which I never do) that a FP does better (or that a VM can't really do at all).

Anything blended, creamed or liquified = Vitamix. Anything chopped, shredded or chunky = food processor. (Sure, you can shred potatoes and onions in a VM, but you have to add water and it's more of a work-around than something it's really built to do).

What kind of FP do you recommend?