VitaMix Blenders

JM Aggie08

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2006
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The little lady and I just inherited a several year old, unused VitaMix blender from a family member. Prior to owning it we really didn't know much about the product, but having used it several times we are completely sold and use it almost daily.

A couple weeks ago we made a soup, and to our surprise the high rpms of the blades caused it to boil in in the blender! I figured it would get warm, but not to the point where the glass was too hot to touch. We've also made numermous smoothies, dressings, hummus, ice cream, etc.

Does anyone else have one of these, or somthing similar? Any great recipes or tips/tricks you would like to share?
 

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
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They're ridiculous. My parents have one that my mom uses to make soy milk. She puts in soaked soy beans, and turns it on. It's a little thick and chalky because it's the entire bean, but if you wanted, you could try straining through a cheesecloth to get a thinner consistency.
 

KeithP

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2000
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I use mine regularly. The latest thing I am making is using frozen bananas as an ice cream substitute.

Basically, you let bananas get ripe to the point where the skin starts getting brown speckles. You peel the bananas, chop into chunks and freeze solid.

Then I will take 3 bananas worth of the frozen chunks, add a little vanilla and cinnamon and about 1/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk, throw it all in the Vitamix and blend until it is the consistency of soft ice cream. It is delicious! I eat while soft, I have read others will freeze the mixture at that point to get something similar to hard ice cream.

Of course, you can add all sorts of other stuff to flavor the mixture. Other fruit such as strawberries or peanut butter, etc. Different liquids can be substituted for the almond milk as well, plain water, soy milk, regular milk, etc.

There are plenty of videos on youtube about this and you don't have to use a Vitamix however I think a Vitamix/Blendtec make the best texture.

-KeithP
 

XLNC

Senior member
Jan 18, 2008
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One of my co-workers got me into fruit/vegetable smoothies, so I initially brought a NutriBullet. While that worked well enough, it was undersized, and I had to spend extra time chopping vegetables into small pieces. I decided to go whole hog and bought a refurb VitaMix from their website, still comes with a five year warranty. There's nothing it hasn't handled so far.

Here's the 30 day green smoothie challenge I'm following:
http://youngandrawproducts.com/30daychallenge/
 

Alienwho

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
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We have a blendtec and do everything you mentioned. We also use it when we're making shredded chicken (a couple of pulses is all it takes on cooked chicken). We use it to make baby food as well.
 

JM Aggie08

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2006
8,270
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One of my co-workers got me into fruit/vegetable smoothies, so I initially brought a NutriBullet. While that worked well enough, it was undersized, and I had to spend extra time chopping vegetables into small pieces. I decided to go whole hog and bought a refurb VitaMix from their website, still comes with a five year warranty. There's nothing it hasn't handled so far.

Here's the 30 day green smoothie challenge I'm following:
http://youngandrawproducts.com/30daychallenge/

What all does this entail? I can't figure out why it's necessary to wait for the next round to start.
 

SphinxnihpS

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
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whisk.jpg


I can only hit a couple hundred RPM, but I can make more than water boil.:awe:
 

KeithTalent

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Nov 30, 2005
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The wife wants one of these to make soups and stuff like you mentioned, but we tried out a soup made with one when we were at our friend's place a few weeks back and it was not very good. It was over-blended and just had the texture of baby food; I honestly couldn't eat it. At least when I use my stick blender to make a pureed soup, it still retains a bit of texture.

KT
 

JM Aggie08

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2006
8,270
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The wife wants one of these to make soups and stuff like you mentioned, but we tried out a soup made with one when we were at our friend's place a few weeks back and it was not very good. It was over-blended and just had the texture of baby food; I honestly couldn't eat it. At least when I use my stick blender to make a pureed soup, it still retains a bit of texture.

KT

We were concerned about that as well. We found that adding ingredients incrementally, as well as balancing liquid to solid resulted in a velvety, yet textured soup.

It would be pretty easy to just blend the consistency and flavor out of it though.
 

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
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The wife wants one of these to make soups and stuff like you mentioned, but we tried out a soup made with one when we were at our friend's place a few weeks back and it was not very good. It was over-blended and just had the texture of baby food; I honestly couldn't eat it. At least when I use my stick blender to make a pureed soup, it still retains a bit of texture.

There's a disconnect here I guess. When I think of baby food I think of applesauce texture. When I use a stick blender I get applesauce texture. When I use a vitamix I get more like bisque texture.
 

KeithTalent

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Nov 30, 2005
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We were concerned about that as well. We found that adding ingredients incrementally, as well as balancing liquid to solid resulted in a velvety, yet textured soup.

It would be pretty easy to just blend the consistency and flavor out of it though.

Hmm, yes, was probably a preparation issue. I was not watching her make it, so not sure what she did, but I'm guessing you are correct.

KT
 

KeithTalent

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Nov 30, 2005
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There's a disconnect here I guess. When I think of baby food I think of applesauce texture. When I use a stick blender I get applesauce texture. When I use a vitamix I get more like bisque texture.

A lot of baby food has less texture than applesauce; it's smoother and feels sort of flat on the palate.

KT
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
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The wife wants one of these to make soups and stuff like you mentioned, but we tried out a soup made with one when we were at our friend's place a few weeks back and it was not very good. It was over-blended and just had the texture of baby food; I honestly couldn't eat it. At least when I use my stick blender to make a pureed soup, it still retains a bit of texture.

KT

We made soup in our Vitamix once.

Once.

*said with best joe piscopo attitude* ;)

That was the only time.

I'm sure there are some great bisque soup recipes, but I prefer more hearty soups with chunks of meat and other stuff.
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
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Went to the Vitamix website. So many choices...which one do you guys have?
 

KeithP

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2000
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The thing with the Vitamix, and I imagine the Blendtec as well, is people have a tendency to over blend. Not everything needs a smooth texture.

For instance, at low speed, I have used my Vitamix to chop peppers and onions into small chunks to add to store bought chili. If you are careful and don't put too much in at once, very little is turned into mush.

For a soup/stew with chunks, it would simply be a matter of making the base, and chopping the ingredients separately. Of course, for something like this, you couldn't heat it by using the Vitamix. That would have to happen after your combine the parts on the stove or in the microwave.

-KeithP
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
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We've had a vitamix for over 3 years. Truthfully, about the only thing I use it for is making smoothies...but dammit, they're GOOD smoothies.