Which Vitamix do you recommend?

maycee

Well-known member
I was making my protein smoothie this morning and the frozen peaches and orange juice were just sitting there in my old Braun blender...the motor was running but nothing else. All the teeth in the plastic wheel that spun the blades had broken off...every one of them!

I'm sure I would be able to get a replacement but if the thing can't handle frozen peaches...

Besides I don't have a frugal bone in my body (unlike a certain Scotsman I live with.)

 
Frugal bones are overrated, Michael (You heard it from a kitchen gadget hoarder)

 
I got the 6300 in RED!!!

I debated and debated even after I got it but there isn't a lot of difference in any of them except presets and such. The 6300 was the one they were doing the demo on at Costco but they stock another version. Hard to beat Costco's price.

 
Just looked at Costco.com and they have the 5200 online that includes dry blade for $479

I think I paid that much just for the blender then another $99 for the dry blade. The 5200 has a good bit of control but doesn't have the setting for smoothies, frozen desserts/drinks and hot soups/sauces. You can still do them but you just have to get comfortable with where to set everything.

 
I chose the Pro 300, in red....named her Ruby! smileys/smile.gif Almost got the Costco

5200 but am glad I got the Pro 300 which has the wider base and shallower height so that it fits under my cabinets. The 5200 and other tall narrow Vitamix models do not fit, they're too tall. Also, the Pro 300 is a quieter model (by about 40% they say).

Burned out 2 blenders making smoothies (thinking I didn't need the Vitamix) but then said "no more blenders". Am very happy with my Pro 300. Had done alot of research to decide which VM was right for me and one of the best resources I found (highly recommended by friends who own Vitamixes) is the Vitamix Enthusiasts Yahoo Group (at the link). The group leader, Lee Ann Savage, is a Vitamix demonstrator at Costco and knows her stuff. She, and the group, share a wealth of information. I learn something new there every day.

Also, Lee Ann offers reconditioned models at great prices and I understand they are a great way to go as well. In fact, I was all set to order a reconditioned one from her when a friend who works for SurLaTable offered to get me one with her discount....a significant savings that I couldn't turn down. smileys/wink.gif Otherwise, I would've gotten a reconditioned one after reading all the glowing reviews from those who have them.

Good luck with your decision and let us know if we can answer anything else for you.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/VitamixEnthusiasts/

 
By the way, my husband has lost 11 lbs with the morning green smoothies since we

got our Vitamix about 6 weeks ago (and he was already a fairly slender guy). The smoothies are the only thing we've done differently so he attributes the weightloss to the smoothies from the VM. I've lost as well but not as much as he has. We LUV our smoothies. And 'thickies' too...I often add rolled oats to our smoothies. Makes for a great meal replacement in the morning with all the good things we add to the smoothies.

 
Thanks for sharing the group and way to go to your hubby!

I did forget to mention that I cannot keep it under the wall cabinets with the container on it smileys/frown.gif so I just keep them side by side. Wish I had known this then.

I am at my lowest weight in who knows how many years. Only about 15 pounds from my goal range. I've been saying I was going to try the green drinks and I think now I will!!! Heaven knows with all the 'luck' we have had lately I could use one positive.

 
Marsha hooked me up with LeeAnn. Here is her new Vitamix website.

You can see how lots of other folks are using theirs and get recipes. LeeAnn has a good review on the latest model. She says it really breaks down raspberry and strawberry seeds until perfectly smooth. She is a vendor, so she does have to test/analyze her product. Not sure how much the "newest" model runs as I'm at work and am blocked from accessing her site.

I don't use mine (5200) anywhere near as much as I should for what it cost, but it does make amazing smoothies. I prefer to use all frozen fruit, yogurt and fruit juice, rather than filling the container half-way with ice (although this does pack far more calories into a drinkable meal.) Being the whack case that I am, I counted each smoothie we drank as $8 toward the $400 cost until I had justified the purchase.

Along with smoothies, I make pudding and curd in it...no special recipe, just use egg-based puddings, check with an "instant read" thermometer and buzz until the contents reach 170 degrees. Lean over the cannister and get a free steam facial while you're at it. Add butter last.

You can add frozen or fresh kale/spinach/chard to just about any smoothie and you won't taste it. Easy way to sneak in greens.

blenderlady.com/vitamix-lady

 
Another fan of Lee Ann's and her VM group...

I have the 5200 with a 64oz, 32oz, and dry blade containers. I use it nearly every day and love it. I purchased the 5200 and of course right after they came out with the new models with the shorter fit under the cabinet height. Personally, it wasn't a huge deal for me as mine sits where there are no overhead cabinets. To me that's of the most concern when buying, though I think Lee Ann mentions some improvements in her review. As for presets, personally I don't feel the need for them. Having the dial gives me enough control and it didn't take more than a couple of uses to figure out the timing.

I truly love the VM and wish I'd plunked down the money years ago. It's so much more than a blender.

Oh and when I make smoothies, I use my 2nd container to buzz up the scraps and pour it as liquid compost in the garden.

 
Thanks all! I just ordered the refurbished 7500/Pro 300 from Lea Ann for $399.

I also ordered the 32oz container. Lea Ann increases the warranty from 5 years (for the refurbished) to 6 years with free shipping.

The bad thing about ordering from Lea Ann instead of buying from Costco is now I have to wait.

 
Green smoothie tips...

This is from some info I collected and posted over in the VM group when I was a newbie to someone that wasn't having luck getting smoothies to taste good. The general rule for newbie tastes is 60% fruit/40% veggies:

Here's a bit of info that's helped me:

Lea Ann's tips on ratios and fruit/veggies: click here

Guidelines for green smoothies: click here

How to make a green smoothie tasty every times click here

15 Green Smoothies in 3 minutes: click here

For my newbie taste buds you aren't using enough fruit, and sweet fruit at that (example I love cantaloupe but haven't hit the right combo with it yet because it's a milder flavor) . Also, to start I've found keeping it simple and not adding too many things is helping to hone my tastes to see what works for me. I don't add any protein powers/etc because I read you get protein from greens and it's easier on the stomach. I'd learn what tastes good to you then build in additions to see what works for you.

A favorite combo is 6-7 chunks? pineapple, 1 yellow mango, 1 banana, 1-2 small handfuls of spinach (at first I used giant wad handfuls and it was too much), ice.
I've sub'ed 2 tangelos/navel oranges for either the pineapple or mango in this comb. Also, I made the mistake of using kale in the same amounts as spinach - yuck no, at least right now. Just a few leaves works better for me at the moment. I'm now adding chia seeds (you can't taste them) but don't let it set or the smoothie gets pretty thick.

I am using fresh and organic whenever possible.

Right now the yellow mangos are on sale and super tasty
Tangelos are on sale; ditto navel oranges
I broke down and bought the big container of cut pineapple at Whole Foods while waiting for a whole one to ripen. It turned out to be cost effective because I got 4-5 smoothies out of that so turned in to a good deal.
I've tried strawberries but I'm waiting for them to come in season at better prices (organic) so I can use enough of them to give me a strong flavor.

I just picked up "Green for Life" at the library yesterday per Lea Ann's recommendation (same person/family of the other links above) to learn more.

 
Missy and Cathy, at the link is one of the

sites that initially got me going (How To Make A Smoothie). Now I just toss in a few handfuls of fruit (fresh or frozen, mostly frozen because I like the slushy consistency), a big handful of raw greens from the garden (spinach, kale, swiss chard, collards, bok choy are favorites, neutral flavor profiles, and so nutritious), a scoop of protein powder (currently using a whey powder, won't use soy -- staying away from soy), some chia seeds or flaxseed or hemp seeds for the omegas, some liquid (favorites are coconut water or almond milk or Trader Joes plain kefir (good probiotics with the kefir) or just plain filtered water. I don't measure -- just wing it. I use all types of fresh and frozen fruits (you know..."eat from the rainbow" for nutrition): pineapple, mango, banana, grapes, kiwi fruit, apples, pears, fresh coconut, orange (just peel and toss the orange in unsegmented into the Vitamix) or cuties (mandarin oranges) and in the freezer I keep lots of berries: strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries (almost every day I add blackberries no matter what other fruit is going on), . Oh, and the past few weeks I've been adding a few tbsp rolled oats when I'm making the smoothies for breakfast. Smoothies are easy, quick, delicious and packed with nutrition. Just have fun making up combinations that you like.

http://perfectsmoothie.com/how-to-make-a-smoothie

 
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