I got a vitamix this summer. Similar machines I think. Still learning how to use it. So far juices, nut milks, humus, tahini, soup, ice cream.

Enjoy your new toy!

The Food Lab did a test of Blendtec vs Vitamix vs Breville.

I posted a link in an earlier discussion thread:

Here is a link that might be useful: Three high-end blenders compared

See my recent post on that link.

The important thing is to compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges. Both Vitamix and Blendtec have model ranges and different packaging options that offer more, or less.

I was looking at the Vitamix Professional 750 versus the Blendtec Signature with Wildside AND Twister jar.

The twister jar is what you use to make those thicker recipes, your mayonaise, nut butters, hummus, ice cream, etc.

When all was said and done with my internet reading, my biggest concern was price.... the Blendtec was more affordable, lighter and with a slimmer design, and that extra jar has a spot in the cabinet just above the blender, no big deal whatsoever. Making the thicker items are really not on my radar to do very often.

I wanted a blender for whole food smoothies primarily. Fact is I don't eat enough veggies, I buy them but they just go bad in the fridge due to the time it takes to clean and prepare them, and the pointlessness of trying to find a healthy dip/dressing with which to eat them.

My solution is the Blendtec. It makes veggie/fruit smoothies, with ice cubes in like 45 seconds. I did find some info online with what to do to make kale in my life easier. Like I said I have no time or inclination to daily wash kale to even put it in the smoothie, I found instructions for blanching kale, then freezing in ice cube trays, I do this once every 2 weeks or so. I now can easily keep a bag of kale cubes on hand.

My Blendtec has zero trouble with ice cube, kale cubes, raw carrots and apples, bananas, frozen strawberries and blueberries, frozen pineapple, raw ginger. Everything is pulverized. There are pre-programmed buttons, I just push the button I want and watch it countdown to completion. There is a 32 oz limit to what you can put in the jar, since the "wildside" does what it says and tosses the ingredients so high, its best to open the completed mix over the sink as the lid will be dripping. I have no trouble pouring with no drips, I think thats just technique. The 32 oz is perfect for our two 16oz tervis cups. I believe in the Vitamix you can actually make 64 ounces in your 64 ounce jar, for my needs the 32 ounce was fine.

The blendtec is a lighter machine, I do have to hold it for the initial part of the blend as it can move around a bit, not a big deal for me, after the first part of pulverizing my kale cubes I can walk away and rinse my cutting board and knife, walk back and my smoothie is ready.

The Blendtec I bought was $300. I found it locally on craigslist, new in the box. A 2012 model. The twister jar has a lid that you're supposed to turn while blending, it scrapes your heavy recipe off the side of the jar while blending.

The Blendtec is super easy to clean, 1 drop of dish soap and a cup of warm water, back onto the machine for a 10 second pulse, rinse and you're done. I love the fixed blades. For something heavy and greasy like peanut butter you may have to do this more than once, but its still better than cut fingers.

For the normal retail price ranges, I'd go for the Blendtec if price is a factor for you. If you need something with higher volume capacity, then you'll have to go with the vitamix 750 (I also see it as 7500 online). To me both models accomplish the same thing, for heaver stuff the vitamix needs a tamper, the blendtec has a special jar, both require extra work. The blendtec is lighter and has a slimmer, easy to clean design. The lightness can make it move on your counter. The Vitamix is bulkier, looks more industrial, is heavier (no bounce but harder to easily slide out from under your cabinet), and has more dials and such that are harder to clean should you have a spill.

Blendtec has pre-programmed buttons for various common tasks, you can skip from one pre-programmed to another, or stop anytime, Vitamix does not its all on you to figure out what to set. Lastly, Blendtec has an off switch on the back, a "kill switch". You can leave it plugged in, and turn the switch off, and have no danger of a small child coming by and pushing all the buttons and activating the blender. The kill switch is not available on the Vitamix, you'll have to unplug it.

I have a significant other who is paranoid about every energy draining device, so I'm happy to be able to completely turn off the blendtec without the annoyance of unplugging. Not so with my programmable coffee pot, which I can't leave programmed since he insists on unplugging it!

Hope my long, meandering assessment it helpful to someone!

A very detailed analysis.

Thanks SmoothieGal.

Just for fun, I will be posting something else on another thread on this topic.

dcarch

You will be surprised how well it blends. I have a Blendtec.
I'd be just as happy with a Vitamix.
Yes, comparing apples to apples.

I made my choice for the same reasons as smoothie gal.
A few more options in the Blendtec suits my needs.
I have a twister jar in my amazon checkout...

I have three regular blender jars and use one for homemade spice mixes....

I made a wonderful sweet potato/tomato/ginger soup with fresh basil tossed in the last few seconds for my parents the other day...with their old osterizer...took forever to get it smooth, never did do as well as my Blentec does in seconds. I suppose i need to start traveling with it, yikes.