Is a Vita-Mix worth the $$$'s?

[MichelleAnne]

I've been looking at these for two years now...are they worth the money? Can they really produce what they state? My poor little old basic blender just isn't cutting it...what do you fellow Zaarites think?
Thanks!

[Queenofcamping]

I started out with a vitamix 3600 that I used for a while...got used off of ebay...then upgraded to a 5000. I absolutely love it. I just got the dry blade container for mothers day and have not had the chance to use it yet. In my opinion, definately worth the money.

Karen

[MichelleAnne]

What types of things do you make with yours? Is it really as versatile as they advertise? What is a dry blade container???? Should I be wanting one of those too? They aren't cheap!!!!

[Queenofcamping]

I use it for just about everything...I have made soups, chopped nuts and veggies, smoothies, frozen drinks, hummus, guacamole, fruit dip, salsa, sauces, salad dressing, and I'm sure lots that I can't think of right now. I will mainly use the dry blade container to make my own flour or corn meal and stuff like that.

Karen

[Queenofcamping]

Definately not cheap!!!! I picked up the dry blade container at a show at Sams for $70 and they sell them for like $129 on the website. I would not trade it or my kitchenaid stand mixer for anything though.

Karen

[ThatSouthernBelle]

I don't have one but WOW those are really expensive. $600+ for a blender?!!! I'd worry about the polycarbonate container part breaking if I dropped it really hard or it fell off a shelf. I have polycarbonate waterbottles and although they are tough, I wouldn't want to drop them on a tile floor or anything like that.

[katie in the UP]

I've had the 3600 for years and YEARS....it still runs like a champ....but have to admit....it collects dust....I don't use it as often as I use too.

[Queenofcamping]

I got mine when they had a sale for $299 then added on the dry container recently for $70. If you watch for them you can get them cheaper.

Karen

[MichelleAnne]

Thanks for all of the responses! I would so love to have one...I have looked at the refurbished ones that still have the 7yr warranty. We'll see I guess, summer is the time for smoothies and popsicles, salsas and soups etc. - it would make life a little easier
Michelle

[Lightly Toasted]

I have my grandmother's 3600. IMO, it's an over-rated blender.

I did use it this weekend to grind wheat to make whole wheat flour, and I've used it for smoothies......that's about it. The average family doesn't need one for regular smoothies.......but if you're one of those people who is going to make smoothies with veggies and whole fruits, then it might be worth it.

[yaya78006]

karenbear wrote:
I got mine when they had a sale for $299 then added on the dry container recently for $70. If you watch for them you can get them cheaper.

Karen

Where do they sell them?
yaya

[Queenofcamping]

I got mine off of vitamix.com ...just watch for their specials. I signed up for their emails and they sent that special for their email recipients.

Karen

[Vita-master]

If you want to the absolute gospel, you want a Vita-mix hands down. A Vita-mix is a whole food processor The Vita-mix has a patented tamper that allows you to push any large sized items down in to the blades. Just for the record, I have owned a Vita-mix for about 9.5 years and did not use it that much at first. To be honest, when I bought the machine the demonstrator made great foods and I just could not duplicate them and quit. I decided to get involved with better eating and I was looking for new recipes for my machine and came across www.vitamixrecipes.com. This site has actual demonstrator recipes. Those guys know how to use that machine better than anybody! For anyone that feels the way I did, they allow you to purchase just one recipe for .99 each or you can become a member for a full year for 24.99. I got a promotion code from one of the demonstrators a while back and it drops the price to 19.99 for a year’s membership. Hey, 5 bucks is 5 bucks. I can say that the recipes on this site have helped to fall back in love with my Vitamix. I now feel like I am getting my moneys worth! The promotion code I used was "Vitanow". I just checked and it still works! Enjoy.

[Chef #564173]

If you pay $500 for a Vitamix, shouldn't you be entitled to the recipes for free?? I mean they should at least come with demonstration DVD's or something.

[Queenofcamping]

They do come with the instructional dvd and I got a couple of recipe books with mine too. One of them is really good. The other person is just saying on top of what you already get. The demonstrators do new recipes too that are not in the books.

Karen