Vitamix -- anyone have one.

[barefootcontessa]

I want one but am having trouble justifying the cost. Please give me your evaluation.

[thedutchgirl]

My brother and bff both do, and they love it. Like an unhealthy amount. I don't make enough smoothies to justify, but my brother has them daily (multiple) and says it is amazing.

[womet]

Penny, please tell me how you make gelato in the blender. I'm intrigued.

[barefootcontessa]

Thanks. Any tips for getting one below standard retail? Is Costco price typically lower? TIA.

[chia]

You could buy a refurbished one...
secure.vitamix.com/vitamix-reconditioned-machines.aspx
I really would like one, too...

[Orangeblossom]

QVC just had there's on easy pay on Saturday. It was $87 spread put over four or five payments. That was as a hot lick, not sure what the regular payment is. You could also check out the blendtec as that's supposed to be very similar I quality to the vitamix. I hope to get one by the end of the year, once we're settled.

[Deleted]

I love mine. We got one after I had managed to set two regular blenders on fire. It's worth the money to me.

[Susie]

My cousin registered for one for her upcoming wedding. I confess my mom and I have lol'ed at registering for a $500 blender.

[gmail]

Really, I don't see the fascination with it at all. I have a blender and a food processor and I can make anything that thing can make. I also have knives that chop.
It looks huge and clunky. Sorry, I jsut don't get it.

[thumper55]

I have a commerical model - "MP" (don't know what it stands for). It was over 1k.

it works extraordinarily well. It is super fast, blends super smoothly. It is also super expensive to repair! However it is used frequently daily (in a restaurant setting). I'd pick a different brand next time, because of the cost of repairs. It's also hard to find parts or repair shops anywhere local - I have to go online.

If it's for personal use, then the warranty, parts, and repair probably have better options.

[scrippster]

We have one and love it. We make soup, smoothies, and we also have a dry blade that will chop nuts, etc. DH uses it much more than I do, but he is into kitchen gadgets. He wanted one for a long time. We actually got ours at Goodwill for $10 and bought a new pitcher and the dry blade from Vitamix for I think $90.

[phoenixrising]

I got one when it was Today's Special Value on QVC a few weeks ago because it was my birthday that day, and my friend was able to convince me that it was "meant to be." It did not take much convincing. I am moving in June, so I am not setting it up and using it until I am in my new place, but I am ridiculously excited about it!

[kimibrighteyes]

I love mine. If you put some yogurt and frozen bluberries, you get frozen blueberry yogurt. DH managed to break it last week and they mailed us the broken part so that it is good again :-)
We bought it at Costco which was a little cheaper

[starburst]

I've been lusting after a Vitamix after trying to make a smoothie in my cheapy blender the other week. I just don't know if I can justify the cost!

[mallykat]

But... its so ugly I have a pink Kitchenaid blender that I have used 2- 3 times daily for 2 years! People, I like smoothies and mixed drinks, shut your faces. I got it on a slickdeal from Macys and paid under 20$. It was a 70+$ appliance, just don't shop at Walmart you should be okay.

[chia]

I'm definitely buying one of these suckers when my Oster dies.

I bought a $350 juicer last year, and even though I don't use it *too* much, I still think it was worth it. I think I'll use the blender more.

[dirtyred]

My parents have one that my mom bought at a garage sale in 1974 for $1. Yes, $1. It's still going strong.

Besides the normal stuff, she uses it to make powdered sugar (so much cheaper than buying it), oat flour (just grind up oatmeal), and grinding coffee beans.

[Deleted]

I got the BlendTec from Costco. It was $294ish??? Anyway I use it for soup, icecream and baby food. I have not had the time to make other stuff with it. For us it was well worth the $ b/c we have never purchased any jor baby food. We made it all with the blender.

[peachdragon]

We have one and love it as well. When our daughter was younger, I made all of her baby food in it. It's a great blender, and it mills really well, too.

[barefootcontessa]

Anyone know if you can use the Vitamix to grind wheat berries?

[Deleted]

May 16, 2012 10:07:08 GMT -5 barefootcontessa said:

Anyone know if you can use the Vitamix to grind wheat berries?

You can if you use the dry container. I only have the wet container and haven't had issues, but I don't grind much.

[barefootcontessa]

May 16, 2012 10:13:56 GMT -5 @ruralrabbit1 said:

May 16, 2012 10:07:08 GMT -5 barefootcontessa said:

Anyone know if you can use the Vitamix to grind wheat berries?

You can if you use the dry container. I only have the wet container and haven't had issues, but I don't grind much.

Thanks RR!