Blendtec vs Vitamix Review

Blendtec vs Vitamix - Blending Performance.

In Blendtec and Vitamix reviews, it's cleat that they both easily crush ice. Both also make hot soups and nut butters, grind seeds, puree fruit and a whole lot more. They are also the best blenders for making smoothies and green smoothies.

 

Which blender has more power? While the Vitamix 5200 draws less power at 11.5 amps/1380 watts vs. Blendtec's 13 amps/1560 watts, we have yet to find anything the Blendtec can blend that the Vitamix can not (we only do food - no iPhones, furniture, or automobiles tested).

 

Speed and Chopping: Vitamix speed control has a greater range of 500 to 37,000 RPM, allowing for control at slower speeds compared to the Blendtec RPM of 4,080 to 28,000. In comparing the Vitamix to Blendtec neither blender is designed to be a good chopper, although the low variable speed control of the Vitamix does allow for better chopping results.

Horsepower: We choose to ignore advertised horsepower of the blenders and compare the actual power they use (amps/watts). We do this for 3 reasons.

1) True performance incorporates more factors than just raw power. Both the Vitamix and Blendtec have sufficient power and torque to break through plant cell walls and blend any food product.

2) Horsepower can be measured in several different ways and reported differently. Therefore HP does not give a usable measurement for performance comparison.

3) Horsepower is not recognized in the International System of Units (SI).

While many Blendtec reviews sites selling Blendtec blenders continue to advertise "3 Horsepower" you should keep the above in mind and note that even the official Blendtec site no longer makes mention of horsepower.

Both blenders are loud compared to a common kitchen blender but
Blendtec is noticeably louder

 

*A note about the Blendtec Designer Series. While this latest release offers an impressive new design, for all intent purposes of our Blendtec vs Vitamix review it performs the same as a Blendtec Classic Series (Total Blender and HP3A). It's the same motor, power and jar - it's been redesigned with a new look and touch pad user controls. See our Blendtec Designer vs Vitamix 7500 review.

 

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Warranty and Durability

Which Blender lasts longer and has the better warranty?

The Vitamix 5200/7500 and Blendtec are both very powerful and do a great job at blending just about anything. The Vitamix is bigger in size, having a more heavy-duty and industrial feel while the Blendtec Blender is smaller and lighter.

Vita-mix set the standard as the industry's best warranty with a complete 7-Years Full Use. Blendtec's warranty changed in 2012 to a 7-year warranty (but only if bought through Blendtec direct or an Authorized Blendtec Dealer). Extended warranties are available direct from both companies at a cost and on occasion club stores such as Vitamix Costco and Sam's Club offer warranty extensions on Blendtec blenders.

Vita-mix has been making performance blenders for over 70 years vs Blendtec who has been making blenders for the home for about 7 years.

Vitamix is Made in the USA and Blendtec is Designed and Assembled in the USA. Both blenders are known for excellent customer service and honoring their warranties without hassle. You can be confident in your purchase with either.

 

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Blending Volume, Containers and Jars.

All current Blendtec and Vitamix containers are BPA-Free copolyester plastic. Blendtec and Vitamix 5200 Standard packages come with a 64oz container. A unique feature to Vitamix is that you can replace or exchange their blades by removing them but there is no such option for a Blendtec as the blade and container is essentially one piece.

 

Blendtec boasts a one blade does it all, both "wet" and "dry" blending in a single container. There is a Vitamix dry grains container available. Think you need a separate container to grind grains? You don't, see -» Dry Blending

 

Container volume. While both blenders' standard containers are "2 qt" the Vitamix container is UL rated to blend at a 64 oz capacity. The Blendtec jar can not operate at full capacity; Blendtec recommends filling their containers only 1/2 full to operate while Vita-Mix states you can fill them to the top.

 

* The NEW Vitamix 7500 comes with a newly designed low-profile container.
    See our »Vitamix 7500 Review for more information.

 

 

 

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Features and Ease of Use

Blendtec vs Vitamix controls - both easy to use but their controls make the difference. Operation is different depending upon which blender you choose.

 

Every Vitamix blender comes with a tamper to assist in blending solid and whole (uncut) foods without stopping the blender. The tamper is NOT needed for most applications but is extremely helpful in making frozen entrees, nut butters and thick puddings. With the Blendtec blender, sometimes additional liquid is needed to blend completely without stopping the blender and pushing ingredients into the blades (this need is somewhat reduced when using the larger WildSide Jar -$99).

 

The recent introduction of the Blendtec Twister Jar ($119) gives Blendtec owners the ability to make thick purees and dishes. With its unique "twister lid and tines", that function similar to the Vitamix tamper, food can be directed into the blades while blending.

 

Vitamix offers complete manual control over your blending pleasure with its variable speed dial vs Blendtec Smart-Touch Tec-nology™ allowing you to "push a button and walk away" to have it run through a hands free automatic program cycle that stops when completed (we don't recommend actually walking away from the blender). Blendtec is a microprocessor controlled machine with digital display that keeps track of blending times and cycles. The display also allows for selection of which pre-programmed cycle to run and assign to your program buttons (available only with the Blendtec HP3A series).

 

While the Blendtec program cycles are very handy for some applications, we often times find the need to continue blending after the program completes to finish the job to our satisfaction. Blendtec does offer some manual control with its 'up', 'down' and 'pulse' buttons to cycle through its 10 speeds as needed (8 speeds with the Blendtec Designer Series).

 

Your Vitamix will continue to run until manually shut off or until the thermal protection kicks in to prevent overheating. Blendtec will automatically shut off after a maximum of 50 seconds of continuous blending (or when the chosen program cycle ends whichever is less).

 

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Grinding, Dry Blending and Making Flour.

Which blender does dry blending. Do you need a Vitamix Dry Grains Container?

In our Blendtec vs Vitamix reviews and demonstrations we get a lot of questions about what the difference is in how these two blenders grind grain and make flour. We have done a lot of seed and grain grinding using all 3 containers (Blendtec, Vitamix standard "wet-blade" and Vitamix "dry-blade" container) to find how they truly compare.

 

Blendtec and the Vitamix Standard "wet blade" container
blend dry ingredients the same.

 

 

 

Bottom Line: it doesn't matter which blender you chose, no additional container or blade is required for either blender. If your plans include occasional grain grinding, both the Blendtec and Vitamix 5200 Standard will do an adequate job. But, if you plan on doing a significant amount of grain grinding then the Vitamix dry grains container (Vitamix Super or Vitamix Deluxe) would be a wise investment.

Or... as Blendtec recommends:
"To get a very fine grind and to keep the nutrients, always use the Kitchen Mill."

The Blendtec Kitchen Mill is designed specifically for grain processing and does a superior job compared to any blender we have experienced.

 

Note: over time any of these containers will become cloudy and more opaque from grain grinding. Both Blendtec and Vitamix recommend a dedicated jar just for grains for this reason, because of aesthetics.

 

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Smoothie Making

Which blender is the best smoothie blender? Both blenders do an excellent job at turning out delicious fruit and vegetable smoothies. There is no question about that. In the Blendtec vs Vitamix debate, there is no need to be concerned whether or not either blender can perform.

 

We've used our Blendtec blender thousands of times (it includes a digital usage counter) and have found that the program cycles alone do not always complete the blending to our satisfaction - but fear not, as every Blendtec offers manual speed buttons for control over your blending desires. For common blends and fruit smoothies the Blendtec program cycles can be a blessing. For specialty blends and green smoothies packed with greens it is often necessary to do additional blending after running the Whole Juice cycle.

The Vitamix 5200 consistently makes creamy, super smooth green smoothies without the need of the tamper no matter how much greens we pack in the container.

 

 

Both the Blendtec and the Vitamix process food sufficiently to break down plant cell walls. This makes more nutrients available for use in your body.

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Juicing with a Blendtec or Vitamix

A common question by many is "can it juice?". While both the Blendtec and Vitamix make incredible smoothies, it is important to note that they are not "juicers". What they do make is "wholefood juice". The important difference is that Juicers extract the liquid from whole foods separating out the fiber and blenders do not remove anything from the whole food so you get all the natural fiber - thus a wholefood juice.

If you really want to make juice without the fiber in your Vitamix or Blendtec, you need to take an extra step after blending. You have to strain the wholefood juice to remove the fiber and pulp. While not as effective as a juicer, you can accomplish this using cheesecloth or a nut milk bag.

If you plan on juicing a lot then you should consider a quality extract juicer - see the juicers we recommend.

 

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Clean Up

Unlike general kitchen blenders, neither the Vitamix or Blendtec have an easy option to remove the bottom blade housing to access the jar for cleaning. But which blender is easy to clean? They both are but Blendtec is somewhat easier.

 

The 2 prong blade and smooth square design of the Blendtec container does result in easier access to remove and clean your blended goodness than the more narrow, 4 prong blade Vitamix design.

 

When it comes to cleaning, blender reviews agree, clean up is easy by putting in some hot water with soap and blending. Neither container should be put in a dishwasher. The most important factor for easy clean up is to wash your container immediately after use. Blend, wash, and done.

 

*Dishwasher machine use: some readers have shared that they put their containers in the dishwasher to clean. Blendtec states that it is okay to put their jar in the dishwasher while Vitamix states that you should not. We recommend that you don't put either Blendtec or Vitamix containers in the dishwasher - continual dishwasher use will compromise the seal and bearings of the blade housing over time due to extreme temperatures and detergents and if you have older containers that are not BPA-Free they will out-gas.