21 May, 2010
Blendtec vs Vitamix 5200: questions and answers
Posted by: John In: Blenders|Blendtec|Coupon|Offers|Resources|Reviews|Support|Vitamix
Blendtec vs Vitamix
Questions and Answers.
You asked for it – in answer to our our readers’ most popular request in 2010.
We field so many questions about how the Vitamix 5200 and Blendtec compare but it’s almost entirely through email. Here is a place to post your questions and comments so that everyone can easily and quickly benefit from them.
So have at it… Comment away! Where do you stand in the Blender Battle?
Whether you are going to use your blender for raw foods, green smoothies, whole food juice, grain grinding or hot soup, the decision to buy the best blender comes down to a choice between 2…
see the official Blendtec vs Vitamix Review Comparison
We are so grateful to have the opportunity to be able to help people make an informed choice between Vitamix and Blendtec. We hope this tool is helpful and as always… keep the suggestions coming!
Got a question to help you decide?
Which blender did you choose… Vitamix 5200? Blendtec?… Why?
I noticed both these blenders make soups, nut butters, smoothies, etc. but do they make just simple fruit and/or vegetable juices?
Jane,
These blenders make what some call “whole food juice” – super smooth smoothies, but they are not juicers. ‘Juicers’ extract the liquid from fruits and vegetables thereby removing the pulp and fiber.
Thankx for the info, will probably be getting a vitamix due to the info you provided.
I am on the fence also about a Blendtec and a Vitamix 5200, I have heard that Blendtec is great at coffee drinks and smoothies but they are NOT as good at making whole vegetable and whole fruit drinks, since they don’t have the tamper.
Have had 2 products for about 20 years, and swear by both: the VitaMix for what it does is absolutely the best. Used it to make lots of flour — worth getting the dry blade option.
Second is a Champion Juicer that I’ve had for about 30 years — and it, too, is absolutely the best for what it does.
Differences — the Champion is best for things like ‘greens’ juices (be sure to use things like carrots or celery in between ‘greens’ to push the ‘greens’ through) and whole juices with pulp (get the big screen optional part). I buy 10 pound bags of organic carrots from Costco — juice them in the Champion. Very delicious when cold.
I am buying a vitamix and am debating whether or not to buy to dry blade as well as the wet blade. You said you have ground lots of flour? How fine does it grind the flour? If I want to grind alot of flour over a long term would it be better to buy a kitchen mill wheat grinder or is the vitamix dry blade sufficient and does it give a fine grained flour? Thanks, you are the only one I can find who has actually used the dry blade for grinding flour.
Ann, the Vitamix dry blade is designed specifically for grain grinding and does a great job. The flour is fine and makes fantastic bread.
If you plan on doing a large volume of grain grinding regularly (wanting to make 4 or more loaves of bread at a time) then you may want to consider a mill. Also, consider that you can also knead in the Vitamix dry container (again for small volumes).
I have used a Blendtec for 5+ years and have loved how it blends. HOWEVER, I have been through two blender jars in that time. The metal stem of the jar where it sits on the base freezes up and will not turn and the gasket that seals the bottom of the jar starts to leak. The same thing happened both times. Apparently, when the metal stem froze up it did some damage to the mechanics of the motor, because now it is having problems. Since I am out of warranty, I have no recourse. I am going to buy a VitaMix today!!
I loved my Blendtec for two years – then I had to replace the container. One year later the new container is leaking and now it’s not covered by warranty. So I’m shopping again and am going with the vitamix 5200. Thank you for the review! – Jordan
If you are going to invest this kind of money in a blender, spend the little bit extra and get the Vitamix. Sure, you can save a few dollars if buying a Blendtec but you get much less… an inferior warranty and a product that is lightweight and brittle by comparison. Look at them side by side and pick them up. It’s pretty obvious.
I seriously doubt a Blendtec will last 20+ years of continuous use like Vitamix has proven to. Do yourself a favor and spend the extra for a much superior product.
There is no comparison for me – the Blendtec is the clear winner. It’s more powerful, much better looking, digital, compact and fits on my counter under my kitchen cabinets. It’s so powerful I’ve never needed any kind of “tamper” – who needs one more clumsy plastic part floating around the kitchen? I also love the large square pitcher — it’s so easy to rinse out, and to get food from the very bottom of the pitcher. It’s much more difficult to get food out from around the tiny bottom and the four blades on the Vitamix.
I don’t like the new top that the Blendtecs are shipping with – it’s vented for heat which is great for hot soups but it takes a few more seconds to clean now.
But I freaking LOVE my Blendtec — I use it every day and can make just about ANYTHING in it!
I agree 100%. I use my Blendtec everyday, often more than once, and I wanted an appliance I could leave on my counter and enjoying looking at as much as using. Like you, I love the square container and ease of removing the food.
I make a lot of whole fruit and veggie smoothies and find them incredibly smooth, no chunks or issues at all, even with frozen ingredients. Even with the thickest dips I’ve never needed a tamper.
I was on a cooking spree yesterday to clean out the fridge and used the Blendtec to make: eggplant and fresh green pea dip, beet borstch, carrot and curry soup, cream of spinach with romano cheese, grind up spices for a chicken curry and make two smoothies for breakfast as well.
My only complaint is that the jar itself gets stained a bit from curries and other very highly colored foods. I don’t grind flour (we’re gluten free) so I can’t comment on its’ capabilities for that. Oh, I do wish the lid were a little easier to seat securely. Make certain it is completely sealed or you will have a heck of a mess
All in all, a great purchase that is a perfect complement to my centrifugal juicer. I actually look for recipes to make specifically so I can use it! Yes, it is LOUD – the cats go running, but it works so well and so quickly that I can deal with it.
We’ll see how it performs a couple of years from now.
I got the Blendtec. I like it but have a few complaints.
I grind wheat to make bread; as a result the container has gotten completely beat up and clouded so as I can’t see what’s in the container anymore to know if it has blended all the way. It also makes me wonder, if the container is so soft to get clouded up by wheat, what’s going into my food?
Anyone know how the vitamix 5200 containers hold up with grinding wheat?
I also stopped using the pre-sets pretty much all together as they really don’t get the job done. I’ll use them sometimes to get things started but end up blending more to finish anyway.
What I do like is the super power, the low profile and the ease of gettting stuff out.
It seems the battle of BLENDTEC VS VITAMIX will never end!