Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one and it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about this
blender?

I appreciate your help

Dianna

"Annaid" wrote in message
news
Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one and
it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about this
blender?

I appreciate your help

You might post over at rec.food.equipment or search that newsgroup on Google
groups.

My thoughts: It is a blender, and a costly one at that. Do you have some
specific task that only the Vita Mix can do? Can you see yourself using a
blender so much that you could justify spending a lot of money on one? In
other words, how likely is it that you will change your lifestyle or cooking
techniques to adapt to having a new appliance? I bet that most people do
exactly what your cousin did: buy a new toy and then not use it much. I
question how impressive something is if you can leave it on the shelf most
of the time.

I cook and bake every day and I don't even own a standard blender. I
probably use my immersion blender once a month. I do use my food processor
nearly every day. For me the Vita Mix would probably just be a dust
catcher, but if you find yourself using a blender daily, then I suppose that
getting a really expensive on might be a rational move.

If you are interested in owning a Vita Mix, I would suggest that you ask
your cousin if you could borrow his/hers for a week. If it turns out to be
something you want, maybe you could buy the unit from your cousin or from
Ebay. Before getting a Vita Mix, I would consider spending the money on a
stand mixer and/or a food processor if you don't already have these
appliances. They are far more versatile that a blender in my opinion unless
you are on some exotic liquid diet.

Annaid wrote:
Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one and it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about this
blender?

I appreciate your help

Dianna

Best blender(s) we have owned, by far. The first was retired after
probably 15 years, only because we wanted the newer model design. That
wa at least 10 years ago. The new one did have a motor control failure a
couple years ago, and it was well worth shipping it back for repair. In
the time it was gone, we went through at least two cheap blenders, and
they were total crap, in comparison...

Dave

"Dave Bell" wrote in message
om...
Annaid wrote:
Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one and
it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really
have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about this
blender?

I appreciate your help

Dianna

Best blender(s) we have owned, by far. The first was retired after
probably 15 years, only because we wanted the newer model design. That
wa at least 10 years ago. The new one did have a motor control failure a
couple years ago, and it was well worth shipping it back for repair. In
the time it was gone, we went through at least two cheap blenders, and
they were total crap, in comparison...


What do you use the Vita Mix for and how often do you use it? I don't think
there is any question that they are well built.

In article ,
"Annaid" wrote:

Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one and it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about this
blender?


It's a blender. Despite what the ads say about making hot/cold items,
it's just a blender--albeit a powerful, well-built one.

--
to respond, change "spamless.invalid" with "optonline.net"
please mail OT responses only

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004, Vox Humana wrote:

Annaid wrote:
Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one and
it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really
have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about this
blender?

I appreciate your help

Dianna

Best blender(s) we have owned, by far. The first was retired after
probably 15 years, only because we wanted the newer model design. That
wa at least 10 years ago. The new one did have a motor control failure a
couple years ago, and it was well worth shipping it back for repair. In
the time it was gone, we went through at least two cheap blenders, and
they were total crap, in comparison...


What do you use the Vita Mix for and how often do you use it? I don't think
there is any question that they are well built.

Fair question... It hardly gets used in baking, other than for thin
batters for pancakes or occasionally for coatings;. For the most part it
makes shakes, smoothies and juice drinks, and has been doing that sevral
times a day, this Summer! For any task like that, and especialy when you
want it to grind ice or frozen fruit, nothing else will do. The immersion
blender is handy, and we do use the food processor and stand mixer, but
for day-to-day use, the Vita-Mix is a workhorse. As I've been baking bread
mor and more, I use the mixer more, but everyone else has the blender
running...

Dave

"Dave Bell" wrote in message
rea.net...
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004, Vox Humana wrote:

Annaid wrote:
Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one
and
it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really
have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about
this
blender?

I appreciate your help

Dianna

Best blender(s) we have owned, by far. The first was retired after
probably 15 years, only because we wanted the newer model design. That
wa at least 10 years ago. The new one did have a motor control failure
a
couple years ago, and it was well worth shipping it back for repair.
In
the time it was gone, we went through at least two cheap blenders, and
they were total crap, in comparison...


What do you use the Vita Mix for and how often do you use it? I don't
think
there is any question that they are well built.

Fair question... It hardly gets used in baking, other than for thin
batters for pancakes or occasionally for coatings;. For the most part it
makes shakes, smoothies and juice drinks, and has been doing that sevral
times a day, this Summer! For any task like that, and especialy when you
want it to grind ice or frozen fruit, nothing else will do. The immersion
blender is handy, and we do use the food processor and stand mixer, but
for day-to-day use, the Vita-Mix is a workhorse. As I've been baking bread
mor and more, I use the mixer more, but everyone else has the blender
running...

Dave

I guess I would consider buying one but I never make shakes or smoothies -
it just isn't in my vernacular. I don't know if it is because of my age or
location. I see smoothies as a warm climate thing. Maybe I'm just not
"with it." I wonder how many people make a lot of drinks? I do see a
number of inexpensive blenders/drink makers on the shelves so I guess it
isn't too rare.

"Dave Bell" wrote in message
rea.net...
On Mon, 23 Aug 2004, Vox Humana wrote:

Annaid wrote:
Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one
and
it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really
have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about
this
blender?

I appreciate your help

Dianna

Best blender(s) we have owned, by far. The first was retired after
probably 15 years, only because we wanted the newer model design. That
wa at least 10 years ago. The new one did have a motor control failure
a
couple years ago, and it was well worth shipping it back for repair.
In
the time it was gone, we went through at least two cheap blenders, and
they were total crap, in comparison...


What do you use the Vita Mix for and how often do you use it? I don't
think
there is any question that they are well built.

Fair question... It hardly gets used in baking, other than for thin
batters for pancakes or occasionally for coatings;. For the most part it
makes shakes, smoothies and juice drinks, and has been doing that sevral
times a day, this Summer! For any task like that, and especialy when you
want it to grind ice or frozen fruit, nothing else will do. The immersion
blender is handy, and we do use the food processor and stand mixer, but
for day-to-day use, the Vita-Mix is a workhorse. As I've been baking bread
mor and more, I use the mixer more, but everyone else has the blender
running...

Dave

I guess I would consider buying one but I never make shakes or smoothies -
it just isn't in my vernacular. I don't know if it is because of my age or
location. I see smoothies as a warm climate thing. Maybe I'm just not
"with it." I wonder how many people make a lot of drinks? I do see a
number of inexpensive blenders/drink makers on the shelves so I guess it
isn't too rare.

"Annaid" wrote in message
news
Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one and
it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about this
blender?

I appreciate your help

Dianna



I have owned a VitaMix for several years. My best reasoning for having it
is similar to my having a sewing machine (and mine is not cheap, but a good
reliable one). I don’t use it “that” often, but when I do have a need for
it, it’s there. I’ve had several blenders over the years, and they’ve all
gone by the way-side; the ingredients always stuck in the bottom, they were
not high-powered enough, chintzy compared to the VitaMix. The VitaMix sits
on my counter along with my Kitchen Aid stand mixer and Kitchen Aid food
processor. It does not take the place of these other two appliances in my
opinion, but I never regret that I have it available.



I did notice that Costco was demonstrating one for $359 a couple of weeks
ago -- I didn’t get close enough to see the model -- if there is one.



Dee

Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one and it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about this
blender?

I own an old one which I use in my shop. I believe it's about 3/4
horsepower. I use it to make iced lattes and chai teas.

I've never seen such a powerfull machine and I think it's waaay overkill
for home use, unless you just have way too much money or will use it
very very often.

One really nice thing about it is that the blades are very well made. I
had been through two cheapo blenders that claimed to "crush ice" but
they just don't stand up to pro use.

Vita-Mix is the king of all blenders, IMO, but very pricey.

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004, it was written:

I have owned a VitaMix for several years. My best reasoning for having i=
t
is similar to my having a sewing machine (and mine is not cheap, but a go=
od
reliable one). I don=92t use it =93that=94 often, but when I do have a n=
eed for
it, it=92s there. I=92ve had several blenders over the years, and they=
=92ve all
gone by the way-side; the ingredients always stuck in the bottom, they we=
re
not high-powered enough, chintzy compared to the VitaMix. The VitaMix s=
its
on my counter along with my Kitchen Aid stand mixer and Kitchen Aid food
processor. It does not take the place of these other two appliances in m=
y
opinion, but I never regret that I have it available.

What she said...

I did notice that Costco was demonstrating one for $359 a couple of weeks
ago -- I didn=92t get close enough to see the model -- if there is one.

May well have ben the commercial version of the Vita-Mix, with the large
stainless steel container. We have the Lexan pitcher, used to have the old
model, with the stainless pitcher, roughly the same size as the Lexan (1
1/2 qt?). I have seen the big commercial model at Smart & Final for around
that price in the past (on sale.)

Dave

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 10:41:13 -0400, "Annaid"
wrote:

Does anyone have one of these machines? I have a cousin who has one and it
seemed impressive. They tend not to cook a whole lot so they really have
not used the machine very much. Does anyone have comments about this
blender?

We have one that we got to replace our Waring. The Waring's blade
broke from making my mother's daily smoothies of yogurt and frozen
fruit--I guess frozen fruit is harder on blenders than ice.

The Vita Mix is better than our previous blenders in lots of ways. It
blends thoroughly and quickly, it can grind flour, and it comes with a
little stick you can put through the lid to help stir things around.

If you would use it a lot, it's well worth the money, but it's awfully
expensive for something that might just gather dust.

--Rebecca

Thank you everyone for your input. I am glad to hear it works as well as it
seemed to when I used it at my cousin's home. I do use a blender often. I
had a kitchenaid for a little while, returned it because it just did not do
the job I expected for the price I paid. Bought a Cuisinart which was about
$40- dollars less and works just as well. As one of you mentioned the
annoyance is that they do not seem to mix well. Power gets stuck, ice does
not get finely blended, and I would like to have one that does a better job.
We make lots of smoothies (three kids and loving them). I probably won't
run out and buy one today, but I will be on the lookout for one in the
future.

Thank you!
D~