Best Reviewed
Blenders
- Best general-use blender KitchenAid KSB560 *Est. $90
- Budget blender Hamilton Beach 54615 Wave Station Express *Est. $20
- Multifunction blender Vita-Mix 5200 *Est. $500
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Multifunction blender
- Powerful motor
- Heavy-duty blending capability
- Large 64-ounce jug
- Expensive
- Noisy
Both owners and professional reviewers concur that the Vita-Mix 5200 is the best blender if you want an appliance that goes well beyond making smoothies and pureeing soup. Its main competition, the Blendtec Total Blender (*Est. $400) , is also a good choice, with the differences boiling down to a user's preference of features. For example, the Blendtec Total Blender has a lower height that makes it easier to fit under kitchen cabinets, but the Vita-Mix 5200 has a longer warranty. The Vita-Mix 5200 has a powerful 2-horsepower (1,380 watt) motor, and users say its blades spin so fast you can make hot soup in it. It's also powerful enough to make perfectly blended cheese fondues and to grind grains into flour. Reviewers like its large 64-ounce jar, but they note that polycarbonate can scratch and stain over time. The Vita-Mix 5200 comes with a seven-year warranty. Drawbacks include the price and noise, which at high speed has been compared to that of a jet engine. If your blending agenda includes mainly smoothies and purees, the Vita-Mix 5200 is overkill.
We found the best feedback for the Vita-Mix 5200 at Cook's Illustrated magazine and ConsumerReports.org, where reviewers test a variety of blender models and report on performance and ease of use. Several food sites and blogs, like TheKitchn.com and Chow.com also provide detailed reviews of the product. For consumer reviews, we found the most at Viewpoints.com, which features more than 200 reviews for the Vita-Mix 5200.
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Editors at ConsumerReports.org test more than three dozen blenders, ranking them by overall points tallied from individual tests on pureeing, blending, crushing ice and more. The Vita-Mix 5200 is one of the blenders included in the testing.
Review: Blenders That Beat the Competition, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2. Cook's Illustrated MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Editors test two high-end blenders that say they do more than just make smoothies. Each blender is compared with the other as well as with editors' favorite moderately priced blenders. Tests include crushing ice and making smoothies and hummus. The Vita-Mix 5200 is one of the two tested blenders.
Review: Upscale Blenders, Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine, Sept. 2009
3. Amazon.com
Owner-written reviews mostly praise the Vita-Mix's power and ability to prepare everything from soup to ground nuts. The main complaint is noise and price. The Vita-Mix 4500 is an older version of the updated 5200, which is not sold at Amazon.com.
Review: Vita-Mix 1300 TurboBlend 4500, Contributors to Amazon.com
4. ThisNext.com
Alexandra Guarnaschelli, executive chef at Butter Restaurant in New York City, lists her favorite blenders, food processors and mixers -- including the Vita-Prep, the commercial version of the Vita-Mix 5200.
Review: Top 10 Blenders, Food Processors and Mixers, Alex Guarnaschelli, Not Dated
Reviewer Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan says she loves the Vita-Mix 5200, which makes "ice cream, whole fruit and vegetable juices, breads, cakes, hot stuff (without it exploding all over the kitchen) and cold stuff." She doesn't like the drippy pour spout, but otherwise is thrilled with this blender. Several readers comment and praise the machine.
Review: Best Blender: Professional Series Vita-Mix, Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan, July 15, 2008
The editors of PerfectSmoothie.com evaluate several blenders, although their methods aren't detailed. They like the Vita-Mix 5200 more than other less-expensive blenders, saying that it is the best blender on the market.
Review: The Best Blenders for Making Smoothies, Editors of PerfectSmoothie.com, Updated for 2011
This whole-foods enthusiast compares the BlendTec and Vita-Mix blenders but doesn't pick one over the other. Still it is a helpful review for those looking for a breakdown of the differences between the two models.
Review: The Best Blender, Editor of GreenSmoothieGirl.com
8. Chow.com
Reviewer Louise Chu likes the Vita-Prep 3, the commercial version of the Vita-Mix 5200, which she says is a "workhorse" in professional kitchens.
Review: Crush Ice without Burnout, Louise Chu, July 26, 2007
9. PopularMechanics.comDetails/Subscribe
The editors of Popular Mechanics put five blenders through the tough tests of blending whole fruit (bananas, apples and oranges) and ice. Of the five machines tested, editors say that the Vita-Mix 5200 outperforms all other blenders tested (though is not is the best value unless you are a consumer who is very serious about blending).
Review: 5 Blender Show-Down: Abusive Lab Test, S.E. Kramer, Oct. 1, 2009
This is a detailed comparison of the features of the two major top-of-the-line blenders, the Vita-Mix 5200 and the Blendtec. Davy Russell compares the blenders on form, function and features as well as warranty and online support. Russell says he owns a Blendtec but that you can't go wrong with either blender.
Review: The Best Blender Comparison: Vita-Mix vs Blendtec, Davy Russell, Sept. 4, 2009
11. Viewpoints.com
At this online review site, more than 200 users provide relatively detailed reviews of the Vita-Mix 5200. The blender earns an average 4.77 stars out of 5. Reviewers praise the blender for its stellar performance and ability to go above and beyond the uses of a traditional blender.
Review: Vitamix Variable-Speed Blender 5200 Reviews, Contributors to Viewpoints.com
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