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Review vitamix blender


The 4 Best Vitamix Blenders of 2023: Reviews

  1. Table of Contents
  2. Intro
  3. Review Updates
  4. Best Blender
  5. Best Upper Mid-Range
  6. Best Mid-Range
  7. Best Budget
  8. Comparison
  9. Lineup
  10. Page Updates
  11. Conclusion
  12. Discussions

Updated Jan 17, 2023 at 08:47 am

By Theresa Ketterling

We've currently tested 13 Vitamix blenders. This manufacturer specializes in full-size blenders that fall on the higher end of the price range for blenders. They're consistently some of the best-built blenders we've tested, and most are available with a U.S. warranty that lasts between five and ten years, compared to the more typical one-year warranty for blenders.

Most full-size Vitamix blenders can hot blend and offer great overall performance, so which is best depends on what design and features you prefer. Some models are dishwasher-safe and offer extras like app connectivity and blending programs, while others have a simpler design with just a speed dial and a switch for pulse mode. They only rarely come with accessories like personal jars included, but depending on the model, you can buy extra jars separately.

Updates

Best Vitamix Blenders


  1. Best Vitamix Blender

    Vitamix A3500

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    Multi-Purpose

    9.3

    Smoothies (Single Serving)

    9.4

    Smoothies (Multiple Servings)

    9.6

    Ice Crushing

    9.6

    Soups

    9.5

    Professional Use

    9.1

    Blender Type

    Full Size Blender

    Power

    1,640 W

    Hot Blending

    Yes

    See all our test results

    The Vitamix A3500 is the best Vitamix blender that we've tested. It's among the most expensive blenders from the manufacturer, and it's probably only worth considering if you're interested in a blender with all the bells and whistles. It's part of the 'Ascent' series, so it works with more accessories that are sold separately, including a food processor bowl. These blenders also come with a 10-year U.S. warranty, which is the longest Vitamix offers, although it depends on where you buy your blender. The 64-ounce jar, lid, and tamper are dishwasher-safe, which isn't the case for every type of Vitamix.

    This model does an outstanding job of processing fibrous ingredients, which is important for silky-smooth kale smoothies or pureed broccoli soup. You can use it for hot blending, and it has no issue crushing ice cubes into snow-like ice. Some Vitamix blenders we've tested are easier to use for thicker recipes. You need to use the tamper when you're making something like nut butter or hummus, but it's still a decently easy process. Its controls include a speed dial, five automatic blending programs, and a button for pulse mode. There's also a programmable timer, which not many blenders have, that lets you set the blender to run for a specific amount of time before stopping automatically.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range Vitamix Blender

    Vitamix A3300

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    Multi-Purpose

    9.2

    Smoothies (Single Serving)

    9.3

    Smoothies (Multiple Servings)

    9.5

    Ice Crushing

    9. 4

    Soups

    9.5

    Professional Use

    9.1

    Blender Type

    Full Size Blender

    Power

    1,640 W

    Hot Blending

    Yes

    See all our test results

    The Vitamix A3300 is the best Vitamix blender in the upper-mid-range we've tested. This model is a good compromise if you want to spend a little less but want the extra features Vitamix equips its 'Ascent' blenders with. It looks nearly identical to the Vitamix A3500 and comes with the same jar and lid. It produces similar results when crushing ice and processing fibrous ingredients; it just takes a bit longer. It's also fantastic at processing hard ingredients like nuts into a smooth mixture, although our top pick produces a somewhat superior nut butter. Like the A3500, it has fantastic build quality and a 10-year U.S. warranty, and its jar and lid are dishwasher-safe. It lacks the A3500's metal siding, which makes it much lighter, but you may miss the more premium material at this price.

    Its controls include a digital blending time indicator and a programmable timer. There's also a speed dial that offers a wide range of speed settings and a dedicated pulse mode, but unlike the A3500, it doesn't have any automatic blending programs onboard. You can access some via the companion app and can always set the programmable timer to blend for as long as you want. As an 'Ascent' blender, it's compatible with the largest variety of extra jars and attachments and has 'Self-Detect', just like the top pick.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Vitamix Blender

    Vitamix 5200

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    Multi-Purpose

    9.2

    Smoothies (Single Serving)

    9.0

    Smoothies (Multiple Servings)

    9.5

    Ice Crushing

    8.9

    Soups

    9. 5

    Professional Use

    9.2

    Blender Type

    Full Size Blender

    Power

    1,491 W

    Hot Blending

    Yes

    See all our test results

    If extra features like blending programs aren't a necessity or you prefer simpler controls, you might want to start your search in the mid-range. The best Vitamix in the mid-range price category we've tested is the Vitamix 5200. Because of its relatively low price and similarly fantastic performance, it's our recommendation for the best blender for smoothies over some pricier options. Its jar is narrower than the Vitamix A3300's, and it's better for processing smaller batches of ingredients, like for a single-serve smoothie. It's also easier to use for thicker recipes like nut butter. The motor base is a little more compact than the previous picks', and its power cord is much longer at just over six feet, which is a big plus if your kitchen is short on plugs.

    That said, there are some downsides compared to more expensive models. Since it's a 'Legacy' blender, it's available with a shorter 7-year U.S. warranty and isn't compatible with as many accessories. You can buy a variety of extra jars, but not a food processing bowl. It's louder than the previous picks, and its jar and lid aren't dishwasher-safe. The 2-part lid is made of solid plastic instead of clear, which is slightly worse because you can't see down into the blender while it's running. You might prefer its physical dial and switches to the touch-sensitive buttons and digital displays that 'Ascent' series blenders have. However, it lacks extra features like blending programs and a timer. The Vitamix Professional Series 750 is another 'Legacy' blender with a few blending programs on its dial. Its jar is wider, and it can make more snow-like crushed ice. However, it's more expensive and louder.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Vitamix Βlender

    Vitamix Explorian E310

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    Unavailable

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    Multi-Purpose

    9.2

    Smoothies (Single Serving)

    9.1

    Smoothies (Multiple Servings)

    8.8

    Ice Crushing

    8.4

    Soups

    8. 8

    Professional Use

    8.8

    Blender Type

    Full Size Blender

    Power

    1,471 W

    Hot Blending

    Yes

    See all our test results

    If you don't want to spend as much, the Vitamix Explorian E310 is a great choice. Vitamix doesn't sell any blenders that are truly 'budget' options, but the Explorian E310 is a good choice if you want the brand's sturdy build quality at the lowest possible price. While Vitamix has a cheaper full-size offering in the Vitamix ONE, it's not great compared to similarly-priced models on the market, especially because it's not very well-built or versatile. The Explorian E310 is more expensive, but it offers fantastic build quality and a very versatile performance since it's just as good as the other picks at producing a smooth puree of fibrous ingredients and processing hard ingredients like nuts. Like all the picks on this list, it's safe to use for hot blending.

    The jar and lid are dishwasher-safe, unlike the Vitamix 5200, but the jar has a smaller 48-ounce capacity. It's also not quite as good at ice-crushing since the results aren't as snow-like as most other Vitamix blenders. This model's five-year U.S. warranty is shorter than the other picks, and it's loud compared to the Vitamix A3300 and Vitamix A3500. As an 'Explorian' series blender, it's compatible with fewer extra jars and accessories sold by Vitamix. For example, extras like small blending cups for tiny batches and the food processor bowl aren't compatible, and the jars sold for 'Explorian' blenders usually have a smaller capacity than the jars sold for Ascent series blenders.

    See our review

Compared to other brands



Vitamix vs Blendtec

Βlendtec is another maker of high-end full-size blenders. The models we've tested aren't as well-built as Vitamix blenders and don't perform as well overall, particularly for recipes like nut butter or hummus. They usually come with a 90-ounce pitcher, while most Vitamix models come with a 64-ounce pitcher. They also have blunt blades that make them very easy to clean by hand.

Vitamix vs Wolf Gourmet

Wolf Gourmet is a kitchen appliance manufacturer that makes a few high-end blenders. The Wolf Gourmet Pro-Performance isn't as good at processing thick mixtures like nut butter as the Vitamix models listed here. It's not as well-built. Still, its performance is comparable, and it's quiet for a blender.

Vitamix vs Ninja

Ninja makes a wide variety of full-size blenders that are usually cheaper. They generally don't perform as well as Vitamix models if you're using the main pitcher. Unlike Vitamix, many come with extra jars and attachments included, like single-serve jars and food processors. If you don't mind using different jars for different purposes, some can produce similar results to Vitamix blenders. These blenders aren't as well-built and usually can't hot blend.

Vitamix makes full-size blenders that are very well-built and versatile in their overall performance. They have a wide range of speed settings, so you can easily adjust the speed based on what you're blending. Uniquely, some of their blenders are Bluetooth-compatible, so you can use the Vitamix Perfect Blend app to access additional preset modes like 'Smoothies', 'Baby Food', 'Spice Grinding', and 'Acai Bowls'.

Lineup

Vitamix divides its full-size blenders into a few categories that offer different controls and features, different warranties, and are compatible with different accessories.

Ascent series: These are the most expensive blenders from Vitamix. Vitamix advertises a 10-year U.S. warranty. They come with a 64-ounce dishwasher-safe jar and a clear plastic lid. They include features like digital displays and onboard blending programs, depending on which model you buy. They have 'Self-Detect', meaning the blender can detect which accessory you're using (like a personal jar or a bigger pitcher).

Smart System: All Ascent series blenders are 'Smart System' blenders, meaning they have 'Self Detect' and are compatible with the biggest variety of accessories, including a food processor jar. This category also includes the Vitamix Venturist 1200, which has 'Self Detect' and app support like Ascent blenders and is generally only available new at Costco (U.S.). You can also find used models on Vitamix's website and other online retailers.

Legacy series: These are 'classic' blenders, older designs that Vitamix still makes and sells new. They have analog controls with a dial and a switch for pulse mode. Their design varies from Ascent blenders, with a much longer power cord and an opaque lid. The manufacturer advertises these blenders to have a 7-year U.S. warranty, and they aren't usually dishwasher-safe. There are two types of Legacy blenders: G-series and C-series. Some accessories and additional jars are only compatible with one or the other.

Explorian series: Vitamix refers to its Explorian blenders as an 'entry' into the brand, and they're on the lower end of the price range. They have more basic controls without a digital display and have a smaller 48-ounce jar. The manufacturer advertises Explorian blenders to have a five-year U.S. warranty.

Other blenders: Vitamix mainly makes full-size blenders, but they also sell the Vitamix Immersion Βlender, meant for blending hot ingredients in a pot or pan, and the Vitamix ONE, which is a smaller full-size model meant for smoothies. It has a very different design from other Vitamixes, as well as a less versatile performance.

Recent Updates

  1. Jan 17, 2023: Made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are available.

  2. Nov 18, 2022: Replaced the Vitamix 5300 with the Vitamix 5200 because it's much quieter and may be easier to find available.

  3. Sep 19, 2022: Restructured article to make it easier to find what you're looking for and added the Vitamix A3500, the Vitamix A3300, and the Vitamix 5300.

  4. Jun 07, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.

  5. Apr 08, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are available.

Conclusion

Vitamix is a blender manufacturer that makes well-built, premium-looking blenders. They're generally very versatile, meaning they're suitable for many different users. They usually come with a speed dial and some preset modes and can hot blend. However, most of their blenders don't have many extra features or accessories.

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Vitamix A3500 Review - RTINGS.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Reviewed Sep 21, 2020 at 08:34 am

By Antoine Laforge, Vanessa McCuaig, Yannick Khong

9.3

Multi-Purpose

9.4

Smoothies (Single Serving)

9. 6

Smoothies (Multiple Servings)

9.6

Ice Crushing

9.1

Professional Use

overview test results deals discussions

Blender Type

Full Size Blender

Power

1,640 W

Hot Blending

Yes

The Vitamix A3500 is a well-built and versatile full-size blender that comes with a 64-ounce jar that should be enough to tackle most of your blending needs. It's on the higher end of Vitamix's range, and its controls include a speed dial, a programmable timer, and five blending programs. Like other 'Ascent' blenders, it's Bluetooth-compatible, and you can connect to a companion app that offers even more programs.

Our Verdict

9.3 Multi-Purpose

The Vitamix A3500 is outstanding for multi-purpose use. It doesn't have any trouble with hard food like nuts, makes incredibly smooth blends with fibrous ingredients, and can process ice into a snow-like consistency very quickly. It can also hot blend and offers a wide range of speed settings to suit different recipes. This blender is easy to clean, and the jar and lid are dishwasher-safe.

9.4 Smoothies (Single Serving)

The Vitamix A3500 is superb for single-serve smoothies. Even though it only comes with a 64-ounce blending jar, you can use it to make exceptionally silky single-serve smoothies with ingredients like kale. The 'Smoothie' blending program makes it a very easy process. The jar and lid are easy to clean by hand and dishwasher-safe.

9.6 Smoothies (Multiple Servings)

It's superb for making multiple servings of smoothies. If you fill the 64-ounce jar to its full capacity, it does a fantastic job of processing big batches of fibrous ingredients. It's very well-suited for making a big batch of smoothies with ingredients like kale. You can also use it to make snow-like ice for frozen drinks. The jar is easy to clean by hand and dishwasher-safe.

9.6 Ice Crushing

The Vitamix A3500 is fantastic for ice-crushing. This well-built blender can make snow-like crushed ice in under a minute, meaning you can go right from blending to drinking margaritas as quickly as possible.

Pros

9.5 Soups

The Vitamix A3500 is incredible for soups. It can liquefy ingredients like kale, and it's safe to use for hot blending, so you can easily puree vegetables for a soup or sauce. There's even a dedicated 'Hot Soup' mode. Its high-capacity jar is also good if you're making a bigger meal. It's very easy to clean by hand, and you can put the jar, lid, and blade assembly directly into the dishwasher.

9.1 Professional Use

The Vitamix A3500 is outstanding for professional use. This well-built blender has a large jar so you can process a lot of food at a time. It can easily blend hard ingredients like nuts and makes an extremely smooth puree with fibrous ingredients. It makes snow-like crushed ice in less than a minute. As its jar, lid, and blade assembly are all dishwasher-safe, cleanup is easy.

+ Create your own

  1. Updated Oct 06, 2022: Revised text due to Test Bench 1.0.
  2. Updated Sep 16, 2022: Compared the Vitamix A3500's controls with the newly-reviewed Vitamix Professional Series 750.
  3. Updated Jul 28, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  4. Updated Feb 16, 2022: Retested 'Smoothie (Βest Jar).' The score has changed from 8.0 to 9.0.
  5. Updated Jan 26, 2021: We've updated the Speed Adjustment Based On Jar Size test in the Extra Features box.
  6. Updated Sep 21, 2020: Review published.
  7. Updated Sep 08, 2020: Early access published.

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Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Vitamix A3500 comes in three different color variants: Metal Graphite, Brushed Stainless Steel, and Copper. We tested the Metal Graphite variant, but we expect the other models to perform similarly.

It comes with a 64-ounce main jar. However, there are several other sizes of jars in the Vitamix Ascent Series that you can purchase separately including a 48-ounce container, a 48-ounce dry grains container for blending flour or other grains, a 20-ounce blending cup starter kit, and an eight-ounce blending bowl starter kit. As these accessories are part of the Ascent Series, they come with Vitamix's Self-Detect technology built into the base. According to the manufacturer, the A3500 can recognize the attachments using this technology and adjust the blender's settings depending on the size of the container. We only tested the 64-ounce variant, meaning these attachments may perform differently with this blender.

In Europe, this product is sold as the Vitamix A3500i and comes with a slightly larger, two-liter main jar. It may perform differently than our unit due to the difference in size.

Compared To Other Blenders

The Vitamix Ascent A3500 is one of this brand's most premium full-size blenders, and comes packed with more features than most Vitamix models. Just like the Vitamix A2300 and Vitamix 2500, it's part of the Ascent series, so you can purchase a wide variety of additional jars that have Self-Detect technology built-in, which allows the blender to detect the jar's size and adjust its settings accordingly. It's equipped with a programmable timer and has a companion app that adds even more modes into the mix.

If you're looking for something different, take a look at our recommendations for the best Vitamix blenders, the best blenders, and the best blenders for smoothies.

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The Vitamix A3500 is a little better than the Vitamix A2500. The A3500 makes more snow-like crushed ice and a smoother puree with small batches of fibrous ingredients. It has more automatic blending programs and its controls include a programmable timer. It's also quieter when it's running. 

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Amazon.com

The Vitamix A3500 is slightly better than the Vitamix A3300. The A3500 delivers a slightly better performance for blending fibrous ingredients, making nut butter, and crushing ice. It's much quieter when it's running, and its controls include a programmable timer.

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Amazon.com

The Vitamix A3500 and the Vitamix Professional Series 750 perform almost identically, so which is better depends on your preferences. The A3500 is quieter, and its jar and lid are dishwasher-safe. It has a digital display, including a blending time indicator and a programmable timer. It's also compatible with a companion app via Βluetooth. On the other hand, you may prefer the 750's simpler, more analog control scheme. Its power cord is longer as well.

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The Vitamix A3500 is a bit better than the Vitamix A2300. It's quieter when it's running and easier to use for some purposes, like making nut butter and ice crushing. It includes automatic blending programs, while the A2300 doesn't offer any unless you connect to a companion app. 

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Amazon.com

The Vitamix A3500 has more extra features than the Vitamix 5200. It has automatic blending programs and a programmable timer and works with a companion app. It can make a bigger batch of crushed ice and makes less noise when it's running. The jar is dishwasher-safe. However, you may prefer the Vitamix 5200's simpler design. It's also easier to use to make recipes like nut butter or hummus.

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Amazon.com

The Vitamix A3500 comes with more features than the straightforward Vitamix 7500. The A3500's control panel gives you access to a timer and several preset modes. It has a self-clean program and is dishwasher-safe, unlike the 7500. As it's part of Vitamix's Ascent series, you can purchase different jars for the A3500 that use Self-Detect technology to adjust the settings based on their size. The A3500 is also Bluetooth-compatible, and you can use its companion app to access even more preset modes. That said, the 7500 still has an outstanding overall performance.

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The Vitamix A3500 is better than the Vitamix Explorian E310. The A3500 has a bigger capacity, a better ice crushing performance, and it's much quieter. It has more features, including blending programs and a programmable timer. On the other hand, the Explorian is more compact and lighter. Its smaller 48-ounce main jar is easier to use to make nut butter.

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Amazon.com

The Vitamix A3500 is a bit better than the Vitamix Venturist V1200. The A3500 crushes ice more quickly and produces a slightly better result when processing hard ingredients like nuts in its main jar. It's also significantly quieter. On the other hand, you may prefer the V1200 if you often blend smaller batches of ingredients or make a lot of single-serves smoothies, since it comes with a 20-ounce jar for personal smoothies and an 8-ounce jar for sauces and dips. It's also a bit sturdier.

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The Vitamix A3500 is better than the Vitamix 5300 for most purposes. They perform similarly, but the A3500 is better for blending small batches of ingredients. Its jar and lid are dishwasher-safe and it has a few automatic blending programs. It's also much quieter when it's running. On the other hand, the 5300 is easier to use to make thick mixtures like nut butter. Its power cord is much longer too, which some may prefer.

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The Vitamix A3500 is better than the KitchenAid K400. The Vitamix is better built, quieter, and much more suitable for processing hard ingredients like nuts. It has a somewhat bigger capacity and it's easier to clean by hand. You may prefer it because of its digital display, which includes a programmable timer. 

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Amazon.com

The Vitamix A3500 is better for most purposes than the Breville The Q. The Vitamix has a better build quality and delivers a better performance for crushing ice and processing fibrous ingredients. Its control dial gives you more options for fine-tuning the blending speed. Ηowever, the Βreville is easier to clean by hand. It's also remarkably easy to use to process tough ingredients like nuts. 

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The Vitamix A3500 is better than the Ninja Professional Blender 1000. The Vitamix has a much better build quality, comes with a 2-part lid and tamper, and offers a wider range of speed settings. It makes a much smoother blend of fibrous ingredients and can hot blend. Both blenders can make snow-like crushed ice quickly, and the Ninja's main jar has a bigger capacity.

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Amazon.com

The Vitamix A3500 is a better blender than the Blendtec Designer 725 for most uses. The Vitamix is better-built and makes a smoother blend of fibrous ingredients. It does a much better job of making nut butter. It's also quieter when it's running. On the other hand, the Blendtec comes with a 24-ounce personal jar for single-serves in addition to its 90-ounce main jar.

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The Vitamix A3500 is better for most purposes than the Blendtec Classic 575. The Vitamix has a better build quality and a better overall blending performance, especially for processing tough ingredients like nuts. It's also significantly quieter when it's running. Ηowever, the Βlendtec has a bigger capacity and its dull blades make it easier to clean by hand.

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The Vitamix A3500 is better than the Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-iQ. The Vitamix has a better build quality and does a better job of processing fibrous ingredients. You can use it to hot blend, and it's easier to clean by hand. However, the Ninja has more accessories, including smaller blending jars for single-serve smoothies and a food processing bowl.

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The Vitamix A3500 is better for most purposes than the Ninja Blender Duo with Auto-iQ BL642. The Vitamix has a significantly better build quality. It's better at processing fibrous ingredients and making nut butter. You can also use it to hot blend. It's easier to clean by hand. However, the Ninja comes with smaller blending jars with resealable lids for making single-serve drinks like smoothies.

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Amazon.com

The Vitamix A3500 is better than the Wolf Pro-Performance. The two blenders perform similarly, but the Vitamix makes better-blended nut butter and crushed ice with a more uniform texture. Some may also prefer it because it has a digital blending time indicator and a programmable timer. The Wolf has dull-edged blades that make it easier to clean by hand. It also comes with an 'Emulsion Cup' that fits into the lid and helps with adding liquid gradually.

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The Vitamix A3500 is better than the Ninja Mega Kitchen System. The Vitamix is sturdier and does a better job of processing fibrous ingredients and making nut butter. It has more speed settings and comes with a 2-part lid and tamper. You can use it for hot blending, and it's easier to clean by hand. That said, the Ninja's jar is a bit bigger, and it's equally fantastic at crushing ice.

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The Vitamix A3500 is better than the Smeg BLF01. The Vitamix has a much better build quality and a better overall blending performance, especially when it comes to tough tasks like making nut butter. It can be used for hot blending, has a bigger capacity, and it's quieter when it's running. 

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The Vitamix A3500 is better than the Vitamix ONE. The A3500 has a much better build quality and a larger capacity. It's much more versatile, since it can make nut butter, snow-like crushed ice, and you can use it for hot blending. It's also significantly quieter when it's running.

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Test Results

Sort Category───────────RATINGSMulti-PurposeSmoothies (Single Serving)Smoothies (Multiple Servings)Ice CrushingSoupsProfessional Use

Category AllDesignPerformanceEase Of Use

Design

Blender Type

Full Size Blender

Height

17. 1" (43.4 cm)

Width 8.0" (20.4 cm)

Depth 11.3" (28.6 cm)

Weight

14.9 lbs (6.8 kg)

Shaft Length (Immersion Blenders)

N/A

It's a large blender. It's about the same size as the Vitamix A2300 and is quite heavy. That said, it's best stored on your kitchen counter or in a large cupboard.

This blender has outstanding build quality. The base is made of high-quality solid plastic with metal siding. The transmission and gears are metal, which makes the blender feel very sturdy overall. It has a thick power cable, and its display and speed dial have a premium look and feel.

Main Jar Capacity

64. 0 oz (1,893 ml)

Additional Jar Capacity

N/A

The pitcher has a big 64-ounce capacity.

Jar/Beaker Material

BPA-Free Plastic

Dishwasher Safe

Yes

The jar and lid are made of plastic and are dishwasher-safe, along with the non-removable blades.

Blade Type

Sharp

Blade Count

4

Removable

No

Dishwasher Safe

Yes

The Vitamix Ascent A3500 has four sharp, thick blades. They aren't meant to be removed, and although you can service them via their nut assembly, this voids their warranty. Luckily, the blades are dishwasher-safe.

Two-Part Lid

Yes

Lid Closing Type

Friction

The lid is clear and has two clips on each side to create a seal. You can remove the middle part if you want to add ingredients or use the tamper to mix food in while blending. You can use this center part as a 30ml measuring cup, which is handy in a pinch.

Stow-Away Compartment

Yes

Cord Length

3.9 ft (1.2 m)

The power cord is long and thick. You should have no problems reaching most outlets, and you can even store it away when not in use.

Performance

Jar Used

Main Jar

Fibrous Ingredients Processing

Fibrous Ingredients Texture

It's fantastic for processing small batches of fibrous ingredients. It makes an extremely smooth blend of fibrous ingredients like kale, and it's a very easy process since all you need to do is run the 'Smoothie' program once.

Jar Used Main Jar

Fibrous Ingredients Processing

Fibrous Ingredients Texture

It's superb for processing fibrous ingredients at full capacity. Using the 'Smoothie' program, it makes a nearly perfectly smooth puree of fibrous ingredients like kale in very little time.

Crushed Ice Preparation

Crushed Ice Texture

It makes outstanding crushed ice. It makes powdery, snow-like ice very fast with its 'Frozen Drinks' mode.

Nut Butter Preparation

Nut Butter Texture

It's excellent for making nut butter. You need to use the tamper to push the ingredients down towards the blades and stop to scrape the sides of the jar with a spatula. Still, it's not hard and results in nut butter with a superb texture.

Noise @ Max Speed

92.8 dB

It's much quieter than some other Vitamix blenders like the Vitamix Professional Series 750, but there are full-size blenders that make less noise when they're running, like the Wolf Gourmet Pro-Performance.

Min Speed

1,400 RPM

Max Speed

22,800 RPM

Power

1,640 W

Speed Adjustment Based On Jar Type

Yes

It offers a wide range of speed settings, so you can start at a low speed and gradually ramp up to high, or make small adjustments to fine-tune the speed to a particular recipe.

Ease Of Use

On/Off Switch

Yes

Speed Presets

0

Speed Dial

Yes

Hot Blending

Yes

Pulse/Turbo Mode

Yes

Programs

5

Blending Time Indicator

Yes

Programmable Timer

Yes

The Vitamix A3500 has a touch-sensitive control panel. The white button on the left changes its pulse mode while the white one on the right is to start/stop. There are also controls to set a timer that runs up to 6:30, as well as several preset modes: 'Smoothies', 'Hot Soups', 'Dips and Spreads', 'Frozen Desserts', and 'Self-Cleaning'. Just like the Vitamix A3300, it's also Bluetooth-compatible. The Vitamix Perfect Blend companion app includes 17 additional modes, including 'Spice Grind' and 'Baby Food'. There's also an on/off toggle on the right side of the body.

It's easy to clean. You can easily get rid of a lot of food residue by rinsing the jar, filling it up with soap and hot water, and running it at max speed. You may need to wipe the jar and lid with a sponge afterward if there's still some sticky residue left, but it's pretty easy to wash. It can be a little trickier to get under the blades or around the lid, as food debris can get stuck in these areas.

Discussions

The most powerful blenders in the world - review and specifications

The other day I was lucky enough to take part in testing kitchen appliances and review three of the most powerful expensive blenders - Vitamix 5200, Breville Boss and Blendtec 625. The manufacturers of each of them claim the unique characteristics of their household appliances , which are designed to meet all the requirements for a blender. I decided to check the veracity of these statements and decide whether it is worth investing in the purchase of one of the devices.

The functional characteristics of a blender are a combination of many different parameters: electric motor power, container shape, equipment, knife design, number of speeds, etc. The best way to determine which blender is better is to test them on the same tasks at the same time, that is, to make a direct comparison in order to evaluate the merits of the devices, which I did.

I have tried each of the blenders to make smoothies, hummus, vegetable puree, peanut butter and crushed ice. Depending on the result, I determined the leader in each of the categories. And here are the results of my testing.

Contents

  1. Blender tests
  2. Test results
  3. Which blender is best for you?

Blender Test

Smoothies

All three machines effortlessly made excellent smoothies without discernible seeds or pulp particles. True, Vitamix had to adjust the speed. In this regard, the Breville Boss has advantages, since this device is equipped with two modes for making smoothies - normal or green.

Best in Test: Breville Boss

Hummus

The Vitamix blender made the most “smooth” and uniform hummus with no discernable chickpea particles. The Blendtec was also excellent, but the Breville Boss made the hummus a bit grainy.

The best in testing: Vitamix 5200

puree from boiled carrots

If you need a device for the preparation of fruit or vegetable puree, then BlendTec blender will perfectly cope with this task, turning carrots into smooth and air puree at the touch of a button in just a minute and a half. The Vitamix was also close to perfect, but in the process I had to use a spatula to stir the carrots in the bowl.

Best in Test: Blendtec 625

Almond Butter

Almost perfect almond paste was cooked in a Vitamix blender - smooth and smooth in texture. It is worth noting that in the process of grinding the almonds, I had to use a spatula to distribute the nuts in the bowl and in two other blenders, however, their paste turned out to be more grainy and coarse.

Best in Test: Vitamix 5200

Ice Crusher

Blendtec made perfectly fluffy, snow-like ice without any extra effort, outperforming its competitors many times over in this test, which left small but noticeable pieces of ice.

Best in Test: Blendtec 625

Test Results

Testing has proved once again that it is impossible to choose a universal blender to solve all problems. Each device performs a specific task perfectly. One thing unites them - they are all very powerful and cooking with it in your kitchen is really great!

But are these blenders worth the hefty investment?

First of all, you need to ask yourself for what purpose you need this device. If you need to predominantly whip liquid and juicy foods (smoothies, purees, soups), then you should not buy such a powerful and expensive blender. It will be enough to purchase a more economical good device.

If you're going to be making more complex meals and mixes often, like homemade nut butters, multi-ingredient smoothies, iced shakes, then you really need one of these appliances.

Which blender is best for you?

If you've made the wise decision that you need one of these kitchen monsters, here's a brief summary of each of the appliances we've tested:

Vitamix 5200: A restaurant blender all products, and convenient speed control will help in this, which allows you to take the entire cooking process completely under your control.

If you're a chef in a high-end restaurant, or imagine yourself to be, this industrial-style design adds to the feeling of being in a professional kitchen. It is worth noting that Vitamix is ​​very high, which can cause certain difficulties with washing and storing the device. If you do not have such conditions, then you should choose a device of smaller dimensions.

Blendtec Designer 625: Powerful Minimalism

This blender is the perfect blend of functionality and power, and the fact that it comes with unsharpened blades that can blend almost anything with ease is truly amazing. Blendtec is very easy to clean and care for. Thanks to several pre-installed programs, it is very convenient to use.

However, the lack of a built-in spatula creates some difficulties: you will need to pause the device during the robot, remove the lid to scrape food from the walls, directing it to the blades. This complicates the process a little, but it is done very simply and quickly.

On the plus side, this is the lowest and lightest of the three units tested, so if storage is a concern for you then Blendtec is the best option for you.

Breville Boss: Great results without unnecessary intervention

High functionality for the most demanding tasks and design make this device look like an industrial blender. It is programmed with many pre-installed programs and thought out some details that are missing in other devices. This blender makes amazing smoothies at the push of a button and is a must-have for those who save their time.

This blender, like the Vitamix, is tall and heaviest of the range, but this is an advantage as the extra weight makes it very stable on the surface for the toughest blending tasks.

What did I choose for myself?

If you're wondering which blender I tested, my first choice was the Vitamix, as I make homemade peanut butter quite often and it does the job brilliantly. But comparing the cost of homemade and purchased pasta, I concluded that purchased is cheaper. Therefore, I made the final decision towards Blendte, since this blender weighs little, takes up little space and is easy to clean.

Which blender did you like best?

Gastrorag B-012AJ powerful stand blender overview

Gastrorag B-012AJ belongs to the professional bar blender category. Such devices are usually distinguished by durability, decent technical characteristics, as well as ease of operation, since in a good bar a blender should work efficiently and not create any difficulties for the staff.

The description of the Gastrorag B-012AJ on the website only confirmed our guesses: a powerful motor, a six-bladed stainless steel knife, smooth speed control, a pulse mode and a pusher - all this gives us hope for a successful result in the most difficult tests.

Features

Manufacturer Gastrorag
Model B-012AJ
Type stationary blender
Country of origin China
Warranty 12 months
Declared capacity 1390 W
Speed ​​ up to 35000 rpm
Body material plastic
Housing color grey, black
Bowl material plastic
Bowl size 2 l
Knife material stainless steel
Number of knives per block 6
Control type electromechanical
Operating modes stepless blade speed adjustment, pulse mode
Infinitely variable speed yes
Overtemperature protection yes
Accessories pusher
Cord length 1 m
Weight of the motor block / device assembly 2. 83 / 3.8 kg
Motor block dimensions / complete with bowl (W×H×D) 20x22x22 cm / 20x51x22 cm
Shipping weight 4.75 kg
Package dimensions (W×H×D) 43×32×30 cm
Average price

ask price

Contents

The blender arrived at the iXBT.com test lab in an understated cardboard box. The design is dominated by black and blue colors. All information is contained only on the sides - these are photographs of the device, a list of features and characteristics. A minimum of textual information introduces the most significant and important information, but at the same time, does not overload the user. The box is not equipped with a carrying handle.

Two foam pads protect blender parts from damage. The engine compartment and jug, additionally packed in plastic bags, are located inside the package in immobility. Opening the box, inside we found:

  • engine block
  • blender jar with fixed knife block
  • cup lid with measuring cap
  • pusher
  • passport

At first glance

The Gastrorag B-012AJ looks very serious at first glance - no deliberate design frills and ultra-modern trends. Everything is calm and business-like: a neutral but noticeable color, a massive base with a uniquely identifiable control panel, a light capacious glass of complex shape. Now let's take a closer look at each element.

Black and gray colors used in the design of the motor block. On the front is a control panel with two switches and a speed control knob. Four stable legs raise the case 2 cm above the table surface.

Power cord exits at the bottom of the rear panel. A cord length of 1 m will require the device to be installed in a place near which there is an outlet. There is also a sticker label with brief technical information about the blender.

On the back of the engine compartment, you can see the connection point of the cable to the body, the legs, the ventilation holes and the emergency switch button (Reset). The legs are made of plastic, not equipped with anti-slip pads. It feels like the material is treated with a soft touch coating or something similar, because the legs feel rubberized to the touch. In general, the case is securely located on the surface, does not slip when you press the switches or light accidental pressure.

The place where the pitcher is to be placed is equipped with a strong removable pad made of a flexible elastic material similar to rubber. Four 3 cm high protrusions will securely hold the glass in place, and the material will dampen unnecessary vibrations that occur during operation. The jug is installed in any position - the main thing is that the protrusions on the body should fit into the corners of its base. So it will be equally comfortable to use the device for both right-handers and left-handers. No additional steps are required to fix it - that's why we love bar blenders.

The 2 liter jug ​​itself is made of lightweight and durable plastic. This is especially valuable if you cook several servings of a drink in it or one and a half liters of mashed soup - even a fragile girl can lift a jug with the contents. The shape of the jug is complex - cubic at the base upwards, it turns into a cylindrical one. On the inside of the walls there are four protrusions for effective mixing and feeding of the product under the blades of the knives. Volume marks are placed outside: on the one hand in ounces and cups, on the other - in liters and milliliters familiar to us.

The glass is equipped with a spout for easy pouring of the finished drink or dish, as well as a handle. The massive cover is made, it seems, of rubber. It is fixed in the glass simply: since the material is flexible, the lid must be lightly squeezed and inserted until it stops. In the center there is a hole with a diameter of 5.5 cm for adding ingredients during whipping. A plastic cup is inserted into the hole. Usually it is called dimensional, but in this case there are no volume marks on its walls. The liner is easily fixed in immobility and is just as easy to remove.

Knife block is represented by six blades located on two knife plates. The lower one is equipped with two blades oriented at an angle down. They are sharpened in the usual way - the cutting edge is smooth. The four other knives are oriented horizontally and up. Sharpening of the cutting edges they have a sawtooth. The inscription "Japan" is embossed on the front side of one of the blades.

The knife block can be unscrewed, but it is unlikely that it will be possible to do this without brute male power.

The blender kit also includes a pusher, indispensable when preparing thick dishes such as pâté, and a spare pad for the drive shaft of the engine compartment.

A close examination of the Gastrorag B-012AJ blender confirmed our initial opinion - the design and preparation of the device for operation are very simple, the control is not complicated by the presence of programs, and interaction with it can be considered intuitive. We cannot make any comments or claims to the quality of workmanship and assembly of individual parts.

Manual

The Gastrorag B-012AJ Stand Blender comes with instructions printed on one A4 sheet folded in half. There are no diagrams or illustrations in the document - it contains only the basic principles and recommendations for interacting with the device. It is described what it is intended for, how to properly manage it and how to care for it. Moreover, even a troubleshooting section was placed on one page. Information about the continuous operating time was found very quickly.

Everything is clear, simple and to the point - it will hardly take the user more than a couple of minutes to read the passport.

Control

So, the Gastrorag B-012AJ bar blender has three controls:

  • On/Off switch
  • speed control knob, rotating around
  • High/Off pulse switch

Before plugging in the blender, make sure the power switch is in the Off position. Then, after installing the glass and switching the lever to On, the blender starts working at the speed set by the regulator. To achieve the desired speed of operation of the device, rotate the switch between its two extreme positions. When finished, return the knob to the Min position and the power switch to Off. If you need to start the pulse mode, then you should move the right switch to the upper position and hold it there.

The Gastrorag B-012AJ is very easy to operate. The standard switches and knob are clearly labelled, so the process is intuitive and you can operate the blender even without reading the manual.

Operation

Before use, wash the glass, lid and pusher in warm water with detergent, dry them and assemble the device.

The data sheet indicates that the appliance can be used for various purposes:

  • dry cooking means the possibility of grinding dried herbs, coffee beans, nuts and other suitable products
  • wet cooking - chopping fruits and vegetables, making smoothies, smoothies, soups, purees, etc.
  • making drinks with ice/crushing ice

Apparently, we will have to rack our brains, inventing a trickier task for the Gastrorag B-012AJ blender to test its capabilities.

The maximum continuous operation time is limited to 3 minutes. After that, you should make a stop for 1 minute. Well, judging by these requirements, the device can really work almost continuously.

The instructions do not contain requirements for the minimum or maximum volume of processed products. According to our observations, the volume is limited to 200-300 ml and about 1500 ml, respectively.

If you increase the speed of work gradually, then there is no special splashing, but if you quickly transfer the blender to work at maximum speed, then splashes even fall on the lid. In any case, if you tightly fix the lid, all products remain inside the jug.

Again, note that the instrument starts working as soon as the power switch is turned to the On position. Therefore, when completing work, it is important to move the speed control to the extreme left position - to the minimum speed.

During operation, especially at medium and high speeds, the device can move on the surface, so you should not leave it unattended. I am glad that the blender copes with all products, including frozen, hard and fibrous ones, and in a very short time - in 30-45 seconds you can get a perfectly chopped and whipped smoothie.

In summary, the Gastrorag B-012AJ made a good impression. The stationary blender passed all tests with excellent results.

Maintenance

The instructions do not contain any instructions on how to care for the Gastrorag B-012AJ blender. This section does not exist at all - apparently, the manufacturer implies that it is not worth wasting time and taking the user's attention by listing standard and simple actions. Only two recommendations are given in the passport - do not put the engine compartment in water and do not wash the glass with bare hands, as there is a risk of injury.

So, the base should be wiped with a damp clean cloth, and the glass is most conveniently washed in the usual way for blenders: pour warm water into it with a drop of detergent and let it work for a while. Then rinse the jug and lid thoroughly.

Cleaning the blender or its jar was no problem. Even after preparing a viscous and greasy pate, the walls of the jug and the knife block were washed without problems in the manner described above.

Our measurements

A peak power of 1200 watts with the stationary blender Gastrorag B-012AJ was recorded during a test run with one liter of water in pulsed mode. In most tests, the indicator fluctuated between 400 and 900 watts.

Before starting practical tests, we poured 1 liter of cold water into a jug and wrote down what numbers the wattmeter recorded at different speeds (averaged data):

  • minimum speed - 430 W
  • medium speed -790 W
  • maximum speed - 980 W
  • pulse mode - up to 1200 W

The noise level is quite high - this is a common situation for powerful bar blenders.

Practical tests

Finding some non-trivial test for the Gastrorag B-012AJ turned out to be difficult - the device coped effortlessly with both frozen berries and hard carrots. This means that with the preparation of ordinary cocktails or puree soups, the device will not have any difficulties.

Chopping tomatoes

Winter tomatoes do not have particularly hard or thick skins, but others are unfortunately difficult to obtain now. However, there are seeds in tomatoes, so let's pay attention to how well the blender can chop them. The weight of prepared and cut into large pieces of tomatoes was exactly 500 g.

Started operation at low speed. Five seconds later, all the pieces turned into a liquid mass - very quickly, in our opinion. The speed was gradually increased to maximum. After 30 seconds, the process was stopped and the result was evaluated. The tomatoes turned out to be perfectly crushed - the skin and seeds were turned into numerous tiny pieces, indistinguishable in taste in the structure of the drink.

However, we did not stop at the result. Add a couple of cloves of garlic, salt, half a teaspoon of sugar and continue blending for another 30 seconds at high speed.

The photo shows that the result differs slightly, i.e. half a minute is enough to grind half a kilogram of tomatoes. For a minute of operation, the blender consumed 0.018 kWh. The maximum power was seen at 825 watts.

Result: excellent.

Milk Banana Frozen Strawberry Cocktail

This test allows us to evaluate the quality of the blender when grinding frozen ingredients. They placed one banana broken into large pieces, a couple of handfuls of strawberries freshly extracted from the freezer and one and a half glasses of milk in a glass.

Mostly they worked at low and medium speeds, they did not move the regulator to the extreme right position. Power fluctuated around 750 watts. In 30 seconds of work, we managed to get a perfectly whipped cold cocktail without a single piece of frozen strawberries. The drink is homogeneous, dense, with small air bubbles.

Result: excellent.

Apple, orange, carrot and ginger smoothies

The products were selected completely randomly, based on testing purposes only. Carrots and Granny Smith apples are quite tough. Soft and juicy oranges will add the necessary moisture, but they have rather tough fibrous membranes. Ginger was added to this list because we were interested to see how the blender would grind the root fibers.

The peeled apple and half of the carrot were cut very large, the orange was peeled and roughly broken into slices, the ginger was also peeled and cut into small pieces. The weight of the prepared products was 570 g. No additional moisture - water or juice - was added. However, we put the products in a glass in a certain order - first the orange slices, then everything else.

In just five seconds, the products were crushed and turned into a liquid mass. For the remaining 25 seconds, the knives continued to chop and whip the fruit. The speed was increased gradually - the handle was turned all the way to the right at the 10th second of operation. Until the end of the cycle, the speed was not changed.

The drink turned out to be thick, creamy density and filled with small air bubbles - excellent organoleptic qualities. All products are perfectly crushed - to a completely homogeneous structure; during the tasting, we did not meet a single distinguishable piece of carrot or ginger root.

Result: excellent.

Chicken liver pate

A couple of onions and grated carrots were fried in vegetable oil, then coarsely chopped chicken liver was added and stewed until done. Once everything has cooled down, transfer it to a blender. The weight of the products was 770 g - a large enough weight to turn the liver and vegetables into a homogeneous pate.

They worked at low speed with constant use of the pusher - they pressed on the products so that the pieces fell under the knife block. After 40 seconds, the mass became more or less homogeneous, so a couple of tablespoons with a slide of butter were added to it, which had previously lain for several hours at room temperature. Continue mixing. Everyone also actively used the pusher.

Total process took 2 minutes 45 seconds. The blender consumed 0.026 kWh. The mass is evenly mixed, the products are perfectly crushed, individual grains of products are not distinguished in the pate.

After cooling, the pâté became thick, smooth, perfectly spread on bread.

In blenders of this size, it makes no sense to cook small portions of food, since some of the finished product remains on the walls of the glass and under the knife block. There is only one dangerous way to remove them from there - with a finger. Nevertheless, with a spoon we managed to put 830 g of pate out of the jug. The residue was washed off without problems during standard cleaning.

Result: excellent.

Conclusions

The Gastrorag B-012AJ stand blender met all our expectations. As is typical for professional equipment, the device is easy to operate and maintain, easy to use, and shows excellent results. The plastic jug is light, the blades of the six-bladed knife are sharpened so that they perfectly grind ice and fibrous products. Smoothly adjustable speed helps to effectively grind and mix ingredients of any density. The main thing is that most shakes or smoothies can be made in 30 seconds.

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