Vitamix or Blendtec for Raw Food Recipes?
Earlier this year, my 3-year-old Blendtec blender broke (some of the buttons stopped working).
Instead of getting a new one, I decided to opt for its rival, the Vitamix.
I’ve been using my Vitamix pretty much everyday for almost 3 months and I love it.
But the question is, which blender do I love more? The Vitamix or the Blendtec?
The Vitamix, hands down. Here’s why:
The Tamper
Unlike the Blendtec, the Vitamix comes with a tamper. This tool allows you to push the food down into the blades (without actually hitting the blades, of course) while it’s blending.
The tamper was the main reason I decided to purchase a Vitamix this time around. I wanted to be able to make huge batches of raw dressings and other recipes (like Savory Veggie Stews) without having to stop and scrap down the container every few seconds.
Works like a charm!
The Control Panel
Or should I say, the LACK of a control panel!
You see, Blendtec blenders feature an interface of buttons and pre-programmed cycles (e.g. smoothie, whole juice, milkshake, etc.).
I know what you’re thinking…Ooh, a smoothie button! Sounds like it was made for raw food feasters!
Yea, if it actually worked! Every time I tried making a smoothie using the smoothie cycle, the ingredients were never smooth enough. I always had to blend some more to achieve the consistency I like.
With the Vitamix, it’s just two manual switches and a knob to increase or decrease the speed as needed. It’s super simple and easy to use.
Plus, the less bells and whistles, the less that can go wrong.
The Quiet
Yes, the Vitamix is quieter! I didn’t know this until I started the bad boy up. A pleasant surprise, indeed. 
The Problem?
There is one problem with the Vitamix and that’s its size. With the container on the base and the top on the container, it won’t quite fit on my counter like the Blendtec did.
Of course, it fits just fine if I remove the top. So I guess it’s not such a problem afterall. 
Benefits of the Blendtec
The Blendtec’s big selling point is its power and I’ll admit, that’s what sold me on one in the first place. Those “Will it Blend?” videos are awesome!
Now that I’ve used both the Blendtec and the Vitamix, I can honestly say I can’t see a difference between the two power-wise. They’re both very powerful and neither one has any trouble blending up fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, or even ice.
That said, I do think the Vitamix does a better job at blending. I don’t know if it’s the blades, the shape of the container or what, but the Vitamix rarely ever gets stuck (even without using the tamper) like the Blendtec sometimes would.
The other benefit to owning a Blendtec is the pre-programmed blending cycles, which I don’t see as a benefit at all (see above) unless you’re making the recipes specifically from the Blendtec recipe guide.
Must You Own a Vitamix or a Blendtec?
NO!
You can still make delicious and healthy raw food recipes using a less expensive brand. You may have to add ingredients one at a time and stop to scrape down the sides of a the container a few times, but it will get the job done.
Actually, you really don’t need ANY blender at all to eat raw. There are so many delicious raw food recipes, from fruit bowls to salads, that you can make using a knife and cutting board…or even just your hands!
And You?
Which blender do you prefer: the Blendtec, the Vitamix, or maybe some other brand? Let me know in the comments below!
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
P.S. So I’ve convinced you to buy your own Vitamix, eh? Awesome, you definitely won’t regret it!
But I won’t lie to you. Such an awesomely amazing blender will cost you some dough. $449, to be exact.
But hey, if you use my affiliate code below when you check out, standard shipping is free! 
==> www.vitamix.com
Free Shipping Code: 06-006254
20 comments
I bought a Montel Williams HealthMaster emulsifier. Powerful motor, tamper, easy to use controls, easy to clean, less $ than VitaMix.
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The lack of buttons is the reason I bought the Vitamix. Vitamix wins hands down and is just as powerful as the blendtec.
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m from Encinitas, CA Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 3:30 PM
So glad you touched on this!! I was wondering your prospective in Vitamix over a Juicer?? I had heard that the nutrients are better preserved with a juicer. Second guessing my purchase, I got over it and decided owning ‘something’ was better than not at all. I too own a Vitamix. It was a gateway purchase {Cha-ching} to going RAW not just for me but my family too. I put ‘crazy’ foods in there for my three young kids and I tell them what they are drinking…no secrets! This machine has changed my life and my families life. You are doing an amazing job Swayze!!
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Swayze Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Definitely the blender over the juicer. You can do so much more with it recipe-wise. Plus, blending is healthier than juicing anyway.
Here’s an article I wrote on juicing:
http://www.fitonraw.com/?p=3052
Swayze
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Well I can only say I agree, please see my recent post about this:
http://mostlyraw.eu/2011/07/04/getting-a-new-blender-vitamix-or-blendtec/
Tamper and low and high speed blending for the win! Sadly the price is even higher in Europa…
This week I also bought a better foodprocessor, Magimix 3200 XL, because a lot of raw food recipes need a foodprocessor instead of blender.
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Blendtec is made in the USA and Vitamix is made in China. This is a important factor.
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Swayze Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 8:43 AM
Not true: http://www.vitamix.com/household/infocenter/american_made.asp
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I remember a few years ago watching a show on TV called Home Improvement Staring the comedian/actor Tim Allen whom was know for his over-the-top tools and gadgets. On this particular episode he was going to make either a milkshake or a smoothie and hopefully it was a smoothie because Id like to think he was being healthy but it may have been a milkshake as not to many people are healthy on TV, anyway to do so he pulled out this huge gas powered blender that took two people just to set on the counter and of course it made a complete mess out of his kitchen when it sprayed ice and milk or (hopefully) fruit and blew gas fumes all over the place. Needless to say more power does always lead to better results (if you are to base this assertion on a single comic TV show). My personal experience with blending centers around an old white (with green smoothie tint) Oster blender which has been used continuously since the 1980’s to make any thing from sweet potato baby mush to pasta sauce to more currently green smoothies and of course an occasional banana foster smoothie (I love those dates and bananas – yum yum) It has a full compliment of push button speeds including the ever popular “Frappe” setting. Can the Vitamix or Blendtec “Frappe”? I don’t think so! Also mine has this really neat worn out bearing sound that it makes. You know the kind that sends cats running from the room and makes small children cry. Using it is kind of like playing a game of smoothie Russian roulette. Is this the day that the blades will finally shoot out of the pitcher? Each time I press the button I brace for the possibility that it may be my last time seeing a blended strawberry. Please don’t cry for me, I know the risks involved. I keep hoping that I will someday soon win the local lottery so that I too can live a lifestyle that only exists in my dreams. I spend many sleepless nights hoping that some day I can become like my hero Swayze Foster and possess my very own Vitamix. As things go I would probably even settle for her broken blendtec. But I will trudge on and squint a little as I press that Frappe button only hoping that it is not the last time I get to see those blended vegetables and fruit gracing my repurposed McDonalds Mayor McCheese commemorative anniversary glass. Savor these words as this may be that last time you see this kind of written disruption to an otherwise serious raw food blog. We can only hope!
Bill K
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Swayze Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 8:31 AM
Ah, Home Improvement. Pam Anderson was so cute back then.
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Hands down, the VitaMix. I have had both and the VitaMix is the winner by a mile. I love it.
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I absolutely LOVE my Vita-Mix!! My 1st one is now in my camper, along with a small generator so I can make my green smoothies camping!
That Vita-Mix is over 20 years old and still working. I just got a new one and it is so amazing! We use it everyday at least once and many times 2-3 times a day. Our favs are green smoothies, then homemade ice-creams with just frozen fruit and almond milk. Yumm! My girls own the Montel William’s one and it is nice, but I prefer my Vita-Mix. 
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Norma Reply:
February 14th, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Hi, I have a Montel blender and after year I killed it.
I want something better
I can’t blender dates with my bananas. I end up chewing them yuck. I’m gettn a vita mix . The Montel doesn’t hold up to long term use. Mine sounds like a rocket gettn ready to take off.
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Swayze Reply:
February 14th, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Sounds bad. Althought I won’t lie to you, the vitamix is pretty loud. Totally worth it though.
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I had a vitamix years ago, the one with the metal contianer, but I don’t know what happen to it. Now I just use a 500 watt osterizer blender with one button , either on or pulse. and it seems to work fine. I’ve had it for over 5 years and its still going strong.
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I love my VitaMix. If I could marry an appliance I would drive out to Vegas straight away because this sweet, sweet piece of equiptment can pulverize greens into smoothie goodness. After “chewing” my green smoothies using other blenders I finally broke down and invested in a VitaMix and I’ve used it every day since!
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I plan to buy a Vitamix with my Christmas bonus this year. Sadly the price here is about $1000US. But it should be worth it…
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I had to add my experience. I have had my vitamix for several years now (and LOVE it). Of course I watched the “will it blend” videos and wondered about the blendtec. My husband and I were at costco when they were demonstrating the blendtec…I was captivated by the pretty blue lights and all the neat buttons. We bought it knowing that we could sell my beloved vitamix (I have the super 5200) for about the same price as this one cost.
I held off selling my vitamix so I could do a side by side comparison of both blenders. The more I used the blendtec, the more I really did not like all those fancy buttons that drew me in. I would pretty much ALWAYS have to blend stuff longer. I guess I am a bit of a control freak, because I like to control the speed of the vitamix. I can blend for as long as I need. Having to blend something 2 times (3 times actually if you blend to clean) is also depleting your warranty faster ( blendtec warranty goes either by time frame, or cycles).
The final straw for me with the blendtec, was my attempt at powdered sugar (just started dabbling into raw recently, and this comparison was about 1 year ago). I put my sugar in, put the “newly designed” lid on, and pushed a button…sugar came FLYING out of the lid, and dusted my ENTIRE kitchen!! I had used my dry container on my vitamix before, and NEVER a problem. Not a good idea to make powder in a container with a “vented” lid.
I am SO glad Costco has an amazing return policy, the blendtec went back after 2 weeks of side by side usage.
I am a regular person who does not have any affiliation to, nor do I sell either blender. I am just a person who had the opportunity to use both blenders at o e time and really was able to compare the performance. I have made hummus, dressings, soup, smoothies (of course green too), and many other items. I found the vitamix to be superior. I hope this helps someone. And, if you do purchase a high price item like this, get it from a place with an amazing return policy.
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Swayze Reply:
August 27th, 2011 at 8:11 AM
Great review, Nickie, thanks! I agree, I had to blend stuff way longer with the Blendtec. I’ve been eating delicious green smoothies for lunch recently and it’s so great to actually be able to put all the ingredients in at once—including 5-6 oz. of greens—and the Vitamix blends it all up no problem.
Swayze
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I know people who swear by their blendtec machines, but i love my Vitamix. Yeah, I get all wide-eyed when I see the commercials or the demos for the blendtec, but in the end I love the control my Vitamix gives me. It’s easy to use. Even my 5 year old uses it! (with supervision of course). Their customer service is great too! Mine is about 7 years old and working like a charm. Never realized how powerful it was till I helped with a food demo at a grocery store and used the regular blender they had on hand. I tossed strawberries (with tops) into the blender and ended up with little green things in the smoothie. Not good when you are trying to convince people how DELICIOUS good, whole foods are. Had to blend the life out of it to get desired consistency.Whooo hoooo for Vitamix!
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My $15 Hamilton Beach single serve blender has worked for me for a long time. I had to replace it one time after using it for a year. If I only pay $15 a year for a blender, I’ll be happy!
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Leave a comment, beautiful.