Jump to content
  • Welcome to the eG Forums, a service of the eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters. The Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the culinary arts. These advertising-free forums are provided free of charge through donations from Society members. Anyone may read the forums, but to post you must create a free account.

The high-power blender topic


Fat Guy

Recommended Posts

One of my colleagues reported that her beloved VitaMix died with smoke pouring out of the motor unit.  The blender was out of warranty.  She plans to contact the company to see if they will do anything for her.  I hope to convince her to come over to the side of Blendtec.

 

 

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

One of my colleagues reported that her beloved VitaMix died with smoke pouring out of the motor unit.  The blender was out of warranty.  She plans to contact the company to see if they will do anything for her.  I hope to convince her to come over to the side of Blendtec.

 

 

I love my blendtec.

Though I did see a good deal on vitamix at Costco a day ago. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Before ditching vitamix for blendtec, check out these teardown videos with my favorite potty-mouthed Canadian machinist:

 

Blendtec vs. Vitamix

 

My money's on the Vitamix motor.

 

Edited to add: he shows where there's a fuse in the VM motor ... it's possible that's all that needs to be fixed in the blender that went up in smoke.

Edited by paulraphael (log)
  • Like 2

Notes from the underbelly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

A follow-up:

 

https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2374496

 

I wonder how the two ladies managed without their new Vitamix blender - did they have an old one?

 

What kitchen appliance would sub in for a blender? I've used a food processor when making hummus but the results are not as smooth/creamy.

 

Vitamix's response was unexpected and certainly reaped plenty of PR coups for them

 

p

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, palo said:

A follow-up:

 

https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2374496

 

I wonder how the two ladies managed without their new Vitamix blender - did they have an old one?

 

What kitchen appliance would sub in for a blender? I've used a food processor when making hummus but the results are not as smooth/creamy.

 

Vitamix's response was unexpected and certainly reaped plenty of PR coups for them

 

p

 

I hope NATO generals in Eastern Europe are studying this. Any strategy that won a détente with those 3 cats should certainly work with Putin. 

  • Haha 2

Notes from the underbelly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Using my Vita Mix yesterday made me wish again that we had done some research before Mr. Kim (very sweetly) sprung for the big bucks for it.  I just don't like a blender with a base that doesn't detach.  Unless I'm making something very thin that pours out easily, I end up with a base full of unreachable food.  Mr. Kim got me the blade scraper for Xmas and it really doesn't help.  I got rid of an old one my mother had from the 1970s when I got the Vita Mix and I've regretted it ever since.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Kim Shook said:

Using my Vita Mix yesterday made me wish again that we had done some research before Mr. Kim (very sweetly) sprung for the big bucks for it.  I just don't like a blender with a base that doesn't detach.  Unless I'm making something very thin that pours out easily, I end up with a base full of unreachable food.  Mr. Kim got me the blade scraper for Xmas and it really doesn't help.  I got rid of an old one my mother had from the 1970s when I got the Vita Mix and I've regretted it ever since.  

 

Could you explain what you mean by "a base that doesn't detach"?

 

  • Like 1

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

Could you explain what you mean by "a base that doesn't detach"?

 

Some blender containers have a screw off bottom.  There is a blade mechanism and a rubber gasket between the container and the bottom to stop leaks.  Like this.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Kim Shook said:

Some blender containers have a screw off bottom.  There is a blade mechanism and a rubber gasket between the container and the bottom to stop leaks.  Like this.

 

My DIL has a Vitamix and I've gotten to play with it a bit. I rather envy her the appliance, but like you I find the jar very inconvenient to clean. I  would like it much better if it had a screw-off base like my (admittedly not high-powered) Oster blender. Fortunately for me, it's not my problem...it's hers!

  • Like 1

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
HosteG Forumsnsmith@egstaff.org

Follow us on social media! Facebook; instagram.com/egulletx; twitter.com/egullet

"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Smithy said:

 

My DIL has a Vitamix and I've gotten to play with it a bit. I rather envy her the appliance, but like you I find the jar very inconvenient to clean. I  would like it much better if it had a screw-off base like my (admittedly not high-powered) Oster blender. Fortunately for me, it's not my problem...it's hers!

 

I have a Blendtec which like the Vitamix does not have a screw-off base.  I never knew a screw-off base was a thing until today.  But the jars are so easy to clean I don't see it as a problem.  Typically I pulse the jar with water and a few drops of detergent.  Else I just run it through the dishwasher.

 

  • Like 2

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They tell you not to put the jars in the dishwasher. There's a bearing cartridge in there that's sealed against smoothies but not dishwasher detergent.

 

I find them effortless to clean just by blending some warm soap water. Fill it about 3/4, put in a drop of dish soap, and pulse it to high speed 2 or 3 times. Rinse. Spray with sanitizer if you like. 

 

For getting every drop of food out of the bottom, ISI makes a narrow silicone spatula that's perfect for this. It's designed for getting everything out of their whipping siphons, but works perfectly on a vitamix. Also perfect for most mason jars. Last I checked these were out of stock everywhere ... I hope they're still making them.

Notes from the underbelly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

43 minutes ago, Dave the Cook said:

 

Same here.

 

Blendtec also makes a smaller, easier-to-clean jar called the Twister (eG-friendly Amazon.com link)

 

 

 

I find I use the twister more than the big jars.  However just now I used one of the big jars.

 

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 minutes ago, paulraphael said:

They tell you not to put the jars in the dishwasher. There's a bearing cartridge in there that's sealed against smoothies but not dishwasher detergent.

 

I find them effortless to clean just by blending some warm soap water. Fill it about 3/4, put in a drop of dish soap, and pulse it to high speed 2 or 3 times. Rinse. Spray with sanitizer if you like. 

 

For getting every drop of food out of the bottom, ISI makes a narrow silicone spatula that's perfect for this. It's designed for getting everything out of their whipping siphons, but works perfectly on a vitamix. Also perfect for most mason jars. Last I checked these were out of stock everywhere ... I hope they're still making them.

 

Funny you should mention the iSi...

https://forums.egullet.org/topic/146534-i-will-never-again-part-4/?do=findComment&comment=2330481

 

Blendtec says their jars are dishwasher safe.  To be NSF they pretty much have to be.  There is even a provision for water to drain from the bottom, which I think is a lovely engineering touch.

 

 

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure what is so thick you cannot get out of the jar. Broken record here but any humus, nut butters, salsa, yada-yada---anything thick I just add a bit of AC Braggs or 'organic no sugar added' rice wine vinegar....a bit of toasted sesame oil if fits the ingredients...zip it and you have a dressing or a dipping sauce for dumplings. No need to dig the crap out. Most blender ingredients can be used in any dressing. 

 

Do tell what was in the jar. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, paulraphael said:

For getting every drop of food out of the bottom, ISI makes a narrow silicone spatula that's perfect for this. It's designed for getting everything out of their whipping siphons, but works perfectly on a vitamix. Also perfect for most mason jars. Last I checked these were out of stock everywhere ... I hope they're still making them.

Those iSi spatulas and their equally fabulous silicone bench/bowl scrapers have been MIA everywhere for a couple of years now. Very sad. 
Blendtec sells 2 overpriced spatulas that work quite well. The Spectacula came with my Twister jars but works on the others as well. The Spoonula is supposedly designed for the Wild Side and Four Side jars. 
 

3 hours ago, Annie_H said:

zip it and you have a dressing or a dipping sauce for dumplings. No need to dig the crap out.

Sounds very thrifty! I don’t want any more mystery condiments in my fridge but I’m also thrifty so I DO want to get everything out. Especially since it can be done so easily.

Edited by blue_dolphin (log)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

I have a Blendtec which like the Vitamix does not have a screw-off base.  I never knew a screw-off base was a thing until today.  But the jars are so easy to clean I don't see it as a problem.  Typically I pulse the jar with water and a few drops of detergent.  Else I just run it through the dishwasher.

 

Cleaning is not my issue.  It cleans completely in seconds.  My problem is getting thicker stuff out of the bottom - I made hummus once and lost a good 1/4 cup of it because I couldn't scrape it out.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, Kim Shook said:

Cleaning is not my issue.  It cleans completely in seconds.  My problem is getting thicker stuff out of the bottom - I made hummus once and lost a good 1/4 cup of it because I couldn't scrape it out.  

 

Sorry, I misunderstood.  However I've had no difficulty removing contents using the iSi spatula mentioned by @paulraphael

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...
On 2/6/2022 at 11:47 PM, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

I find I use the twister more than the big jars.  However just now I used one of the big jars.

 

 

I've generally been happy with my Sage/Breville Super Q. It works great for soups, big batches of vegetable/fruit purées and jobs like that, but I really miss a small jar like the Twister to process smaller batches of herb oils, nut butters/pastes, etc.

 

Unless Sage/Breville comes out with something like this soon, I guess my sister and brother in law will get another used kitchen appliance as a Christmas gift 😋

 

 

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, sverreef said:

 

I've generally been happy with my Sage/Breville Super Q. It works great for soups, big batches of vegetable/fruit purées and jobs like that, but I really miss a small jar like the Twister to process smaller batches of herb oils, nut butters/pastes, etc.

 

Unless Sage/Breville comes out with something like this soon, I guess my sister and brother in law will get another used kitchen appliance as a Christmas gift 😋

 

 

 

There is now an even smaller Twister jar.

 

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

38 minutes ago, blue_dolphin said:

 

Could you share a link to the smaller Twister jar?  

I have these two, both purchased in 2014

9695235F-9F0B-4AE7-8C74-B25314E3694C_1_201_a.thumb.jpeg.0a99853a0b01cfd0db06ac5464dc7c87.jpeg

 

The mini seems to have been discontinued.  Blendtech no longer lists it and a site that does lists it as sold out.

 

  • Thanks 1

Cooking is cool.  And kitchen gear is even cooler.  -- Chad Ward

Whatever you crave, there's a dumpling for you. -- Hsiao-Ching Chou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...