Vita-Mix 5200 Blender Review – Should You Buy One?

Blenders are nothing new in my kitchen, so I didn’t really think the new Vita-Mix 5200 blender which found a place on my counter top just before Christmas made much of a difference.

What I didn’t realize is that the Vita-Mix 5200 is not just a versatile and efficient machine with multiple uses and functions, it’s also so easy-to-use that the kids have happily taken over some of the cooking preparations as they discovered the many functions of the family’s new blender.

That’s a plus for me – especially the part where the Vita-Mix 5200 has so streamlined the food preparation process so that the kitchen work tables are now less messy than they were before and there’s less to clean up afterwards.

My new Vita-Mix 5200 was actually a pre-Christmas gift that eventually yielded more holidays treats.

My husband, who’s never been good at planning surprises or keeping secrets, couldn’t wait to try out what should have been his Christmas present for me and, which should have stayed, wrapped up and sitting under the tree until December 25th.

He’d seen an actual demonstration of the versatility of the Vita-Mix 5200 blender at Costco, he said, and was thoroughly convinced by the sales agent. But he wanted me to affirm his choice by actually putting his latest kitchen gadget acquisition to work – and that meant not waiting until Christmas to hand me the package.

Like I said, I’ve always had a blender of one sort or the other in the kitchen or dining room – what mother with eating and growing kids doesn’t. And while I do appreciate their usefulness in terms of improved time and convenience in food preparation, I’ve never really given a second thought to examining the features or comparing the performance of the blenders that have passed through my kitchen. They would just come and go – some doing more work than others, others lasting longer before some feature was impaired or the machine gave out and had to be replaced.

A Look that Means Business

Right from the get-go, the Vita-Mix 5200 seemed different. For one thing, it doesn’t have the look of a fancy new gadget – you know the kind that seems to have been made to look cute on the kitchen counter top.

For some people, that might seem important, that a kitchen tool or appliance is style-themed or color-coordinated with the rest of the kitchen. Well, the Vita-Mix 5200 isn’t like that. It will certainly find its place nicely in any kitchen, as it did in mine, but not in any attention-grabbing way. It may eventually get to be the conversation piece over a meal of dishes prepared by this blender, but not because it’s simply sitting pretty on the counter.

The Vita-Mix 5200 is a machine that’s designed to look like it means business – which to me translates to perform as advertised and getting the job done, as promised. It’s sleek to be sure, and does seem to like it’s going to be around for the long haul. I would say it looks like it’s been designed or engineered to last – which got me reaching for the manual to see if this actually checks out based on its described features.

This is What the Vita-Mix 5200 Gives You in Terms of Design Features:

• A 64 oz. New Eastman Tritan™ container made of copolyester that is as durable as polycarbonate and chemical resistant.
• An ergonomic soft-grip handle.
• A custom-designed Swedish-built 2 peak (1,380 watt) HP motor which operates substantially cooler for improved performance and greater energy savings.
• A stainless steel hammermill and cutting “wet” blades.
• A vented spill-proof lid with a detachable or removable lid plug that makes it possible to safely add ingredients even while the blender is running.
• A patented tamper which facilitates the processing of harder or tougher foods and materials as nuts, ice cubes or frozen treats.
• Variable-setting speed control that provides consistent power for various types of load, with a speed range from 11 mph to 240 mph.

A Stand-alone Machine

That pretty much describes what the Vita-Mix 5200 is made of and how it’s designed. But if, as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, for me, the proof of a blender is in what it does or how it deals with the substances that are put in it for processing.

Admittedly, one thing that I found hard to believe, if not amazing, at first was that the Vita-Mix 5200 blender was supposed to be a stand-alone machine.

Practically, all the blenders I’ve had in my kitchen, until now, came with myriad components or attachments. There was the standard pitcher that would hold contents for blending fruit drinks or smoothies. And then there was a bowl that you would have to use if you wanted to process certain foods in a certain way, like getting them chopped or mashed. And they also gave you a grinding cup for nuts or coffee beans. I’ve even had one, which came with a very large contraption with a tub and a spout for juice extraction, which was truly difficult to handle and clean up after.

What came out of the Vita-Mix 5200 box, however, were just the blender base and the tall glass pitcher and lid with removable plug – a feature that’s also offered by other blenders. And then a new feature or instrument that I didn’t find in other blenders – what’s known as a “tamper,” a rod which you can use to gently push larger objects directly into the spinning blade at the bottom of the pitcher.

It wasn’t hard to figure out why this is needed and should really be part of a blending or food-processing cycle. Anyone who’s handled a blender has surely, at some point, had to stop the machine in mid-operation, lift the lid and stir up the contents with a ladle or spoon to make sure the large particles are not trapped at the top or clog up the blades.

That’s always been a source of minor distraction at the least (irritation at worst) for me, and I was pleasantly surprised at how simple was the solution provided by the Vita-Mix 5200.

All in One Kitchen Appliance

A real bonus that also came with my Vita-Mix 5200 blender was the free recipe book that offered more than 300 recipes.

Ever the cynic, which is sometimes an excuse for my culinary disabilities, I thumbed through the book but doubted the Vita-Mix 5200 could actually help me come up with those obviously delicious and appetizing, not to mention healthy, concoctions. However, I was challenged to try it – or rather, challenged the Vita-Mix 5200 to perform, as promised.

Well, I’m happy to report these successful results so far:

• Fresh fruit and vegetable juices blended smooth enough to drink easily, while retaining all the nutritious fiber that juice extractors otherwise discard.
• Low-fat tasty ice-cream from fresh fruits
• Peanut butter in various grades – chunky to smooth and creamy
• Marmalade direct from fruit to serving dish
• Churned butter and creamed cheese
• Homemade hot soup (pumpkin, potato and tomato so far)
• Rich coleslaw and salsa
• Yummy coffee frappes
• Various egg preparations, potato preparations, meat loafs
• Shredded hams or meats for salads
• Coffee freshly ground from whole beans, for a fresh brew as needed.

I know it’s nothing gourmet yet, but hey, I’ve just had the Vita-Mix 5200 for a few days. But I may just be getting there. I’ve used this blender in almost every day since I lifted it out of the box that even now I can say it’s an all-in-one kitchen appliance – without the complicated parts or attachments.

But the even better deal is that the kids – all three of them – have similarly discovered how amazing and easy-to-handle the Vita-Mix 5200 is that they not only help out in the food preparations, they’ve even started to make their own juices from fresh fruit from the fridge. Now that is certainly a healthier alternative to sodas. I know it’ll only be a matter of time when I get them to appreciate vegetable juices as well.

The Pros of Using Vitamix 5200

The strong point or asset of the Vita-Mix is definitely its ultra powerful motor (roughly 2 peak horsepower); it pulverizes and processes foodstuff swiftly and effortlessly. The speed variation aids in adjusting the power, which is specifically useful whenever you are simply starting to mix the concoction or whenever you are dealing with thicker mixtures. Exactly like what you’ve seen on the TV ads, whenever you process a mixture using high-speed for too long, it “cooks.” And did you know that this 2HP monster can pulverize mesquite into powdery flour and can create enough friction to heat up the soup.

The container is much bigger as compared to numerous brands available in the market, rendering it effortless to process large amounts of blends, just like soups, without the need to work in batches. Additionally, the rotor blades are affixed to the vita mixer base and therefore, there won’t be any parts to disassemble. Indeed, cleaning up isn’t difficult; just simply fill up the mixer using soap and water and run it for a couple of minutes before rinsing it out.

The Cons

Mixture with heavier or thicker blends can produce an air bubble while processing them, and making use of the enclosed tamper normally takes getting accustomed to. Still, one of company’s own tasty recipes like the pumpkin soup, seemed to be way too dense to process without making use of the tamper.

The vertical measurement or height of the Vita-Mix’s blender container implies that the blender may not accommodate over a countertop underneath a cabinet, which might cause an issue if you have a smaller-sized kitchen area.

A Lasting Presence in my Kitchen

The Vita-Mix 5200 blender may be more expensive than the more common brands of blenders in the market today. But I expect it will be worth the cost in the long run because the manufacturers seem confident enough to back their product with a full 7-year warranty. Honestly, this must be the appliance I’ve had that came with such a long warranty period.

This on top of what I know is a good deal and a wise investment because of the Vita-Mix 5200’s versatility. With one single machine, I’ve been able to replace many of the other small appliances I used to depend on for every little task or function in the kitchen – from chopping, grinding, mincing, pureeing, mixing and blending.

That’s less work preparing a meal or a snack – and less work after. By this I mean the clean-up stage – the least appealing and enjoyable part of any food preparation process.

After difficult experiences cleaning up blenders with food particles stuck up on the blades, the easy cleaning Vita-Mix 5200 was heaven-sent. All I had to do was pour water and liquid dishwashing detergent into the blender, set the machine in motion for a few seconds, pour out the detergent and rinse the blender. The Vita-Mix 5200 has what seems to a self-cleaning function that is truly inspired. Now I don’t even worry when any of the kids want to whip up her own smoothie or frappe – there won’t be much of a mess to clean up after anyway.

I’ve just started a new relationship with the Vita-Mix 5200 blender, but I know this is going to be a lasting one. There’s so much to learn and go – and gain in terms of savings, nutrition and good health right in my own home.

Conclusion : Should You Buy One?

The standard Vita-Mix 5200 is going to cost you approximately $449, however, be informed that this package solely comes with the basic mixing container. If you plan to grinding grains or nuts for flour, it is advisable to purchase the Vita-Mix Super 5200, which usually provides a separate vita mixer jar intended for dry mixing of rice, grains and beans into fine powdery flour. The Deluxe package, at the same time, consists of the dry blending jar, 64-ounce wet mixing jar, plus a 32-ounce wet mixing container designed for small portions along with a few accessories such as spatulas, cutting boards and an additional cookbook.

If you’ve got the funds to invest on it, the Vita-Mix 5200 is an excellent purchase and is particularly impressive not to mention durable enough that it will probably be the last food processor or blender you acquire.