The Vitamix Immersion Blender delivers exceptional power and versatility, excelling at puréeing soups, blending tough ingredients like chickpeas, and crushing ice. Serious Eats praised its ease of use and cleaning, noting it's a cinch to incorporate into daily cooking routines. Reviewers highlighted its five-speed control and comfortable grip, though some noted it may be more powerful than necessary for basic tasks. The blender's robust performance makes it ideal for serious home cooks and those seeking a high-end immersion blending solution, though the premium price may not suit budget-conscious users.
Full review
Powerful performance in testing
Serious Eats reviewer Jesse Raub found the Vitamix Immersion Blender to be exceptionally powerful during testing, with the device easily puréeing celery soup to the point where less than three grams of solids remained after straining 300 grams of soup. The blender achieved this result on its highest setting, demonstrating its capability to tackle fibrous ingredients with ease. In the chickpea test, it blended a 15-ounce can of chickpeas with water and food dye into a uniformly blue paste in just 14 seconds, tying for the fastest time in their testing. The same reviewer noted that it could blitz whole garlic cloves into dressing and sauce in mere seconds, and easily transform chunky soups into smooth ones. These results were consistent with the performance expectations for a Vitamix product, given the brand's reputation for high-powered blending.
The Kitchn's Lisa Freedman also confirmed the blender's strength, stating that it could blend up a pot of silky-smooth soups in less than 40 seconds. She noted that the machine's 625-watt motor and four-pronged blade setup contributed to its impressive performance. Freedman highlighted that it could handle very frozen fruit and fibrous spinach in smoothies without difficulty, which she found particularly useful for her daily kitchen routine. The blender's ability to make quick work of tough ingredients was a standout feature, with Freedman noting that she had yet to find a job too tough for it after two years of regular use. The device's performance was such that she found herself reaching for it more often than her Vitamix Ascent Blender, despite the latter being a high-end countertop model.
However, the power of the Vitamix Immersion Blender also presented some challenges. Serious Eats noted that when blending celery soup in batches, the device created such a deep vortex that the soup would get sucked under the level of the blade guard, sometimes spitting and sputtering out of the top of a deli quart container. This issue occurred when working with smaller batches, suggesting that the blender's power was better suited to larger quantities. Additionally, the reviewer found that the device initially struggled with crushing ice, instead shaving it into dense snow that blocked the blades. These issues were not necessarily drawbacks but rather characteristics that required adjustment in usage approach.
Speed settings and usability
Both Serious Eats and The Kitchn reviewers emphasized the importance of the Vitamix Immersion Blender's five-speed settings, which provided flexibility in handling different ingredients. Serious Eats noted that variable speeds helped balance the device's power, allowing users to find the right power level for different foods. The blender's five settings were adjusted by pushing a button, with a light-up counter on top showing the current speed level. This feature made it easy for users to operate the device without having to guess or adjust manually. The button controls were described as smooth and easy to use, with no jerking or sudden movements that could occur with other immersion blenders.
The Spruce Eats reviewer Donna Currie also appreciated the simplicity of the controls, noting that there were just two buttons on the front of the blender, making it easy to operate with one hand. Holding the top button turned the blender on, while the bottom button controlled the speeds. The lights on top illuminated to show what speed was chosen, which added to the user-friendly experience. Currie also mentioned that when the blender was set aside for a short while, the speed defaulted back to the lowest setting, which made sense and prevented unexpected starts at full power. This default setting was seen as a safety feature that prevented accidents and ensured consistent operation.
Lisa Freedman from The Kitchn highlighted that the five-speed settings allowed her to adjust the power according to the task at hand. She found that the lowest speed was gentle enough to start, while the highest speed was more than normally needed. The device's ability to adjust speed settings made it versatile for different ingredients and tasks, from delicate sauces to robust soups. The ease of switching between speeds was noted as a significant advantage, especially when working with ingredients that required different blending intensities. The overall usability was praised as being straightforward, with no complex mechanisms or confusing interfaces.
Design and build quality
The Vitamix Immersion Blender's design was noted for its classic appearance, with most of the blender being either brushed stainless steel or matte black, but with shiny black buttons and a bright finish band around the blender with the Vitamix name. This design was described as being suitable for both high-end and casual kitchens, offering a professional look without being overly ostentatious. The blender separated into two pieces with a simple twist and reassembled just as easily, which was seen as a positive feature for storage and cleaning. The hard plastic shroud that protected the blade was particularly appreciated for making the blender safe for nonstick cookware, which addressed a common concern with immersion blenders that could potentially damage nonstick surfaces.
Serious Eats reviewer Jesse Raub noted that the device was comfortable to hold, with a soft, comfy grip on the top. The weight of the blender was initially concerning, but upon comparison with other immersion blenders, it was found to be only slightly heavier, probably just a matter of ounces. The bell guard was tipped with a sturdy piece of plastic, which was noted as being more robust than the stainless steel tip of her old immersion blender. This design element was seen as a positive safety feature, especially when using the device in pots and pans where the blade might come into contact with the bottom of the container.
The Spruce Eats reviewer Donna Currie also appreciated the design elements, particularly the hard plastic shroud that protected the blade and made the blender safe for nonstick cookware. She noted that while she tried not to scrape a hand blender across the bottom of her cookware, it was good to know that this one wouldn't cause any damage if it suctioned itself to the bottom of a saucepot and she dragged it a bit. The lack of a blending jar was mentioned as a potential drawback, but Currie noted that since it fit perfectly into wide-mouth canning jars, pots, pans, and bowls, she didn't mind not having an extra piece to store. The blender's ability to work directly in containers was seen as a significant advantage.
Cleaning and maintenance
Serious Eats reviewer Jesse Raub found the Vitamix Immersion Blender to be easy to clean, with the device being a cinch to clean after use. The reviewer noted that it was simple to set up, comfortable to hold, and easy to clean, which were all important factors for daily kitchen use. The device's design allowed for straightforward cleaning, with no complex parts or mechanisms that would complicate the process. The ease of cleaning was particularly appreciated in a kitchen setting where frequent use would be expected.
The Kitchn's Lisa Freedman also praised the blender's cleaning process, noting that it was impressively quiet even when blending frozen fruit for smoothies. She mentioned that she had been regularly using the Vitamix Immersion Blender for smoothies, soups, sauces, and even pancake batter, and that it had become a daily kitchen staple. The device's quiet operation was seen as a significant advantage, especially in households with pets or in apartments where noise levels are a concern. Freedman also noted that the blender's versatility meant it could be used for multiple tasks, from making smoothies with very frozen fruit to blending fibrous spinach, without any issues.
The Spruce Eats reviewer Donna Currie also emphasized the ease of cleaning, noting that the blender could be thoroughly hand-washed after each test. She appreciated that the device's design made it simple to clean each component, including the blades and bottom. The lack of a blending jar was mentioned as a potential drawback, but Currie noted that since it fit perfectly into wide-mouth canning jars, pots, pans, and bowls, she didn't mind not having an extra piece to store. The blender's ability to work directly in containers was seen as a significant advantage for cleaning.
Price and value proposition
The Vitamix Immersion Blender was priced at $170 according to The Spruce Eats review, which positioned it in the higher end of the immersion blender market. This price point was justified by the device's powerful motor, five-speed settings, and overall build quality. The reviewer noted that while it was expensive, the blender's long-running time, safety features for nonstick cookware, and one-handed button controls made it a worthwhile investment for those who regularly use immersion blenders. The lack of a blending jar was mentioned as a potential drawback, but the reviewer noted that since it fit perfectly into wide-mouth canning jars, pots, pans, and bowls, she didn't mind not having an extra piece to store.
Serious Eats reviewer Jesse Raub noted that the device was powerful, versatile, and really easy to use, with five speeds and a comfortable grip. The reviewer found that it was also a cinch to clean, which added to its value proposition. The blender's ability to handle tough ingredients like chickpeas, fibrous vegetables, and ice was seen as a significant advantage. The reviewer also noted that the device's power was such that it could handle larger batches without difficulty, which was important for those who frequently make soups or smoothies.
The Kitchn's Lisa Freedman also emphasized the value of the Vitamix Immersion Blender, stating that it was the most powerful and quiet immersion blender she had ever tested. She noted that it had won the top spot in their Best List testing and had earned a spot in their 2022 list of Kitchn Essentials. The device's versatility was highlighted as a key selling point, with Freedman noting that it could be used for smoothies, soups, sauces, and even pancake batter. The fact that it was quieter than other immersion blenders was also seen as a significant advantage, especially for households with pets or in apartments where noise levels are a concern.
Limitations and drawbacks
Despite its many strengths, the Vitamix Immersion Blender did present some limitations that reviewers noted. Serious Eats reviewer Jesse Raub found that the device's power was sometimes too much for smaller servings, particularly when making salad dressings or mayonnaise, which are typically made in smaller quantities. The blender's tendency to create a deep vortex when blending celery soup in batches was also noted as a potential issue, as it could cause the soup to get sucked under the blade guard and potentially cause spitting or sputtering. This issue was more pronounced with smaller batches and required adjustment in usage approach.
The Spruce Eats reviewer Donna Currie noted that while the blender was powerful and versatile, it was expensive and did not include a blending jar, which was often included with other hand blenders. However, she noted that since it fit perfectly into wide-mouth canning jars, pots, pans, and bowls, she didn't mind not having an extra piece to store. The lack of a blending jar was seen as a minor drawback, but it did require users to have compatible containers available for use with the device.
Lisa Freedman from The Kitchn also noted that while the blender was highly versatile, it was not a replacement for a full-size blender or food processor. She noted that it was a great tool for soups, salad dressing, and smoothies, but it might not be able to fully replace larger appliances for certain tasks. The device's size and power were seen as advantages, but they also meant that it was not suitable for all kitchen tasks, particularly those requiring very precise control or large batch processing.
Strengths
- +Powerful performance capable of puréeing soups, blending chickpeas, and crushing ice with ease
- +Five-speed control offers versatility for different blending tasks
- +Comfortable to hold and user-friendly design for daily cooking tasks
Watch-outs
- −May be overkill for basic blending tasks where a simpler model would suffice
- −The power can cause splashing and issues with ice texture
How it compares
The Vitamix Immersion Blender delivers more power than the Braun MultiQuick 5 and Breville Control Grip, excelling in crushing ice and pureeing tough ingredients, but it's overkill for basic tasks compared to the Nutribullet Lite, which offers better value. Unlike the All-Clad Stainless Steel Immersion Blender, it's more compact and easier to handle, though it may cause splattering issues.
Rating sources
“The Vitamix Immersion Blender is powerful, versatile, and really easy to use.”
“I can honestly say I love Vitamix blenders. And that's what I'm here to talk to you about today!”
“An easy-to-use blender that can handle longer blending sessions”
Our 4.5 score is the average of the 3 scored reviews above; 3 more reviewed it without printing a score and are not in the average. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
