Ever tried comparing TV’s when they aren’t side by side? Nowadays, they all look pretty snazzy until you do some further digging. One might get you by, but once you’ve seen the beauty of a modern OLED with amazing refresh rates – there is a major difference in overall quality. This is the major difference I notice with the Vitamix VX1 over other blenders. I’ve owned a few of the major culprits of crappy quality over the years – Ninja (which sometimes holds its own), random Amazon stuff, one older Oster that sounded a bit like my lawnmower running over a rock that wasn’t going to budge. They all claim to blend things like smoothies “fine” until frozen fruit got involved. Then suddenly I’m trying to shake the blender around and praying that I don’t choke later.
The Vitamix VX1 eats through just about everything.
The first thing I decide I’m going make is a smoothie. Why? Well – because that’s the obvious test. At least it is for me. If this thing can blend frozen strawberries, blueberries, spinach, banana, peanut butter, almond milk, and ice, it wins in my book. Typically, I’ve found that there’s some immediate giveaway that the blender is struggling a little bit. Whether it is tiny spinach pieces stuck to the bottom, ice chunks that give me a brain freeze, or just a bunch of strange foam on top – it’s clear when things are working the way I think they should.
The aforementioned shaking of the container is always a delight too (sarcasm anyone?). The VX1 turned this concoction into this thick, perfectly smooth drink in maybe 40 seconds. It honestly looks and tastes closer to something from a smoothie shop than something I made while half asleep prior to my first conference call. The funny (or maybe wonderful?) thing is – the machine itself is quite simple. I think – rather – I know that’s part of why I like it.
First of all, there’s no giant touchscreen staring at me. There isn’t an app for it (gasp). No fifteen mystery buttons with icons I have to review in the manual to interpret what they mean. There is just a speed dial, a pulse switch, and enough motor power to blend pretty much anything in the kitchen. It feels like an actual tool than one of those trendy countertop gadgets designed for taking short vids for Insta kitchens.
On to the next test? Let’s give salsa a chance. I still haven’t made a great recipe here, so I have high hopes on this one. Other blenders I’ve tried out either leave giant tomato chunks at the bottom or instantly liquefy everything. Emphasis on liquify – and when this happens it’s just nasty. I tend to like salsa with a little texture to it. The VX1 actually lets you control this and keep it from happening. The variable speed control is responsive enough that you can stop exactly when it looks right instead of overshooting it. The only downside is now I’ve accidentally become the guy my fam asks to make homemade salsa on weekends.
Finally, I try out soup. Soup just might be the craziest thing this blender does. I throw in some fire roasted tomatoes, garlic, onions, broth, basil, and peppers – all the things a quick google recipe offers. What came out tasted restaurant-level smooth. No cream added either. Just vegetables blended so thoroughly they basically turned pretty darn velvety on their own. Oh! And I thought this was exaggerated marketing until I tried it out myself. The soup actually gets hot while blending! I’m not talking warm where I still have to heat it on the stove after mixing. Legitimately hot. I’m not entirely sure how it works, but it does! Go friction!
Okay I do have one complaint, and hate staying it, but I gotta say it. The machine is a bit loud, but honestly, good. It should be loud to an extent. The VX1 basically lets me know it has raw power behind it.
Along with the VX1 I was able to test the new stainless steel container Vitamix offers. The stainless steel container from ended up being another one of my favorite parts. However – it should be noted that it is certainly pricey. I think the best part about stainless is that it doesn’t hold on to smells after making garlic-heavy foods etc. The stainless container completely fixes that.
I’ve been using the 48-ounce stainless container more than the regular one lately because it just feels nicer for everyday use. Smoothies, salsa, smaller soup batches – you name it – it’s the perfect size. It also feels incredibly solid. I didn’t see any noticeable scratches everywhere after crushing ice a few times. It still has a clear lid so I can see what’s going on while blending, and it just looks awesome. It still pretty much looks new sitting on the counter.
I also noticed cold drinks also stay colder a bit longer in it, which I didn’t really expect to notice but definitely did. It will be fun to bust out for gatherings and margaritas this summer. I say – if it’s in the budget – go for it!
Finally, and this is important to me because I HATE cleaning up. Cleaning the whole setup is almost suspiciously easy. Water, tiny bit of soap, blend for 30 seconds, rinse it out, and that’s basically it. I don’t have to dig around sharp blades with a sponge which always feels a bit risky. I’ll keep my fingertips – thank you very much.
The more I use the VX1, the more it reminds me of older appliances people kept forever. Now, I just need Vitamix to get into refrigerators, washers and dryers. That stuff was built to work instead of built to get replaced. There’s something refreshing about a product that just does exactly what it says it will.
Happy blending!
