Your favourite Starbucks Smoothie King uses Vitamix, whereas Jamba Juice prefers Blendtec. Now it’s all about Blendtec vs Vitamix.

Both blenders are high-powered machines with preset programs, self-cleaning capabilities, and variable speeds.

Both brands offer a variety of models that vary in price and power. However, sheer, unbridled strength isn’t the only aspect to consider.

This is Shera’s story.

I’m super tired. Super … tired!

Definitely tired from how my blender kept on crashing whenever I’m trying to make a smoothie.

After the second one broke, my Mom banned me from making any more smoothies.

No ice, no uncut fruits, no … nothing!

I can’t put my frozen fruits inside, so what now?

It’s super frustrating that I started to look into the more powerful blender that can suit my needs.

Vitamix and Blendtec.

That’s the only choice now. I need help to choose!

Help! Do you need one too?

Here are some questions to help you on your way to finding the best at-home blender:

Do you prefer touchscreen controls or manual controls such as a variable speed knob?

Let’s start there.

Table of Contents

Which is Better: Blendtec vs Vitamix

Do you prefer touchscreen controls or manual controls such as a variable speed knob on your blender?

Do you want to manually change the time and speed for each recipe, or do you prefer to rely on pre-programmed settings for certain categories like sweets or soup?

Will you stick to frozen drinks and smoothies, or will you expand out to more complex recipes such as smoothie bowls, nut butter, and aioli?

The Vitamix vs. Blendtec debate is more about which is better for the recipes you’ll be cooking most often, as it is with most head-to-head appliance contests.

Here’s how you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each:

The Tamper and Lid

This pattern is familiar to everyone who has used a bad blender:

Blend for a few minutes, remove the cover to stir and scrape the sides, replace the top, blend again, and so on until all of the components have had a turn in the blades and the mixture is well combined.

A tamper, such as the one that comes with Vitamix blenders, is the only foolproof way to avoid this, and it makes every recipe go much smoother.

Dense combinations tend to generate air pockets around the blades of a blender, necessitating the use of a tamper to force the food down and break up those pockets, keeping the mixture engaged with the blades.

This extra effort also speeds up the whole blending process.

The tamper can be used while the blender is running thanks to a hole in the lid.

You can manually press ingredients from the top down into the blades and scrape the sides to maintain a balanced purée while the Vitamix is working on forming a vortex.

You can tell when the Vitamix lid is secure when you put it on. It’s sealed and ready to go without splattering smoothie all over the cabinets, thanks to a pleasant click.

Power

Only a small portion of what a blender should be capable of is liquifying. (At least one in this price range.)

The path, form, and sheer force of a Vitamix’s blades combine to emulsify: a complex whisking procedure that can make or break delicacies like bread dough, nut butter, and aioli, depending on how well two tough ingredients are blended together.

For example, attempting to make salad dressing with a cheap blender would most likely result in the dressing being extremely runny.

Because the blender lacked the necessary strength to break up the oil, dispersing it throughout the mixture, and keeping it from retreating back into itself.

Warranty

Vitamix has a longer warranty than Blendtec, however, the difference is usually only ten years against eight years.

The Misses: Vitamix

At least not until you reach the $499.95 price point, Vitamix blenders aren’t truly hands-off.

Beginners and those who aren’t interested in blending as a pastime will probably choose to use one button rather than fiddle with the speed and time parameters.

Consider the Instant Pot without specific rice, meat, or stew buttons. For some, it’s the automation that draws them in.

The fact that the lowest brand new, non-refurbished Vitamix model is the E310, which retails for $349.95, supports the notion that Vitamix blenders are better suited for skilled cooks or bakers.

Blendtec has a considerably more affordable pricing range, allowing people to experience expert precision without breaking the bank.

Although a bright touchscreen display doesn’t ensure that an appliance is better than one with old-fashioned dials and knobs, some people will choose the Blendtec simply because it looks better on a stainless steel kitchen counter.

Even the cheapest Blendtec blenders come with pre-programmed routines, making things a lot easier for folks who are testing out new recipes.

Blending veterans know when the speed increases in the blending process and can determine when a battery is becoming too whiny.

Manual control is certainly appealing to experienced users as well.

Automated programs take off a lot of the guesswork and the need to stand there and watch over your blender while it’s running.

The Misses: Blendtec

The number of times you’ll have to halt and scape the sides will quickly become tedious.

The lack of a tamper is the most common complaint.

The five-sided Wild Side+ jar design, according to Blendtec, eliminates the need for a tamper, but many consumers aren’t having much luck.

Even a pentagonal design can’t provide enough suction to drive items through the blades, at least for smoothie bowls, hummus, or butter, which require annihilating lumps and smushing bubbles (without completely liquefying).

Tampers for Blendtec blenders are available, although they are sold by third parties.

This blender battle below demonstrates how well Vitamix handles thicker purées.

Both passed the green smoothie test with flying colours, but the Vitamix dominated the smoothie bowl, while the Blendtec produced a lumpy mixture that resembled pie filling.

It’s simple to understand how mixing becomes static if the components get stuck at the top or around the edges and there’s no tamper for stirring.

Blendtec’s Twister Jar is the closest thing it has to a tamper tool.

The problem is that it’s a completely different jar that needs to be purchased separately.

This blender battle below demonstrates how well Vitamix handles thicker purées.

Both passed the green smoothie test with flying colours, but the Vitamix dominated the smoothie bowl, while the Blendtec produced a lumpy mixture that resembled pie filling.

It’s simple to understand how mixing becomes static if the components get stuck at the top or around the edges and there’s no tamper for stirring.

Blendtec’s Twister Jar is the closest thing it has to a tamper tool. The problem is that it’s a completely different jar that needs to be purchased separately.

Although both feature pulse switches and can produce meals like salsa, hot soups, and ice cream, the absence of variable speed in the cheapest Blendtec can lead the blades to skip over chunks or oversimplify recipes that call for starting slow and gradually increasing speed.

The Blendtec, on the other hand, is a more economical and reliable option if you’re just creating smoothies (especially hard green smoothies).

Blendtec vs Vitamix: Which is for You?

It’s a toss-up when it comes to smoothies. Vitamix and Blendtec can both shred tough vegetables and make a killer green smoothie.

If all you want to make is a high-quality smoothie with no lumps or grit, a less expensive Blendtec model would suffice and will let you do it using a touchscreen.

If a more enjoyable, inviting user experience is important, the way Blendtec controls layout each setting is far less frightening for newcomers than Vitamix, which requires some prior familiarity to use.

Vitamix’s $400 to $500 blenders cover a lot more ground than Blendtec blenders in the same price range if you’re willing to spend a little more.

As you progress to more precise textures, Vitamix’s tamper and variable speeds on all models provide the precision needed to make nut butter, ice cream, hummus, or vinaigrette.

However, if you’re more interested in pulverizing a mobile phone than crafting a smooth smoothie bowl, a Blendtec is the way to go.

Best Choices for Blendtec

Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender Fourside Jar

Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender – Fourside Jar (75 oz), Professional-Grade Power-6 Pre-Programmed Cycles-10-Speeds, Black

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