Blenders have come a long way with continuous improvements and here we are in the 21st century having the luxury of many options and features to play with!

This is great news if you’re a vegan or anyone seeking blenders to make a big difference, be it for optimum health, convenience, save time & money, or to serve a specific need.

For this review, we compared only top-of-the-range blenders (to make it a fair comparison) with multi-tasking capabilities.

This review contains an in-depth comparison table, general price (as of 2018), consumer ratings, blender quality, features/specs, functionality & versatility, warranty, pros & cons, and many more details along with a few tips on do’s & don’ts when using a blender.

We did all the hard work spending countless hours to bring the details for you to make a solid purchasing decision depending on your needs & budget!

If your only requirement is smoothies or juices then we presume these multi-purpose blenders can be excessive, and a personal blender would just do the job.

However, the multi-purpose specialty blenders can be extremely convenient when you have a variety of tasks such as,

• Smoothies
• Crushing ice
• Purees
• Hot soups
• Baby food
• Vegan ice cream
• Nut butter
• Grind seeds & grains 
• Mixing batters
• Making doughs 

Fundamentally, a blender consists of three main components:

• Container
• Blade assembly
• Motor

The blenders which have perfected these three core components have gone on to become the market leaders today.

Besides the basics, other elements to consider are:

• The display & controls
• Size
• Electrical ratings (120 V / 230 V)
• Plug type
• Design (for ease of maintenance & aesthetics)
• Colors (for personal preference & aesthetics)

Why Invest in a Quality Multi-Purpose Blender Than Something Cheap

• Blending may help better digestion of nutrients thus quality blenders give you the best blend of vegetables, greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, etc. There is so much power these machines possess, they can pulverize almost anything (the hard seeds & nuts, the fibers, etc.)! 
• Top-quality specialty blenders with established brand names have earned consumer trust and well-tested.
• Higher quality also means longer durability which could save your time and money for not having to replace the blender or minimal replacements with parts in the long run.
• Gives you extended warranties.
• Provides more versatility with multi-tasking:  smoothies, crushing ice, making purees, hot soups, baby food, churning vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding seeds & grains, mixing batters or even making doughs.
• More features mean more control over your blending and more convenience.
• Can also be used for restaurants and cafes or if you’re a professional recipe maker these top-tier blenders can give the best texture & consistency.

Vitamix 750 vs. Vitamix 5200 vs. Blendtec 625 vs. Oster Versa vs. Ninja Professional BL660

* As of 15th March 2018 / subject to change

† Plug type & electrical ratings are for USA

‡ Size in inches

§ Per user manual. Subject to change per the manufacturer

Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender Review (Classic G Series)

Affiliate Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This will not affect how we review products and we recommend only products/services we’re completely convinced of using.

Since William Barnard demonstrated how the Vitamix blender can make wonders allowing everyone to eat healthy with his first infomercials in 1949, Vitamix from USA has never looked back.

It is one of the most renowned and top-notch brands available today, sought after by fine dining restaurants to the biggest restaurant chains.

The heavy-duty Vitamix you see today is a result of years of research & trials and made to last with quality which could make a great impact in your daily routine.

It comes with one of the most powerful motors with 2.2 peak horsepower/1440 watts giving a 37,000 RPM (approx.). The other noticeable factors are the wide base with a tip-to-tip blade length of 4 inches!

The blades can rotate so fast when it’s on hot soup mode, where it creates heat from friction giving you those sizzling & steaming hot soups to your delight!  

Another major difference of this model when compared to the Vitamix 5200 is the shorter pitcher with no compromise in volume. The shortened height takes less space and gives you more convenience to store.

The manufacturer claims the solid stainless steel blades to be of aircraft-grade with a lot of attention to detail going into designing allowing you to make those refreshing smoothies to brighten your mornings.

When it comes to controls & functions, it has variable speed control, preset modes, and the pulse switch.

The Preset Modes Are:

1. Smoothies
2. Hot soups
3. Frozen desserts
4. Purees
5. Self-cleaning

The variable speed control has speed settings of 1-10 giving you a lot of flexibility to adjust speed and achieve a variety of textures & thicknesses. The knob can also be rotated at any point during the blend, so you have complete control.

The beauty about the preset functions is that you can just set it and forget while attending to another kitchen task saving your time & electricity (with no excessive blending).

Vitamix 750 jar is made with BPA-free, impact-resistant, Eastman Tritan™ copolyester high-quality, food-grade plastic [1].

If there is any quibble about the product, that would be the high price tag. But then you get what you pay for and this being a standard setter and an industry leader the price is something you pay for superior performance, quality, and durability.

The blender comes with a getting started guide, user manual, DVD, cookbook, and a low-profile tamper. The tamper can be used even while the blender is running to push the ingredients toward the blades for optimum blending and consistency. The cookbook is specific to this model which takes into account the preset programs.

As far as the noise is concerned it is relatively low considering the high motor power if you measure it in decibels, but have moderate expectations in this regard.

The 7-year full warranty shows a brand that backs durability & quality of the product. It covers all parts, performance, labor, and obligingly two-way shipping (refer warranty terms & conditions).

Pros and Cons—Vitamix Professional Series 750

Pros

• The 7-year full warranty (shows durability & quality and includes two-way shipping)*
• Powerful commercial grade motor with 2.2 horsepower/1440 watts (commercial grade means in terms of power, but not meant for commercial blending since the robust cooling elements for commercial purpose blenders are absent)
• Ease of use with straight-forward controls
• 5 pre-programmed settings for convenience, consistent results, saving time, and electricity. The machine decides the speed & time for optimal blending.
• The versatility: smoothies, crushed ice, hot soups, sauces, baby food, purees, vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding, mixing batters, or even make doughs.   
• 1-10 speed setting for total flexibility of blending speed to achieve different consistencies & textures
• Ability to process large batches
• Pulse function for better pulverization
• BPA-free, impact-resistant, high-quality food-grade Tritan™ plastic container [1]
• Includes a free tamper
• 2-piece spill-proof lid for adding ingredients and to use the tamper while blending
• Easy fixation of the jar to the base with no twisting or locking
• Stainless steel wide blade assembly
• Low-profile container taking less space
• Thermal protection system for auto shut-off when overheated
• Long plug cord (6 feet)
• Free cookbook
• A preferred brand by popular restaurant chains and for commercial purposes
• Self-cleaning function

Cons

• High price
• Relatively expensive accessories
• Control panel can be slightly difficult to clean as opposed to a flat control panel
• Limited color options
• No digital display for showing blending time, etc.

*Refer warranty terms & conditions

Accessories

Convert your full-size Vitamix® machine into a personal blender with this personal cup adapter

Legacy Series Tamper Holder

32-ounce Dry Grains Container

Vitamix 5200 Blender Review

There is a substantial price difference between the 750 and the 5200 which is due to non-availability of the preset modes, pulse, and less motor power.  

Compared to the 750 model this has a taller jar with slightly a smaller base with the same volume. The 5200 blending pattern seems to have a shade of difference with its clear blending vortex compared to the 750. This is probably due to the tall & narrow jar, though the 750 seems to have an edge when it comes to pulverizing and ripping everything apart.   

Irrespective of the blending patterns any difference in the final result is hardly noticeable and if anything, that could be a faint difference in the color & texture.  

The 5200 comes with a powerful motor with 2 peak horsepower which is marginally lower than the 750 power output and it has a base with a blade assembly of 3 inches wide, tip to tip length.

The jar is made with BPA-free, impact-resistant Eastman Tritan™ copolyester high-quality food-grade plastic [1]. There is no pulse function in this model though you can set it to 10 high and turn on & off to create the pulse effect.

Just like the 750, the tamper can be used while the blender is running to make sure everything hits the blades. Unlike the 750 this model doesn’t have a self-cleaning function though you can still clean the jar easily with some warm water and a dash of liquid dishwashing detergent using variable speed in about 30-60 seconds.  

Vitamix gives a 7-year warranty for the 5200 which shows the durability & quality of the product. Just as the 750 it covers all parts, performance, labor, and two-way shipping*.

Pros and Cons—Vitamix Professional Series 5200

Pros

• Low price compared to Vitamix 750
• 7-year full warranty* which shows the durability & quality
• Powerful motor with 2 peak horsepower / 1380 watts
• The versatility: smoothies, crushed ice, hot soups, sauces, baby food, purees, vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding, mixing batters, or even make doughs.
• Ease of use with simple controls
• 1-10 speed setting for total flexibility of blending speed to achieve different consistencies & texture
• Ability to process large batches
• BPA-free, impact-resistant, high-quality food-grade Tritan™ plastic container [1]
• Includes a free tamper
• 2-piece spill-proof lid for adding ingredients and to use the tamper while blending
• Easy fixation of the jar to the base with no twisting or locking
• Thermal protection system for auto shut-off when overheated
• Long plug cord (6 feet)

Cons

• Pricey compared to low-priced competing blenders in the same class
• No preset programs
• No pulse function
• Can take up more space (tall jar)
• Relatively expensive accessories
• Control panel can be slightly difficult to clean as opposed to a flat control panel
• Limited color options
• No digital display for showing blending time, etc.

*Refer warranty terms & conditions

Blendtec Designer Series Blender (625) with WildSide Jar Review

If you’re one of those tech junkies or aesthetics are your priorities, then this US-made blender could be the one you’re looking for.

It seems like Blendtec is doing everything different to what other blenders do, taking blending to a whole new level.

Blendtec uses dull blades as opposed to sharp blades, it has a 5-side jar instead of standard 4-side jars, it uses a two-pronged wingtip blade assembly instead of the standard 4-pronged version, doesn’t believe in using a tamper, and if they literally attempt to blend other blenders, we wouldn’t be surprised.

Still, the million-dollar question is, does Blendtec get the core task done which is blending and blending a variety of foods effectively & efficiently? The answer is a resounding yes, backed by many positive consumer reviews. Blendtec has been in business since 1975 and with such a long history it is only fair to expect a perfected machine.         

Blendtec has the most powerful motor compared to its competing blenders in this review which comes with a 3 peak horsepower  / 1,560 watts motor which gives a 29,000 RPM (approx.).

The Blendtec comes with an illuminated capacitive touch control surface which includes preset programming for such as batter, crushed ice, smoothies, ice cream, juice, hot soup, pulse, and manual speed control as well. Besides these functions, it can do nut butter, grinding, and kneading dough.

Other than showing you how long to wait until your blend is done, it also keeps a track of your usage telling you how many blend cycles you’ve done (1,9, 99…999…9999, etc.).

There is also a cavitation warning which indicates any air pockets formed around the blades that prevent optimum blending. Below you can find out the details on the display icons.

Hover over the image to zoom

The blade assembly is made with stainless steel, which is wide, hard & blunt doing a great job of blending and there is no worry of sharpening the blades or having the risk of cutting yourself. These blades can also have higher durability if you’re planning to do a lot of grinding.

The patented Wildside jar design is also one of the most unique jar designs you will find due to its 5 sides instead of the regular 4 sides which enable tamper-free blending.

The caveat is though, you must learn & get a feel as to how the machine blends different types of food and different volumes since you’re not using a tamper. Following their recipe book could assist you in this regard, and once you learn how to blend without a tamper that will add a lot of convenience!

Jar is made with BPA-free, impact-resistant Tritan™ [1] copolyester food-grade plastic. Inside it has extra ridges as well to give it a good blend & mix. All types of Blendtec consumer jars work perfectly with all Blendtec motor bases, thus you can mix & match according to your needs!

The lid has two parts where the middle lid is vented (to release the steam when making hot soup, etc.) and can be popped out easily to add more stuff to blend.  

Though Blendtec has no self-cleaning mode, cleaning is a breeze where you just have to add dish soap and hot water to the jar and press the pulse button for 5 seconds. The jar is dishwasher safe as well.

Another plus with Blendtec is that it will fit under most cabinets on the countertop taking less space when you consider the size.

Just like Vitamix, Blendtec comes with a 7-year warranty which is proof of the quality & durability of the product.

Besides the blender, you can expect a recipe book with more than 230 great recipes!

Pros and Cons—Blendtec Designer Series (625)

Pros

• Aesthetic appeal & simple to use thanks to the flat control panel which comes with digital display & touch control
• Lower price compared to Vitamix
• One of the most powerful commercial grade motors compared to its counterparts with 3 peak horsepower / 1,560 watts to blend virtually anything
• 7-year warranty which is proof of quality and durability
• Six pre-programmed settings for convenience, consistent results, saving time, and electricity. Machine decides the speed & time for optimal blending
• The versatility: smoothies, crushed ice, hot soups, sauces, baby food, purees, vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding, mixing batters, or even make doughs
• Choose between 8 speeds to have complete control, flexibility and achieve different consistencies & textures
• BPA-free, impact-resistant, high-quality food-grade Tritan™ plastic container [1]
• Easy fixation of the jar to the base with no twisting or locking
• Two-pronged ultra-hard stainless steel cold-forged wingtip blades. The manufacturer claims the blades to be 80% thicker and 10x stronger than other blades
• 2-piece lid for ease of adding ingredients and the middle lid is vented (to release steam for hot soups, etc.)
• Pulse function for better pulverization
• Ability to process large batches
• No requirement to use a tamper
• Taking less space compared to other blenders considering the dimensions
• Easy to clean the base due to flat control panel
• Blunt blades mean no worries of sharpening the blades or replacing due to dullness. It also has a low risk of injury and much easier to clean if hand washing it
• Dishwasher safe and can have self-cleaning with pulse option
• There is a temperature icon on display to indicate overheating and has auto shut-off to prevent risks
• Free recipe book with more than 230 recipes
• A preferred brand by popular restaurant chains and for commercial purposes

Cons

• Since no tamper, it may take some time to learn to get the best blending results with different food types & volumes
• Expensive than the low-priced competing blenders
• Fairly expensive accessories
• Noise can be relatively higher due to higher motor power
• Capacitive touch control panel means any sensory/responsive issues could impede operating the blender
• Limited color options

Accessories

Blendtec GO™ travel bottle

Blendtec Twister Jar

Blendtec 4-side Jar

Oster Versa Pro Series Blender with Low Profile Jar (BLSTVB-RV0-000) Review

Oster which was known as Osterizer in 1946 is one of the pioneering brands to supply blenders commercially. Supplying blenders for nearly 71 years, Oster is a prominent brand that has stood the test of time.

It is made in China and comes with a 7-year warranty which assures the quality and durability of the product!

The blade assembly comes with a great blade drive system known as the Duralast™All-Metal Drive which is tested to blend up to 10,000 smoothies backed by a 10-year warranty!

It also boasts a powerful 1400-watt motor and a stainless-steel blade that has a 28,000 RPM (approx.) to blend effortlessly and efficiently.

The control panel comes with a variable speed dial to instantly adjust speed, has preset functions such as smoothies, soups, dips/spreads, and a pulse mode.

Though you see only three preset functions on the control panel, this is a multi-functional blender. It can make crushed ice, smoothies, hot soups, churn vegan ice cream, grind grains (make powder), and even knead dough.

The lid has two parts where the middle part can be opened separately for adding anything extra or to use the tamper which comes as a standard tool with the blender.

The 6-point star blade is quite sharp, therefore need to be cautious when handling it!

The blender comes with owner’s manual, tamper, and 2 colored cookbooks with over 130 recipes to inspire!

Considering the brand, relatively low price, warranty period, and the variety of tasks this blender can handle, it’s only fair to say that, this is a blender that gives you value for money!

Pros and Cons—Oster Versa Pro Series

Pros

• Moderate price
• 7-year warranty
• Powerful commercial-grade motor with 1400 watts to blend
• Stainless steel blades with all-metal drive
• Versatility: smoothies, crushed ice, hot soups, sauces, baby food, purees, vegan ice cream, nut butter, grinding, mixing batters, or for making doughs
• Ease of use with straight-forward control panels
• Preset functions: smoothies, dips/spreads, and hot soup
• Pulse function for better pulverization
• Ability to process large batches
• Includes a free tamper
• BPA-free, impact-resistant Tritan™ food-grade plastic container [1]
• Easy fixation of the jar to the base with no twisting or locking
• Auto shut-off when overheated
• Self-cleaning is possible with the speed dial
• Low profile jar is good enough to fit under most cabinets
• 2 colored cookbooks with over 130 recipes

Cons

• Relatively lower consumer ratings compared to other competing blenders
• No digital display
• Variable speed is relatively limited which has only three settings, thus reducing flexibility and ability to achieve various consistencies and textures
• Limited accessories
• Limited plug cord length (1.3 feet)
• Limited color options
• Noise can be relatively high due to high motor power

Ninja Professional Blender with Nutri Ninja Cups (BL660) Review

The first impression we get when we see the Ninja is a two-in-one machine that has traits of a blender and a food processor (due to the way its blades are designed, has the capabilities of chopping & mincing).

The downside to this is that it may not do certain blending tasks efficiently & effectively. For instance, creating friction heat to produce steaming hot soups doesn’t seem to be an option as do other blenders in this review.

Also if you’re using the same standard jar for nut butter, vegan ice cream, sauce, and grinding, you may not get optimum texture & consistency. Kneading dough is impossible considering the blade design as well.

Having said that, blending a little longer (without overheating the motor!) or by using the single-serve cups may get you better results for certain food types. If you need to make batter or dough you can consider purchasing a Ninja dough blade.   

Ninja Professional Blender is made in China and comes with a one-year limited warranty. The company SharkNinja Operating LLC started in 1994 in Canada and now operates in USA.

Price is the lowest compared to other blenders and if you can be content with the number of tasks it does and master its blending patterns it can give you satisfactory results for the price you pay! It seems like there are many satisfied consumers considering the substantial amount of positive online reviews.  

The motor is powered with 1100 watts and the control panel comes with a 3-speed setting, single serve mode, and a pulse button. The pitcher contains 72 ounces and the blender is about 17 inches tall that can fit under most cabinets.

Another advantage for the price you pay is that it comes with two 16 oz. Nutri Ninja Cups with lids that add more convenience for smoothies and fruit juices.

Blade assembly is made with Ninja® Blade Technology with a shaft through the center of the jar consisting of six multiple stainless steel blades.

The lid has a pour spout and the motor will not turn on until the lid is secured properly as a safety feature. To fix the container to the base you need to place it on the base and twist until you hear a click sound. The base comes with rubber suction cups to create a firm grip on the counter.

The blades of the Ninja are quite sharp, so be cautious if you were to clean them. The container and the blades are dishwasher safe.

The box comes with a 72oz pitcher with lid, motor base, 6 blades assembly, two 16 oz. single-serve cups with lids, Nutri Ninja blade assembly for single serving, owner’s manual, and a recipe booklet.

Pros and Cons—Ninja Professional (BL660)

Pros

• Lowest price compared to other blenders in this review
• Positive consumer rating with a high number of reviews (Amazon)
• Powerful motor with 1100 watts
• Ease of use with straight-forward controls
• Pulse function for better pulverization
• Stainless steel blades
• The jar is made of BPA-free plastic
• Two 16 oz. BPA free Nutri Ninja cups & blade assembly which enable to be used as a personal blender
• Many low-priced accessories  
• The lid has a safety feature where the motor will not turn on until the lid is secured properly
• Auto shut-off when overheated
• Considering the size & height, should fit under most cabinets
• Dishwasher-safe jar and blade assembly
• Easy-to-clean base with flat control panel

Cons

• Only one-year warranty compared to longer warranty periods of other blenders in this review
• No pre-programmed settings except for single-serve option
• Lacking versatility for tasks like making hot soup, churning vegan ice cream, grinding, mix batters, and kneading dough
• Lack of speed setting (3-speed setting) compared to other blenders, reducing the capacity to achieve a variety of consistencies and textures.
• Inability to process large batches due to the shaft being positioned through the center of the jar with six multiple blades
• No digital display
• No self-cleaning function
• No tamper
• Limited color options
• Need more accessories to add versatility

General Do’s & Don’ts When Using a Blender

Do’s

• Always make sure to read the owner’s manual provided by the manufacturer and follow the instructions for safety and long-term use
• Register your blender with the manufacturer
• Clean your machine before the first use. It’s always good to run a cup of water through your new machine before you use it to dislodge any stuff that might have settled in during the manufacturing process
• Blender blades can be quite sharp which can cause injury if you were to use your hands for cleaning. Handle with care!
• Unplug from outlet when not in use, before installing or taking off parts, and before cleaning
• Always operate the blender with the lid firmly in place
• When blending hot fluids, be cautious, since escaping steam may cause burns. Keep your hands and face away from the opening to prevent injury
• Make sure to keep children under close supervision when they’re getting trained to use blenders or are nearby the blender

Don’ts

• Considering a blender as a complete replacement for a food processor may not be sensible as certain tasks like uniformly slicing vegetables may not be achieved by a blender
• If the blender has an electrical rating of 110 V then never use it on a 230 V outlet vice versa, which can damage the motor.
• Do not operate with a damaged cord or plug
• When making nut butter, oil-based foods or anything similar, try to limit blending for less than one minute. Blending for extended periods may cause hazardous overheating. Do not blend for more than the specified time limits by the manufacturer and if you smell any burns switch off the machine, take the food out, remove the jar, and inform the manufacturer
• Do not use extension cords
• Leaving the appliance unattended while it is running is not recommended
• Do not put more food than the given jar measurements to leave enough space to blend

Conclusion

We hope this review helped you to understand all the aspects of using a blender and its usefulness in your daily meal preparations. No doubt, Vitamix & Blendtec brands are held in high regard among the experts and these are the most sought-after brands by commercial & household quality-conscious consumers.

Still, if you look closely and analyze the details we provided, you may realize there are other blenders that can provide great value for money as well.

It boils down to your personal needs, priorities, and budget. We now hope you have all the details to realize what you’re paying for and make an excellent buying decision!

Affiliate Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This will not affect how we review products and we recommend only products/services we’re completely convinced of using.

References:

[1] http://www.eastman.com/Markets/Tritan_Safe/Pages/Attributes.aspx

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