In this apple to apple comparison and review, we compared only top-of-the-range blenders with multi-tasking capacity and the review contains a comparison table, consumer ratings, blender features/specs, functionality & versatility,  general price, quality/durability (warranty), pros & cons, and many more details 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!

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 since a blender can do wonders making your vegan recipes/diets convenient and healthy!

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.

But 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 

These blenders can make a big difference be it for optimum health, saving time & money or serving a specific need.

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 (ease of maintenance & aesthetic value)
• Colors (for aesthetic value)

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

• 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 in these machines, they can pulverize everything (the seeds, the nuts, the fibers)! 
• Higher quality means higher durability which in turn may save your time and money for having to replace the whole blender or 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
• Top quality specialty blenders with established brand names are expected to be well tested 
• Can also be used for restaurants, 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 at the discretion of the manufacturer

Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender Review (Classic G Series)

Since William Barnard demonstrated how the Vitamix blender can make 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 and most sought after by fine dining restaurants to biggest restaurant chains.

The heavy-duty Vitamix you see today is a result from 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 friction heat 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 under a cabinet on the countertop.

The manufacturer claims the solid stainless steel blades to be of aircraft-grade and a lot of attention to detail has gone into it in designing to give you that refreshing & invigorating smoothie to brighten your morning.

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 & consistencies.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 make sure everything hits the blades. 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.*

Pros and Cons–Vitamix Professional Series 750

Pros

• A preferred brand by popular restaurant chains and for commercial purposes (we’re talking about the brand in general, and this particular model is for household use only)
• Positive consumer reviews
• The 7-year full warranty which shows the durability & quality. It includes two-way shipping as well*
• 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 of commercial purpose blenders are absent)
• Ease of use with straight-forward controls
• 5 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.   
• 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
• Self-cleaning function
• BPA-free, impact-resistant, high-quality food grade Tritan™ plastic container [1]
• Includes a free tamper whenever you require to make sure everything hits the blades
• 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
• Lengthy plug cord with 6 feet
• Free cookbook

Cons

• High price
• Relatively expensive accessories (high quality)
• 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 lesser 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
• A preferred brand by popular restaurant chains and for commercial purposes (we’re talking about the general brand, and this particular model is for household use only)
• 7-year full warranty* which shows the durability & quality
• Positive consumer reviews
• Powerful commercial grade motor with 2 peak horsepower / 1380 watts (commercial grade means in terms of power, but not meant for commercial blending since the robust cooling elements of commercial purpose blenders are absent)
• 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 whenever you require to make sure everything hits the blades
• 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
• Lengthy plug cord with 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 (high quality)
• 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 design & aesthetics are top priorities who loves uniqueness a machine can provide besides its core task, then this USA made blender may be the one you’re looking for.

It seems like Blendtec is doing everything different to what other blenders do taking blending either into a whole new paradigm or making a mockery of competing blenders.

Blendtec uses dull blades as opposed to sharp blades, it has five sides jar instead of standard 4 sides jars, blades apparently rotate clockwise instead of counter-clockwise, 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.

At the end of the day, 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 such as batter, crushed ice, smoothie, ice cream, whole juice, hot soup, pulse and manual speed control as well. Besides these functions, it can do nut butter, grinding, and knead dough as well.

Not only it tells you just how long to wait until your blend is done but it also keeps a track of your usage telling you how many blend cycles you’ve done (1,9, 99…999…9999, etc.) which shows how well it has lasted.

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

Hover over the image to zoom

The blade assembly is made with stainless steel, which is wide, thick & 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 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. This though may have a learning curve and you may get better with experience. If you follow their recipe book that would help a lot. 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 mix and blend better. 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 prest 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 quality and durability of the product.

Besides the blender, you can expect a recipe book with more than 230 great tasting 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 (including vivid icons) & 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. (commercial grade means in terms of power, but not meant for commercial blending since the robust cooling elements of commercial purpose blenders are absent)
• A preferred brand by popular restaurant chains and for commercial purposes (we’re talking about the general brand, and this particular model is for household use only)
• 7-year warranty which is proof of quality and durability.
• Positive consumer reviews
• 6 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 (if you learn how the machine blends different types of food & quantities)
• 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 temperature icon on display to indicate overheat and has auto shut-off for damage prevention due to heat.
• Free recipe book with more than 230 recipes

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 (high quality)
• Noise can be relatively higher due to higher motor power.
• Capacitive touch control panel means there can be sensory/responsive issues which may hinder the operation of the blender
• Limited color options

Accessories

Blendtec GO™ travel bottle to convert your Blendtec into personal blending

Blendtec Twister Jar

Blendtec Fourside 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 which has stood the test of time.

It is made in China and comes with a 7-year warranty which assures 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 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 with the blender.

The 6 point star blade is sharp therefore be cautious when you’re 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 it gives a great bang for your buck!

Pros and Cons–Oster Versa Pro Series

Pros

• Moderate price
• 7-year warranty
• Powerful commercial grade motor with 1400 watts to blend virtually anything (commercial grade means in terms of power, but not meant for commercial blending since the robust cooling elements of commercial purpose blenders are absent)
• Stainless steel blades with all metal drive
• 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 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 whenever you require to make sure everything hits the blades.
• 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 compared to other blenders with more speed settings, thus reducing flexibility and ability to achieve various consistencies and textures
• Not many accessories which are compatible
• Low length plug cord: 1.3 feet
• Limited color options
• Noise can be relatively higher due to higher motor power

Ninja Professional Blender with Nutri Ninja Cups (BL660) Review

The first impression we get when we see the Ninja is like a two in one machine which mostly has traits of a blender yet due to the way its blades are designed it tends to look like a food processor as well and even capable of a few tasks like chopping & mincing a food processor does.

The downside to this is that it may not do certain blending tasks efficiently & effectively. For instance, it’s unable to create friction heat to produce steaming hot soups 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 1995 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 there are many satisfied consumers considering the substantial amount of positive reviews this blender has.  

The motor is powered with 1100 watts and the control panel comes with 3-speed settings, single serve mode, and a pulse button. The pitcher contains 72 ounces and the blender is about 17 inches tall which 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 which add more convenience for personal blending of smoothies and fruit juices.

Blade assembly is made with Ninja® Blade Technology with a shaft through the center of the jar consists 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 which create a firm grip on the counter.

The blades in the Ninja are quite sharp, so be cautious if you were to clean those by hand. The container and the blades are dishwasher safe.

The box comes with the 72oz pitcher with lid, motor base, 6 blades assembly, two 16oz. single serve cups with to-go lids, Nutri Ninja blade assembly for the 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
• 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 with To-Go Lids & blade assembly which convert to a personal blender
• Many low priced compatible 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 height should fit under most cabinets
• Dishwasher safe jar and blade assembly
• Easy-to-Clean base with flat control panel

Cons

• 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 in tasks like making hot soup, churning vegan ice cream, grinding, mix batters, and kneading dough
• Lack of speed settings compared to other blenders, reducing blending speed flexibility to achieve a variety of consistencies and textures. Ninja has only a three-speed setting
• Lacks optimum texture & consistency produced by other pricey blenders
• Inability to process large batches due to the shaft positioned through the center of the jar with six multiple blades
• No digital display
• No self-cleaning function
• No tamper
• Removing the lid can be irritating as you need to press a release button and lift the handle to release it
• Limited color options
• Fixation of the jar to the base requires an effort for twisting and locking
• 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 putting on or taking off parts, and before cleaning
• Always operate blender with the lid firmly in place. The lid plug should be removed only when adding ingredients or when using the tamper
• 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 supervision when they use or are nearby the blender

Don’ts

• Though modern blenders can do many tasks performed by food processors it would not be advisable to consider it as a complete replacement as certain tasks like slicing vegetables or shredding vegan cheese or other vegetables uniformly cannot be done 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. You may use transformers & adopters at your own risk, but that may not cover the warranty. The Amazon buy links in this review take you to your local Amazon site (e.g. www.amazon.co.uk) which may have products manufactured with a relevant electrical rating for your region
• 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 dangerous overheating
• Do not use extension cords
• Leaving the appliance unattended while it is running is not recommended
• 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 put more food than the given jar measurements (unless the jar measurements indicate half the capacity) leaving 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 routine preparing vegan meals. 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, budget, and any other recipe requirements. We hope you now have everything you need to know to realize what you’re paying for and make an excellent buying decision!

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References

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