Q: What makes a Vitamix machine so different from ordinary blenders?
A: Vitamix is dedicated to making only one household kitchen product—the Vitamix blender. Since 1937, their motors, patented designs for their stainless steel blades, and their containers have been unmatched in quality, performance, and durability.
Q: Can the Vitamix replace a juice extractor?
A. Yes. But, unlike most juice extractors that discard the vitamin-rich skin, seeds, pith, and pulp, Vitamix machines blend whole foods, providing more of the nutritional value than their juice alone.
Q: How do the lid and center lid plug work to prevent spilling the contents of the container?
A: Always read and follow the safety instructions in the Vitamix user guide and cookbook. While the blender is running, the lid should never be removed. Always keep it securely and snugly set on the container with its center lid plug in place and set in the locked position. To add ingredients while the blender is running, follow the instructions in the recipe book and reduce the speed to its lowest setting, remove the center lid plug, and add ingredients into the opening. To further minimize spilling, always start the blender on its lowest speed setting and slowly increase the speed to high.
Q: Is a blender's horsepower the most important factor when blending?
A: No. Horsepower is the number most commonly used to compare blender power, but it alone is not enough to give world-class blending performance. Vitamix incorporates three elements working in concert to provide exceptional results: a motor that provides optimal power and torque under heavy loads; patented, precision-cut, dual-performance, stainless steel blades that both cut and smash foods; and a patented container design that continuously forces food down through the blades. All three of these features are what make a Vitamix one of the top choices among professional chefs.
Q: I want to use my Vitamix to support my raw diet. Will it heat soup beyond a temperature that is considered raw?
A: If you follow the instructions in the Vitamix cookbook, the Vitamix will heat soup to a temperature just below boiling, between 175°F and 200°F. Typical raw diets try to maintain temperatures below a range of 92°F to 118°F. (Variations in the raw-food diet set different temperature limits.) Adjusting the time limit of the blend will decrease the temperature of the final product. Blends of less than one minute will typically see no change in temperature to the product. Blends of under two minutes will typically maintain the temperature below 118°F.
Q: What is BPA, and are all Vitamix containers BPA-free?
A: Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical that can be found in some hard plastic bottles. For household products, Vitamix uses a container that does not contain BPA.
Q. What's the difference between home-use units and commercial-use units?
A: All Vitamix machines have high-performance motors and patented blade design. Commercial machines are designed for high-volume restaurant/bar operations where specific drink and/or food preparation tasks are performed repeatedly, whereas household units are designed for a wide variety of operations. Household units come with a full five-year or seven-year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty and a cookbook, while commercial units come with shorter, commercial warranties geared to the rigors of heavy commercial use.
Q: Can I fill my container completely with whole food and ice?
A: Yes, each container is clearly marked with a maximum fill line just below the container lip. Vitamix machines are engineered to handle the heavy load of a container filled with whole foods and/or ice. Just follow the container loading instructions in the manual, and your Vitamix will deliver perfect smoothies, desserts, and soups for years.
Q: How do I clean my Vitamix?
A: A Vitamix machine virtually cleans itself. Just put one or two drops of dish soap in the container and fill it with two cups of warm water. Secure the lid, turn it on at high speed for 15 to 30 seconds, and rinse.
Q: My container moves slightly when I set it into the motor base. Is that normal?
A: Yes, it is normal. The container and motor base have a durable, metal-to-metal coupling, which allows a slight bit of movement for the container.
Q: Will a Vitamix work for vegan or raw-food diets?
A: Yes. A Vitamix machine is designed to process whole foods, raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, and other healthy foods into delicious drinks, dips, and desserts. By adjusting the blend times in the cookbook, you can make soup from fresh ingredients while maintaining a raw temperature.
Q: Does the dry grains container actually bake bread?
A: No. The dry container is specially designed to grind dry ingredients—such as whole wheat, rice, or millet—into flour and prepare dough. The dough must then be placed into a loaf pan and baked in an oven to make bread.
Q: Do I need different tampers for different-size containers?
A: There are three different tampers made for Vitamix household blenders. The large black tamper has a shaft that is wider near the handle, which allows it to be used on Vitamix's standard 64-oz, 48-oz, and 32-oz containers. The smaller gray tamper is designed for the 48-oz and 32-oz containers. The Vitamix 7500 and Creations Elite blenders come with a shorter, 64-oz container that fits under standard kitchen cabinets and uses its own unique tamper. Please call Vitamix Customer Service at 1-800-VITAMIX with questions or for help in determining which tamper is right for your Vitamix machine.
Q: What makes the Vitamix blades so special?
A: Vitamix's patented, hardened, stainless steel blades are very unique. Vitamix blades are precision-engineered to provide the action of both sharp and dull blades. First, the sharp edge cuts and breaks down whole foods; then, the flat edge works like a hammer mill to smash and pulverize the tiniest bits and seeds into velvety-smooth drinks, desserts, and soups.
Q: How does the same machine make frozen ice cream and steaming soup?
A: Vitamix's patented blade design, coupled with the high-performance radial cooling motor, are the secrets to making both hot and frozen dishes in the Vitamix machine. For frozen treats, the high-performance hammer-mill action of the container blades crushes and emulsifies frozen ingredients in about 30 seconds. For steaming soups, the blades build up friction that heats fresh ingredients into steaming-hot soup in four to six minutes.
Q: The motor makes a growling sound when I make frozen desserts. Is that normal?
A: Yes, that change in the motor's pitch and growling sound are the signal that your frozen dessert is ready. The Vitamix motor is specifically designed with a high-efficiency radial cooling fan and built-in thermal protection system to protect against overload or burnout, along with enough power and torque to handle any job. Simply follow the directions in the Vitamix cookbook to make a variety of delicious frozen desserts in just seconds.
Q: How long has Vitamix been in business and where is it located?
A: Vitamix has been a family-owned business since 1921 and has been building blenders since 1937 at its factory located in Cleveland, Ohio.
Q: What's the difference between the blades in the wet and dry ingredient containers?
A: The standard container that comes with the Vitamix has blades that are designed specifically for processing wet ingredients—such as fruits, vegetables, oily nuts, and liquids—into juices, milks, nut butters, and frozen desserts. They pull foods down through the blades continuously during processing to ensure emulsification of even the smallest seeds. The dry ingredient container has blades designed for grinding whole grains and preparing bread dough. These blades push foods up and away, making it the better choice for dry grinding or simulating the kneading process of sticky dough.
Q: Are other Vitamix containers interchangeable between different Vitamix household machines?
A: Most Vitamix household-use containers manufactured after 1995 will fit and work with all Vitamix household machines manufactured after 1995. Vitamix machines are known to last for decades, and there may be some older machines still being used that may not function with today's current containers. If you purchased your Vitamix prior to 1995, please call Vitamix Customer Service at 1-800-VITAMIX to determine your eligibility for a courtesy upgrade of a centering pad convertor.
Q: Which Vitamix machine will fit under my kitchen cabinets?
A: Any Vitamix machine utilizing the Vitamix 32-oz container, 48-oz container, or the shorter 64-oz container on the Vitamix 7500 model will fit in the standard 18'' space between most countertops and kitchen cabinets. The Vitamix 6000 will not fit underneath a standard 18" cabinet.
Information provided by Vitamix.
