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Product Description
Create every course of your home-cooked meal--from frozen drinks to creamy desserts--in minutes. The Vitamix 5200 is the universal tool for family meals and entertaining. Create smoothies, hot soups, and frozen desserts in one machine. The Vitamix Blender Base: 2-peak HP (1380 Watts) motor / 120 volt, 60 Hz 11.5 amps (North America) / Radial cooling fan and thermal protection system.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
193 of 196 people found the following review helpful
By Seashell
After 5 years of considering the purchase of a Vita-mix I finally took the plunge after seeing it at a Costco "roadshow". I am not a big smoothie person, but I was motivated by my constant efforts to get more greens into my kids. Green smoothies sounded like a great way to do this painlessly. Also, I was enraptured by the demo of the tortilla soup, one of my favorites. I justified the price (yikes!) with the thought that this was going to be great for our ongoing efforts to get more veggies into our daily lives.
If smoothies are the only thing that you are thinking about making... or other concoctions that are thin and slide easily on their own out of the blender jar, then go for this product. If you are going to be making anything that requires you to coax it out, then think again. I expanded my useage of my Vita-mix to include making Hummus, nut butters, bean dips and pureed dates for use in other raw snack recipes. The amount of frustration that I experienced trying to fish out the contents was very aggravating. I had to purchase a special spatula to get past the blades and even then I lost about 1/4th of every batch of whatever I made due to not being able to get it out of the jar. The ridges up and down the sides make it very difficult to scrape anything out as well. Since I am now using my Vita-mix just as much for these types of recipes as I do smoothies, I wish I got another brand with a more user friendly jar. The Blendtec perhaps? I am attracted to their square, smooth-sided jars.
Another deficit is the unbalanced way the blender jar sits on the base. I always feel compelled to hold onto the jar when I am blending chunks of frozen fruit. When the motor/blades are working really hard it has a tendency to rotate on the base just a little until it is stopped by the square rubber holder. This doesn't seem very secure. Also, the fact that the jar is narrow at the base and gets wider as it gets taller makes it feel top heavy and prone to easy tipping. I always felt that I couldn't step away from it while it was on because it might topple over.
When making thick concoctions, it is hard to get it clean under the blades. This is what happens when I make pureed dried fruit or nut butters. I end up wasting a lot of food this way.
One of my biggest complaints about the operation of the Vita-mix is the necessity of having to use the tamper. 98% of everything I make in this blender requires me to use the tamper. This seems like a design flaw. I have to work really hard to get everything down into the blades and even then the bottom items are much better blended that the stuff at the top. When switching to the high speed setting the blades just rotate extremely fast while nothing gets blended, unless I am forcing everything into place with the tamper.
These experiences have made me not want to use the Vita-mix for anything but what will easily pour out of the jar. This defeats the purpose of such an expensive and powerful machine. I will be returning my Vita-mix because of this.
As for how it makes smoothies... FANTASTIC! It blends anything to a smooth consistency (as long as you use the tamper!) The fruit and spinach smoothies (with added walnuts and flax meal) are a big hit with my kids. SUCCESS! Also, I make the best banana walnut "ice cream" in the Vita-mix. You will not be disappointed if this is your primary use.
Just to clarify juicing vs blending for other reviewers... They are VERY DIFFERENT. You will be discarding pulp when you juice because the point is NOT to have fiber. This makes the nutrients in the juice instantly absorbed into your body, which is the goal...as opposed to blending, which keeps the fiber of the food items and demands digestion to break down the food to make the nutrients available to your body...a much longer, slower process. One is not is better than the other...just entirely different.
I am going to purchase the BlendTech blender when I return my Vita-mix. I hope I am not disappointed. Perhaps my expectations are too high for a small kitchen appliance.
Bon Appetite!
UPDATE! I purchased (and then promptly returned) the Blendtec. I returned it within a week. I put it through the same paces as above with the Vita-mix. It failed the same tests. The straight sides of the Blendtec did not make it unnecessary to use a tamper, as was implied in their sales pitch. It did make it easier to scrape thicker recipes out of the jar though. I had to stop the machine and use a spatula to incorporate the heavier recipes I was making to make sure it was all blended together well. I won't go into any more detail except to say that for my purposes, the Blendtec was not an acceptable alternative to the Vita-mix. So, what was I to do? I really wanted a high power blender! Due to its reputation and longstanding high quality reputation, I went back to researching the Vita-mix. If only they had a different jar!!! Well, guess what?!! They DO! I purchased the Vita-mix Professional Series 750. It cost me a pretty penny more, but I can say without a doubt that it is absolutely worth it! I LOVE THIS MACHINE! The jar is shorter and wider, the sides are so accessible to scraping EVERYTHING out. I can honestly say that I can get all of the food out with a narrow spatula with no extra effort. Smoothies are a breeze and don't need the tamper most of the time. One of the features on the Blendtec that I loved was the automatic settings. This Vita-mix has it! I just dial the setting I need for what I am making and flip the start switch. I can go about my business in the kitchen and the thing turns off when it is finished blending. 95% of the time is is perfect. Pretty good percentage! I could go on and on about the different settings make this so much more functional, how the shorter jar is so much easier to use, that there is no rotation or instability of the jar and I am not afraid it will tip over,how it is way quieter than any other blender, etc... but the bottom line is, I found my blender! I have had it for over a month now. I use it everyday. Smoothies in the morning, prep cook in the evening. I blend, chop, puree... it can do everything I need except shred. I am so happy I bought it and have the piece of mind of buying a trusted, quality product with a great track record and exceptional warranty. (the Blendtec was questionable to me in this area. Also, it felt cheaply made...I didn't have confidence in its' construction and it was LOUD!! My kids would cringe when I pulled it out of the pantry. Not a good sign!)
I hope this helps! Happy Blending
March 2013 UPDATE I still LOVE my 750. I am adding this update for those of you who have asked how I still like it. I DO STILL LOVE IT. I rarely have to use the tamper, but when do it is totally appropriate for the items in jar and not because something isn't blending as it "should". When loaded correctly, making smoothies NEVER need any tamper encouragement. I find the sides extremely easy to remove food from. You have to have a small spatula for this to be easy, but just go buy the right size and you will have no problems scraping everything out of this jar. I am so happy with this purchase and continue to find new things to love about it. I AM NOT A VITAMIX Employee! Just a happy vegan mom of two, always on the lookout for ways to make cooking healthy easier!
If smoothies are the only thing that you are thinking about making... or other concoctions that are thin and slide easily on their own out of the blender jar, then go for this product. If you are going to be making anything that requires you to coax it out, then think again. I expanded my useage of my Vita-mix to include making Hummus, nut butters, bean dips and pureed dates for use in other raw snack recipes. The amount of frustration that I experienced trying to fish out the contents was very aggravating. I had to purchase a special spatula to get past the blades and even then I lost about 1/4th of every batch of whatever I made due to not being able to get it out of the jar. The ridges up and down the sides make it very difficult to scrape anything out as well. Since I am now using my Vita-mix just as much for these types of recipes as I do smoothies, I wish I got another brand with a more user friendly jar. The Blendtec perhaps? I am attracted to their square, smooth-sided jars.
Another deficit is the unbalanced way the blender jar sits on the base. I always feel compelled to hold onto the jar when I am blending chunks of frozen fruit. When the motor/blades are working really hard it has a tendency to rotate on the base just a little until it is stopped by the square rubber holder. This doesn't seem very secure. Also, the fact that the jar is narrow at the base and gets wider as it gets taller makes it feel top heavy and prone to easy tipping. I always felt that I couldn't step away from it while it was on because it might topple over.
When making thick concoctions, it is hard to get it clean under the blades. This is what happens when I make pureed dried fruit or nut butters. I end up wasting a lot of food this way.
One of my biggest complaints about the operation of the Vita-mix is the necessity of having to use the tamper. 98% of everything I make in this blender requires me to use the tamper. This seems like a design flaw. I have to work really hard to get everything down into the blades and even then the bottom items are much better blended that the stuff at the top. When switching to the high speed setting the blades just rotate extremely fast while nothing gets blended, unless I am forcing everything into place with the tamper.
These experiences have made me not want to use the Vita-mix for anything but what will easily pour out of the jar. This defeats the purpose of such an expensive and powerful machine. I will be returning my Vita-mix because of this.
As for how it makes smoothies... FANTASTIC! It blends anything to a smooth consistency (as long as you use the tamper!) The fruit and spinach smoothies (with added walnuts and flax meal) are a big hit with my kids. SUCCESS! Also, I make the best banana walnut "ice cream" in the Vita-mix. You will not be disappointed if this is your primary use.
Just to clarify juicing vs blending for other reviewers... They are VERY DIFFERENT. You will be discarding pulp when you juice because the point is NOT to have fiber. This makes the nutrients in the juice instantly absorbed into your body, which is the goal...as opposed to blending, which keeps the fiber of the food items and demands digestion to break down the food to make the nutrients available to your body...a much longer, slower process. One is not is better than the other...just entirely different.
I am going to purchase the BlendTech blender when I return my Vita-mix. I hope I am not disappointed. Perhaps my expectations are too high for a small kitchen appliance.
Bon Appetite!
UPDATE! I purchased (and then promptly returned) the Blendtec. I returned it within a week. I put it through the same paces as above with the Vita-mix. It failed the same tests. The straight sides of the Blendtec did not make it unnecessary to use a tamper, as was implied in their sales pitch. It did make it easier to scrape thicker recipes out of the jar though. I had to stop the machine and use a spatula to incorporate the heavier recipes I was making to make sure it was all blended together well. I won't go into any more detail except to say that for my purposes, the Blendtec was not an acceptable alternative to the Vita-mix. So, what was I to do? I really wanted a high power blender! Due to its reputation and longstanding high quality reputation, I went back to researching the Vita-mix. If only they had a different jar!!! Well, guess what?!! They DO! I purchased the Vita-mix Professional Series 750. It cost me a pretty penny more, but I can say without a doubt that it is absolutely worth it! I LOVE THIS MACHINE! The jar is shorter and wider, the sides are so accessible to scraping EVERYTHING out. I can honestly say that I can get all of the food out with a narrow spatula with no extra effort. Smoothies are a breeze and don't need the tamper most of the time. One of the features on the Blendtec that I loved was the automatic settings. This Vita-mix has it! I just dial the setting I need for what I am making and flip the start switch. I can go about my business in the kitchen and the thing turns off when it is finished blending. 95% of the time is is perfect. Pretty good percentage! I could go on and on about the different settings make this so much more functional, how the shorter jar is so much easier to use, that there is no rotation or instability of the jar and I am not afraid it will tip over,how it is way quieter than any other blender, etc... but the bottom line is, I found my blender! I have had it for over a month now. I use it everyday. Smoothies in the morning, prep cook in the evening. I blend, chop, puree... it can do everything I need except shred. I am so happy I bought it and have the piece of mind of buying a trusted, quality product with a great track record and exceptional warranty. (the Blendtec was questionable to me in this area. Also, it felt cheaply made...I didn't have confidence in its' construction and it was LOUD!! My kids would cringe when I pulled it out of the pantry. Not a good sign!)
I hope this helps! Happy Blending
March 2013 UPDATE I still LOVE my 750. I am adding this update for those of you who have asked how I still like it. I DO STILL LOVE IT. I rarely have to use the tamper, but when do it is totally appropriate for the items in jar and not because something isn't blending as it "should". When loaded correctly, making smoothies NEVER need any tamper encouragement. I find the sides extremely easy to remove food from. You have to have a small spatula for this to be easy, but just go buy the right size and you will have no problems scraping everything out of this jar. I am so happy with this purchase and continue to find new things to love about it. I AM NOT A VITAMIX Employee! Just a happy vegan mom of two, always on the lookout for ways to make cooking healthy easier!
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful
By L. Baker
I have wanted a Vitamix blender for a few years now. However, I just couldn't see myself parting with the more than $500 to get one. Inexpensive it is not, but as much as I hate the price--which is why I gave this four stars and not five--- I have to admit that this blender works extremely well. I became acquainted with vitamix through a friend. She had one, in fact she has had it now for more than 10 years. We cook together a lot for our families and doing so gave me the oppurtunity to use her vitamix quite often. We made everything in it, shakes, salad dressings,sorbets,nut milks, marinades, soups, baby food, chocolate pots, and smoothies. Through it all it has performed well. Above and beyond any blender that I have ever used. I love that most jobs take less than 1 minute with this blender. I love to cook but I hate to waste time in the kitchen. I love gadgets that save me time in the kitchen and this gadget does. When I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy my own vitamix I searched high and low for the best price. Hands down Costco had the best price, especially given that they include the 32oz dry mixer with a tamper as well as the 64oz wet mixer with a tamper. Even at a vitamix demo I would have paid $459 and only gotten the 48oz wet mixer and a 7 yr warranty. Costco gives the 7 yr warranty in their package as well so it was a no brainer for me to buy it at Costco. I've read a lot of back and forth on whether or not to buy the Vitamix or the Blendtech. I say to each her own. I personally prefer the Vitamix because I'm a cook, and every Chef and professional kitchen that I've been in has one. I think the Blendtech is great if you want to make smoothies and shakes primarily. I hear it does a beyond excellent job with those and I assume that must be the case because they are primarily in every Starbucks, Jamba juice, and Roebuck's that I've been in. I don't care to use my Vitamix for juicing, I have a Champion juicier that does an excellent job at that. So my advice is if you are on the fence about which one to buy, jump you'll be getting a great blender no matter which one you choose.
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
By J. Palmer
My first experience with the VitaMix was at the Culinary Institute of America as a student. Every kitchen was equipped with a VitaPrep, the professional version of the Vitamix. I personally saw students commit acts against nature on a daily basis. That bad boy stood up to everything we threw at it on a daily basis for year after year.
I went for years wishing that I had one in my home kitchen. When I finally decided to spring for one, I choose the VitaMix 5200. I called VitaMix and spoke with one of the customer service representatives. She told me the only difference between the VitaMix and the VitaPrep was the warranty. The VitaMix (home use) was 7 years and the VitaPrep (commercial use) was 3 years. It makes sense given the type of use that the device will see in a professional kitchen.
The home version has not disappointed. It is as sturdy as its' big brother, the VitaPrep. I also purchased the dry container, too. The almond butter is a delight. Be sure to carefully roast your almonds on a low temperature. Take them off before you think they are ready. They will continue to cook and tend to burn easily.
The VitaMix 5200 has been a wonderful addition to our family. Everyone is eating more fruits and vegetables. Some people prefer the Blendtec device. I prefer the VitaMix. The Blendtec has preprogrammed buttons. The VitaMix is entirely manual. It is very simple and in my opinion is less likely to experience trouble in the long run.
Nobody likes to spend money needlessly. Be assured that this product is worth the extra money. It is a great design, well manufactured and a good value for your food dollar. Better to save up for this than to spend your money on the Health Master. I just purchased a second VitaMix for a family member. Now that is a high recommendation.
I went for years wishing that I had one in my home kitchen. When I finally decided to spring for one, I choose the VitaMix 5200. I called VitaMix and spoke with one of the customer service representatives. She told me the only difference between the VitaMix and the VitaPrep was the warranty. The VitaMix (home use) was 7 years and the VitaPrep (commercial use) was 3 years. It makes sense given the type of use that the device will see in a professional kitchen.
The home version has not disappointed. It is as sturdy as its' big brother, the VitaPrep. I also purchased the dry container, too. The almond butter is a delight. Be sure to carefully roast your almonds on a low temperature. Take them off before you think they are ready. They will continue to cook and tend to burn easily.
The VitaMix 5200 has been a wonderful addition to our family. Everyone is eating more fruits and vegetables. Some people prefer the Blendtec device. I prefer the VitaMix. The Blendtec has preprogrammed buttons. The VitaMix is entirely manual. It is very simple and in my opinion is less likely to experience trouble in the long run.
Nobody likes to spend money needlessly. Be assured that this product is worth the extra money. It is a great design, well manufactured and a good value for your food dollar. Better to save up for this than to spend your money on the Health Master. I just purchased a second VitaMix for a family member. Now that is a high recommendation.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
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Luv it
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Published 5 months ago by M. Kim
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Except... on high speeds the blender container moves around and comes unattached to the spinning mechanism, otherwise, it blends and chops everything. I really like it.
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