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BlendTec Owners: Is it "better"?

germin8germin8 Raw Master

I just watched the video’s on BlendTec… and I was impressed when they mentioned they don’t need a tamper. Do any of you BlendTec blenders agree?

What about the pre-programmed buttons? Hit the “start” button you want… and it stops on it’s own. Anyone like these features?

I’m going to buy my 2nd high-speed blender… I have a VitaMix right now, which I really like… but, I’m curious about the BlendTec.

Comments

  • LOVE LOVE LOVE the BlendTec! I never had the VitaMix, so I can’t compare. But I don’t need a tamper. I agree with that! On very rare ocassions, I have had to open and “re-adjust” the food b/c of no air pockets or not enough liquid to get the cycle going. But that was probably about 5 times out of the 500 plus times it has been used.
    We mostly use the smoothie button. It is done in less than a minute. But you don’t have to use the pre-programmed buttons. You can run the cycle anyway you want. You have the option. LOVE THE BLENDTEC!

  • germin8germin8 Raw Master

    Thanks, wanna_B_raw. That’s good to know. I was a bit skeptical. Plus, they recommend adding a tad water or ice on the (rare) occasion that does happen. When you say “any way you want” is there a plain ON button to turn it on? ...rather than these pre-programmed buttons. I didn’t check to see.

    I think having 2 VitaMix is better because the parts are inter-changeable. Plus, the warranty is longer for VitaMix… but, I really want to try the BlendTec too. Decisions… I know, I should just pick one… I’ll be happy anyway. :o)

  • BluedolfinBluedolfin Raw Newbie

    To someone who has a BlendTec~ I went to the website. Does the top have a hole in it to put stuff in without taking off the top? It looks from the pictures that it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, have you found it to be bothersome? The machine looks great though. The “Will It Blend?” clips are very entertaining. I saw a little of one that had sparks from the intro of one of the clips but was unable to find the full clip… anyone know what was being blended? Might have been a SUPERMAN powerful green smoothie. ;)

  • I have a BlendTec that I just got for Christmas. All I can really compare it to is the Osterizer blender I had before and the BlendTec is WAY better. I don’t need to add nearly as much water or juice to get smoothies moving. I have only used the smoothie button so far, but it works great! And is MUCH easier to clean since I don’t need to take the whole thing apart.

    Bluedophin, the lid looks like it has a hole, but I’m not sure if it comes out or not, I haven’t tried yet. Once it starts blending, I have taken off the lid to add stuff. The top needs to be on there when it first starts up though. Otherwise, smoothie gets all over the place!

  • kundalalitakundalalita Raw Newbie

    I have the BlendTec. I haven’t had a VitaMix so I can’t compare from personal experience, but I really like mine. It is a really powerful thing, and it has more horsepower than the VitaMix. It gets the job done whether its smoothie or food processing without needing to add much water. There’s no hole on the top, just a small one to let out air because the pressure would make the top fly off otherwise (believe me i covered it with my finger once). In terms of whether the options are useful or not… i think they are because the blender automatically slows down and speeds up on its own while you can go chop or run away from the noise.

    this website that compares the two is what ultimately helped me make my decision: http://www.rawguru.com/vita-mix/vitamix-blender-blendtec-comparison-chart.html

    Top 10 reasons to buy The Total Blender over the Vita-Prep/Vita-Mix Blenders.

    1. Same warranty
    2. More Horsepower ( 3-Peak horsepower)
    3. Shorter/Wider container fits under cabinets better.
    4. The Total Blender container can be used for both wet & dry material.
    5. The Total Blender does not need a tamper (because of container design).
    6. Automatic shut-off
    7. Motor does not heat up as fast as the Vita-Prep
    8. Microprocessor controlled – 100% solid state
    9. Easier and faster to clean than the Vita-Prep.
    10. Costs less than the Vita-Prep.

  • germin8germin8 Raw Master

    1. It’s actually a different warranty. I think VitaMix is 7 or 10 yr and BlendTec is 3 or 5.
    2. Yeah, amazing a 3 HP
    3. Yes, this is a nice feature and another reason I’m considering it.
    6. Automatic shut-off… great!
    7. Really? That’s a plus.
    10. They’re all $400… and I found a VitaMix for $380.

    What is the container made of… is it “safe”?

    Any Waring blender owners out there? It’s another to consider.

    Thanks kundalalita… some of those reasons I didn’t know about.

  • greeniegreenie Raw Newbie

    I have the Blend-Tec, actually a K-tec (same company). I bought it about 5-6 years ago and I love it. It’s well enough designed that I have almost never needed to re-adjust the contents to get it to blend. It really is a workhorse.

    There is a hole in the lid, it’s just recessed and a little more difficult to get out than traditional blenders.

    I tried the Vitamix about 10 years ago and hated it. It’s all probably different now because people love their Vitamix, but then it had a weird base and sparks flew out of it when I used it. The company said that was normal and not to worry but I returned it. It was also way too complicated for my taste. IIRC, their recipes suggested blending in stages, each with their specific # of SECONDS. For example, a recipe would tell you to blend on the #4 level for 12 seconds and then the #2 level for 8 seconds, then # 7 for another 8 seconds. Give me a break!

    It was also a nuisance to clean up, the carafe had a spigot that was very hard to clean.

    I don’t know if the Vitamix still emits sparks and has such complicated instructions. I do know it’s much taller than the BlendTec, so it won’t fit under many kitchen cabinets; and that it requires a tamper.

    The Blendtec carafe is way different from Vitamix’s, too. The Vitamix carafe is like a traditional blender, it looks like you unscrew the blade assembly to clean it. Not so with the Blendtec, it’s all one piece, you just rinse it out and you’re good to go. Or put some water and a few drops of detergent in it, blend that up for a few seconds, and rinse it out to get it sparkling clean. Very very simple for us lazy bones.

    I hope this helps.

  • queenfluffqueenfluff Raw Newbie

    How I love my Blendtec! I got mine from rawguru.com. Raw Guru site also helps me decide between the blenders. It is normally discounted there and you get free shipping. Can’t beat that!

    I remember that I was considering getting one but I had a working Oster at the time and than all of a sudden it died on me (well, I tried to grind Brazil Nuts in it!) so I ordered my BlendTec and put a note that said “Send ASAP Please! My blender just died on me”. Well, I got it TWO days later! Pretty good for free shipping! :)

    I have used have used the Vita-Mix before and I don’t like it. The Blendtec is sleeker and lighter and has all those cute programmed buttons which I love. There is no “stick” – I only find I need a spatula when doing nut butter – and there is a “hole” in the top with a little cap that comes off – the little cap has a small hole in it too. It actually called a “steam” hole I believe. If you have alot of steam when blending something to be warm, you can remove the cap to let more steam out – otherwise, you leave it on.

    It comes with a recipe book (there are some raw recipes in there!) and steps of what buttons and setting to use for different things. I even make hot chocolate in mine and it doesn’t get really hot so it is more like warm.

    I got the black one and I call it “Darth Blendie” – the shape of it when the lid is on made me think of Darth Vaders head from Star Wars! Ha ha!

  • kundalalitakundalalita Raw Newbie

    The container is made out of Lexan instead of the Polycarbonate and apparently toxic Vitamix containers.

    That list was excerpted from the raw guru page I put where it actually is cheaper… got mine for $369.00 free shipping (same as queenfluff)

    Queenfluff, the name of your blender is so CUTE !!! very creative lol

  • germin8germin8 Raw Master

    Good information… thanks… I think you’ve convinced me about the BlendTec… except, Lexan IS polycarbonate.

    I’m just waiting to hear about the Waring blenders now. It’s between BlendTec and Waring (VitaMix is out, unless they can give me an awesome deal for a 2nd one!)

  • germin8 When you say

  • KristensRawKristensRaw Raw Newbie

    My first choice is Blendtec and my second choice is Vitamix. I have both of these and I always use my Blendtec first. It

  • germin8germin8 Raw Master

    Thanks wanna_B_raw for checking that for me. I couldn’t imagine having to use only pre-programmed buttons. Thanks wanna_B_Raw & KristensRaw.

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