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I’d like to begin with a hearty “thank you” to the person responsible for the innovation that is the blender. I don’t know about you, but I am at the point where I cannot imagine life if blenders did not exist. The ability to mix foods is one thing, but blending them to create a single product with a single consistency is a marvel.
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Vitamix
For every product that exists, there is a regular variety, and then there is a premium variety. Take cars, for example. A Honda Civic is one of the most reliable cars on the market, but it’s no BMW.
Similarly, not all blenders are created equal, and the Vitamix line stands out as the gold standard. These blenders are very durable, they handle workloads some other variations can’t, they have a premium feel, the textures they create are out of this world, they bring amazing flavors out of your ingredients, and they have self-cleaning properties.
With all this functionality, it stands to reason that Vitamix blenders are quite costly. In fact, Vitamix has a payment plan option that allows buyers to pay for their products over a two-year period. Obviously, not everyone can afford a blender that requires financing. So check out the description below of five blenders that are great alternatives to the Vitamix line.
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1. NutriBullet Rx N17-1001 Blender
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2. Oster Versa Pro Series Blender
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3. Hamilton Beach Professional 1500W
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4. Ninja Chef
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5. Cleanblend
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NutriBullet Rx N17-1001 Blender
Kicking off the list is the Rx N17-1001 from NutriBullet, billed as “nature’s prescription for optimum health.” As previously mentioned, one of the biggest selling points of the Vitamix line is the consistency and textures that they can achieve. Apart from just feeling nice and looking uniform, breaking down the ingredients into such a state is perfect for consumption. After ingestion and digestion, the next phase that the body goes through is absorption. The more that food is broken down prior to entering the body, the easier and faster it is absorbed into the bloodstream to provide you with all your nutrients.
With a 1700-watt, 2.3 horsepower motor, this blender can take the toughest of ingredients and break them down to facilitate the process of absorption. The blend and consistency created from using this blender are perfect for getting your nutrients, making them bioavailable, and promoting your health.
When you are dealing with such a powerful item, it is hard to shake concerns over the possibility of electrical problems or failure. You need not worry about that, as this product has been tested against both Canadian and US electrical standards and was deemed compliant.
What I like
I’m a huge fan of the power that this blender brings to the blending process. It feels like a beast with both hard and soft ingredients. The reason it provides such consistent and nutrient-dense results is the way it simply shreds the skin of fruits and vegetables, bursts seeds open, rips pulp apart, and cracks its way through stalks.
Multi-function capability is always something that grabs me. Imagine my surprise and joy to find out that I can make soup in a blender. It has a powerful heating function that can heat soup to piping hot in only seven minutes.
I don’t like to be wasteful, so I appreciate when a blender helps me to regulate my servings well. Instead of having to guess how much to make, I can simply use the different top pieces based on the quantity I want. There’s a one-liter pitcher, which is perfect for making smoothies for multiple people, while I can use the 30-ounce cup to make something for just me.
Oster Versa Pro Series Blender
Oster has really been making a name for itself over the years in the world of kitchen appliances, and this another in the arsenal.
The first thing I must mention is the Tritan jar that the blending is done in, which is made from BPA-free material. Worrying about BPA seeping into your smoothies, shakes, or drinks is not comforting, and this concern grows as an appliance ages. There is none of that concern with this blender. The jar accommodates up to two liters at a time.
The blade used at the base to churn the ingredients is made from stainless steel, and it reaches speeds of up to 250 mph while it is being used.
When you imagine how fast a vehicle moves at that speed, you can understand why anything made with this blender comes out with a perfect consistency.
What I like
There are a couple nice touches with this blender. The first is its preprogrammed settings that are truly a marvel. The idea is that you can control the consistency of whatever you make.
There is the traditional pulse function, but there are also settings labeled “smoothie,” “soup,” and “dips/spreads.” These settings give you a great idea of the kind of output you can look forward to. There’s also a tamper included that allows you to push harder ingredients to the base where they are close to the blades.
Inspiration for what to make is always good to have, and this blender gets your creative juices flowing with two beautifully rendered recipe books.
The warranty on this unit is also incredible: it lasts for seven years. It covers all faults that are not caused by you or external factors to the design.
Hamilton Beach Professional 1500W Quiet Shield Blender
The motor in this blender is the definition of power as it pulls 1500 watts and peaks at 20 horsepower—perfect for breaking down hard ingredients such as frozen fruits in no time at all. There are numerous blending functions such as grind, mix, juice, blend, and more, which help to control the output. There is also a speed dial that allows for even more control.
The blending jar can accommodate up to a liter and is made using BPA-free material, which is great for your health. The jar is also made for durability and is shatterproof. The jar and all the parts that interact with it are dishwasher safe, which is great for cleaning purposes. Speaking of cleaning, this blender has an auto-clean, one touch program that prepares the jar for washing.
What I like
What stood out to me the most about this blender is the shield that is included. Blenders are great for making tasty treats, but they are not quiet. The option to silence your blender during its operation is great, and I commend Hamilton Beach for including such a feature. Of course, the choice to use the enclosure is yours, but I do recommend it.
Blending tough ingredients can be a challenge, and this blender includes a tamper to push them closer to the blade so they can be well blended. The tamper is also dishwasher safe, which gives you more control over your cleaning process.
Ninja Chef Countertop Blender
This blender provides a very high level of control over what you make, as it has an incredible 10 preset “Auto-iQ®” programs to help achieve what you are looking for. For even more precision, this blender has an optional manual mode to fine-tune your results. There are a total of 10 manual mode speeds available. The blender has the power to support your customization needs with an advanced 1500-watt motor system, in tandem with next-generation, high-speed blades. There is a huge emphasis on speed with this blender, and while that does result in loud operation at times, it breaks down your ingredients remarkably quickly and gives you whatever consistency you desire based on the setting you use.
This blender has a 72 oz. pitcher; however, it can only accommodate 64 oz. (2 liters) of liquid at a time. The pitcher is made using BPA-free material, which is great news for your health. The lid provides ventilation without causing your ingredients to spill all over the place. In fact, this is one of those heavy-duty blenders that does not require you to put force on the lid to keep it in place. You can walk away, answer your phone, use the restroom, feed your dog, etc. while this blender churns away without worrying about any movement in the lid.
What I like
This blender is built like a truck. I honestly cannot get over the industrial feel and the sheer power it offers for your blending pleasure. The noise it makes is not a bother; its power means it only needs to operate for short periods at a time.
Cleaning is an issue for me, and I love the cleaning potential that this blender offers. The unit offers an easy clean program, which works with hot water and dishwashing liquid to give pristine results. Also, the pitcher, lid, and cap are all dishwasher safe, which means that there is not much manual cleaning to be done if you have a dishwasher.
As I mentioned earlier, I like when a manufacturer gives me assistance to get my creative juices flowing. Ninja Chef decided to give a big hand with this, as the product is shipped with a 50-recipe booklet.
Achieving multiple results with a single appliance is another big plus, so I must mention that this blender is not only in its comfort zone with frozen and hard ingredients. Feel free to put it to the test with hot soup! You won’t be disappointed.
The parts for this blender are all available from Ninja Chef’s website individually. You can purchase the motor base or the pitcher along with its cap. Additionally, you can purchase a blender cup kit and a frozen treat accessory kit to enhance your experience.
Cleanblend Commercial Blender
Bear in mind that I am not taking anything away from the other blenders; they are all stellar choices. However, I have to say that the best has been saved for last here. Cleanblend knocked it out of the park with this one.
The first point to mention is the BPA-free material used in making the blender. This has tremendous health benefits as it prevents toxic chemicals from entering the food you make in the blender. The pitcher has a 2-liter capacity, which can serve large or small crowds. There is also a tamper (also BPA-free) to assist you to get the hardest items to the blades.
The unit boasts a 3 horsepower, 1800-watt motor that provides immense power to the blades. Speaking of blades, this unit uses an incredible 8-blade system with a sealed ball bearing. This bearing means that blending is maximized with every use. So do not expect to see a single trace of any ingredients you put in when the blend is complete. All this blender gives is a consistent output that has been perfectly blended. When you consider the function of a blender, you realize that the blade is the most important component. Cleanblend really focused on the blade system, and they came up with an efficient one that produces any consistency that you need. Of course, having multiple speed settings and a pulse setting are more reasons that achieving any desired consistency is possible.
What I like
I’m not sure if you can tell, but I like this blender a lot. It takes the cake where multifunction is concerned; it can replace up to nine other kitchen appliances. Whether you are looking to make juice, smoothies, soups, batters, sauces, salsas, dressings, etc., this blender is fast, and it does it all. There is for other dedicated appliance.
The quality of this blender rivals that of Vitamix. While it can be used for household applications, it has the quality of a premium industrial blender and can be used as such.
I love the fact that Cleanblend stands behind its product and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are unsatisfied. Do not expect to be disappointed, though.
Which One to Buy
Now that all the necessary information has been provided what these blenders can do, it is time to help you decide which one to buy. Consider the below factors as you choose.
Functionality
What do you need your blender to do? Are you just making basic smoothies and shakes? If so, then it’s best to get one of the simpler models without all the additional features. If it can blend well and it has a tamper, you should be satisfied.
However, if you intend to use other functions such as soup making or customizing the consistency you get from the blender, then your best bet is getting a multifunction model that also allows for speed and consistency customization.
The bottom line is to select the blender based on how you intend to use it.
Build Quality
A blender needs to be solid enough to withstand whatever you throw at it. Frozen items, nuts, etc. are very hard, and some blender blades suffer when they must work on these.
Remember that a blender’s blade is the most important part of the machine, and the power that it can access from the motor also determines how much it can handle.
Think of the most difficult item you can imagine using a blender for and get one that can accommodate such a load.
Cost
Cost is one of the reasons for this whole blender review. It started with a need to avoid Vitamix costs. The advice here is very simple. Do not intentionally go cheap, especially since this blender must be able to stand up to your needs and be durable. Get the most expensive one within your price range that has the most features that you need.
Pay for the quality now so you don’t end up paying again later.
Final Remarks
Vitamix blenders are awesome appliances. However, there is no need to set yourself back hundreds of dollars. There are much cheaper alternatives that can produce similar results, and today I discussed five of the best options. You deserve to be able to enjoy premium blends without premium cost, and I hope that you thoroughly review the information presented to you make an optimal purchase.
