In the past nine months, I’ve put this powerful blender to work on a lot of tasty creations.

• Daily green smoothies
• Soups
• Salsas
• Nut butters
• Sauces
• Raw, vegan ice creams and more.

The counter indicates that it’s made 1588 blends since I purchased it. That’s about six blends per day!

I get a lot of questions about my Blendtec blender, so here’s a list of some top questions that I will answer with over nine months of experience using this product extensively.

Which is better, Vita-Mix or Blendtec?

I’ve written an extensive article on this a while ago that compares these two blenders in detail. I have used the Vita-Mix before and I have to say that I prefer the user experience of a Blendtec. I’m not a fan of the switch and dial interface on the Vita-Mix.

I almost purchased a Vita-Mix, but ended up with a Blendtec after watching a demo at Costco. After using a Vita-Mix a couple months later, I was so glad that I purchased the Blendtec!

Some of the things I really like about the Total Blender is it’s size, design and simplicity. The preset buttons are handy for blending up perfectly rich smoothies, soups or whatever you want with just one touch of a button. The blender runs it’s cycle and then it stops when the cycle is over. You can walk away and prepare something else. You can’t really do that on a Vita-Mix.

The manual “Pulse” button and the speed controls on the Blendtec Total Blender are responsive and precise. I’ve never had a problem getting what I want out of this blender and I’m a big control freak when it comes to manual settings.

Does The Blendtec Total Blender Really Make Better Smoothies?

Yes it does! An average blender that you get at a department store will have a 500-watt motor at best.

• The Blendtec Total Blender has a 1500-watt motor and a blade that spins much, much faster.
• You’ll get richer, creamier smoothies with no chunks of fruit or bits of greens to get stuck in your teeth. 
• You can blend pineapples, core and all.  Add whole fruit, seeds and all.
• I can toss in whole flax or sesame seeds and even cacao (nibs or beans) and have them pulverized and thoroughly blended in a single 30-second smoothie blend cycle!

Does Blendtec blend well without a tamper tool?

In my experience, I haven’t wished I had a tamper tool for my Blendtec. The large blade and square pitcher design does, for the most part, just what the sales literature says. It pulls the ingredients into the blades with a powerful vortex.

If you get the WildSide or upgrade to the WildSide pitcher, you won’t need a tamper. Not even for green smoothies made with lots of greens. I simply stuff my pitcher full, hit the “Smoothie” button and watch in amazement as my smoothie makes itself. No tamper needed.

The basic FourSide pitcher does a great job too. It’s doesn’t handle green smoothies with the same ease as the WildSide pitcher does, but it certainly does the job and you won’t feel the need to use a tamper. Simply hit the “Pulse” button a couple times, then hit the “Smoothie” button.

All in all, I’ve never wished Blendtec made a tamper tool and I never felt the need to get an aftermarket one on eBay…even though it’s just $10 and I use the standard sized pitcher.

Does it really make hot soup?

The Blendtec Total Blender heats soup with friction from blades that spin up to 300 miles per hour. There is no heating element in the blender. You should add warm water to the blender as it will heat it up further to a satisfactory, steamy soup by the end of the 90-second “Soup” cycle. If you put cold water in, you’ll have to run the “Soup” cycle twice to get hot soup. Based on the superior motor power and speed of the blade, I would say the Blendtec does a better job at heating soup.

Would you buy another Blendtec after using this one?

YES!! I would definitely purchase another Blendtec blender. In fact, I’d probably get the Tom Dickson Extreme Blender by Blendtec. It’s a blender with a ridiculously, delightfully powerful 20-amp, 2400 watt motor (the Total Blender has a 1500 watt motor, which is still super powerful). It costs a lot more but I’d be comfortable putting just about anything in that blender and knowing for sure that yes, it will blend!

Is the Blendtec Total Blender worth the cost?

At just under $400, the Blendtec Total Blender isn’t cheap, but it’s designed to be a professional-level blender that you will use regularly for a long, long time. It’s worth the price because it will make better smoothies, which leads to better nutrition and health. It also saves you a lot of time. You won’t spend so much time chopping fruit and greens before adding them (just throw large chunks in) and you won’t be “fighting” with it like you will with a cheap blender.

Cleanup is a breeze too. Just add some hot water and a drop of soap or a piece of fresh lemon and run the smoothie cycle. Thirty seconds later you have a clean, fresh-smelling blender pitcher with no disassembly required.

On time savings alone, the cost of a Blendtec blender is worth it for me. I calculated that I save 182.5 hours a year using a Blendtec blender over my old blender.

You won’t get a smoother, creamier green smoothie from any department store blender. Check out the Blendtec Total Blender for yourself and experience better green smoothies plus so much more!

Vitamix vs. Blendtec

Price: Vitamix and Blendtec are expensive blenders. Vita-Mix starts at $449 retail while Blendtec starts at $435. Street prices are slightly lower and I frequently see Vita-Mix machines just under $400. Blendtec has a price advantage over Vitamix in that $435 pays for everything you need to blend and grind wet and dry ingredients. Vita-Mix has a separate dry pitcher for grinding grains into flour and blending other dry ingredients which is sold separately, or included in an upgraded Vitamix package on their website.

Power/Speed: The Vitamix blender features a 2 peak horsepower motor that spins its blade at variable speeds from 11 mph (miles per hour) to 240 mph. The Blendtec blender boasts more power with a 3 peak horsepower, 1560 watt motor that spins its blade up to 300 mph according to the product video. While many people cite Blendtec’s greater horsepower as a sign of a better blender, Vitamix is no less capable of achieving the same results as the Blendtec. Basically, there’s no real difference between a 3 horsepower motor or a 2 horsepower motor when you’re blending up food items.

Warranty: Vitamix has a solid 7-year warranty that covers the “entire machine”. Blendtec also comes with a 7-year warranty with the option to extend it to 10 years! When I purchased my Blendtec at Costco several years ago, I was given a free 4-year extended warranty card which I had to fill out and mail to Blendtec to extend my warranty to 7 years on the base only. Blendtec now offers a full 7-year warranty which puts it on even ground with Vitamix in this category.

Durability: Both Blendtec and Vitamix are high-end blenders designed to perform a variety of kitchen tasks. They are quite a step up from a $100 name-brand blender you’d pick up at a department store. Both blenders feature break-resistant, BPA-free copolyester pitchers, stainless steel blades and durably-built base. Both blenders will pulverize hard materials such as ice, frozen fruits, nuts, seeds, grains and coffee beans.

Dimensions: Blendtec has an advantage over Vitamix on size. Blendtec is shorter at 15-and-a-half inches tall with pitcher, which means that it can fit under most cabinets when placed on your kitchen counter. Blendtec machines are about the same size as a standard blender so you don’t need to make extra room for it, and it fits neatly into a small apartment kitchen, RV or other small space.

Vitamix is taller at 20-and-a-half inches with pitcher, so it will take up a little more space in your kitchen and might not be able to fit neatly under your cupboards. The width and depth dimensions on both blenders are pretty similar, but the Blendtec weighs 12 pounds vs. Vitamix at 10 pounds.

Pitcher: Both blenders feature a 64-ounce pitcher made from a durable, break-resistant copolyester (plastic). Unlike the Vitamix, the Blendtec blade is fused to the pitcher, so if the pitcher should need replacing, you’re also replacing the blade. Fortunately, a new Blendtec pitcher is fairly inexpensive and I have seen it on sale for under $60. Blendtec also has a 96-ounce pitcher (WildSide) for sale as well which will come in handy if you’re making smoothies for a whole family.

Interface – Buttons vs. Dials: The Vitamix features a switch and dial interface giving you precise, manual control of your blending. Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks to dials and switches is that they can be hard to clean. In contrast, Blendtec features a push-button interface which wipes clean easily. You can set speeds manually by pressing the “up” or “down” buttons. I find these buttons responsive and easy to use. Blendtec also features pre-programed buttons for smoothies, whole juices, soups, ice creams, milk shakes, etc.

The new Blendtec Designer Series blenders features a “touch user interface”. There are no buttons to press. Simply touch the lighted icons on the interface to activate the pulse and blending cycles, or to turn off and on. A wicked cool slider bar allows you to speed up or slow down your blend by simply sliding your finger left or right. The control is precise and responsive. It is pretty cool!

The Tamper: Vitamix includes a tamper, which is like a plunger that pushes the ingredients down into the blades of the blender. It’s a great tool, especially when making green smoothies as large handfuls of leafy greens love to get caught in the pitcher, unreachable by the blades. Blendtec does not have a tamper attachment but instead boasts a square-pitcher and unique straight-blade design which they say makes a tamper unnecessary.

The larger Blendtec WildSide pitcher (3 quart with 4 inch blade) renders a tamper tool unnecessary. I’m amazed at how I can pack the pitcher full of fruit and greens, then hit the smoothie button and in 30 seconds have a rich, creamy smoothie. Nothing gets stuck. I don’t have to stop and push it down or give it a shake. I don’t even have to hit the “Pulse” button first. It is absolutely worth it to get the WildSide pitcher for green smoothie making.

When I use the standard Blendtec pitcher (FourSide), I usually need to hit the “pulse” button a couple times before running the smoothie cycle. Depending on how full I fill the pitcher or what my greens to fruit ratio is, I might have to push the greens down with a spoon or give the pitcher a shake after I hit “pulse” a couple times and before I run the smoothie cycle but not always. Keep in mind that I regularly stuff an entire head of romaine lettuce or up to 4-5 cups of kale (large, whole leaves).

Again, if you are serious about making a daily green smoothie, I would recommend getting the WildSide pitcher.

Noise: The Vitamix appears to be slightly less noisy than the Blendtec, but I don’t think the Blendtec is unreasonably loud. It’s as loud if not maybe slightly quieter than my old Cuisinart blender, and it takes a lot less time to make a smoothie than the Cuisinart. The new Blendtec Designer Series blender is slightly quieter than the standard Blendtec Classic Series.

Clean-Up: Both blenders are easy to clean. Simply add a little hot water and a drop of dish soap and run a blend cycle and you’re done. You can take the Vitamix pitcher apart since it has a removable blade. The Blendtec does not have a removable blade. Their straight-blade design makes it much easier to clean the pitcher, and the blade won’t be cut your fingers either. I love not having to take my blender apart to clean it!

The Blendtec’s square pitcher design also makes it easy to pour smoothies and scrape out thick, gloppy nut-butters or puddings. The pitcher is easy to wipe clean. One complaint I hear frequently about the Vitamix is that it can be difficult to remove ingredients caught beneath or around the blades in its narrowing, rounded pitcher design.

Blade: The Vitamix features a familiar, four-tipped blade. Blendtec has a single prong, wingtip straight blade.

Color/Design: The Vitamix 5200 (the most recent version) is a stylish blender that has an upscale appearance. It looks like serious business! It comes in black, white and red. The Blendtec Total Blender has a sleek, modern design. It’s not as retro-cool looking to me as the Vitamix, but my wife loves the sleek, modern design of the Blendtec Total Blender which is available in black, white and red.

The Blendtec Designer Series blender has a very sleek, modern design with a lighted “touch user interface”. It looks and feels modern and high-tech.

Overall Online Support: While Blendtec has a wildly popular and entertaining “Will It Blend” marketing campaign on YouTube, Vitamix has an amazingly information-packed website that contains a forum, recipes, nutrition information and specific content catering to raw foodists, vegetarians and even babyboomers. The Vitamix website and recipe book features more healthy recipes than the Blendtec. However, I don’t feel that this is a reason to choose one machine over another. I just wish that Blendtec had more of a community feel like the Vitamix brand.

Performance: When it comes to making silky, rich smoothies, both blenders do a fantastic job. I can’t say that one outperforms the other when it comes to green smoothies. Both blenders break up cell walls, which unlocks the nutrition in fruit, vegetables and greens better than any other lower-powered blenders can. Both the Vitamix and the Blendtec can make smoothies, nut butters, hot soup, frozen ice cream, crush ice and grind grains.

Made In The USA: Both Blendtec and Vitamix are made in the USA.

So, Which Is The Best Blender?

Well, this is a subject of debate online. You might as well ask if a Mac is better than a PC or a Nikon camera better than a Canon camera. Basically, those who have a Blendtec love their blender, and those who have a Vitamix swear by it as well. I recommend that you look at the subtle differences between the two and see which one feels the best to you.

Personally, I have a Blendtec Total Blender and I love it. For Tracy and I, size was an issue and we liked the smaller form-factor of the Blendtec over the Vitamix. Aesthetically, Tracy preferred the Blendtec. Whether you choose the Vitamix or the Blendtec, I don’t think you will be disappointed at all.

What’s Your Vote?

Do you own a Vitamix or Blendtec blender? Post a comment below and let us know what you like or dislike about your blender!

Okay, You’ve Chosen A Blender – Now What?

It’s time to put that blender to good use! I’d like to show you how I lost up to 40 pounds with green smoothies. I’d like to show you how you can increase your energy, detox and actually look forward to getting your 5+ servings of fruit and vegetables every single day – without having to eat boring salads or chomping on celery sticks.

Our Green Smoothie Health program features over 100 delicious smoothie recipes that target specific health goals you might have. Whether you want to lose weight, recover from a head cold faster (or not get one to begin with), improve your love life, boost your workout performance, enhance your creativity and more, we’ve got a recipe for you. You’ll also get expert tips and advice as well as answers to over 100 questions about green smoothies, health and nutrition.

The Green Smoothie Health program helps you kickstart a new, healthier lifestyle. Try it today!.

Whether you have a simple $20 blender or a mid-range machine costing around $100, you might be considering upgrading.

However, the price point is hard to justify. Both Vitamix and Blendtec retail at around $400 each. Is it worth shelling out the big bucks for a high-end blender? Do these machines really do more than your current $80 blender?

Does a $400 blender really make a better green smoothie?

I recently decided to move up from my trusty $100 name-brand blender and enter the world of professional-level smoothie blenders. I was very reluctant to spend that much money on a Blendtec Total Blender, but now that I own one, I can see how it is completely worth it and pays for itself in so many ways.

Better Quality Smoothies

We’ve all heard that you get what you pay for, and when you invest in a high-end blender, you get high-end smoothies! I was used to the green smoothies I made with my old blender. I accepted the “sip and chew” way of “enjoying” green smoothies made with kale, parsley or other leafy greens. The occasional chunk of unblended fruit was simply a part of the smoothie experience.

Since using a high-end blender, there is no more “sip and chew”. All greens, fruit, nuts and seeds that I add to my green smoothie are thoroughly blended into the richest, creamiest smoothie I’ve ever had. Both the quality of the smoothie and the quality of the experience of making smoothies on a daily basis are much improved with a high-end blender.

Time Savings

With my old blender, I’d have to chop everything up before adding it to the pitcher to make a green smoothie. I’d have to cut up the carrot, slice the tomato, chop the spinach and cut mangoes, apples or pears into small chunks. I’d then have to blend for a few seconds, stop the machine, pack ingredients down with a mixing spoon and then fire up the blender again to blend some more. Sometimes I’d have to lift the pitcher and give it a good shake. I’d repeat this cycle about 4 to 6 times until all of the ingredients were finally blended enough so that they can be pureed into a smoothie. It would take at least 20 minutes to make a Big Blend Smoothie.

After I enjoyed my green smoothie, I’d then have to clean the blender, which was a chore involving removing the blade assembly from the pitcher and cleaning around the blades with a scrubbing brush. I’d have to clean the base, avoid loosing the rubber gasket seal and try (sometimes unsuccessfully) to avoid getting cut while cleaning the sharp blades.

Now that I have a Blendtec blender, I do not need to chop up the fruit as much. I can place larger chunks of food, simply break a carrot in half and toss in handfuls of greens and then blend. Twenty-five seconds later, I have a rich, creamy green smoothie. Cleanup is a breeze too. I add one cup hot water with one drop dish soap to the pitcher, run it through one blend cycle, rinse with water and the blender is clean and ready for it’s next use.

I can now make a Big Blend Smoothie and clean the blender in under 10 minutes. Since I use my blender two to three times each day, this saves about 30-minutes a day. That’s 182.5 extra hours each year! That’s seven and a half whole days each year that I do not need to spend chopping and cleaning!

Maximized Nutrition Benefits

Blenders blend fruits and vegetables so thoroughly that they break down cell walls, unlocking the maximum amount of nutrients, antioxidants and phytonutrients that you can’t get from chewing alone. You will unlock even more nutrition from a high end blender since you won’t have even small bits of greens or other fruits that other blenders might not be powerful enough to handle. Tough leafy greens such as kale, collard greens and parsley blend up thoroughly in a high-speed blender.

Fruits such as pineapples are fully utilized in a high-end blender since they can pulverize and puree the tough core that we usually discard. It is in the pineapple’s core where most of the bromelain is contained. Bromelain is a powerful anti-inflammatory and digestive aid found in higher concentrations in the pineapples core and only a high-end blender can “unlock” this nutritional powerhouse.

Less Waste

A high-speed, powerful blender can puree entire fruits, seeds and all. When I watched the Blendtec demonstration in the store, the rep added whole strawberries (including the caps with green leaves) to the smoothie. I had always cut the tops off and discarded the leaves. The Blendtec blended it all up in a creamy smoothie where my old blender would have likely had bits of leaf in it. Stems, leaves, the core and seeds can be blended in a rich smoothie with no chunks or bits to chew. And as I mentioned above, I won’t be discarding pineapple core anymore.

Expanded Options For A Healthy Lifestyle

One of the great selling-points for me on a high-end blender is that both Blendtec and Vitamix machines can make hot soup in the blender. That’s right, if you want a quick and easy meal using whole foods, you can use the same machine you use to make green smoothies. In my Blendtec, I can simply add a whole carrot, a plum tomato, a slice of onion, a stalk of celery and 2 cups of hot water with some herbs and spices and in 90 seconds, I have hot, steamy soup packed full of nutrients! The blender spins so fast on it’s “soup” setting that it heats the ingredients with friction!

Having the ability to make vegetable soup in my blender gives me more options for eating healthy with an active lifestyle. My blender does double duty, making green smoothies or hot soup when I need a warm, less sweet meal later in the day.

Lasts Longer

Another benefit to investing in a high-end blender is that they are professional-level machines. You will see Vitamix and Blendtec machines in popular smoothie bars, restaurants, coffee shops and bars where these machines are used extensively on a daily basis. Not only do you get a dependable, durable blender that will last you many years (perhaps a lifetime), you also get a warranty that outlasts your old blender’s total expected operation life.

Do You Need A High-End Blender?

My experience with the Blendtec Total Blender proved that it was the right purchase from day one. I make green smoothies at least twice each and every day. I use a food processor frequently for many healthy recipes. I now have healthy vegetable soups regularly, and I was never a soup person before! Both the Blendtec and Vitamix blenders can do double duty, making the need for a separate blender and food processor obsolete. They can even mix batters, doughs, syrups, salsas, dips, juices and nut butters. Making smoothies and soups are much easier now than they were with my old blender. For me, investing in a high-end blender was worth the cost just in the time savings and ease of cleaning.

If you have adopted a whole foods lifestyle and use your blender on a daily basis, you will see significant improvements in the quality of your smoothies, time and usability by investing in your health and a new, high-end blender.

Are you thinking about upgrading to a Blendtec? Check out my Frequently Asked Questions About My Blendtec Total Blender post.