The Vitamix is the ultimate tool every kitchen can use. This Beginner’s Guide to Vitamix tells you all about this super-powerful appliance and gives 8 tips on how to use a Vitamix. Plus, delicious recipes are included!
I love, love my Vitamix.
It blends, it smooths, it creams, and well, just makes time in the kitchen easier! I love being in the kitchen and all, but why not make it fun and easy?
I use my Vitamix for soup recipes, for blending cleanish protein powder into the perfect smoothie, and even to make muffins! The Vitamix is so handy that I think every kitchen should have one.
And I guess that’s why you are here—because you have this nifty appliance and want some input on how to use a Vitamix, or you are thinking of investing in one.
You won’t regret it. Guaranteed.
Let’s look at the Vitamix and how it is the ultimate multi-tasking tool.
WHAT IS A VITAMIX?
A Vitamix is a kitchen blender that can blend anything. From delicious nut butters to awesome soups to the stickiest dough, the Vitamix is a super-blender that’s durable and up to just about any challenge! Some people may balk at the hefty price tag, but I’m here to tell you it’s worth it.
It may seem like a big layout for a blender (about $250 - $450) but the classic model Vitamix models do come with a 7-year warranty. And, you will get your money’s worth. In fact, I use mine so much that I leave it out on the counter all of the time.
Vitamix has a neat feature in that you can vary the speed with lots of control. Some blenders will have preset speeds, but with the Vitamix, you can manually control it. Another feature I love is that your Vitamix can basically self-clean! Add warm water and soap, turn on high, and watch your machine clean itself.
You’ll have to look at the different series and sizes to determine your needs based on your budget, but really, I can’t say enough about the Vitamix for convenience and help in the kitchen.
BEST TYPES OF RECIPES TO MAKE IN A VITAMIX
The Vitamix can make just about anything! It’s a kitchen appliance that you’ll soon find works for a lot of recipes:
- Frozen desserts like sorbets
- Dressings for salads
- Non-dairy milk (like making your own almond milk)
- Flours (making your own almond or coconut flour)
- Nut butters
- Alfredo sauce
- Dips
- Juices and smoothies
- Batters (for pancakes and muffins)
- Baby food
- Soup
8 TIPS FOR USING A VITAMIX
1. HOW TO LOAD A VITAMIX
How you load your Vitamix can determine how well it blends. Load it this way for ultimate results:
- Liquids: Add liquids like water, milk, and yogurt first.
- Dry items: Next, add things like protein powder, spices, and grains or seeds.
- Leafy greens: Greens like spinach and kale come next.
- Vegetables and fruits: Bananas, avocado, fresh fruits, and sweet potatoes are examples of what will go next.
- Ice and frozen items: Frozen fruit and veggies can be added now, along with ice.
Note that if you have a 20 ounce Vitamix, you’ll reverse the order because you flip the container on top of your superpower blender when mixing.
2. WET VS DRY CONTAINER
I have two containers, one for dry mixing and one for wet mixing.
- Dry: When you do a lot of dry mixing (say to grind coffee beans or make almond flour) you may see little marks on the side of the container. They are basically permanent. But that’s okay, it’s a machine well-loved! You can also use the container for drop chopping, where you drop veggies like carrots or celery through the opening onto the spinning blades.
- Wet: I keep a separate container for wet mixing of ingredients that are combined with liquids (such as cauliflower and liquid). Add the cauliflower and just enough liquid so that the cauliflower is above the blades. Once the desired texture is obtained after pulsing, I strain out the liquid. Then I use the cauliflower in recipes like Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice. I also use my wet container for smoothies and soups.
3. USE THE HIGH SPEED
You’ll see the first time that you use your Vitamix, it is noisy when on high. But you’ll get better results when you use your appliance on high. Don’t worry, your Vitamix has a cooling fan so there is no danger of overheating. Start your Vitamix on low, and then move the speed to high right away. You are not supposed to blend on low, or you risk overheating. There is an Automatic Overload Protection safety feature, though. So it will turn off if the motor starts to heat up.
4. USE THE TAMPER
Once you get your blender, you’ll want to read up on the handy tamper tool. It’s pretty straightforward – use the tamper attachment (sold separately) with the lid on! As long as the lid is on, using your tamper to push the ingredients down works well to make sure you are mixing all of the ingredients, including peanut butter that sticks to the side of the container. Using the tamper with the lid on prevents it from touching the blades as you get the mixture moving again.
5. WATCH YOUR QUANTITIES
Don’t overfill or underfill your Vitamix. Follow the recipe and you’ll be fine – doing so gives you optimum performance. Don’t go above the maximum fill line and on the other end of the scale, don’t underfill your Vitamix either. Make sure the blades are covered before you attempt to mix anything. Friction between the blades and the ingredients is needed for everything to mix properly.
6. KNOW YOUR ATTACHMENTS
There are lots of fun and handy attachments that come with your Vitamix. I’ve mentioned the tamper, and another one that I think comes in super handy is the under blade scraper. It cleans the sides and underneath the blades so that you don’t miss even an ounce of goodness. Once you get to know your Vitamix, I have no doubt that you'll want to branch out to use attachments.
7. BUILT IN MEASURING CUP
I find the built in measuring cup a cool feature! The liquid plug on the cover of the Vitamix container is a measuring cup. It has measurements for half an ounce and a full ounce. The measuring cup comes in handy if you are in the middle of mixing something and need to add a tad more ingredients.
8. CLEAN YOUR VITAMIX
When asked how to use a Vitamix, I always point out the neat cleaning feature. I mentioned the machine basically cleans itself when you fill it halfway with water and add a drop or two of dish soap. Just turn the machine from low to high for about 30 seconds and that will do the trick.
Still, you should clean it thoroughly every now and then, especially if you see the container becoming cloudy. This is a natural occurrence and may happen after blending some spicy recipes, or if your water is hard. I use vinegar, which works just great. Add one cup of vinegar to the container and fill it the rest of the way with water. I let it sit overnight and then wash it the next day. It’s sparkling after that simple step.
VITAMIX PANTRY STAPLES TO KEEP ON HAND
I keep certain staples on hand for easy prep when using both my slow cooker and instant pot (guides to using these amazing appliances here and here!). For the Vitamix, I keep these useful staples:
- Full-fat dairy products like plain Greek yogurt
- Natural sweeteners like raw honey and pure maple syrup
- Fresh veggies like kale and spinach
- Spices like turmeric and ginger (both have awesome benefits!)
- Frozen fruits like strawberries and blueberries
VITAMIX FOR MEAL PREP
If you’ve been following me on my weight loss journey to clean-eating influencer, you know that I am a big fan of meal prep. Meal prep helps me ensure that I am eating healthy by making sure that I always have good food in the fridge, ready to go.
I use my Vitamix for meal prep, because it saves time when chopping and prepping veggies, and creating sweet and nutritious make ahead smoothies. So if you are interested in meal prep at all, you’ll be thrilled with your Vitamix.
How do I use my Vitamix for meal prep and clean-eating?
- I make nut butters
- I prep tasty snacks to keep me on the right track
- Recipes that take chopped veggies are ready in a snap
- Creamy soups blend so well in the Vitamix
- Hummus is super quick to make in the Vitamix
Anything that you make in the Vitamix can be stored in meal prep containers and kept in the fridge for eating throughout the week. I love having lots of good food ready and waiting – you know I follow an intermittent fasting lifestyle and meal prep is a lifesaver!
MORE VITAMIX RECIPES
The Vitamix is pretty versatile. Ready to use it? Try these recipes! They can be mixed using the blender or can be made with your Vitamix.
- 4 Easy Fruit Sorbet Recipes
- Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
- No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bars
- 5 High Protein Fruit Smoothie Recipes for Weight Loss (5 Ingredients or Less!)
- 9 Ingredient Blender Chocolate Muffins
- Healthy Homemade Spinach Tortillas
- Banana Oat Blender Pancakes
- How to Make Protein Pancakes
- Queso Dip With Ground Beef (No Velveeta Needed)
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
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