Vita-Mix Blender FAQs

Q: What's special about the second container offered with the Vita-Mix Super 5000?
A: The first container's blades are ideal for processing "wet" foods, like juices, soups and frozen treats. The second container has blades specially designed for grinding whole grains and kneading bread dough. What's the difference? The wet blades pull food through the blades during processing. The dry blades push foods up and away, making it the better choice for dry grinding or kneading sticky dough.

RawGuru Comments: If you are a raw food vegan, you will not be making anything with dough or breads. The wet and dry blades produce pretty much the same result.

Q: How can the same machine cook soups AND freeze ice cream?
A: High-speed blade action is the secret to friction cooking and making frozen treats in the Vita-Mix! For frozen treats, the high-performance hammermill and cutting blades crush frozen ingredients and release coldness. Vita-Mix processing is so fast, there is no time for melting and the mixture refreezes itself. For cooking soups, the blade speed builds a friction heat that can bring fresh ingredients to boiling in 4-6 minutes.

RawGuru Comments: Heating up food in the Vita-Mix is not a great idea. You can cause the motor to burn out and for raw food recipes this is not recommenced because the more you heat, the more enzymes will be lost.

Q: What is the difference between home and commercial units?
A: Commercial machines are designed for high volume restaurant/bar operations and they perform specific drink and or food preparation tasks repeatedly. Commercial units have a one-year limited warranty and an instructional manual. Commercial units are available only through restaurant supply houses. Household units are designed for a wide variety of operations. Household units come with a full seven-year warranty, cookbooks, and instructional video. All of the Vita-Mix machines share the same high-performance motor and patented blade design. Household units are available for purchase from www.rawguru.com

RawGuru Comments: Vitamix 5000 and Super 5000 have a 7 year warranty. Vitamix 4500 has a 5 year warranty and the Vita-Prep has a 3 year warranty. We recommend the Vita-Prep blender if you are looking for a variable speed blender.

Q: What are the measurements of the machine?
A: Dimensions are 20-1/2in. tall, 7-1/4in. wide, 8-3/4in.deep. The 5000 weighs 11 lbs. and the Super 5000 weighs 13 lbs. including the dry blade container. The Vita-Prep weighs 11 lbs. and so does the Vita-Mix 4500.

Q: What are the specifications of the motor?
A: The motor is an open frame brush universal with a 2 peak motor horsepower rating, 120 volts, 60 hz, 11.5 amps, 1200 watts.

Q: What prevents the Vita-Mix machine from burning out like other "blenders"?
A: The Vita-Mix machine is built with a high efficiency radial cooling fan and has a built-in thermal protection system to prevent overload and burnout.

RawGuru Comments: This maybe true, however the Vita-Mix tends to burn out more easily than the K-TEC Blender.

Q: What is the blade tip speed?
A: The blade tip speed is 11mph to 240 m.p.h.

Q: What is the variable speed control dial for?
A: Our unique variable speed control dial enables the Vita-Mix Super 5000 to perform 35 kitchen tasks without attachments. It chops, grinds, whips, blends, freezes, cooks, stirs, purees and so much more.

RawGuru Comments: The Vita-Prep has the same ability as the Vita-Mix 5000 series.

Q: How much will the polycarbonate container hold?
A: The polycarbonate container will hold up to 64 oz. The Vita-Mix machine can process as little as 4 ounces and as much as 1/2 gallon.

RawGuru Comments: This is not always true. If you put less than 1 cup of food you would need to add water to get the blending process started. This also depends on what food item you are blending.

Q: How long is the cord?
A: The Vita-Mix machines feature an extra long 6 foot, 3-prong safety cord with a special hideaway feature that keeps the unused cord safely stored under the motor base.

RawGuru Comments: This addition is very helpful when you use the Vita-Mix everyday.

Q: How can I tell if my machine is under warranty?
A: All machines come with a full manufacture warranty. You will get a warranty card with each machine.

RawGuru Comments: We are authorized dealers of Vita-Mix. We guarantee full warranty on every machine we sell. We NEVER sell any used or refurbished machines.

Q: How is the Vita-Mix Super 5000 different from the TurboBlend 4500 and Vita-Prep?
A: The Vita-Mix Super 5000 is our top-of-the-line model. The Vita-Mix 5000 is the same model machine, but without the "Dry Blade" container, which is designed for chopping dry ingredients, grinding grain and kneading dough. Both machines have a variable speed control and are available by calling 1-800-577-4729 or emailing orders@rawguru.com.

The TurboBlend 4500 is a high-performance 2-speed blender without the variable control. The Vita-Prep blender is identical to the Vita-Mix 5000, only it comes with a 3 year warranty and is only available in black.

RawGuru Comments: If you decide to get the Vita-Mix Blender rather than the K-TEC Champ HP3 we recommend the Vita-Prep as it has the same features as the Vita-Mix 5000 but costs less and will be delivered to you faster.

Q: What is whole food juice?
A: Whole food juice is the combination of the juice and fiber from either fruits or vegetables prepared in the Vita-Mix machine. The speed and tremendous force of the Vita-Mix stainless steel blade tips travel at 240 m.p.h. at high speed and the customized hammermill and cutting blades literally pulverize food down to the cellular level. All the vitamins, enzymes, and nutrition comes to you intact with full flavor in Vita-Mix whole food juice.

RawGuru Comments: We recommend whole food juice as it contains the fiber necessary to make all the nutrients in the food more readily assimilated.

Q: Why is a Vita-Mix juice better than extracted juice?
A: Vita-Mix juice includes both the juice and pulp from your produce. The pulp contains valuable nutrition that is missing in extracted juice. Vita-Mix juice helps make it easy to get the FDA recommended 5 to 7 servings of fruits and vegetables we need daily for a healthy diet.

Q: Can extracted juice be made in the Vita-Mix machine?
A: Yes, extracted juice can be made in the Vita-Mix machine by straining the whole food juice through these sturdy nut milk bags. An added bonus is that clean-up is so much easier than a juice extractor!

RawGuru Comments: If you are primarily making juices, we recommend our line of heavy duty juicers. The Vita-Mix was designed as a blender not a juicer. Juicers create less heat and extract more nutrients from the fruits and vegetables. If you're going to juice more than blend, get a juicer!

Q: How is whole wheat ground in the Vita-Mix?
A: The Vita-Mix Whole Grains Cookbook recommends grinding 1-3/4 cups of whole kernel wheat berries at a time, which is the amount it takes to make a loaf of bread. For further instructions, refer to the Whole Grains Cookbook, which is included with your Vita-Mix Super 5000 and the 64 oz. Dry Grains Container, which can be purchased separately.

RawGuru Comments: If you are a baker or make fresh bread daily than the Super 5000 blender is for you. If you make bread every now and then than the K-TEC blender would be a better choice for you as it grinds both dry and wet ingredients in one container.

Q: Does the Vita-Mix Super 5000 bake the bread?
A: No. Our machine prepares the bread dough for rising and baking in less than 5 minutes. This time includes the time needed to grind your choice of whole grains into flour. The Vita-Mix machine will mix and knead the dough, which can be put in a bread pan to rise and bake in your oven.

RawGuru Comments: Obviously, if you are on a %100 raw food diet, the Vita-Mix Super 5000 is not necessary. The Vita-Mix 4500, Vita-Prep or the K-TEC Champ HP3 would be your best options.

Q: Can the Vita-Mix grind pastry-fine flour?
A: The Vita-Mix Super 5000's variable speed control makes it possible to grind grains into many textures including the fine texture needed for pastry flour.

Q: Do Vita-Mix juice recipes require adding liquid when making juice?
A: Yes, when making juice in the Vita-Mix machine water and/or ice is added.

Q: Can I just throw in any whole fruits and vegetables?
A: Indiscriminate combinations of fruits and vegetables can produce results that do not taste good. The Vita-Mix machines comes with a recipe booklet which includes over 200 kitchen-tested recipes.

Q: How long has Vita-Mix been in business?
A: Vita-Mix has been in business for over 80 years.

Q: I am still not certain which blender is right for me, can I call RawGuru.Com?
A: Yes you may, our toll free phone number is 1-800-577-4729 or you send us an email at orders@rawguru.com

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