As soon as I labored in educated kitchen, the Vitamix blender was in extreme demand. Almost persistently in use, it blitzed greens and fruits into sauces, pulverized freeze dried substances, and made our signature butterscotch puddings silky clear. That blender was used and abused by an unrelenting stream of prep cooks, line cooks, and pastry cooks, and nothing appeared to faze it. Working with that Vitamix glad me that I would on no account return to the same old household blenders I had used sooner than. All of the issues else merely felt clunky.
Looking for a Vitamix blender can actually really feel like an pointless splurge in a world of low value blenders. Nonetheless as many long-time Vitamix householders will inform you, these blenders are in a class of their very personal. Not solely are they extremely efficient enough to make nut butters and grind grains into prime quality flours, they make the smoothest soups, purees, and sauces and, on excessive of each little factor else, they will last a couple of years. I’ve had the equivalent Vitamix blender for a decade, and it reveals no indicators of quitting even after getting used for an entire bunch of recipe checks along with my widespread household cooking. While you’ve used a Vitamix blender, it’s laborious to return to the remaining.
Nonetheless, there are some points to know when you get a Vitamix. Whereas they typically perform as you may anticipate a blender to perform, only a few concepts and strategies will allow you get most likely essentially the most out of your new kitchen workhorse.
Layer Strategically
Together with lighter, fluffier substances (like greens or herbs) to the Vitamix first, then layering heavier substances on excessive helps crush the lighter substances, making mixing less complicated. Usually, as is the case with greens and herbs, the lighter substances will nearly liquefy after which the heavier substances will fall into the blades and thicken each little factor up.
For blended meals the place fruit is anxious, add delicate, juicy fruits to the blender container first, then add the remaining on excessive. Layering on this technique ensures that the mixture shall be liquid enough to combine appropriately with out additional placed on and tear in your machine.
Use Extreme Tempo
Vitamix blenders are actually designed to be used on the best velocity setting till you’re making one factor that ought to hold just a bit chunky. Start the machine on low velocity to begin the blending course of, then improve the rate to extreme simply and commonly. Using the Vitamix at extreme velocity permits the motor to tug in further cool air, which helps the machine avoid overheating and might extend the lifetime of your blender. In case your Vitamix does overheat, it may shut off mechanically, nonetheless don’t concern! Let the machine cool down for 30 to 45 minutes after which try restarting it.
Don’t DIY the Tamper
Vitamix blenders embody a tamper, a protracted plastic software program with a cope with that matches neatly by the use of the opening throughout the 2-part lid and is used to push substances into the blades whereas mixing. If you happen to occur to’ve misplaced the tamper or it happens to be dirty from one different cooking endeavor, it might be tempting to try to find a various. Prolonged-handled picket spoons or the cope with end of a silicone spatula appear to be they’d work, nonetheless do not be fooled! Using one thing except for the tamper that comes with the blender to push meals down is a recipe for bits of wood or plastic in your meals. Ask me how I do know.
On that discover, use the blender tamper liberally to push down substances which could be sticking to the perimeters of the blender. It might be tempting to keep up together with liquid to the blender container until each little factor blends with out using the tamper, nonetheless usually, to comprehend the required texture, additional liquid won’t be the reply.
Clear Smarter, Not More durable
Cleaning a Vitamix blender can seem daunting, and the sharp blades might be sponge-shredders. The good news is that the blender’s extremely efficient motor isn’t merely good for smoothies and soups–it’s best to put it to use to your profit when cleaning as correctly.
Rinse the dirty blender container, then add a squirt of dish cleansing cleaning soap and a cup or two of scorching water. Place the blender container on the underside, firmly join the lid, and change the blender velocity as a lot as extreme. Let the blender run for 20 to 30 seconds, then dump out the suds and rinse. This trick works for all nonetheless the stickiest messes, and even then it’s helpful for loosening the worst of the gunk.
If the blender tamper is dirty as correctly, you can stick it throughout the blender whenever you’re cleaning it. Keep the tamper firmly in place whereas the blender is working so it doesn’t knock spherical and so the suds don’t escape from the opening throughout the lid.
When You Flip It Off, Flip It Down
There are few points additional startling and unpleasant than delivering your Vitamix blender solely to search out that any individual (ahem) left the rate dial turned all one of the best ways as a lot as 10. It’s even worse if the extreme velocity swap is flipped. Get throughout the habits of turning the blender velocity all one of the best ways down sooner than turning the blender off to avoid a hair-raising shock when you had been merely trying to make a smoothie. In addition to, starting the blender on extreme velocity will set off the substances inside to splatter throughout the perimeters and lid of the blender, which implies you may need to scrape each little factor down and start as soon as extra.