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When you go to juice bars that sell juices and smoothies you’ll probably see a machine probably similar to this and for good reason.
The Vitamix has been known to manufacture heavy-duty blenders that can handle literally anything that you throw in it to make everything from smoothies to soup.
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The 5200 has a large 64-ounce jug allows you to make more but the downside is the height.
At 20 inches tall, you may not be able to fit this under most countertops which can be a factor inside small kitchens.
Unlike a Blendtec that has present controls, the 5200 uses manual controls. So there is some learning curve in using this. One big downside is it lacks a pulse option that some cheaper blenders have.
If you need a blender with a pulse option that’s similar to the 5200, go with the 5300 because it comes equipped with a larger motor and shorter pitcher.
That’s the major downside here but if you don’t mind that limitation this is a great blender that is versatile for making a bunch of things.
This blender is one of the more expensive blenders in the market but i’t robust and versatile.
Features at a glance
- Powered by a 2 HP motor (1,380 watts) that produces 11.5 amps of blending power
- Has 64-ounce container
- Equipped with a tamper
- Cuts produce and ingredients with a 4 prong stainless steel blade
- 10-speeds with a high and variable option
- 7 year warranty
- 6 foot cord
- Measures 20.5” tall x 8.75” x 7.25”
Pros
- Strong motor makes this capable of blending a variety of ingredients from fruits and vegetables to hard stuff like seeds or ice
- Long 7 year warranty
- Capable of not only making juices or smoothies but also kneading dough
- Gives you the option to pulverize dry ingredients like coffee beans or make your own flour
Cons
- Very expensive
- Takes up lots of space
- No preset controls
- Tall pitcher will not fit a lot of under counter top cabinets
What to expect from this classic Vitamix Blender?
Unlike most other blenders that use sharp blades, Vitamix uses relatively dull blades that pulverize ingredients instead of cutting them.
This results in more consistency in terms of texture. But make no mistake the blades are still sharp enough to cut so be careful when washing this.
Blade design
This is how the blade looks like.
The blade and pitcher was design such that it creates a vortex that forces everything down toward the blade.
So instead of getting a clunky chunk of mess, you’ll enjoy smooth consistent results each time you blend.
Pitcher
This container has a capacity of around 64 ounces which equates to roughly 1.9 liters.
The main laid when placed on the jar seals it shut so there is very little risk of leakage. It also has a hole on it to add ingredients on the fly or you can use a tamper to push things down.
One more note on the tamper don’t use it without the cover in place it has a hole for a reason.
It’s a safety feature so the blade does not damage it.
Second the tamper allows you to move the ingredients within the cutting path of the blades while the machine is on to pulverize them.
Using a tamper also prevents Cavitation when bubbles or air packets form inside the liquid on high speed blenders.
If you wan to make your own flour, sugar or bread. You can purchase a separate 32-ounce “dry” container that will do the task.
Size
In terms of size the 5200 is bulky. The base measures around 7.5 inches wide and 9 inches deep so it’ll take up space.
When you place the container over the base, it measures 20 and an eighth inches high so this is a pretty tall machine.
Make sure to measure the distance between the countertop and cabinet before buying this to make sure you can store it.
Vitamix has their own factory in Cleveland Ohio. And they used a Swedish designed motor that produces 2 horsepower.
This motor spins the blades at around 37,000 revolutions per minute (or RPM).
If you buy this from a US store like Amazon or Vitamix, expect to get a 120-volt machine. A 220-volt is available in Amazon’s UK site according to consumers.
What can this make?
This machine is versatile enough to not only make smoothies it also allows you to make homemade peanut butter, Frappuccino and juice.
Let’s look at each one by one.
A green smoothie with spinach, apple and frozen fruits, notice that he didn’t just put everything inside the blender, he started with the spinach first, then apple then added the frozen fruit last.
Use this principle when making other recipes. Always put the softest ingredients (or the ones a lot of water content like grapes) at the bottom then the harder ones on top so that the blades will have an easier time working through all of these.
Now here’s to make a fruit based smoothie (plus much more)
If you love caffeine, you don’t have to go to Starbucks and spend $5 for a small cup but you can make this for way less than 5 bucks and you can use healthier ingredients like honey instead of processed sugar.
You can also pulverize frozen fruits and make milk shake with it…
Here’s a demo on how to make peanut butter…
Not only smoothies and peanut butter, you can also use this to make soup…
Is it easy to clean?
Yes, you don’t need to use a sponge to scrub this. Just fil the container half full with water and a few drops of liquid detergent then run it on high for 30 seconds to a minute. Then rinse afterwards. That should be enough to clean this.
Product Specifications
Model | Vitamix 5200 |
Motor | 1,380 watts 2HP (60hz) |
Jug capacity | 64 ounces |
Blade Type | 4-prong stainless steel |
Max RPM | 37,000 |
Preset blending cycles | None |
Tamper/Plunger | ![]() |
Crush ice? | ![]() |
Smoothies | ![]() |
Juice | ![]() |
Warranty | 7 years (whole machine) |
Warranty
All brand new Vitamix blenders come with a manufacturer’s warranty of 7 years on the whole unit. This means worry free use for 7 years.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy the Vitamix 5200 in Amazon for around $300. And you can get free 2-day shipping if you enroll in Prime. Another reason to buy in Amazon would be the optional extended warranty. If 7 years isn’t enough, you can add another 4 years.
What do consumers think?
This is one of the bestselling blenders in Vitamix’s product line. And a lot of consumers loved the combination of power, versatility and consistency that this product brings to the table.
Some great points
The design of the blades and container allow it to chop/pulverize ingredients down to a smooth texture.
There won’t be any clunky or uneven results when you use this.
The shape of the container and 4-prong blade has a downside, it makes it a little bit difficult to clean because stuff gets to places that is hard to reach by hand.
But experts recommend that you clean this using 4 cups of water (approximately half of the 64 ounce jar) and some dishwashing liquid then turn this on high for up to 60 seconds to dislodge and clean.
Don’t forget to rinse it afterwards.
Some consumers even shared that they bought this after going through several “budget” juicers that cost $50 and they made the switch because of the quality and longevity that this machine had over those cheaper models.
Versatility is another strong point of this machine, fully capable of going through fruits and vegetables as well as dry stuff like peanuts. Heck, you can use this to make your own baking soda or grind coffee with it.
As you’ve seen in the videos I shared above, you can make frozen shakes, green smoothies and even your own Frappuccino.
Some compare this to the Blendtec and reveal the four biggest differences:
- Shape of the container
- Blade design
- Preset option (the 5200 does not have it)
- Tamper (Blendtect has no tamper)
The 5200 does not have any preset options so this means you’ll have to adjust the speed settings at the right time to fit the recipe you’re making. It does come with a recipe book to help you use this blender properly.
Product testers from America’s Test Kitchen really liked this product and it passed all their stress tests that included crushing pounds and pounds of ice and making frozen smoothies – it passed with flying colors.
To Wrap Up
This blender would be great for people not only looking to make smoothies but also to make a lot of homemade stuff like hummus, peanut butter, Frappucino and soup.
You also have the option of buying the “dry” container and make homemade baking powder, yes that is possible.
This is a big machine so make sure to get the measurements right and find a place to store this. If this is too tall for your liking, the Vitamix addressed that by manufacturing the 5300 which has a shorter jug.
Take note that this machine does not have any preset controls so you’ll have to figure out what speed setting would be right for a particular recipe but it does have a great manual and recipe book to help guide you.
Vitamix backs this baby up with a 7 year manufacturer’s warranty so you’ll have peace of mind that when something goes wrong, Vitamix with its strong aftersales service will take care of things for you.
A $450 blender may sound too expensive but when you look at the versatility, it can replace several appliances and save you in the long run. It will also allow you to eat healthier foods.
Hello
I think you have a typo on the Vitamin 5200 review. When discussing cleaning you probably meant 60 seconds but wrote 60 minutes. Cheers, Mark
“… experts recommend that you clean this using 4 cups of water (approximately half of the 64 ounce jar) and some dishwashing liquid then turn this on high for up to 60 minutes to dislodge and clean.”