| The Vita-Mix
5000 is a wonderful machine. Much better than a blender,
the Vita-Mix 5000's powerful 2+ peak HP motor smithereens fresh
fruit and vegetables into juice, smoothies, purees, or hot soup.
You can even use it to make ice cream - fast, easy, delicious
and healthful ice cream (or frozen non-dairy product if you're
a vegan like me).
You get the food, the whole food, and nothing but the food
- unless you add it yourself! That's a major difference between
the Vita-Mix and extraction juicers, which remove the fiber
from the food. And it's much easier to clean than an extraction
juicer. For instance, I have a wonderful Champion Juicer (extraction)
my parents bought in the early 70's. The Champion juicer, and
other extraction juicers are unexcelled for making juice if
you are interested in getting the nutrients without having to
digest the plant fiber to get to them. But to me it's such a
nuisance to take apart and clean after each use (and dispose
of the fiber) that I don't use it as often as the Vita-Mix 5000,
which I use every day.
It's as easy to clean as a blender. Actually, it's even easier
because if you put a couple drops of dishwishing liquid and
some hot water in it, and run it for a minute, it does most
of the cleaning for you! I also like that it doesn't offend
my ears like most blenders do - it's noisy, but doesn't have
that awful high-pitched whine my blender has. And for all its
power, it isn't quite as loud.
I start every day with a fruit smoothie, made with frozed fruit
and raw soaked almonds, sometimes adding whole oranges (just
remove the outer rind first, leaving the seeds and the healthful
white part under the skin) or whole apples (just remove the
stem and seeds). Blends up nice and smooth, and so easy. If
you like your smoothies really thick, the Vita-Mix 5000 comes
with a handy plunger you can safely use during mixing to keep
the food mixing.
I've made soups and carrot juice, ice cream and sauces, and
each one is excellent. Well, I don't mean to mislead you, it
is necessary to cut the food a bit first - apples and oranges
in quarters, carrots in 2-3" chunks.
It's great for people of all ages. You can puree your own baby
food, make tasty and healthful foods for convalescents, make
your own nut milks and nut butters, and so much more!
The Vita-Mix 5000 comes with a cookbook full of yummy recipes
for you to try, and an instructional video that shows experienced
users making a wide variety of concoctions. It also comes with
a 7 year warranty!
If you want to see one in action, or taste some of the foods
it makes, you can probably find a health food store that uses
one. Most likely they'll be using the commercial model, but
the principles and results are the same as for the home model.
If you'd like more information, or are ready to purchase one
for yourself, visit VitaMix.com. (Note, you can only purchase
the Vita-Mix 5000 directly from Vita-Mix or authorized dealers.
The Vita-Mix 4500 is available through other outlets, but comes
with a 5 year warranty instead of a 7 year warranty, and usually
costs about the same!
Note: The Vita-Mix is taller than a regular blender, and will
not fit under standard-clearance kitchen cabinets. I store mine
under the cabinet, with the container removed, standing next
to the base, and pull it forward to use it. |
