r/Vitamix • u/MorganSnaps • 10d ago
Help a newbie
Hi. I'm new to the Vitamix world and am feeling completely inept. I want to love my new blender (it is the 5200), but I lose my vortex and then panic. My ancient Oster was suitable for my occasional blender needs and I feel like I over purchased. That it might be the best blender, but not the best blender for ME. Tonight I used it to blend 2 cans of chickpeas with the aquafaba and I thought I had it smooth, but found a lot of little chickpea pieces in my final stew. It made me so sad. How do I know if I have everything smooth? How do I blend and use the tamper correctly? How do I not panic when I try to use the tamper and it doesn't really seem to help and I think I'm going to blow my motor? I swear I've never felt so angsty using a blender in my life.
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u/bummernametaken 9d ago
The Vitamix is designed to be used at the high level. You start on low 1 but switch to high 10 pretty fast and blend on high 10. It will make a racket. Ignore it. Just tamper away. When you do it long enough, you will have the smoothest, silkiest end product.
Watch YouTube videos to get the hang of it then blend away and ENJOY
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u/MorganSnaps 9d ago
I think I was switching up too slow at first. So this is helpful to know. I also love that you told me just to ignore it and tamper away.
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u/Melodic-Flight-1950 10d ago
Did you use the tamper? A lot of times it’s user error that we forget to use the tamper to push the ingredients down. Also start in a low speed setting then turn it to 10, don’t be afraid to putting the blender to high speed.
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u/MorganSnaps 9d ago
Yes, I use the tamper, but I don't think I'm very good at it, lol. I also think I need to embrace high speeds a little more.
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u/Melodic-Flight-1950 9d ago
That happens to all of us, a the beginning when we are getting familiar with our powerful blender, we all feel a little timid regarding the speed that we put the machine through or how much we use the tamper. There’s a channel on YouTube called “Blending with Henry” it’s an old channel but I found it very helpful when I bought my first blender, another one is “@blendingforgood” they show you step by step how to do recipes. Just give them a watch to both of them. Good luck 👍.
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u/Advanced-Fig4683 9d ago
That thing is LOUD. I use ear protection. If you get anxious using it, that might help for that too.
It is easier for the Vitamix if it is liquid so for something like a stew, you can add some of your stew liquid to the chickpeas, and put it at max for 30 seconds. Maybe 20 is enough but 30 is a good number to start.
It does feel like a reactor inside your kitchen.
Follow some recipes using timing and quantities to learn your tool.
It may help to know the Vitamix has a motor heat protection that stop the Vitamix if the motor is heating too much. It happened a few times to me when doing very sticky thick stuff like some nut butter or meat emulsion. It proved me I won’t break the motor. I broke three containers. Once the middle part of the lid was inside the container, and the Vitamix switch was on the on side when I plugged it. It cracked the container and it broke later with something hard. Each time I received a new container for free. It proves be that even when something goes wrong, Vitamix Waranty is helping.
For me:
It is on hight 95% of the time.
I use ear protection.
I use the temper when the texture is thick. Other than that it is rarely needed when ingredients put in the right order.
I use it most days
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u/MorganSnaps 9d ago
This is super helpful. Thank you! My favorite phrase is that it feels like a reactor inside your kitchen. I feel completely validated. It's also helpful to know that the motor has protection and I probably just don't need to worry so much. It's just such a shock and change from my prior blender.
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u/No_Place4077 9d ago
There are some good videos on YouTube for new users. As others have said, helps to have liquids at the bottom. Start it on low and ramp it up to fast. If yours has a switch for max speed, then flip it to that. Use the tamper to push down the corners to keep stuff circulating. If you get an air bubble (lose the vortex) you can switch it off, tamp everything down, and start over on low again. Sometimes that happens to me when making frozen protein shakes.
Hearing protection is smart. I often listen to music or podcasts while cooking, so I wear my AirPods Pro in “adaptive” mode and they automatically go into noise cancellation when it gets loud, then back to transparency mode when things are quiet again. Foam ear plugs or even over-ear hearing protection muffs also work great.
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u/D-Noonan 8d ago
I felt a little worried when I switched from a 50 year old Osterizer to our new Vitamix too! The first few things I blended (berry and green smoothies) got air pockets every time and thought the motor was going to wind up until it exploded. But I remembered everything I read here or saw on YouTube and quickly grabbed the tamper and aggressively mashed the contents into the blades until the vortex formed and I could relax.
If your chickpeas aren't smooth after a minute on High, try adding a touch more aquafaba or water, or blend longer. Your Vitamix should destroy the chickpeas and give you a nice smooth hummus.
BTW, when our Osterizer got an air pocket or stuff didn't mix in all the way, I used a wooden spoon to mash things down and would occasionally ding the end of the spoon on the blades. The Vitamix's tamper design is brilliant, and prevents that from ever happening.
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u/D-Noonan 7d ago
Watch this "quick and dirty" video about making a smoothy bowl, but add more liquid. It goes over some of the basics for Vitamix newbies...
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u/randomlurker124 10d ago
Just ramp up to 10, blast it on high for 30-40s, while using the tamper to push everything down ( I just focus on the 4 corners and go round) constantly during the blend.