Vitamix Meals Processor Attachment Evaluation

A great meals processor is an integral a part of a well-stocked kitchen. These highly effective machines can shred, slice, chop, pulverize, and puree, making them extremely versatile. However they’re additionally cumbersome, laborious to wash, and many individuals surprise: do I actually need one, or can I simply use my blender, a grater, and a mandoline, and name it a day?

Whereas we’ve made the argument earlier than about why a meals processor deserves a spot in your kitchen, I used to be inquisitive about an providing from the maker of our favourite blender: the Vitamix Meals Processor. This attachment pairs with the model’s Ascent A-series line of blenders, in addition to the Vitamix Venturist V1200, omitting the necessity for one more cumbersome machine base. However might it blitz, mix, pulse, and puree in addition to our favourite meals processors?

The Checks

• Mayonnaise Take a look at: I made mayonnaise within the meals processor to see if it might emulsify the combination. 
• Slicing Take a look at: I used the small slicing disk to slice three peeled potatoes into 1/4-inch rounds. 
• Shredding Take a look at: I used the small shred disk to shred three small, peeled beets. Then, I left the shredded beets within the container for 20 minutes earlier than washing it, to see if it stained.  
• Dough Take a look at: I made an all-butter pie dough to check the processor’s pulsing potential. 
• Hummus Take a look at: I blended the substances for hummus to see how clean the meals processor might get the puree. 
• Cleansing Take a look at: I hand-washed the meals processor’s elements after every check, together with the slicing and shredding discs.

What We Discovered

The Meals Processor Was as Good because the Blender Base

The meals processor doesn’t include a motor; as an alternative, you place it on one of many suitable Vitamix blenders from the Ascent collection, or the Vitamix Venturist V1200. The “self-detect” motor base on the processor interacts with the blender base to let it comprehend it’s not a blender jar (this limits what the bottom does, proscribing it to on, off, and pulse; there are not any velocity changes).

I examined the meals processor with the A3500, which we’ve reviewed earlier than, and located that the bottom and meals processor carried out properly in tandem. So, in case you like your A-series blender base and discover it straightforward and intuitive to make use of, likelihood is you’ll like utilizing it with the meals processor attachment. Nonetheless, this function is a double edged sword; if you have already got one of many A-series blenders, you’re in luck and may use the meals processor with it. For those who don’t, you’d should spend money on a blender in addition to the meals processor package—and collectively, it provides up; the A3500 blender plus the meals processor comes out to $837. In distinction, our winners for meals processors, the Magimix 14-Cup Meals Processor and Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor, are $400 and $300, respectively. So it actually is determined by whether or not or not you have already got a suitable blender to make the meals processor worthwhile financially.

It Was Surprisingly Good at Emulsifying 

I’m a giant fan of do-it-yourself mayonnaise; pair it with some French fries, and I’m butter in your arms. However I’ve at all times turned to my immersion blender to make it—by no means my meals processor (that are infamous for mixing too quick and failing to emulsify the egg and oil combination). So, I got down to see if the Vitamix meals processor might flip me to the darkish facet. I made a batch of mayonnaise and poured oil into the feed tube pusher, which has a gap within the heart for the specific objective of letting liquids slowly drizzle in, and located it did a superb job at emulsifying the substances (and this was a recipe that used 4 egg yolks, making it ultra-prone to splitting). I used to be impressed with the outcomes, and instantly got down to make French fries to dip in my mayo.

The Disks Had been Straightforward to Use (and Carried out Principally Properly) 

When it got here time to check the meals processor’s disks, assembling them was as straightforward as eradicating the all-purpose blade and placing a disc as an alternative. Snap on the lid on and voila, it was able to course of. The discs did job at slicing potatoes and shredding beets, although I had a number of quibbles: the primary was that the tube the place you set your substances was a bit of small, so I needed to trim the perimeters of the potatoes and halve the beets to get them to move via (although, to be honest, the opening is definitely bigger than in my Cuisinart meals processor). The second was that whereas a majority of the potatoes had been constant in thickness (about 1/4-inch), in direction of the top of the slicing course of the machine shot out paper skinny wafers as an alternative of the standard 1/4-inch slice. A giant deal? No—however I seen. There have been additionally a number of chunks of beet left on the highest of the shredding disc once I took the lid off. 

It Wasn’t as Responsive because it Might Be

Once I pulsed the processor whereas making pie dough, I seen the blade spun round one or two occasions extra after I launched the heartbeat button. Whereas this didn’t have any tangible results on the ensuing dough (I used to be a bit nervous it might overwork it and warmth up the butter), a greater meals processor can be extra responsive and cease its blade nearly instantly. 

It Was (Principally) Straightforward to Set Up and Clear 

Like all Vitamix blenders, there are not any sophisticated locking mechanisms concerned in placing the blenders (or on this case, meals processor) on the machine base; you merely place it on the 4 prongs sticking up. The remainder of the meals processor was additionally straightforward to assemble (it was fairly normal), although I did have some hassle locking and eradicating the lid; as an alternative of a sliding lock function like I’m used to on my Cuisinart, there are two tabs that snap onto the bottom if you push the lid down, and snap off if you take away it. Just a few occasions I actually struggled and wound up lifting the entire thing off the blender base by chance. On the brilliant facet, the meals processor was surprisingly straightforward to wash; it additionally didn’t stain after grating beets, which was spectacular.

The Verdict

If in case you have a Vitamix A-series or Venturist blender, don’t presently personal a meals processor, and don’t need to spend a ton of cash, the Vitamix Meals Processor is a stable purchase that can carry out properly with most kitchen duties. Plus, it’s good for small kitchens, since you should utilize it along with your blender base. Nonetheless, in case you’re regularly making pie or bread dough along with your meals processor, you would possibly need to spend money on a extra exact, responsive machine. 

Value at time of publish: $187.

Key Specs

• Materials: BPA-free Eastman Tritan
• Weight: 8.2 lbs (excluding blender base)
• Capability: 12 cups
• What’s included: Meals processor attachment, self-detect base, multi-use blade, 5 discs, and a disc case. 
• Care: Dishwasher-safe (aside from the bottom)
• Guarantee: 3 years

FAQs

Is the Vitamix meals processor dishwasher-safe? 

It’s dishwasher-safe, save for the bottom, which must be eliminated earlier than putting the remainder of the processor elements within the dishwasher.

What blender can I exploit the Vitamix meals processor with?

The Vitamix meals processor can be utilized with any Vitamix Ascent collection blender base in addition to the Venturist blender. We used it with the A3500. 

Is the Vitamix meals processor value it?

For those who’re quick on area and have already got a Vitamix A-series blender (and don’t have a meals processor), this meals processor attachment is a stable choose. Nonetheless, it’s not fairly as responsive as our favourite meals processors.