There are two types of people in this world: Those who are willing and able to splurge on the most expensive blender they can find, and those who stick with the cheapest model possible—no matter how poorly it works. The Vitamix is known for being the Cadillac of blenders, but odds are you’ve dodged buying one due to its high cost. Friends, meet The Vitamix One, the brand’s cheapest, most compact model to date. We gave it a whirl (sorry) to see if it held up to its higher-priced cousins and were pretty darn impressed.
Finally, a (More) Affordable Vitamix. But Can the $209 Gadget Do Everything Its Predecessors Can?
•
Published Nov 24, 2022
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
- Value: 19/20
- Functionality: 17/20
- Ease of Use: 20/20
- Aesthetics: 19/20
- Noisiness: 18/20
TOTAL: 93/100
Released in 2021 for the company’s centennial anniversary, the Vitamix One is a reimagination of the classic Vitamix that comes in a slimmer, simpler (and more affordable) package. Despite its smaller size and lower price, it can still blitz through tough produce (both fresh and frozen) to create everything from smoothies and dips to sauces and frozen desserts. Think fresh salsa, salad dressing, ice pops, nut milks, fruit juice, baby food, cocktails and marinades. Not only can you create blender-friendly recipes with it, but the appliance can also be used to chop produce, speeding up food prep and saving you time at the cutting board.
While it can’t do everything a top-of-the-line, high-powered blender can, it just might be worth the splurge if you…
…make a Lot of Smoothies, Sauces and Liquid- or Produce-Based Recipes
We’ve put our trust in cheap blenders before, only to resign ourselves to chunky smoothies forever. Thankfully, the laser-cut, stainless-steel blades of the Vitamix One break down ingredients with ease (but—full disclosure—it’s not totally as indestructible as its predecessors). The 32-ounce container, which is BPA-free and equipped with an ergonomic handle, is designed to pull ingredients into the center for an even blend and creamy texture every time. The lid has a removable plug on top, so you can add more food to the blender without removing it completely. And in case your produce gets stuck, the handy mini tamper will keep things moving.
We found the blades to be pretty strong. It took us about 15 seconds to thoroughly blend a smoothie with frozen berries. Even the clunky whole strawberries got sucked down and pulverized after just a few seconds. It’s not the quietest of blenders (especially since there’s no sound enclosure), but it’s not the loudest either. We also loved that it barely shook while it operated.
That said, it may take up to a minute for the Vitamix One to blend ice. So, if you’re planning to make a batch of daquiris or piña coladas, you may need to be a bit more patient than you would with pricier models. Nevertheless, you can optimize and smoothen your blend by putting liquids (including yogurt) and dry ingredients first, then leafy greens and produce, then ice and frozen ingredients on top.
The main con? The One can’t blend soups, nut butters, doughs or grains. Any hot ingredients should also be avoided since they can generate enough heat to damage the container. While you could dare to try your luck, attempting one of these recipes will void your warranty.
…love Easy-to-use Tech
We’d never formally advise not reading an appliance’s instruction manual…but this blender is so intuitive and easy to operate straight out of the box. The Vitamix One is designed with minimal bells and whistles (bye, buttons, touch screens and recipe-specific settings), so it’s a cinch to work with. All you have to do to get things going is turn a knob—the further right you go, the faster the blend speed. There’s also no assembly or set-up required, just a quick wash (which takes place right on the motor instead of in the dishwasher). Once you’ve whipped up some soapy water and rinsed out the container, the blender is ready to use.
…have A Small Kitchen Or Limited Storage
The blender’s streamlined design just might be our favorite thing about it. The Vitamix One is much more compact than other models (it’s 8 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, versus the next smallest model, which is 11 inches by 8 inches by 17 inches), so if you’re a smoothie lover with a tiny kitchen or limited counter space, this one may be just the right fit. And if you don’t use the blender that often, it’s easy to move and stow away until you need it, since it’s lightweight and there are handles built into the motor base.
…want an OG Vitamix, But Can’t Get Past The Price
On sale for $209, this pick is $100 to 200 cheaper than fancier Vitamix models, including the original. Better yet, your purchase includes a free two-year warranty (for $25 more, you can extend it to three years) in case something goes wrong.
Nevertheless, it’s no secret that there are cheaper alternatives on the market that go as low as $40 a pop (and even lower if you count personal-size blenders). But if you want a happy medium between quality and affordability, the Vitamix One just might be worth the splurge for you, depending on what you want to make with it.
On the other hand, if you’re willing to shell out a little extra cash for a premium blender anyway, you may just want to go for the Vitamix Explorian Series for roughly $90 more, so you can tackle nut butters, flours, hot soups and doughs too.
