Updated Jul 07, 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy about a new kitchen product launch in a long time. One of the most common questions I get is “do I need to buy a food processor in addition to a blender?” Meaning, can the blender just do it all. And unfortunately, the answer is no. While I adore my Vitamix blender, there’s just certain things a food processor can do that a blender can’t do (which I’ll explain below). But instead of having to buy a completely separate food processor, which is more costly and larger to store, you can buy the new 12-cup food processor from Vitamix. This truly is a game-changer for Vitamix owners. And it might just nudge those who’ve been on the fence about a Vitamix to finally jump all-in.
Vitamix Food Processor Review Video
Want a first-look at the new food processor? Watch the review video below!
Vitamix Food Processor Features
The beauty of a food processor is that it makes food preparation easy. Here are some features and benefits of the Vitamix Food Processor:
Compatibility: It’s compatible with Vitamix Ascent and Venturist machines. If you have model A3500 (the same as me), A3300, A2500, and V1200 you can use the new food processor. Compact Storage: Because the food processor uses the blender motor base, all you have to do store is the top container. That makes it perfect for small spaces (and it’s lighter weight). 12-Cup Bowl: Not too big and not too small, this is the most popular size to whip up a variety of recipes. And there’s easy to read measurement markings on the side. Powerful Motor: If you already have a Vitamix, you know the strength of the motor. It’s truly what you’re investing in. Now you can leverage that same awesome power for your food processor. Blade Options: It can slice shred and chop with expert precision. There’s two sizes of shredding blades, two sizes of slicing blades, and the standard S-blade for chopping. All blades are stainless steel. Quick Release Button: A lever at the base of the container allows you to quickly remove the container from the base (this is super convenient). No Complicated Twist Lock: Most food processors have a twist lock mechanism. But the Vitamix food processor uses their patented, wireless self-detect technology to automatically shut off if not safely assembled. Dishwasher Safe: When you’re done making a recipe, just pop the container in your dishwasher. Gotta love easy clean up. Warranty: There’s a 3-year warranty on the bowl and base, and a 1-year warranty on the blade and discs. The motor warranty would be that of your blender, which is usually superb with Vitamix (along with their customer service).
When to Use a Food Processor Versus a Blender
I consider both a food processor and a blender to be necessary items in the kitchen. While there’s some overlap with what they can do, they each have their strengths. What a Blender Can Do This might be surprising to most, but a blender’s blades are not typically sharp, they’re actually blunt. But it’s okay because that’s not what’s most important. What is important is the high-powered blender motor (and Vitamix reigns supreme here) to pulverize and liquify virtually anything you put into the container. That makes a blender perfect for any liquids, purees, or smooth textured recipes, including almond milk, butternut squash soup, tahini, a green smoothie, or strawberry margarita. What a Food Processor Can Do A food processor has razor sharp blades (think, mandoline sharp) and usually a less powerful motor (though not the case here). The biggest benefit of a food processor is speeding up food preparation tasks, like slicing, shredding and chopping. These are things you can do on your own with a knife, but they’re oh, so much easier with a food processor. That makes a food processor perfect for more textural foods, including cauliflower rice, falafel, energy balls, and chunky salsa. And it’s an amazing time saver when making carrot cake (so many grated carrots!). What They Can Both Do And now to confuse things, there is some overlap in what they can both do. You’ve seen me make pesto, hummus, almond butter, and acai bowls in both my blender and food processor. The blender will provide a smoother texture to the hummus and almond butter (and make them faster). But if you’re not careful, you can easily overblend pesto and lose that trademark chunky texture, or liquify your thick smoothie bowl into a straight-up smoothie. Additionally, they can both make many sauces, like my chipotle sauce, but the food processor is best for small quantities, given the lower blades, and the blender is better for larger batches.
Should You Buy The Vitamix Food Processor?
I’ve owned Vitamix blenders for 10+ years, long before I ever became a food blogger. They’re simply the best on the market and worth the investment. So I think it’s a no-brainer to purchase the food processor and extend the functionality of your Vitamix base. It’s cheaper than buying another food processor, takes up less space, and easy to use. And if you’re like me, your blender is always on your countertop. So all you have to do is swap the lightweight containers and not lug a heavy appliance from your cabinet to your countertop. Then, you can whip up a wide assortment of Vitamix recipes. Oh yes, my love for Vitamix just got deeper. This post was generously sponsored by Vitamix. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors and their products I genuinely use and love.
