Vitamix Food Processor Review: Increase Efficiency Of Cooking

Are you looking for an easy way to cut down on the time you spend preparing food?
Vitamix has the solution. 

The Vitamix food processor is designed to not only save you time in the kitchen but also help create healthy meals for your family by giving you control of what ingredients go into your dishes. 

When Vitamix first invented their food processor, they had a clear goal in mind: to create something that would make your cooking more efficient.

With this food processor, you can enjoy dicing, slicing, shredding, chopping, and so much more with its multi-purpose blades and discs. You will significantly shorten the time you spend on food preparation because Vitamix has done all of the hard work for you!

In this Vitamix Food Processor review, we will tell you everything you should know about this food processor, its features, differences with the blender, tips, and even a couple of our favorite recipes.

So let’s get started.

Vitamix Blender vs. Vitamix Food Processor – What Each Of These Appliances Is Best For?

Vitamix company is well-known for making high-quality blenders to make people’s lives much easier without compromising the quality of the cooking and meal preparation. 

They have manufactured kitchen appliances that provide convenience and comfort in preparing your ingredients, such as the Vitamix Blender and the Vitamix Food Processor.

Both products are essential assets in every household. They make things more accessible and convenient for those in charge of making meals for their family, but they are not the same!

Indeed, Vitamix blender can perform many things, but not everything that a food processor can do. That’s where the need for Vitamix food processor attachment was born.

The Vitamix food processor is designed to slice, dice, chop, grind, and everything else you will ever need from a food processor. Its multi-function sharp blades allow you to make any food preparations you can usually do with your own knife, only ten times easier. 

So it’s no wonder why many people have vouched for its usefulness in the kitchen. 

On the other hand, the Vitamix blender is designed for pulverizing, mixing, liquifying, and blending any ingredients you will throw in the container. Its blades are blunt, but that’s by design, responsible for creating the best smoothies, soups, or deserts you will ever taste.

Here are some examples of what you can do in the Vitamix blender vs. Vitamix food processor:

What You Can Do In Vitamix Blender	What You Can Do In Vitamix Food Processor
Hot hearty soups	Chop, shred and slice fruits and vegetables (apples, potatoes, carrots)
Healthy smoothies or juices	Grind meat (except meat with bones)
Delicious dressings or sauces	Prepare salads and dressings
Flavorful hummus or spreads	Whip up salsa dips or tomato sauces
Frozen ice cream or other desserts	Make crumbs from cookies, bread, or crackers
Batter for pancakes, waffles, muffins, or even pizza dough	Make pasta dough (or any other dough)
Nutritious baby food	Make peanut butter (or any nut butter)

As we can see, both appliances are highly efficient and multi-functional in preparing different meals, and they complement each other. 

Of course, there are few things that overlap. Meaning both of these appliances are capable of preparing few similar mixtures, but with different textures, so it really depends on the recipe.

That’s why many people recommend having both appliances by your side when preparing healthy meals that you and your family will enjoy, no matter the occasion.

Vitamix Food Processor Features 

Some of the best features of the Vitamix food processor include:

• Self-detect base
• 12-cup work bowl
• Multi-functional discs and S-blade
• Powerful motor
• No complex twist locks
• Dishwasher safe
• Easy to store
• 3-year full warranty

Let’s take a closer look at each one of these features.

Last update on 2024-11-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Self-detect Base

The self-detect blender base is the first element that you need to put on the motor base. 

Since it’s a smart device, it will operate at an auto speed, so you won’t need to worry about setting a speed when working with the food processor. Just press Play, and you are good to go.

Word of caution here, you need to be careful when cleaning the blender base since it’s not dishwasher safe, and it shouldn’t be put under the water (to avoid a risk of electrical shock). You can just wipe it with a moistened cloth with warm water.

12-cup Work Bowl

The work bowl comes in a popular size of 12 cups of dry capacity (which is not too big or too small). Speaking of liquid capacity, it holds 9 cups.

There are also precise measurement markings on each side of the bowl, especially useful when mixing ingredients with the S-blade. The bowl is made of hard BPA-Free Tritan plastic that ensures long durability.

This bowl goes at the top of the self-detect base, so you can just slide it in, and you are ready to add the blades next.

Multi-functional Discs And S-blade

The Vitamix food processor has 2 slice/shred discs and the main sharp S-blade. The discs and the blade are perfectly designed to help you in any kind of slicing, dicing, and mincing, especially if you are preparing a big batch.

But they can be used only one at a time.

The two discs are reversible, meaning you can use one side to shred, the other to slice (for thicker or thinner ingredients). You will find the little numbers on them that specify the size you want for slicing or shredding:

• Number 2 on the disc is for a thin slice.
• Number 3 on the disc is for a small shred.
• Number 4 on the disc is for a thick slice.
• Number 5 on the disc is for a large shred.

The multi-use S-blade can be used mostly for chopping, but also, many people use it for mixing and mincing (or everything else the blender can’t do).

Powerful Motor

Usually, the ordinary food processors on the market come with less powerful motors than the blenders. But that’s not the case with Vitamix appliances.

The high-performance motor is one of the best strengths of any Vitamix appliance. Since the Vitamix food processor works with the same motor base as the blender, you can expect the same power and performance as from the blender.

No Complex Twist Locks

The Vitamix food processor can be easily and safely assembled. 

Unlike other food processors and their annoying twist locks, this food processor uses a wireless self-detect technology that allows you just to place the work bowl on the blender base and put it to use.

And when you are done, you can use the quick release lever to pop off the work bowl, and it will be ready for pouring or removing the ingredients.

Dishwasher Safe

Cleanup is a breeze since all parts are dishwasher safe (except the blender base and motor base). So if you aren’t a fan of washing the parts by hand (or if you are afraid of the sharp blades), you can just run them in your dishwasher, and have peace of mind.

However, many people don’t recommend washing the food processor parts in a dishwasher because they believe it might shorten the life of the appliance. So you can wash the food processor parts with warm soapy water by hand. Just be careful with the blades, because they are very sharp!

Also, you can use the safe cleaning program if you have a blender with this feature. In this case, you will just need to fill the work bowl with a couple of dish soap drops and run the cleaning program.

Easy To Store

The Vitamix food processor takes significantly less space than any standalone food processor. 

That makes it compact to store, and since every part is lightweight and perfectly fits together, you can store it easily in your upper cabinet.

3-year Full Warranty

Vitamix stands behind its food processor by providing a full 3-year warranty that covers ordinary wear and tear. They also offer 30 days of free repairs for the attachment if something went wrong at the beginning.

The 3-year warranty becomes invalid in case you misuse the food processor by putting it in abnormal conditions that are forbidden in the manual. Some examples of misuse include chopping frozen ingredients, inserting foreign objects (knives, spoons, forks), chopping meat with bones, using harsh abrasive cleaners, outdoor use, etc.

Vitamix Food Processor Compatibility

Vitamix Food Processor only works with the smart “self-detect” line of blenders. Meaning, the Vitamix attachment won’t work on a blender base that doesn’t have a self-detect feature (such as Explorian or legacy line of blenders). 

Here are the models on which Vitamix Food Processor attachment is compatible:

• Vitamix Ascent 2300
• Vitamix Ascent 2500
• Vitamix Ascent 3300
• Vitamix Ascent 3500
• Vitamix Venturist V1200

Upgrading to a smart blender, especially from the Vitamix Ascent series, has its own perks, and that’s why it can be a worthy investment for you in the long run.

How To Use The Vitamix Food Processor – Step-By-Step Guide

Let’s see how you can put to use your Vitamix Food Processor for the first time.

1. Unpack the parts with extra care since the discs and the S-blade are extra sharp.
2. Remove the plastic bags and any other packaging materials.
3. Carefully read the user manual.
4. Wash the food processor parts (except the base) in warm soapy water. 
5. Rinse the parts under running clean water, then wipe them with a clean, dry towel.
6. Put the self-detect blender base onto the motor base.
7. Place the work bowl onto the self-detect blender base (you will hear a click sound when it’s snapped into position).
8. If you want to chop ingredients, put the multi-use blade at the center shaft in the bowl.
9. If you want to slice or shred ingredients, put a corresponding slicing/shredding disc onto the drive shaft. Use the finger holes to avoid contact with the slicing blades.
10. Place the snap-on lid at the top of the work bowl. You need to hear 2 click sounds here to ensure it’s locked into position.
11.  Next, you need to put the large food pusher in the snap-on lid.
12. There is also a small food pusher that goes in the large food pusher and can be used for processing smaller ingredients.
13. Finally, put in your ingredients and press Play.

Best 7 Vitamix Food Processor Tips For Successful Slicing And Chopping

1. Always stay within the MAX LIQUID and MAX FILL lines. Don’t overfill the work bowl to ensure smooth food processing.
2. Dry and thick ingredients always go first in the work bowl before adding a liquid. The liquid can be added later to puree your mixtures after processing.
3. Don’t try to chop frozen veggies, frozen meat, or meat with bones with the S-blade because it might dull it. Also, avoid chopping large ingredients with this multi-use blade.
4. Avoid using your Vitamix food processor for more than 3 minutes because it may get too hot, and you may damage the machine or burn yourself.
5. Always use the food pushers to push down your ingredients. Never push them down by hand!
6. When removing your food from the work bowl, always make sure that the motor and the blades have completely stopped.
7. You can use the Pulse feature if the ingredients you chop and mix are stuck in the work bowl.

Top 5 Vitamix Food Processor Recipes You Should Try This Season

Peach Breakfast Chia Pudding

The Peach Breakfast Chia Pudding is a fast and easy recipe to make for busy summer mornings. 

Here are the ingredients you need:

• 85 g. chia seeds (half a cup)
• 720 ml. almond milk (3 cups)
• 250 g. sliced peaches (2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup (this is optional)

Here is how to prepare it:

1. Put the multi-use S-blade into the work bowl.
2. Put all ingredients into the work bowl and secure the lid (with 2 click sounds).
3. Press Play and process for 60 seconds (or set a 60-seconds timer).
4. Pour the mixture into a glass storage container and let it sit for at least 12 hours.
5. Serve the pudding the next day topped with fresh fruit or any ingredients you like.

Egg Salad

Egg salad is a simple and classic recipe that you can make easily in your Vitamix food processor. 

Here are the ingredients you need:

• 10 hard-boiled eggs, peeled (approximately 500 g.)
• 125 g. medium white onion, peeled and split in half
• Half bunch Italian parsley – leaves only (12 g.)
• 2 celery stalks cut into 3 inches (115 g.)
• 120 ml. vegan mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp. kosher salt (optional)
• ¼ tbsp. ground black pepper (optional)

Here is how to prepare it:

1. Put the multi-use S-blade into the work bowl.
2. Put all ingredients into the work bowl (with the eggs at the top) and secure the lid (with 2 click sounds).
3. Use the Pulse function 8 to 10 times or until all ingredients are uniformly chopped.
4. Refrigerate until needed, and serve it (up to 4 servings).

Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Vegan Parmesan Cheese is another easy recipe you can try in your Vitamix food processor. It goes great on pizza or any kind of salad.

Here are the ingredients you need:

• 70 g. hemp seeds (half a cup)
• 140 g. raw cashews (1 cup)
• 16 g. nutritional yeast (3 tablespoons)
• 1 tbsp. onion powder
• 1 tbsp. garlic powder
• ½ tbsp. kosher salt (optional)

Here is how to prepare it:

1. Put the multi-use S-blade into the work bowl.
2. Put all ingredients into the work bowl and secure the lid (with 2 click sounds).
3. Press Play and run it for 20 seconds (or a little more until you achieve the desired consistency).
4. Pour the mixture into an air-tight container.
5. Store it in the refrigerator for later use.

Guacamole 

Enjoy the traditional Mexican avocado dip, easily prepared in your Vitamix food processor.

Here are the ingredients you need:

• 4 avocados, peeled with the seed removed (525 g.)
• 60 g. medium red onion (just one half of the onion)
• 3 Fresno chilis, with ends trimmed.
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro leaves with ends trimmed (30 g.)
• 2 small limes, freshly juiced
• One and a half teaspoon kosher salt (optional)

Here is how to prepare it:

• Put the multi-use S-blade into the work bowl.
• Put all ingredients into the work bowl and secure the lid (with 2 click sounds).
• Use the Pulse function 6 to 8 times or until the desired consistency is achieved.
• Serve this tasty appetizer to your guests (20 servings).

Peanut Butter & Jelly Energy Balls

This unique flavor combo will keep you energized and full all day long, so go ahead, try it today in your Vitamix food processor.

Here are the ingredients you need:

• 140 g. raw almonds (1 cup)
• 145 g. roasted and unsalted peanuts (1 cup)
• 260 g. Raisins (2 cups)
• 90 g. rolled oats (1 cup)
• 6 pitted Medjool dates (85 g.)
• 60 ml. Water (¼ cup)

Here is how to prepare it:

1. Put the multi-use S-blade into the work bowl.
2. Put all ingredients into the work bowl and secure the lid (with 2 click sounds).
3. Press Play and run it for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
4. Once the time is up, take the mixture out and roll into 15g balls (½ oz).
5. Store the energy balls in an airtight container and let them chill in the refrigerator before serving.

Vitamix Food Processor Review – Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Use A Vitamix As A Food Processor?

Vitamix is an appliance that many people turn to for their food processor needs, especially now that the Vitamix Food Processor attachment is available. 

If you have a Vitamix Ascent model, then you can get the food processor attachment and extend the power and convenience of your machine.

How Do I Use The Vitamix Food Processor?

The Vitamix food processor can be used for anything from salads and meat to nut butters. Thanks to its sharp blades, this food processor allows you to shred, slice, or chop almost any ingredients in your kitchen.

Here are the basic steps on how to use the Vitamix food processor:

1. Wash the parts before use (except the base) by using warm soapy water.
2. Place the smart self-detect base onto the motor base.
3. Put the work bowl on top of the self-detect base.
4. Put the multi-use blade in S shape inside (if you want to chop).
5. Put a slicing/shredding disc at the top (if you want to slice or shred).
6. Put the snap-on lid at the top of the work bowl.
7. Put your ingredients and press Play.

Closing Thoughts

With the Vitamix food processor, there is no need to dread preparing the ingredients for your family’s meals every single day. Thanks to its unique features, you can prepare your favorite recipes for a fraction of the time you usually need. 

With its multi-function blades, you can dice, slice, mince, chop and do more than you can ever do with an ordinary food processor. In addition, it’s easy to clean and store, so it’s a great addition to your Vitamix smart blender.

This product will make your life so much easier, and you will find yourself happily cooking your family’s favorite meals without any hassle.

So go ahead, order the Vitamix food processor today and let us know your favorite uses in your kitchen.