Updated May 27, 2017
This is a common concern when buying a Vitamix machine. Do you really need the Vitamix dry container? The dry blades are shaped to push ingredients up, in order to minimize packing into the bottom corners. The dry container fits C- and G-Series Vitamix machines. That includes almost all of the current machines, but note that this container does not work with the personal size S-Series, and it does not work with the Ascent Series. (A dry container for the Ascent Series rumored to be in the works.) For more information about the different models, see my comparison page.
I’ve heard salespeople selling Blendtec machines say that an advantage of the Blendtec is that it does not need a separate container to grind dry items, whereas with the Vitamix you “need to buy a second container.” It turns out that this is not true, and it’s just a sales tactic. The standard Vitamix container will do a perfectly good job of grinding grain, as I will show in the video below.
The real reason to get a dry container is that grinding very hard items like grains will pit and scratch the inside of the pitcher near the blades. In addition to the aesthetic “cloudy” marring of the container, the scratches make the container more likely to hold smells. You can get rid of lingering odors by running the machine with vinegar or a few drops of bleach in water, but it’s nice to not have to worry about that. I’ve never run anything garlicky in my pitted up dry container, but I did grind cinnamon in it a while back, and I can still faintly smell it.
Having a second container is also convenient because to grind grains the container needs to be totally dry, and if you made a smoothie in the morning the container might still be wet. Sometimes I end up using both containers for a single recipe, such as mega muffins.(Although if you just had one container you could dump the dry mixture into a bowl and then re-use the container.) If you are going to get a second container, it might as well be one with blades optimized for dry ingredients.
For these reasons the dry container is worthwhile, as long as you plan on grinding dry things like grain. But if you’re on a tight budget, you can get away with just using the single container, and possibly deodorizing it when needed. (Over time, depending on what you blend, your wet container will probably get scratched up as well, just not nearly as fast or as much as with grinding dry grains. I suspect that things like chia seeds in smoothies can scratch it, but I think that the scratching is reduced if you do not put the seeds at the very bottom, so I now generally add chia seeds to the middle of my ingredients instead of the bottom.)
I’ve always used the dry container for grinding grain, but this past weekend I decided to test a wet blade. I was surprised at how good a job it did of grinding 1-2 cups of wheat berries at a time, which I used to make pancakes and bread. The only difference I noticed was during the bread kneading I found the dough did not “lift” off the blades as much, but it still worked.
For the video I ground one cup of wheat berries for one minute in a container with the standard “wet” blades, and then pushed it through a sieve to see if there were any unground bits. There were a few, but they were small enough and few enough to not be a problem for my purposes. (In fact, when I used the same strainer on flour I ground for the same amount of time with my dry container, there were actually slightly more unground bits!) If you are looking to make a really fine flour you could stop the machine and stir the flour packed into the corners back in using a chopstick, and blend a bit longer; if you want it extra fine you could sift it.
Vitamix warns that you should not blend dry ingredients for longer than 2 minutes because the heat could damage the container. 1 minute to 90 seconds is generally all you need. I further avoid heating by storing the grain in the freezer so it starts the grinding process cold.
I love my vitamix and have used it on a near daily for a few years now. Lately I’ve been wanting to use it to make bread. Have you had success using the wet blade for mixing dough? Would it work?
P.S. can’t wait to try your sweet potato smoothie!
Yes, after I did the test with the wet blade container I showed in the video, I mixed up a bread dough in the container, and it worked. The dough got a bit more stuck under the blades than when I used the dry blade, but I was still able to scrape most of it out. (If you’re going to try it, look up the Vitamix instructions for bread—it’s a pretty different process than just about anything else you’d process in the Vitamix.) I should also say that I don’t have much experience with baking; the only bread I’ve made is Vitamix bread, so I don’t have a great sense of how it would compare to making bread without the Vitamix.
Dear Adam and dear readers
Thank you all for very useful information here.
I have a 5200 wet blade and I plan to buy a dry blade, for both grinding flour and preparing cakes.
A raw vegan cake base is a mix of dates and ground/minced nuts, and I am not sure whether any of the wet or dry blade can chop dates and mix them with the nuts. Does anyone know/has anyone tried already doing that?
Many thanks, in advance.
Alexandra
For flour the dry container will be a bit better, but for your date/nut vegan cake I think the wet blade may be better. I have not tried grinding date-nut mixtures so I don’t have first-hand experience with this.
The main difference between the two blades is that the dry blade pushes ingredients away from the blade, whereas the wet blade pulls ingredients down into the blades.
I have used the wet container numerous times for processing dates with nuts and cocoa. You just have to be careful and use the tamper because these ingredients can be very dense and sticky and bog down the motor.
I also blended cocoa, nuts and dates and had a gluey mess all around the blades that I had trouble digging out. It did not blend at all. Did you put all in at once or dates with cocoa and then nuts?
Montana, I still haven’t tried making thick date-nut mixtures, but here’s a thought—how much were you blending? If the amount is too small then the tamper won’t be able to properly push ingredients into the blades and make them circulate.
My family has had a Vitamix for 16 years, so we’re devoted fans. That being said, I got a kitchenaid food processor as a birthday present and I find it far superior for the task of grinding nuts and dried fruit for vegan cake bases specifically. Hummus also comes out slightly creamier in the food processor. These are recipes I always made in my Vitamix before. One thing that has no comparison though is vegan cashew cream from the Vitamix; perfect and superior to any other method every time. Hope this helps.
It makes sense to me that a good food processor would do better with dried fruit. I’ve never blended dried fruit myself. I suspect that the Next Generation container would be a bit better than the classic Vitamix container because it’s wider and has longer blades.
As for hummus, I have a hard time believing that a food processor could make it creamier than a Vitamix. But thank you for sharing your experience!
I keep a hair dryer in a kitchen drawer to thoroughly dry out containers as needed. Works great on my Vitamix, food processor and tribest personal blender containers when moving back and forth from wet and dry processing.
Thanks for sharing that useful idea. It sounds like you have a productive kitchen!
I just received my new to me reconditioned Vitamix 7500 – which turned out to be a PRO 300 . . . I ordered the dry container at the same time and I have to say, for the price that I paid for that container I CANNOT believe that they didn’t include the tamper!!!!! What is it a 50 cent blow molded part?????
Sorry to hear about your frustration. Regarding the Pro 300 and 7500, there is no difference between those machines other than the label on the front.
One thing to note is that you don’t generally need to use the tamper with dry ingredients. If I feel the need to use something to help blending, I’ve actually found it more useful to stop the machine and use a chopstick to get all the way down into the corners. On the other hand, if you’re blending a couple coups of flour a tamper can be useful to knock the top of the flour on the sides/corners back down, and it is slightly more convenient to not have to stop the machine.
If you’re still disappointed I’d recommend calling up Vitamix. Be prepared for a bit of a wait on hold, but once you get someone on the line, they like to keep customers happy.
Actually, the tamper is really handy for making nut butters. The tamper is great for any thick/heavy mixture (whether it would be dry or wet.) I’m sorry if someone already mentioned this. If you go to amazon you can purchase them seperately for $14.50.. There’s also plenty of demonstrations on YouTube with vitamix owners using the tampers to speed up the process; a couple of them tell you why they’re great and how to properly use them. (:
I agree that you need the tamper for nut butters. However, I consider nut butter a “wet” blend, and it works best with the wet blades. Even though the nuts start out dry, they release oil and become “wet.” On the other hand, a nut flour is best processed in the dry container. And you don’t need the tamper for a nut flour….
I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear, and if I’m wrong. I’ve seen videos of those using dry containers and those using wet containers for nut butters. The ones using dry containers say that they work faster than the wet blades but either one will work for nut butters. I have only tried making coconut butter in the 64 oz container because I’m waiting to get a 32 oz one for other foods.
I emailed them about the dry container for that model (i ordered the same one and got the creations elite, but with the container for 7500/300) and was told that we did not need a separate dry container for that model
If you read this post, you can see that you don’t *need* a separate dry container for any model…
I am looking into buying a reconditioned 7500 …if I add another container would it be best to go with the 32 oz for smaller portions or the dry ingredients container? I really just make smoothies but know I will get into all sorts of things since I love experimenting in the kitchen…I have four kids so I bake lots and make lots of soups and smoothies and am interested in gluten free breads…any feedback would be great!! Thanks!!!
It depends on your use which would be better for you. As a baker, the dry container sounds like a good choice. The flip side is if you plan on making a significant amount of small batches (under 2 cups), then the small wet container would be good. Also, the wet container is generally better for dry ingredients than the dry container is for wet ingredients.
Adam, first I would like to thank you for ALL of the great information you have provided about Vitamix — direct, helpful, no-nonsense. You were able to clarify all the questions I had, and I purchased a reconditioned 7500 as a gift for my husband (to replace his trusty Cuisinart Pro and Hamilton Beach Commercial blender). His birthday is in a couple of weeks but I don’t know if I can hold out that that long to try it!! My question is this: Since we do almost no baking, I decided against the dry container. But today Vitamix is offering $50 off their containers. I read what you said about the small wet container being good for small batches (less than 2 cups). We do make small amounts of things frequently — do you think it’s worth getting the small wet container given the current discount?
I use my wet 32-oz container frequently, so it is certainly worth it to me. It sounds like it would be worth it for you as well.
Absolutely worth getting the small wet container. I have all three and rarely have used the dry but the small wet container I use almost daily for 22oz smoothies. Fast, easier to handle and clean. Love them both.
I am an avid home bread maker and have now moved on from using a bread machine to a Bosch Compact mixer with a dough hook. I also mill my own wheat berries using a BlendTec Kitchen Mill. However, I have recently discovered why my baked loaves tend to have their tops collapse. It is because home milled wheat is coarser than shop bought bread flour. So my question is, will a Vitamix blender produce wheat flour comparable in fineness to say King Arthur Whole Wheat bread flour?
When I grind flour it seems quite fine except for the occasional stray chunk like those shown at the end of video above. If you pinch it it’s not gritty. I’m not sure exactly how it compares to King Arthur flour or the Blendtec Mill. If you check out my Vitamix bread post, you can see I’ve had decent success with it rising.
If your loaves are collapsing my thought would be that they rose for too long. That happened to me the second time I made bread. I’ve also read that whole wheat breads just don’t rise as much as white bread.
Have read many sites about vitamix, I have a old 4500 and it still works great and I’m not looking to replace it, don’t have all the fancy dials just 2 speeds all I want to know is can I grind coffee beans coarsly for cold extraction?
I haven’t ground coffee, but it should work. The only thing I would be concerned about is that it may scratch your container, and it may also leave behind some smell and color.
Bought the 6300 at Costco. I am finding those presets aren’t all they touted them to be. I often have to run the preset a second time. Coming up on my 30 day return period. Seriously considering returning it and purchasing the 5200S that comes with the wet and dry containers. Your thoughts? Also read your thoughts on reconditioned machines. Seriously tempted to do just that. Just thought I’d share my experience with the presets, since they seem to be the latest and greatest offerings – until the next thing comes along, of course.
The presets are a matter of personal preference, but if you read my Vitamix comparison page closely, you’ll see that I personally don’t use them. There are also a few comments on that page by people who love their presets. But it’s true that if you stray from the set recipes the preset times might not be optimal; required blending time really depends on what and how much you put in.
Hello! Just wondering if you did go for the 5200 from Costco as I’m in the same pickle. I just bought the Vitamix TNC3 and don’t really need presets, would prefer the dry blade jar! If the 5200 males juices virtually the same, then I’d go for it too.
The 5200 blends exactly as well as the 6300/TNC3, just without the presets.
Can I use my dry container for wet things? I would prefer to have the option for a dry container as I’d hope to bake more often, but would love the flexibility to use both when making multiple smoothies.
You can put wet things in the dry container, but they will not blend as efficiently. Something that’s relatively liquidy would be more likely to work fine than something that’s thicker.
Just a thought… If the grinding causes pitting and cosmetic damage to the original pitcher, it might not be so safe to use that same pitcher for blending hot ingredients. Even though it is BPA free, the damaged plastic might cause it to leech into food at hot temperatures. I’d rather be safe than sorry…
I meant to say that even though it is BPA free, other plastic chemicals might leech into the food at hot temperatures. I’d rather not each plastic, if I can avoid it!
I’ve looked but I haven’t been able to find any measurements of leaching from these containers, even from the old polycarbonate ones. The thing is that the food is in the container for such a short time, it seems like leaching would be minimal. That said, if you’re concerned about it I’ve recently come across a plastic-free container that will work with Vitamix machines. It doesn’t come cheap, but it’s all stainless steel. It’s made by Waring, but is compatible with Vitamix bases, and you can find it on Amazon.
Not sure about this, I have another brand, the Optimum blender, and they have a jug with 6 long blades, the bottom ones are even longer than the Vitamix, and the 1 jug can make both a green smoothie and then grind grains (as long as you dry it first). I think Vitamix is capable of making the same thing, but choose not to. Thanks for the great info though 🙂 I don’t think it’s worth getting 2 jugs for the Vitamix from what I’ve heard on other blogs
I plan to buy Pro750 for parent who is staying in Malaysia (Malaysia electricity is 220v instead of 110v). Some websites stated that they can’t guarantee the US model will work in other countries. Why so ? Do you have the spec of step up transformer I need to purchase together with this Pro750 ?
These blenders draw a lot of current so you’d need a heavy-duty transformer. I’ve heard that transformers can malfunction and damage the machine. The 750 is rated for 12 amps at 120 V, but I think you’d want a transformer rated for significantly more than that. I don’t have experience with these sorts of transformers, so I can’t recommend any specific one. You should also know that using a Vitamix with a transformer will void the warranty. The safest bet would be to get a 240V model—the 750 is not available at 240V yet, but I believe the 5200 and Pro 500 are.
How to order a pro500 with 220v/240v model in US ?
You would have to place a phone order. 800-848-2649, and you can get free shipping if you tell them you’d like to apply code 06-007021.
Thanks Adam for the contact and shipping code. Btw, does Eric comment still valid, i.e. if I purchase the Pro500 with 220/240v model (instead of the 110v model), the power will still be 20% slower if my parent use it in Malaysia (50Hz) ? Will it affect the end product quality or just need to let it run 20% longer ?
I should have added to yesterday’s comment about step down transformers, this from my life time of working in foreign countries, that they are both very heavy and expensive (probably as high as the Blender if bought in the USA). 12 amps at 120 vac is equal to 1440 watts of power, so the margin of safety Adam mentions would require a 2,000 watt transformer. If I were you I would first check prices in KL as making transformers is very much within their local skill set. American or European made ones may look prettier but you will have to pay a high premium for it. The reduction in speed will only matter if the Blender is pre-programmed time wise so long as the motor does not have to work harder because of its lower speeds. (Like a car going up hill in too high a gear.) The danger then is an electrical burn out of the motor.
Eric, noted with thanks on your comment. Will check a 2,000W step down transform cost in Malaysia, and how heavy it is before decide the next step. Pro500 sell at RM3,300 (USD 1,050) in Malaysia, almost double the price in US. Another option to consider is per Adam suggestion, i.e. the 220/240v model (if available in US).
I have a vitamixer maxi-4000 commercial that is made for 110v. I bought it on ebay from USA and used it Sweden with transformer from 240 to 110v. The thing is it will run about 17 percet slover because of the different hz USA have 60hz and Sweden have 50hz so My wife have not ben satysfied with the arangement. Now i bought a new from UK juicers. And they are made for 240v 50hz. They send worldwide.
Orjan, what’s the website in uk that you bought from. Thanks.
110v 50Hz will run 17% slower compare to 110v 60hz. Question: with 240v 50hz (instead of 60hz), will the speed run as fast as with 110v 60Hz ?
Steven, the commutator inside any electric motor will always rotate 360 degrees at the same rate as the ac power it is connected to. So any such motor, regardless of voltage, will rotate at 50 or 60 cycles per second (Hertz). Obviously blenders rotate many times faster than that due to internal gearing, so to go from 50 to 60Hz say with a UK built blender will result in it running 17% faster but with less power available to maintain that speed because of the lower ac voltage. A possible problem with loading down a blender with say ice is that the primary coils of the electric motor are rated at a maximum number of amperes needed for its 240 ac volt designed usage. To get the same wattage (say 1600 watts) when you halve the voltage you have to double the amperage to get the same power output. Sometimes for this reason the designer will change the manner in which the internal power transformer is wired when changing between input voltages (that requires a physical switch to be flipped over).
Bottom line here is to try it and keep a very close watch (and smell) when first using it after changing volts and Hz. Better still to call tech support for your blender to ask them if doing this will void the warranty. If they say yes then proceed with caution.
There are different types of electric motors. Some, such as induction and synchronous motors are indeed tied to the AC frequency. However Vitamix blenders use universal motors, which are not tied to the AC frequency. (Universal motors are named such because in principle they could also run on DC.) Vitamix motors do not use internal gearing.
To go from 220 volts to 110 volts requires a step-down transformer the difference being that a step down should come with an American type of power outlet socket but probably require the local style of 220 volt plug to be installed on the end of its input cable. Malaysia, probably Ike Europe, uses 50 Hertz ac electric power and this most likely will cause any 60hz designed blender to run almost 20% slower than normal. This is a function of its internal gearing ratios so adding a step down transformer cannot solve that problem. Be careful not to overload the motor by causing it to labor.
This comment was just brought to my attention. I believe the idea of a Vitamix running 20% slower on 50 Hz AC is a myth. There are electrical motors (induction and synchronous) whose speed is determined by the line frequency, but Vitamix uses a universal motor, which should not particularly depend on frequency. I do not have first hand experience, but my guess is that, if anything, 50 Hz AC would make it run a tiny bit faster.
Steven, my excuse is that I have not bought a step down or up transformer in at least the past 25 years so have not kept up with their prices. I am amazed at the first web site offer I just checked. http://www.world-import.com/tc-2000a.htm
At $55 it is a steal but note its weight, 27lbs, enough to rethink mailing it under its 5 year warranty should it go wrong. I do like the fact that this transformer has a fuse. As far as Blenders go I am a Blendtec user so don’t know of the differences of the Vitamix models you quote. Maybe Vitamix have a way of overcoming the Hertz frequency difference for their dual voltage models by using an internal auto-transformer that increases the working voltage above 120 volts to increase power if not speed.
Hi Eric,
I bought a Vitamix PRO 500 from Amazon ( 1/3 AUS price!) and when it shipped to Australia I realised it wasnt a 220-240v model. I did some research regarding the technology vitamix uses, and found a number of patents including this one ( https://www.google.com.au/patents/WO2011116021A1?cl=en&dq=vitamix+240v&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3oqmUqGYE4mCkwXHjIG4Cg&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA) in which it says:
“‘…The control system of the invention[Vitamix], including the PFC circuit, can be designed for domestic and international use so that the blender/shaver machine can operate over a wide operating range of input voltages and frequencies without degrading the overall unit performance…[integrating the PFC circuit with the control system]…enables use of the same motor set regardless of, or substantially independent of, the input voltage and frequency… and can operate with a US domestic power input (e.g., about 120 VAC) or an international power input (e.g., between about 100 VAC and about 250 VAC and between about 50 Hertz and about 60 Hertz).”
What do you think?
That patent does not appear to be associated with Vitamix. You will need a transformer, and make sure you get a big enough one.
Hi Eric,
Yes, they don’t own the patent and are not the assignee. However I have a strong suspicion that Vita-Mix Corp might be licensing the commercialised hardware/software underpinning the patent.
Any ideas as to how to confirm that?
Hi Ben,
I was ordering one in the US too – is your one working under 220-240 V?
Would be great if you could let me know.
thank you
bye.thomas
I was wondering if the stainless steel 32 oz Waring CAC88 blender container would be compatible with the vitia mix
I am pretty sure that the CAC88 would not be compatible with a Vitamix, although I haven’t seen the CAC88, so I am not 100% certain.
What is the difference between the Vitamix Total Nutritin Centre, and the Super Total Nutrition Centre. Both say model number VM0103. Great site, by the way, Very useful and detailed comments.
They are the same machine, but the Super was sold with an additional dry-blade container.
I am going to order the 7500 and am considering also ordering the dry container. After reading some comments it looks like it isn’t necessary – is this true? I do bake a lot and grind my own flours, barley, bulgur, etc . Can this be done without ordering the dry container?
Also, do the blades ever need to be sharpened or replaced?
Thank you for all the useful information – it’s very, very helpful!
I have not tested the wide wet container with grains, but I suspect that it would work similar to the classic one shown above in the video. However, grains will heavily scratch and pit the container. If you do a lot of baking with your own flours, then it’s worth it to get the dry container unless money is really tight.
I have never seen blades need to be replaced or sharpened, but under extremely heavy use that would be required eventually.
You can buy replacement blades if necessary on Amazon as well as other parts and there are a couple excellent videos showing how tondo the replacement. Very simple if you watch the tips.
very confused all the possibilities with so many to choose from. I am perplexed. I saw plastic containers. Do they make glass since I try not to use any plastics with food material at all. I know they might have had glass at one time, but all I see is plastic.
I was concerned about plastic also. Found one glass container mentioned somewhere in a comments section. You can purchase it on Amazon. It fits and works well. It is very expensive and out of my budget. Do some googling and reading comments. I looked but can’t remember off hand what is was. Just letting you know its possible to get one..
Are you sure that you weren’t thinking of the stainless steel container that I linked above?
Vitamix does not make any glass containers for safety reasons, because of the danger of someone leaving a metal spoon in the container and then turning it on. There have been rumors over the years that Vitamix is working on making a safe glass container, but I wouldn’t count on it. The alternative is stainless steel. Vitamix does not currently make any stainless steel containers, but Waring makes a container that is compatible with Vitamix machines. It is the CAC90.
That said, with blenders the food is in the container for a very short time, and the Tritan Copolyester is inert enough that it shouldn’t react or leach into foods.
My Vitamix is an old one from the 60’s or 70’s, one of the originals. It has a stainless steel container with a plastic top and a wooden dowel stick. It only has one speed w/reverse. Do you suppose I could grind rice to make rice flour in it for gluten free?
It’s worth a try. I bet it will work. Maybe not quite as well as the newer models, but you’ll probably still get a flour.
Hi,
I’ve been reading your very informative posts and I appreciate all the info.
I am still a bit confused. I am interested in all the wonders of a vitamix, perhaps moving into more raw diet. I am also interested in using grains and sprouted grains for batters/breads /pasta etc. I see myself using the machine daily 😉
Are all the machines capable of grain grinding? Or do I need the 5200 healthy lifestyle one or …..does the 7500 grind etc too?
Thanks and I apologize for not figuring this out from your previous posts….I blame it on my recent overindulgence in poor food choices leading to headache and brain fog
Yes, all of the machines can grind grain. For regular use, the dry container is nice to have, and it is compatible with all of the current Vitamix models.
I haven’t ever sprouted grains, but if you do, it seems that you could grind them wet for a batter/dough, in which case a normal wet container would be better than the dry one. Alternatively it looks like some people dry them and then grind them like you would unsprouted grains.
Hello again, Adam. Bought a reconditioned 7500 on your recommendation last month (and using your code). Use it every day. Thanks for the 411 and recommendations! Now looking to add a smaller/narrower wet container for smaller batches. Do you think the 32 oz wet would perform noticeably better for this purpose than the 48 oz wet? My understanding is that the inside dimensions are essentially the same in the vicinity of the blades, so I’m wondering if the 48 oz will give me the benefits of the 32 oz with additional flexibility. The small batch capability is much more important to me than additional capacity, so if they are not very nearly equal in this regard, I’ll stick with the 32 oz. Thank you in advance for your insight.
You are right that the 32-oz wet and the 48-oz containers are essentially identical on the inside at the bottom, so their performance is indistinguishable for small volumes. The trade-off is that the 48-oz container is a bit bulkier and heavier compared to the 32-oz. I find the 32-oz container a bit handier to rinse, but it’s a pretty small difference. Anyway, I prefer the 32-oz because I have the 64-oz container to use if I’m making a larger recipe of over 4 cups. Some people prefer having the added capacity in their smaller container, so it’s really up to you.
As always, thanks for the input. Leaning toward the 32 oz wet, unless I find an exceptional deal on the 48 oz wet. (Unlikely.)
I read somewhere that making nut butters, it is better to use the dry container instead of the wet. Is that true? I wanted to ask before i try that and find out i have messed something up! I have the Pro300. Thanks!
The dry container would be better for making nut flour, but for nut butter the wet blade will work better because it pulls the mixture down the middle more for better circulation.
Okay, thanks, Adam. That is all i needed to know. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.