Buzz
Blenders are essential tools for any cook, and if you're in the market for an upgrade, the Vitamix Ascent X5 should be at the top of your list. As a professional chef with over 12 years of experience, I’ve often recommended food processors over blenders. But after testing the Vitamix Ascent X5 through rigorous food trials, I can honestly say, I'm thoroughly impressed.
The Vitamix Ascent X5 stands out as a top-tier option in the blender world.
Vitamix is a trusted name in the blender industry, so it wasn't surprising that their latest Ascent X series would pack a punch. The X2, X3, X4, and X5 models range in price from $550 to $750. These aren’t entry-level models, that’s for sure. Just remember, even a solid blender from a less expensive brand typically costs $200 or more.
This blender features 10 preset programs, designed for everything from smoothies and dips to nut butters and hot soups. It also includes a tamper (which turned out to be more helpful than I expected), and the backlit digital touch display is intuitive and simple to use.
This unit is backed by a 10-year warranty. It's not only reassuring to know assistance is available when needed, but it's also a sign that the company expects this blender to last at least a decade. When you break it down, it's like paying $75 a year for such a reliable appliance.
However, I still wondered if the performance justified the price. So, I decided to put the blender to the test with challenges that many others would struggle with.
Testing the Vitamix Ascent X5.
Even the most basic blender can whip up a smoothie, so I decided to skip that and instead focus on three more challenging trials: bean dip, nut butter, and hot soup. These recipes involve sticky ingredients that most blenders struggle to break down into a smooth paste. The soup may seem simple, but the challenge here is Vitamix's claim that you can not only make but also heat the soup in the blender. Supposedly, the friction from the blades gets hot enough to heat the soup in around seven minutes.
The bean dip trial.
I thought it would be a great opportunity to prepare my favorite kalamata and white bean dip, so I gathered the ingredients and tossed them in the blender. Normally, I make this dip using my food processor. Beans tend to be sticky, and when I make this dip (or any other bean dip) in a blender, some beans get caught just above the blade, leaving the ones at the bottom over-puréed and the ones at the top barely crushed. It becomes a frustrating process of stopping the blender and pushing the beans down repeatedly.
Not with the Vitamix Ascent X5, though. I selected the dip preset using the rotating knob and hit start. The blender used two preset speeds to efficiently break down the ingredients. In under three minutes, I had the smoothest kalamata bean dip I’ve ever made. The only thing I missed from my food processor was the ability to pulse in a few olives, so I chopped them up by hand and added them into the dip at the end.
The hot soup trial.
For this test, I decided to make a simple tomato soup. By this point, I was confident the soup would be smooth, so my main goal was to see if the heating feature was truly functional.
Well, I was completely blown away. Astonished. A little intimidated. This blender did exactly what it promised and delivered perfectly hot soup.
I roasted some tomatoes in the oven, seeds and all, and tossed them into the blender. Then, I added a few roasted garlic cloves, tomato paste, chicken broth, and seasonings, selected the hot soup icon on the touch screen, and hit play. Most of the other presets finish their tasks in around three minutes, but the hot soup setting runs for seven. Initially, I noticed the mixture had a pale pink color, as seen in the picture. After a couple of minutes, I didn’t see much progress, so I stepped away to check back later.
When I returned with just a couple of minutes left in the cycle, I could see a noticeable change in color and steam rising from the top. The machine was indeed heating the soup, bringing the ingredients to what I would later realize was almost a simmer.
Once it finished, I checked the temperature: 180°F. The soup tasted as though it had been simmering for 20 minutes on the stove, with a silky texture that my immersion blender could never achieve. (Keep in mind, it doesn’t heat beyond that, so you’ll want to add pre-cooked vegetables.)
The nut butter trial.
I would never, ever recommend making nut butter in a blender. You'll risk burning out the motor, end up with uneven texture, or find yourself stuck waiting for 20 minutes of continuous blending. Even with a food processor, which is better equipped for the job, it still takes time.
This time, I decided to make cashew butter because the cashews at my local store looked especially fresh. Nut butters are simple in terms of ingredients. I dry-roasted the cashews for about seven minutes, let them cool, and added them to the blender. I found the nut butter preset and let it run. This is where the tamper came into play. I was so fascinated by the blender’s power on the first try that I didn’t start tamping soon enough, but on the second run, I pressed and smashed the nut butter throughout the process with great success.
In just four minutes, I had perfect cashew butter from my blender. (The preset is set for two minutes, so if you start tamping right away, you’ll be faster than I was.) It was quicker than opening a jar of store-bought nut butter, stirring in the separated oil with a knife, and dealing with the mess that comes with it.
Is the Vitamix Ascent X5 a good blender?
This is, without a doubt, the best blender I’ve ever used. One downside, though, is that it’s extremely loud. My cats hated it, my fiancé wasn’t thrilled, and I considered ear plugs during the soup cycle. Despite that, this blender tackles any challenge you throw at it with ease. I’ve never had smoother soups or dips from any appliance. I now get why so many people use this brand to make baby food. It’s fast, and the results are impeccably smooth. Making hollandaise or mayonnaise in this blender would be a breeze.
Is this blender truly worth the investment?
This is a question only you can decide, but here's what I suggest considering. What is your usage like, and how frequently do you need it? If you can imagine using the blender regularly for tasks like preparing soups, nut butters, or baby food, it’s definitely a worthwhile purchase. If you’re someone who blends smoothies or makes sauces on a daily basis, or you’re planning on starting a home-based business where this appliance plays a key role, this blender can easily handle the load.
However, if you only pull your blender out occasionally – like making smoothies in the summer and then storing it away for the rest of the year – then you might want to explore more affordable options from different brands.
Another consideration is cleaning. Personally, my favorite feature is the self-cleaning program: I absolutely despise cleaning as much as I enjoy cooking. Unlike many other blenders where you need to disassemble the parts to clean each section, here, the instructions actually advise against removing the bottom part with the blade. But that's fine because, aside from using a soapy sponge for stubborn spots, the self-cleaning function is incredibly effective.
Right now, the Vitamix Ascent X5 is available at a discounted price of $649.95 from the Vitamix online store, offering a $100 saving from the regular price. This is a perfect opportunity to grab one for yourself or as a gift.
