Can A Vitamix Replace A Food Processor? Let's Find Out!

Vitamix machines and food processors are both excellent kitchen appliances. Food processors are geared more for just processing food, whereas Vitamix machines are extremely convenient and able to make excellent smoothies and process some foods.

Many people wonder if a Vitamix can replace their food processor. If you are wondering the same thing, you should know that it is absolutely possible to use your Vitamix as a smoothie blender and as a food processor. But there are a lot of differences between the two machines, and today I will break down the individual pros and cons of replacing your food processor with a Vitamix.

Can a Vitamix Replace a Food Processor: Overview

There are a few differences between a Vitamix blender and a food processor. They are different machines, but they can essentially perform the same tasks. Can a Vitamix replace a food processor? Let’s find out.

Side Note – Vitamix now has a separate food processor attachment which is a game-changer! Click here for more details.

More Convenient

Vitamix machines are undoubtedly more convenient than using a food processor. This is mostly because Vitamix machines are easier to clean, they have simpler features, and all the settings are easy to manage. Most Vitamix machines can even clean themselves by simply blending soapy water.

On the other side, when you have an extremely thick mixture in your food processor, it can be very hard to clean. You often have to scrape the thick substance off the shallow container, and this is a pain in the neck. However, food processors are a little easier if you need to do scraping, considering Vitamix often have taller jars. But with about 60 seconds of blending soap and water in a Vitamix, you shouldn’t ever need to scrape anything.

The Blades

The blades are a little different between machines. The blades on a Vitamix blender have been optimized for blending softer foods into liquids. On the other hand, the blades of a food processor are more centered for slicing ingredients. The food processor blades are actually designed for processing foods, whereas the blades on the Vitamix will end up pulverizing the ingredients because they’re not as sharp.

When it comes to blades, food processors definitely have the advantage. They are able to slice and chop any kind of ingredient into a food paste. Vitamix machines are better at blending liquid.

Durability

Vitamix blenders are all made with the same durability. Whether you have a professional Vitamix used in commercial kitchens and cafés, or if you have a residential blender just used for at home in the kitchen, it is the same level of quality. This is what distinguishes Vitamix from standard blenders. The quality is next level!

Vitamix blenders are often more expensive because of their 5-star quality, and this is a huge difference with food processors. Many food processors are simple consumer products that come with weaker parts and are much more likely to fail over time. This is not the case with Vitamix machines, as all of them come with premium components. They are all designed to last a lifetime.

Read More: Can I grind coffee in my Vitamix?

Basically, a low-end Vitamix is going to have the same level of quality as a top-end food processer, especially in terms of parts, design, and functionality.

Vitamix Vs Food Processor: Main Differences

The main difference between a Vitamix and a food processor is that one of them has way more power and speed, and this one is the Vitamix. As we’ve shown, they both do about 90% of the same things; however, you can do a lot more with a Vitamix compared to a food processor.

The Vitamix is a more compact machine with a sleek design, whereas food processors are often bulky and come in large shapes with several parts to store. This is the main difference between machines. The only exception would be if you find yourself buying a food processor that comes as an attachment with another appliance such as a stand mixer or slow cooker. In this case, they will most likely both fit together on your kitchen countertop.

Convenience

A Vitamix will always be more convenient to use, partly because you can do so much more with it. Because of this, it’s always the best option if you need a machine that does many things. The only downside is that Vitamix machines are usually pretty expensive and come in sleek designs. Food processors often come at very cheap prices for basic models; however, they’re not as powerful nor as deep in design.

Is a Vitamix Better than a Food Processor?

In some ways, a Vitamix is definitely better than a food processor. A Vitamix is best at doing all the traditional blending jobs. Vitamix machines make awesome smoothies, they can make creamy soups, they can crush ice, and they can blend hard ingredients like seeds, nuts, and coffee beans.

Vitamix machines have better functionality, the user interface is nicer, they have lots of different settings for speed, and they are generally more straightforward to operate. In terms of convenience, the Vitamix is definitely better than the food processor.

You also get much more versatility when you use a Vitamix machine. They are awesome at making thick blends, things like nut butter or hummus. Vitamix machines can make frozen treats like ice cream and margaritas. Anything that needs to be blended can be blended better inside of a Vitamix. That really is the bottom line.

When talking about the actual build of the machines, the Vitamix wins through the combination of having a powerful motor, a unique vortex system the blends perfectly, and the useful tamper, which allows you to push and mix without needing to stop the machine, open its lid, and scrape the sides. You can do it all while the machine is running using the tamper.

This means the Vitamix has a better motor, it blends better, its features are better, and it can do a few more things than the food processor can. For example, you would not find yourself blending a fruit smoothie in your food processor, then making salsa with it, then using it to mix cake batter. However, you can do all these things with a Vitamix, with minimal cleaning between uses.

Is a Food Processor Better than a Vitamix?

We already know that a Vitamix machine can definitely replace a food processor. However, there are things that a food processor does better. A food processor is inevitably going to be a little better at processing certain foods.

For example, a Vitamix is not great at shredding cheese, as it tends to clump up the cheese. But a food processor works to shred and grate cheese very nicely.

A food processor is also good at slicing and shredding vegetables, where a Vitamix tends to just blend them. A food processor will leave you with slices of actual food, whereas the Vitamix tends to just mash stuff up.

Can You Chop Vegetables in a Vitamix?

If you’re chopping vegetables for a soup or stew, it can be difficult to get them all uniformly diced. This is where the Vitamix blender comes in handy! It’s not just for your morning shake; chopping vegetables in a Vitamix blender offers many benefits that you might not know about.

What Vegetables Can I Chop in a Vitamix?

A Vitamix blender is powerful enough to chop most vegetables. Root vegetables, soft vegetables, even herbs. This is a list of vegetables that you can chop in your Vitamix, although it is not a complete list.

Carrots
Celery Root
Cabbage
Zucchini or other large squash
Green beans
Broccoli Stems
Fennel Bulbs
Chard Stalks
Kale Leaves
Parsley stems

There are many more types of veggies you can chop with a Vitamix blender. If it is small enough for your blades to handle then it will work! Just make sure that once you turn on the machine – if something gets stuck – you immediately turn it off.

Why Should I Chop Vegetables in a Vitamix?

Blenders are handy when it comes to chopping up vegetables. This is especially true for the Vitamix blender that can even put together a healthy smoothie in just under sixty seconds!

The reason chopping the veggies is important is because they help with digestion which can prevent stomach aches and cramps, as well as other digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea. Chop them all up at once so you don’t have to worry about doing each one individually when you’re ready to cook your meal later on this week.

The chopping blade is designed to slice through the vegetables like a knife, chopping them down into uniform pieces as it rotates around and around at high speeds. If you chop your vegetables too small, they’ll cook faster; if you leave them chunky, they won’t be as easy to digest or absorb nutrients from (especially important for young children).

The chopping blades in Vitamix blenders can resist heat up to 240°F (115°C), which means that it doesn’t need any additional lubrication; this makes cleaning much easier!

Dry Chopping in a Vitamix

It can be difficult to chop vegetables in a Vitamix blender. It is important to use the right blade and chopping method for each type of vegetable you are chopping (fibrous, dense, or soft).

A great way to do it is by using your Vitamix dry chopping feature which turns on when there isn’t any liquid inside the jar. The dry chopping function helps cut up even tough veggies like carrots without having them slip through or get stuck under the blades.

When using this function make sure that everything fits down into the blades so they don’t go anywhere while chopping. Be careful not to overfill with large chunks because this could block up all your chopping.

If you are chopping up something very fibrous like celery, the dry chopping function may not work as well because there isn’t enough liquid to help push everything through the blades properly.

In this case, it is best to use your tamper tool and gently press down on top of what you are chopping until things get chopped up nicely or move on to using another chopping method (wet or manual).

Wet Chopping in a Vitamix

To chop vegetables in a Vitamix blender that are soft like tomatoes, cucumbers or even strawberries use the chopping blades with some added liquid to help push everything down into the blade.

Before chopping anything up make sure you have enough water inside your jar (about one cup). Then add your food and let it soak for about thirty seconds before turning on high power while using either pulse or low speed at first.

As things start getting chopped up, turn the machine up to full speed which will get everything blended nicely together. If something gets stuck simply stop chopping right away; otherwise continue until all ingredients are combined well without any chunks leftover.

How to Chop Vegetables in a Vitamix

Follow these steps for chopping onions, carrots, celery, or any other vegetable:

Steps to chopping vegetables in a Vitamix Blender:

Make sure the chopping blade is securely in place. The chopping blades are very sharp, so be extra careful when removing and reinstalling them into your blender base.
Add vegetables to Vitamix container. Vegetables should not exceed halfway up the jar. Close lid tightly onto container; make sure it is sealed properly before turning on the power switch. For models with variable speeds, start slow speed until vegetables are chopped to desired consistency. Once you have reached the optimal chopping stage, increase speed for additional 30 seconds if necessary. Turn off the machine at end of the cycle once ingredients reach the appropriate texture level according to recipe requirements–you do not want over-processed food!
If you do not have a chopping blade, the Vitamix blender can still work for chopping vegetables. Simply use your tamper that came with your blender (if applicable) or wooden spoon to flatten down ingredients during the initial blending process until the desired size is reached–the only difference will be slightly more liquid in the final product due to lack of chopping action.

The steps shown above are based on a “low speed” setting; please adjust according to the power level selected on the unit or model being used. Always consult the recipe before processing ingredient levels within the container! Chop onions, carrots, celery, etc. with ease using this simple step-by-step guide!

Can a Vitamix Replace a Food Processor: Final Thoughts

There are a lot of people replacing their food processors by buying a Vitamix. This is not uncommon, as Vitamix machines tend to be smaller, easier to store, and more versatile. Nobody wants too many appliances cluttering their counter, and if you can replace an old blender and an old food processor with a new Vitamix, there is really no downside.

Plus, Vitamix is very aware of their battle with food processors, which is why they have made their own special attachments that you can use with your Vitamix machine to turn it into a food processor. There are now food processing containers and blades that are available with Vitamix machines so that you can make the switch and never look back. Quite frankly, food processors have become outdated thanks to the Vitamix.