Vitamix 5-Speed Immersion Blender, 625-Watt Motor, Stainless Steel/Black

Why it's worth it

The Vitamix runs a 625W motor through a four-pronged stainless blade, and it grinds through dense mixtures that stall lighter blenders. Five speeds, an 18-inch overall length and a 5-foot cord make it the one for big pots and heavy jobs.

If your recipes are thick, wattage is the whole story. Tom's Guide ran a 32-ounce hummus blend and the Vitamix finished in 90 seconds; a comparable 200W model took three minutes and ten seconds. That gap widens with every extra cup of chickpeas. Owners who bought this specifically for hummus are the loudest fans of it, and they tend to be people who gave up on a lighter blender first.

The four-pronged blade base is different from the two-blade design most of these use. More cutting edges per rotation means fewer passes through the same pot, and it's part of why this one handles fibrous ingredients and cold, stiff mixtures without you stopping to stir. The 5-foot cord also matters if your only free outlet is across the counter.

From our review of 8 immersion blenders, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +If your recipes are thick, wattage is the whole story
• +The four-pronged blade base is different from the two-blade design most of these use
• +Consumer Reports placed the Vitamix among the highest-scoring models for blending performance and long-term durability in…
• +One-handed operation is genuinely thought through here

What to know

• –It's heavy and it's long
• –It's the most expensive unit in this guide, and it doesn't include a blending cup in the box