As professional cooks and kitchen equipment testers, we’re often asked about the best tool or appliance we’ve ever tested. Most Serious Eats staffers will tell you the same thing: We love the Vitamix 5200 blender. This professional-level blender is an incredible buy, but it’s rarely on sale. That’s why we’ve got our eyes on this October’s Prime Day deal: The 5200 is now $300—a rare $250 off from its normal price.

Why Is the Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender So Good?

We’ve named the Vitamix 5200 the best blender (Period. Exclamation point!) for 10 years and running. You won’t find any complex preprograms, and that’s a good thing: It’s incredibly easy to use right out of the box. Equally important is its variable speed settings—10, plus a super-powered “high.” Our tests have consistently shown that starting to blend at a low speed and working your way up to high is the key to a creamy, emulsified mixture. That’s a key reason we named it the best blender for smoothies.

We also love its tall, tapered jar that excels at creating vortexes. Short, square jars fail to pull ingredients down and cycle them through the blades. Like all Vitamix blenders, the 5200’s blunt blades are made for longevity. Sharp blades that slice through ingredients get dull within a matter of weeks, so blunt blades are a better design: They bludgeon through frozen fruit and tough nuts.

What Can You Make In the Vitamix 5200 Blender?

Name any recipe that requires a blender: The 5200 can handle it. In our most recent test of this model, we made almond milk, kale smoothies, frozen margaritas, mayonnaise, and a puréed soup. Most blenders struggled in at least one category, but the 5200 was an outstanding all-around workhorse. The tall profile was especially helpful in making a properly emulsified mayonnaise and the variable speeds ensured velvety smooth blending.

FAQs

Is the Vitamix 5200 Blender worth it?

Unequivocally. In fact, if we were stranded on a deserted island (with electricity) and could only bring one blender, it’d be this. Jokes aside, if you’re looking for a versatile, powerful blender that’ll do all of the tasks and last for years, it’s the 5200. 

How much does the Vitamix 5200 cost?

The 5200 typically retails for about $550. That’s a lot more than you’ll pay for a budget blender, but we think it’s worth the price. That’s why the Prime Big Deal Days discount—$250 off!—is such a, well, big deal.

Why We’re the Experts

• Rochelle Bilow is a commerce editor at Serious Eats. She’s a culinary school graduate, former professional cook, and former editor at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light.
• We at Serious Eats rigorously test our product recommendations and regularly revisit reviews to ensure our picks stand the test of time.
• We have recommended the Vitamix 5200 blender for 10 years—and many Serious Eats staffers use it at home.