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Cuisinart CSB-175 vs Vitamix Immersion Side-by-Side Comparison

Our comparison of the Cuisinart Smart Stick vs. Vitamix 5-Speed will point out the strengths and weaknesses of each blender.

By , , and Updated

Cuisinart Smart Stick

Vitamix Immersion Blender

Cuisinart CSB-175 vs Vitamix Immersion

Overall Verdict

7.7
Overall Score
8.6
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)7.4
  • Design (20%)8.5
  • Usability (30%)7.8
  • Performance (50%)8.6
  • Design (20%)9.1
  • Usability (30%)8.2

The choice between the Cuisinart and the Vitamix is more about your budget than any other factor.

As a premium blender, the Vitamix costs roughly three times as much as the Cuisinart. That high price reflects its exceptionally high power and outstanding durability. 

Although they’re roughly equal in terms of functionality, the Vitamix certainly looks much sleeker. It’s not perfect, but overall we’d call it the most efficient heavy-duty hand blender on the market today. The Cuisinart, on the other hand, is a more modest design intended for light-duty tasks.

Pros & Cons

  • Powerful enough for a wide range of tasks
  • The ergonomically-designed handle makes the blender easier to maneuver  
  • The included 24-oz beaker allows for easy gripping and drip-free pouring
  • The release button is really helpful during assembly and disassembly  
  • The specially designed blade can be used to emulsify sauces
  • A great tool for recipes that involve fibrous or frozen food
  • 4-pronged heavy-duty blade promotes speedy blends and consistent results
  • Intuitive interface makes it easy to switch between speed settings
  • Ergonomically-designed handle offers a secure grip
  • Blade Guard prevents scratching 
  • Stainless steel body ensures optimal durability
  • The stainless steel blending shaft will damage non-stick coatings
  • Fairly complicated to use
  • The blade guard doesn’t prevent splashing very well
  • Expensive
  • Relatively heavy
  • There aren’t any extra accessories included

Key Specs

Dimensions HW
15.6 x 2.3 inches
17.5 x 3 inches
Weight
1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)
3.2 lbs (1.5 kg)
Number of speeds
2
5
Pulse/Turbo option
No
No
Min speed
11,670 RPM
8,600 RPM
Max speed
12,660 RPM
15,700 RPM

Where to Buy?

Price at publication
$46.56
$146.87

*You help support HealthyKitchen101's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
7.4
8.6

Puree Soup

7.0
9.5
Scooping a spoon of pureéd soup made by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender from a plastic beaker.
Scooping a spoon of pureéd soup made by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender from a plastic beaker.
Cuisinart CSB-175BKQVC Hot Soup Test
A batch of soup pureéd by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender is checked for smoothness by being drained through a stainless steel mesh strainer.
Scooping a spoon of pureéd soup from the plastic beaker to check its smoothness.
Scooping a spoon of pureéd soup from the plastic beaker to check its smoothness.
Vitamix Immersion Blender Soup Purée Video
Draining the pureéd soup with a stainless steel mesh strainer to inspect solid chunks.
Pureeing Time
30 seconds
30 seconds
Result
Silky chunky
Exceptionally smooth
Suction
Slightly
No

Frozen Smoothie

7.5
8.8
A plastic beaker containing a batch of green smoothie whose parts are scooped with a stainless steel spoon is between the Cuisinart’s motor body and a smartphone displaying the total blending time (1 minute and 21 seconds).
A plastic beaker containing a batch of green smoothie whose parts are scooped with a stainless steel spoon is between the Cuisinart’s motor body and a smartphone displaying the total blending time (1 minute and 21 seconds).
Cuisinart CSB-175 Smart Stick Smoothie
After finishing blending, the green smoothie made by the Cuisinart Smart Stick was spread evenly throughout a white paper to check for solid chunks.
Scooping a spoon of smoothie from the plastic beaker to check its texture after the Vitamix immersion blender had completed the test in 1 minute and 5 seconds.
Scooping a spoon of smoothie from the plastic beaker to check its texture after the Vitamix immersion blender had completed the test in 1 minute and 5 seconds.
Vitamix Immersion Blender Smoothie Video
After finishing blending, the green smoothie was spread evenly throughout a white paper on a gray table to check for solid chunks.
Blending Time
1 min 20 secs
1 min 5 secs
Result
Slightly Coarse
Smooth
Suction
Slightly
No

Mayonnaise

9.3
8.3
Scooping a spoon of mayonnaise from a full batch emulsified in a white bowl by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender.
Scooping a spoon of mayonnaise from a full batch emulsified in a white bowl by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender.
Cuisinart CSB-175BKQVC Smart Stick Mayonnaise
Scooping a spoon of mayonnaise emulsified by the Vitamix immersion blender from a white bowl to check its creaminess.
Scooping a spoon of mayonnaise emulsified by the Vitamix immersion blender from a white bowl to check its creaminess.
Vitamix Immersion Blender Mayonnaise
Emulsifying Time
1 min 10 secs
1 mins 40 secs
Result
Smooth
Quite Thick
Suction
Yes
No

Almond Milk

9.0
9.3
A bunch of almond shells gets clogged in the Vitamix immersion blending wand which is resting on a beaker full of almond milk.
A bunch of almond shells gets clogged in the Vitamix immersion blending wand which is resting on a beaker full of almond milk.
Vitamix Immersion Blender Almond Milk Test
Grinding Time
40 secs
40 secs
Result
Fine
Fine
Suction
Tightly
Slightly

Whipped Egg Whites

0.0
0.0
The blending wand of the Cuisinart CSB-175 Smart Stick is immersed in a plastic beaker on a white table containing its failed beaten egg-white with a smartphone next to it.
The Vitamix blending wand is immersed in a plastic beaker containing failed beaten egg-white with a smartphone displaying the total beating time ( 2 minutes and 17 seconds) next to it.
Beating Time
N/A
N/A
Result
N/A
N/A
Suction
N/A
N/A

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.5
9.1

In The Box

Owner’s manuals, blending wand, motor body, plastic beaker, paper carton box being side by side.
The Vitamix Hand Blender is shipped with a carton box, an immersion blending wand, a motor body, and owner’s manuals.

Dimensions

The Cuisinart Smart Stick 2-speed hand blender standing on top of its blending shaft on a gray table, with the length of the blending shaft being noted to the side as 8.4 inches, and the total length of the unit as 15.6 inches.
The Vitamix stainless steel immersion blender stands on top of its blending shaft on a gray table, with the length of the blending shaft being noted to the side as 9.2 inches, and the total length of the unit as 17.5 inches.
Height
15.6" (39.6 cm)
17.5" (44.5 cm)
Width
2.3" (5.8 cm)
3.0" (7.6 cm)
Weight
1.6 lbs (0.7 kg)
3.2 lbs (1.4 kg)
Shaft Length
8.4" (21.3 cm)
9.2" (23.4 cm)

Build Quality

8.5
9.5
The motor body and blending wand of the Cuisinart Smart Stick two-speed hand blender lying flat on a yellow table.
Vitamix Immersion Blender Review: The motor body and blending wand of the Vitamix lie flat on a gray table.

Blades

8.0
9.5
A close-up of the Cuisinart CSB-175 Smart Stick Stainless Steel Blade
The blade assembly of the Vitamix immersion blender features 4 sharp stainless steel prongs.
Stainless Steel Blade Housing with Plastic Guard (Cre: Nguyen Ntk/HealthyKitchen101)
The blade assembly of the Vitamix immersion blender features 4 sharp stainless steel prongs.
A close-up of the sharp stainless steel blade of the Vitamix immersion blender.
Material
Stainless steel
Stainless Steel
Type
Sharp Blade
Sharp Blade
Guard Material
Metal
BPA-free plastic
Blade Count
2
4
Removable
No
No
Dishwasher Safe
No
No

Power Cord

10
10
The Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender on a gray table with its power cord rolled up next to it.
The Vitamix hand blender on a gray table with its power cord rolled up next to it.
Vitamix Immersion Blender Hands-on Power Cord
Cord Length
6.0 ft (1.8 m)
4.9 ft (1.5 m)
Type
2-prong plug
No
Detachable
No
2-prong plug

Speed And Controls

A close-up of two speed controlling buttons and a speed dial on top of the Cuisinart’s motor body.
A close-up of the Power button and Variable Speed Control button of the Vitamix immersion blender.
Vitamix Immersion Blender Speed and Controls
A close-up of the Power button and Variable Speed Control button of the Vitamix immersion blender.
Five speed indicator lights on top of the Vitamix’s motor body.
Activation
Press
Press
Min Speed
11,670 RPM
8,600 RPM
Max Speed
12,660 RPM
15,700 RPM
Presets
No
No
Noise Level
80 dB
85 dB
Digital Display
No
Yes
Pulse Mode
No
No

Accessories

Material
N/A
N/A
Dishwasher Safe
N/A
N/A
Removable
N/A
N/A

Main Jar

10
0.0
A 24-oz plastic beaker of the Cuisinart Smart stick standing on a yellow table.
Material
Plastic
N/A
Capacity
24.0 fl oz (709.8 ml)
NaN fl oz (NaN ml)
Measurements
Yes
N/A
Weight
3.8 oz (108 g)
NaN oz (NaN g)
Height
6.5" (16.5 cm)
NaN" (NaN cm)
Dishwasher Safe
Yes
N/A

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
7.8
8.2

Blade Assembly

9.0
8.0

Handling

8.0
8.5
Someone uses two hands to control the Cuisinart Smart Stick immersion blender: one for holding the handle and pressing the controlling buttons at the same time, the other for rotating the speed dial.
The handle of the Vitamix stick blender being held at an angle with 4 speed bars is lighting up.
The handle of the Vitamix stick blender being held at an angle with 4 speed bars is lighting up.
The handle of the Vitamix stick blender being held at an angle with 4 speed bars is lighting up.
Someone is holding the Vitamix immersion blender with a top-down perspective.
A close-up of the Vitamix’s handle being held from a front view.

Cleanability

7.5
7.0

Easeof Use

7.6
8.4

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Behind the Comparison

Headshot of Tina Pham
Tina PhamReviewer

Tina Pham is a staff writer and reviewer, with five years of experience in the industry. As a passionate amateur home cook, she loves to discover practical cooking solutions, and has made it her mission to bring her findings to every kitchen. Her ultimate goal is making cooking more of a pleasure for all.

Headshot of Lap Vo
Lap VoTest Lead

Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.

Headshot of Tuyet Pham
Tuyet PhamProfessional Chef

Tuyet Pham is an award-winning Saigonese chef passionate about delicious and healthful foods. At HealthyKitchen101, she develops recipes and collaborates with our Research, Testing, and Review lab to evaluate the performance of cooking appliances. Her assessments add a strong authoritative voice to our product scoring process.

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