Our recommendations are made independently through Research & Testing. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links.
Mueller Ultra-Stick vs Vitamix 5-Speed Side-by-Side Comparison




Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)8.6/10
- Design (20%)9.1/10
- Usability (30%)8.2/10
- Performance (50%)7.3/10
- Design (20%)6.8/10
- Usability (30%)7.4/10
As a high-priced blender, the Vitamix stands out from the crowd with its sturdy construction, multi-speed settings, and premium stainless steel finish. It’s among the few hand blenders on the market that can perform a wide variety of blending tasks, allowing you to explore new culinary possibilities. It’s even powerful enough to blend solid ingredients like frozen fruits, raw nuts, and whole ice cubes without too much effort.
In the opposite corner, the Muller Ultra-Stick stands out for its false advertising claims. We were very disappointed with itsflimsy blade housing and the copper motor that cannot withstand continuous use.
The only advantages the Muller has over the Vitamix are its lighter weight and inexpensive price tag.
Performance
- Hot Soup Purée (35%)9.5/10
- Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)8.8/10
- Mayonnaise (15%)8.3/10
- Almond Milk (15%)9.3/10
- Whipped Egg-Whites (5%)0/10
- Hot Soup Purée (35%)7.0/10
- Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)7.0/10
- Mayonnaise (15%)8.5/10
- Almond Milk (15%)7.5/10
- Whipped Egg-Whites (5%)7.0/10
Hot Soup Purée




- Pureeing Time: 30 seconds
- Result: Exceptionally smooth
- Suction: No
Pureeing hot soup wasn't challenging the Vitamix thanks to its powerful motor and razor-sharp blades. Although it wasn’t any faster than its counterparts in pureeing time, it warranted the higher cost by providing us with a nutrient-dense purée of silky smooth texture. It also stood out from the rest with a non-suction performance that helped keep splashing to minimal.
Indeed, the Vitamix is the most suitable hand blender for preparing restaurant-quality soup at home. It’s a great bargain for any recipes that involve fibrous food, too. If you’re now looking for a tool that can consistently ensure the smoothest blends, we particularly love and recommend this blender.



- Pureeing Time: 30 seconds
- Result: Slightly chunky
- Suction: Tightly
Despite being a low-priced blender, the Mueller Ultra-Stick wasn’t any slower than the others we tested. It took about 30 seconds to yield two servings of pureed soup packed with carrots, pumpkin, and parsley.
That said, it wasn’t so good at drawing ingredients toward its blades, so we needed to move it around for an even blend. Moreover, it sucked tightly to the pot’s bottom, which didn’t cause as much spatter as the Cuisinart, but did cause small scratch marks on our cookware’s surface. It also made it very challenging for us to stir with the blending wand.
Our Mueller soup’s texture was acceptable but not the silkiest; there were still several large chunks of veggies left behind.
Frozen Fruit Smoothie




- Blending Time: 1 min 5 secs
- Result: Smooth
- Suction: No
The Vitamix took only 1 minute and 5 seconds to complete this test. By comparison, its counterparts such as the UTALENT 5-in-1 and the Hamilton Beach 2-speed required nearly double the time.
Regarding the smoothie’s texture, of all the blenders we tested, only the Vitamix could churn out a thick, creamy smoothie with almost no solids left behind. Plus, despite being longer and heavier, it operated well in our 24-oz blending jar while the BPA-free plastic bell guard helped prevent scratches on the jar’s surfaces.




- Blending Time: 1 min 15 secs
- Result: Chunky
- Suction: Slightly
To ensure this portable machine can do the work of a full-sized blender for making smoothies, we designed this specific test for it. We would award it corresponding points if it could create a homogeneous mixture of just kale and frozen fruit. Disappointingly, we found that the Mueller Ultra-Stick isn’t great at blending solid fruit and leafy vegetables.
In this task, it had a very hard time breaking up the ingredients. This caused it to demand up to 1 min 15 secs to finish the test.
And although the Turbo mode is intended to give the blender an extra boost at max speed, we noticed the speed increment wasn’t enough to make any difference. Our smoothie came out pretty smooth, but there were many unprocessed chunks of mango. It was also a bit grainy due to a mass of tiny leafy bits. For about $35 more, you can upgrade to the better Braun MultiQuick-5.
As this blender shouldn’t run for longer than 60 seconds at the time to avoid damage, we took a break after 30 seconds. In the meantime, we used a spatula to dislodge the food that lodged in the blade guard.
Mayonnaise



- Emulsifying Time: 1 mins 40 secs
- Result: Quite Thick
- Suction: No
In this test, most of the blenders produced acceptable outcomes and only our culinary expert could tell the differences between them. However, the Vitamix didn’t have the fastest performance, requiring about one minute and forty seconds to incorporate all the ingredients. This was around 30 seconds slower than the winners, including the Cuisinart Smart Stick, KOIOS 4-in-1, BELL 10-speed, and Chefman cordless.
This is because when the mayonnaise emulsified and started to thicken, the blending wand generated a suction force, pulling itself against the container’s bottom. That made movement more difficult and slowed the whole process down. We don’t necessarily consider the time to be a deal-breaker. Since the blender itself is quite heavy, though, the longer the process takes, the more it will fatigue your hands.
In conclusion, despite this drawback, the Vitamix is an acceptable alternative to a hand mixer for preparing mayonnaise or other emulsified sauces. Still, it is not the best hand blender for this job and ideal results may require extra effort.



- Emulsifying Time: 1 mins 45 secs
- Result: Smooth
- Suction: No
Although the Mueller’s whisk attachment has thin, floppy wires, it got the job done in less than two minutes. That was 10 seconds faster than the Braun, whose whisk is more sturdy and springy. It was nearly as fast as the high-end Vitamix and handily beat the cordless KitchenAid by a full minute.
It was also easier to clean. For the most part, its mayonnaise tailings rinsed off easily under our running tap. Using the blending shafts, on the other hand, caused the food to get clogged in the blade housing. As such, it was very challenging for us to scrub off the residuals on the blade’s backsides.
Almond Milk



- Grinding Time: 40 secs
- Result: Fine
- Suction: Slightly
The Vitamix took just 40 seconds to yield one serving of drinkable almond milk.
That said, from start to finish, its crushing process didn’t go very well. The almond skins, along with peeled chunks, became lodged in the blade guard. We had to stop the blender temporarily and use a spatula to dislodge the food, which we didn’t have to do with other models, such as the Braun MultiQuick-5.
That said, from start to finish, its crushing process didn’t go very well. The almond skins, along with peeled chunks, became lodged in the blade guard. We had to stop the blender temporarily and use a spatula to dislodge the food, which we didn’t have to do with other models.
Not only that, but because the Vitamix couldn’t create a consistent vortex, everything got close to overflowing when we increased the speed.
Suction was a problem again as well. As a result, we got some almond spatter when we tried to lift up the wand. Most of the splatter-related issues could probably be avoided, though, if we blended it in a taller or larger jar.
- Grinding Time: 1 mins 5 secs
- Result: Coarse
- Suction: Tightly
Grinding raw nuts shouldn’t be a challenging task for any hand blender. However, our Mueller couldn’t perform any worse, though part of the reason is due to our blending jar — its small size caused the liquid to overflow all over the countertop every single time we moved the blender. So if you intend to use this blender to prepare watery drinks, it’s best to use a bigger container.
None of the blenders we tested could avoid suction, but the Mueller’s was so strong that it was hard to stir or withdraw the wand, and when we lifted it up the container came with it. These things caused the liquid to easily overflow.
Not only that, but this blender didn’t grind finely enough for a creamy drink. Our almond milk was drinkable, but quite watery and not as sweet as others.
Whipped Egg-Whites

- Beating Time: N/A
- Result: N/A
- Suction: N/A
The Vitamix could be a great all-around blender if it included a whisk attachment. This is because, in our test, there was no way the immersion blender could beat egg-white with its ordinary blending shaft. Unlike a whisk attachment, the blending shaft can’t force air into the egg whites, which is the way to create an even, bubbly foam. Consequently, the result was a cloudy liquid with two separate layers of bubble film and eggy water. We awarded it no points for this test.



- Beating Time: 2 mins 37 secs
- Result: Stiff
- Suction: No
Before we began this test, we presumed that all the whisk attachments would perform well at beating egg-whites, though some may be more efficient than others. Surprisingly, Mueller's performance proved us wrong.
First, it had an advantage over the blending wand in incorporating enough air into the egg whites, allowing the egg-protein to form a stiff, airy foam. What was until its motor seriously overheated several times, requiring us to let it stop and cool down. This issue didn’t regularly occur with the other blenders, and spending so long with the Mueller was tiring.
Even worse, after this test the whisk attachment had lost its original bulbous shape. The strands of looped wire were all out of their initial order, which would impair its performance in the next emulsifying and beating tasks.
Design
- Blending Shaft (30%)9.5/10
- Build Quality (60%)9.5/10
- Power Cord (5%)10/10
- Beaker (5%)0/10
- Blending Shaft (30%)7.0/10
- Build Quality (60%)7.0/10
- Power Cord (5%)10/10
- Beaker (5%)0/10
Dimensions

- Height:17.5" (44.5 cm)
- Width:3.0" (7.6 cm)
- Weight:3.2 lbs (1.4 kg)
- Shaft Length:9.2" (23.4 cm)
Compared with others, this blender is quite tall, measuring about 17.5 inches tall, 3 inches wide, and 3 inches deep. That length may allow it to reach the bottom of deep pots more easily. At 3.2 pounds, it is also heavier than most — we were pretty shocked by its weight at first.

- Height:15.6" (39.6 cm)
- Width:2.8" (7.1 cm)
- Weight:2.2 lbs (1.0 kg)
- Shaft Length:7.7" (19.6 cm)
The Mueller Ultra-Stick has a balanced weight that makes it feel good to use. Since its blending shaft is long enough to reach the bottom of even deep pots, making hot puree soups is pretty much exactly what this machine is designed for. With this compact design, it is also very easy to tuck away in your cabinet when not in use.
Blending Shaft



- Material:Stainless Steel
- Type:Sharp Blade
- Guard Material:BPA-free plastic
- Blade Count:4
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The Vitamix’s blade is constructed of hardened stainless steel. Featuring 4 prongs, this is a unique blade assembly found exclusively in Vitamix-brand hand blenders. There is also a permanent bell-shaped guard at the end of the blending wand. As advertised by its manufacturer, this blade guard can efficiently reduce suction. Made of BPA-free plastic, the bell’s rim should help protect the interior surfaces of your cookware or blending containers.

- Material:Stainless steel
- Type:Sharp Blade
- Guard Material:Stainless steel
- Blade Count:2
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
The blades come relatively sharp, but they look flimsy and may dull under regular use, causing the machine to blend less efficiently. Our Mueller’s blades even slightly deformed after the frozen smoothie test.
Build Quality

The Vitamix 5-speed is a simple, high-end blender. Mostly made of stainless steel, it is sturdy and appeals to us aesthetically as well. We’re confident when we say it’s among the few hand blenders on the market that provide the right balance of performance, quality, and value. Better built than most, we also believed its exterior is less likely to be damaged or succumb to basic wear and tear over time.

The Mueller Ultra-Stick is mostly made of plastic reinforced with brushed stainless steel, so there is no chance of plastic’s chemicals leaching into your food. Besides being corrosion-resistant, this blender’s unique design gives it an elegant look, though it doesn’t feel as sleek as its higher-priced peers.
The blender has two buttons and a speed control knob. All seem straightforward to use, but are cheaply made. To reduce spatter-related issues, the blades are surrounded by a metal guard. We like this idea, but in our experience, this type of guard can scratch non-stick cookware.
Power Cord

- Cord Length:4.9 ft (1.5 m)
- Type:No
- Detachable:2-prong plug
The Vitamix features a polarized power cord whose one pin is slightly wider than the other. As a safety feature, you can only insert its plug into a polarized electrical outlet in one direction. Should the plug doesn’t fit in your receptacle, make sure you will not force it or try to trim down the pins. Instead, you should contact a qualified electrician for a proper solution.

- Cord Length:4.8 ft (1.5 m)
- Type:2-prong plug
- Detachable:No
The power cord is long enough to easily reach our nearby outlets. Like other immersion blenders, there is no place to hide the extra cord, but it has a small loop allowing you to hang the whole blender on a hook.
Beaker
- Material:N/A
- Capacity:NaN fl oz (NaN ml)
- Measurements:N/A
- Weight:NaN oz (NaN g)
- Height:NaN" (NaN cm)
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
- Tamper Included:N/A
As mentioned above, the Vitamix immersion blender doesn’t come with a particular blending container, but we ensure you can easily buy an optional one of any brand on the market.
- Material:N/A
- Capacity:NaN fl oz (NaN ml)
- Measurements:N/A
- Weight:NaN oz (NaN g)
- Height:NaN" (NaN cm)
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
- Tamper Included:N/A
Extra Accessories
- Material:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
- Removable:N/A
There is no additional attachment included. If you want to use blending attachments other than the stainless steel shaft provided with this appliance, make sure they’re recommended or offered separately from the Vitamix’s manufacturers.

- Material:Stainless steel
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
- Removable:Yes
With the whisk attachment, your blender can be a nice replacement for a hand mixer for certain tasks, such as whipping cream, beating egg whites, and emulsifying sauces. That being said, we don’t think this additional tool can ensure high durability, given its poorly-built quality.
In the Box

- Motor body
- Blending shaft
- User manual
In the package, you will find a handheld motor section, blending wand, and owner’s manual. The lack of additional accessories like a blending jar or a whisk attachment did make us hesitant about the high price. Nevertheless, as soon as we had a hands-on go at this blender, its solid construction proved that it was worth the money.

- Motor body
- Blending shaft
- Whisk attachment
- Milk frother
- User manual
Speed and Controls



- Control Type:Press
- Min Speed:8,600 RPM
- Max Speed:15,700 RPM
- Presets:No
- Noise Level:85 dB
- Digital Display:Yes
- Pulse Mode:No
We particularly like this blender’s intuitive interface. You can get five different speeds out of it but there are only two buttons on the front. You won’t need much practice to operate them smoothly; we figured out how they worked before reading the user manual. As a visual aid, this blender also has an LED display on top indicating the speed.
The Vitamix is also different from others in terms of its acceleration. Its speed steps up gradually rather than the violent torques others create. That went a long way toward preventing messes and should also prolong the motor’s lifespan.

- Control Type:Press and Rotate
- Min Speed:12,550 RPM
- Max Speed:14,640 RPM
- Presets:No
- Noise Level:78 dB
- Digital Display:No
- Pulse Mode:Yes
The Mueller Ultra-Stick has an intuitive interface, with two buttons and an easy-to-rotate speed control knob. During operation, you can adjust the speed in eight increments by gently rotating the speed control knob. However, as we found out during our testing, there is barely a difference between the Turbo mode and the highest speed in terms of power.
Usability
- Ease of Use (60%)8.4/10
- Blade Assembly (10%)8.0/10
- Handling (20%)8.5/10
- Cleanability (10%)7.0/10
- Ease of Use (60%)7.3/10
- Blade Assembly (10%)8.5/10
- Handling (20%)6.5/10
- Cleanability (10%)8.5/10
Ease of Use
Despite the relatively heavy-weight, The Vitamix is comfortable to hold. It even allows for one-handed operation since there are only two control buttons. Not only that, but this blender is also different from others in terms of its acceleration. Its speed steps up gradually rather than the violent torques others create. That went a long way toward preventing messes and should also prolong the motor’s lifespan.
That being said, we noticed that this blender can cause spattering when operating at the highest speed setting if the container’s sides are not tall enough. This isn’t the case with all immersion blenders (for example, the Braun MultiQuick 5 — a mid-range blender — allowed us to start low and increase as we went without any risk of spattering).
On the bright side, the Vitamix doesn’t create as much of a mess as the Cuisinart Smart or the cordless KitchenAid. With the bell guard, it doesn’t suction to the pot’s bottom as much as its counterparts, either. As such, you won’t have to simultaneously lift and stir the wand around. Overall, that meant faster blending times and fewer food splatters.
It didn’t take long for us to figure out how this blender worked. That being said, the buttons have a very awkward clicky feel. Although they’re not too stiff and demand just a light press to activate, we weren’t entirely comfortable pressing them all the way down. If you use them continuously for more than a batch, your fingertips may feel a bit tired.
The control knob also makes the blender more complicated to use. It’s tough for one person to use the blender, adjust its speed, and hold the beaker at the same time, so we had to stop it to speed up or slow down.
Handling




We’re really impressed with the Vitamix’s ergonomically designed handle. It’s not just about modern looks; this handle is coated with a rubber layer to ensure a comfortable grip, which makes it practical for processing large batches of soup. It’s nice to have that comfort, especially given how heavy the motor is.
This coating is also very handy when you have sweaty or slippery hands. You can focus on your prep work instead of your grip.

We appreciate that the Mueller is designed with an ergonomic handle to reduce hand and wrist pain. However, because the blender itself vibrated pretty violently in all five tests, our hands got tired anyway.
Blade Assembly
Like most immersion blenders, the Vitamix breaks down into two parts that connect with a simple twist. Given how heavy the thing is, though, it may be tougher to get the job done if your hands are greasy.
To attach the blending wand or any blending accessories to the main body, simply line up the parts and make a quarter turn counterclockwise until you hear the unit click into place.
There is a plastic coupler that attaches the removal parts to the motor body. So far, we haven’t found any issue with this add-on. After spending several days going through hundreds of customer reviews, however, we were warned that the coupler can easily be irreparably broken.
Cleanability
The removable blending wand is not dishwasher-safe, so after each test, we had to clean it by blending water with dish soap and letting the blades clean themselves. Along the way, we noticed a few extra differences between the Vitamix and its competitors which mainly stem from the blending wand design.
Although both the soup and smoothie tailings rinsed off easily under the tap, the Vitamix was the most difficult to clean after making mayonnaise. As an oil-based substance that is both sticky and insoluble in water, we couldn’t remove mayonnaise by blending in warm soapy water alone. A lot of gunk remained until we resorted to a bottle-cleaning brush and specialized cleanser.
But the real problem was cleaning the blades. It was a real challenge to scrub the backsides of those blades. And since the 4-pronged blade assembly is razor-sharp, we had to clean it with extreme caution. What a time-consuming and frustrating process that was!
All the removable attachments are dishwasher-safe, but we recommend you wash them by hand to prevent their finish from discoloring due to abrasive dishwasher detergents. Thankfully, the manual cleaning process isn’t so difficult.
You can either scrub off the residue under the running tap or let the machine clean itself by blending it in a mixture of dish soap and water. Either method should get it perfectly clean.