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Vitamix 5-Speed Immersion vs UTALENT 5-In-1 Immersion Side-by-Side Comparison

Tina Pham
Reviewer
Nguyen Ntk
Visual Specialist
Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 4, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 25, 2023
The UTALENT Immersion Blender set includes a user’s manual, a plastic beaker, a whisk attachment, the UTALENT blending wand with its motor body attached, a milk frother attachment, a food processor, and a paper carton box.
Unboxing the Vitamix immersion blender, from left to right: an owner’s manual, a recipes booklet, a red receipt, the Vitamix 5-speed with a stainless steel motor body and an immersion blending wand, and a paper carton box.
Blenders type
immersion
immersion

Our Verdict

6.5
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    5.9/10
  • Design (20%)
    7.0/10
  • Usability (30%)
    7.2/10
8.6
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    8.6/10
  • Design (20%)
    9.1/10
  • Usability (30%)
    8.2/10

If there’s one brand that knows its way around luxury cooking experiences better than any other, it’s Vitamix. Compared with other hand-held versions, including the  UTALENT 5-in-1, this blender is similar in operation but it manages to produce smoother results, proving itself a peerless immersion blender with an exceptionally powerful motor and outstanding ease of operation.

Efficiency aside, both the UTALENT 5-in-1 and the Vitamix 5-speed tend to produce quite a mess during blending. Although their heads are designed with grooves to reduce splatters, if you lift them out of the liquid, or even near the top, it’s a sure bet you’ll end up with a mess.

Just Average

Utalent Hand Blender Performance

Performance
5.9
Performance Scores
  • Hot Soup Purée (35%)5.0/10
  • Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)5.8/10
  • Mayonnaise (15%)8.0/10
  • Almond Milk (15%)5.8/10
  • Whipped Egg-Whites (5%)7.0/10
8.6
Performance Scores
  • 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
5.0

Hot Soup Purée

9.5
UTALENT 5-In-1 Immersion Hot Soup Test
Scooping a spoon of pureéd soup from its full batch in a plastic beaker made by the UTALENT hand blender.
A batch of soup pureéd by the UTALENT stick  blender is checked for smoothness by being drained through a stainless steel mesh strainer.
  • Pureeing Time: 30 seconds
  • Result: Chunky
  • Suction: Slightly

None of the low-range blenders we tested churned out the silkiest puree in 30 seconds, but the UTALENT’s soup was so chunky that we couldn’t consider it a pass. Most of the unprocessed chunks, including carrots and celery, are large enough to be visible after straining. Some couldn’t even be blended because they got lodged in the blade guard’s holes.

Making hot soup puree is the easiest and most basic task of an immersion blender so it really doesn’t make sense to buy this one.

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
  • 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.

5.8

Frozen Fruit Smoothie

8.8
A plastic beaker containing a batch of green smoothie whose parts are scooped with a stainless steel spoon is between the UTALENT’s motor body and a smartphone displaying the total blending time (2 minutes).
A plastic beaker containing a batch of green smoothie whose parts are scooped with a stainless steel spoon is between the UTALENT’s motor body and a smartphone displaying the total blending time (2 minutes).
UTALENT 5-In-1 Immersion Smoothie Test
After finishing blending, the green smoothie made by the UTALENT hand blender was spread evenly throughout a white paper to check for solid chunks.
  • Blending Time: 2 minutes
  • Result: Leafy
  • Suction: Slightly

The UTALENT is definitely not for you if you like your smoothies packed with frozen fruit or green veggies. Apart from being too weak to blend through tough ingredients, it’s also unable to liquify leafy veggies effectively.  

Our smoothie was churned out with a grainy, leafy texture even after up to 2 minutes of processing. Upon stirring it to check its smoothness, we noticed that there were some grains of unprocessed kale still left in the mixture.

Furthermore, the machine required our intervention to draw all the ingredients toward the blades: We had to constantly stir with the blending wand to ensure everything was incorporated. What a frustrating blending process!

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 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.

8.0

Mayonnaise

8.3
A little bit of mayonnaise sticking in the whisk attachment of the UTALENT hand blender when it is removed from the full batch emulsified in a plastic beaker standing between the motor body and a smartphone displaying the total emulsion time (1 minute and 42 seconds).
A little bit of mayonnaise sticking in the whisk attachment of the UTALENT hand blender when it is removed from the full batch emulsified in a plastic beaker standing between the motor body and a smartphone displaying the total emulsion time (1 minute and 42 seconds).
UTALENT 5-In-1 Immersion Mayonnaise Test
  • Emulsifying Time: 1 min 35 secs
  • Result: Thick
  • Suction: No

Our mayo sauce was a very simple one: an emulsion of oil blended with egg yolk. We made it in about 1 minute and a half using the blender’s whisk attachment. Regarding its consistency, we wished that it could have been creamier. Although this machine made short work of incorporating all the ingredients, our emulsification came out relatively thick—albeit stable.

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 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.

5.8

Almond Milk

9.3
The UTALENT’s motor body, a plastic beaker containing almond milk, a white plate of almond pulp, and a small red note displaying the total grinding time (2 minutes) being side by side on a gray table.
The UTALENT’s motor body, a plastic beaker containing almond milk, a white plate of almond pulp, and a small red note displaying the total grinding time (2 minutes) being side by side on a gray table.
UTALENT 5-In-1 Immersion Almond Milk Test
  • Grinding Time: 2 minutes
  • Result: Coarse
  • Suction: Tightly

Of all the blenders we tested, the UTALENT was the slowest performer. It took up to two minutes to complete this task — twice as slow as the winner, the Cuisinart Smart Stick. And even still, the nuts weren’t evenly ground. As a result, our milk couldn’t pack the full flavor of almond. It was drinkable but quite watery and not as creamy as it should have been.

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
  • 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.

7.0

Whipped Egg-Whites

0.0
The plastic beaker containing testing beaten egg-white of the UTALENT immersion blender is put upside down on a gray table with its motor body and a smartphone displaying the total whipping time (2 minutes and 50 seconds) by its sides.
The plastic beaker containing testing beaten egg-white of the UTALENT immersion blender is put upside down on a gray table with its motor body and a smartphone displaying the total whipping time (2 minutes and 50 seconds) by its sides.
UTALENT 5-In-1 Immersion Whipped Egg-Whites Test
  • Beating Time: 2 mins 50 secs
  • Result: Stiff
  • Suction: No

The low power rating made this blender lag behind its rivals. We had to spend a great deal of time to achieve a stiff peak. Of course, it wasn't a big deal to simply blend for a few more minutes but the prolonged operation caused the motor to overheat, thus impairing its durability. Still, this is a pretty common occurrence for most low-grade blenders. To name a few, the Mueller Ultra-Stick, Hamilton Beach 2-Speed, and the BELLA 10-Speed.

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
  • 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.

Not too Much Impression

Utalent Immersion Blender Design

Design
7.0
design Scores
  • Blending Shaft (30%)7.0/10
  • Build Quality (60%)6.5/10
  • Power Cord (5%)10/10
  • Beaker (5%)10/10
9.1
design Scores
  • Blending Shaft (30%)9.5/10
  • Build Quality (60%)9.5/10
  • Power Cord (5%)10/10
  • Beaker (5%)0/10

In the Box of the Utalent 5-in-1 Hand Blender

In the Box
A user’s manual, plastic beaker, whisk attachment, blending wand with its motor body attached, milk frother attachment, food processor, and paper carton box of the UTALENT Immersion Blender lying side by side on a gray table.
  • Motor body 
  • Blending shaft 
  • Whisk attachment
  • Food processor
  • Milk frother 
  • Beaker   
  • User manual

Despite being a low-range machine, the UTALENT comes with everything you need to support your culinary creativity. With this generous accessory package, it should be a the new benchmark for immersion blenders.

The Vitamix Hand Blender is shipped with a carton box, an immersion blending wand, a motor body, and owner’s manuals.
  • 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.

Dimensions

The UTALENT Hand 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 7.8 inches, and the total length of the unit as 15 inches.
  • Height:
    15.0" (38.1 cm)
  • Width:
    2.0" (5.1 cm)
  • Weight:
    1.7 lbs (0.8 kg)
  • Shaft Length:
    7.8" (19.8 cm)

Our UTALENT is shipped as a very compact package. Sleek and portable, the machine itself is 15-inches long and with a blending shaft that is almost half the length, you can easily immerse it into any soup pot. At only 1.6 pounds, it's also lightweight and feels well balanced.

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:
    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.

6.5

Build Quality

9.5
The whisk attachment, motor body, blending shaft, and milk frother attachment of the UTALENT hand-held blender lying flat on a gray table.

Low-range blenders like this UTALENT are often of a medium quality with a few shortcomings in the design. For the most part, their exteriors are averagely built with a shiny look, but the inner core that connects the blending wand to the main body feels flimsy and lacks durability. This is a serious point with wider implications — if the core breaks, it will render the blender useless. The gasket that helps tighten the main body and the attachments is also substandard. We noticed it became discolored after just five times of use.

Vitamix Immersion Blender Review: The motor body and blending wand of the Vitamix lie flat on a gray table.

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.

Speed and Controls of the Utalent 5-in-1 Immersion Blender

Speed and Controls
A close-up of two speed controlling buttons in the front interface of the UTALENT stick blender.
A close-up of two speed controlling buttons in the front interface of the UTALENT stick blender.
A close-up of the speed dial located on the top of the UTALENT’s motor body which allows users to switch between eight different speed options.
  • Control Type:
    Press-button & speed dial
  • Min Speed:
    9,440 RPM
  • Max Speed:
    13,330 RPM
  • Presets:
    No
  • Noise Level:
    94 dB
  • Digital Display:
    No
  • Pulse Mode:
    Yes

The UTALENT works much like other hand-held blenders sporting multiple speed settings. It allows you to speed up smoothly through the top dial, which doesn't, however, seem to make any apparent difference when it comes to the blended result. That’s why we rarely used this control in our hands-on testing. 

Instead, we often use the Turbo mode located on the front interface— a function that instantly sends the blender into its highest speed. That said, this control, like the power button, demands quite a bit of force from the user.

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.
  • 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.

7.0

Blending Shaft

9.5
A close-up of the blade assembly sporting 4 prongs of the UTALENT blender.
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Type:
    Sharp Blade
  • Guard Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Blade Count:
    4
  • Removable:
    Yes
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

In terms of shape and size, the UTALENT’s blending shaft differs in two ways from other immersion blenders. So far, we haven’t noticed any benefit from this unusual design. Worse still, the shorter length 4-prong blade reduces contact with the blending food, thus leading to an increment of blending time. 

Not only that, but it also cannot tackle heavy-duty tasks. It is too fragile to blend through solid foods like ice cubes or raw root veggies without being damaged or deformed. 

Together with the smaller blades is a narrower blade guard. If food gets lodged, this makes it trickier to scrape the sides to dislodge the food without the blade getting in the way. Entirely made of stainless steel, the blade guard is also a potential risk for your nonstick cookware surface.

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
  • 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.

10

Beaker

Not Included
A close-up of an included plastic beaker of the UTALENT stick blender.
  • Material:
    Plastic
  • Capacity:
    20 oz
  • Measurements:
    Yes
  • Weight:
    0.22 lb
  • Height:
    6.8" (17.3 cm)
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Tamper Included:
    No

The included beaker is suitable for a variety of low-volume applications. It shows measurements in both milliliters and fluid ounces and comes with a flared base for stability.

  • 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.

10

Power Cord

10
The UTALENT Immersion Blender on a gray table with its power cord that features a 2-prong plug rolled up next to it.
  • Cord Length:
    4.9 ft (1.5 m)
  • Type:
    2-prong plug
  • Detachable:
    No

The power cord is long enough that we didn’t feel constrained. We like that it has a small loop allowing us to hang the blender and keep it organized.

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:
    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.

Whisk Attachment

Extra Accessories

Not Included
The UTALENT 5-in1 Whisk Attachment lying flat on a gray table.
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Removable:
    Yes

This whisk attachment is capable of whipping cream, beating egg whites, and making emulsified sauces. As a nice bonus, it can go straight into the dishwasher for quick and easy cleanup.

  • 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.

Food Processor

Extra Accessories

The UTALENT 5-in1 Food Processor Attachment standing on a gray table.
  • Material:
    Plastic and Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Removable:
    Yes

We haven't had a chance to test the food processor so we can't comment on its real-world efficiency. However, during our research, we have found several criticisms of its low durability.

Milk Frother

Extra Accessories

The UTALENT 5-in1 Milk Frother Attachment lying flat on a gray table.
  • Material:
    Plastic and Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Removable:
    Yes

We haven’t tested the milk frother, either. Nevertheless, we do not expect it to work as well as a specialized tool.

The Lack of Smooth Operation

Utalent Hand Blender Usability Review

Usability
7.2
usability Scores
  • Ease of Use (60%)7.2/10
  • Blade Assembly (10%)7.0/10
  • Handling (20%)7.5/10
  • Cleanability (10%)6.5/10
8.2
usability Scores
  • Ease of Use (60%)8.4/10
  • Blade Assembly (10%)8.0/10
  • Handling (20%)8.5/10
  • Cleanability (10%)7.0/10
7.2

Ease of Use

8.4

The intuitive interface makes it easy to figure out how this machine works, but it still doesn’t make the blending a pleasant enough experience. Since the blender itself often vacuums to the beaker’s bottom, it may cause excessive splatters when you move your hands. 

In addition, due to the motor’s violent vibration, we couldn’t maneuver the blender comfortably. Our hand muscles had became tired after just two tests, and as a result, we encountered some difficulty in speeding up or moving the blending wand in the subsequent tests.

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.

7.0

Blade Assembly

8.0

Setting up the blender is a straightforward process. Simply align the attachment with the main housing and make a quarter turn counterclockwise until you hear it click into place.

That said, if your hands are wet or oily, the whole body’s polished-plastic exterior can be too slippery for a secure grasp. This challenges the detachment process, especially when this machine lacks an accessory ejection button.

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.

7.5

Handling

8.5
Someone is holding the UTALENT’s handle with one hand and at the same time,  rotating the speed dial on the top of the motor body with the other hand.

The handle is comfortable and its ergonomic design helps to maintain a secure grip, but the blender's violent shaking still made it difficult to avoid hand fatigue throughout our tests.

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.

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.

6.5

Cleanability

7.0

After each test, we noticed that the blade’s backsides were home to a large amount of residuals that couldn’t be simply rinsed off under the running water tap. And due to the restricted space between the blade and its guard, we couldn’t get our fingers in to remove them. If you want to get a thorough clean, you must use a straw-cleaning brush.

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!