I Tried Vitamix's New Blender — It'll Replace at Least 4 of Your Countertop Appliances

At Food & Wine, we’ve tried a lot of blenders, from immersion blenders to personal options to the best Vitamix blenders, which have consistently performed well in our tests. So naturally, when Vitamix announced its deluxe new Ascent X Series, I knew I had to get my hands on one. The brand sent me the Ascent X5, the top-of-the-model, though the new line also includes the Ascent X2, Ascent X3, and Ascent X4, each with a unique combination of capabilities — including some never-before-seen features.

Vitamix Ascent X5 Blender

When I first unboxed the Vitamix Ascent X5 blender, I was first struck by its sleek, clean design, which blends nicely into my modern-looking kitchen. After you power it on, the digital screen lights up, and you can twist the dial to scroll between 10 different recipe programs: smoothies, soups, frozen drinks, nut butters, non-dairy milks, dips and spreads, smoothie bowls, frozen desserts, frappés, and spice grinding. Basically, it’s a blender, food processor, nut and spice grinder, and slushy and ice machine, all packed into one 9.75- x 7.75- x 17-inch frame, letting you replace several small appliances and save on storage space.

I first put my blender to the test when making a veggie puree for savory oats, one of my favorite ways to use up produce before it goes bad. After tossing ingredients like broccoli stalks, spinach, an avocado, and nutritional yeast into the 48-ounce container, I used the smoothie setting to achieve the perfect texture. My favorite part about this machine is that it automatically sets the timer and power level for the recipe you’ve selected, taking out all of the guesswork. If you feel like your recipe could use some more blending after the preset cycle finishes, simply press the “+15” button to add 15 more seconds.

The Ascent X5 not only comes with a tamper but also a tamper holder that you can connect to the left or right side of the blender. Helpfully, the X4 and X5 models both offer user feedback: if you’re blending thicker ingredients that need a little more help, the digital display will alert you when tamping is needed. Since my apartment’s small dishwasher is too petite to fit the dishwasher-safe pitcher, I use the blender’s self-cleaning setting instead. It expertly cleaned up frozen cocktail dregs, though I did have to run two cycles after the veggie puree, scraping off small flecks of greens in between. 

Speaking of frozen cocktails, the Vitamix Ascent X5 makes a mean frozen margarita. First, I used the blender's standard variable speed control to crush the ice. After removing the crushed ice, I added simple syrup, lime juice, and tequila. Then, I returned the ice to the blender and twisted the dial to select the frozen cocktail setting. In under a minute, I had a batch of drinks to enjoy with my friends.

This deluxe machine isn’t without its pain points, though. I found that the soft, ergonomic grip on the pitcher’s handle tends to slide off during use, and the small icons on the digital display — which refer to the 10 recipe programs — are sometimes difficult to decipher since there are no accompanying words. (They’re lined out clearly in the included manual, though.) Ultimately, though, this $750 Vitamix blender can replace a whole host of other kitchen appliances thanks to its wide range of capabilities, saving you storage space and money in the long run. 

If you’re not fully convinced that the top-of-the-line Vitamix Ascent X5 is the best pick for you, I suggest checking out the other options in the Vitamix Ascent X Series. These blenders increase in the number of bells and whistles as the price goes up, letting you find the one that suits your needs and your budget. Below, shop the rest of the Ascent X, plus a few other Vitamix blenders — including $130 off our editors’ favorite large-capacity model.

At the time of publishing, the price was $750.

Shop More Vitamix Blenders:

Vitamix 5200 Blender

Vitamix Ascent X4 Blender

Vitamix Ascent X2 Blender

Vitamix Ascent Series A3300 Smart Blender

Vitamix Ascent X3 Blender