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A blender is a staple appliance found in the kitchens of many. Used in both home and commercial settings, they break down tough foods into smooth purees within minutes.
Whether you’re enjoying a health kick and you want to create some nutritional smoothies and meals or you want to make some delicious homemade ice creams and milkshakes, a blender can come in very handy.
Vitamix blenders are deemed to be some of the best available with the Vitamix 6500 being one of the best models that the brand manufacturers.
Offering excellent performance capabilities and a range of settings, this unit allows you to blend anything from ice to soups.
If you are looking for a reliable blender but you are uncertain as to whether the Vitamix 6500 is going to cater to your needs, we have compiled a review for you below.
We have delved into the features of this blender along with what we like and dislike about it. Continue reading if you want to find out more about the Vitamix 6500.
Vitamix 6500 Buying Guide
Vitamix High Performance Blender C Series 6500
Specifications:
- Platform: C Series
- Motor Power: 1470 Watts
- Dimensions: 17.25″ x 7.25″ x 8.75″
- Weight: 11.95 Pounds
- Container Size: 64 Oz
- Electrical Ratings: 120 V
- HP Motor: 2.2
- Type of Blades: Laser-cut, stainless steel hammer blades and cutting blades
- Cord Length: 6 ft
- Speed Settings: Variable Speed Control
Features of the Vitamix 6500
This model boasts many features that make it a valuable addition to amatuer kitchens in particular.
Pre-programmed Settings
The Vitamix 6500 has 3 pre-programmed settings for smoothies, hot soups, and cold desserts. Each of these settings are displayed on the body of the blender for easy use.
Simply add your chosen ingredients into the container before selecting the necessary setting that will allow you to achieve the desired taste and consistency.
This also means that you don’t have to constantly monitor the blender as it will do the work for you.
The interface of this blender makes it easy to navigate your way through each of the settings. The dial can be used to adjust the speed and the three pre-programmed settings are positioned just above the dial.
To use the pulse function, there is a toggle next to the speed dial and another toggle for starting and stopping the blender.
You will also find a switch that can be used to turn the blender on and off. Because each of the settings are clearly displayed, using the blender should be easy, even for those who haven’t used a blender before.
Variable Speed Settings
Variable speed settings offer flexibility in allowing you to accommodate the functionality of the blender to different types of foods.
This Vitamix model has variable speeds ranging from 1 to 9 and using the dial you can control the speed at which it is operating. As such, you will be in control of the texture that is created.
For example, if you are making a smoothie, you are likely to opt for the higher speeds because this will break down tough ingredients to achieve a smooth consistency that you would expect from a smoothie or juice.
Likewise, if you are going to be making chunkier dips such as salsa, you can use the lower settings as this will not be as harsh in breaking up the ingredients.
Container Capacity
This blender comes with a low profile container that has a 64 Oz capacity.
The size of this container is ideal for blending medium to large batches, great for those who want to make their smoothies in bulk, etc. It also caters to larger families.
Unlike many traditional blenders, this model comes with a short and wider container rather than one that is taller and slimmer.
The wide base works with speed to blend the ingredients, taking less time than other models to puree all of the ingredients inside.
The exterior of this container is suitable for handwashing so you can maintain the cleanliness and quality with ease.
The size of the container is useful in regards to storing the blender. For many, the task of storing a tall and narrow blender can be a little challenging, however, the shorter and wider concept makes it easier to store under countertops or other spaces that are restricted on available room.
This container also possesses shatterproof qualities so it is going to resist damage caused by breaking down firmer ingredients and it copes especially well when blending thicker textures.
The Pulse Mode
A great feature of this blender is the pulse mode function. This setting is intended for making course foods such as salsa dips and hummus.
To use this function, you will simply need to press the toggle. Doing so will release a burst of power. This function is activated when your finger is placed on the toggle and will stop working when you release the pressure.
These bursts of power that occur for short intervals when the toggle is pressed down will encourage the blender to function at the fastest speed.
While it works particularly well at maintaining a crunchier consistency with a slightly smooth texture, some may even use this function to grind things such as herbs.
You have manual control of this function as it only works when the pressure of your finger is against it.
Because of this, you can monitor the consistency and release pressure from the toggle when you feel as though it has reached the desired texture.
Powerful Performance
The power of the blender is particularly important. You don’t want to invest in a model only to find that it cannot maintain the speed and power that is needed to blend your ingredients.
When creating a smoothie, juice, or dessert, you don’t want to be spending a long time waiting for the blender to kick in and function to its greatest capabilities.
Courtesy of the 2.2 HP motor, this blender delivers impressively powerful performance with great durability and strength.
Working at a faster speed this blender can breakdown ingredients from tough fruits and vegetables and nuts to soft ingredients such as ice creams and sauces, etc.
It is also packed with 1640 watts of power that allows the appliance to work with speed to blend your ingredients.
Radial Cooling Fan
To prevent the unit from overheating, this blender is designed with a radial cooling fan and thermal protection system.
When using a blender at a high speed for prolonged amounts of time, it can often be a concern that it isn’t cool enough.
The combination of these elements ensures that you can run the blender at higher speeds as the bottom of the unit has been designed to allow the cool air to get in. In turn, this will ensure that the unit maintains this coolness.
Aside from this, these features will prevent overheating by stopping the unit from getting too hot, even when used on the highest of settings.
As a result, you can use it as you require without having to worry about these issues.
What do we like about the Vitamix 6500?
As you can see, there are many things to like about this blender.
From its user-friendly design to its spacious capacity and powerful performance, it is sure to cater to all of your blending needs.
Below we have identified what we like about this blender.
The Plastic Construction
The quality of the materials that are used will determine how long this blender is going to last.
The container and other components have been made using BPA free plastic so there aren’t any risks presented to your health as the user.
As such, this blender hasn’t been constructed using any chemicals that could potentially be harmful. This is favorable in enhancing the user’s comfort in using the appliance.
The plastic offers excellent strength and it is going to resist damage even when tougher ingredients hit against the surface as they blend.
As for the other parts, the lid of this blender has been made from silicone, and because of this, it is going to remain secured to the top of the unit. Even when used on the highest settings and enduring harsh blending it is unlikely to come off.
The silicone offers more flexibility because a lid made from firmer materials isn’t going to be so robust during the blending process.
Quality of the Blades
Quality hasn’t been ignored in the construction of the blades either. This blender possesses a laser-cut, stainless steel hammermill and cutting blades with a diameter of 4″.
Thanks to these blades, this blender will break through tough ingredients with little difficulty delivering fast performance.
The Versatility
Another thing that we like is the versatility of the blender. Unlike many other blenders, this model is equipped with far more than the standard functions.
As mentioned, not only is it equipped with variable speed settings, but it also has settings for blending specific types of foods.
Not only can you create smoothies, but the friction of the blades can reheat your soup and it can also blend cold ingredients to create delicious tasting homemade ice cream.
Using this singular appliance, you can blend a range of ingredients with ease.
Cleaning the Blender
Cleaning blenders can often be challenging, especially when the internal components have collected lots of hard to access remnants of your ingredients.
This unit is capable of self-cleaning simply requiring you to fill the container with soap and warm water before selecting the highest setting and allowing it to ‘blend’ for a couple of seconds.
As such, this process is going to be effective in removing the remaining ingredients that are clinging to the internal parts of the blender.
The external surface of the container can also be hand washed. Maintaining the cleanliness of the blender is going to be important in ensuring that it always performs well.
It is important to note that this blender isn’t suitable for dishwashing and proceeding to clean it this way can damage the components.
The Cord Length
The Vitamix 6500 is designed with a cord that measures 6ft. This provides you with more flexibility in allowing you to use the unit at a distance from the plug point.
While the length of the cord may not seem important to some, it is going to decide how much leeway you have to move the unit to use it at a convenient work surface.
If the cord was shorter than this, you would have less flexibility to move with the blender.
The Warranty
When investing in an appliance of this kind, a warranty is useful.
Impressively, this blender is covered by a 7 year warranty that covers you for an extensive amount of time should you experience any problems with the quality and functionality.
The length of the warranty is a reflection of the brand’s confidence in the products that they manufacture and this highlights that Vitamix has great confidence in the number of uses that this blender is going to see you through.
As a result, you can use this blender for a significant amount of time, and in the instance that you experience any problems there is help available to you.
What do we dislike about the Vitamix 6500?
There are very few features to dislike about this blender, however, the flaws that we came across have been identified below.
The Noise Of The Blender
The noise produced by a blender can be a significant concern for some, particularly if it is going to be used in an environment that is occupied by other individuals too.
Unfortunately, this blender has received complaints regarding the noise that it produces when functioning. Although the power of the motor is impressive, unfortunately, it is going to increase the noise output.
For those who dislike high levels of noise produced by such appliances or worry that this will be distracting to others, this blender may not be a viable option.
The Weight
Weighing 11.95 pounds, this blender is on the heavier side and this weight may make it difficult to handle.
The container is going to be lifted when emptying the contents into a glass or dish so the weight is going to determine how easy it is to maneuver.
For some, a heavy blender is going to make this process much more challenging.
Unsuitable for Dishwashing
Unlike many other blenders, this blender isn’t suitable for dishwashing, and for some who don’t wish to wash the appliance by hand, this may be problematic.
On the other hand, the self-cleaning mode will maintain the cleanliness inside the blender and the outside of the container can easily be cleaned by hand.
Overall, it isn’t going to require a huge amount of effort on your behalf.
The Cost
Retailing above $500 this blender is a more expensive option than many other offerings from competitor brands.
Although it offers many impressive features, some may not consider this to be a justifiable expense, especially since there are more affordable options available.
Comparing the 6500 to other models from Vitamix
Vitamix produces many different blenders, some of which you may feel are better suited to your needs in comparison to others.
The 6500 model shares many similarities when compared to other units in the Vitamix brand. When comparing the 6300 to the 6500 the most noticeable differences can be identified between the size and the weight.
However, the 7500 differs from the 6500 as it doesn’t come with pre-programmed settings. Instead, you will need to monitor the functioning of the blender manually.
What do customers think about the Vitamix 6500?
There are many raving customer reviews in support of this blender and its worthiness of purchase. Many customers are impressed with the powerful performance that this blender delivers and its ability to break down a selection of foods.
The versatility of this blender is also praised by many because users aren’t limited to the type of ingredients that they can blend. Whether you want to create soft smoothies are frozen desserts this blender allows you to do so.
Many customer concerns center around the noise that this blender produces when functioning as it was louder than expected and a little off-putting.
There are also some complaints regarding the quality and longevity of the unit because the black detailing is prone to wearing when the blender is subject to frequent use.
If you have used the blender regularly you will likely become familiar with the settings so this may not be of concern to you.
Final verdict – Is the 6500 worth it?
The Vitamix 6500 is a worthy addition to your kitchen set up.
It is packed with power and displays clear settings on the interface that makes it easy to use. When compared to other offerings from the brand, this blender shares many similarities.
The quality of the materials used to create this blender are tough and durable and due to this, this blender is likely to withstand contact with tough ingredients without becoming damaged or morphing.
The container also has the capacity that is great for those who want to blend bulk quantities or are catering to larger groups of people.
This blender could benefit from a few improvements, the first being the noise output because it is likely that some will find this distracting.
For others, the cost may also be problematic as this model is pricier than other units with similar settings that are available.
Despite this, it doesn’t appear that previous customers have experienced major problems when using this blender.
Because of the excellent features and the quality that this blender offers, we think that it is worth considering.