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For those of us who enjoy cooking, we know that the beauty of a great meal is the product of a few complications – ingredient lists and equipment; Timing and plating and mating.
Coordination is actually a big part of the fun. Scattered notes on loose-leaf paper, post-its on cookbook pages and the perfect mise en place. These blueprints tell a tale of careful calculation and delicious anticipation, and flipping back through past meal preparations is like looking at old photos, feasting on the memories behind the doodles. Lately, those memories of mine tell a different story—one of increasing ease, marked by a specific turning point in my journey as a homemaker: the launch of the Vitamix A3500 superpowered blender (opens in new tab) to my lineup.
I’ll start with this: I’ve always been a bit shy in the kitchen. This is a habit I picked up from my mom that’s faster and more accurate than almost any device could be. She’s also a staunch traditionalist with many more years of experimentation than I have – a realization that eventually led me to indulge in some gadgets that only a beginner would appreciate.
For example, I always had a blender with some variety on my counter. Most recently it was an unlabeled, half-broken single smoothie maker that I took from my dad when he replaced his. Back then, I never really thought about the fact that not all mixers are created equal.
A friend of mine invited me to dinner one night and presented a beautiful, creamy, smooth soup, which he first described not by its contents but by the device behind its preparation: a Vitamix blender. In times of sheet metal dishes, slow cookers, and viral TikTok pastas, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that an entire meal could be prepared with one appliance. But here I was, thinking about my doodles on loose-leaf and at length mise en place I wonder why I hadn’t considered this option sooner.
It’s no news that the Vitamix is great. Behind it is a cult following, from home cooks to professional chefs. The reviews read more like love letters than product ratings. One reviewer called the blender a “workhorse and showpony,” which I found particularly poetic.
Vitamix offers a variety of blenders ranging from $250 for their classic model (opens in new tab) up to $730 for their top-of-the-line A3500 mixer, complete with all the bells and whistles. They’re certainly an investment, but I can definitely say they’re worth every penny. And it’s backed by Vitamix’s 10-year guarantee (opens in new tab) and endless resources to get the most out of your machine, the company is a leader for a reason.
The latest update to the A3500 blender, a 48-ounce stainless steel jar, was a particularly happy occasion for the Vitamix hive, as it even promises more Durability, odor and stain resistance, and better insulation for hot and cold mixes. It’s also pretty to look at and totally dishwasher safe.
Part of their premier Ascent Series, the real appeal of the A3500 mixer lies in the world of possibilities it offers. With this blender you can make smoothies, hot soups, dips, frozen desserts, nut milks, batter, baby food and more. Minimal guesswork is involved in the creation of these articles thanks to the mixer’s five program settings, which involve some sort of high-level technology that I won’t even try to understand – but that’s the point. It’s equipped with wireless connectivity, which means your device will automatically update as the technology behind the mixer advances. Want even more presets? There’s literally an app for that (opens in new tab). We also have the touchscreen controls, which are not only totally cool (listen, that’s a plus!), but also easy to toggle and easy to navigate. You’ll have all the childlike joy of playing with a new toy while still feeling “grown up”.
Four delicious dishes made possible by my Vitamix A3500 blender. Clockwise from top left: Bean dip, pesto, baked eggplant dip, tofu pudding.
(Image credit: Lucia Tonelli)
There’s a difference between a good soup and a great soup. There’s a reason your $15 smoothie from the store under the Equinox tastes so much better than the one you make at home. But don’t settle for the fact that you’ll never reach that level of greatness, because you will—promise! The moment you scoop out the smoothest ice cream or sip the velvetiest soup, you’re reminded of “texture” and “consistency,” two terms often lost by the world’s home cooks in the high-pressure pursuit of good taste. I hope you, like me, have this revelation. In fact, with the Vitamix A3500 blender, I know you will.