I never really did been a mixer person. Why would I, when I have a food processor and immersion blender that can handle my basic pureeing and emulsifying needs? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that maybe I’ve never been a mixer person because I’ve never owned a good mixer.
As a long-time recipe developer and tester who works from my home kitchen, I have to say, there’s nothing quite like pro-strength tools. They really are tougher, better, faster and stronger. The downside to using professional kitchen tools, however, is that they tend to be much larger as well. They’re generally meant to handle higher volumes than most home cooks will see, and settling for a more compact appliance usually means sacrificing power. That’s definitely not the case here – this puppy packs a whopping 2.2 horsepower.
In testing the new Vitamix Ascent X2, I mainly wanted to find out if the much-lauded Vitamix is worth the hype (and high price). If I’m going to spend $550 on a new appliance, I also want to make sure it’s worth the real estate on my counter. My Breville Pro Air Fryer (8/10, cable recommendations) it’s big, but I use it every day, so it’s worth the loss of counter space. The Vitamix doesn’t take up a huge footprint, but it’s a big one: It weighs more than 13 pounds, and its 17-inch height makes for a pretty commanding presence in the kitchen. Fortunately, it’s an attractive machine, especially in midnight blue.
Hey, good looking
As mentioned, it’s a nice looking device, with a matte finish on the body and a glossy front panel with a programmable timer. There is a small platform for handling support, but it is a bit flimsy. (The cup that holds the manipulator is easy to remove for cleaning, but that makes it a bit fiddly.) A retractable cable would be a nice touch, but there’s a bit of space under the unit where you can wrap the cable when it is not. in use
Photography: Heather Arndt Anderson
When turning it on (there’s an on/off switch on the bottom, plus the power and pulse switches on the front), I first noticed how smoothly the knob turned while it was still enough haptic to feel like it’s “real”. (I don’t need everything to be analog, but it bothers me when displays and controls are all digital, and the visually impaired might agree.) The button and switches are tactile and simple; the single knob has a timed setting for cleaning, smoothies, soups and frozen desserts on the left, and a smooth variable speed control on the right. The digital time display is in the center. Elegant and simple.
