Vitamix Blender Vs. Cuisinart Food Processor: Which Kitchen Appliance Can’t I Live Without?

Are you contemplating a Vitamix Blender vs. Cuisinart Food Processor?  Both are great! Which one can’t I live without?Preparing healthy, homemade meals for your family is a lot of work.  I wish I could tell you that there was some secret to making it as easy as getting take-out, but there really isn’t.   Thankfully, there are kitchen appliances that can make the hard work much, much easier. What would we do without modern technology?!

The two kitchen appliances that I can’t imagine trying to live this clean-eating life without are my Vitamix blender and Cuisinart food processor. I use one of them everyday, and some days I use them both. They are both powerful, amazing kitchen tools that can do so much.

But what if I could only have ONE of them?  

I get this question a lot from people who are just starting out on their healthy, clean-eating journey.  They want to start cooking more meals at home, eating more healthy, whole foods, but they are overwhelmed by the amount of time and work it takes.  They also feel limited when they see recipes that call for a “powerful blender” or a food processor.  If you don’t have at least one of these appliances, you are either limiting the foods you can make, or really adding to the amount of work it takes to prepare the foods you want to eat.

Most people who are starting out on a clean-eating journey are ready to make an investment in their health, but buying both of these appliances at one time is not realistic for most people.  (I got both my Vitamix blender and Cuisinart food processor at separate times, as gifts, by the way.)

So if I had to choose JUST ONE, my Vita-Mix blender or my Cuisinart Food Processor, which would it be?

Before I answer that, let me give you a quick review on both my Vitamix blender and Cuisinart food processor.
I’ll let you know what I like about each, what I use them for, and then at the end I’ll tell you which one I’d pick if I could only pick one.  (Go ahead, scroll down and see if you can’t wait!)

What I Love About My Vitamix Blender

There are two main blenders on the market that compete at the same price level ($400+), the Vitamix and the Blendtec. Before I tell you what I love about my Vitamix, let me tell you why I chose it over the Blendtec.  Both are powerful, professional blenders and everyone I know who owns one or the other is happy.

For me, it came down to one basic thing:  the analog control dial and a basic on/off switch.  Blendtec has a digital touch screen. Digital things break sooner.  I have heard of Vitamixes that have lasted 20+ years and have been passed down from grandparents to grandchildren.  I wanted a blender that would last forever, and that’s why I chose Vitamix.

So what do I use it for and why do I love it so much?

The Vitamix is truly a professional grade blender.  If you go into the kitchen of your favorite restaurant, you’ll likely find a Vitamix blender making that smooth puree you keep going back for.   This machine will pulverize just about anything you put into it.  I also love how easy it is to clean. I put a little dish soap and water inside, turn it on, and it cleans itself!

Here are the main things I use my Vitamix blender for:

• Smoothies.  If you don’t have a professional blender, imagine a smoothie with no pulp, no seeds, no fiber, just perfectly smooth.  It completely breaks down the greens you put into it, which means more nutrients are being released.  Smoothies are what I use the Vitamix for on a daily basis.  (Check out all my smoothie recipes here.)
• Condiments.  I blend sauces, dips, and dressings in my Vitamix.
• Blender Muffins.
• Homemade Almond Milk.
• Soups.  Imagine having a whole bunch of leftover roasted vegetables.  Now imagine putting them into the Vitamix, turning it on, and blending those vegetables until they are hot and your soup is ready.  Yes, you can blend soup and the blender actually will heat the soup for you so you don’t even have to put it on the stove.  For real!
• Grind coffee beans.  I have the dry container, which I use to grind whole coffee beans. You can also grind grains into flour, which I should do more.
• Make baby food.  Okay, I’m not doing this one anymore.  But when I was making baby food, I loved the smooth results from the Vitamix best.

What I Love About my Cuisinart Food Processor

I registered for my food processor when I was getting married without knowing just how valuable of a kitchen tool it was.  I’m so glad I did because my Cuisinart food processor makes my life in the kitchen much easier.  I have the big guy, the 14-cup version, and I use it all the time.

Here are the main things I use my Cuisinart food processor for:

• Making homemade energy bars/balls.  (Like these high-protein energy balls, these Chocolate Bliss Balls, and these Pumpkin Spice Energy Bars, just to name a few.)  You can make these in the Vitamix, but I dislike how so much of the mixture gets stuck under the blades and also find it more difficult to control how blended it gets.
• Chopping Vegetables/nuts/etc.  It can chop vegetables or nuts quickly and without much effort.  Love it.  The Vitamix can also chop vegetables, in a sense, but I find the results much easier to control in the food processor.
• Slicing Vegetables.  This is something the Vitamix definitely can’t do.  The Cuisinart food processor has a slicing blade attachment that slices vegetables for you.  If you need a whole bunch of potatoes, carrots, or whatever else sliced, it gets the job done in less than a minute.  I love the slicing feature!
• Shredding vegetables or cheese.  The Cuisinart food processor also has a shredding attachment which makes shredding vegetables or cheese a breeze.  I use this when I make my Vegan Zucchini Muffins or Zucchini Chocolate Bread and my Veggie Pancakes.  I also use it to shred block cheese as I find shredding my own cheese not only saves me money, but yields much better results in most recipes.  I also avoid unwanted added ingredients most store-bought shredded cheeses have.
• Homemade sunflower seed butter.  Again, this is something you can also use the Vitamix for, but I find it easier in the food processor.
• Making homemade bread crumbs.
• Making pie and bread dough.
• Making frosting.  
• Making homemade crackers.

The Cuisinart food processor is not as easy to clean as the Vitamix blender. You have to hand wash it and there are parts to take apart.  I don’t find it to be a huge deal though, and it’s most definitely worth the time saved in food preparation.

Who wins?  The Vitamix blender or Cuisinart food processor?  

I love having both of these appliances in my kitchen.  They are both out on my counter and get used daily.  If I had to choose just one, however, it would be:

CUISINART FOOD PROCESSOR!!

I would miss my Vitamix, for sure, but I’d probably pick up a Magic Bullet or Ninja Blender for my smoothies and use my food processor for everything else.

If you are on a journey to better eating, know that there are tools out there to help make the transition to preparing real foods in your kitchen easier! I hope this post helps you see how much either the Vitamix blender or Cuisinart food processor can help save you time and energy.

Do you have one or both of these appliances in your kitchen?  Which do you think is indispensable?  Do you agree with my choice? Weigh in in the comments!

Please note that this is not a sponsored post.  I’m reviewing these products because I’ve used them and loved them in my kitchen for years.  Links, however, are affiliate links.  If you choose to purchase one of these products through my Amazon link, I will receive a percentage of the sale for referring you.  Thank you for helping make Happy Healthy Mama possible!