I am interested in buying a Vita-Mix but I read that the container is made from plastic. My main reason for buying the Vita-Mix would be to make soups, but I am concerned about hot soup in plastic (because of the leaching of chemicals when the plastic gets hot). What is your opinion on this?

I don't make soups in it for that very reason.  If I want soup, I cook it first, cool it, then blend it......Or blend it, put it in a pot, then cook it.  If it was made of glass or stainless steel (like the ancient one my daddy has), I would use to to make soup.

You can get blenders still, which have glass containers.  I bought one last year and it's brilliant and wasn't very expensive  

I just purchased a Vita-Mix and LOVE it.  My primary use is for smoothies.

I probably will never use it for hot soups because of the plastic issue and what makes soups so good is the step by step cooking process which you don't get in the a Vita-Mix.  I haven't tested this "cooking" process against stove made soup so this is just my theory     I just think the process of sauteing onions, adding spices and sauteing, then veggies, then broth and simmering for awhile is what makes the flavor in soup so good.  I use a stick blender to make it smooth.

Curious, I have to tell you, it took me about 3-4 years to finally buy this appliance and am so happy with it.  Now I just have to make enough smoothies to pay it out  

I don't know if this fits in your diet, but I love fruit soups in the morning.  I really like peaches and cranberries together.  I take them straight from the freezer, dump them in, add some yogurt and a little water, some cinnamon and a tidbit of sweetener, process it, dump it in a bowl, top it with nuts, and gobble it up!

Ditto, love my VitaMix!!  I tried making soup once, but it honestly didn't get nearly hot enough to cook the vegetables like I wanted... plus it's just annoying having it on that high for so long!  

It's a very high grade, dishwasher safe plastic. I doubt anything would leach into your food from it. It doesn't get that hot as Eric said..not like you're boiling in it for a long period.

I don't trust any kind of plastic, MF.  I'd like stainless steel to come back.  I did pour some hot steamed broccoli in it last night to make broccoli soup, but I was real quick about blending it up and getting it back out of the container.

I made a hot green tea in my vita mix which was very good and I didn't think about the plastic because it doesn't get that hot. Plus it just seems to be a heavy duty plastic. I thought more of the thinner cheaper plastics were the ones to worry about. I don't make soups in my vita mix because I haven't found any recipes I like. But if I did find a good soup recipe I would make it in the vita mix.

Thanks everyone!
My main reason for buying the Vita-Mix was to make soups.  I had the idea of coming home late from work, putting a few vegies in the Vita-Mix and have hot soup in a couple of minutes.
I rarely make smoothies, they tend to be too sweet (from the fruits) for me. I have a Breville Blender with a glas jar. Maybe I'll just continue using this one. It is not as powerful as a Vita-Mix, but it seems to do the job. It is a pity in a way, because I was ready to buy a Vita-Mix, but similar to Ribbit, I don't trust plastic.

You can cook your soup in the pressure cooker, woth a little less water and salt and this needs half time cooking. I let also the cooker closed for hours on the stove, fire off and reheat it at meal time. I often cook three time more than I need and let in the fridge a portion for tomorrow and freeze one for the next week. I was told that chicken soup ( and I am sure also pork) has a too strong smell to cook in the pressure-cooker. I ate once a chicken caaserole cooked with a pressure-cooker and I did not feel the strong smell, but I'd not cook it with the pressure-cooker.

I ended up buying a Vita-Mix and got it delivered last week. The lastest models don't use BPA in their plastic, so I am not worried about it anymore. I am highly impressed with the machine, I made some great smoothies (very smooth indeed), some really good pumpkin/sweet potato soup, hummus and I also grinded some chickpeas and rice in the dry container. I think I'll go along with Kathleen and Eric, I am sure that I'll love my new Vita-Mix.

Great!  I haven't ever known anybody to not be happy with theirs.

Several years ago, we bought an older Vita-mix from someone on e-bay that still has the stainless steel "jar"...  

I use it to make almond butter...  
I have also used it to make whole fruit grapefruit juice - without the yellow portion of the skin!  This gets me all of the pectin, which is great for detox.  Although it does have a pretty strong flavor.

I always make soup in a pan...  I like to have pieces in my soup, so I haven't considered making it in the Vita-mix...

Do you have to put a little oil in with the nuts?

Anybody tried to make pecan butter for those poor Explorers?

Quoted from Ribbit

Do you have to put a little oil in with the nuts?

Anybody tried to make pecan butter for those poor Explorers?

Hey Ribbit - do  you recall the thread with various tips for making nut butters? It might have the answer you're looking for...
Also as I can't find it, if anyone does have the link I'd love to check the thread out again... Cheers...

Quoted from Ribbit

Do you have to put a little oil in with the nuts?

Anybody tried to make pecan butter for those poor Explorers?

Yes, I put 1/2c. olive oil in with the 4c. almonds.  Keep tamping the nuts into the blades.  Allow machine to run until desired consistency, but not longer than 3 to 5 minutes (to avoid excessive heat build-up).  Makes about 2 cups butter.

The Nut Butter recipe in my Vita-Mix book says to include 1/2 Cup Safflower or Peanut oil for Almonds or dry roasted peanuts.  I use olive since it is better for all of us...

I haven't tried Pecans, but I don't see why it wouldn't work the same way...  The recipe is generic Nut Butter.  They only refer to peanuts, cashews and almonds, but pecans are softer than almonds.

You're right, Possum.  I seem to remember that, through my fogged-up brain.  Thanks, Joe.  I'm gonna try it.  Maybe put in a little salt and honey.

Ooo-ooo! And carob powder!

Hey Curious,

Glad to hear you finally got your Vita-Mix!

I have been toying with the same idea over a couple of years.  I have heard you can only buy them online or overseas - in other words sight unseen.  Is this the case with your purchase?

In the meantime I've been using a juicer for veg. drink;  stick blender for cooked veg soup (cannot be undercooked as not smooth); an old blender (glass) which is  on the way out.

Am interested in trying out green smoothies which I cannot do in my regular blender as little bits of raw veg and string bits put me off  

Quoted from Possum

do  you recall the thread with various tips for making nut butters? It might have the answer you're looking for...
Also as I can't find it, if anyone does have the link I'd love to check the thread out again...

Perhaps this is the thread you want:

http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1258421204/

Quoted from Curious

I rarely make smoothies, they tend to be too sweet (from the fruits) for me. I have a Breville Blender with a glas jar. Maybe I'll just continue using this one. It is not as powerful as a Vita-Mix, but it seems to do the job. It is a pity in a way, because I was ready to buy a Vita-Mix, but similar to Ribbit, I don't trust plastic.

Here's a good one. I use fresh spinach and/or beet greens (or green of your choice) water, 2 tsp Harmonia, ice and I add a few frozen unsweetened mixed berries with a packet of stevia. This is a favorite Summer time smoothie.

Quoted from C_sharp

Perhaps this is the thread you want:

http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1258421204/

Thanks so much C_sharp !!!

Quoted Text

I'll love my new Vita-Mix  

Curious, I'm so glad you love your Vita-Mix.  I am still loving mine, sometimes I make three different smoothies in the morning so I'm getting my money's worth.  I even moved it to a permanent location on top of the counter..... I don't like gadgets on my counters, everything is stored down below.  Got tired of the daily taking it out and putting it away  

C_sharp, thanks for the thread    Now that I've mastered smoothies and hummus, I'm ready for nut butters.  So many different types to make, yum!

Kathleen

Quoted from Kathleen

I don't like gadgets on my counters, everything is stored down below.  

Same here.  I did put my Vita Mix in an upper cabinet right above a habitually cleared space with an outlet, so it's very easy to lift it out and make something, then put it right back.

Quoted from shells

I have been toying with the same idea over a couple of years.  I have heard you can only buy them online or overseas - in other words sight unseen.  Is this the case with your purchase?

Hi Shells, I sent you a private message about where you can buy the Vita-Mix from.