How to cook
A Vitamix is the last kitchen gadget you will ever need. One of the great functions of a Vitamix is its ability to heat liquids to a boiling point. Perfect for those much needed winter soups, sauces and hot beverages.
- Use the wet blade jug.
- Place liquids and soft foods in the container first, solid items last.
- Always ensure that the 2-part lid is locked when blending hot ingredients.
- Select High speed when starting with cool ingredients; variable #1 when starting with hot ingredients. Increase the speed to High.
- Turn on and blend until the mixture reaches the desired temperature or consistency. Most mixtures take from 5 to 8 minutes to boil (depending upon the starting temperature and the thickness of the mixture).
- Wait until the blades completely stop before removing the lid or container from the motor base.
Note: The blades rotate so fast on high speed that they cook by friction heat.
How to make juice
- Use the wet blade jug.
- Place liquids and soft foods in the container first, solid items last.
- Lock the lid on.
- Select High speed.
- Turn on and blend until the liquid reaches the desired consistency. If necessary, insert the tamper through the lid and compress the ingredients into the blade to start the mixture circulating.
- Turn off the machine and wait until the blades completely stop before removing the lid or jug from the motor base.
- Pour the liquid through a nut milk bag or a sieve to separate the pulp from the liquid.
How to make frozen mixtures
Frozen treats like ice cream can be created in your Vitamix in seconds. To make ice cream, add frozen ingredients to the liquid, flavoring and sweetener. Blend it all together and you get a soft-serve frozen mixture. There are two important factors in making successful frozen mixtures:
- Use 1 part liquid to 3 or 4 parts frozen ingredients (Be sure to stay within this ratio to avoid damage to your blades or machine).
- Use the tamper to get the mixture flowing quickly.
Note: Running the machine longer does not make it frozen, it causes it to melt.
- Use the wet blade jug.
- Place liquids and soft foods in the jug first. Never use more than 300ml of liquid or soft ingredients or it wont freeze stiff enough. Next add flavorings and sweeteners. Always add the frozen ingredients last.
- Lock the lid and insert the tamper through the lid plug.
- Select High speed.
- Turn on and blend to the desired consistency. Use the tamper to get the mixture blending quickly.
- Turn the machine off. Wait until the blades completely stop before removing the lid or jug from the motor base.
From one Vitamix cook to the other: If the mixture is too soft, with a milkshake consistency, quickly add 1 or 2 more cups of frozen ingredients and blend until smooth. If you desire little pieces of chopped fruit, or nuts, add them during the last few seconds of blending. If you prefer hardened ice-cream pour the soft serve mixture into a bowl and place in a freezer. Stir once an hour for the first 2 hours and then freeze hard. To scoop hardened ice cream, set the mixture out at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes or refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.
How to chop food without water
The variable speed model has the advantage of being able to chop small quantities of food for soups, salads toppings etc, or chop soft food which shouldn’t come in contact with water. This is how you do it:
- Use the wet blade jug.
- Lock the lid on.
- Select variable speed.
- Turn the variable speed dial to the desired setting.
- Turn the machine on.
- Remove the lid plug.
- While the machine is running, drop pieces of food through the opening in the lid.
Lower speed Variables – Lower speeds produce a coarse texture. If food bounces around on top of the blades with very little chopping, the speed set too low.
Higher Speed Variables – Higher speeds tend to produce smaller particles. If food is violently thrown to the container walls and the particles are unevenly chopped, the speed is set too high. Reduce the speed.
How to chop food using water
To quickly chop or grind large quantities of food, such as cabbage for coleslaw, use water to help circulate the food through the blades. Watch the machine carefully. Do not over process. Once the processing is done use a strainer and drain well.
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