Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender, 64 oz. (Various Colors)

The 5200 is the plain Vitamix: a 2 HP motor, a variable speed dial from 1 to 10 and a High switch, and a 64 oz container with a tamper in the box. There are no programs, so you run it by hand, which some people prefer. Vitamix says it cleans itself in 30 to 60 seconds with warm water and a drop of soap.

The models above it (Ascent, Propel) add blending programs and, on Ascent, containers the base recognises. If you want a dial and a switch, the 5200 is the simplest way into Vitamix.

Worth knowing With the container on, Vitamix lists it at 20.5 in. tall, so it may not fit under upper cabinets. It is from Vitamix's Legacy series, not the newer lines.