Needing something that could lower the amount of leftover waste, I had problems finishing the quantity of food that was processed with other blenders. The Vitamix E310 would have saved me from throwing so much in the trash since the design is great for individual meals. Below is an honest Vitamix E310 review that details everything you should know about the blender before deciding if it’s the right choice for your home.
Things to Consider
Aside from giving you better flexibility on where you place and store your machine, “smart” blenders will perform many of the same duties that conventional blenders can yet lower your cooking/preparation time by serving as a heater and emulsifier all at once. Sturdy lids that seal over the top of the containers should keep your hands free as well; Vitamix Explorian products do not force pressure (or food contents) upwards, making everything remain on the surface without risk of spilling outside of the lid itself.
If you’re on a strict juicing diet, a Vitamix comparison will do you no good. As such, a better recommendation would be masticating or centrifugal juicers since they can separate the solid pieces from the liquid. Blenders simply do not have this function. Furthermore, you may consider the mixing process quite tedious, especially when food lingers at the top without blending properly. When this happens, a separate handheld tool known as a tamper would suffice and can extend the time it takes for you to have the consistency you need for your dish, especially when blending purees and frozen foods.
As professed later in the review, try not to forget your tolerance to sound as well. Most Vitamix blenders emit a lot of noise that can become irritable to the people around you, especially if you live in a confined space such as an apartment. Nevertheless, there are many positive aspects that could negate these critiques of the Vitamix brand. Let’s look further into what it does right.
Let’s Take a Closer Look
The Vitamix E310 is a blender that declares to reduce the amount of time you spend in the kitchen preparing your meals. Out of the box, it has a 48-ounce container, stainless steel blades, and black-colored base that rests on your countertop. Unlike the A3500’s larger container and digital controls, this model, unique to all Vitamix blenders, fits under your cabinets much easier than its sister devices.
Pros:
- The container can be replaced with larger types featured on other Vitamix products.
- Has the ability to heat up soups during blending; no need to use a microwave.
- The button layout is easy and has no learning curve.
- Can be cleaned by adding water and dish soap into the container, then spun.
- Nuts are completely emulsified when blended with aqueous produce.
Cons:
- The tamper is sold separately and not included with the blender.
- If the machine is started on the highest setting, contents could spill out the container.
- Small 48-ounce container not suitable for blending a large quantity of food.
- On the highest setting, the noise level is unusually high and deafening.
- The container does not lock tightly around the base.
Features and Benefits
Next, check out the parts featured on the Vitamix E310 and how it plays an important role in the overall performance of the blender.
Pulse
When preparing purees by hand, I’ve often had to slow myself when coarse chopping vegetables or other ingredients while using a butcher’s knife. If you’re familiar with this technique, you know how important it is to get the contents as fine as possible. For some, this is not always the easiest feat. The Vitamix E310 has a feature known as Pulse. This will allow you to finetune your puree or sauces into a texture that’s identical to the canned varieties you would see in a grocery store. To use, simply add your whole vegetables to the container.
There’s no need to cut anything (so long as it fits inside properly). Turn the speed dial to the setting you desire, then press the pulp switch located on the left side with the button-shaped insignia. Try not to keep the blend in the container for too long unless you need the mixture to be cooked. Furthermore, when you do want to warm up the food but must do so quickly, add preheated water to the mix. This will decrease the cooking time to under two minutes.
The Container and Blades
The blending container might not be tall yet is perfect for those who need to make just enough food for themselves. As I mentioned for my initial need for the machine, wasting too much food with large containers can have an impact on how your experience with the device will be, particularly if you don’t want to buy the same foods that were thrown away from spoilage.
As long as you’re careful to not start the blender on a high setting, you won’t need to place your hands on the lid for its contents to stay inside (there are some exceptions to this which are discussed below). The blades, both wet and dry, work in tune with it as well. While blending, take notice of how the bottom forms a vortex shape. The is the force that pulls all the food down and keeps and makes it safe to run the machine without support. The sprout on the container’s top is also pretty small. Aside from liquids with little viscosity, you probably won’t use it very much. And thicker foods that form a paste-like texture can sometimes be difficult to get out, leaving more content clinging at the bottom than you’d expect.
If you’re not satisfied with the size, you can buy the 64-ounce container separately, then change them out according to how much food you need to blend. Aside from their shape and the amount capable of being held inside, the materials are all made of BPA-free plastic. Whatever food you decide to place in the blender, burnout is unlikely to happen long after you have acquired the machine. Even when crushing down a full container of ice on multiple occasions, the motor and blades will retain their strength and not succumb.
What Can You Blend?
Everything from ice cream, smoothies, soups, and juices are well-matched with the blender. Fruits are optional but will require many steps to replicate the abilities automatically featured on a juicer. However, with a little creativity, the process is doable. To make this easier, acquire a milk bag to help you separate the pulp from the liquid contents. Additionally, when adding nuts during juice mixing, they will emulsify to liquid form and add great flavor to your finished product.
Greens can be placed on either a high or low setting. If you want to chop them up into larger pieces, turn the dial no higher than five (don’t forget to have it on “1” when you turn it on!). Some vegetables will cling to the edges around the lower container, not moving at all no matter what setting you’re blending at. Do not add more water into the jug unless you’re comfortable with the texture that’s suitable for you being changed significantly. This effect is heightened when using the smaller-sized jugs since there’s less space for error and putting too much or too little water can ruin an expected paste into a watery fluid.
The cutting blades are also powerful enough to handle grains like rice and small legumes, perfect for creating your own shakes and other high-protein derivatives. You must first wet the contents before placing inside. Once soaked, blend on a high setting. The longer you allow grains to remain stirring, the thinner your results will be. Pan-fried foods like pancakes and dosa batters come out well when using these methods.
Tamper Benefits
Similar to a juicer, the E310 can be used with a tamper. Although most blended contents will mix smoothly, it is highly recommended for you to purchase the tamper, particularly if cooking any solid foods that take time to break down. A hole at the top lid is big enough for the rod-like tool to fit inside. As you turn on the machine, the tamper should be pressed down until everything emulsifies and levels out closer to the bottom.
Don’t worry about the tamper hitting the blades, even if you hear a grinding sound. There’s a stopper at the top that prevents it from reaching the lower portion of the container. With most blends, only three or four presses should suffice in getting everything lowered. Take note that uneven lumps may be found in your blend if you don’t use the tamper on certain items. Hard foods such as almonds and peanuts tend to come out better when the tool is used.
Cleanup
When cleaning commences, the process should take little effort. There’s no need to put the container in the dishwater or even place it in your sink. Run a little water inside and pour out, doing it again a second time but adding a little dish soap. Place it back on top of the stand and turn the machine on and off quickly, doing so at least two times. Then pour out and give a final rinse; everything will appear as good as new. The fast spinning blades allow the device to clean itself, even when blending messy mixtures such as coffee and peanuts.
Upgrades: Vitamix E310 vs E320
The E320 is alike in many ways to the E310 but fits different containers much better. As mentioned already, you can attach various containers to the 320 if need be. Not everyone recommends doing so, however. The 64-ounce jar can impact the ability for your content to stay at the bottom during blending, although this rarely will impact most people if the lid remains closed while its on.
The sound is also much louder on the E310. Blenders are associated with loud noise yet the level of sound that comes from this particular Vitamix product is enough to be heard from several meters away. The E320 does manage to quiet things down a bit (but not by much). Essentially, if you have a sensitivity to loud, abrupt sounds, you may want to consider a blender that has a less powerful motor. Earnestly speaking, you could use earplugs to protect eardrums (yes, the machines are that loud).
What are the Alternatives?
Included below are three alternate blenders made from Vitamix, which have less or more features than what is provided with the E310.
Vitamix A3500
The A3500 is the highest class of available Vitamix blenders. It has a touchscreen interface and Wi-Fi connectivity. Containers are automatically detected by the system’s onboard computer, programmed with five settings that allow the blender to process desserts, spreads, and dips without pressing a single button. There are no such digital controls and touch screen features available on the E310. All of the additions shown on other Vitamix products have been incorporated into one single powerhouse. If you’re an absolute tech junkie that must have advanced Wi-Fi controls with programmable command options, the A3500 is the way to go.
Vitamix A2300
The A2300 is similar to the E310 in many ways but utilizes a digital timing system and the capability to be paired with the Vitamix Perfect Blend app. There are also several colors to choose from and a nice option to buy it with the tamper included in the box. However, it should be noted that the blades remain the same as the E310 (and all the other Vitamix blenders), so if you think the latter’s cutting tool needs improvement, the fancy attributes labeled on the A2300 could become an afterthought. Still, it’s a great machine that does a good job of automating the blending process.
Vitamix 5200
The Vitamix 5200 is the most rudimentary of the three. The differences between it and the E310 are few, with the exception of the container itself. This model is sold with a 64-ounce holder. Due to a slight uptick in the amount of content you’re able to blend, it’s more suitable for small families or those who simply think the E130’s container is too small for them. Although not marketed as having a “pulse” feature, it really doesn’t need it since the same functions are renamed as having a high and variable setting. Variable speed controls and the activation switch remain identical but available in six distinct color choices.
Conclusion: Making your Choice
Sometimes a hastily prepared meal is all you may need your blender to perform for you, especially if you don’t like flipping through lengthy instruction manuals to know what each switch does. Depending on what you prefer, the E310’s basic layout can benefit as a faster route to using your blender at its maximum potential over memorizing complicated button configurations.
Let’s also not forget about the amount of food you won’t throw to waste with its compact container that’s small and spacious enough to fit anywhere in your kitchen. If you need something that can double as a grounder, juicer, and emulsifier in one sitting, then Vitamix E310 Explorian is your blender.
