After 6+ Years, My Vitamix Blender Is Still Just as Good as It Was on Day 1 (I Even Take It on Vacation!)

You know how once you’ve finally done something, you look back in hindsight and kick yourself for not doing it sooner? Well, that’s how I feel about my Vitamix blender.

I’d coveted a Vitamix for as long as I can remember, but never thought I could justify the price. I mainly just used my blender to make smoothies in the morning, so I spent years buying cheap models in the $50-ish range, thinking they were good enough to carry out such a basic task.

But for all the poorly blended smoothies I drank with leftover bits of of kale and ice, and for all the cheap blenders I had to retire after only a year, I could’ve just bought a Vitamix and saved money and avoided subpar smoothies right from the start.

But enough dwelling on my past foolishness! Because six years ago I finally got a Vitamix blender, and I still love it as much as the day I got it. To be fair, I received it as a gift for my birthday (thanks, Mom!) — but I would’ve bought it for myself had it not appeared on my doorstep that morning. (Yes, moms are truly the best.)

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Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender

Amazon

$329.95 (was $379.95)

Buy Now

What Is the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender?

Vitamix’s Explorian E310 is one of the brand’s most affordable blenders (not including Certified Refurbished blenders). Despite the “low” price point (it’s still a Vitamix, after all!), this blender still has all the benefits that Vitamix is known for, like a five-year full warranty on parts, high-performance motor, and an easy self-cleaning function. The E310 has fewer bells and whistles than most Vitamix blenders, with only three controls: a Pulse switch, a Speed dial, and an On/Off switch. That’s what also makes the machine so intuitive to use.

The 48-ounce container is also slightly smaller, compared to other Vitamix models. This size is “ideal for blending medium batches for small family meals,” according to Vitamix. If you need a larger container or other accessories, they’re easy to shop for online.

What’s So Great About the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender?

This machine is extremely easy to use. I like how simple the controls are, and I love that the container and lid are dishwasher-safe. I’ve tried the self-cleaning function (blend warm water and a drop of dish soap at highest speed for 60 seconds) a few times, but nine times out of 10 I just throw it in the dishwasher, as I use it every day. Given how frequently the parts have gone through the dishwasher these past six years, I’d say the pieces are holding up really nicely.

In terms of the container size, I’ve never had any issues with liquids spilling over or having to do multiple batches. I started out with the 48-ounce container but upgraded to the larger 64-ounce version about three years ago. The lid on the original one starting crumbling, and I was worried about pieces of it getting into our food. I still use the original blender container sometimes when the newer one is dirty, but I like having more room in the 64-ounce one. I only make food for my family of three, though, so that might change if I’m blending something for a larger group at a dinner party.

I’ve outlined the ways I’ve used the machine most frequently so far below, but these are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what the E310 can do. Seriously, my family and I even take it with us on vacation if it’s somewhere we can drive to — I’m that attached to it!

Smoothies

I have a smoothie every morning — usually with cashew milk, frozen blueberries, banana, and peanut butter — and within 45 seconds I’ll have a perfectly creamy, bright-purple smoothie waiting for me. Six years later, and I still am so pleased with how smooth I’m able to get my morning meal! My 4 1/2-year-old also loves when I make him smoothies with the Vitamix. We also blend mixtures (like fresh peaches, coconut milk, and honey) to pour into Popsicle molds in the summer. 

Per Vitamix, I always add the ingredients in the following order for the smoothest, well, smoothie: liquids, soft fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, frozen ingredients, nuts and seeds.

Sauces

I’ve made plenty of sauces in my Vitamix and, just like with smoothies, they always come out impossibly creamy and smooth. My favorite sauce to make by far is a homemade peanut sauce. I’ll blend up a mixture of coconut aminos, a knob of fresh peeled ginger, a clove of peeled garlic, a juice of a lime, and a big scoop of creamy peanut butter and the result is better than anything I’ve ever bought at the grocery store. When I don’t have peanut butter, I’ve successfully subbed in some raw cashews and hot water and it still blends up into a thick, creamy sauce. I also love making the kale sauce from Joshua McFadden’s Six Seasons cookbook.

Soups

As soon as fresh tomatoes were in season this summer, I practically lived off gazpacho. I blended up some tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, shallot, garlic, sherry vinegar, and olive oil and was left with beautifully smooth, orange-red gazpacho. After blending I chilled the soup right in the container for about an hour in the fridge, and then easily poured it into bowls for serving.

Now that the weather is getting cooler, I’ve been making my favorite warm tomato soup recipe from McFadden’s book. I start by sautéing everything in a pan on the stovetop, transfer the ingredients to the blender, and then blend until smooth. The blender also has the functionality, however, to add raw ingredients to a blender and actually “cook” (read: warm) the soup if you run it on the highest setting for six minutes.

Nut Milk

My go-to nut milk to make at home is cashew milk because it doesn’t require any straining. I’ve been making cashew milk for years, in all sorts of blenders, but the biggest difference my Vitamix makes is that I don’t need to soak the cashews overnight to soften. If I’m craving cashew milk, I can simply blend some raw cashews and filtered water on the highest speed and voila! Perfectly smooth, creamy cashew milk in less than a minute with no prior planning or soaking.

Pancake Batter

I’ve made the same flourless oat and banana pancakes in my blender for years, and the batter always comes out super smooth. (Are you noticing a theme yet?) There are no visible shards of oats — just silky, pourable batter that transforms into light and airy pancakes after a stint in a kiss of coconut oil in a hot skillet.

The One Drawback of This Vitamix

Most of my previous (cheap) blenders were pretty sleek and low-profile, so they could fit on my countertops. My Vitamix, however, is too tall and bulky to sit permanently on my countertops. I store it in a lower cabinet and pull out the heavy appliance each time I need it. I have to blend towards the front edge of my counters, because my upper cabinets would hit the top of the blender otherwise. Could I leave the base on the counter at all times and store the container underneath? Yes, but the base is not aesthetically pleasing to me, so I’d rather hide it away. A small price to pay for non-chunky smoothies, though!

Final verdict: I love my Vitamix and I don’t know why I suffered through so many bad blenders before it. As someone who’s been using the same Vitamix for more than six years, I would highly recommend this model to anyone who wants the quality and reliability of a Vitamix but doesn’t need it for anything beyond simple basics. It’s one of the most affordable Vitamix blenders, but I’d definitely recommend shopping when there’s a sale — my mom bought hers on sale, and there are always deals during the holidays. In fact, there’s a great deal right now during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, where it’s on sale for $329.99, down $50 from the original price.

Buy: Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender, $329.99 (normally $379.99)

Do you have this Vitamix model? Do you love it as much as I do? Let me know in the comments?

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