Last week I accidentally broke my blender while whisking eggs for a gluten-free cake I made for my kiddo.
Now I need a new durable blending champ, and I have two options.
Recently, due to Labor Day sales and many attractive and fascinating offers, I was debating between Vitamix E310 vs E520, in terms of performance, efficiency, and price, in my mind.
And I decided to get one for my kitchen arsenal.
But I was a bit confused thinking
Is the E520 better than the E310?What makes a Vitamix better than a blender?
And Why is Vitamix different?
So I decided to take a plunge to give them a try and here is what I came to know about them.
Let’s explore all the nitty gritty about them and make our smoothies and fruit desserts better than before.
What is the Difference Between E310 and E520?|A Bird Eye View
| Vitamix E310 | Vitamix E520 |
| Pros | Pros |
| Strong and durable | Can blend larger batches |
| Thermal protection system | Quick and convenient |
| Dishwasher safe | Easy self-cleaning |
| Easy to use | Precise control over the texture of your recipes due to 10 variable speeds |
| Simple control system | 7-year warranty |
| 5 Year warranty | Can handle even the toughest and fibrous ingredients |
| Smooth blending power | Safe for hot blending |
| Versatile | |
| Affordable | |
| Cons | Cons |
| The jug feels a bit loose when seated | No additional jars |
| Cleaning is a bit troublesome | Noisy |
| Average container size | High price tag |
What Makes a Vitamix Better than a Blender? And Why is Vitamix Different?
A Vitamix stands out from other blenders due to its powerful motor, durable build, and versatility.
Unlike standard blenders, Vitamix machines can blend tougher ingredients, such as nuts or frozen items, into smooth textures. This makes it ideal for making everything from smoothies to soups, sauces, and even nut butter.
History and Moto: Founded in 1921, Vitamix has been a leader in blending technology for over a century. The company’s motto, “To improve the vitality of people’s lives and liberate the world from conventional eating,” emphasizes its commitment to health, wellness, and quality.
Series Overview:
- Vitamix Ascent Series: Equipped with modern features like wireless connectivity and self-detect containers.
- Vitamix Explorian Series: More affordable, offering essential blending features without the extras.
- Vitamix Legacy Series: Includes the classic 5200 model, known for reliability and performance.
- Vitamix Personal Series: Compact models for smaller households or single-serve portions.
Vitamax E310: Best Budget Option
Key Specs:
- Capacity: 48 ounce
- Height: 18 inch
- Material: BPA-free Eastman Tritan copolyester
- Item weight: 10.5 Pounds
- Wattage: 1380
- Noise level: 84 decibels
Best For
Vitamix Explorian blenders are best for food fanatics who always love to craft recipes creatively.
Being a compact-size blender it’s the love of the home chefs who don’t want to see their kitchen messy.
What I like the most about it is that its versatility helps make smoothies, juices, hot soups, flours and doughs, cashew cheese sauce, and whatnot.
Challenges or Shortcomings
- It is not so perfect for peanut butter blending, it may exhaust and emit an overworked smell.
- Moreover, its small size isn’t compatible with large batches.
Power
No matter whether you want to make a healthy smoothie or a restaurant-quality creamy hummus, this powerful blender will never let you down.
If you’re thinking, does Vitamix E310 make hot soup?
Thanks to its powerful 2 HP motor, it is an excellent tool for chopping, emulsifying sauces, grinding, and even making hot soups.
It reduces the need for multiple appliances and saves valuable counter space in a professional kitchen.
The best thing that I can’t resist is its efficiency and reduction of prep time to whip up healthy meals and frozen drinks in minutes.
Capacity Vitamax E310
In contrast to Vitamix E520 with a 48-ounce capacity, it is a perfect fit for home chefs. Its medium-sized capacity is enough for small family gatherings and is best for kitchens with limited counter space.
With its compact size and non-bulky design, it is easy to clean and you can use it outside the kitchen as well.
The only downside is that it is not suitable for large batches. You need to complete the work in multiple batches which is time-consuming and laborious too.
Blades Quality Vitamix E310
Vitamix E310 has laser-cut stainless steel blades that enable them to do their job precisely. Their aesthetic looks are not only appealing but also resistant to corrosion, high temperature, dulling, and bending.
These sharp blades are efficient enough to grind nuts, coffee beans, and ice for chilled desserts.
In addition, their clean edges minimize the risk of cuts or injuries and their smooth surface reduces the risk of bacteria buildup.
Control Over Blending Time via Variable Speed
Being a home chef, another fascinating feature of Vitamix E310 is its variable speed dial. It helps me create my favorite recipes with their signature texture and precise consistency.
With variable speed settings, I can use it for different tasks like chopping vegetables using low speed, grinding nuts at medium speed, and crafting finger-licking silky smooth soups and sauces at high speed.
Pulse Option
Vitamix E310 has a Pulse function that prevents me from over-processing delicate herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Furthermore, I can also use it to crush ice without liquifying it.
Plus it also minimizes the burden on the motor while grinding hard ingredients by breaking them out gradually.
Build and Easy Cleaning
Vitamix E310 is made up of BPA-free Eastman Tritan copolyester. It protects you from several health complications because it doesn’t leach out harmful chemicals into your food that may be incorporated if you use a product made up of cheaper plastic that contains BPA.
Tritan copolyester makes the blender heat and chemical-resistant and doesn’t absorb odors that keep your juices and processing food fresh.
No more headache to waste my time to clean the blender thoroughly. Just add warm water, dish soap, and bingo.
Warranty
Vitamix is a reputable industry leader in the kitchenware industry and confidently provides a longer warranty period than any brand on the market. Vitamix E310 comes with a 5-year warranty that covers all parts, performance, labor, and two-way shipping without any cost.
But some things aren’t covered:
- Using sand or grit
- Using volatile oils
- Unauthorized repairs: Only Vitamix-authorized technicians can repair your blender.
- Using the blender improperly
Included Accessories
- Motor Base
- Juice Container
- Tamper
- Cookbook
Why is Vitamix Explorian Cheaper?
The Vitamix Explorian series is cheaper than other models due to its basic design and medium-sized container.
Plus it has manual control settings and no luxury of pre-set options which is why it is more affordable and the best option for home chefs.
E310 is the best option if you’re on a tight budget; the built quality is no less than any high-price model.
Is the Vitamix E310 Noisy?
If you’re thinking how loud is the Vitamix E310?, their noise level may reach up to 84 decibels which is equivalent to a gas-powered lawn mower sound.
Color
Ladies, you can’t resist its vibrant red, black, and slate colors which are not only aesthetically appealing but also stay clean or you can say look cleaner than light-coloured blenders for a long.
Safety Features
Vitamix E310 has a radial cooling fan that prevents overheating of the machine and extends the lifespan of your device.
Moreover, it also helps to reduce noise and allows the motor to perform more efficiently, especially when they are handling hard ingredients.
Likewise, the thermal protection system is another safety feature that is built in to prevent overheating and potential damage.
How long does Vitamix E310 last?
The longevity of e310 depends on how appropriately you handle it. With Regular cleaning and maintenance, it can last up to a decade or maybe more.
Vitamix E310 vs E520 – Does E520 Worth it?
Nicole Papantoniou a kitchen appliances expert and the director of the Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute says:
“I like the heft of Vitamix blenders and knowing I can put almost anything in them and get good results.”
Key Specs:
- Capacity: 64 ounce
- Height: 17 inch
- Material: BPA-free Eastman Tritan copolyester
- Item weight: 10.2 lbs
- Wattage: 1400
Best For
Just like the Explorian E310, the E520 is an awesome blender to choose from for household use. It is a perfect fit for you if you’re looking to handle large batches. With plenty of options for different meal recipes, this versatile kitchen tool will revolutionize your cooking game.
With a 64-ounce container, it can help you make healthy treats from hot soups to chilled frozen desserts, baby food dips and sauces, and much more.
Challenges or Shortcomings
- Remarkably loud- Don’t try to make a morning smoothie or juice otherwise get ready to fight with your neighborhood.
- Expensive than other blenders in the market
- Inconvenient to put on the counter underneath the cabinets since it’s so tall.
Power
Vitamix E520 is an absolute powerhouse in your kitchen. The best thing I like about it is its ability to tackle even the toughest ingredients. With a 2.3 HP motor, its efficiency is a little bit better than the E310.
Whenever I try coffee beans or any hard nuts in the blender I fear getting things done in improper chunks but now it’s a breeze to have fun with anything I want to blend.
Capacity- Vitamix E310 vs E520
It has a 64-ounce low-profile container which is larger than e310 and is sufficient for large blending operations.
With a wide container base and a compact height equipped with excellent blades results in fiber-free smoothies and smooth hummus.
In addition, the lid of the container has a lid plug that is removable to add ingredients during blending.
Cherry on the top, If you have accidentally broken your container like me, you can get a brand new 64-ounce Vitamix container easily.
Blades Quality
Just like Vitamix E310 it also has 4 stainless steel blades that are durable, sharp, and corrosion-resistant.
You can effortlessly handle tough tasks such as blending frozen ingredients or crushing ice for your favorite desserts and juices without dulling for a long time.
Plus their speed reaches the fast speeds to create friction heat to produce hot treats without using a stove.
Three Program Settings
Just like E310 it also has a rotary knob with 10 speeds settings and the only thing that sets it apart from Explorian 310 is its three program settings for smoothies, hot soups, and frozen desserts.
With pre-program settings, you can automatically process recipes and the blender will shut down when it’s done.
Longer Warranty
Each E520 blender comes with a 7-year warranty that covers all parts, performance, labor, and shipping at no extra cost.
Included Accessories
- 2 Chilly Tumbler Cups with Straw
- Low-Profile Tamper
- Cookbook
Cost
Due to the high-power motor and few additional features, the E520 is pricier than the E310.
But you will not regret making this decision because it’s going to last for longer than you expect.
Noise
It’s too loud to get used to but comparatively less noisy than E310, so you don’t need a jet pilot license to use this blender.
Safety Features
Safety features are the same as E310.
Performance-Vitamix E310vs E520
Here is a concise performance test for both E310 and E520 done for you:
| Test | E310 | E520 |
| Soup Making Test | Smooth blend | Exceptionally smooth soups |
| Nut Butter Making Test | Excellent nut butter | Best nut better |
| Fibrous Ingredients Blending Test | Effortlessly blends kale into silky smooth puree | Need a little break to scape down the sides of the jar for better results |
Quick Review-Vitamix E310vs E520
| Specifications | Vitamix E310 | Vitamix E520 |
| Price | 379$ | 529$ |
| Warranty | 5-Years | 7-Years |
| Power | 2 HP | 2.3 HP |
| Capacity | 48 ounce | 64 ounce |
| Dimensions | 11”D × “8”W× 18”H | 19.5 x 44 x 24 cm |
| Weight | 10.5 lbs | 10.2 lbs |
| Speed Control Operation | 10 One Manual mode | 10 Three-time programs for smoothies, soups, and frozen items |
| Included | Mini Tamper, Motor base, Juice container, Cookbook |
Final Verdict- Vitamix E310 vs E520
There is a famous saying “Kitchens are made for bringing families together”
and no doubt Vitamix is playing a vital role by providing high-quality large-sized blenders like Vitamix E520.
We tested every aspect of both blenders and what we found regarding Vitamix E310 vs E520:
- If you’re on a tight budget and have a small kitchen Vitamix E310 is the best bet for you. Don’t overlook its small size the beast in it is sleeping, not dead. It’s the outstanding quality, performance, and professional results that make chefs love Vitamix.
- And if you’re looking for more features, less noise, and mind-blowing power get a Vitamix E520 for you.
The Winner
It is not a battle of blenders, you can find what suits your needs and budget.
For me, Vitamix E520 is a winner because
“Now as always, the most automated appliance in a household is the mother.”
And being a mother taking care of all tasks tirelessly in an automated way becomes easier with Vitamix E520. Its three settings mode, power, and precise blending are all I need for my kitchen tasks.
FAQs
Is the E320 better than the E310?
E320 and E310 are almost identical in performance and features except E320 comes with a 64-ounce container and a full 7-year warranty.
What is the difference between Vitamix A and E?
Vitamix A series refers to the Ascent series which is more advanced than the Vitamix E series which refers to the Explorian series.
The key differences between the both are:
- Explorian series blenders are basic-level blenders while the Ascent series comes with more advanced features like built-in timers, self-detect technology, and a touch interface.
- The Explorian series is for users who need a blender for their basic blending task while the Ascent series is for people who want to craft blending tasks more creatively in large batches.
- Explorian series is cheaper than Ascent, while Ascent blenders are more pricey due to their advanced features.
- Another difference is in their warranty, The Explorian series usually comes with a 5-7-year warranty while the Ascent series comes with a 10-year warranty
