Choosing between two quality blenders can be tricky. Not because of anything wrong, but quite the opposite. Buyers often get preoccupied by a machine’s features, that they fail to take into one fundamental consideration – what problem does it solve?
We’ve seen countless individuals fall into this trap, ultimately ending in buyer’s remorse.
In this article, we’ll be taking a completely different approach when comparing the Vitamix E320 and 5200 models. Instead of simply listing down their strength, our team will provide a head-to-head analysis based on factors most consumers deem essential. So whether you’re new to or ever bought a blender before, you’ll definitely want to continue reading.
Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender
Vitamix doesn’t just sell expensive options, it has mid-tier ones, too. Just like the Vitamix E320 Explorian Blenders, which offers a nice balance of power and performance. If you’re a homecook looking for a stronger appliance to use when preparing meals, this is definitely something to consider.
It has a robust 2.2-HP (horsepower) motor, strong enough to cut through a wide variety of foods. This includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, and even ice. Its laser-cut stainless-steel blades ensure consistent thickness each time.
This system helps create friction heating, too. As the cutters spin, it indirectly heats up cold ingredients. The Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender takes only six minutes to achieve this, which is great when cooking up soups and stews.
Although the Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender costs a few hundred dollars, users end up enjoying a wide range of functions. In particular, its variable-speed dial with ten available settings is really convenient when controlling how fast this machine operates.
Even though it’s made from tritan, a kind of hard plastic, it can still be used for extended periods. This blender is surprisingly durable. There are countless reviews stating that, and how rarely they encountered any mechanical issues, even after many years.
If you’re a consumer, this is certainly good news. At least you know your investment will be in good hands. Plus, its 7-year-long warranty provides an insurance policy in case any unfortunate incidents occur.
Pros
- A stronger motor means food is blended faster
- Includes a recipe book; helps you plan your next meal faster
- Can be used either at home or in a restaurant environment
- Lightweight enough to be moved around very easily
- Includes a 7-year warranty package
Cons
- Residue often gets stuck in between the blades
- Some necessary accessories are not included; you need to buy more
Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender
Another quality option from Vitamix is the 5200 Blender. This model is part of their Legacy Series, which includes more classic blenders. Homemakers will definitely love this one as it’s a great partner for making healthy meals for the family.
It comes with a 64-ounce container, large enough for a family-sized batch of soup. It’s also BPA-free, an important quality especially if you’re a parent and planning on making baby food using this blender. Infant’s tummies are very sensitive, so this will help you avoid any issues.
Another aspect we love about it is its user-friendliness.
You have your basic on and off button, a variable-speed dial, and a high-switch for maximum power. These allow you full control of whatever you are blending. Adjusting the pace throughout the mixing process is very simple, too. This way, you get your desired consistency every single time.
The Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender is great for someone who makes smoothies everyday. It’s convenient to use, so you won’t ever consider it a hassle. You can continue your habit without any challenges.
Still, don’t be fooled by its simplicity. The Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender packs a lot of power. It can blend frozen fruit and even pulverize seeds. Plus, since it has a large container, adding all your ingredients at once is a possibility.
The friction heating feature is incorporated as well, and has become a trademark of the brand. We love this because the food we prepare is never cold.
Finally, after a long day of kitchen work, cleaning up won’t be a hassle. Simply add warm water, crank up the blender to its highest speed, and wait for a few seconds. The gunk should slide right off, and out of its container. No need for disassembly!
Pros
- Large enough to prepare meals for big families
- Easy to use for an individuals with prior experience in the kitchen
- Excels at crushing hard ingredients like seeds and ice
- The parts are build very well; enough to last several years
- A tamper help push down items that are a bit bigger
Cons
- Produces a lot more noise than usual
- The taller container means it takes up slightly more space
Face-to-Face: Vitamix E320 vs 5200 Comparison
After running through each one’s main features, we will proceed to a face-to-face comparison. This will be based on factors that most consumers consider essential.
It is our hope not to put down any choice, but rather, for potential buyers to identify which one best fits their current needs. Since an appliance doesn’t usually have it all, this should help you prioritize what is more important than others.
Power
Both blenders provide a sufficient amount of power. The Vitamix E320 comes with an impressive 2.2-HP motor, while its counterpart, the Vitamix 5200 model isn’t far behind with a 2.0-HP motor. That small gap doesn’t make much difference because they can easily crush a wide range of ingredients.
The only disparity we saw is in the blending time. Having a slightly stronger motor allows the E320 blender to blend foods at a faster rate. Of course, it uses up a bit more electricity, too. Therefore, we could conclude that it would be better for more professional or commercial tasks, just because of the added strength.
Size and Storage
When buying any kind of appliance, one must always consider the space it takes up. Whether on the countertop or inside a cabinet. Making space when there’s none left is a difficult situation to find yourself in.
Thankfully, the Vitamix 5200 and E320 both have a 64-oz capacity. This is perfect when preparing meals for a large number of people. It saves you time, too, because now, dumping all the ingredients becomes possible.
One thing we noticed is the shape, though. The Vitamix E320 blender looks more stout, while the Vitamix 5200 Blender is somewhat taller. Looking at their official measurements, there’s a variance of about 2.5-inches. Now, this may seem insignificant to the untrained buyer. But for most, it could spell the difference between fitting in your cupboard or not.
The overall size may also boil down to your preference, and how high you want your hands to be. These details are miniscule, we know. However, later on, it could potentially affect how comfortable you are using that blender. As such, we would give a slight edge to the Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Don’t you just hate washing everything after hours of cooking? We do. So finding an appliance that’s not difficult to maintain is always a priority.
Fortunately, neither one will give you any headaches. Users need only add a significant amount of warm water, turn on the blender, and the residue is instantly separated. Now, when we did this to both machines at the same time, we noticed something interesting.
Bit of food inside the blade of the Vitamix E320 remained stuck, while the Vitamix 5200 looked cleaner. Our team needed to scrub it manually for everything to be completely removed.
We’re not exactly sure why that happened. Although the gaps in between the blades may play a crucial role. So when jets of water are shot through, then gunk easily detaches.
Versatility
If you think that blending is just limited to fruit shakes and smoothies, then you’re wrong. Blenders have evolved tremendously in recent years. It is capable of helping out when doing different tasks.
We’re very pleased to share that this trend has continued with these two options.
Cooking has been made so much easier. Both the Vitamix 5200 and E320 models can be used on hot soups, frozen desserts, nut butters, cookie dough, and tasty dips. The pulse feature, though on the E320 makes things slightly easier when getting that thicker consistency. And for anyone that’s ever tried to make salsa, you know this isn’t easy.
Value for Money
Buying any Vitamix product is always considered an investment. It won’t come cheap, but you’ll enjoy using it for a longer period of time. Plus, their durability and flexibility will help simplify a lot of difficult tasks.
Since both choices cost about the same, we would give a slight advantage to the Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender due to the fact that it can be used better in restaurants or cafes means you could potentially earn more.
Based on reviews, it’s very reliable and runs smoothly, even without much breaks in between.
Warranty
We have always been advocates of a fair warranty package. This may add a little bit to the initial price tag, which cover unexpected repair costs or maintenance fees.
That’s why we’re very happy to see both these models have a full 7-year warranty. So in case anything suddenly breaks, you can always seek help from the manufacturer.
What Do Consumers Say About Each One?
Besides feature articles, actual customer reviews are another credible source of information. Since these are mostly first-hand accounts of actual experience, they often serve as a testimonial for a particular product’s performance. And since most aren’t paid, you can usually expect honest feedback.
At this point, let’s always take a peak at what most consumers say about the Vitamix E320 Explorian and the Vitamix 5200 Professional Grade blenders.
Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender
Based on its Amazon page, the Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender garnered an 89% satisfaction rating from over 1,180 responses. This is obviously an incredible achievement that only strengthens their existing credibility. Let’s take a closer look at some comments we came across.
Majority of users shared they are very happy with the purchase, despite going a bit over their budget. One reason is because of the Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender’s versatility. They use it almost daily when preparing soups, stews, and other savory meals.
Despite being utilized for that long, the blender remains in tip-top shape.
They also appreciate the lengthy warranty package, which meant they didn’t have to pay extra through the site anymore. This gave them peace of mind knowing their initial investment was protected.
Of course, we cannot overlook that some customers were dissatisfied. Their primary complaint was the sound, and its inability to be used early in the morning. There were also a couple of reports saying smoke started seeping through the sides. However, we would consider these as isolated cases since very few shared a similar sentiment.
Vitamix 5200 Professional Grade Blender
On the other hand, the Vitamix 5200 Professional Grade Blender didn’t lag behind either. It also boasted an 86% positivity rating from approximately 1,178 people. Overall, it scored a 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Surprisingly, the data is almost identical for both. Reading through the comments, though, paints a slightly different story.
The Vitamix 5200 Professional Grade Blender is considered by many as extremely powerful. According to them, it could easily cut through tougher vegetables like carrots and ginger with minimal effort. They didn’t even have to do too much cutting because of the container’s towering shape. Throwing everything altogether seemed like a plausible practice now.
Speaking of appearance, many also shared that they appreciated how tall the Vitamix 5200 Professional Grade Blender was. Besides causing a lot more turbulence, it fits the position of their arms, too. They didn’t need to exert extra effort anymore.
A few downsides, however, is that its price isn’t suited for beginners. Maybe this caused their expectations to be blown totally out of proportion. Either way, they thought that going for a different model is in their best interest.
Who Would Benefit From These Blenders?
Since the specifications are generally the same, we can say that both the Vitamix E320 and 5200 would be great options for regular households, especially those with individuals that love cooking. Both appliances are incredibly versatile, and can be used on a variety of tasks.
Fitness coaches, professional athletes, and marathoners are other potential target audiences. Since blending fresh fruits and vegetables will support their healthier lifestyle, either blender can provide multiple years of service.
They are both durable and user-friendly enough to be used on a daily basis.
Additionally, because the Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender is slightly stronger, we could recommend using it as a secondary device in restaurants and other commercial space. It can keep up with the more rigorous demands. Plus, they would be more willing to spend more on kitchen top appliances.
Conclusion – Which One is Better?
Choosing a superior option is like choosing between lemonade and iced tea. It all boils down to either preference, or the very last details. Whichever the case, it’s definitely not an easy decision.
However, after looking at every aspect, we did notice some advantages that tipped the scale in favor of one contender.
In our humble opinion, we would like to publicly proclaim the Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender as the winner of this head-to-head challenge. Its slightly-more ergonomic design and stronger motor, coupled with the durability, versatility, and convenience, was just enough to come out victorious in today’s match up.
Plus, being sturdy enough to be used in more stressful demanding situations is an added bonus. So anytime you decide on starting a small food business, you’ll have that option, too.
That’s why if you ever have a few hundred dollars to spend, and looking for something that fits into your lifestyle, purchasing the Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender should definitely be a top consideration.
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