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The Vitamix E310 & E320 Explorian series was first launched in 2017 as cheaper blender options for those on a budget. These blenders were introduced after the sophisticated Smart System Product Line models were released.
E310 & E320 Explorian blenders are classic models with the usual Vitamix functionality, power, simple but iconic design, and affordable price. They are a lot cheaper than several other Vitamix blenders, but they are just as efficient.
In this article, we’ll review the Vitamix E310 & E320 to help you decide if the models are worth the purchase. In addition, every aspect of the blenders will be looked at closely, so you wouldn’t miss out on any detail.
Quick Overview
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Product Dimensions
Explorian E310 & E320 blenders without the containers stand at 11” x 8” x 18”, barely taking much counter space in your kitchen. With the containers attached to the base unit, the blenders have an 18” profile.
The 4.5ft power cord fits perfectly underneath the motor base in a coil. You can get the E310 in black color, while the E320 is available in black or red color.
Functionality
Vitamix guarantees that the Explorian E310 & E320 blenders provide a powerful and reliable performance. They perform just as effectively as other Vitamix blenders but lack extra features you may find on some other models. However, you can prepare almost every recipe with these blenders.
E310 & E320 blenders easily pulverize ice and other frozen ingredients so that you can produce different recipes like snow cones, frozen drinks, ice cream, and others. The blenders are also capable of making fine-textured sauces and purees for babies.
If you’re interested in preparing hot ingredients, these units are also designed to handle such recipes perfectly. The blades also move at high speeds to create a vortex that heats liquids. The powerful blades can also knead dough and cookies butter.
According to customers’ reviews, the only issue you may face with the Vitamix 310 and Vitamix 320 is juice making. Although you can use it for making juice, it doesn’t give you the best quality. If you don’t mind whole juice, these blenders will do just fine. However, you could use a strainer to get rid of the fruit fiber after blending.
These blenders don’t come with a dry blade container. Instead, you can use the standard wet blade container to grind spices, flax seeds, coffee, wheat, rice, sugar, and more. In short, the Vitamix Explorian E310 and E320 blenders are very powerful and versatile gadgets that can save you the cost of purchasing other kitchen appliances like ice cream makers, food processors, and coffee grinders.
RELATED: Check out our roundup of The 5 Best Vitamix Blenders in 2022.
Controls
Vitamix fitted the Explorian E310 and E320 with the same minimalistic control panel that is very easy to use. It has a dial knob in the center that controls ten speeds, with the pulse function and power switches at the sides.
The dial regulates the speed perfectly, transitioning between speeds smoothly. The low speed is low, and the high speed spins the blades so fast that it heats liquids. No matter the speed you choose to start blending with, the motor’s speed will instantly increase to the level you chose.
To activate the Pulse function, you press the pulse lever after you’ve chosen the desired speed on the dial knob. A variety of speeds on the blenders give you more control over the blending process. The Pulse function is great for chopping veggies, and nuts and is also handy for preparing sauces and salsa. The medium speed is useful for blending soft ingredients, while the high speeds are more suited for hard ingredients and seeded fruits.
Motor and Blades
Motor
There’s usually some confusion about the motor on the E310 and E320 Explorian models. According to the Vitamix website and other reviews about the Explorian series, the E310 has a 2.0HP motor, while E320 has a 2.2HP motor. However, both blenders use the same VM0197 motor model, which is a 2.2HP (1464 watts) and 12 Amps motor.
The design of the base exterior has similar features to the Classic and Ascent Vitamix models. The Explorian models have the Power On/Off switch on the bottom of the base unit, but they don’t have light indicators like other Vitamix models.
The machine base is heavy and very sturdy, so it doesn’t move across the counter even when you’re running the blender at the highest speed. In addition, the E310 and E320 models are fitted with radial cooling fans and thermal protection. This means that the blenders will stop operating if the motor is overheated or overloaded.
The motors of the Explorian blenders are designed with a ball bearing technology that helps it provide power while reducing wear, giving the motor durability. This technology helps Vitamix E310 and E320 outperform high-end blenders.
Blades
The blenders are equipped with blades that have identical designs but different sizes. The blades are fitted permanently into the containers. For example, the E310 has a four-pronged 3-inch blade inbuilt into the 48 oz. The narrow-body jar and the E320 model have 4 inches of four-prong blades built into the 64 oz—widebody container.
The blades are made from laser-cut aircraft quality stainless steel and an all-metal drive system. In addition, they all have a ball bearing system that increases the lifespan, and performance and reduces wear.
Container and Accessories
The containers that come with the E310 and E320 models are made from Eastman Tritan Copolyester material; very durable, temperature and shatter-resistant.
The E310 has a 48 oz. Narrow-body and low-profile container with a plastic grip, the Explorian E320 comes with a 64 oz. Wide-body low profile container and rubber grip. Both containers have a spit for pouring liquid out. In addition, they have measurement indicators to help with your recipes. They are also fitted with the same black rubber lid, clear plug, and specially designed tampers (9.3 inches long for 48 oz. and 11 inches long for 64 oz. jugs).
Although Vitamix blenders don’t come with glass containers, you can purchase a stainless-steel container if you’d prefer that quality. The containers of the E310 and E320 are WET containers, but they can process dry food as well. But if you’re more interested in mixing dough and grain milling, you can purchase the optional 32 oz dry blade container.
The 64 oz. container is perfect for processing large quantities of food, while the 48 oz. container is ideal for small recipes. So, the E310 model is a great unit for smaller households, while the E320 will be excellent for larger households.
You can use the containers from both models interchangeably between the machines. Also, all Vitamix Classic containers will fit the Explorian blenders perfectly. However, both machines don’t have accessories apart from a cookbook and tamper, but there are accessories and optional attachments available that you could purchase separately.
Care and Cleaning
The Vitamix Explorian E310 and E320 blenders are easy to assemble and use. First off, the base assembly is inbuilt into the containers, so all that’s left to do is fill the container with ingredients, place the lid, and place the container onto the base. The jars, lids, and tampers are dishwasher safe, and the blenders can also self-clean.
Warranty and Replacements
A 5-year full warranty covers the Vitamix Explorian E310 model, and the E320 unit has a 7-year full warranty. Refurbished models also have three years of full warranties.
The warranties cover parts, labor, and shipping costs. In addition, the Vitamix warranties can be transferred, and you still get a full warranty even if you purchased a second-hand machine.
Set Inclusions
The Vitamix Explorian E310 and E320 blender sets include:
- Base unit with 2.2HP motor;
- 64 oz. or 48 oz. container with lid;
- Tamper;
- User Manual;
- Cook Book;
- Warranty card.
RELATED: Looking for an alternative to the Vitamix Explorian E310 and E320 blenders? Check out our review of 5 of the Best Blenders for Protein Shakes.
Vitamix E310 and E320: FAQ
Here are the Pros & Cons of the Explorian E310 and E320 models:
Pros
- They are very affordable for a high-end blender.
- Very easy to use and clean.
- Long warranties.
- They are versatile machines.
- They are made from durable parts.
Cons
- Brand new E310 and refurbished E320 blenders have shorter warranties than other Vitamix models.
- According to several customer reviews about the Explorian blenders, they can be very noisy because of the motor power.
Vitamix E310 and E320: FAQ
Vitamix E310 and E320: Final Thoughts
If you want a top-quality blender at an affordable rate, you can choose between the Explorian E310 and E320 models. They both perform excellently and are very durable.
In addition, both blenders are designed to serve smaller households (the E310 model) or larger households (the E320). So, whatever your needs may be, these blenders are capable of surpassing your expectations.
