Vitamix 5300 Review 2024

Vitamix’s reputation for making super-powered blenders is second to none.

Although typically more expensive than competing brands, these blenders last for years and are backed up by some of the most generous warranties in the business.

In my Vitamix 5300 blender review, I’m taking a detailed look at why this blender has proved such a popular choice amongst blending fanatics for so many years.

(Head back to my massive home juicing and blending guide when you’re done for more help with this side of kitchen life!)

About The Vitamix 5300

The Vitamix 5300 is commonly known as the “hybrid” Vitamix blender. It takes the best of earlier machines and combines them into something a little more up to date.

You get a few more features, delivered in a machine that’s available at a good discount as it’s an older machine in the Vitamix line.

It’s still a simple Vitamix, but it does everything the brand is famous for.

The motor’s extremely powerful, it has a generous selection of speed settings, and believe me when I say it will demolish absolutely anything you put into it!

It is, however, the only Vitamix blender that is currently only available as a reconditioned model.

Is that a cause for concern?

Honestly, no. All blenders certified as reconditioned by Vitamix are as good as new. Literally. When you take the 5300 out of the box, it looks, feels and smells like a brand new Vitamix.

That’s backed up by a five year warranty, which is huge compared to other blender manufacturers.

It’s not quite as huge as the 7 year warranty Vitamix offers on its brand new machines, but I don’t think that’s a problem. These things are built like tanks, and they last for years and years.

I think it’s a mistake to buy a new one of these things (assuming you can find one), just because its reconditioned.

If you simply must have a new Vitamix blender, go for something like the A3500.

It’s a little more expensive, but you do get a few more features like pre-programmed settings, a touchscreen display and so on.

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Who’s It For?

The Vitamix 5300 is ideal for individuals, couples, or small families.

It’s as powerful as any other Vitamix blender, but the low-profile container makes it a little easier to situate in the kitchen.

If you don’t need pre-programmed settings, you’ll find this an affordable, effective entry point into the Vitamix brand.

Who’s It Not For?

If you’re making a lot of small blending batches, you’ll need to pick up  separate smaller containers.

I go into a little more detail about this later on in my review, but that low-profile container comes with a much wider base.

That means you need more ingredients to cover the blade unit, and create the “vortex” effect that makes Vitamix blender so effective.

If you have a larger household, you might also find the container capacity to be a little limiting at 64 ounces.

Pros

• A supremely versatile kitchen blender that can handle all of your food processing and blending tasks
• The motor’s extremely powerful, and has no trouble tearing through tough ingredients and hardened ice.
• Ten speed settings allow you to tweak the machine for smoothies, cocktails, hot soups – anything you can think of.
• Pulse function gives you more precise control over the blending consistency.
• Low profile container makes it less imposing than many other Vitamix blenders. Check the dimensions, but this should fit under most kitchen cabinets.
• Although all Vitamix blenders cost a little more than the competition, the 5300 is one of the more affordable options.
• BPA-free plastic container is hard wearing, and features very easy to read measurement markings too.
• Easy to operate and easy to clean as well.
• Generous 5 year warranty provides peace of mind that the investment you make will be worth it.

Cons

• The low-profile container makes it better suited for bigger blending batches. Other container accessories for smaller batches are available separately.
• The recipe book included is great for getting started. It’s not as good as the all-singing, all-dancing DVD and book combo that’s packaged with more expensive Vitamix blenders though.
• Noisier than more advanced Vitamix blenders, but not unbearably so.
• No preset blending programs, so it’s not quite as “fire and forget” as other appliances.

Low Profile 64 Ounce Container

Let’s start with the most important part of the Vitamix 5300 blender – the container itself.

At 64 ounces it’s not as large as that found on other premium blenders, but I think it’s big enough for a small family making average use of the appliance.

It’s specially designed to be a low-profile container, which means a shorter height and a fatter bottom!

That’s really handy, as it’s much easier to keep a Vitamix out on the countertop all the time if you can tuck it under a kitchen cabinet.

The 64 ounce container is built from a material known as Easterman Tritan Copolyester. This BPA-free stuff is super-resistant to stress damage and high temperatures.

It looks a lot like glass, in fact, but it’s a lot more durable – no worries about it slipping from your hand and shattering on the floor!

The markers on the container are very clear and don’t degrade over time. Measurements for ounces, millimeters and cups are all present and easy to read at a glance.

Finally, the container is topped off with a flexible rubber lid that clips securely onto the sides of the container. There’s also a removable plug section in the center of the lid.

This means you can add ingredients at later stages of the blend. You get a tamper included with the Vitamix 5300, which you can use to submerge those ingredients.

A quick note on quantities before I move on though.

If you’re only blending a small batch of ingredients, you need to make sure the integrated blades are covered entirely.

The Vitamix 5300 container is designed to create a vortex effect. This pulls ingredients down towards the blades, and then pushes them up the sides. This creates the supremely even blend that Vitamix is famous for.

It’s a balancing act really. The taller, classic design is better for making smaller servings, as it’s easier to cover the blade unit.

The low-profile design takes up less space on your countertop, but you do really need to make a bigger batch each time. Consider freezing any leftovers if you have to make more than you need right now.

Variable Speed Control & Pulse

What about the speed options on the Vitamix 5300 blender?

There are no pre-programmed settings here, but you do get a very simple set of controls.

• 10 variable speed control settings.
• A “pulse” feature which lets you blend at the desired speed for as long as the button’s held down.
• An on/off switch.

It’s basically very easy to use!

The speed dial is located in the center of the power base, with the pulse button to the left of it, and the on/off switch to the right.

You will need to get a feel for the right setting for the job in hand, but the starter recipe book will walk you through the basics.

There are, of course, countless Vitamix recipes on the internet, and the manufacturer’s site also contains plenty of inspiration.

I really like the pulse setting on the Vitamix 5300, as it’s so easy to get the consistency you want. Smooth purees, chunky salsas and rough vegetable prep are all very easily achieved here.

Stainless Steel Blades

The Vitamix 5300 features a four-prong set of 4 inch stainless steel blades. These are built directly into the container and can’t be removed.

They’re laser-cut from high quality aircraft-grade hardened stainless steel, and are truly built to last!

They’re also pre-dulled for safer handling and tougher performance.

You might think a sharper blade is a better blade, but the high motor power renders this meaningless!

Keep in mind that the container blade included with the Vitamix 5300 is known as a “wet blade”.

These are designed for tackling the kinds of ingredients used for smoothies, hot soups, ice creams, sorbets, salsas and sauces.

It is technically possible to use a wet blade for dry goods like herbs, spices and coffee beans. It’s not something you want to do on a daily basis though, as you risk scratching the container and stressing the motor.

A smaller container accessory is available which has an integrated “dry blade”. This is much better suited to the task, so consider picking one up alongside the blender if you think you’ll be tackling this sort of task frequently.

As it’s smaller, it creates the vortex effect more efficiently when working with these smaller batches.

High Power Motor

The power of the motor is of course crucial for getting good results, whatever speed you need to work at.

The Vitamix 5300 blender features a 2.2 horsepower, high performance motor. Honestly it completely demolishes anything you can think of throwing at it.

The sheer power of these things is what makes them such a good replacement for even a food processor.

With motors like this there’s always a danger of overheating. To counter this, the Vitamix 5300 makes use of a cooling fan whenever it’s run at high speed.

It won’t protect the blender if you’re really punishing it. If it can’t keep up, an auto shutoff will kick in if things are really getting out of hand.

This can take the machine out for up to 45 minutes at a time, but it’s really hard to make this happen! If you pay attention to the blender then I think it’s pretty obvious when problems are on the horizon.

Despite the power of the Vitamix 5300, I don’t think it’s a particularly noisy machine.

All Vitamix machines make a bit of noise, but the 5300 isn’t notably better or worse than any other equivalent blender.

You can reduce it somewhat by placing a silicon mat beneath the blender base. That’ll absorb some of the excess environmental noise.

Vitamix motors are also built to last. I know many people who have had more than a decade of daily use out of their Vitamix.

They’re so durable you can see home models in use in commercial environments!

Design

When you buy a Vitamix, you want it to look like a Vitamix.

The 5300 makes use of the classic Vitamix design, which is just what I want. I think these machines look fantastic, and there’s no need to fix something that isn’t broken.

There is some flexibility when it comes to color, but not a lot. If you don’t like the black motor base, you can choose a red base. That’s the only difference between the two editions though.

Really it’s a case of thinking about what will look best in your own kitchen.

In terms of build quality, the Vitamix 5300 blender is an incredibly sturdy-feeling, durable appliance. That’s backed up by a 5 year warranty which provides great peace of mind for your investment.

Specs

• Size: 7.2 x 8.8 x 17.2 inches
• Weight: 12 pounds (full assembled on your countertop)
• 2 feet long power cord. Excess cord can be stored beneath the base.

Easy to Clean

The first bit of good news is that the Vitamix 5300 doesn’t make any mess at all during operation.

The lid – with central plug – latches securely onto the top of the container. I’ve had no problems with ingredients escaping, and you don’t need to hold the thing down.

I always recommend cleaning a blender after every use though, and you’ve a couple of options with the 5300.

First, the classic rinse. Just add some warm water and dish soap to the container and let it soak for a while. When you’re done, rinse it out and leave it upside down on a rack to air dry.

You might, however, find some stubborn residue on the blades.

In this case, the Vitamix 5300 has a sort of self-cleaning function which I find really useful.

Again, fill the container half way with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Now just put the lid on, and pulse blend the machine at a low setting for around 45 seconds.

If that hasn’t got rid of the gunk, try it again on a higher power setting.

Performance

How does the Vitamix 5300 perform at tackling specific jobs? In this section of my review I want to run through some of my thoughts about the different uses for this blender.

Soup

One of the clever things about the Vitamix 5300 is the way it actually heats your soup as part of the blending process.

Even if you use frozen ingredients, you get a piping hot cup of soup after around six minutes.

There’s no heating element here, rather it’s the raw friction heat generated by the blades that gets the job done.

I find it a really helpful way of getting a very healthy lunch inside me. You’re all out of excuses now…

Ice & Frozen Desserts

The motor on the Vitamix 5300 doesn’t flinch at working with frozen ingredients, including large chunks of ice.

It’s very good at making frozen desserts, and you can even make basic ice creams with this blender.

I don’t think the results are as good as you’d get from a dedicated ice cream maker, but it’s fun to experiment with!

You can also make a very tasty cocktail with the 5300. Think daquiris, pinacoladas, margaritas and more.

Nuts & Coffee Grinding

Nut milk is easy to make with the Vitamix 5300. Just pulverize the nuts in the container, then strain the resulting mixture to get the juice.

Similarly, nut butters are very easy to make. Using the tamper included with the 5300 to work the mix, you can get good results in around three minutes.

As always, it’s important to use enough ingredients to fully cover the blades on the fatter bottom of this container. Fail to do so and you won’t create that vital Vitamix vortex effect.

Batters & Dough

I don’t think you’d use the Vitamix 5300 as a primary appliance for batters and dough.

That said, for things like cookie batters and basic doughs it’ll do a good enough job on an occasional basis.

If you are likely to do this more often, I would recommend grabbing the dry blade container that’s sold separately.

It’s much better suited for the task, and I think it’s worth the extra investment to spare your motor and get better results.

Smoothies & Juices

I can’t not mention smoothies and juices!

This one’s really simple. If you’ve got a fruit or a vegetable that you want to obliterate, the Vitamix 5300 is more than up to the job.

Not only is it very effective at tackling hard vegetables and leafy greens, it even crushes seeds as well.

I don’t like gritty smoothies at all, but the results from the 5300 really are completely smooth.

Dips, Spreads & Purees

Just as the Vitamix 5300 tackles smoothies with aplomb, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that purees come out perfectly smooth as well.

Even harder ingredients like carrots and broccoli are pureed perfectly in a couple of minutes. You can likewise pulverize chickpeas into a very tasty hummus.

Again, that wide container bottom needs to be considered when it comes to quantity. It’s worth making a little more each time, and freezing what you don’t need now for later.

Chopping / Food Prep

If you just want to roughly chop your vegetables, use the pulse function on a low speed setting.

This will save you a ton of time if you’re just looking to get a rough chop on your ingredients before working with them elsewhere.

Baby Food

Baby food is where I think the pulse setting really shines.

If you’re ready this section, then I don’t need to tell you how fussy babies can be about the texture of their food.

They might love the ingredient, but a little extra texture refinement is needed to hit the spot!

You can play around with the pulse setting at different speeds. Again though, make a bigger batch and freeze anything you don’t need immediately.

What’s In The Box?

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you get in the box when the Vitamix 5300 lands on your doorstep.

• 2.2 HP motor base.
• 64 ounce low profile container.
• Rubber lid (including a central plug for adding ingredients).
• 11 inch tamper to work those ingredients fully into the mix.
• 70 recipe book. It’s not the fully featured book (and DVD) included with more expensive Vitamix blenders, but it’s a good enough starting point.

Warranty

Finally, it’s worth finishing up the review with a final note about that warranty.

Vitamix really puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to warranties.

You get 5 years of cover with this refurbished model. New machines come with a 7 year warranty, but this really is as good as new.

You actually have the option to purchase a further 5 years of cover with the machine.

If you want to go down this route, do it sooner rather than later. It gets more expensive to upgrade over time!

Alternatives

There are a few other blenders that I want to highlight alongside the 5300.

They’re all highly-regarded appliances, but they each go about things a little differently.

Vitamix Ascent A2300

One of the main benefits of buying the Ascent is you gain access to a number of different container types.

The base uses wireless technology to detect the container you’ve attached, and adjusts the power levels accordingly.

It’s a blender you can upgrade as your needs change, in other words.

The variable speed controls are largely the same as the 5300’s, although with the A2300 you also get a digital timer which helps keep track of the blending time.

If you install the Vitamix Perfect Blend App on your phone, you can also use it to access more than a dozen pre-programmed settings, and dip into the 500 or so recipes on offer.

(I have a review of the Ascent A2300 elsewhere on Viva Flavor, so have a read of that article if you’d like to learn more.)

Vitamix Explorian E310

If you think the container size of the 5300 will actually be overkill for your needs, the Vitamix Explorian E310 is a more affordable entry level Vitamix blender.

You still get the power of a Vitamix, but be aware that the E310 doesn’t make use of that space saving low-profile container design.

I think you’ll be very content with this model if you’re a single person living on your own, and just want to make smaller batches of blended foods.

It’s just as good as any other Vitamix blender, but better suited for very small households.

(Check out my Vitamix Explorian review for a more detailed look at this popular Vitamix blender.)

Vitamix Ascent A3500

You can think of the Ascent A3500 as the natural evolution of the A2300 blender I covered earlier in this section of my review.

With this blender you get access to five pre-programmed settings: Smoothies, Hot Soups, Dips & Spreads, Frozen Desserts and Self-Cleaning.

You don’t really need that last one (a manual pulse will always do), but it is a little more convenient that standing around and checking on the cleaning status.

These extra settings are in addition to the standard Vitamix variable speed controls you’ll find on every blender.

Again, you also get access to that handy recipe app, and more container options when you want to upgrade for different tasks.

Verdict

I found a lot to like during my Vitamix 5300 review.

If you want a powerful Vitamix, but without having to make a big investment, the 5300 is a great choice.

I like the low-profile design as well, as the blender becomes much more accessible to those of us with smaller kitchens.

You don’t get any pre-programmed settings here, so look to the Ascent blenders I’ve highlighted if this is important for you.

You should also really pick up that dry blade container as well if you’re going to be working with a lot of dry, hard ingredients in small batches.

Overall though, it really is the best of Vitamix’s improvements over the years.

Given the generous warranty, I don’t think you should be concerned about buying this refurbished model. It looks like new, feels like new, and to all intents and purposes is new.

Frequently Asked Questions

To wrap my review up, I wanted to answer some of the most common questions people have about Vitamix blenders.

What’s The Difference Between The Vitamix 5200 And 5300?

The Vitamix 5200 and 5300 are around the same price, but the 5300 has a more powerful 2.2 HP motor. The 5200 uses a 2 HP motor.

The 5300 is quite a bit smaller than the 5200 as well. That’s due to two things: a slightly smaller motor base, and the low-profile container.

The plus side of the Vitamix 5200?

You get more color options to choose from. While the 5300 is only available with a red or black base, the 5200 base is available in white, stainless steel, platinum or red.

What’s The Difference Between The Vitamix 5300 and 7500?

The only difference I’m aware of between these machines is the cost. I haven’t been able to find a Vitamix 7500 for anything like the lower price of a 5300.

How Do I Get Rid Of The Smell In My Vitamix?

There are two likely causes of a stinky Vitamix!

If there’s a burning smell, there’s a good chance the blender is in danger of overheating. If that happens it will shut off for up to 45 minutes, until its cooled down fully.

If this happens only occasionally, you’re probably just over-working the thing. If it persists, contact Vitamix or get a professional electrician to look it over.

The other source of smells on a Vitamix? Food detritus.

It’s really important to clean your Vitamix machine after each use. If a soak hasn’t got the job done, use the machine’s built-in “self clean” function to really force the food gunk off the blades.