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The Vitamix S30 S-Series personal blender is the entry level model in this well-known blender family. This little appliance is the baby of the bunch, but don’t let its size fool you.
This space-saving blender offers great value at the right price. With two containers, variable speed settings, and a reputable brand name, the S30 has a lot to offer.
Manufacture of this product has been discontinued, and the S30 has been retired from the Vitamix product line.
At a Glance
Pluses:
- Top shelf dishwasher safe
- 10 variable speed settings
- Includes two (2) containers
Minuses:
- Loud
- Tamper might be needed for scraping small container
Welcome to the Family
The S30 is an affordable option from the Vitamix family. The sturdy, small motor base has 7 amps that power 3-inch stainless steel blades in a detachable blade base.
This cute little blender has a control knob on the front panel that can be adjusted to 10 variable settings, and a pulse setting.
To choose the desired speed, turn the knob and press the center to start. It’s a simple design and beautiful to display on the counter.
Perfect for at Home or On the Go
The S-Series personal blenders from Vitamix include two containers: one 20-ounce container with an on-the-go lid, and a 40-ounce blender container with a two-part vented lid. A low-profile tamper is also included.
You can make a smoothie in the morning, rinse the blade base, and go. Use the 40-ounce container for making fresh pasta sauce, soup, or nut butter.
Both containers are made from BPA-free Eastman Tritan® copolyester so they are lightweight and less likely to crack or break than those made from other materials. At the end of the day, load the blade base, containers, lids, and seals into the top shelf of the dishwasher. Easy maintenance!
The blender itself is also manageable for travel. Several users report taking this blender on road trips for healthy smoothies on the go, and it easily portable whether you’re packing up for a business trip or planning to utilize it as a fixture in the RV.
Ideal for Healthy Lifestyles
The S30 is great because it’s perfect for daily use. Fans of the Vitamix have incredible stories: they’re body builders, nutritionists, cancer survivors, and caretakers, eaters who have eschewed processed foods, college students, fans of old family recipes, and adventurous eaters looking for new ways to get healthy. And they’re all busy.
Whether it’s a morning blend to increase your fiber intake or a post-workout green smoothie to replenish, these drinks are easy to prep and enjoy. Many users are focused on living better and eating healthier, and this personal blender puts them in control.
So Much More than Smoothies
When it comes to getting the most use out of this blender, the Vitamix doesn’t disappoint. Smoothies and salsas are a personal blender’s bread and butter, but with the S30, you actually can make bread and butter! Nut butter, that is.
For homemade nut butter, I lightly roast raw cashews and let them cool overnight – I learned from experience that this is an important step, and not one to skip. Put the cashews in the 40-ounce pitcher and blend. The included tamper is handy here: the cashews do push up against the sides, so you can use it to push everything back down towards the blades. The results are wonderful!
This powerful little blender is well known for producing incredible non-dairy milks, sorbet, sauces, bread dough, and more.
In addition to the cashew butter, I personally have made almond milk, strawberry sorbet, and a variety of sauces. All have turned out amazing and smooth – save the sauce.
The reason was clear. I didn’t have a large enough quantity of ingredients in the container. They took up so little total volume that the ingredients flew to the sides of the container and slowly pooled in the bottom rather than blending, because there wasn’t enough for the blades to catch properly. Next time, I’ll quadruple the recipe, and that should do it.
Professionally Engineered
Like you will find with all Vitamix models, the S30 motor base is designed to last.
Cautionary safeguards are built into the device to prevent permanent damage from overheating. And in case of overflow, an opening is built into the back of the base to direct any spills away from the motor, protecting the gears.
Things to Consider About a Space-Saving Vitamix
This is the entry-level model in the space-saving S-Series of Vitamix products, so it won’t deliver the power or the same experience as what you’ll get with a larger or higher-end model. To keep costs down, this motor only provides 7 amps, compared to the 11.5 amps of the Vitamix 5200, or 12 amps of the Vitamix 780.
This means you can expect the S30 to turn out some of the smoothest and highest quality blends possible to achieve with a personal blender, but the results might come up short of your expectations in comparison to the gorgeously creamy, near-perfect results that a higher amp blender will typically produce.
Also, some users complain that sometimes food, ice, or powdered ingredients might settle under the blades or in the bottom of the blender cup. This isn’t uncommon among personal blenders, but we can help to troubleshoot these issues.
Dimensions and Specs
The dimensions of the motor base with the 20-ounce travel container attached are 8.34 x 5.9 x 14.55 inches. Dimensions for the motor base with the 40-ounce container in place are 8.34 x 5.9 x 15.66 inches, and all together it weighs 12 pounds, 6 ounces.
The blades are 3-inch laser-cut, stainless-steel hammermill and cutting blades, designed to shred foods into finer matter by rapid repeating blows. The motor base is built with a radial cooling fan and thermal protection system, which is an interlocking system with automatic turn-off protection to prevent burning out the motor.
The S30 is powered with a 4-foot grounded power cord with electrical ratings of 120 volts, 50/60 hertz, and 7 amps. This machine is manufactured in the USA.
What’s Included:
- Motor base
- 20-ounce travel container with spill-proof lid
- 40-ounce container with vented 2-part lid
- S-Series blade base
- Low-profile tamper
- Cookbook
- User Manual
Warranty Information
Vitamix includes outstanding 5-year full warranties on their S-Series blenders that cover parts, performance, labor, and two-way shipping.
Care and Cleaning
All the basic components of this product are top shelf dishwasher safe, which I love so much! For best results, I recommend rinsing the blade base after use to prevent food from drying in the threads.
The motor base requires minimal care and cleaning: unplug the power cord, wipe the motor base down with a damp rag, and immediately polish with a dry cloth.
When it’s time to deep clean the kitchen, use cotton swabs moistened with degreaser to clean the control knob and overflow opening, to clear out any food particles that have built up. Doing this occasionally will keep the unit working smoothly.
Techniques, Tips, and Tricks
High quality products require sophisticated user handling. Right out of the box, read the user manual. Trust me, it will be so useful. And thankfully, the S-Series user manuals are incredibly short! Vitamix provides brief and easy to understand instructions for the precise techniques a user can apply to turn out the absolute best recipes.
The more you know about the S30, the better it operates, and the more you’ll love it!
The best tip I can provide is to use whole ice cubes to make your smoothies. I always thought crushed ice provided the best results, but because the Vitamix S30 packs so much punch, whole ice cubes are recommended to help push down the other ingredients towards the blades for a better blend.
Pro-tip: Don’t ever put the Vitamix containers in the microwave! The various parts and components are not microwave safe.
Compare and Contrast: Vitamix S30 vs. Nutribullet 900
If you know you’re looking for a personal blender but can’t justify the price tag, check out the NutriBullet.
Specifically designed for smoothies, the NutriBullet from Magic Bullet is made to pulverize fruit, ice, and vegetables to turn out incredible protein shakes and smoothies. It also includes extra blender cups and lids, without the pitcher.
Although the price is much easier to swallow, keep in mind that the construction, quality of the parts, and the warranty are nothing like what’s offered by Vitamix. But it is a decent option for those on a budget.
Take a look at our review of the Nutribullet 900.
A Step Up
The S30 is an excellent option. But for an amazing personal blender with a few more bells and whistles, I recommend the Vitamix S55. [Note: this model has also been retired by the manufacturer.] In addition to all the features of the S30, the S55 includes 4 programmed settings: Smoothie, Power Blend, Dips and Spreads, and Frozen Desserts.
S55 Personal Blender from Vitamix
These programmed settings let you load the ingredients, lock the container in place, and push a button to turn out some of the best smoothies a personal blender can deliver. No manual tinkering required.
Read more about the Vitamix S55 in our review.
Foodal’s Rating of the Vitamix S30
- Power
- Performance
- Settings
- Build Quality
- Warranty
- Value
Summary
This product has been retired by the manufacturer. As a very powerful contender, the Vitamix S30 can handle many of the toughest chores typically tackled by a full-sized premium blender, but it takes up minimal counter space. This makes it a great choice for those in small apartments and condos. This model should last you a long, long time. A tradeoff with this model is the lack of preset controls like those found on the Vitamix S55.
Before You Go…
This entry level blender is a great introduction to the professional arena of kitchen appliances. The two BPA-free dishwasher safe containers start you out right to try quality smoothies, soups, salsas, and nut milks made at home. While any Vitamix is an investment, the 5-year full warranty and excellent reviews from customers make this one of the top personal blenders on the market.
Do you still have more questions about countertop blenders? Maybe you can offer some advice, or stories you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below!
If you’re still comparing models, read these blender reviews next:
- Vitamix ONE Blender for Small Spaces and Minimalists
- The Vitamix 750 Is a Beautiful Work Horse for the Home Kitchen
- The Vitamix 5200 Series Blender: A Vital Tool for Any Kitchen
Photos by Mike Quinn, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published June 10, 2018. Last updated September 7, 2022.
About Taylor Shaw-Hamp
Taylor Shaw-Hamp has loved food ever since she can remember. The more she grew, the more she discovered, and the more she had to know. Now she loves to write about her food adventures through recipes, product reviews, and blog posts. She can be found at local coffee shops across the world, so if you see her, stop by the table and say hi!
Does this vitamix heat soup in the container?
Though this model does not have a pre-programmed “Soup” setting, according to the Vitamix, the speed of the blades in all high-speed models will heat raw ingredients if blended for 6-10 minutes.