Quest for the Best Vitamix for Nut Butters

Are you thinking about buying a Vitamix blender primarily for the purpose of making nut butters, but are not sure which Vitamix model is the best for making nut butters? Below, you will find ample information about the different Vitamix blenders that are perfect for turning peanuts, tree nuts and seeds into homemade vegan butters.

The Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender is a good choice for smaller families because it allows you to make smaller batches of nut butters. Available here from Amazon.

There is nothing like the authentic flavor of homemade nut butter, and with a good Vitamix blender, you can produce homemade nut butter for toasts, pancakes, smoothies and more in a snap. When making your own nut butter in a Vitamix, you can also get inventive and experiment with various nuts and combinations of nuts including peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, tiger nuts, walnuts, pistachios, and macadamia nuts. You can also try adding seeds, like sunflower seeds or sesame seeds, and dried fruits like Medjool dates or raisins to the recipe.

Making your own nut butters in a Vitamix blender also gives you more control over what goes into your nut butter: you can skip the preservatives and salt, and only use undamaged, high-quality nuts that have been stored properly. Damaged, discolored and improperly stored nuts are more likely to contain aflatoxin, a natural contaminant linked to liver cancer. While the do-it-yourself nut butter machines you see in health food stores allow you to make freshly-ground nut butters, the nuts and nut pieces they contain may have been sitting around for a long time, allowing any aflatoxin-producing fungus present in the nuts to multiply.

Finding the Best Vitamix Blender for Making Nut Butter

You can use any high-powered Vitamix blender with a tamper tool to make nut butters. And, contrary to popular belief, you don't even need to buy the optional dry-blade container for your Vitamix in order to make nut butters. In fact, many experienced Vitamix users recommend using the regular wet-blade container for making nut butters because the dry-blade container, which has been primarily designed to grind grains into flour, blows things apart instead of blending them together.

Most Vitamix blenders designed for home use come either with a narrow 64-ounce container or a wide-bottomed, low-profile 64-ounce container. The advantage of using a model with a low-profile container is that it is easier to scrape out thick mixtures like nut butters from the blender. The low-profile models also fit nicely under most overhead cabinets.

Vitamix has developed a handy Blender Recommender tool which helps you to find the best Vitamix blender for your needs, including the best Vitamix for making nut butters. Here are the blenders the tool recommends for making nut and seed butters (as of early 2018):

Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender

This model with variable speed control is a good choice for those who want an affordable Vitamix blender without all the latest bells and whistles. Equipped with a powerful 2-HP motor that handles nuts and seeds with ease, this model comes with a 48-ounce container, which is great for making smaller batches of nut butters (if you get a Vitamix with a 64-ounce low-profile container, you will have to use a lot more nuts to ensure easy blending). Also included is a mini-tamper which allows you to press the nuts and other ingredients toward the blades.

Vitamix Professional 750

With a 2.2-peak HP motor, the Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender powers through nuts with ease. Its 64-ounce low-profile container makes it a good choice for those who plan to make large batches of nut butters in one session. The Professional Series 750 Blender has five pre-programmed settings, allowing you to select a program for smoothies, frozen desserts, soups, purees, and self-cleaning. However, when making nut butters in this Vitamix blender, it is best to use its variable speed feature. According to the user manual, you should use the highest speed setting called out in the recipe for as much of the processing time as possible when making nut butters.

Vitamix 780 Blender

With a 64-ounce low-profile container, 2.2-peak HP motor and five pre-programmed settings, the Vitamix 780 is almost identical to the Professional Series 750 Blender, but there are a few differences between these two models. The main difference is that the Vitamix 780 has a digital control panel which allows you to process ingredients with a touch of a finger. Also cleaning the control panel is a breeze because you don't have to worry about food getting stuck in the dial, and you can simply wipe it clean.

Vitamix A2300 and A2500

If you are looking for a high-tech Vitamix blender for making nut butters and more, the Vitamix A2300 or A2500 from the Ascent Series might be a good choice for you. Thanks to their built-in wireless connectivity, these blenders can identify which container you are using, and adjust the blend settings accordingly. Both the A2300 or A2500 come with a 64-ounce low-profile container, which is perfect for making large batches of nut butter, but the Ascent Series blenders are also compatible with a variety of other container sizes and types. The main difference between these two models is that the A2300 only has a variable speed dial, whereas the A2500 has both a variable speed dial and pre-programmed settings (for smoothies, hot soup, and frozen desserts).

Vitamix A3300 and A3500

If you like what you get with Vitamix A2300 or A2500 but would prefer a model that has a touch screen control panel instead of traditional switches and buttons, then you might want to go for the A3300 and A3500. With a touch screen control panel and a settable countdown timer, the A3300 is essentially just an upgraded version of the A2300. Also the A3500 is very similar to the A2500 in terms of features, except that it comes with touch screen controls, a settable countdown timer, and five pre-programmed settings instead of just three.

Personal Blender S30

The above-listed Vitamix blenders recommended for making nut butters are all full-size countertop blenders. If you are looking for a simple personal-size Vitamix that turns nuts into nut butters with ease, the Vitamix S30 might be the right choice for you. Operated with a variable speed dial, the S30 comes with two containers: a 20-ounce travel cup for making, transporting and storing smoothies, and a 40-ounce container that is ideal for making nut butters, soups, frozen desserts, and more. Note, though, that when creating thick blends like nut butter, it is important not to fill the 40-ounce container more than two-thirds full. Not only does this allow room at the top of the container to use the tamper and to add liquid to the nut mixture if necessary, it will also reduce the chances of overheating the unit.

Personal Blender S55

The Vitamix S55 is a slightly more advanced version of the S30. The main difference between Vitamix S30 and Vitamix S55 is that the S55 has settings for four pre-programmed cycles. Rotating the control knob on the machine counterclockwise from the stop symbol allows you to select a program for smoothies, power blenders, dips and spreads, and frozen desserts.

Comparison of the Recommended Blenders at a Glance

The following comparison chart gives you an overview of the key differences between the various Vitamix blenders that are considered particularly good for making nut butter:

*The Ascent Series blenders are also compatible with a variety of other container sizes and types

How to Make Nut Butter in a Vitamix

Regardless of which Vitamix blender you choose to buy for making nut butters, the process of making nut butter in a Vitamix generally involves the following steps:

1. Pour roasted peanuts or other nuts into the blending container, along with some high-quality oil. If you are using a Vitamix with a 64-ounce low-profile container, 4 cups of roasted nuts and 1/4 cup of oil usually works well. Note: If you roast your own nuts, be sure to cool them completely before pouring them into the blending container.
2. Secure the lid. Start blending at Variable 1, and then slowly increase to the machine's highest speed. Use the tamper tool to push the nuts toward the blades to ensure even blending.
3. Blend for about 1 minute, until the butter begins to flow freely through the blades, then stop the machine. You can also stop the machine earlier if you prefer a chunkier texture. Caution: Do not process for more than 1 minute after the mixture starts circulating freely, or the blender may overheat.
4. Store your freshly-made nut butter in an airtight container in the fridge, and consume promptly. Nut butter can also be frozen for longer storage.