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I have a confession to make: I hate traditional meal prepping — but hear me out. While I’m not ragging on anyone who loves it, I’m just really not interested in portioning out individual Tupperware containers with mini-meals that I know will be a mash of soggy nonsense in three days. However, I do appreciate the convenience of having meals ready to rock in the fridge when I’m in a rush or don’t feel like cooking. And, since I love leftovers, I usually find myself making large-format dishes that I know my girlfriend and I won’t be able to finish, and will supply me with breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for at least a day or two. Those kinds of meals usually end up being sauces, soups, stews, and braises, all of which are made way, way easier if you’ve got the right tools in your kitchen — specifically, a good blender, such as the new Vitamix Propel Series 510.
A regular kitchen blender is a nice addition to your kitchen, sure — but a superb blender, like the Vitamix Propel Series 510 functions more like a sous chef than a countertop appliance. It emulsifies sauces, blends smoothies, dices ingredients, purees soups, and makes sofrito faster than even the most highly skilled chef wielding a wicked-sharp knife. (And, of course, it makes a mean batch of frozen margs.) The Propel Series 510 features a 48-ounce container, hardened stainless-steel blades, a mini-tamper for pushing down ingredients, a booklet of recipes for first-time users, and a lid to reduce splatter. Everything but the base is dishwasher-safe, too, which makes cleanup a snap. It’s also pretty lightweight and comes with a five-year warranty should anything happen — though if the 510 is anything like the brand’s other products, it’ll last for a long, long time.
The best thing about this Vitamix, in my opinion, is the size. While I wouldn’t call it small, it’s surprisingly compact, and could fit right on my countertop under my cabinet, though I usually store it on top of my refrigerator. It‘s been able to handle everything I’ve thrown at it thus far, from salsa and mirepoix to protein shakes, breakfast smoothies, and even boiling-hot liquids. It’s perfect for new home cooks, too, since it comes with three easy-to-use preset programs (for smoothies, hot soups, and frozen dishes), along with a variable-speed dial and a pulse switch. It also self-cleans in seconds — just fill the blender halfway with warm water and dish soap and run it for a minute — which is a huge plus for someone (me) who doesn’t have a dishwasher in their apartment.
I recently used mine to make the sofrito for a salsa verde (which is a particularly tasty and super versatile dish, since you can have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day — but I digress), and the Vitamix made unbelievable short work of all of the fibrous peppers; the raw onions, garlic, and cilantro; and the waxy tomatillos. I barely added any liquid, too (just some lime juice and a splash of water), and it was the perfect consistency before I could even turn the speed dial all the way up.
And, look: I know it’s a little on the pricey side, but this is more of an investment than anything. If you’re looking for a kitchen appliance you should splurge on, this is it. Vitamix is the best brand in the game when it comes to blenders, and they’re loved by home cooks and professional chefs alike for a reason — they work really, really well; they last forever; and they’re super user-friendly.
So, if you’re looking for a splurgy gift for someone who loves to cook or just a kitchen upgrade that’s absolutely worth it, make it the Vitamix Propel Series 510 — it’ll be the last blender you ever buy.
Ian Burke
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