Customer reviews from vitamix.com
Vitamix - FoodCycler Eco 5 - White
Average customer rating
4.7
(77 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 77 reviews
5 Stars
64
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
3
1 Star
0
100%of customers recommend this product.
(
12 out of
12)
Customer Reviews for Vitamix - FoodCycler Eco 5 - White
Customer Rating
4
Easy to use, no odor
on June 25, 2024
Posted by: Spahrkle
from Michigan
Gender:Female
I got my Eco 5 for Christmas. We use it on average 2-3 times a week. For the most part it works well with no odor. We keep the bucket in our appliance garage and even now with it being summer, we don't have odors or pests.
I tried cycling chicken bones but ended up with a soggy mess. I won't do that again. Every now and then we end up with a soggy half ground batch and I don't know why. We use the same fruits, vegetables and peels every week.
Our original filter pellets lasted about 4 months. It did not signal to change them, but the odor when running was strong so I did. After about a month of using our first round of replacement pellets, the "change filter" light came on. They were almost new and don't need to be changed. However, just a couple of weeks later it's starting to smell. I'm not sure why the replacement pellets only lasted half the time of the original pellets and why the "change filter" indicator is not working properly. I need to do a little investigating and call the company.
Overall, I am pleased as can be with this purchase. We have reduced our garbage tremendously. My garden is nice and healthy this year and I am hoping it's because of the compost. Because it uses electricity, I'm not sure of the net environmental benefit. However, it's sure nice to not be so wasteful.
Written by a customer while visiting vitamix.com
Posted by: Robert Ch
Gender:Male
Verified Purchase:Yes
It works great, but I really wish there was a way to run a double cycle. Sometimes I know the foods I put in there are higher water content, which means that it will need two cycles. I really wish this was a built in mode. 80% of the time I need to run 2 cycles, since the finished mixture is too wet and congealed. Two cycles grinds it all into a fine powder. But that means that if the cycle finishes at night or I otherwise forget, the goop will stay in there until the next day.
Written by a customer while visiting vitamix.com
Posted by: MuKu
from IL
Gender:Male
Verified Purchase:Yes
I love the concept and am happy to be trying to reduce my food waste; however, it simply does not meet expectations. The device says 4-9 hours. It is always at least 9 hours. I am often having to run it 3 times with the same load before it dries out. It also certainly does not contain the smell. We had to relocate the device to our garage because you could smell it all throughout our home at certain points in the cycle. Disappointed because of the cost and what was promised but still a good utensil to try and decrease our food waste.
Written by a customer while visiting vitamix.com
Customer Rating
4
Great unit. Power button design a little off
on June 4, 2023
Posted by: AdamInDC
from Bethesda, MD
Gender:Male
With the advent of a number of food cyclers on the market, I gravitated towards a vitamix because we already have a blender from vitamix and we know that the quality is very good. The best part of this food cycler is the fact that you can take the bucket out and keep that in the kitchen while putting the rest of the unit elsewhere. Most, if not all of the other units out on the market require you to put the whole unit in the kitchen. I think this is a waste of space. The simple addition of a bucket lid makes it a better design.
That being said, I ended up returning my first unit for a replacement. The unit would simply not turn on unless I hit the power button about 10 times. At one point I was unplugging the unit to reboot it and plugging it back in.
Customer service was excellent. They sent me a shipping label and I return the unit and they sent me a new one as soon as they received it.
Unfortunately, the replacement unit pretty much does the same thing, which tells me that it is a design issue rather than a single defective unit. I think this kind of power button is based on contact with your finger.. Perhaps it expects your fingers to be a certain temperature or a certain shape or for there to be a certain electrical current going through your body. But whatever it is, my finger doesn’t seem to do the trick unless I keep at it for a couple minutes. I’m going to keep the unit because I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and perhaps I’ll figure out an efficient way to turn it on or I’ll just get someone else in the house to do it.
I’m not sure what other design options there were for the power button for something like this, but I wish they had tested this aspect of the unit a little bit more thoroughly.
Written by a customer while visiting vitamix.com
Customer Rating
5
Effective , efficient and a must have !!
on May 17, 2023
Posted by: Homebound
from Chicago
Gender:Female
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] We recently bought The Vitamix Food Cycler Eco 5 and it is an impressive addition to any kitchen seeking to reduce food waste and promote eco-friendly practices. This compact and powerful food recycling device has exceeded my expectations with its efficiency and convenience.
First and foremost, the Eco 5 is incredibly easy to use. Simply load your food scraps into the machine, close the lid, and let it work its magic. The device automatically grinds and aerates the scraps, accelerating the composting process significantly. The cycle time depends on hot much wet or dry the waste is. We turned it on the night and checked it in the morning . The bin had nutrient-rich compost ready to be used in the yard or potted plants.
One standout feature is its odor management system. I was initially concerned about potential odors emanating from the unit, but the built-in carbon filter effectively eliminates any unpleasant smells. The good part is that carbon pallets are not that expensive as it may be required to replace them a couple times a year , again depending on usage.
The Eco 5's compact design is sleek and modern which is another aspect worth highlighting. It doesn't take up a lot of space making it ideal for kitchens of all sizes.
While the initial cost may seem a bit steep, the long-term benefits of the Vitamix Food Cycler Eco 5 easily justify the investment. Not only are we saving money on purchasing compost and fertilizers, but also doing our part in making positive impact on the environment.
In conclusion, we are super happy with our buy . Its user-friendly operation, efficient performance, and compact design make it a valuable addition to our kitchen. If you're looking to reduce food waste and contribute to a greener future, I highly recommend the Vitamix Food Cycler Eco 5.
Pros: Durability, Easy to use, Product features, Power
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting vitamix.com
Customer Rating
5
Layers of Food Turned into Soil
on May 24, 2023
Posted by: Nanamorgan007
Gender:Female
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Wow! The FoodCycler by Vitamix Eco 5 is absolutely amazing! After adding different
Layers of food, that was ready for the garbage, the FoodCycler was just about ready. If your following the instructions that were supplied in the Vendor box, finish the steps and close the lid. Start your Foodcycler, I did ours at bed time, and several hours later you will have some great looking Soil!! Also, not only was it amazing but it was very quite from the beginning to the end!!
Layers of food, that was ready for the garbage, the FoodCycler was just about ready. If your following the instructions that were supplied in the Vendor box, finish the steps and close the lid. Start your Foodcycler, I did ours at bed time, and several hours later you will have some great looking Soil!! Also, not only was it amazing but it was very quite from the beginning to the end!!
Pros: Programability, Speed of Service, Texture Quality, Durability, Easy to use, Versatility, Product features, Power
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting vitamix.com
Customer Rating
5
Amazing!
on May 21, 2023
Posted by: VeggieGuy
from Los Angeles, CA
Gender:Male
This thing is fantastic! Turns over a gallon of citrus rinds, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable trimmings, salad greens that went bad, microwave popcorn kernels that didn't pop, etc. into half a cup of what looks like dirt. Simple to operate, almost noiseless, zero odor and barely emits any heat. The "compost" can only be used in the garden when planting something for the first time, or when re-potting; but the staggering reduction in my garbage output, and the elimination of the faint whiff of things rotting in the trash can that occasionally used to permeate my apartment, make this well worth the price.
Written by a customer while visiting vitamix.com
Customer Rating
5
LOVE IT!! I feel more in control of my food waste!
on May 10, 2023
Posted by: HealthAndPlanetWarrior
from Colorado Springs, CO
Gender:Female
I recently purchased my new FoodCyler Eco 5. I am absolutely in love with it. I couldn't wait to buy it because it has the largest bucket capacity available on the market! And it is very easy and straightforward to use. Very easy to open. I also love that I can keep the bucket on my countertop since it has a lid. A HUGE bonus! The refillable carbon pellets are also decently affordable, which is a huge plus since they need to be replaced probably 2-3 times a year.
Being a vegan, I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables (the FoodCycler can also process animal /meat items), and that means lots of food scraps. I felt horrible just putting them into the trash, knowing how much of a negative impact the landfills have on our planet. Food does not break down in the landfills because they aren't exposed to air, sun & water, thus releasing greenhouse gasses into our environment. Also, living in an apartment, I don't have access to a natural composting system, so I am so glad that this option exists!
I would recommend this to anyone, especially apartment dwellers, and anyone that doesn't have access to composting. Yes, it is a little pricey, but it's an investment. You can feel confident knowing that you are doing some good for our planet, in these crucial times. And it is empowering knowing I have control over my contributions! ...and Vitamix & FoodCycler are awesome reputable companies! haha
Pros: Easy to use, Product features
Written by a customer while visiting vitamix.com