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Not All Blenders Are Created Equal
Even if you don’t plan to use a blender for cooking, it is no doubt a handy appliance to have in your kitchen. When you want to prepare fruit smoothies or homemade milkshakes, a blend is a go-to tool.
The obvious is, blenders seem to perform the same task. Though true, there are different types of blenders, and each model offers extraordinary features to help achieve customer needs. The most common types of blenders in the market include conventional, immersion, multi-purpose, and personal.
A conventional blender is the most popular type that can be found in most homes. It can be used to blend smoothies and prepare the soup. The immersion blenders, also called hands blenders are famous alternatives to other blenders and can be used with any container. Multi-function blenders are the high-end types that are common in restaurants and bars. Finally, we have the personal blender, which is a bit smaller than the rest and used to make single servings. Because of the portability nature, they can run from a battery.
How Does A Blender Work?
Will it blend? Yes, any time, if you get the right blender in your kitchen.
Due to their exceptionally high power and speed, blenders have raised eyeballs on exactly how they work. The power and speed require a lot of attention, but the rest is not difficult to connect the dots and understand how a blender motor works.
The main features to look out for to understand the difference between the different types of blenders are moto speed, design, and controls.
Motor Speed
As is the case with most electric motors, a blender motors speed is indicated in watts. Most of the household blender models fall within the range of 500 to 750 watts, but they can go as high as 1500 watts depending on the model. The high wattage models are often expensive than their low watt counterparts.
Although these blenders can run at high speeds, they are not designed to sustain such speed for too long as it can heat the motor faster which can damage the blender. To avoid any potential damage, make sure you regulate the speed of your blender to ensure speeds are produced in short intervals, instead of continuous higher speeds.
Controls
Blender controls are different depending on the model. A typical blender may have three-speed features (low, medium, and high) but a good number offer seven or more speeds. This provides a wide array of options whether to chop, mix, puree, or liquefy. Some go an extra mile with functions that suggest speeds for sauces, juices, or milkshakes.
In addition to controls, the jar is a key feature in every blender. Majority of blender jars are made of three materials including glass, stainless steel, and polycarbonate. Which one to use depends on your personal preferences. Glass materials are delicate, but they are heavy which makes them more stable.
They are also resistant to scratch and odors. Stainless steel is sleek and more elegant, which makes them extremely attractive, but it’s hard to see inside, so you might be forced to stop the blender to see if the content has liquefied. Polycarbonate jars are slightly light and hard to shatter in case the blender drops on the floor; however, they are likely to get scratches and may end up having unpleasant odors.
When blending, first fill your blender with the liquid ingredients, followed by the rest of the content. If you’re using hot liquids, ensure you blend them carefully and start from low speed all the way up.
Design
When it comes to design, blenders have experienced tremendous changes in the last ten decades. Currently, the designs range from no-frills to modern styles to retro. Simply, there are many options to cater to your needs. Be sure to do your research before settling on the actual design you’re looking for.
Difference Between a Blender and a Food Processor
With all the kitchen appliances available in the market, it can be hard to identify the difference and what works for you. But all these appliances are not created equal. Some may have pretty similar features, but there is a difference that should make the process of choosing quite simple.
A blender and a food processor are perfect examples that may look similar, but they have a striking difference.
The Shape
Blenders features a rotating blade that is cone-shaped at the base to ensure content falls naturally towards the center of the jug. Food processors, on the other hand, are huge, flat bowls, with two blades bearing different heights. They are designed for crushing solid food into finer pieces.
Functions
Both kitchen appliances can be used to mix ingredients, but the difference is the shape of the base that specifies the purpose for which it is designed.
A blender is primarily used to prepare soup, smoothies, dips, sauces, and cocktails. A food processor comes with a flat base, making it ideal for performing multiple functions, such as grating, chopping, pureeing, slicing, making nut butter, and kneading dough if you need it for bread or pastry.
Accessories
Majority of blenders feature only one set of blades and a jug. Although some may include extra jugs for dry food, for most there’s just one set. Food processors, often feature a variety of accessories, such as graters, slicers, dough blades, and many more.
Price
A food processor is slightly expensive compared to a blender. But, both of these kitchen appliances fall in a similar price range. Jug blenders may range from as low as $20 up to $600, while food processors fall between $40 and $800.
To Blend or Not To Blend? That is the Question
Wondering which food to and not to blend in a jug blender, this list should clear those doubts
The Best Foods to Blend
You can use a standard jar blender to prepare a variety of foods and recipes. You can blend soup and gravy, puree soft or cooked foods, frozen juices, eggs, eggnog, creampie, custards, smoothies, homemade pancake, salad dressings, ice cream shakes, dips, puddings, bread, salsas, cracker, mayonnaise, and crush ice as well as blend frozen beverages.
Foods NOT to Blend
If you have no idea what a blender can or cannot do, always refer to your product manual, as capabilities often vary depending on the model. If you want more than just a simple puree, you can get one or two recipe books to bring out the potential of your blender.
That said, you should never use a blender to whip egg white, mash potatoes, extract juice from fruits and vegetables, knead the dough, grind raw meats, or blend dry or hard vegetables.
How To Clean A Blender
If you love purees, smoothies, or juices, that means your blender is in use every day. But how do you clean it?
Cleaning a blender shouldn’t be a hard task, but it involves more than scrubbing a saucepan or tossing any appliance in the dishwater.
To make cleaning of a blender easier, you need a sponge or dishrag, mild dish soap or baking soda.
Take the blender apart. Unplug the unit and remove the jar from the motor base. Then unscrew the base and remove the jar lid.
Pour a small amount of warm water and soap in the jar, about halfway.
Clean the jar using a sponge or dish rage then rinse thoroughly and dry it carefully.
Go ahead and clean the other small parts including the cutting blade, gasket seal, and jar base. Rinse these parts thoroughly and leave them to dry.
Remember, never submerge the base of the jar in water. Once you’re done, reassemble the jar and store it in a safe location where you can access it easily.
Are you interested in more kitchen stuff? Check the best pan for over easy eggs and eat the best eggs you ‘ve ever had!
