We could all do with more healthy smoothies and shakes in our diet.
It was the same with my son, who decided to buy a whole set of blenders to increase the number of veggies in his meals. But the day he got the blenders delivered home, he called me up wondering how to use any of them. Blenders are not complicated to use, but they can get a bit puzzling for complete beginners.
After guiding him through all the blenders and their uses, I thought my readers could use the same advice too. I was also inspired to help y’all discover that the simple blender has multiple benefits in the kitchen. Hi! I'm Stacy Smith, and today I'll share the most straightforward guide on "How to use a blender."
Without further ado, let's begin with the types of blenders.
Immersion blenders are also called handheld blenders sometimes. They are designed to puree chunks of fruits or vegetables in a container with minimal splashing.
I use this blender often to mix fruits or pancake batter. I throw the ingredients in the container and work my way with the blender while constantly mixing. Also, these mixers are much easier to disassemble and clean.
I use the larger kitchen blenders to make sauces and dips, sometimes even making soups and desserts. You'll need one of these if you need to blend things in larger quantities. The different speeds give you the versatility to chop up or puree various food items.
However, they do have more parts that beginners will need to understand using the manual.
This type of blender is excellent for making smoothies and shakes. It consists of a high-powered blender, perfect for making one serving of any drink you wish. They can crush fruit, veggies, nuts, and ice in minutes. What's more, their compact design enables you to use and store in smaller places.
First off, make sure the blender is placed on a flat counter, plugged in correctly, and ready to use. Since it is an electrical appliance, be sure to store and use it away from sinks where there are water splashes.
Next, open the lid and put the ingredients in one at a time. Make sure you add the liquid ingredients first and the fruit or vegetable pieces later. Also, the solid ingredients will not blend correctly if the pieces are too big, so cut them adequately before adding.
Unless you want a smoothie coating on your walls and counters, don't fill the ingredients to the brim. Blending needs some space to expand, or else the pressure might topple off the lid. Leaving around 1/3rd space in the blender should be good enough.
Now, cover the lid tightly and give the ingredients a good mix. Kitchen blenders usually have a small cap on the lid which opens up without spilling anything out of the blender. You can use this feature to add more ingredients while the blender is spinning.
On a side note, if your liquids are hot, you must make sure to use smaller amounts and start the blender at a lower speed. Some blenders might not be designed to mix hot fluids, so make sure you check this before blending. As a rule, wait for the broth or soup to cool a bit before blending.
Most blenders have 4 or 5-speed settings. Experiment with these options and find the one which is best suited to your ingredients. You can even stop midway and check if the mixture is forming correctly but don't make the mistake of stirring with a spoon while blending.
If the ingredients are not forming a smooth consistency as you wish, add more liquid or mix with a spoon with the power off. Do not use the blender for too long at one go. It might heat up and kill the motor. So, make it a point to take a few breaks if you use the blender for a long time.
And it's that simple! Just pour your smoothies or sauces into another pan and enjoy.
I often use warm water and dish detergent to clean blenders in a jiffy. Just add some water and any liquid cleaning agent in the blender and pulse it a few times till it foams up. This takes a few minutes, including the time to rinse it thoroughly to remove the soapy water.
After washing, wipe the exterior with a microfiber cloth and store it in a dry place. If the blender disassembles, remove the blades and lid to dry separately.
Blenders are not just for fresh fruit smoothies; you can try various dishes using a basic blender. You can make homemade sauces and dips like mayonnaise, salsa, hummus for side dishes or snacks. Also, soups and cold beverages take next to no time with a quick whirl in the blender.
On weekends, I like to make fruit-based frozen yogurt using my blender and the freezer, and some fresh ingredients. An all-time favorite of mine is almond and peanut butter, which I can roast and blend myself for customizations.
Did you imagine that there would be such a wide range of ingredients you could blend? I'm sure with these ideas I've just given you, the blender will come into use every single day.
So, that was a short explanatory guide about using blenders efficiently.
I get it; initially, blenders can be confusing to use, and people new to them might not know the various types they come in. Essentially, I wanted to create an easy-to-understand guide for my readers who don’t have experience using blenders.
I hope this guide helped fulfill this purpose and fully equipped you with all you need to know about starting to use blenders. So, what are you waiting for? Get started, and let me know what your favorite recipe to make in a blender is.
That’s it for today, happy blending!
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