What you can do with a blender

Household appliances today have firmly taken their place in the kitchen and have become a reliable assistant to the hostess. Among the devices that facilitate her work, a blender takes a worthy place.

In order not to be disappointed with the wrong choice, when buying, it is worth considering the features and capabilities of the device.

What is a blender and what is it for

The blender is an electrical appliance that is used for chopping food, preparing various dishes and delicious drinks. It is essentially a mini food processor with many functions. Its use has a number of advantages:

• frees you from performing these operations manually;
• helps to get the desired result without much difficulty;
• saves a lot of time.

Another advantage is the ability to choose a device based on needs and financial capabilities.

Device types

The wide range of devices includes several types: stationary, submersible, combined and portable. Each of them has its own characteristics, capabilities, parameters, operating rules, so it is important to know how to use a blender, and take into account all these nuances when buying and working:

1. stationary ones are of considerable size, they are designed to carry out operations with a large volume of products;
2. submersibles have an ergonomic shape, work in manual mode;
3. combined devices combine the capabilities of stationary and hand-held gadgets;
4. portable ones are small in size, easy to use, but have limited functionality.

Stationary blenders

The stationary device is a prefabricated structure, the installation of which is not difficult. However, if the owner still does not understand how to assemble the blender and prepare it for work, you must carefully read the instructions.

It consists of a base-stand where the engine is located. The controls are also located on the housing that houses the motor. A bowl with knives fixed on its bottom for chopping various products is installed in a special groove on it.

The stationary blender has certain advantages that make the cooking process much easier:

• after starting it works in automatic mode;
• large volumes of products can be processed in one go;
• does not require manual control;
• has an affordable price;
• a number of models provide an automatic cleaning function;
• characterized by high power and strength of structural elements.

Additional attachments may be included with various models.

Attention! The most efficient work of stationary equipment is possible only at maximum load.

Submersible

If a submersible blender falls into the hands of the hostess, it is important to know what each of its nozzles is used for and how to use it correctly.
It has an elongated ergonomic shape, is lightweight and comfortable to hold in your hand.Its use significantly saves cooking time.

Among the advantages that the device possesses are its compactness, an increased number of functions.

Note! The design of the knives of the hand-held device is not used for slicing and is not suitable for preparing salads.

How to choose the right blender for your home

Not so long ago, a blender was rarely found in stores, and if it was presented as a gift, it became the pride of the hostess.
Today the market offers a wide selection of kitchen assistants from well-known brands of foreign and domestic manufacturers. Devices have different sizes, configurations, functionality. However, there are general rules, knowledge of which will help to acquire exactly the necessary equipment, when choosing it, it is taken into account:

1. desired power;
2. ease of use;
3. ease of care;
4. the number and purpose of knives and attachments;
5. the volume of the finished product.

For those who want to buy a multifunctional and safe device, it is worth paying attention to the presence of additional functions, among them:

1. overheating protection, providing automatic shutdown, preventing engine breakdown and extending service life;
2. the presence of a vacuum mode for processing products, which protects the mixed ingredients from oxidation; the kit includes a special vacuum pump and a sealed container;
3. self-cleaning of the device, which is carried out with a small amount of water.

Attention! Some models have features that are not essential to their effective operation. Among them are noise reduction, wall mounting.

A number of manufacturers promise that the device can be used to steam food. This is true, but practice shows that the effectiveness of this function is extremely low, and cooking creates a lot of inconvenience.

The technical characteristics of the models may vary significantly, so before buying, you should read the instruction manual.

Bowl material and size

Different manufacturers offer blender bowls made of different materials. This parameter is of significant importance, since it directly affects the service life and the quality of cooking.

• The glass bowl is made of fireproof glass with excellent clarity. It has high wear resistance, does not react with the components of processed products, does not absorb odors. It is convenient to observe through the glass how the processing operation proceeds. A model equipped with a glass bowl is more expensive. It is worth remembering that glass is quite fragile and requires careful handling.
• The metal container is made of food grade stainless steel. It is durable, has a significant weight and does not make it possible to determine at what stage the work process is.
• Bowls made of plastic are the cheapest, easily injured, quickly lose their aesthetic appearance, they cannot be used for cooking hot dishes, but they are more durable than glass.

Bowl volume is an important factor in productivity. For immersion blenders, any container can be used, and stationary ones are already equipped with them.

The volume of the bowl is selected taking into account the need for the finished product. The standard bowl has a capacity of 0.5 - 0.8 liters. In addition, containers of 1-1.5 liters and jugs up to 2-2.5 liters are used.

Blender power

Engine power is the main condition for performance and functionality. It can range from 120 W to 2.6-3 kW.
Power indicators will help determine which types of products the device can be used with:

1. power of 250 W will ensure the preparation of cocktails;
2. 220-360 W will allow mixing soft and liquid products;
3. power 350-650 W makes it possible to work with solid products, whip, cook pasta, jams, smoothies, minced meat;
4. for chopping ice, grinding coffee beans, walnut kernels, a device with a power of 0.7-1 kW is required;
5. when kneading thick dough, it is necessary that the power of the device be 1-1.2 kW; it also allows you to process products of any hardness.

One of the technical characteristics of this type of product is the number of speeds. Most devices have two or three speeds in their arsenal. With the extended functionality of household appliances, from 5 to 10 modes are provided.

In addition to the working speed, the equipment can provide for turbo and pulse modes.

Pulse button

The use of the so-called pulsating button indicates that the design of the blender provides for a pulse mode of operation. It is effective for grinding extremely hard products: chocolate, hard cheeses, nuts, achieved with a short-term increase in engine power.

If you hold down the button, the knives begin to rotate at the highest possible speed for a short time. This function is necessary,

• if you need to turn the product into a homogeneous mass, independently choosing the degree of grinding;
• when it is important to control the degree of grinding of products;
• to speed up the process of converting ingredients into a homogeneous mass;
• when it is important to prevent the mixture from settling and lumping.

Only devices with a power of at least 400 W.

Chopper

Grinding of products may be included in the list of operations. In submersible devices, a special glass is used for this, although any other container will do. The main thing is that it must be deep and have high sides so that the contents do not splash.

Note! Before setting for chopping, vegetables or fruits must be cut into pieces. If there are bones, they must be removed.

In a stationary device, the operation is carried out in a bowl, where knives of the required format are installed. It attaches to the stand.

How to use a blender

In order for the technique to serve for a long time and productively, you need to know how to use a blender correctly and effectively. To do this, you first need to familiarize yourself with the instructions, and in the future - strictly follow it.

Before work, it is important to prepare the workplace, remove utensils and other kitchen utensils unnecessary for work. It is necessary to check the cleanliness and serviceability of the device, prepare the products to be processed.

In the course of work, you can fully use the capabilities of the device, following the recommendations of the manufacturers.

How to choose the mode and attachments

From the instructions that are attached to the device, the consumer learns in what modes the blender can work: in addition to the main worker, its design can provide for impulse and turbo modes.

In the pulse mode, knives or attachments work with short-term interruptions in rotation, which is due to the need to control the processing process.

Turbo mode allows short-term operation at maximum power to achieve complete homogeneity of the processed product.

Both modes can be used for a short time, so as not to reduce the effectiveness of the technique.

To expand the functionality of the device, various attachments are used:

1. main leg - for cocktails, sauces, mashed soups, baby food;
2. a whisk nozzle is used for making batter, beating eggs, creams, cream;
3. hooks - for kneading thick dough, combining minced meat with spices and onions.
4. leg for making sauces, mayonnaise;
5. for mashed potatoes;
6. chopper;
7. "Mill" for grinding coffee, cereals, sugar, salt, spices;
8. juicer with filter mesh;
9. evacuator for evacuating air from a container with a lid.

Depending on the model, the number of attachments in the set may vary.

What can be cooked in a blender

You can use the device to prepare a wide variety of dishes. Their list is due to the technical characteristics of the device, so it is important to know what can be done with a blender. It copes with mixing the embedded components, crushing, breaking ice.

The standard nozzle used in this case provides mincing of meat to the state of minced meat, onions and garlic for cutlets, preparation of pates, mashed potatoes.

Lush omelet, protein and other types of cream, mousses, various desserts can be made using the whisk attachment. It is also possible to cut vegetables for meat, fish, vegetable and fruit soups.

Safety engineering

In order for the device to serve for a long time and enjoy uninterrupted productive work, it is necessary to comply with the safety requirements, which are usually specified in the operating instructions. To avoid injury during operation, it is prohibited:

• use the appliance with an empty bowl;
• turn on if only dry products are loaded into the container;
• pour boiling liquid into the bowl;
• transfer control of the device to children;
• leave the blender unattended;
• work with a hot mixture without a lid;
• dishwasher safe;
• use the device with a damaged wire or with sudden voltage surges.

After finishing work, be sure to turn off the device before cleaning.

What not to do

To make cooking with a blender a pleasant experience, it is important to remember a few important not:

• start work without first cutting large vegetables, fruits, pieces of meat or fish into smaller pieces;
• use hot foods;
• load them under the very edge of the bowl, leaving space under the lid;
• if it is necessary to cook a large number of portions, make a full bookmark of products at one time.

Blender care

A banal phrase: cleanliness is a guarantee of health - is relevant for the rules of caring for a blender.

Before starting work, it will not hurt to wipe it with a napkin in order to free it from dust, and after its completion, all removable parts of the structure that have been in direct contact with the food should be washed and dried well. The bowl can be washed with warm water.

After disconnecting from the power supply, the splashed blender body should be wiped with a damp (not wet!) And then with a dry cloth. To avoid injury, special care must be taken when caring for the knives. Like the attachments, they can be washed in the dishwasher, but only in the cutlery basket.

Video: how to properly handle a blender