Best practices for blenders

Like most small kitchen appliances, not all blenders are created equal. In fact, consumers are faced with multiple choices when considering the choice of tools that are mainly used for mixing, pureeing, stirring and mixing. From personal size models for single or small batches to basic cheap to mid-priced versions that can handle larger quantities, to high-performance, commercial-grade machines, these machines may give you a serious shock, but they will also It merges to a new level, and choosing the right machine may be a bit confusing.

So, which model is best? If you drink juice every day, like squeezing juice, like to make your own nut butter and flour, eat soup frequently, like super emulsified salad dressing, or usually just spend a lot of time cooking at home, then this is a high-performance blender that might be worth it Higher price tag.

The biggest advantage that makes these models unique is their motor size. High-performance models have clock power up to 1400 watts or more, while budget mixers usually have power in the 500 watt range. A higher power motor means you can get the right vortex for creamy mixtures, especially when mixing fibrous fruits and vegetables, herbs, nuts, and thick juices and beverages. A good rule of thumb: Use the maximum wattage allowed by your budget.

As for the blade, look for a blade made of stainless steel to improve clarity and durability.

Next up: container jars. Plastic is the standard configuration of most mixers. The most expensive model is made of BPA-free Tritan plastic. Tritan plastic is an ultra-durable, shatter-resistant and lightweight material with a long service life. Of course, glass is unlikely to stain or absorb food odors, but it will shatter and will not function well with high-speed blades and wattage. Many of these containers have a capacity of 64 ounces or more, which means you can mix several servings at a time (very interesting), and some have smaller-sized accessories, such as a smoothie cup that you can carry around as an accessory .

If you are a home cook who likes to set it up but forgot about it, then a blender with pre-programmed settings may be your ideal choice. Many blenders have one-touch buttons that can be used for smoothies, soups, crushed ice, cleaning cycles, dip coating and smearing, etc. Variable speed (allowing you to manually set the mix from low to high) is standard, and the pulse button allows you to start and stop as needed. Some high-end versions also come with a timer to help eliminate some guesswork.

Especially for soup lovers, their game-changing "hot soup" function will be attracted to the high-end version: just add ingredients, set a timer or select a preset soup button, and then in about six In minutes of stirring, the soup is cooked and steaming, and can be eaten directly from the pitcher. But remember: just because it has a preset does not mean that a perfect fusion can be achieved with one click.

Accessories are also quite common. If you do not plan to use the blender often, you may not need these accessories. However, if you want to take your morning smoothie with you and have storage space, you can use a smaller cup or accessory.

However, our favorite accessory is the rammer, which is a plastic tool that can be inserted into the lid of the blender to help break up bubbles or other blockages while the machine is still running, and adjust the size to prevent them from hitting the blade. It may cause damage. If there is no turbulence when mixing a thick smoothie without stopping the machine, removing the lid, using a spoon or adding more liquid to make the machine move again, you can simply pour the ingredients into the blade and it may restart.

Finally, a note about cleaning. After years of use, we need to take apart the blender and wash it by hand or put it in a dishwasher that takes up a lot of space. We finally found that cleaning the blender couldn't be easier. Just add half of the warm water to the container, add a few drops of detergent, and mix it. Rinse it off-if you mix something with oil, you still need to wipe it off a bit-and you are ready.