Blenders are electric-powered appliances that are used to emulsify, crush, and mix food and other substances or materials. They are used either as kitchen appliances or laboratory appliances. The feature or type of blender varies depending on the function.
There are several types of blenders each with a particular function that differs from the other. These varieties are a result of some basic elements or factors which you need to consider When choosing a blender.
Can A Blender Shred Vegetables No! A blender cannot shred vegetables. First of all, shredding means tearing or cutting into tiny pieces, making thin strips. This in turn means that it is not part of the function of a blender.
Going further you would learn about its functionality and features, it is concluded that a blender cannot shred vegetables. It doesn’t matter the brand of the blender, all blenders were built for the functions stated below except shredding.
Blenders give you a fine consistency although some are not so smooth. But a blender aims to smoothen and emulsify. Instead of shredding a vegetable, blenders can chop a vegetable and for that particular function, the chopping blade is required.
Factors to consider when choosing a blender.
Contents
They include:
The Blade Type
This is one very important factor in choosing a blender, the blade type of different blenders varies in sharpness and distance, depending on the consistency of the product after blending.
There are several blade types I’ll just mention a few;
* The Cross-Blade: they are used when you want to achieve a fine consistency, in making smoothies.
* The Chopping Blade: They are used to grind or chop hard substances e.g nuts
* The Grater-Blade: they produce a less fine consistency than the cross blade
* Whipping-Blade: they are used to whip ingredients, it has a special star-shaped design.
These are a few types of blades used in blenders and examples of what they are used to blend.
Read also- Can I grate Zucchini in a Vitamix?
The Size or Shape of the blender Jar or container
There are different sizes or shapes of the blender container, also depending on what it is you want to blend, but this is mainly dependent on the quantity of the substance you would like to blend. Several types of blenders are classified based on the size of the container. These are some of them;
* Countertop blenders: for blending large food quantities, the size of the Jar is large enough to accommodate more than 1-2 servings, they are designed for blending, chopping, and more, for example, they are used to crush ice cubes and grind meat.
* Single-Serve blenders: they are smaller in size, have the shape of a water bottle, and can only be used for blending smaller quantities of food substances, like smoothies, they are also called personal or portable blenders.
* Immersion blenders: used for blending both small and large food quantities, because unlike the other two, they are used the other way round, like the name implies that they are immersed into the food substance or material to be blended, they are also called hand blenders.
* Commercial blender: they are also called food processors or combo blender because it is a combination of the above blenders. They are fast and powerful and mainly used for commercial purposes as the name implies.
The Function
The kind of function you want the blender to perform is also very important in making a choice. blenders perform a very wide range of functions and this is one important way of classifying them. When making a choice what function do you want it to perform for you, it could be for a personal purpose or a commercial purpose.
For example, if you need a blender to perform the function of chopping a large amount of food substance, you would have to consider getting a blender with a chopping blade, and since it’s a large amount it should be a counter-top blender, according to the basic elements listed.
Blenders can also be classified based on their brands. When going for a blender after taking note of the basic elements, you also need to take into consideration brands of blenders with a high rating, and that is highly recommended, for example, the Ninja Blender. They are manufactured in different sizes and types.
The Functions of a Blender.
Blenders perform various functions, some of these functions may be of help when choosing one, they include;
- Emulsifying
- Grinding
- Liquidising
- Crushing
- Chopping
- Mixing and many others
The Proper Way To Clean And Maintain Your Blender
There are different ways to clean a blender, but there is what is called the proper way.
Here are a few tips:
Materials needed
- Dish soap
- Sponge
- Paper Towels.
Step 1
Add hot water to your blender, the water should not be boiling but warm enough, just the right temperature to soften tough stains.
Step 2
Add a little amount of dish soap into the hot water, so the water doesn’t get too soapy, on some occasions, it is advisable to add lemon to achieve that sparkle after cleaning.
Step 3
Connect your blender to power, and turn it on, let the blades spin the water and soap solution for a few minutes, to achieve a thorough cleaning.
Step 4
turn off the blender and then make use of a sponge or bristled brush to scrub and remove harder or clingy stains.
Step 5
Rinse and Dry: rinse the interior of the blender thoroughly, more than once is advisable to make sure every soapy solution is properly removed, and dry immediately using a paper towel or a soft material, to avoid rusting of the blender blades.
Cleaning the blades of the blender.
When cleaning your blender blades, take caution and be very careful, blender blades are extremely sharp, except for the ones with blunt edges used for breaking ice cubes.
Carefully detach the blades from the jar, by turning it anti-clockwise, use a wet towel and clean thoroughly, to remove tough stains soak the blades in hot water but not for too long, then rinse and dry properly, before attaching it back to the jar.
NB: some blenders are not detachable, so be careful not to damage the blender, find out if it is detachable or not from the manufacturer.
Cleaning the base of the blender
Use a clean towel, soak it in warm water and then squeeze until it is damp, run the fabric around the base and clean thoroughly removing any dry food stain that may have gotten there.
NB: When cleaning the base of your blender, do not submerge it into the water, you must take proper caution not to allow water to touch it because that’s where the electric motor is located, water touching it is likely to cause severe damage to your blender.
Maintaining Your blender
For a blender to last as long as the warranty stated and even longer, maintenance is very important, there are things you shouldn’t do or use your blender to do.
Here are a few tips:
1. Do not blend extra hot food substances(including extra hot liquid) in your blender it can cause the blender to expand and a serious Kitchen hazard may occur.
2. Do not blend materials or substances that are too hard, it could break or bend the blades of the blender.
3. Servicing your blender is very important in the maintenance process.
Storing Your Blender
When storing or keeping your blender, be sure to have enough storage space, that is why is important to consider your storage space, so you know what size of blender you should go for. Remove the power cable and store it in a very dry place to avoid moisture.
FAQs
Can I use my blender commercially?
Depending on the kind of blender you have, to make use of a blender for commercial purposes you have to get the commercial blenders to avoid the stress of making just a little amount of serving at a time.
Why does my blender Jar Carry odour?
This could be because the ingredients or substance it was used to blend, has an odor, which is why it is important to wash thoroughly after every use, tips on how to properly clean your blender are stated above.
What are the blender jars or container and the blades made of?
The Jars are made of styrene or glass, while the blades for most blenders are made of steel, for proper maintenance.
What sizes of food substances should go into the blender?
It is advisable to cut the food substances into smaller pieces, before putting them into the blender, to achieve a fine consistency.
Can I use my blender for kneading doughs?
No! Using a blender for kneading is not advised at all.
Read also- Can I Use A Blender Instead Of A Mixer For Frosting?
What is a blender gasket and where is it found?
It is a rubber-like material that acts as a seal between the blender blade and the container, to prevent the blended substances from pouring over when it is being detached from the base.
Where can I find the model and serial number of my blender?
The serial number and model of your blender are mostly beneath the base of the blender. You have to turn your blender upside down to locate it.
Conclusion-Can a blender shred vegetables
A blender cannot shred vegetables, it is not part of the functions, it can only chop vegetables, and perform several other functions, that could be very beneficial to you, it doesn’t matter the brand. If you have any other questions about blenders feel free to ask. Thank you.
