Hand Blender – How to Use It Right Way & 5 Common Uses
Whether you would like to chop the vegetables finely or prepare refreshing smoothies, purees, or chutneys, a hand blender gets the task done quickly and effortlessly. It comes with different blades that are meant for performing a wide range of kitchen assignments.
Aren’t you getting curious to explore more about hand blenders? Keep reading this article as we will discuss how to use a hand blender correctly and it’s five common uses that allow you to prepare sumptuous dishes every time.
How to Use a Hand Blender Correctly?
A hand blender is a portable kitchen appliance that both novice and experienced cooks can efficiently operate. Moreover, you can easily clean and store it. Nothing works like a hand blender when it comes to blending vegetables.
Let’s discuss the easy steps of using the hand blender properly.
Ensure to Follow the Manufacturer’s Guidelines
Before you start experimenting with your newly purchased hand blender, ensure to read and understand the manufacturer’s guidelines. Go through specific instructions related to power outlets, battery charging (in cordless models), etc.
Also, make a note of the blending time, blending quantities, food items that are suitable for blending, and food items you should avoid blending with your hand blender.
Switch the Power Off While Attaching or Detaching Blender Parts
Whenever you attach or detach any parts of your hand blender, ensure to unplug it before. Power off the blender before washing it. Follow the below-mentioned routine while using your hand blender.
- Remove the blender from its stand
- Attach the blades and legs of the blender
- Plug it in the power outlet and use the blender
- Once you are done with the blending tasks, unplug the blender
- Rinse it with water and dry it. Keep it back on its stand.
Ensure That You Have Correct Attachment/Accessories
Be aware of the various blending tasks that your hand blender can perform. Please acquaint yourself with the various attachments or accessories that you can use with it. Always use the correct attachment or accessory while performing various blending tasks.
It’s better to get an overview of all the attachments that come with your hand blender. Using correct attachments for blending food items produces high-quality blends and also prolongs the life of your blender.
Learn How to Operate Your Hand Blender
Check your instructions manual to find out when you should power on your blender. Is it before placing the food in the blender or afterwards?
If you are using your blender for cutting ice, you should switch on the power after placing the blade on the ice.
Ensure that the batteries of your cordless hand blender are charged before using it for blending.
Use the Appropriate Blending Container.
Ensure to use a blending container that is spacious enough for containing food items comfortably and avoid splashing over the top.
While using small quantities for blending, ensure using a narrow container with a wider opening at the top than a wider container. You can create a vortex action for moving the food in a whirlpool current by tilting the container and pulling up and down the blender.
Avoid Putting the Blender Into Boiling Food
When you are boiling food items on the stovetop, avoid using the blender. In case you are using a plastic blender, it may get melted in the boiling food. Also, please don’t use your blender with boiling food for enhanced safety measures even though it has metallic legs.
There are some blenders that work well, even with boiling food items. Read your supplier’s instructions to see if you can put your blender in ice-cold liquid within a crystal glass or boiling food inside a pan.
Move the Blender to Smoothe the Lumps
Hold your blender at a slight angle in the container and ensure that it stays at a safe distance from the bottom of the container. Then, move the blender slowly through the food for smoothening the lumps and achieving the desired consistency.
Run Your Blender for Correct Time Intervals
Ensure to run the blender for exact pre-determined time intervals and take breaks in-between as needed. Some blending tasks take a few minutes, while some tasks are completed within 20-30 seconds.
Usually, with higher power and speeds (rpm), you can keep the blender on for longer periods.
Take Precautions and Use Your Blender Carefully
Be attentive and careful while using your blender. When you are done blending and still holding the blender over the container, tap the shaft to get rid of excess food. Avoid tapping the shaft container.
Treat your blender gently and tap gently by using your fingers. Electronic components inside the shaft drive the blade, and these components may get damaged on rough handling.
Wash the Blender End and Its Blades Immediately
When you have completed your blending tasks, ensure to wash the blender and parts of the blade without any delay. This helps get rid of excess food attached to the blades and maintains a clean blender for the next blending assignments.
Five Common Uses of Hand Blender
A hand blender can perform a wide range of kitchen tasks, including aerating, blending, beating, chopping, creaming, mashing, emulsifying, grating, grinding, foaming, frothing, homogenizing, kneading, whipping, etc.
However, not every hand blender is equipped for performing all these techniques. Also, not every hand blender comes with all the attachments. Therefore, you need to look at your hand blender and its attachments for determining the tasks it can accomplish.
Let’s discuss five common uses of a hand blender.
Blending Food Items for Preparing Smoothies, Soups, etc
A hand blender is widely used for mixing ingredients together for making a uniform and smooth mixture with nice consistency. The blended mixture has a new unique flavour. You need not use your spoon or mixer when your hand blender does the job perfectly.
You can use it for blending veggies for preparing soup or salsa easily and quickly. Using a hand blender, you can puree the soup within the pan rather than transfer the hot ingredients into a blender jug. This saves your time and effort.
It works great in making a puree out of cooked vegetables. You can blend the ingredients for preparing various delectable food items like chutney, sauce, and curries. You can prepare to dress for salads or pasta by chopping a mix of nuts and seeds like almonds, linseeds, etc.
It also helps in preparing smoothies effortlessly. Add various ingredients like milk, yoghurt, and fruits in a jug or bowl and blend. Voila! Your smoothie is ready.
Use it to blend beans, spices, garlic, and oil to make a nice starter or snack with crisps. Next, use it for chopping and blending nuts like cashew or almonds into nut butter. Finally, blend this mixture with syrup, fruit, cocoa, and spices for preparing a nice spread.
Mashing Food Items for Preparing Baby Foods
You can use a hand blender for mashing potatoes, vegetables and fruits. It comes with attachments that serve as an excellent masher for making smoother and uniform mashed potatoes.
It works great in preparing baby food that is mashed or pureed. It is an ideal replacement for a manual potato masher.
Aerating Food Items Like Milk and Eggs
A hand blender can be used for introducing air into milk and eggs by beating or whisking. You can use it to aerate some milk to prepare a nice latte and whisking green tea powder for creating a perfectly smooth blend.
Use a hand blender for aerating egg and oil in a few moments for preparing mayonnaise to spread it over a sandwich or salad.
As a hand blender comes with different blades, you can use various attachments for whisking cream and egg. It also works great in the fine chopping of garlic and onion.
Whipping or Whisking Food Items for Preparing Creams, Eggs, etc
Nothing works like a hand blender for whipping or whisking food items. It can be used for preparing creams, eggs, dressings, sauces, etc.
With a whisk attachment, you can beat ingredients and incorporate air into them for preparing food items for baking or serving. You can quickly whisk powder that stays in lumps in water or fluids using a hand blender.
Chopping Veggies or Fruits Finely
It is time-consuming to chop veggies fine or small in a traditional way with a knife. However, you can do fine, smooth, and uniform chopping of vegetables quickly and efficiently with a hand blender. The chopper blade does it in a chopper bowl.
Use a hand blender when you need to chop a lot. It does all the tasks of chopping, mixing, and blending. It comes in handy for preparing vegetable and fruit purees, desserts like cheesecake and pancakes, chips and crisps, etc.
