Countertop blenders come with varied controls and settings. Many countertop blenders are multi-purpose. Blenders that work on speeds are simple and straightforward to use. They come with fast, medium and low setting. They may have an extra button, which is the pulse option. The speed that you need to choose depends on what you are using the blender for.
Buyer's Guide Table of Content
Rough Guide to Use Different Speeds
- Fast: A fast speed setting can be used to quickly mix liquids. If you are mixing two or more liquids or pureeing, you can use the fast setting. This will quickly stir up the liquid inside and give you an even texture. Fast speed does not necessarily grind well and is not ideal for grinding hard ingredients. This speed is good for softer ingredients like pastes.
- Medium: A medium speed setting is used when you have to grind coarse material. It can also be used to chop vegetables and get a coarse texture. Medium speed can be used to dice and chop nuts into smaller pieces. This speed prevents the nuts from turning into a paste rather leaving it coarse.
- Low: A low speed setting is used to grind. At this setting, the blender grinds any material into a soft paste slowly and gradually. It mixes the liquid with the solid systematically and delivers a soft and smooth texture.
- Pulse/Whip: The pulse or whip setting is used to mix something quickly. It cannot be used for more than a few seconds. If you need to just crush something, like ice, you can use this setting. However, it will only cut the ingredient into smaller bits. It does not grind or mix the ingredients.
Some countertop blenders come with categorized usage as specifications. These are usually the higher end models. They have more than 4 to 5 options. However, when it comes to using these settings, you should know which setting suits the type of food or material.
Rough Guide to Use Different Settings
- Stir: This setting is used to mix the food and give it an even texture. For example, smoothies and milkshakes need to be mixed well. It is not possible to stir them up with a spoon. In order to make it even in consistency, you can use the stir feature.
- Puree: Puree is self-explanatory. It turns everything that you put into a fine liquid or paste. You can puree fruits and vegetables using this setting. This also is the setting you will use to make baby food.
- Chop: This setting is used to cut the food into smaller bits. You can use this feature to chop vegetables, meats and fruits.
- Liquid: This feature is used to mix drinks and also extract juices. Anything you put in turns into a complete liquid in this setting.
Things You Should Not Use the Blender For
- Mashing potatoes
- Whipping eggs or cream
- Blending raw meats
- Kneading dough
Basic Blender Usage Tips
- The pulse option can take care of basic blending needs.
- Do not keep the blender running for a long period of time. The motor will heat up.
- While using a blender, always hold the lid of the container down.
- Let the blender come to a complete stop before changing speeds.
- Never overload the container of the blender. Always leave room for expansion.
- Allow the blender to cool off periodically while using it. Prolonged running overheats the motor, causing the blender to switch off or get spoiled easily.
- Cut harder vegetables and fruits into smaller portions before putting them in the blender.
- When blending hot ingredients, leave the lid of the jar slightly loose for steam to escape.
- After using, clean the blender with a damp cloth.
- Before putting the containers in the dishwasher, dissemble the blades from the jars.
- Never immerse the blender base in water to clean it.
- Do not put plastic blender containers in a dishwasher or microwave unless specifically mentioned by the manufacturer.
In the next section, we look at features specific to handheld or Immersion blenders. Read the Features To Look For In an Immersion/Handheld Blender, Next!
