How to use a blender: what it is necessary to use it and what can be cooked with it + video with simple recipes

Blender is a multifunctional device that allows you to cut, mix and whip products.

At the same time, the full set of its features varies significantly depending on the type of device.

Let's look at what this device is for and who invented it, what its types are and what it does, as well as what dishes can be cooked using this device.

What is a blender and who invented it?

The word blender comes from the English blender - to mix. This device is one of the oldest units for the kitchen. Only the meat grinder is older than it (by 25 years).

The first similar device invented in Stephen Poplavsky in 1922. The idea for this device came to him in an attempt to automate the preparation of a drink "soda fountain". In the USSR, such a drink was known as "soda with syrup," which was universally sold in special vending machines.

The first of these machines was a container on a stand. At the bottom of the bowl was a propeller-like knife that could only mix ingredients but not cut. This was essentially the first prototype of a stationary blender.

Today's blender can easily replace a food processor. Its main advantage is that it is quite small-sized and easy to handle, allowing it to be used without too much effort. With this unit, you can easily chop, slice, and whip ingredients for dishes.

Types of devices and their differences

The existing types of blenders are:

• immersion;
• stationary.

A stationary blender is a device that consists of a technical unit and a mixing cup with blades on the bottom.

The advantage of this type of device is that, unlike an immersion blender, you do not need to constantly hold the device in your hands to chop products.

The disadvantage of the stationary blender is that you can mix ingredients only attached to the bowl. But it is excellent for making various smoothies and smoothies.

Immersion blender differs from the stationary blender with a wider functionality. The device consists of two parts of the hardware unit and the nozzle, and the number and functionality of the nozzles can be different.

Advantages of the immersion blender:

• It is possible to grind food in any kind of crockery that is resistant to mechanical impact, which allows you to work with any volume of ingredients
• A large number of attachments that extend the functionality (whisk, chopper, etc.)
• It does not take up much space in the kitchen

Disadvantages:

• You need to constantly hold the device in your hands
• Not suitable for preparing liquid foods

Bowls and containers of blenders can be made of plastic, glass and metal. Glass is the most durable and environmentally friendly if handled carefully. Nozzles are made of stainless steel or plastic.

As a result, the difference between the devices in chopping products is in their different purposes. A stationary blender does a better job of mixing and whipping liquid consistencies, while an immersion blender is better at chopping and grinding more solid foods.

Useful features of blenders

Here are the most popular blender functions:

• Blending - One of the most popular functions allows you to blend and simultaneously whip liquids and slurries to a homogeneous state. This function is the main one for stationary appliances.
• Chopping and slicing - Allows you to grind food to the desired consistency. In some models, the chopping time and intensity can be controlled manually, allowing you to achieve the optimum consistency of food for each dish, from slicing to puréeing.
• Whipping - Many hand blenders have this mode thanks to the whisk attachment. It allows you to replace the mixer in some cases, but is still inferior to it in terms of power.

Additional functions and features:

• Ice maker.
• Preparation of mixtures in vacuum environment (allows to keep freshness of cocktails longer).
• Speed control and turbo mode (allows you to control the speed and intensity of the device).
• Grating products directly into the bowl for cooking thanks to the grater attachment.
• In expensive models, there is a function of kneading dough with special attachments "hooks". Thanks to them, the dough is kneaded evenly and does not stick to the walls of the bowl.

What can I cook in a blender?

A huge number of dishes can be prepared with the help of a blender:

• puree soups;
• cocktails;
• sauces;
• salads;
• Various desserts.

Here are a few of the most popular dishes and the general principle of making puree soups.

The principle of cooking cream soups on the example of mushroom cream soup

In order to prepare a mushroom cream soup of mushrooms, you need:

• 500 grams of potatoes of any size.
• 150 grams of onions.
• 600 grams of water.
• 250 grams of mushrooms (fresh or frozen).
• 200 grams of 10-20% cream.
• Salt (to taste).

Onions are first finely diced and fried in refined vegetable oil for 5 minutes in medium heat until golden.

Mushrooms are cut into medium sized pieces (you can cut a few pieces lengthwise "in the shape of a mushroom" for decoration). Chopped mushrooms are added to fried onions and roasted together for 7-10 minutes to enhance flavor and aroma.

Next, a pan with water is placed on the stove and potatoes are prepared (peeled and chopped the size of a walnut). After boiling, the potatoes are thrown into the water and boiled until tender for about 15 minutes.

After that, the onion-mushroom mixture is added to the pot and boiled for another 5 minutes, and then the pieces of vegetables in the soup are chopped with a blender until mashed.

As the last step, cream is added to the mixture and stirring it, bring it to a boil. The dish is garnished with pieces of fried mushrooms and herbs.

Cheese mixture

The recipe for making curd mass is extremely simple.

To make curd mass, you need:

• about 500 grams of cottage cheese
• 4-5 big spoonfuls of sour cream
• salt and sugar to taste

The proportions are approximate and may vary. Also, if desired, you can add various berries and jam.

The best way to prepare this dish is with an immersion blender. All the ingredients are loaded into the bowl and ground to a homogeneous mass for 2-3 minutes.

Milkshake

With a milkshake better cope with a stationary blender.

The principle of its preparation is to whip milk and ice cream with various fillers. The ratio of ingredients can be very different depending on preference. For example, for a classic milkshake, a glass of milk and a couple of scoops of creamy ice cream would be enough.

Of course, this is not all that can be prepared with a blender, there are hundreds of recipes using the blender.

What can be chopped in a blender?

In a blender you can grind a lot of ingredients.

The most popular ones are:

• Vegetables, fruits and berries - Cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, eggplant, zucchini, onions, pumpkin, apple, bananas, pears, etc. Berries can be chopped almost any kind. It is important to mention that when making mashed boiled potatoes with a blender, it becomes more viscous and dense due to the starch and what consistency will not be to everyone's taste. You should also refrain from blending apples with metal nozzles, as contact with metal oxidizes the apple and changes the taste.
• Different herbs - Parsley, dill, green onions.
• Nuts - peanuts, walnuts, cashews, almonds and others. At the same time, they can be chopped to a paste.
• Meat - beef, pork, veal, lamb. The resulting minced meat has a slightly different, denser consistency, which makes the cooked meat more homogeneous, but less juicy.
• The blender can also be used as a coffee grinder - grind coffee, и crush ice With a special chopper.

The most important rules of usage

Basic rules:

• Do not wash base handles and motorized racks under running water or immerse them in it in any way, as the liquid will disable electronic components. To clean these parts, use a well wrung damp cloth or a special care cloth.
• If there is an odor of burning during operation, turn off the unit immediately.
• Do not use the blender if it is damaged, take it to a qualified service center in case of failure.
• Do not use the blender by children or persons who do not know how to handle the device safely.
• When operating the blender, do not put your fingers into the container with the blender in operation, and be careful when cleaning it, as the blades are very sharp.

General step-by-step instructions

Instructions on how to properly use the stationary blender:

1. Plug in the rack unit with the motor into the mains
2. Put products into the blending bowl without exceeding the maximum allowable mark
3. Attach the filled bowl to the unit with the motor and make sure to cover it with the lid
4. Turn on the device using the desired mode, watching the time recommended for continuous operation (it varies for devices from different manufacturers, usually is 2-3 minutes)
5. At the end of the mixing process, pour the resulting mixture into a container, and gently wash and wipe the bowl dry
6. Unplug the device itself after use

Instructions for the immersion blender:

1. Attach the desired attachment to the blender
2. Plug the base and motor handle into the power outlet
3. Place the food in a scratchproof bowl
4. Switch on the blender using the required power setting, paying attention to the recommended time of blending (this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, usually 2-3 minutes)
5. Once you have finished blending or chopping, unplug the appliance
6. Unplug the nozzle from the base handle for subsequent washing

With proper operation, your blender will be an indispensable kitchen helper for a long time and will last for years to come.

Useful Videos

The video gives some interesting recipes for your blender: