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How to choose a blender? Step-by-step help for the buyer

by Lolina Diana Lolina Diana

Blender is the helper that can provide you with fruit and vegetable smoothies, cream soups, sorbets, mousses, stuffing, whipped cream, ground coffee and crushed ice. In this material, we will tell you how to choose a blender for the home and which device is better for you - stationary or immersion.

What blender is better to choose, immersion or stationary?

In fact, the best blender is the one that best suits your needs. Let's look at each type in turn.

Immersion blenders consist of a plastic or metal "handle" with an internal motor and a rotating nozzle (there can be more than one). An immersion blender chops, mixes and whips in any container (yours or the one that comes with the appliance).

Pros: compactness, portability, ability to handle small portions, the ability to independently change the position of the blade (unlike stationary models), multifunctionality due to the availability of attachments for different purposes. It turns out that one immersion blender can replace the food processor, coffee grinder, meat grinder, mixer, puree grinder, etc.

Disadvantages: the immersion blender must be held (however, this is not so difficult, since the device works quickly); if handled carelessly, the contents of the container can splash. Who should choose an immersion blender: those who make smoothies / soups most often from soft vegetables / fruits / berries, those who often need to prepare small portions (for example, fresh baby food for the child), owners of small kitchens.

Stationary blenders consist of a jug with a knife on the bottom and a base with a motor.

Pros: the work of the blender almost does not require your participation; it is much more convenient to prepare soups and drinks for several people at once, and then immediately pour them into glasses. A stationary blender costs less than an immersion blender, it is easier to take care of, since most models have a self-cleaning function.

Disadvantages: its main disadvantage is the inability to cook small portions (most often the volume of the product must be more than 250 ml). In comparison with an immersion blender, a stationary device is more cumbersome. Who should choose a stationary blender: those who often prepare smoothies and smoothies, and in large quantities. For athletes, vegetarians and just people who adhere to a healthy lifestyle, this device is simply indispensable.

How to choose an immersion blender for your home

Step 1: Power

The power is the first important criterion for choosing an immersion blender. It can be 140-1200 watts. The more powerful the blender, the faster it works, the less chance it has of overheating and the harder foods it can handle.

To handle most tasks, an immersion blender should have at least 450 watts of power.

If you want to use a blender to cut ice or handle difficult foods (like meat or carrots), you'll need a 600-800 watt blender.

Step 2: Speed and Modes

An immersion blender can have from 1 to 30 speeds. The more there are, the more accurately you can adjust the speed of the blade depending on the hardness of the product, your goal or the height of the container (in low bowls, to avoid splashing, you should blender products on low speed).

After all, the higher the speed, the more thorough and faster the blender chops, blends and whips. But at low speeds the blender works better with hard and viscous products.

So, for example, if you want to make the most delicate pâté, then cooked meat should be processed first on low speed, and then on the highest.

In fact, blenders with a large set of speed modes are probably needed only for true cooks who cook according to complicated recipes. For most users, 5-8 speeds will be enough. For simple tasks a blender with two speeds will do.

In addition to a set of speeds, immersion blenders can have additional modes. So, almost all blenders have turbo mode - maximum speed mode, which is useful to turn on at the end of work to achieve a particularly even and delicate consistency of the dish. Some blenders have "Ice breaker" and "Pulse mode". The ice maker is actually used to make ice and smoothies, as well as to process solid foods, such as frozen fruits or nuts.

Pulse mode is also necessary for processing particularly solid products (including ice). But with it, the blender works with short pauses and only when holding the button, so that the motor does not overheat. The speed in pulse mode is regulated by the force of the button, which is very convenient.

And one more thing: the blender speed can be switched smoothly or in steps. The first option is somewhat more convenient.

Step 3: Attachments and Accessories

Most immersion blenders have three basic attachments: a blender attachment for chopping and blending, a whisk for whipping, and a chopper in a bowl. The presence of other attachments in the blender is a great advantage, because thanks to them the device becomes more functional. Let's take a closer look at each type of attachment.

Blender attachment. Chops and mixes, copes with most tasks: the preparation of cream soups, smoothies, cocktails, etc. It has a knife at the end and a dome that covers it, which is designed to minimize splashing. Most often the knife of the main nozzle cannot be changed, but sometimes there are models with detachable knives for different purposes.

Whisk for whipping. The whisk is needed for whipping cream, eggs, cream, mayonnaise, butter, kneading dough, etc. Blender whisk, like a mixer, can be drop-shaped (for liquid masses) or spiral (for thick masses). Most often, the blender has a single whisk, but some models may have two mini whisk.

Chopper bowl. It is a bowl with a blade foot installed in the center, which is actuated by connecting a handle in the lid of the bowl.

The bowl can have one universal chopping blade or several interchangeable blades. For example, a disc for slicing any soft foods, a potato grater (pictured) or an ice pick. The volume of the chopper bowl can be 0.35 - 2.2 liters.

Chopper. This looks like a small bowl with a knife at the bottom. It is a convenient way to grind a small amount of solid foods such as black pepper, coffee beans, garlic, sugar, etc. The volume of the mill can be only 0,05 - 0,7 l.

Vacuum pump. Evacuates air from the special vacuum containers (available as part of the package or to be purchased separately), so that the food in them is stored several times longer.

The nozzle for mashed potatoes. Has a plastic rather than metal knife, which does not whip, but grates the potatoes at low speed, making it easy to turn it into a delicate and even mashed potato. This is a very useful addition to the blender, because its main attachment turns potatoes into a little edible glue.

Step 4: Material of the body and nozzles

The body, both the handle and the main nozzle of the blender can be made of plastic or metal.

It is desirable that the nozzle was metal, then you can immerse the blender even in a pot of boiling soup. Plastic can handle only moderately hot and warm products, in addition, it can be broken when dropped and will wear out over time.

But the material of the handle body may well be plastic. Here you should be guided only by your taste and, say, the kitchen interior. The main thing is that the handle has rubberized inserts, so that you can firmly hold it while the blender works.

Step 5: Cord/Accumulator

Most blenders have ordinary power cords up to 1.5 meters long. But if you want to be able to process food while moving freely around the house, say, to keep an eye on the baby, a cordless immersion blender is the way to go. However, due to the battery, the immersion blender weighs more than usual, its battery life is not too long (20-30 minutes), and its power is less.

Next we suggest you read the following video with a review of an immersion blender firm Bosch and tips on the choice of the device from the user.

How to choose a stationary blender (shaker)

Step 1: Power. The first thing you need to look at when choosing a stationary blender is power. Most stationary blenders are 500-900 watt, but some home models are 1200-1350 watt.

The higher the motor power, the better the blender. And at the same time - noisier and more expensive.

Powerful models from 750 to 900 watts are able to process nuts, frozen fruits/berries, break ice, make smoothies and creams of thick consistency well, for a long time and often. Models with more than 1000 watts are needed for whipping dough. If you cook soft fruits and vegetables that are not frozen most of the time, there's no need to overpay for high wattage, and a 600 watt blender will do most of the tasks.

Step 2: Blades. Blades are the most important part of a blender after the motor. In a stationary device there can be 1 or 2 blades (with crossed blades).

The more blades the blender has, the faster the blender will chop products.

Blades come in a variety of shapes, but in general they can be divided into curved and straight blades.

Curved blades chop and blend foods more thoroughly and evenly than straight blades.

Preferably, the knives should be large, made of quality and strong stainless steel.

Step 3: Volume of the jug. The size of the jug indicates how much maximum amount of food you can cook at one time. Depending on your needs, you can choose an appliance with a capacity of 1 to 2 liters. Keep in mind that the usable volume of the bowl is less than the indicated total volume by 200-300 ml.

The blender with a large 1.5-2 L jug allows you to prepare soup purees and smoothies for several people at once.

Blender with a 1-liter jug is suitable for preparing smoothies for two or three people and baby food.

Some manufacturers also specify the minimum weight of food that the blender can grind (most often it is 250 g/mL). If you load products of less weight/volume into the bowl, the device simply will not be able to grind them, and will only dirty the bowl.

By the way, pay attention to the presence of a measuring scale on the jug. In addition, we advise you to choose an appliance with a jug with a wider base, not a narrow one. In a wide container it is more convenient to mix the contents, besides it is easier to clean.

Step 4: The base with the motor unit. When choosing a stationary blender, pay attention to the width and heaviness of its base. The bigger and heavier it is, the more stable the device will be in operation. This is especially necessary when working at high speeds or processing solid foods.

You also need rubber feet or pads for base stability. Let them be very small, but the main thing is to have them.

It is good, if the base will have a compartment to store the cord (in the photo).

Step 5: Materials. Now you need to decide on the material of the device, both the jug and the base.

The jug can be glass, plastic, metal or made of composite material. The plastic one is good because it is light, easy to handle and cheaper, but it tends to scratch and you can't handle hot foods in it (unless it is special thermoplastic). A glass jug is heavier and therefore less convenient to handle, in addition, it can be broken. But it looks nicer, it is not scratched, and most importantly - it allows to handle hot food. Metal bowl is good for everything, but it is not transparent and greatly increases the price of the device. The ideal jug is a jug made of composite material. It is lightweight, handy, durable, heat-resistant, the only disadvantage is the high price. Whichever blender you choose, make sure it is dishwasher safe.

The base of a stationary blender can be made of plastic or stainless steel. Plastic models cost less and weigh less, but they are less impact resistant. Devices made of stainless steel are more expensive, they are more durable, weigh more and thus more stable. However, we can not say that the material of the body base gives any particular advantage to the device, so choose based on your budget and taste. We can only add that fingerprints, dirt stains and scratches are more noticeable on black plastic and polished steel.

Step 6: Speeds. Blade speeds are another criterion for choosing a stationary blender. Modern models can have from 1 to 20 speed modes. Some devices have up to 30 speeds. So why does the blender have so many different speed modes? The fact is that the higher the speed of the blade, the faster and more thoroughly the blender grinds the product, but this is not always necessary. So, for example, if you need to chop something into a homogeneous puree, then you should process the product at the highest speed. If you need to get not coarsely chopped pieces, it is better to run the device on low speed. Thus, the more speed programs the device has, the more types of products it will be able to process.

However, an ordinary blender with 4-6 speeds will successfully cope with most tasks.

In addition to speed modes, a stationary blender can have a turbo mode and a pulse mode.

Turbo mode is the mode that grinds products at the highest speed. It is better to include it at the very end of processing, to achieve a homogeneous and most delicate consistency.

Almost all models have a pulse mode, and some models have only it. The peculiarity of the pulse mode is that the knives rotate quickly and intensively, but with short pauses and only when holding down the button. Despite the speed and power of the motor during the processing of, say, the same ice, it does not overheat.

Step 7: The control panel. The control panel is not the most important part of the device, but it is also worth paying attention to it. A blender with touch buttons is easier to keep clean, but it will cost more. On the other hand, the mechanical control (pictured) is more convenient (especially in switching speeds) and for many is more familiar.

Step 8. additional bonuses. Nice bonuses of the blender include the presence of: a spout or faucet for direct pouring of product from the jug (in the photo), the system of switching off when overheating, self-cleaning system.

And finally, we suggest watching another video with useful information and visual demonstration of stationary and immersion blenders.