The Consumer’s Guide to Blenders
The Right Blend of Features
A blender is that versatile kitchen companion consumers know and love. Whether it’s to make frothy milkshakes or refreshing slushies, creamy soups or fine purees, a blender is one of those pleasurable amenities you just don’t want to do without.
The numerous models on the market mean you have a choice to make. There is the time-honored blender with its ample see-through carafe; there is the immersion blender for easy pureeing right in the pot. Cordless blenders will follow you anywhere; combination appliances offer you food processing capabilities. Feeling all mixed up about blenders? Read on!
Begin by deciding precisely what you want a blender to do. Are you a cold drink fan who aspires to make fruit smoothies and shakes, or is a high-powered ice crusher what you’re really looking for? Would you like to cream vegetable soups or puree Gerber-like baby food right in the bowl? An immersion blender will do the trick. What is your budget allotment, your sense of esthetics? Factor in the quantity of food you want to prepare with the space the blender will occupy on your kitchen counter or shelf.
Classic Style Blender
The classic blender has a power base with a tall carafe. At the bottom of the carafe is a steel blade which crushes solids or whisks liquids at high speeds. You can even mix solid foods with liquids to get a delicious blueberry pancake batter or strawberry-banana milkshake. Blenders are perfect puree-ers and produce velvety creamed vegetables. Just call it baby heaven! (With divine entry for adults, as well.) Did you know that they can liquefy fruits and vegetables into soups? Add slushies, sauces and dressings to a growing list.
Did you ever indulge in a smoothie? Take your favorite fresh fruit and add fruit juice and sugar to taste. (Who says you can’t mix apples and oranges?) Then put in ice, frozen fruit, or frozen yogurt - or all 3 - to create the luscious taste experience so aptly named. You will never dream of doing without a blender after that…
The Carafe
The carafe is where the action is. A typical carafe of 40-64 ounces gives you a capacity of 5 to 8 cups. A plastic carafe is the least expensive and is lightweight and non-fragile, as well. It allows you to view the blending progress without having to open the lid. A thermal carafe has a double layer of plastic, retaining the cold of frozen drinks for 6 hours.
A glass carafe is more durable. In addition to its see-through benefit it is heavier and thus more stable as the blade spins. This is particularly significant during ice crushing when a lighter model could rock unstably. Glass neither absorbs odors nor discolors; as such it is easy to keep clean.
Stainless steel is valued for its esthetics. Though more expensive, a carafe made of this material is the most durable. It is not transparent, but it also won’t chip or break and is wonderfully temperature-retentive – a plus for those cool drinks and warm soups.
Whichever material you choose, be sure to look for a carafe with a wide-flare top. You will find it more convenient to add ingredients this way. A spout dispenser makes it easy to pour; a removable blade makes it easy to clean; clear measurement markings make it easy to read.
Besides stainless, you can choose from black, white, and even specialty colors such as red or copper in matte / metallic finish for a designer look.
Power
Blenders typically have a power capacity of 300-600 watts. You can find high-powered models boasting over 1,000 watts; it’s out there, if you’re willing to pay for it. The higher powered units are the most durable and the most efficient when it comes to crushing ice or frozen drink concoctions.
If it is smoothness you put a premium on, you may find the perfect product in a less expensive, lower-wattage unit which pulls less on your purse strings yet excels in producing creamy, lump-less textures.
Speed settings determine power. Different blender models offer anywhere from 3 to 24 settings! Don’t be taken in by the number of speeds, however. The difference between mounting speeds becomes imperceptible and is no indication of quality.
A pulse setting affords you greater control over the process. The blender is set in motion with brief, quick on-and-off spurts of activity. Talk about getting the shakes! You’ll see; the results will be well worth it.
An ice crusher setting provides you with optimum performance in doing just what it purports to do.
Settings may be adjusted by means of a dial, switch, push buttons, or electronic touchpad. The touchpad versions offer digital display. They are more expensive but easiest to keep clean. Look for pre-programmed settings for predetermined time and speed functions.
Specialty Blenders
Look for any of the following blender types to accommodate more specific needs.
The Personal Blender is ideal for on-the-go. Simply load the ingredients, activate, and detach the one-serving blending container from the machine and presto! You now have a cup with a sip-through top to ride right along with you in your car.
A Cordless Blender boasts flexibility. Easily recharged in any socket, it enables you to change your venue of operation. It may not be the most powerful blender, but it does let you move easily between kitchen, family room, home office and patio; just bring it with you wherever you go!
The Industrial-Strength Blender is the most powerful of them all. Now you can liquefy any fruit or vegetable in a snap. Carrot juice, here we come! You can even grind your own spices. The sky’s (or in this case, the ground’s) the limit!
The Immersion Blender is a cook’s delight. Also known as a stick blender, this slim handheld device is designed for pureeing soft foods right in the pot or bowl. You simply immerse it into the food and activate. It is the cream of the crop in creating that thick hearty soup or elegant creamy potage. Mashed potatoes and minced onions are suddenly a breeze.
This type of blender is a mother’s best friend. Now little Johnny will relish his tempting green P’s & Q’s! (Okay, okay – let him just eat them.) And have you heard the latest news? Some immersion blenders now come with accessories – whisks, beaters, and baby-bottle cleaners, to name a few.
The Combination Blender / Food Processor is the dual purpose machine it claims to be. It comes with both a food processor bowl and a blending carafe. While the food processing attachment may not afford you the same capacity or complete performance of a full independent food processor, it gets the prize in adaptability for kitchen convenience.
So whether you want the perfect pâté de foie gras or a chummy chocolate milkshake, go ahead and treat yourself to a new quality blender for maximum comfort living. We guarantee you that you’ll never look back!
