8 Things You Should Never Put in a Blender
The blender is one of the most important kitchen innovations of the 20th century. This small kitchen appliance allows us to make smoothies, sauces, and other food items. Caring for it is essential if we want it to last a long time. Part of the proper care of kitchen blenders is knowing the things you should never put in the appliance. Here are 8 of those things:
Mashed Potatoes and Other Thick and Gooey Foods
There are many people who think that it is okay to put potatoes and dough in a blender. Nothing could be further from the truth. These foods have a very thick consistency and they can turn gooey when mixed. Dense foods tend to prevent the blades of the blender from spinning in a more efficient manner. This makes the motor of the appliance to work harder, which can lead to overheating. Such a situation can result in electrical fires if you are not vigilant. Moreover, you will not get that nice fluffy texture you want in mashed potatoes if you use a blender. The same is true with dough. The blender may not mix the different dough ingredients. This leaves you with floury lumps in your baked goods.
Dehydrated and Sticky Foods
Sticky foods have almost the same effects as putting gooey and thick foods in the blender. More importantly, these food items can leave a sticky residue on your blades. Cleaning it can be quite difficult. If you skip the cleaning process, your next batch of blended food will have a very odd flavor. Dehydrated foods like sun-dried tomatoes and dried prunes or apricots can also make the blades of the blender dull. You will not be able to retain the sharpness of the blades for a long time. As such, you might as well buy another appliance for your kitchen. If you have to use dehydrated ingredients, make sure to soak them in water first. This softens them up.
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Frozen Solid and Super-Hard Foods
Any ingredient that is super-hard has no place in the blender. These include coffee beans, large ice cubes, frozen fruits, whole spices, and frozen vegetables, among others. Super-hard ingredients can damage the blender’s blades. It may require replacement sooner than you expect. When working with ice, it is best to use crushed ice instead. Ordinary ice cubes may still be too large for the blender to work on. The same is true with frozen food items. It is ideal to thaw them first before you put them in the blender. As for whole spices like peppercorns, the problem here is the unevenness of the resulting grind. You will not be able to enjoy your dish that much. This is also true with coffee beans. Using the blender as a coffee grinder will lead to uneven coffee ground.
Raw High Fiber Foods
Many people use the blender to create healthy vegetable and fruit smoothies. They come loaded with antioxidants and fiber that can provide a number of health benefits. Unfortunately, many of these ingredients contain too much fiber that can get entangled in the blades. Also, standard kitchen blenders often produce stringy smoothies instead of velvety smooth ones. If one has to blend high fiber foods, it is best to work only with small amounts. It will also help if there are other ingredients in the blend to help temper the effects of fiber. Adding more liquids also helps. If you want a pure blend of high fiber foods, then you should get a commercial-grade blender.
Super-Hot Liquids
Under no circumstances should you pour boiling-hot liquids in the blender. The moment you close the lid, steam can build up. Steam creates pressure in the blender. This can blow the blender’s lid off. You can injure yourself if any of the hot splatter gets in contact with any part of your body. In case the lid stays put, it can still be dangerous the moment you open it. The steam from the blender can still burn you. Poorly-constructed blenders also have lower-quality blades. Excessive temperatures can wear the blades down. Worn blades will not be able to blend your food in an efficient manner.
Any Kitchen Utensil
Manufacturers of blenders always include a spatula or a stirrer for use in the blending process. While these utensils come as an important part of the blender, one should never use them while the appliance is in operation. Many of these utensils are made of soft silicone materials so they won’t damage the blades. Unfortunately, dipping them into the blender while it is turning can also damage these utensils. On that note, one should never use any utensil other than what the manufacturer provided or recommended. These include spoons, forks, ladles, tongs, and other kitchen utensils.
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Inappropriate Blender Attachments
There are different attachments that you can use on a blender. Many of these help in the blending process. Some have sturdy blades meant for shredding or cutting different ingredients. However, not all of these will fit into the type of blender that you have at home. Some will not fit the base of the blender. This can damage the attachment or the blender itself. Manufacturers always produce attachments that are compatible with their range of products. Some are more specific to a certain model of blender. It goes without saying that one should only use attachments that the manufacturer recommends.
Any Part of Your Body
It is pretty obvious that you should never put any part of your body in the blender. Even when not in use, the blades of the blender can still cut your fingers or your hand. Cleaning your blender does not always have to entail sticking your hand under the blades. You can fill it with warm water to about one-thirds full. Add a few drops of your liquid dishwashing agent. Operate the blender for 30 seconds and you will already have a clean blender.
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If you want your blender to last as long as you want, then it is crucial to refrain from putting any of these 8 things in it.
Sources:
- 5 Things You Should Never Put In Your Blender – Southern Living
- 6 Things You Should Never Put in a Blender – Rob Health
