Don’t Blend That! Items You Shouldn’t Put In The Blender
Today the blender has become a kitchen staple, maybe even more important than the microwave. From making smoothies and protein shakes to processing food, it seems as though there's nothing that blenders can't handle. However, there are some items that you should avoid putting in the blender-- find out what they are.
Do NOT Pass The Potatoes!
Blenders seem like a natural choice for making mashed potatoes. Lump-free mashed is usually the goal, but blenders whip potatoes too finely. Too much starch results in gooey, inedible, potatoes!
Instead, make use of attachments or use a manual masher to make mashed potatoes the old fashioned way.
Dough is a No-no
Blender blades are too aggressive on dough causing gluten to be too tough! Gluten needs a tender approach. Besides dough that is too stretched out, Cuisinart and other companies directly warn against blending dough.
Without a mixer and attachments, kneading by hand is still is the best way!
Berry That Idea!
You might be tempted to add blueberries to your smoothie but it's worth a second thought. Blenders do not do well with foods that have peels and thick skin.
It's best to hand-peel and chop fruits before blending. This saves your blender extra work and avoids chunky results!
Freeze Thoughts Of Blending Ice Cubes!
There is no reason out there to support blending ice cubes! There is a risk of damaging the blades of your blender and ending up with uneven chunks of ice.
One alternative might be to buy smaller ice cube trays, but before you blend even those, consult the owner's manual of your blender!
Hot Foods And Steam Are Dangerous For Blenders
Recipes that instruct you to use hot foods or liquids in your blenders are dead wrong! Hot ingredients will steam-- which rises-- leading to a possible dangerous explosion of your blender's contents!
The safest way to go is to wait for the liquids or foods to cool before blending or opt for an immersion blender.
No-Go To Blending Beans For Joe!
Grains from blended coffee beans are rarely smooth and this interferes with the coffee's flavor! They can also chip or damage blender blades.
Pulse settings effectively grind coffee beans by keeping beans close to the blade. Coffee grinders are made for this task and are the best alternative!
No Bones About It!
Bones, including fishbones, are harmful to your blender and blades! Chicken, beef, or pork bones will dull or possibly break the blender blades. Light fishbones can still jam up the blender blades.
Removing bones, and blending with plenty of liquid to ease movement should safely blend your fish!
Garlic Is For Vampires Not Blenders!
Avoid blending garlic and other strong-smelling foods. The odors linger, are hard to clean out, and can be transferred to whatever you blend next! The spice from peppers also lingers in blenders.
Mashers for peppers make them saucy and safe to add. Chopping garlic instead of blending it avoids leaving behind unwanted flavors.
Dried Fruit Is A Sticky Problem!
We love our smoothies for breakfast or as a summer refreshment! The natural thought is to blend dried fruit. Their sticky insides and leather-like exterior, however, may get stuck inside permanently damaging the blender!
Dried fruit should be soaked in warm water or minced by hand before blending!
Keep Beef Out Of The Blender
Meat and beans are to be ground. From over-mixing to altering the texture, the flavor of blended meat will be affected negatively!
Buying pre-ground meat prevents the potential for bacteria growth because it was prepared by a professional butcher! Leftover bacteria hides itself well and is harder to clean!
Frozen Peas Can Wear Down And Eventually Break Blades
Before you think that blending frozen fruits and vegetables is a great idea, put that thought on ice! Much like ice cubes, frozen foods can wear down and eventually break blender blades.
Defrosting frozen food in the microwave or by running it under cold water avoids damaged blender blades!
Spices Can Accidentally Season Your Blender
Blending spices without water or liquid can lead to damaged blades. Similar to garlic, spices can leave behind flavors and odors that will taint anything you blend in the future.
Using spice grinders or some elbow grease instead of a blender will all but eliminate blade and odor issues!
Thick, Dense Foods Are Your Blender's Worst Enemy
Blenders make things easier to process except for thick foods. Taking the time to blend down thick and dense foods will wear down your blender, or worse, cause a fire from overworking them!
It's better to invest in a food processor for tougher jobs that involve thick foods.
Blender Blades Heat Up Foods That You Might Want To Keep Cool
Refrigerating greens before blending best ensures green dips and smoothies. Room temperature greens can get brown and negatively affect the colors and flavors of the final product.
Blender blades can also produce enough heat to change the color of your greens. Greens and apples, oxidize quicker under heat.
Blenders Turn Tomatoes Into Mush
There is science behind avoiding blending tomatoes. Blender blades naturally produce air that will reduce your fresh red tomatoes to an orange puddle.
Boiling tomatoes until they are soft to hand mash or with a potato masher are great solutions to keeping your tomato sauce a rich red color!
Tough Skin Is Tough On Blenders
Skins from squash, apples, and potato skins are too tough for standard blenders. Thick skin is hard to blend and equally difficult to digest.
Peeling your fruits and vegetables by hand or with a hand-peeler before blending will be easier on your blender and your tummy!
Fiber Unclogs Us But Clogs Your Blender!
Fibrous foods have a tendency to get stringy and potentially clog up blender blades. Blades can become dull and the blender's motor may overheat from having to work so hard.
As with beans, pre-cooking, or pre-boiling food before you blend it will avoid future problems.
Candy Sticks Like Glue!
Candy is fun to eat, but not to blend. Blending candy to stretch it appears logical, but is actually a huge mistake! Stretchy candy will stick to blender blades and is virtually impossible to clean.
Stretching candy like Taffy by hand is old-fashioned, but still the most effective
Ginger Puts Your Blender To Sleep!
Ginger adds energy, is rich in flavor, and high in fiber. Blending something as fibrous as ginger can clog up your blender. Ginger's strong odor can also affect what is made after it has been blended.
Chopping ginger by hand or with a tool is more than sufficient.
Seeds Can Be The Pits!
Seeds in any food are dangerous to you and your blender. Pits and seeds cannot be properly ground enough to avoid creating a choking hazard or damaging your blender's blades.
Many markets and stores sell pitless and seedless fruits and veggies, or you can remove them by hand yourself.
