Blender - which is better to choose?

Any person who knows how to cook knows that for cooking, something needs to be chopped, chopped, and something should be whipped or mixed well. It is not so easy to mix well or to cut very, very finely, but all this can be easily done with the help of a multifunctional device - a blender. This household appliance will greatly facilitate your life in the kitchen. We offer with our help to understand what a blender is, which one is better to choose, so that it lasts a long time and fulfills all the wishes of the hostess.

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Blender and its competitors

Numerous applicants are fighting for a place in the kitchen, such as: a food processor, mixer, electric meat grinder, and they all “loudly” declare their multifunctionality, and only the blender “modestly keeps silent.” But it stands in the most honorable place, as it is most often used by the hostess, preparing mashed air, cocktails and chopping products. That is, thanks to one unpretentious device, which takes up very little space in the kitchen, you can prepare the most delicious fruit puree for the smallest household, beat cocktails for the eldest son, and even grind the meat for your favorite pasties of the head of the family. Therefore, the relevance of the question of which blender is best to choose is understandable.

Why does the hostess prefer a blender:

1. A food processor is, of course, a multifunctional household appliance that has many volumetric nozzles. But each time you pull it out of a huge box in order to mix the ingredients for a cocktail or make mashed potatoes for the child you will not.
2. The mixer is also a worthy helper, but you can use it for mixing and whipping, but the mixer can no longer grind something.

Important! If you are an adherent of a large number of equipment, each of which performs certain functions, then you will be interested in our special reviews of its choice:

• How to choose a food processor?
• Hand mixer.
• How to choose a planetary mixer with a bowl for home?

Therefore, a wise woman who decided to replace all voluminous and multifunctional household appliances with a blender did the right thing. You just need to choose the type of device that will be the best assistant for you in the kitchen.

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How to choose a good blender?

There are two main types of blenders: submersible and stationary. Consider the main differences between these two types of devices.

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Hand blender - features

The submersible blender is a long thin handle, at the end of which there is a nozzle with knives. With this device you can easily grind a small amount of product in any dish, and also with the help of a whisk, you can prepare any cocktails and even mayonnaise.

pros

Consider the main advantages of this type of device:

1. Compactness.
2. Functionality.
3. Ease of use and maintenance.
4. Preparation for work takes a minimal amount of time: simply connect the motor to the knife with a click and plug the device into a power outlet.
5. Able to perform work in any capacity.

Important! A submersible blender is everything at once: a motor, a speed regulator and a cutting nozzle-chopper. It is very easy to work with it: with one hand you need to hold the blender itself, and with the other - any container with crushed products.

Minuses

The device also has drawbacks and they are as follows:

• It is difficult to achieve a gentle consistency of the product with a large mass.
• Some solid foods, such as meat, will not be able to chop a submersible blender.
• Not designed for prolonged use.
• Hand fatigue while using the device. Everything must be done with your hands.

Important! Now there are many equipment designed to process certain types of products. So, the manufacturers took care of you by releasing smoothie blenders.

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Which hand blender is better to choose?

Due to the presence of an extensive assortment of devices, any housewife will be able to choose the most successful model for herself. To choose the right hand blender, you must consider the following characteristics:

1. Power.
2. The weight.
3. The presence of a speed switch.
4. Noise level.
5. The material of which the blender is made.
6. The number of nozzles.
7. Additional accessories.
8. Wire and battery.

Important! Be sure to consider the set of characteristics for all points in order to choose the best blender.

Blender power

Power is an important indicator that indicates whether a blender can handle even the most difficult tasks. Typically, power varies from 140 to 1200 watts:

1. Low-power models (up to 250 W) are able to prepare desserts only from soft ingredients. If you want to cook only baby puree, then stop at this option.
2. A hand blender with power from 250 to 600 watts can easily cope with frozen vegetables and even meat. It should be borne in mind that powerful models can greatly grind meat, but a homogeneous forcemeat is not within the power of any of the devices.
3. If you need to grind ice and solid foods, such as coffee, nuts, frozen fruits, to cook, then choose a hand blender with a power of 650 to 1000 watts.
4. Devices with a power exceeding 1000 W are designed for preparing thick dough.

Important! If you have a baby in your family and you choose a blender to cook food for him, use the tips from the article “What is the best blender to choose for baby food?”.

Wire length

Since the hand blender must be held in hand, the length of the wire is very important. The wire should reach the outlet, because if you use an extension cord, it will interfere during cooking. Let the long wire do not bother you, because some manufacturers offer to hide it in a pen, using a special button.

Important! Puzzled by what is the best submersible blender to choose, you need to consider this nuance: some models work on battery power. On the one hand, it’s quite convenient. You can use the device anywhere, in any corner of the apartment. But on the other hand, such devices are low-power, which means that if you choose such a model, then you need to immediately say goodbye to a number of functions and tasks. In addition, it must be borne in mind that the battery charge is designed for half an hour of work, and charging takes at least three hours.

Number of nozzles

To understand which blender is best for you, you need to think in advance why you need it. Typically, the kit includes several nozzles and a bowl with a double knife. Consider all the elements of the device in more detail:

1. Long nozzle with knives. Such a “leg” is in all models. It can be plastic or metal. The first is cheap and easy, but rather capricious, as it is afraid of drops and boiling water, and over time it can become covered with indelible spots. A “leg” made of metal is, of course, better than a plastic counterpart in many ways, but it also costs more.No matter what material the nozzle is made of, it should be long and comfortable.
2. Chopper Bowl. This element is a glass with a lid and knives inside. A bowl can be equipped with only one knife - a lionfish, and it can also have several different knives for grinding products into slices, small pieces, cubes, etc. The bowl can be glass or plastic. If you are not going to cook a hot dish, then the possibilities of plastic are quite enough.
3. Whisk for whipping. The element can be made in the form of a drop of wire or in the form of a spiral for kneading a thick dough.
4. Miller. This is a very small bowl with a knife, which is designed to grind coffee, spices and other products.
5. Vacuum pump. Using the device, you can remove air from special containers. Most often, 1-2 containers are included in the kit, in which after pumping out air you can store food for a long time.

Important! Before choosing a blender, be sure to check all the devices in the kitchen. If you have a coffee grinder, then you don’t need to buy a blender with a mill, and a good mixer or a modern bread machine will replace your nozzle for making dough. Therefore, decide on the number of nozzles, so as not to overpay for extra functionality.

Gear shift

Submersible blender can have from 2 to 24 speeds. You can select the speed using a special smooth controller. The optimal number of speeds when choosing is 5-7.

Important! Turbo mode is also present on some models. It allows you to go to maximum speed with a separate button. But according to users, this function is almost useless, since the same speed can be achieved with a simple switch.

Weight and noise

Since the submersible blender will always be in your hands, buy a lightweight appliance. In addition, the quieter the device, the better, because if it buzzes like an old drill in a dental office, then working with it will be very unpleasant and even dangerous for you. Therefore, when buying a device, be sure to ask to turn it on right in the store.

Important! If you buy a blender on the Internet, then test the future model in the nearest department of household appliances to see for yourself in its “vocal data”.

Optional accessories

Many manufacturers attract housewives with various pleasant things, such as:

• Stand. In such an optional accessory, you can put all or some part of the nozzles. Choose the most stylish to be proud of it in the kitchen.
• Wall mount. If you do not want to download the desktop, then you can use this pleasant trifle. Use the mount and hang on the wall a handle with a “foot”, as well as other nozzles.
• Beaker. Even in the cheapest models there is such a pleasant trifle as a measuring cup.
• Rubberized handle. This accessory will help to hold the moving device firmly.

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Which hand blender is best to choose: a model overview

A huge assortment of such devices will allow you to quite easily choose which blender is better. If you competently approach the process and first familiarize yourself not only with the technical criteria, but also with reviews on the most popular models, the new device will satisfy all your needs and will have the necessary parameters. We will carry out a small review of various modifications.

Philips hr 1327 hand blender (Philips)

Philips submersible blender has a power of 550 watts. Equipped with a unique nozzle of a triangular shape, and a whisk and chopper are included in the package. Thanks to the device, you can cook mashed soups of perfect consistency, as well as whip cream or chop greens.

The chopper will help you turn products such as nuts, chocolate, onions, greens into a homogeneous mass, and a nozzle in the form of a whisk will prepare a wonderful mayonnaise.With this appliance you can easily prepare all kinds of cocktails.

Important! By pressing two buttons, the blender's leg can be easily disconnected and serviced.

Bosch msm6b400 (Bosch)

Beautiful compact device has a power of 400 watts. The kit includes comfortable, functional attachments for daily use. This submersible blender allows you to mix and grind various products, including nuts, onions and herbs.

Important! The undoubted advantage of this model is the ease of use and care. The foot of the device can be washed even in a dishwasher, as it is made of heat-resistant plastic. The package includes a glass for products with a measuring scale.

Braun mq535 (Brown)

Such a submersible blender has two indisputable advantages: it has a special anti-spray shape of the nozzle, as well as a super light weight. This blender is 30% lighter than its counterparts.

The device has 2 speeds and is equipped with a turbo mode that allows you to quickly prepare puree from very soft products. The foot of the device is made of stainless steel, which makes it more practical. The device comes with a measuring cup with a capacity of 0.5 l with a lid. The grinder volume is also 500 ml.

Important! The power of the device is 600 watts, which makes it easy to grind solid products, including meat.

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Stationary Blenders - Features

Stationary blenders do not require constant intervention when working with them. They represent a bowl with knives inside. There are models with additional knives for chopping ice.

Operating principle

Using the device is very easy: just fill up the products, turn on the device and rest while waiting for readiness. This, of course, is very convenient, but you will not be able to correct the process of crushing uniformity.

pros

The advantages of a stationary grinder include:

1. The speed of cooking. Any vegetable or fruit drink, as well as a milkshake, will be ready in 2 minutes.
2. The device is not afraid of any solid foods, including nuts, raw vegetables and ice.
3. It is convenient to pour prepared soups and cocktails from a blender bowl into plates and portioned glasses.
4. There is no need for constant presence and participation in the work process.
5. The stationary type device retains all the benefits of fruits and vegetables by grinding the skin and crushing the seeds of berries.

Minuses

The disadvantages of the device include the following factors:

• Takes up a lot of space.
• Heavy and voluminous household appliances.
• High power consumption.
• More thorough care is necessary, since the bowl of a stationary device is much more difficult to wash than the knives of an immersion device.

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Stationary blender: which is better to choose?

To choose the best stationary blender, pay attention to its characteristics, in particular:

1. The power of the blender, which has a direct impact on its functionality. If the power of the device is less than 500 watts, then a stationary blender is able to grind only soft products, as well as mix cocktails. A device with a power of 800 watts will even cope with ice.
2. Blender Bowl Material There are two most popular types of bowls: glass and plastic. The main difference in them is strength, since glass can easily break when dropped, and plastic is more reliable, strong and rarely breaks. Glass has two important advantages: firstly, environmental friendliness, in addition, pure material does not react with products, and secondly, glass does not tarnish over time and does not get scratched.
3. The volume of the bowl. The most popular volume is 1.5-2 liters. In such a container, it is easier to prepare a cocktail or puree for several family members at once. When choosing a device, consider the number of people and the frequency of preparation of juice and cocktails to find the right amount.

Important! Remember only one thing - the useful volume must be calculated as follows: subtract 0.3 liters from the indicated total volume.For example, if a stationary blender is 1.75 liters, then the useful volume will be about 1.4-1.5 liters and no more, since the device needs a place to work on products.

4. The number of speeds. The best option is the presence of 3-5 speeds in the device. If the model has 2-3 speeds, then such a blender is not worth buying, since the most popular brands never give less than 5 speeds, and often their presence is 7-10, and even 15.
5. Blender Stability. Be sure to check the stability of the bowl before purchase so that there are no surprises during the first test of the device.
6. Additional functions. Each model can have several extensions of its capabilities with the help of a number of nozzles, as well as through the introduction of the necessary control functions. The most popular are:
   • Self cleaning. For the convenience of using the device, this feature is very relevant.
   • Splitting ice. If you are a lover of chilled drinks, then look for a device with the function of "ice breaking".
   • Pulse mode, allows the blender to work jerkily, which is necessary for cooking certain types of dishes.
   • Juicer. This function makes a blender a whole mini-harvester for the kitchen.
   • Coffee grinder.

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Cocktail Recipes in a Blender

To pamper your children, prepare a milkshake. The easiest option:

1. Cut the banana into 5-6 pieces and place in the bowl.
2. Add 1 chocolate ice cream (without a cup).
3. Pour 200 ml of milk (add vanilla if desired).
4. Beat all ingredients with a blender for about 3 minutes.

For adults, we offer “Strawberry Daiquiri”:

For 4 servings you need:

• 60 g of frozen strawberries;
• 50 g of sugar;
• 12 ml lime juice;
• 50 ml of lemon juice;
• 25 ml of lemonade;
• 75 ml of rum.

Important! First, grind ice, strawberries and sugar in a blender, and then add the rest of the ingredients. Whisk thoroughly.

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Useful Tips

Features of choosing a specific device model depends on your goals and objectives. Of course, you can purchase two types: a submersible and a stationary blender, but this is an extra cost. Therefore, use the following tips when choosing a device type:

1. If you have a mixer, then immediately discard the submersible option.
2. If there is not enough space in the kitchen, then discard the stationary option.
3. The main selection criterion is the frequency of use and the number of processed products. If you cook often and a lot, like juices, then buy a stationary blender. And if you cook rarely, mainly only for your beloved, then buy an immersion option.

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Stock footage

Even if you have acquired a new assistant, do not rush to get rid of old, proven appliances. Of course, blenders are universal devices, but they are not omnipotent. For example, only an electric meat grinder can cope with several kilograms of minced meat, and a food processor will help cut a whole bowl of salad for the holiday. A blender, of course, is a good thing, but for short-term use - every day and a little. Enjoy the shopping!