How to Use an Immersion Blender Effectively and Safely

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With the advancements in technology taking over every area of our lives, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that a lot has changed in the food industry as well. One such advancement is the invention of immersion blenders.

Never heard of one and wondering how to use an immersion blender? Well, we’ve got that covered. Before you can operate one though, you first have to learn about its primary working mechanism and basic features.

What Makes Up an Immersion Blender and How Does It Work?

An immersion blender, also known as a hand blender, is a handy kitchen tool that is used by both professional chefs and home-based cooks all over the globe. It consists of a motor that is attached at the end of a long shaft.

What the motor does is rotate the cutting blades located at the other end of the long shaft. These blades should be sharp and easy to remove for hassle-free clean-up. The long shaft allows immersion into a food bowl.

For a firm and secure grip, this shaft broadens at the end, which also means you can maneuver the blender easily. At the broadened end, a button is present, which you press to make the hand blender work. This feature helps it to be handheld and user-friendly so that you do not have to really bother about how to use an immersion blender.

Immersion blenders can either be corded or cordless depending on whichever type you want to buy. More often than not, the corded ones are more powerful than those that only run on batteries.

Why Should You Invest in an Immersion Blender?

If you like cooking, then you know that food prep can be quite tedious. Immersion blenders are light and easy to manage, which means that they can be very useful tools in meal prep.

Moreover, most immersion blenders consist of a single body piece, as explained above. This makes them a very compact piece of equipment. What this means is that you do not have to worry about buying other components to accompany it. These components also take up extra space inside your cabinets.

A very important thing to note is that this portable structure of the blender allows you to use it even when the pan is on the stove. This distinguishes immersion blenders from normal blenders and food processors.

In the latter, you are supposed to place the food inside a special container to be treated. Whereas, in hand blenders, it is very easy to just work with them anywhere. They are also different from hand mixers because mixers do not chop or grind. Instead, they just mix and beat the ingredients together.

Finally, here comes the most interesting part, the pricing! Immersion blenders, on an average, cost around $16 to $50 which is very reasonable for the amount of work they can help you with.

How to Use an Immersion Blender

Here are some basics you need to know before you can start using an immersion blender the right way:

Step 1: Getting Started

To start, you have to assemble together all the parts of the blender first. You can mostly do this very easily by following the easy steps given in the manual. However, remember that this varies from model to model.

Once assembled, what you need to do next is plug in the immersion blender to see if the cord length is well suited for your working space and the wire does not bend around. To avoid splashing of food around, make sure that your blender is submerged completely into the mixture.

Step 2: Working and Precautions

Most of these blenders have a simple ON switch. You just have to flick that switch to make the blender work. Immersion blenders only have a single speed, so once you turn the switch on, it will start working.

Before turning it on, you have to make sure that the blades and some part of the shaft are immersed in the mixture. Failure to take care of this step might result in you spattering the mixture all over your kitchen, which is not particularly a pleasant sight.

Nonetheless, make sure that you do not immerse the shaft too much into the mixture as well. Immersing the shaft can cause damage to the motor.

Once you turn the blender on, move it up and down very slowly. This ensures that it blends very well to give a smooth consistency. However, if the ingredient is tough, it is preferable to blend it for a longer time. For example, if you are making a soup of vegetables, then you will have to blend it for a longer time.

When blending, always try to give breaks between the blends. Keeping the motor on and running for a long time may cause damage. It is best to take a 30-second interval after some time.

Care and Safety Tips

  • You can use an immersion blender in a pan, a bowl, or literally any container you want to choose. However, it is best to avoid non-stick pans and glass dishes. Glass can easily shatter due to the vigorous movement of the blade. The non-stick coating on certain pans can chip off too. Therefore, for these reasons, it is advised to keep these two out of the options.
  • Plug out the blender after you are done using it.
  • Since an immersion blender is designed in a user-friendly manner, it is very easy to remove the blades to wash the blender. For washing the blender, remove the blending shaft carefully. The motor is not supposed to be washed at all, but you can take a damp cloth and wipe it off.
  • While removing the shaft be extra alert because there are sharp blades attached to it. You can wash this with mild soap in hot water. This removes the ingredients clinging to the shaft and blades.
  • Once you have washed the blender, leave it out to dry. Later, put the shaft back with the motor and place it away in a cabinet safely.

Final Words

Blenders are mostly used to achieve a very fine and thin consistency in any meal. They break down chunks and pieces into a puree that is smooth in texture. Thus, these blenders work very well to prepare smoothies, pureed soups, or whipped cream. They can even give a creamy texture to coffee in a mug. In short, they are a complete multi-tasking tool.

If you like your coffee to be creamy, you enjoy lots of whipped cream on your cupcakes, and if you prefer your pureed soups to have a rich and smooth texture, then all you need at hand is an immersion blender, an easy-to-use and handy tool for your kitchen.

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