Kitchen blenders are essential for preparing blended meals such as smoothies, purees, and nut butter. However, blenders can be put to use in many creative ways beyond these typical applications, which many people miss out on. Blenders can be used for a wide range of tasks in the kitchen, from making flour to grinding coffee to chopping vegetables, all while saving you time and effort. This post will discuss 5 unique applications for typical kitchen blenders to help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Making Flour
Have you ever thought about making flour using a blender? You only need a household blender and a few fundamental ingredients and techniques to make flour. Select the cereal you intend to grind into flour, such as wheat, oats, or rice. After that, fill the blender at most halfway with the grain to keep it manageable. For several minutes, with the mixer running at high speed, grind the grain until it resembles a fine powder.
To ensure that all of the grain is being ground uniformly, it is necessary to stop the mixer at regular intervals and stir the contents. Store the flour in an airtight receptacle once the grain has been ground to the desired fineness, and repeat until the desired quantity of flour has been obtained. Ensure the flour is safe to eat by thoroughly cleaning the blender after each use to avoid cross-contamination. Making your own flour is an enjoyable and economical way to save money without sacrificing the quality of baked goods, bread, and pasta.
Mixing Batter
You might not be familiar with this, but mixing the batter is another inventive use for household blenders. A blender can help you quickly and easily make a perfectly smooth and evenly mixed batter, whether you’re creating pancake batter, waffle batter, or cake batter.
You must first collect all of the ingredients and measure them out in accordance with the recipe you’re using before you can begin blending the batter. Afterward, add the dry components to the blender last and then add the wet ones. The batter will be more uniformly mixed as a result of this.
Next, start the blender on low speed, then gradually crank it up as the batter begins to come together. Overmixing the dough can lead to tough, dense pancakes or cakes, so take care to avoid doing it. Turn off the mixer after the batter has been thoroughly combined, then take the pitcher off the base.
After being scraped from the pitcher’s sides with a rubber spatula, the batter should then be poured into a mixing dish. From there, you can continue with your recipe as usual, whether it’s pouring the batter onto a griddle for pancakes or baking it in a cake pan.
Grinding Coffee
If you enjoy coffee, you can grind coffee beans in your mixer. To avoid overheating the blades, use a grinder attachment or briefly pulse the legumes. It’s best to use a high-powered blender with sharp blades. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, you can still grind the coffee, but the process may take a bit longer.
Measure out the right number of whole coffee beans depending on how much coffee you want to prepare. Use 2 teaspoons of coffee beans for every 6 ounces of water as a general guideline. Don’t fill the blender any higher than midway when adding the coffee beans. To make coarse coffee grinds, turn on the blender and pulse the coffee beans a few times.
Make sure the coffee grounds are the proper consistency for your brewing technique by checking their consistency. Blend them for a few more seconds if they are too grainy. Use a sieve or coffee filter to get rid of any big granules if they’re too fine.
Making Soup
Making soup is also one of the unusual applications for kitchen blenders. Blenders can be used to quickly prepare delectable and healthy soups and smoothies, milkshakes, and other drinks.
Chop your chosen herbs and veggies into small pieces. Any veggie combination, such as carrots, celery, onions, and tomatoes, is acceptable. After that, cook your veggies in a big pot until they are tender and soft. They can be boiled in water or stock or sautéed in butter or oil.
After your veggies have finished cooking, allow them to cool before adding them to your blender. Blend on high until the soup is smooth and creamy, then add just enough liquid to cover the veggies.
Add more liquid if your broth is too thick. You can add more veggies or a thickener like cornstarch or flour if it is too thin. Add the desired amount of salt, pepper, and spices, such as garlic, thyme, or rosemary. Remix just once more to integrate the seasonings.
Chopping Vegetables
Another unusual application for a kitchen blender that many people might need to be made aware of is chopping veggies. It can save time and effort and is an excellent substitute for using a conventional knife and chopping board.
Vegetables should be washed, peeled, and cut into tiny pieces. This will facilitate even chopping in the mixer. Put the blender’s jar with the chopped veggies inside. Avoid packing the jar too full to avoid uneven veggie chopping.
Give the blender a few pulses to get the vegetables to the required consistency. Avoid overdoing it to prevent the veggies from becoming puree. Use the tamper in the blender to push the veggies in that direction. This will make it easier to guarantee that all the veggies are chopped uniformly.
Making salsa, dips, and other dishes that call for finely chopped veggies is straightforward when using a blender to chop the vegetables. However, using a mixer requires caution because the blades can be very sharp. Always adhere to the manufacturer’s directions and take the appropriate safety measures to prevent any accidents.
The Different Types of Blenders
If you don’t already own a blender, you presumably intend to purchase one now that you are aware of its numerous uses. The type of blender you want to purchase is the first item you should think about. From there, you have a wide range of options to choose from, including different brands, features, and models. Discover the various kinds of blenders and their advantages and disadvantages by viewing the infographic below.
Overall, blenders are multipurpose kitchen tools that can be used for many different things besides just blending soups and smoothies. Blenders can be used to create distinctive recipes and textures that are challenging to achieve with other culinary tools, which is why some people prefer using them. Renters may find it handy to have a kitchen blender because it is a mobile, multipurpose appliance that is simple to move from one place to another. There is also an upward trend when it comes to the number of people who would instead rent than own a house. It was reported that three in four Millennials had given up on homeownership by 2020 because they are more likely to have a spot to rent than to own a home. With this trend, blenders having other uses may be crucial to save more space in homes or small rented apartments.