Hello to everyone who is staying with me or just joined! A wave of new holidays is approaching soon and it’s time to think about what to give to your other half, mothers, sisters and grandmothers. Have you already started to come up with that very necessary thing that you cannot do without? Today I want to talk about the best gift for me and how it dramatically changed my life. Drumroll! This thing for me was a blender! Now I can’t imagine my kitchen without it, and I’m happy to share with you what you can cook in a blender.
This thing has been an indispensable assistant for me for several years now, and how did I live without it before? It easily grinds, beats, mixes, chops. To be honest, my diet has become much more varied and healthier. I tried a lot of new recipes. That's how I switched to healthy eating.
Cream soup
I started preparing them literally a few years ago, when I was given my perfect and compact blender. You just boil everything, whack-whack, and a delicious simple dish is ready. It’s hard to imagine how I lived before without them. They cook in 20-30 minutes and have a thick consistency. Puree soup is always fresh, unusual and satisfying, especially if you are on a diet or just watching your diet.
Soup options
- Pumpkin in chicken broth. All you need for it is pumpkin, potatoes, greens and onions with carrots. Boil everything, grind it and serve with cream, crackers or raw pumpkin seeds. Spices you can add include curry and nutmeg.
- From spinach (all the same ingredients, only we replace the pumpkin with spinach),
- From broccoli ,
- From fresh green peas ,
- Mushroom cream soup from champignons.
I can eat them all the time. And by the way, such dishes are convenient to take with you for lunch at the office or on a trip. I also tried a drinking diet, soups fit perfectly into it. In that article, I described the results of losing weight and how I felt.
The device of a blender and what can be prepared with it
Blenders are different from blenders; accordingly, each device differs in type and has an individual design. Without exception, all kitchen choppers are equipped with a built-in blade (knives), the number of cutting parts can be different, a container for processing food, various attachments and glasses, and additional functions.
After preparing the product, let the device cool down before starting it again.
Using this unit, you can easily prepare smoothies, fruit and vegetable purees, pureed soups, as well as gruels and yoghurts for feeding infants. You can use a blender, which has the function of uniformly grinding food, at the height of the canning season. The device becomes an ideal assistant for cutting vegetables for wrapping.
If you plan to make a milkshake, your blender model should come with a special glass and two knives located at the same height.
Bronecoffee
For this wonderful drink we will need:
- 15 g butter 82.5 percent fat;
- Cream or milk to taste;
- Natural coffee freshly brewed in a Turk or geyser coffee maker;
- A teaspoon of ghee or coconut oil.
Place the entire list in the bowl and turn it on for 30 seconds. You will get aromatic coffee with a delicate foam in the blender; the presence of fat is not felt at all until the mixture has completely cooled. Bronecoffee can replace breakfast or a snack, the main thing is not to eat cookies.
This bulletproof cocktail, and its original name is Bulletproof coffee, is very popular on keto and Low Carb High Fat diets. They focus on high-fat and low-carbohydrate foods.
Sauces
Garlic
- 100 ml Greek yogurt or sour cream;
- Finely chopped fresh dill;
- 3 large cloves of garlic;
- Salt to taste.
Goes well with Borodino croutons or homemade dumplings.
Cranberry
This sauce is a great addition to steaks cooked on a grill pan. The recipe is described in the article at the link.
- Glass of water;
- 150 grams of sugar;
- 2 cups cranberries.
How to cook
- First, boil the water and sugar for 5 minutes to make a syrup.
- Then add the ground berries to the mixture and simmer for another 5 minutes. If you want it sour, add more cranberries.
Sunflower seed pate - a healthy breakfast product
The distinctive properties of seeds are the richness of microelements necessary for the body. Let's use a blender to prepare a delicious and very unusual snack that can be eaten both for breakfast and throughout the day.
You will need:
- sunflower seeds - 1 tbsp.;
- basil greens - 30 g;
- lemon juice - from 1/3 of a whole lemon;
- garlic - 1 tooth;
- paprika, salt - to taste;
- parsley - 30 g.
Sunflower seeds are a great boost of energy for the body.
Cooking method:
- Peel the seeds and soak in cold water for several hours.
- Then combine the product with the remaining ingredients in a bowl and add to the blender jar.
- Set the desired speed and grind the mixture until smooth. After the product is ready, it can be eaten.
Smoothie
For those who don’t know, this is a mixture of juices / kefir / yogurt / milk, etc. with various fillings (fruits, vegetables, berries, muesli, etc.). Sometimes it can be simply ground vegetables/fruits with additives for every taste.
These smoothies are an ideal snack or breakfast option. Children eat such food with greater joy (of course, you can drink it through a straw). By the way, this is a great way to feed them fresh vitamins.
My favorite drink is a banana smoothie made from cottage cheese, chia seeds, fresh berries and, of course, bananas. For me, this food serves as a snack, and in the summer it replaces lunch. It turns out satisfying and healthy (after all, it contains fiber, vitamins, and lactobacilli). You can find out whether bananas make you fat or not, here.
Submersible models
Blenders of this type are an elongated handle, vaguely reminiscent of a bat due to its diameter decreasing closer to the cutting elements, and is usually used for quickly chopping small volumes of soft fruits, vegetables, herbs, or preparing simple creams.
The basic configuration of a typical submersible modification of the device usually includes:
- Handle with cutting elements. It is with its help that the cutting speed, operating mode and other parameters are selected. It also contains a drive, thanks to which the knives begin to chop food;
- Graduated containers made of plastic or glass. Budget devices are usually supplied without it.
It should be noted that not all manufacturers indicate the key feature of submersible models, namely, that they work much better and of higher quality if whipping, chopping or cutting products is carried out with the addition of liquid. It simultaneously cools the cutting edges of the knives and acts as a lubricating agent, increasing both the speed and quality of operation of the device.
Homemade ice cream
Banana diet
- 2 ripe fruits;
- 30 ml coconut milk.
The amount of ingredients is indicated for two servings. Add finely chopped walnuts to the finished mixture. Place in the freezer for 3 hours. Use special molds or cut the prepared delicacy into slices.
Strawberry fatter
- Take cream 33%;
- Fresh strawberries;
- Juicy kiwi.
Whip the mixture and freeze, you will get delicious natural homemade ice cream. Add mint leaves if desired.
This kitchen gadget, of course, gives room for experimentation. It will be your faithful assistant in switching to a healthy diet, because you can use it to make healthy lunches, the right sauces, and low-calorie snacks.
Homemade mayonnaise
For example, you can cook and no longer buy this sauce in the store, because there it is fatty and does not provide anything valuable to the body. And it’s very easy to make mayonnaise at home, for this take:
- 1 egg;
- 200 ml vegetable or olive oil;
- Half a teaspoon of mustard;
- A tablespoon of lemon juice;
- Salt and sugar to taste.
Everything needs to be blended for 5-10 minutes in a blender, and the low-calorie healthy dressing for soups and salads is ready. If you have been wanting to give up junk food for a long time, here is the first step towards it.
Grinding of solid products
Of course, not every blender is suitable for handling solid foods. Necessary nuances:
- presence of grinding degree adjustment;
- power from 500 W;
- overheat protection.
The equipment will not fail if you grind intermittently, allowing the engine to run for no more than one minute.
Sugar
You can turn sugar into powdered sugar using a hand blender or in a blender glass:
- sugar is poured into a completely dry container;
- turn on the second mode or higher;
- The powder is ready in a minute or two, depending on the volume.
For the submersible model, select a higher bowl or glass. As you grind, sugar dust will rise.
Nuts
The nuts are pre-dried in the oven or in a frying pan and then cooled. Peanuts, hazelnuts, and walnuts are peeled off by rubbing them wrapped in a towel. Almonds are cleaned before drying by pouring boiling water for 10 minutes.
If you need nut flour, you need to grind continuously. To obtain pieces, turn on the blender several times briefly for 5 seconds.
Ice
To crush ice, the blender must have an appropriate function, durable blades and a jug made of impact-resistant plastic. Ice crushing occurs in pulse mode. The most well-known companies producing reliable devices with this mode: Redmond, Bosh, Philips, Braun.
Coffee beans
Coffee can be ground with any blender that has an airtight blending container. The dishes must be completely dry. Medium speed is suitable for grinding. In a minute you will get medium ground coffee.
Curd layer cake
I also love cottage cheese baking, so my faithful assistant whips up the filling for me. Sometimes I make a layer cake with a curd and fruit layer.
- cottage cheese with my favorite fruits;
- Egg;
- A pinch of salt, cinnamon;
- Cover with thinly rolled puff pastry;
- I put it in the oven for 20 minutes at 180 degrees.
Tasty, fast, juicy. A simple recipe for unexpected guests or lazy housewives like me. And there are a lot of such recipes on the Internet.
For good health
This mixture contains antioxidants and a bunch of vitamins, strengthens the heart, cleanses blood vessels, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and greatly improves the immune system. For the paste you will need 4 equal parts:
- Dried apricots;
- Prunes;
- Walnut;
- Honey.
If desired, you can add dried figs, dates, lemon and raisins.
Mix everything in a blender and eat one or two teaspoons with tea daily. It is not necessary to store in the refrigerator, just cover with a lid and leave on the table. Don’t get too carried away - the pasta is quite high in calories, and honey and nuts are the strongest allergens. Moreover, they have a cumulative effect. I experienced this myself before the New Year :(. I had to take Cetrin for a whole week.
Top rating of the best
Our analysts, together with service technicians, identified the best options for stationary blenders and compiled their own small top. To select specific models, we relied on sales data and customer service information, and also conducted our own tests. In this review, all models are equal in terms of price/quality ratio, you can choose the one that suits your needs:
- UNIT UBI-401 - power 500 W, control - mechanical, smooth speed adjustment, additional modes - pulse, ice crushing, self-cleaning function, jug material - glass, there is a hole for ingredients, price about 2000 rubles;
- RAWMID Dream Classic BDC-03 - power 1500 W, 27000 rpm, mechanical control, 30 speeds and smooth speed control, bowl material - plastic, price tag from 10,000 to 12,000 rubles;
- Polaris PTB 0204G - a small blender with a power of 600 W, mechanical buttons, number of speeds: 2, body material - plastic, jug - glass, there is a drain tap and a hole for ingredients, a short cord - 1 meter, the average price is around 4000 rubles;
- Braun JB 5160 - power 1000 W, mechanical control, drain tap, plastic body, glass jug, continuously adjustable speed, cost up to 9,000 rubles.
- Kambrook ABL401 - power 800 W, mechanical control, drain tap, plastic body, but glass jug, smooth speed control, price 5,000 rubles.
This brief overview of the models shows the dependence of the price on the configuration, functions performed and the brand of the device. Nevertheless, each model is capable of performing the required tasks efficiently. You can safely choose any of these best, in our opinion, models.
If you want to navigate by brand, we recommend paying attention to the following companies: UNIT, Braun, Vitamix, Kamrook . These manufacturers have proven with large sales that their devices are good.
Cocktails
Another interesting option is what I use a blender for - for cocktails with or without alcohol. I love drinks with crushed ice. My electric hard-working baby whips and mixes even hard ingredients like ice quickly and well.
Alcoholic Pina Colada
- White rum Bacardi 30 ml;
- Pineapple juice 90 ml;
- Malibu liqueur 30 ml;
- A couple of ice cubes;
- Whipped cream (you can make it yourself from 33% cream with added sugar, beat in a blender for 5-10 minutes).
Non-alcoholic Pina Colada
- Coconut milk 100 ml;
- Pineapple juice 50 ml;
- Ice to taste;
- Whipped cream 50 ml (you can save a little and use condensed milk, only a teaspoon, otherwise it will be very sweet).
Glasses can be decorated with a slice of pineapple or orange, insert an umbrella and a thick straw.
Nozzle functionality
To increase the functionality of the units, special attachments are used. Some of them are included with the blender, others are sold separately. If necessary, any elements can be purchased in the store.
Nozzles:
- for submersible devices;
- for hospitals (installed in a bowl).
According to functions they are classified into groups:
- stirring;
- for whipping;
- cutting (grinding products).
Special attachments are available (perform only a specific action) and universal ones.
Attachments for immersion blenders
Nozzles of various designs are attached to the “leg”:
- main chopper (in the form of blade knives);
- attachments with a perforated crown (for preparing fruit, vegetable and meat purees);
- hook – reinforced design for kneading dough with a dense consistency, suitable only for devices with high power;
- whisks in the form of a circle or frames for mixing;
- vacuum attachment (included with trays).
Conventional whisk attachments allow you to whip light dough, creams, and protein mixtures into a fluffy foam. Vacuum nozzles are installed in containers with products, then air is pumped out from there. As a result, the shelf life of food increases significantly.
Attachments for stationary blenders
In such units, nozzles are installed in a bowl. The kit usually includes several different types of shredders (basic set), but there are models with an expanded set of additional elements.
Nozzles available:
- graters;
- for preparing dough of various consistencies;
- knives for chopping food
- slicing discs;
- for cutting into cubes;
- juicer;
- for crushing ice;
- for creating emulsions.
The cutting elements are mounted on a rod inside the container and driven by the device’s motor. The lid covering the container has a hole for adding ingredients without stopping the blender.
Knives of blade designs are designed for grinding. Made from stainless steel, due to their strength, they grind and crush products of varying degrees of hardness. Knives and grating devices are installed in special disc holders. Used for slicing, producing vegetable or fruit shavings, and noodles. Since the cutting elements are arranged in fragments, sometimes defects “slip through” - large pieces.
Attachments for obtaining cubes consist of a special mesh, through the cells of which the product is pressed, and knives. When extruding, the cutting elements cut off the extruded part, producing a cube.
Using a paddle attachment, ice cubes and crushed ice are obtained, and a cone with vertical holes and ribs is convenient for preparing freshly squeezed juice from lemons, oranges or tangerines.
All types of blenders have dough attachments. Kinds:
- paddle attachment – kneads light, low-viscosity dough;
- rotating hook - for thick dough.
The latest models of blenders include a spiral attachment designed to produce emulsions of uniform consistency. When using a whisk to mix two ingredients, air ingress makes it difficult to achieve uniformity. A vertically rotating spiral prevents such contact; the compounds are screwed into each other and distributed evenly.
Cupcakes PP
- One ripe banana;
- 50 grams of oat or wheat bran;
- 1 selected egg;
- 50 grams of yogurt, better than natural, without additives;
- Half a teaspoon of baking powder.
This composition is enough for 6 molds, fill them about 80% - the cupcakes will rise slightly, and the dough will not be rubbery, as often happens in pp experiments.
Bake for 25 minutes at 175 degrees, I use an air fryer. If desired, you can add lingonberries, poppy seeds or sesame seeds. An excellent option for those who are on a diet or eating healthy, trying to limit the consumption of sugar and flour.
Where to buy a blender?
Submersible, stationary and sports versions of blenders can be ordered in the following online stores:
- Ozone ru. Promo code OZONJ23216 will give you 300 points for your first order.
- Yandex Market.
Many models have good customer reviews, read before ordering. Most sites offer free shipping within one to two days. Here is an article that will help you choose a blender for your home.
Do you have such a faithful assistant in the kitchen? Tell us about the things you can’t imagine cooking without! And don't forget to share posts on social networks. Well, I’ll go look for new topics for you. See you later!
Advantages and features of each type
The basic functionality of these two types is the same. Differences:
- design;
- appearance;
- technical specifications.
Each type of blender has its own advantages and disadvantages.
"Pros" and "cons" of submersible devices
A blender with a handle and a “foot” is usually bought by owners of small kitchens. The device is compact, does not take up much space when stored, easily fitting into drawers. Often such units are hung on the wall.
Benefits include:
- small sizes;
- light weight;
- ease of operation;
- the ability to prepare food in small portions (sauces, baby food);
- easy care.
The submersible model works with any container, the main thing is that it is deep enough to beat or mix the product. Using an immersion blender it is easy to prepare baby food (small portions). After preparing the dish, the nozzles and the “leg” are rinsed under water and dried.
Disadvantages include:
- low power of the device (hospitals are usually more powerful);
- difficulty in grinding solid products.
An immersion blender cannot be left without attention; it is not suitable for autonomous operation. The handle of the unit is held in the hand and the process is controlled. When purchasing, pay attention to the number of speed modes and power.
On a note!
Blenders with a power of 400-600 W with 4-6 speed switch positions are more convenient to use.
Such models have less functionality than devices with a bowl.
"Pros" and "cons" of stationary devices
The units look like food processors. Advantages of the devices:
- possibility of autonomous operation according to a given mode;
- loading a large volume of components (the exact quantity depends on the capacity of the bowl and power);
- the presence of a lid on the container that protects against the release of products during whipping, mixing or chopping;
- affordable price.
But such blenders will require a special place in the kitchen. “Minus” is the difficulty in grinding small products that are crushed non-uniformly.
