Posts Tagged ‘mini blender’

Ten Great Uses For Mini Blenders

November 2nd, 2009

Mini blenders really can do a lot of things around the kitchen. Whether you received a mini blender as a gift, or are just curious about whether you should buy one, here is a list of ten great things you can do with them, which should help you get an idea of other roles they can perform as well.

  1. Thickening soups. Soups made of  vegetables and meat in a broth (such as beef stew) may seem a bit watery. You don’t have to add cream to thicken them. Use a hand held immersion mini blender to puree even just some of the ingredients; this will thicken the broth and do wonders for the soup’s color and texture.
  2. Making pesto. The darling of pasta, pesto is a simple blend of basic, pine nuts, olive oil, and sometimes other flavorings. Use a mini food processor style blender to make a fresh batch on the spot.
  3. Salsa. Simply add chunks of tomato, onion, and your favorite pepper to have quick, fresh salsa on hand, even in single servings!
  4. Whipped cream. Immersion mini blenders often come with whisk attachments, allowing you to whip up fresh whipped cream in no time.
  5. Powdered sugar. Did you know that powdered sugar is just regular sugar cut very very fine? Use a mini blender to grind up regular sugar; it’s easy, cheap, and saves space in your drawer.
  6. Salad dressing. Why buy salad dressing when you can blend your own? Throw some oil, vinegar, and seasons into a mini blender and you have fresh, emulsified dressing in seconds.
  7. Chop nuts. Durable mini blenders can grind and chop tough things like nuts, so they’re instantly ready for salads, baking, and other recipes.
  8. Smoothies. If you always make too much smoothie or milkshake in the full blender, use the mini blender for a more appropriate size.
  9. Hummus. This classic blend of garbanzo beans and tahini is exceptionally simple in a mini blender. Dip with pita chips and enjoy!
  10. Chopping. Mincing onion, garlic, and other soft vegetables is a breeze in a mini blender. Don’t was time (and tears) –just throw in some chunks and you’ll have tiny pieces in no time!

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Useful Attachments For Mini Blenders

July 17th, 2009

Size isn’t everything, so don’t go thinking that mini blenders are limited to fewer functions because of their size. In fact, these more approachably scaled kitchen appliances do many more things than you would expect. And since they are small, it’s easy to change out a portion of the tool and have something that serves an entirely different purpose—without taking up much more space (or money) to do so!

Here are some of the top attachments for mini blenders that allow you to diversify your skills and revolutionize your kitchen:

  • The whisk. Immersion mini blenders are a hand blender intended for immersion in soups, sauces, and smoothies. Replace the blending attachment with a whisking attachment and you have the perfect tool for beating eggs, whisking flour, whipping cream, and making meringue. The best part: your arm won’t get tired.
  • The chopper arm. The blending arm of an immersion blender is generally intended for relatively soft foods and liquids. But some higher end models can be quickly converted into a food chopper (like a food processor). The chopping attachment fits on in lieu of the blending attachment, and usually comes with a lidded bowl or container in which the vegetables are contained while being chopped.
  • The chopper blade. Standing, food-processor style mini blenders usually have a single, lower blade, but for slicing and dicing vegetables, it comes with a higher blade specifically meant to slice more cleanly.
  • The food chute. Higher quality food processor style mini blenders will come with a chute that allows you to gradually add food to the running blender. This is particularly useful when paired with the chopper blade.
  • Storage containers. Many mini blenders come with specific storage containers, matched in size to their capacity. This means you can easily make a batch of pesto, salsa, hummus, or even salad dressing and easily store it; no worry about finding the right size container to do so.
  • Blending containers. Immersion mini blenders can be immersed into an already-in-use container (such as a big soup pot). Or, many come with blending-specific bows (often with high sides) that work perfectly with the appliance.

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