You might have gotten an immersion blender as a gift. Because it’s such a simple tool, you might not know just how handy this little kitchen tool truly is. Because it’s so small, you could be thinking it isn’t a very strong appliance – but it is, believe me.
All About Immersion Blenders
I can tell you that the immersion blender is used to blend sauces, soups, gravies and – smoothies. These little appliances are also called stick blenders because their long, slender profiles look like sticks. Your blender should have a few attachments that allow you to blend different kinds of foods for yourself and your family.
With an electric cord at one end and the attachment connection at the opposite end, you’re able to set it up pretty quickly. Immerse the attachment into the food and liquid you need to blend, turn it on and you’re in action.
You may not have much room in your kitchen for large appliances or gadgets. You might need to blend large amounts of food, which make a traditional blender less of an option for you to use. The biggest benefit of your immersion blender is that you can stick it straight into the pot in which you’re cooking your food.
Several Tips
I have a list of the different kinds of foods you can make using your stick blender:
- Cream soups, such as cream of potato or cream of celery;
- Make gravy or a bechamel sauce;
- Make frozen smoothies using frozen fruits, almond milk or yogurt.
Here’s a few ideas for chopping foods:
- Quickly chop up cilantro, onion and tomato to make guacamole;
- Chop garlic for sauces and pasta sauces
Use the puree tool:
- To puree cooked foods for sauces.
- Want some hummus? Puree cooked chickpeas and season accordingly.
- Mix up a whipped cream for your desserts.
- Pretty much anything you need to make, your immersion blender should be able to handle.
Suggestions for Use
Let’s talk about how to use an immersion blender for smoothies. If you’re making only one or two smoothies, why take out your traditional blender? When you’re done with it, you have to dismantle it, then wash all the parts, the O ring included. I don’t know about you, but I hate washing the blade because I’m afraid of chopping off several fingers. But I know that, if I don’t get it 100 percent clean, I run the risk of the left-on food getting spoiled, making my family and me sick. No, thank you! I’ll use my immersion blender instead.
Instead, divide the fruits, veggies, milk or yogurt and, if you’re using it, the flax seed powder into individual serving glasses. We enjoy bananas, strawberries, spinach, avocado or even blueberries in our smoothies. Push the mixing attachment all the way into the glass, turn the blender on and carefully spin the glass, raising and lowering the blender so you blend everything together. When that smoothie is done, repeat the blending process with the second glass. Just be careful not to raise the blender all the way out of the smoothie while it’s spinning or you’ll have a big mess.
Related articles
- Best Immersion Blender (immersionblenderreview.wordpress.com)
- Making a Banana Smoothie in Your Blender (houseware.answers.com)
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