An immersion blender is a handheld electric appliance for blending or grinding food with a protected blade that can be submerged in the food being processed.
Immersion blenders prove to be a handy tool for more than their compact size and easy-to-clean parts. Also known as hand blenders, immersion blenders are easy to use, clean up and can be used for more than just making soup.
Immersion blenders can be a great addition to your kitchen tools because they are compact, cheap, versatile, portable, and cut down on clean-up time. When you’ve got small tasks at hand — like beating a few eggs, making whipped cream, or mixing salad dressing — or a job where more flexibility is desired, then your immersion blender is the best tool for the job.
Immersion blenders aren’t quite as strong as to stand blenders, so the motor and blade might not hold up well with hard items like frozen foods and ice over time. An immersion blender in the pot is more durable and less clean up when you are cooking. You don’t need to take something (sauces or soups) off the heat when you can blend and puree’ in the pan.
This is what I use my immersion blender for 95% of the time. It cleans up in a cup of warm soapy water and then back in the storage case, unlike washing a blender carafe’.
Table of Contents
- Use an Immersion Blender For
- Advantages of Immersion Blender
- Disadvantages of Immersion Blender
- Is an immersion blender worth it
- Can you use an immersion blender in a Mason jar?
- Advantages of using an immersion blender instead of a stand mixer
- How do I use an immersion blender without splashing?
- Can you use an immersion blender for smoothies?
- Can an immersion blender replace a blender?
- Best immersion blender hacks
Use an Immersion Blender For
An immersion blender is a kitchen tool used for blending soups, sauces, and other liquids. Basically a stick with blender blades at the end of it.
- Beating eggs
- Dutch baby and pancake batter
- Making whipped cream
- Vinaigrette and dressings
- Chunky salsa
- Smoothies without hard ingredients
Advantages of Immersion Blender
- It is handy to use.
- It occupies less storage.
- It can help you in blending smoothies, lassi, purees, and hot and cold blending too.
- It is easy to use and hold and gives quick blending.
- It is cost-effective as compared to a Stand mixer.
Disadvantages of Immersion Blender
- However, it can’t run for a higher time. In some of the blenders, 0ne or two-speed settings are given.
An immersion blender can be used to make things like drinks or soups right in the serving container rather than putting all of the components into a larger blender, mixing them up, and then pouring them into glasses or bowls.
Is an immersion blender worth it
Yes. Call it a stick or hand blender/mixer, easier to say and spell. I have had my Bamix stick blender for more than 6 years, it’s very simple to clean and maintain, with 3 blades for mixing, whipping, and chopping. It whips cream in seconds, makes cake & pancake mixes, and purées soups and sauces. I also use it for my breakfast smoothies since it’s tough enough to chop frozen cubes of passion fruit.
Can you use an immersion blender in a Mason jar?
Yes, but I would do it at a lower speed. If your immersion blender is metal(stainless steel) be careful that the metal wand doesn’t crack the mason jar from repeated impact. Also, make sure it is a real mason jar like ‘Ball Brand’ rated for canning as there are lots of generic mason jars that aren’t strong enough.
Advantages of using an immersion blender instead of a stand mixer
If you make 2 gallons of hot butternut squash soup and you have a 1-quart stand blender then it would take 8 batches of pouring boiling hot liquids into and out of the blender into a 2nd pot. Whereas with the immersion blender the soup could be blended in the original pot.
Advantages of the immersion blender
- Quicker
- Safer
- Easier
- Fewer dishes to wash
How do I use an immersion blender without splashing?
Keep the whirring blades underneath the liquid or other wet food/s being blended and/or use a tall container if not blending in a pot/etc of food, and best to use one that’s just a little wider than the width of the blade part and/or put a paper plate with a hole and slit on top of the container while blending, or gather a towel/etc around the top.
Can you use an immersion blender for smoothies?
If the smoothie calls for anything with chunks, such as ice or pieces of apple, forget it. You need a smoothies blender, I have a Vitamix that you can make and heat soup in. The blades are so powerful they heat the ingredients to boiling from friction alone.
If you have time to waste, be my guest. Don’t add ice though and don’t expect a good smoothie Plus that immersion blender will fall apart mighty fast.
Can an immersion blender replace a blender?
Sort of. Immersion blenders are good for blending cooked foods or softer ingredients. Standard countertop blenders perform better at blending hard ingredients and can puree a wider range of ingredients due to their ability to pull ingredients down to the blade.
Best immersion blender hacks
My choice stick mixer, immersion, or hand blender trick or hack is to use it in creating an emulsion. For example, mayonnaise or vinaigrette where you are supposed to add your fat slowly as you quickly whisk it into your acid.
Instead, I put all of the ingredients into a cylindrical vessel, notice that everything sinks, and the oil is suspended on the top. Then I put the mixer all the way flush to the bottom and turn it on the stuff at the bottom is mixed but the oil remains on the top. Then as I slowly bring the mixer up towards the surface more and more oil is incorporated and if you do it right you end up with a perfect emulsion in half the time.
I hope you have got ideas of the Benefits of an immersion blender for your kitchen.
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