Jeff Flowers on November 28, 2017 0 Comments From sweet smoothies to yummy sauces, blenders can be one of your best friends in the kitchen. This handy appliance has such a wide variety of uses that you probably find yourself turning to it for all sorts of delicious dishes. No matter what type of blender you have in your kitchen, there are some safety concerns that come along with its use. From things that may break your blender to ones that can lead to dangerous accidents, there are many common mistakes that can be easily avoided by following some general rules. To ensure you get the most life out of the device, we’ve created a list of foods that you should never put in your blender. 1. Foods That Are Thick & Gooey Keep your blender in top condition by not trying to give it something it can’t handle. Potatoes, dough, and other thick or gooey foods may, at first glance, seem completely blender-worthy. Don’t let their cordial appearance fool you. It may be tempting just to drop one of these in a blender and let it do the work of dicing, stirring and mixing them for you, but this is the wrong tool for the job and will likely just damage the blender. If the foods are too dense, it may create an unsafe environment for others in the kitchen. This is because foods that are too thick will cause the blender to work harder and overheat. This will just burn out the device, while increasing the risk of a fire or electrical hazard. As if that weren’t enough of a reason to avoid blending these foods, let’s be honest, this is a terrible way to make mashed potatoes. You probably won’t get the fluffy, delicious results you want. Instead, you’ll end up with a starchy disaster. The same thing goes for dough. Failing to mix your dough thoroughly can be a problem for baking, creating unpleasant floury lumps in whatever you’re trying to make. And, nobody wants to take a bite of that. Instead of using a blender for these foods, try using a stand or hand mixer. You’ll not only get better results, but you’ll have less to clean up. 2. Foods That Are Sticky We loved dehydrated foods. But, these are definitely a no-go for blenders. Sun-dried tomatoes and other dehydrated fruits are not only difficult to blend, they often times leave behind a sticky mess all over the blades of your blender. As a result, you’re left with a gummy-like mess that’s an absolute headache to clean. And if you don’t clean it all off, you likely get a weird aftertaste with other foods you blend. Another reason to avoid putting sticky foods in the blender, is because the leftover residue can actually make the blades duller. This obviously will make it harder to blend other foods, eventually leading to the appliance needing to be replaced. If you’re dead-set on blending dried foods, try soaking them in water or juice before you blend them. This will make the foods easier to blend, and lower the risk of damage to the device. 3. Foods That Are Hard Blending anything that’s too hard can cause a lot of damage to most blenders. The most common problems can occur when you try and blend super-hard foods, such as spices or frozen ingredients. These Foods May Include: Frozen fruit Frozen vegetables Whole ice cubes Whole spices Coffee beans Of course, frozen foods are one of the most common ingredients in many of your favorite blender recipes, but don’t worry, you don’t have to give them up. A simple fix for this issue is to partially thaw frozen fruits and veggies before you blend them. For recipes that call for ice, try using crushed or nugget ice as an alternative to larger cubes. This will be much easier on your blender. 4. Fibrous Foods That Are Tough To Grind Although they are an essential part of a healthy and balanced diet, high fiber foods can prove somewhat burdensome to blenders. Broccoli is one of the worst offenders, and should not be blended unless it’s been steamed or boiled first. Unless you have top-of-the-line commercial blender, you’ll find that some high-fiber foods don’t actually blend, but more “shred” leaving you with a stringy smoothie. This also poses a challenge when it comes to cleaning up, too. It’s worth noting, however, that if blended in small amounts with plenty of liquids and other foods, you will likely have minimal issues. So, don’t completely exclude broccoli… At least not yet. 5. Hot Liquids Whenever you’re handling extremely hot liquids, you should always exercise quite a bit of precaution. This is no especially important when hot liquids, such as soup or bulletproof coffee, meet your blender. Steam from hot liquids can build up inside the blender, potentially creating enough pressure to “blow” the lid off the top, perhaps even splashing a scalding mess in all directions. Even if the lid stays put, the steam may burn you when you take it off. If you have a really cheap blender, you can also expect the excessive heat to wear down and dull the blades inside. This will make it less efficient, and ultimately, you’ll have to replace it sooner than expected. This is certainly one area where it’s better to be safe than sorry. If possible, allow all liquids to cool down before you start blending. You can always reheat it after you’re done. 6. Spoons (And ALL Other Utensils) This is really just an exercise in common sense. But, let’s take a moment to remind everyone that you should never stick a utensil in your blender while it’s running! Spoons, forks, knives, or anything else you might use to try to use to push stubborn food down into the mix. All of these can get caught in the spinning blades. This could not only break your blender and fling food everywhere, but it might be dangerous to you as well. So, how should you handle all those troublesome foods that just won’t go down? The safest way can be to turn the blender off, maybe even removing it from the base. Then, use your spoon or other utensil to push it down into the mix. Replace the lid and turn it back on. Make sure any utensils and, more importantly, your hands, are always safely out of the way and the lid is securely attached before you turn your blender on. 7. Attachments That Aren’t Designed For Your Blender There can be many different attachments available for blenders. While they can be very convenient to the home chef, they don’t work across all models. This is why it’s important to make sure that any attachments you use with your blender are made by the same manufacturer and designed for your device. Attachments that aren’t meant to go with your specific blender may not fit the base properly, and will likely only damage both the base and attachment. In extreme circumstances, you could possibly increase the risk of electrical shocks or fires. Stay Safe. Don’t Make These Mistakes. Staying safe around this handy appliance doesn’t have to mean that you sacrifice any of your favorite smoothie recipes. Blenders offer a wide variety of benefits, and can be one of the most convenient ways to add more fruits and veggies to your daily routine. By following a few simple rules, you can ensure that you get the most from your blender, as well as stay safe and limit the amount of mess you make.
