The blender crusades have begun! As another year draws to a close the popular brands release new blender models just in time for Christmas, hoping to entice shoppers to buy for loved ones or to fulfill an overdue new year’s resolution. There are many manufacturers in the marketplace producing these popular blenders – but they don’t all make the cut.
We’ve all seen what they can do on TV, but do they stack up to the claims made by the advertisers? Do they have the ability to make soups, ice cold smoothies and chunky salsas? Well, not exactly – according to the Blender Republic. There are some major differences and facts you need to consider before taking the plunge.
Hot Soups
It’s true that the friction produced by blender blades has the ability to heat the contents they are blending. Sadly, it’s a myth that these types of blenders (bullet blenders) are capable of producing hot soups.
Bullet blenders often have an enclosed container that the blades screw on to. This creates an enclosed space that steam has nowhere to escape. If you were to try, you’d quickly find the cup holding your contents would soon crack, creating a mess on your kitchen counter top. On top of this, the motors are only designed to work for 10 – 60 seconds.
A blender that has a pitcher such as the ones produced by Vitamix can do this. The pitcher has a pour spout or valve at the top that allows steam to escape. These blenders are designed to work constantly at high speeds for 5 – 10 minutes without placing to much stress on the motor.
This year’s new range of blenders have an optional pitcher you can attach to your bullet blender. Along with making bigger batches, you can add pre heated ingredients to the blender to create hot soup. Keep in mind these blenders too are not designed to operate for long periods of time.
If you have an older model, you still have options. What you can do is heat the contents separately. This is achievable by placing your content into your blender and blending it down to a liquid. You then transfer the content over to the stove where the contents can be heated safely.
Smoothies & Salsa
These blenders are designed to create smoothies. Each blender comes with an instruction book and often a cook book with up to 50 smoothie recipes! They are nutritious, tasty and perfect for people looking to lose a little weight when combined with regular exercise.
These blenders will power through soft ingredients such as banana, spinach and avocado with ease. Some will tackle more challenging ingredients such as nuts and ice; but this dependent on the power of the motor and design of the blade housing.
Salsa is achievable by pulsing the blender. This is done by gently pressing the cup into the base to spin the blades for a few seconds at a time. You then take the cup off the housing to shake the ingredients around to ensure proper coverage. You’d want a less powerful blender for this task.
Don’t hold the blender down for too long a period of time or you will quickly find your salsa turning into a liquid! A combination of roma tomato, red onion, garlic, a splash of white wine vinegar, lime juice and coriander will work a treat in a less powerful 200-watt blender.
Power
When you examine the difference between Magic Bullet and Nutribullet in a side by side comparison table, you’ll quickly notice the whopping 400 watt difference! To start, your entry level blenders typical pack 200 watts of power compared to the beefy 600 – 900+ watt motors found in stronger models.
Sadly, the less power your blender has the less it will have the ability to break down tougher ingredients such as ice, nuts or vegetables like celery. They will do well however with ingredients such as water melon, avocado and protein powder.
This year, a new range of blenders have been introduced that offer a whopping 1000+ watts of power. With this much power at you finger tips, you’ll have no issues with nuts or frozen berries. Keep in mind that you often get what you pay for – these new products will set you back an extra $20 – $40. If you can stretch a little further, it’s well worth the investment.
To Conclude
If you are considering a bullet blender, make sure you are buying it for the right reasons. While cheaper than a traditional blender, they are designed for a smaller range of uses. If you plan on making a smoothie or something to mix your protein power with – you won’t be disappointed.
If you are expecting hot soups, dips or even peanut butter – you’d best reach a little deeper into your pocket for a more powerful and feature packed blender.
