Blender is a wondrous invention for your kitchen. It is mostly an electronic appliance to make it easier to blend or mix ingredients together. Blender saves hours of hard works. For those who like experimenting with cooking, having a blender is a must.
On the other hand, you cannot imagine a professional kitchen with a heavy-duty blender. Even if you don't do any advanced cooking, just want to save some time in making your shakes or drink, you should get a blender for that.
There are different types of blenders for various purposes. Though generic blenders are used to make drinks, they can be used for other things too. Where some simpler blenders function in just a specific way, others are capable of different functionality.
Different Types of Blenders
Depending on functionality, there are several types of blenders. Blenders, juicers, and mixers are more or less the same. For slight variations in use, they are categorized under different names.
1. Countertop Blender or Jug Blender
Countertop blender is the most conventional and popular choice for the kitchen if you are not concerned about kitchen top space. Commonly it has a jug like structure, so it is known as a jug blender too. It is a versatile blender that you can use in different ways.
You can use it for making smoothies, soup, sauces, or different pastes. This type of blender is useful if you want to make something from scratch. You can also use ice in it.
Countertop blenders come with a few speeding options. You can adjust the speed of the blade's movement using the controllers. The jug is detachable, and you need to attach it to the motor body to function.
2. Single-Serve Blender or Bullet Blender
Single-serve blenders are popularly known as bullet blenders. These are designed to make juices or smoothies for one person. Some come in a bigger size to serve two people. These types of blenders are easy to use. These might not have a lot of options for processing food other than drinks.
These types of blenders usually come with a glass-like jar and a motor body. These have powerful blades to crush ice, as these are mainly designed to make smoothies or other cold drinks. Most of these blenders come with lids. You can cover the cover after blending.
3. Hand Blender
A hand blender is a single handle blender or mixer. They look like a stick and is the best option for a kitchen with less space. It works well yet takes almost no space. Don't get deceived by the size of it.
It is one of the most versatile blenders. You can use it to make mayo, puree, different types of sauces, etc. you can work in a smaller area with this blender, like in a cup. This is a hassle-free tool and easy to use.
Some hand blenders are attached with a chord. Some are battery operated and rechargeable. It might not have too many options for speed-control of the blades. Being a compact tool, it is not very durable. As it has a long body with blades at the end of the body, one can easily use it in a pot.
4. Combo Blender
Combo blenders come with different jars for different types of food processing. They are known as the kitchen system too. Usually, it has a jug for liquid or drinks, a mixer, a grinder, etc.
If multi-functionality is your requirement from a blender, then you should invest in a combo blender. You can get differently processed food from one blender.
It comes with a motor body and several jars that will be attached to the body. The jars have different types of blades for different purposes. These blenders also come with several speed levels for you to control the speed of the blades.
5. Portable Blender
Portable blenders are meant to be carried anywhere; therefore, it does that the best. You can take it anywhere without even worrying much. They are almost the size of a water bottle. For a quick blend on the go, you can use this blender. Don't get confused with bullet blenders. It is even smaller than that.
The key to being portable is to have a way to function on the go without a wire. So, this mobile blender functions using battery. They are rechargeable. Most of them come with a USB port. A portable and small blender is a comparatively new design among blenders.
6. Commercial Blender
Heavy-duty blenders are used in commercial use. These are some of the powerful blenders available in the market. They are big in size and made with heavier and reliable material.
As restaurants, food trucks, etc. need a lot of power and capacity for food processing. It can be used for blending, chopping, grinding, puree, or crushing. Heavy-duty blenders can effortlessly crush ices too. Different types of sauces, gravies, soups can be blended or processed using this blender.
These types of blenders have different levels of speeding controls and features. They can be a bit difficult for everyday use. This powerful tool comes with a higher price too.
7. Blender Bottle
A blender bottle is as simple as it gets. There is no chord, no battery. You need to put your drinks, ice, or other things and vigorously shape the bottle. The items inside will be mixed and somewhat blended. And that's all. This is mainly used for liquids.
This is more of a cup or bottle that is designed to be leak-proof. Usually, it is made of plastic and sometimes can have s silicon lid. It also has a metal wire ball inside. The ball moves inside and helps blend everything.
Different-Sized Blenders
Blenders can be categorized based on size or capacity. The following are the types of blender options that are available.
1. Mini
Personal or portable blenders are considered mini blenders. Usually, they have a capacity of 20 ounces. These are easy to carry around, lightweight, and takes almost no space. They might not be the most durable blenders out there. Mini blenders are convenient and can process a single serving.
2. Small
Small blenders can hold about 20-35 ounces. You can probably process food for two people in a small size blender. These blenders can be used to make smoothies, soup, batter, etc.
3. Medium
The best choice for a small family is to go for a medium-sized blender. It has a capacity of 36-50 ounces. Compared to smaller blenders, these blenders are more durable.
4. Large
Capacity for large blenders start from 51 ounces and goes up to 65 ounces. It gives you enough room to process food for your family. You can easily blend a batch of things without worrying about food going everywhere.
5. Extra Large
Extra-large blender's capacity starts from 66 ounces. They are mostly used for commercial use and by professionals. It can be overwhelming for home cooks. But if you use a blender a lot and need a large capacity, you can look into extra-large blenders.
Conclusion
You can choose a blender from all types of blenders. There must be one that fits your needs. If you have not used one before, invest in it, and experience how easy your life gets.
How much food you are willing to process, how much space do you have, do you need portability? The answers to all these questions will lead you to decide on a good blender for yourself.