There are only so many appliances you can fit in your kitchen, should you make space for both of these? Trending Videos
Limited storage is a real issue but even if you have plenty of space in your kitchen, theres only so much need for all those kitchen gadgets and gizmos. (When was the last time you used that pasta maker?) So while a recipe may call for an immersion blender—you know, one of those handheld, stick-shaped tools that you can immerse directly in a pot of soup—do you really need it? Or would a regular blender work just fine? And if you have an immersion blender, do you need to upgrade to a larger, more powerful regular blender?
Whether youre setting up your first grown-up kitchen, looking to declutter, or simply want to know if that immersion blender is really worth clicking, buy now, heres what you need to know.
Wet ingredients: In general, if your recipe calls for ingredients that are mostly liquid or soft—like a smoothie, Sriracha sauce, green juice or a pureed soup—a blender will be your best bet. In addition, if you are making something that you can drink or eat without chewing, use a blender instead of a food processor.
When the Immersion Blender Excels
Thanks to their small size, immersion blenders are helpful for small batch recipes like homemade whipped cream, ganache, and vinaigrettes.
Another advantage of the immersion blender is that you can blend ingredients without needing to transfer them. Many home cooks like to use an immersion blender when making soup or blending other hot liquids, rather than go through the sometimes messy process of transferring the liquid to a regular blender and needing to clean the blender after use. But as Ziata notes, an immersion blender can replicate the smoothness of a lower-end blender, but will take longer to do so, and doesnt have the same power as a high-end blender. “For soups, you can pulse the immersion blender a few times right in the pot (with the heat off), partially blending it, to add thickness to the soup without completely puréeing it. This works great in bean soups,” she says.
When You Should Use a Regular Blender
A high-quality regular blender is a kitchen essential. Its a versatile tool that you can use to make everything from soups to alt milks to nut butters, and they are instrumental for blending big batches of food or handling hard ingredients such as ice or frozen fruit.
“Regular blenders are used to make pourable purées, such as smoothies, soups, dressings, and sauces,” says Ann Ziata, chef at the Institute of Culinary Education. “Not all regular blenders are created equal, so you will notice a difference between lower-end and higher-end blenders. A high-powered blender will create a perfect, velvety smooth texture from fibrous ingredients like fruit, vegetables, and nuts that an immersion blender would not be able to achieve. “
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FAQ
Is it necessary to have a blender?
Are blenders a necessity?
Do I need a blender if I have a food processor?
What if I don’t have a blender?
Should you use a blender or a food processor?
You can purée food in either appliance, but blenders are usually better at this task. Crushing ice? “That’s the blender’s job, as the ice can damage the food processor’s chopping blade and plastic container,” says Cindy Fisher, who has tested both appliances for Consumer Reports for more than 20 years.
Do you need a regular Blender?
A high-quality regular blender is a kitchen essential. It’s a versatile tool that you can use to make everything from soups to alt milks to nut butters, and they are instrumental for blending big batches of food or handling hard ingredients such as ice or frozen fruit.
Should I buy a blender jar or a mini food processor?
“ The shape of the blender jar will funnel the ingredients into the blades better, whereas the ingredients will just rattle around the food processor bowl if there’s too much space,” Gallary says. A mini food processor, however, would be her preferred pick—or simply chopping everything by hand. But do I really need to own both?
Why should you buy a blender guide?
This buying a blender guide will consider important factors and will lead you to choose the right blender for your kitchen needs and budget.