Thread Number: 76992
/ Tag: Small Appliances
What do you use your Blender for ? |
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Post# 1009081   9/30/2018 at 05:34 (2,007 days old) by mrboilwash (Munich,Germany)   |   | |
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When I grew up my mother had a 60`s Kenwood Chef and the only thing she used the liquidizer attachment for was to make us kids a banana shake or maybe grinding nuts for baking.
I only have a stick blender now because space is precious in my kitchen and admittedly it doesn`t get much use. But still curious what others use their handsome countertops for on a regular basis. |
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Post# 1009094 , Reply# 2   9/30/2018 at 06:50 (2,007 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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You'd be surprised.... I use mine most for recipes where ingredients have to be chopped and mixed into liquid. Muffins are a good example - you mix the liquid ingredients (milk, eggs, oil) then add any fruits or nuts that you want chopped. Full disclosure - I still pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ones and mix by hand!
I make my own mayonnaise and variations thereof in the blender, along with salad dressings which benefit from the 'chop in liquid' approach above. Soups are a something I make a lot - not just Vichyssoise or Borscht in the hotter months, but vegetable/meat combinations made with fresh or leftover veggies. I have a couple of cake recipes (adaptations of European torte recipes) that have ground nuts in the batter and I make these in the blender too. I prefer making a regular shortening-type case with one of the mixers, however I do make a few with the blender just to prove to people that you can... LOL I could write a book about what I make with the blender.... Oh wait, I did! It has been rejected by every publisher I sent it to so far though....
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Post# 1009097 , Reply# 3   9/30/2018 at 07:17 (2,007 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Post# 1009120 , Reply# 4   9/30/2018 at 08:26 (2,006 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )   |   | |
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Post# 1009127 , Reply# 5   9/30/2018 at 08:43 (2,006 days old) by joeekaitis (Rialto, California, USA)   |   | |
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Double-strength Abuelita or Ibarra Mexican hot chocolate.
Grind a whole Abuelita or Ibarra Mexican chocolate puck to a powder. Turn off the blender and add 2/3 cup powdered nonfat milk, a pint of just-boiled water, a teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 heaping teaspoons of instant decaf.
Hold the lid in place with a folded dishtowel and start the blender on low, working your way up through the speeds to minimize splashing and overflow. When you've reached the ideal speed (no overflow), let it run for 2 to 3 minutes. Switch off the blender and quickly divide the contents into 2 20-ounce mugs so both get the same layer of foam on top.
When it's really cold outside, pour a jigger of coffee liqueur into the bottom of each mug. DON'T stir after pouring in the hot chocolate. You want those little pockets of coffee liqueur as you sip. |
Post# 1009166 , Reply# 8   9/30/2018 at 13:56 (2,006 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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If you own an Osterizer of any vintage, you can get a "Fusion" blade for it and effect results nearly as good as from a Breville or Vita-Mix. There's also a milkshake blade available.
Osterizers are the most versatile of blenders IMO, offering a few different blade options depending on the task, and the ability to fit any size of standard-mouth mason jar onto the blade assembly for either small jobs or instances where you want to blend and then store.
I don't "regularly" use my blenders, but when I do it's almost exclusively for drinks, be they non-alcoholic smoothies (a beautiful black/silver/blue Lady Kenmore Osterizer clone -- thanks Nate!) or typically blended cocktails such as margaritas, grasshoppers, pina coladas, various fizzes, and when I feel inclined, slightly slushy gimlets like my friend's mom used to make.
My bar blender is a vintage Waring that consists a "rocket ship" type base and "waterfall" carafe with an unusual blade that crushes ice with ease. Its slim footprint takes up less space than any other blender, which allows me to keep it out on the bar to admire.
I did recently use my LK blender to make sauce for shrimp culichi. That was the first time I'd used it for cooking purposes in I don't know how long. |
Post# 1009177 , Reply# 9   9/30/2018 at 15:06 (2,006 days old) by moparwash (Pittsburgh,PA )   |   | |
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We store coupons in it
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Post# 1009180 , Reply# 10   9/30/2018 at 15:28 (2,006 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Post# 1009183 , Reply# 11   9/30/2018 at 16:29 (2,006 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)   |   | |
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Post# 1009184 , Reply# 12   9/30/2018 at 16:30 (2,006 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)   |   | |
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Post# 1009185 , Reply# 13   9/30/2018 at 16:30 (2,006 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania )   |   | |
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I have an Osterizer Cyclomatic 50th Anniversary and a Lady Kenmore blender
I use it pretty much only to make an occasional chocolate-cherry milkshake and to make vinaigrette dressings. On rare occasion I use while making a small batch of applesauce, usually I make so much a Foley food mill is easier. |
Post# 1009188 , Reply# 14   9/30/2018 at 17:13 (2,006 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)   |   | |
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Post# 1009210 , Reply# 17   9/30/2018 at 20:11 (2,006 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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My Breville is most frequently used to make Salsa Verde and Jell-O recipes that incorporate cream cheese.
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Post# 1009218 , Reply# 18   9/30/2018 at 20:51 (2,006 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)   |   | |
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The Oster ice crusher blade is superior to the regular blade for everything, not just ice. |
Post# 1009227 , Reply# 19   9/30/2018 at 22:47 (2,006 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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Agreed Tom. I keep the ice crusher blade in my Osterizer all the time. I have the fusion blade as well, but I only use that one if I'm doing a smoothie from scratch.
Most of the time I make the orange smoothies from the packets. They're the closest thing to an Orange Julius even though they can't compare to the real thing. |
Post# 1009236 , Reply# 20   10/1/2018 at 00:19 (2,006 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)   |   | |
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Oster blenders-the OLDER ones were the best-you can use the newer blades and containers on them.Those are a good alternative to VM.Vintage and commercial Warings are good-same with commercial Oster if you can find them. |
Post# 1009285 , Reply# 21   10/1/2018 at 17:25 (2,005 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area)   |   | |
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I occasionally use mine to make a chocolate shake, but more often I use it when I make French salad dressing. |
Post# 1009292 , Reply# 22   10/1/2018 at 18:25 (2,005 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)   |   | |
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Post# 1009388 , Reply# 25   10/2/2018 at 18:20 (2,004 days old) by Ultralux88 (Denver)   |   | |
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I've got Grandma's avocado and chrome Osterizer, the Oster mixer, blender food processor thing, and a Nutone food center that I don't have installed. Generally I just use Grandma's, usually just for making tasty things to drink. If I ever get into the habit of cooking more, I'm certain I'll find even more uses... Cooking to me means, what can I make that will involve the most different appliances and gadgets in the kitchen. It can get to be a bit much...
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Post# 1009391 , Reply# 26   10/2/2018 at 18:54 (2,004 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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Post# 1009396 , Reply# 27   10/2/2018 at 19:39 (2,004 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)   |   | |
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Post# 1009444 , Reply# 28   10/3/2018 at 05:03 (2,004 days old) by mrboilwash (Munich,Germany)   |   | |
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This is quite an impressive list, thanks and keep them coming.
I`ve recently seen a beautiful modern three speed beehive chrome Oster in a showcase in Spain, very reasonably priced, was tempted but had no space in my suitcase and it would have been too heavy anyways. Then I thought would I ever use it ? What would I throw out to make room in the kitchen for it ? I remember when I was a kid, must have been sometime in the late 1970s, there was a sales-demonstration for a push button Osterizer on the place in front of a supermarket. This was the one and only time I`ve seen an Osterizer offered in Germany. Anyways, The guy made among a hundreds of other things which I don`t remember anymore a delicious wine mousse. He even threw in a few eggshells to demonstrate how finely they`d get pulverized saying calcium was good for our health. Back then it obviously wasn`t considered a problem at all to hand out a sample of an alcohol containing dessert to a child. Even had a refill :-) Another thing I still remember is when he demonstrated how to rinse and slice cabbage for Krautsalat (the German way of coleslaw) in one simple step. Even as an 8 or 9 year old I was thinking how can he do this to the vitamins. But it was impressive what else you can do with a good blender when you add water and then drain everything in a colander. |
Post# 1009491 , Reply# 30   10/3/2018 at 13:30 (2,003 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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Post# 1009503 , Reply# 31   10/3/2018 at 15:29 (2,003 days old) by LordKenmore (The Laundry Room)   |   | |
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I, too, would like an immersion blender--and for the reason Lawrence cited: pureeing soups. Indeed, about the only thing I regularly used a blender for in recent history was pureeing soup. One reason an immersion blender tempts me--I'm thinking the cleanup will be faster and easier than my regular blender.
Unfortunately, though, no immersion blenders have come along. They appear at Goodwill every so often, but cost more than I want to spend. When sales come around, I've never found one that is a good deal--maybe they sell out quickly once a 1/2 price clearance sale cycle begins.
As for getting all metal to avoid staining, that's probably a good idea. I also don't really like the idea of putting plastic into a hot pot of soup. That said, given how cheap I am, I'd tolerate plastic if it meant I could get an immersion blender for next to nothing. |
Post# 1009511 , Reply# 32   10/3/2018 at 17:18 (2,003 days old) by cuffs054 (MONTICELLO, GA)   |   | |
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I use the Ninja or the BD to make the lemon pie that uses the whole lemon. I also use them to make Banana Choc smoothie using Yahoo soda and frozen nanners. |
Post# 1009657 , Reply# 33   10/4/2018 at 20:26 (2,002 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Once used do not like long lay ups without use.
Since they cannot be immersed in water residue from whatever being mixed can and often gunks up inner works so thing won't turn. Have a nice NOS Baring unit got off eBay years ago now. Used it a few times then put it away. Got it out a few months ago and the thing wouldn't turn on. A quick internet search revealed reason why and how to correct. |
Post# 1009795 , Reply# 35   10/5/2018 at 19:34 (2,001 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Post# 1010104 , Reply# 37   10/8/2018 at 11:52 (1,998 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)   |   | |
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Launderess Immersion blenders can be washed... I toss my KA hend blender in the dishwasher all the time. (Not the motor, obviously) |
Post# 1010143 , Reply# 38   10/8/2018 at 20:00 (1,998 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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But mine (Bamix) like many others have no way to remove the "stick" from motorized part, thus cannot be immersed in water nor placed in dishwasher.
The attachments (various blades)are so small one doesn't dare put them in DW either. www.washingtonpost.com/ne... |
Post# 1010182 , Reply# 39   10/9/2018 at 04:47 (1,998 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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Post# 1010188 , Reply# 40   10/9/2018 at 07:40 (1,997 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Am not doubting what some do with their immersion blenders in regards to automatic dishwashers.
My current dishwasher is a vintage GE Mobile Maid that will blast anything not firmly anchored to kingdom come. It has just the one silverware basket and even then small items are impossible. They will simply be shot clear by force of water. Suppose could nestle the small bits from a Bamix blender between stems of cutlery to possibly keep from being throw clear; but the thing is rather small and easily hand washed, so that is that. Why court disaster? |
Post# 1010192 , Reply# 41   10/9/2018 at 08:09 (1,997 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)   |   | |
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Post# 1010194 , Reply# 42   10/9/2018 at 08:50 (1,997 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Post# 1010200 , Reply# 43   10/9/2018 at 10:40 (1,997 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)   |   | |
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I thought that all you had to do to clean an immersion blender was to put it down in a container of water and detergent and turn it on then repeat for rinsing.
Fan of fans, Try using Tang and vanilla ice cream with a little ice water and you can get an intense orange flavor. |
Post# 1010205 , Reply# 44   10/9/2018 at 11:49 (1,997 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)   |   | |
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Note to add to my personal files: Never buy a Bamix hand Blender. This design is simply stupid nowadays. What makes the Bamix so special? |
Post# 1010209 , Reply# 45   10/9/2018 at 13:34 (1,997 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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I can't say what the newer ones are like but I do also own a vintage Bamix and I have successfully used it for typical blending/pureeing/mixing tasks as well as whipping egg whites, mincing garlic or onions, chopping cooked meats, mixing cake batters, and mincing small quantities of raw meat. In fact, my old Bamix was THE only food prep appliance I had in the kitchen of the apartment where Hubby and I lived from 1994 until 2001. It's a remarkable machine! Full disclosure: I also owned a Braun hand blender back in the 80s but I found the Bamix outperformed it! |
Post# 1010219 , Reply# 46   10/9/2018 at 16:54 (1,997 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Bamix is to immersion/stick blenders what La Coupe/Cuisinart is to food processors. They were the first and had the added cachet of being European (Swiss).
Like food processors you can find immersion blenders by many different brands/companies today. Thinking about it rise of the immersion blender may have helped kill off sales of larger blenders, and or even food processors. It will largely depend upon what one does in the kitchen, however many feel they don't need both a large blender and immersion. Stick blenders have the advantage of allowing one to say puree foods right in a pot/pan or other container directly. So if you want to puree something for baby it could be done right in a bowl. This instead of putting into a blender then having to get it all out again. As with food processors sales of immersion blenders took off when nearly every television cooking show featured someone using them. Then of course Madame *had* to have one to be Queen of the Cul-de-Sac. |
Post# 1010252 , Reply# 48   10/9/2018 at 22:50 (1,997 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)   |   | |
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Post# 1016261 , Reply# 49   11/29/2018 at 21:13 (1,946 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)   |   | |
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Right now a Redbridge Sourghum Beer Milkshake, among others, just using beer, vanilla ice cream, and an egg...
-- Dave
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Post# 1016342 , Reply# 50   11/30/2018 at 16:37 (1,945 days old) by ozzie908 (Lincoln UK)   |   | |
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Back in the 70's Mother bought her first Bamix at some kind of food demo party where she had gone with a relative they both bought a blender but ours was a 2 speed model in brown and the other a single speed in grey ditto to yours. It lasted many years and only went in the bin when it burst into flames and melted the switch it had blended many a jug of gravy and soup and the herb chopper was used but not that often as you could only wipe it out not wash so no garlic etc.
The single speed machine was never taken out of its box and so came to replace the one that burnt out at our house its now residing in my Son's kitchen as I have a Braun multi thing that the stick part is separate thus able to go in the DW and although its plastic and not stainless steel like the bamix it works very well even in hot boiling liquid. Austin |
Post# 1016347 , Reply# 51   11/30/2018 at 19:29 (1,945 days old) by fan-of-fans (Florida)   |   | |
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"Fan of fans, Try using Tang and vanilla ice cream with a little ice water and you can get an intense orange flavor." Tomturbomatic Thanks for the info, I'll have to give that a try. |
Post# 1016375 , Reply# 52   12/1/2018 at 00:16 (1,945 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN)   |   | |
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Post# 1016382 , Reply# 53   12/1/2018 at 00:59 (1,945 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)   |   | |
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New blender in my collection---Blendtec "Stealth" to go with my Vita-Mix "Quiet One"-LOVE these machines---gone is the chainsaw roar of usual blenders in the kitchen!You can talk to another person or on the phone while they are blending-even at max speed! |
Post# 1016416 , Reply# 54   12/1/2018 at 07:29 (1,944 days old) by Ultramatic (New York City)   |   | |
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Mostly used to puree. I have the same Waring pictured.
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Post# 1019768 , Reply# 56   1/1/2019 at 20:45 (1,913 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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I made the sauce for Camarones Culichi in my vintage Osterizer (LK Badged) with the "Fusion" blade and it made short work of liquifying the (five) skinned large poblano chiles, coarse chopped onion, and the milk/media crema/bullion powder mixture. I really do think the "Fusion" blade turns an Osterizer into a poor man's Blendtec. But yeah, it can't make ice cream like a Vita-Mix. |
Post# 1019832 , Reply# 58   1/2/2019 at 16:27 (1,912 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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Unless you're a serious blendophile, I don't see any need for a fancy machine. Most people don't use their blenders on a daily basis. For me the Osterizer system is the best one out there for convenience and versatility. The blade assembly will fit any standard mason jar and the assembly itself is easily cleaned since it can be removed from the carafe. The selection of blade options is another plus. I use the ice crusher blade as my standard, and the fusion blade for smoothies and other liquefying tasks.
This design hasn't changed for over 50 years. A carafe bought new today will fit on an Osterizer from five decades ago. The same can't be said for most, if any other make of blender.
I do have a vintage Waring "rocket ship" single speed/toggle switch blender on my bar. The Waring was designed as a bar blender, and the earlier flat-edged blade types (four blades, not the really old ones with only two) are better at crushing ice than the pointed tip blade design that came later. |
Post# 1026574 , Reply# 61   3/8/2019 at 10:50 (1,847 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI)   |   | |
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Recently bought a Whole Bean coffee, because I forgot to read the label to make sure it was Ground...
My mom's grinder was too far away to get, and the cord for it got too tired from being wrapped around the unit, so in short, here's my blender used for grinding coffee, although hard to clean out, and I may have done this feat with it before: (Of "coarse" you should only do small batches at a time, and I probably didn't!) -- Dave |