Chefs have been working with their hands to mix together ingredients for centuries, and it’s not too hard to give your food the same treatment. Mixing together a sauce or salad dressing is easy enough to just whisk or shake in a bowl, and we all know how potatoes can be mashed with a masher.
Of course, there are times when we need something more powerful than our hands: like when making dressings like vinaigrettes and mayonnaises, and mixing eggs and various cream-based soups. There are actually three common alternatives that chefs use that don’t require fancy equipment: those food processors you see on TV; veggie grinders; and immersion blenders.
Food Processors
The food processor, or FP, is a tool that most of us have in our kitchen. They’re also very handy for making soups, pureeing vegetables for soups, and are great for making sauces. They fall in the same price range as blenders, although they’re not quite as powerful. The biggest problem with food processors, however, is that they’re not very versatile. Because of their design and small sizes (for the most part), it’s difficult to use them for tasks such as whisking eggs for scrambled eggs or whipped cream (not impossible though).
Besides that, the bigger models do a great job at processing solid and liquid ingredients. Some of the best combinations for a food processor are using it in tandem with other tools, such as using a whisk to emulsify sauces inside it.
Vegie Grinders
These are like food processors on steroids. A vegie grinder can operate as a high-speed blender or food processor. They’re also very powerful, and can pulverize just about anything you can throw into them (within reason). There are two types of vegie grinders: manual and electric. Manual models have a crank that you turn manually to crush or blend your foods, while electric ones plug into your wall socket.
This is a great tool for creating colorful, vibrant smoothies and soups. The only issue you’ll face with these machines is the noise; they tend to get very loud when in use. A heavy duty food processor or blender will be able to do this task at ease, but you might want to consider something less powerful if you plan on blending up anything other than homestyle soups and smoothies.
Immersion Blenders
Don’t let the name fool you; immersion blenders aren’t made to just blend things at home (although they can also do that). These are great tools if you’re creating a sauce or pureeing vegetables and want to add it to a pot of soup or a stock. They’re much easier if you’re making something that requires a longer period of time to cook, like mashed potatoes (you can basically use an immersion blender as a masher).
Immersion blenders can be easily stored in your kitchen cabinet and they’re small enough to go wherever you need. These are good for mixing fruit smoothies, but not so good for mixing up heavy cream or eggs. Overall though, these aren’t the best choice for making creamed soups, but they do save space and money for those who just want to do everything by hand.
Chefs have been working with their hands to mix together ingredients for centuries, and it’s not too hard to give your food the same treatment. Mixing together a sauce or salad dressing is easy enough to just whisk or shake in a bowl, and we all know how potatoes can be mashed with a masher.
Of course, there are times when we need something more powerful than our hands: like when making dressings like vinaigrettes and mayonnaises, and mixing eggs and various cream-based soups. There are actually three common alternatives that chefs use that don’t require fancy equipment: those food processors you see on TV; veggie grinders; and immersion blenders.
Food Processors
The food processor, or FP, is a tool that most of us have in our kitchen. They’re also very handy for making soups, pureeing vegetables for soups, and are great for making sauces. They fall in the same price range as blenders, although they’re not quite as powerful. The biggest problem with food processors, however, is that they’re not very versatile. Because of their design and small sizes (for the most part), it’s difficult to use them for tasks such as whisking eggs for scrambled eggs or whipped cream (not impossible though).
Besides that, the bigger models do a great job at processing solid and liquid ingredients. Some of the best combinations for a food processor are using it in tandem with other tools, such as using a whisk to emulsify sauces inside it.
Chefs have been working with their hands to mix together ingredients for centuries, and it’s not too hard to give your food the same treatment. Mixing together a sauce or salad dressing is easy enough to just whisk or shake in a bowl, and we all know how potatoes can be mashed with a masher.
If you don’t have a blender, you’ll need to make do with whatever alternatives you can find. To make smoothies, try using a coffee grinder or hand mixer, or combine fruit and vegetables in your blender for about 10 minutes. If you want to julienne something, use a mandoline slicer. However, if all else fails and your mission is to complete the perfect blended drink (like skinny lemonade), just add some ice cubes and then blend until smooth!
Here are some tips for survival without a blender:
– Try chopping meat into little pieces instead of mixing it with vegetables as they release water.
– Use a hand mixer if you’re in a hurry.
– If you want to blend salsa or soup, use an immersion blender.
– A long, thin spatula is great for mixing drinks and sauces.
Note: This list is courtesy of the internet. I take no credit for it.
TIP: That’s all the blender I own. Buy a cheap one for £4 and then go to work and make smoothies with it every morning. You’ll be very popular indeed when you’re at the office!
How do you make a smoothie if you don’t have a blender?
I’ve heard a lot of people say that you can’t make smoothies without a blender. I disagree. There’s no way you can make a smoothie without a blender – but you can use special equipment if needed.
Whipping up some pulp – add in two frozen bananas, one cup of non-fat powdered milk, 1 tsp of sugar, and one tsp vanilla extract. Blend for 5 seconds, then add your ice cream. Although you can’t really whip anything with a hand blender, you may want to consider adding one or two ice cubes while blending to make it thicker. Too little liquid is necessary when making a smoothie to use a food processor.
Try the simplest thing first – blend bananas, milk and yogurt and see what happens. Add some honey if it’s too tart. You can add some vanilla or cinnamon if desired. Five seconds should be enough for the blender to do its work before adding ice to create smoothness. Some apples and honey makes for a good smoothie that’s thick without being overly sweet. Always try adding more milk f he beverage is too thick after blending. Pour it into a cup and drink it cold. Enjoy!
Freezing Fruit – Freezing fruit is another way to optimize smoothies so that you don’t have to use a blender or food processor; simply add the frozen fruit in before blending, using ice cubes if needed. It’s also good for making an icy slushy from scratch. Frozen bananas are great for this – don’t forget to peel them first. Smoothies made with frozen fruit will be thicker than ones made with fresh fruit, so consider that when creating your beverage. The more milk or yogurt is added, the thinner the smoothie will be as well, so experiment by adding milk or yogurt first and then blending together everything else you want to add.
What can I use if I don’t have a blender for soup?
If you don’t have a blender, you can use an immersion blender. You’ll have to learn how to handle it though. If you’re making a pureed soup, it’s best if you puree in portions, storing and then reheating later on. Make sure the container is deep and wide enough for the immersion blender.
For leafy greens, I recommend the Cuisinart Hand Blender for $30 – which I’ve used for soups as well as smoothies and veggie dips – but any hand blender will do just fine. If it’s summer, toss fresh herbs and avocado into your smoothie for vitamin-packed goodness that goes down easy with a glass of ice water poured over it. Or try this green smoothie with mint and cucumber.
How do you make homemade mayonnaise?
The basic recipe for mayonnaise is a few egg yolks, some oil, and vinegar or lemon juice. Combine these ingredients in a bowl and whisk it up until it’s emulsified. If the mixture is curdled with the yolk breaking down – which might happen if you use low-fat or non-fat ingredients – simply place the mix in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to re-combine until creamy again.
If you don’t want to use an immersion blender, you can also use a blender. Place the ingredients in the blender and process until creamy. If you pour the mayonnaise into a bowl, put some ice cubes in there first and blend until smooth. Because it’s emulsified now, it won’t separate out when you add more oil or lemon juice.
Can I use a mixer instead of a blender?
A hand mixer is the best choice for blending smaller quantities, as it can mix a small amount of ingredients together quickly. It’ll get your job done, but you won’t have to strain anything because you’re not using a blender.
A food processor would be best for making sauces and dips, as well as smoothies to use with an immersion blender if needed. This would also incorporate more than one recipe at once without having to make sure they don’t interact with one another or cause an explosion in the food storage compartment.
How often should I clean my blender?
I recommend cleaning your blender every six weeks, particularly if you’re making tea. If you don’t have a removable blade, you should use a cloth or brush to scrub down the sides and base of the appliance, but if you do have a removable blade – make sure it spins easily. Some blenders are quieter than others, so test them out to see how your neighbors will take it before making a big meal out of it!
TIP: When cleaning, I recommend using distilled water to avoid minerals from your tap water (and other impurities) entering your blender and causing damage.
Is there a hand blender that’s worth buying?
The best hand blender would be one with at least a 3-cup capacity, although the KitchenAid Artisan Series KSM150PSER, at $99 for 5 cups ($85 on Amazon) would be the best bang-for-your buck choice. It has a 700 W motor that can quickly chop through frozen fruit or smoothies puréed with an immersion blender. It also comes with 500 ml of chopper cups for making dips or purees in larger quantities.
Food processors are great for preparing sauces and dips, but if you want to make smoothies, soups or chopping vegetables – a blender is the best choice. Food processors come at a higher price than blenders – but this isn’t always the case. So, think about what you’ll need before buying that appliance!
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