If you have ever tried cleaning the blades in a countertop blender after making a smoothie and did the same with a nutribullet then chances are that you stopped using your countertop blender. Nutribullet units are usually small in size, have a small capacity, and are pretty easy to operate and clean when compared to blenders. The cleaning process is straightforward because you can easily separate the blades from the cup.
Cleaning Nutribullet blades
Most nutribullet’s have three distinct parts, the cup, the motor part, and the cap which has incorporated the blades. Before cleaning your nutribullet blades you should always ensure that it is disconnected from the wall socket and detached from the motor and the cup.
The first step would be to detach the cup together with the blade cap from the motor compartment. Open it up, and separate the blade cap from the cup. If you were making a smoothie, chances are that there are a lot of thick residues left behind on the blades, but which you can easily remove by running tap water over the blades.
Important to note is that the nutribullet blades are sharp thus calls for careful handling when cleaning, processed foods that are characteristic sticky must be washed off immediately a good example being peanut butter. If the peanut butter accidentally, dries up on the blades, you risk harming yourself as you try to wash it off. Besides, you are going to use a lot of energy trying to clean it or improvise ways that might wear out the nutribullet blades.
Once you have removed the remnants of the food, you can put the blades in the top rack of your dishwasher for thorough cleaning and disinfecting. For proper sterilization, you can wash the blades with dilute vinegar and a water solution or use lemon juice. If you accidentally left your blades out and the foods that you blend are stuck, you can use warm soapy water, and a dishwashing brush to loosen the dirt.
And while dishwashing might seem like the best way to clean and disinfect your blades, it is not advisable because there are high chances that the gasket may get damaged, and come out. Your blades can be cleaned thoroughly without removing the gaskets, besides once you loosen the gasket, your nutribullet will not work as it should in the future. You will also be voiding your warranty incase the unit is still covered by warranty.
Do not remove the gasket
Cleaning a nutribullet blade is easy because the blades are easily accessible, however, some people go as far as removing the gasket. We do agree that you might be thinking of bacteria developing from the stubborn food remnants that might have found their way into the gasket, but that is not remotely possible because the gasket is usually tightly fitted and the warm water that you use to immediately rinse out the food particles keeps it clean.
Removing the gasket will partially destroy your nutribullet as it will not take its rightful position when you put it back. Once removed the gasket becomes loose, it is, therefore, okay to just clean your blades with the gasket in place.
Types of nutribullet blades and their cleaning processes
The extractor blade- has four sides, and is used to process fruits and vegetables into drinks. The extractor blade is the hardest to clean and carries more risk in terms of harm. The blades are sharp given their application thus the soil must always be removed immediately to avoid using your hands to access the stubborn debris. Once cleaned, you don’t have to wipe the blades, leave them to dry, and then attach them to the cap for safety.
The milling blade– also goes by the name flat blade, and is normally used to grind grains, nuts, coffee beans, or seeds. The blades can also double up as a chopping blade, but for this option, you have to use proper pulsing technology. The milling blade does have a very simple design, it is, however, very sharp given its application but also the easiest to clean.
Getting under the blade is easy whether you are using a brush or a sponge, and just like the extractor blade, cleaning the blade in a dishwasher might affect its functionality and durability. Once cleaned the blade must be left to completely dry out and then attached to its cup for safety and durability.
The nutribullet extractor cross blade – is a combination of the milling and extractor blade, and this one presents the biggest challenge if cleaning by hand. A utensil brush must be used on the extractor cross blade, and food residue should be rinsed out immediately after processing.
The extractor cross blade must be disinfected because of their orientation, as they are likely to retain food residue on the underside or at the attachment between the blade and the plastic cup. Warm water is a necessity when cleaning the extractor cross blade, to ensure that all food remains have been eased out and which makes using the brush easy.
Vinegar and lemon juice are the perfect solutions to use when deep cleaning the extractor cross blade.
Conclusion
As you use and clean your nutribullet there are a few points that should be at your fingertips, for example, the gasket must not be detached, because it will affect the functionality of the nutribullet in the future. Always rinse out the foods that might have remained on the blades after processing to make it easy to clean and lastly, don’t use a dishwasher to clean your nutribullet blade because its functionality might be compromised and the blades could become blunt. Most importantly is that the nutribullet blades must be replaced after every six months.
FAQ’s
Must I replace my nutribullet blades after every six months?
Yes, you must replace your nutribullet blades after every six months because the black oil gunk produced will cake up and prevent the blade from running smoothly.
Why does the nutribullet blade smoke?
The nutribullet blade smokes because the bearing set up has failed, to rectify this situation you must replace the blade.
