An immersion or hand blender is a very important tool in your kitchen. Its small size makes it easy to store anywhere, it’s very easy to clean, and it’s super versatile. However, most of us don’t know how to use an immersion blender without splashing.
Handheld and immersion blenders have taken over most kitchen counters because of their multi-purpose use. But, how do you use an immersion blender without splashing? You need to use a high-sided container like a tall pitcher and keep the blade completely covered while you’re blending. Always turn the blender on and off while in the food and keep its blade and hood submerged. If you bring the blade to the top so that part of it is in the air, it will cause your food to splatter all over your kitchen.
Start to blend near the top of the container, then slowly move down and back up again. Start with a low setting so you can get the food uniformly chopped up before raising the speed, especially if you have chunky food that might take a while to chop up before you can safely raise the speed without splashing. Occasionally splashes will happen if the blade isn’t in contact with the food, especially if you get too near the bottom of your container or if you’re trying to puree something really thick.
Features of a good immersion blender
Features |
Use |
Power |
Only use continuously for 1-2 minutes at a time.
Most of the immersion blenders have a power capacity of between 225-600 watts that can blend soft fruits and veggies and also blend fibrous greens, crush ice and make nut butter from nuts |
Speed settings |
A wide variety of speed settings allows you to gradually increase the speed while blending to prevent splatter |
Blades |
The blade guard covers the blade and encourages optimal circulation which prevents splatter and some have different blade attachments for various tasks |
Corded or cordless |
Corded have to have a wall outlet while cordless is portable and convenient |
Noise level |
Powerful motors are noisy but you can get one with less noise |
Ease of cleaning |
A removable blending ward will make it easy to clean and can be dishwasher safe or may require hand cleaning |
Attachments |
Chopper and whisk attachments add versatility for performing various cooking tasks |
How to use immersion blender without splashing
Here are a few tips that will help you in blending your food without splashing.
Size of the container
When you decide to use a hand blender, you’ll need to first check the size of the food bowl you’ll be using. If your container is large with no side covers, you’ll surely make a mess. Instead, you should get a high covering container that is the right size, not too large or too small, and one that is taller and less wide.
Depth of the bowl
If your bowl has a small height, food will splatter immediately after you start mixing with your hand blender. Look for a deep bowl that will give you enough blending area and room for your batter not to splash.
Diameter of the container
A container with more width means more splatter, so get a container with a smaller diameter. A blending jar with a small radius makes it easy to move the stick blender around the container and you don’t need to cover a lot of distance, so you have fewer chances of splatter.
Use right-hand movement while blending
When using an immersion mixer, the most important rule is the hand rule. If you move your hand the wrong way, you could ruin everything. Avoid horizontal and round movements, but hold your blender tight and use the vertical movement, this way there will be no food mess to clean up after.
Blender holding angle
It important that you hold your blender in the right position so that it can reach the bottom, but doesn’t touch it. This way it keeps your pureed food inside the container and you avoid having to clean up a mess. Don’t hold your blender too high or up because it will create a pull, so for easy blending, tilt the shaft a bit and hold it deeper.
Avoid the vortex movement
This means you should avoid moving your blender in a circular rotation because the quick swirling motion will fling your food all over your kitchen walls. This repeated rotation accelerated the food you’re blending which makes it difficult to stop the mess you’ll make.
Control the blending speed
You should always remember not to turn on the blender before you submerge it into the food you’re blending. Then check all your speed levels on your stick blender and start with a low setting. Once you get a uniform and less chunky consistency, you can increase the speed. But if you start with a high speed, you will leave some lumps which will increase your chances of splashing.
Use a lid
Even after following all the above tips, it might not be enough to control splashing, so you can take a paper plate and make a small hole where you put your blender shaft and this will act as a swash protection lid.
Conclusion
It can be a bit tricky to use the immersion blender so you don’t make a mess in your kitchen, but once you get a handle on things, you’re set to go with a less messy kitchen. If you love to cook and want to make your work easier, an immersion blender is the best tool to use.
FAQ
Can you use an immersion blender for baking?
It’s not a great tool to use for mixing wet and dry ingredients so it doesn’t work well in mixing cake batters or whipping things. This is because it doesn’t incorporate enough air into the mix.
Can I use a hand blender in hot soup?
If you’re making hot-blended dishes and soups, let the dish cool for about 20 minutes before blending so you don’t burn yourself with drops of hot soup.
