A hand blender is a handheld blender that looks a lot like a stick. It has a long drive shaft that can be submerged in liquids. Hand blenders are best known for pureeing soups but they can also be used to make dressings salsas whipped cream and more. These gadgets are popular with chefs because they allow you to blend items without having to transfer them to another appliance or container saving you time and reducing the amount of dishes you have to wash. If you don’t have an immersion blender don’t worry. There are other appliances and techniques you can use to achieve the same results. See below for suggested substitutes for several popular recipes that call for an immersion blender.
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 Kitchen Gadgets Zone | 2023-03-05 13:45:02 |  47,932 Views |
Don't Buy a Hand Blender | Reasons Not to Buy a Hand Blender
Soups are usually cooked on the stovetop in large cooking pots or Dutch ovens. If you are making a smooth soup such as tomato soup split pea soup or bisque an immersion blender is the perfect tool for pureeing your soup. You can achieve the same result by ladling a few cups of soup at a time into a blender or food processor and blending it. If you choose this approach be sure to work in small batches especially when the soup is hot. This will prevent the soup from splattering or exploding in the blender or food processor. Only fill the blender halfway and make sure the lid is securely in place before turning the blender or food processor on. If you don’t want your soup to be perfectly smooth don’t puree it all the way through. For example some cooks prefer pea soup with a few more whole peas. You can also use a blender or food processor to puree bean dishes that require a smooth texture.
Making salad dressing mayonnaise or salsa with an immersion blender can be quick and easy. A food processor can be just as effective for salad dressings and mayonnaise. Instead of dumping the ingredients into a mixing bowl and turning it on you simply blend the ingredients in the food processor bowl and pulse until the desired texture is achieved. This is especially useful if a recipe calls for adding the oil in a steady stream. Simply drizzle it in through the food processor’s feed tube to mix it with the other ingredients. A food processor can also blend hummus and pesto well. For salsas simply chop the ingredients finely enough to achieve the desired texture. Granted this will result in a slightly chunkier salsa but it will taste just as good.
Some cooks like to use a hand blender like the Black+Decker Kitchen Wand to mix eggs and batter or whip cream. While this can be convenient and easy a hand blender can also do the trick; it has the added benefit of adding a bit more air making for a fluffier end product. If you have one of those fancy multi-blade blenders you can also use it to whip batter and cream.
