INTRODUCTION
Having a blender in your house becomes easy and less time-consuming, this is because when it comes to cooking time, chopping vegetables and grinding spices manually takes a lot of time and can be stressful especially if you have limited time. This article explains more about blenders, factors to consider before buying a blender, and the best blenders.
WHAT IS A BLENDER
A blender is a kitchen appliance used to mix, chop, and liquidize food and other substances.
THE TYPES OF BLENDERS
The two main types of blenders are:
1. Hand blender
These are electric appliances that you hold in your hand and submerge in food while blending and grinding food. They are also known as immersion blenders/ stick blenders.
2. Countertop blenders
These are blenders that have a motor base beneath a jar with blades inside.
Furthermore, the countertop blenders can be classified into the following:
1. Food processors
These are blenders that have more than 4 functions i.e. 5 in 1, 7 in 1, 8 in 1, and so on. Typically anything that can process foods directly for human consumption. An example of a food processor is a blender that has a food chopper, meat mincer, juicer, and grinder all in one.
2. Commercial blenders
These are blenders that are meant for commercial purposes. They tend to have more watts and have stronger material to withstand long hours of work. They are therefore best for your business.
3. Simple home blender
At Skywave we like to classify them as blenders with not more than 3 functions. Most blender usually consists of one main jar that is used to blend, you can call this a blender-only package. You can classify them depending on the number of functions they can perform i.e. 2 in 1 blender will have a blender and a chopper or a grinder. A 3 in 1 blender will have a blender, grinder, and chopper. Other blenders can also include a whisk.
4. Nutri blender
These types of blenders are usually small in size but they are more powerful. They can blend your fruits in a matter of seconds. With this blender, you will get a consistent mixture compared to other blenders as they tend to break down every cell wall of fibrous foods thus releasing vitamins and minerals.
WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A BLENDER
1. BUDGET
Considering a blender that you can afford is an important factor. Blenders with fewer accessories tend to be cheaper. The size of the blender also determines the price. Blender sizes range from 0.5- 4 liters.
2. FUNCTION / USE
The intended use will determine which blender you should buy. For example, if you want a blender for making smoothies at home you will need a blender that can handle both fruits and vegetables. If you want to prepare ingredients when you cook in the kitchen then a food processor would be the best choice, food processors have blades that can be easily swapped out depending on the task at hand i.e. to chop vegetables, grind spices, and blend fruit.
3. MATERIAL
It is important to consider the material of the jar as that is where you throw in all the food to blend. Blenders with polycarbonate glass jars are better than plastic ones as they are Bisphenol-A (BPA) free which ensures that you don’t consume any harmful chemicals and are stronger than other glass jars and thus don’t break easily. Plastic is more likely to get stained with certain foods for example turmeric.
4. POWER/SPEED
A blender with 350 to 500 watts can do simple tasks i.e. blending, chopping, and grinding. For commercial purposes go for high-performance blenders with up to 1000 watts and above. The higher the watts the better the performance. Also, go for blenders that have between 3 to 10 setting speeds and blenders with a pulse button on them.
5. NOISE
If you live in an apartment or you have children or pets in your house, having a blender with less noise is an important factor. Some higher-performance blenders have noise-reduction enclosures that help keep the motor noise to a minimum. Others have built-in airflow and rubber-mounted components to help dampen noise while blending.
Best Blenders in Kenya
Here are some of the blenders that we have on our website:
1. Philips Heavy Duty Blender- HR2228/91
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Pulse function for smoother blending
- Easy-grip control dial with 3-speed settings
- Powerful yet energy-efficient 800 W motor
- Removable blade unit for easy cleaning
- ProBlend Crush technology turns the toughest ingredients into the finest smoothies twice as fast
- The 2L jar has a working capacity of 1.5L for deliciously blended smoothies to share with the whole family
- Ribbed glass jar design to ensure optimal flow of ingredients for the finest blending results
2. NutriBullet 9 Piece Set- NBR-1212R
- Tall cup 700ml, 2 short cups 500ml
- 1 handled Lip ring, 1 regular lip ring
- 2 stay-fresh resealable lids
- 1 user manual
- 1 pocket nutritionist
- BPA free
- Dishwasher safe
3. Electrolux hand blender-E5HB1-59GG
- Model number: E5HB1-59GG
- Power: 600W
- Voltage: 220-240V
- Frequency: 50/60Hz
- Speeds: Variable
- Blending shaft material: Stainless steel
- Beaker capacity: 600ml
4. Signature 5 in 1 Food Processor- SG-505
- 5 in 1 Food Processor.
- Strong Unbreakable polycarbonate Blender Jar.
- Stainless steel blades for durability.
- Multipurpose: can crush ice, baby food supplements, squeeze juice .
- 500w
- 1500ml jag
5. Ramtons blender – RM/673
- Plastic body with stainless steel decoration.
- 1.5-liter capacity.
- 5-speed control with a pulse.
- Can blend different kinds of fruit juice.
- With jug lock.
- With measure cup.
- Powerful motor with resettable thermostat.
- Blade with ball bearing.
6. Von Blender – VSBT04BCK
- Powerful 400W Motor
- 1.5Lts jar
- 2 speeds & pulse
- Durable plastic jar
- Stainless steel blade
- Safety lock device
7. Signature 3 in 1 Blender -SG-201
- Grinder for milling coffee beans, nuts, and chocolate.
- 3-speed with a pulse button.
- Strong Unbreakable polycarbonate Blender Jar.
- Stainless steel blades for durability.
- Safety Switch.
- Multipurpose
- Soft Design
8. Rebune 2 in 1 blender-RE-2-140
- Switch:1/2/3 pulse
- Easy to use
- easy to clean
- Jar capacity is 2.0L,
- PC, 201 blade, CC bushing
- Grinder:50G, PS, 201 blade, CCA bushing
- with safety lock
- Power:220-240V-50/60Hz 650W
9. Binatone 2 in 1 Blender -BLG-403
- Quickly and easily grinds coffee, beans nuts, spices, meat, coconuts
- 2 Speed and pulse mode
- Voltage: 220-240V~ 50/60Hz
- The stir-stick to push down the fruits/leafy greens and to scrap out the thick drinks
- Helps to prepare your favorite fruit juices, milkshakes, and other cocktails
- Splash-proof lid
- Power: 300-350W
- Facility to add ingredients during blending
10. Roch 2 in 1 blender – RBL112C
- Motor power: 400W/500W
- Blender with grinder 2 in 1
- Glass jar
- 2 speeds & pulse function
- Security lock included
- Capacity: 1.5 litres
- Copper coated motor
- Power supply: 220-240V ~ 50-60Hz
CONCLUSION
Blenders are essential home appliances that every kitchen must have. When it comes to buying a blender you have a lot of choices and these factors will help you know which blender will work best for you. and the best blenders in Kenya.