Blender

A Blender is an appliance used to combine the ingredients or to blend them to a pulp. It is also used to prepare soups and mayonnaise. Blenders vary from low speed handheld ones to electric food processors. Handheld blenders have been very much common in the recent times, while the sophisticated high end blenders and food processors are still picking up in the market.

Invention of Blender

Blender was invented in the 1900s by Fred Waring to meet the requirement for malted drinks. Soon blenders were also used in beating up the ice cream mixtures. Later in the 1930s, it became a crucial appliance for blending cocktails and was popularized vastly.

Blender Mechanics

The basic components of a blender include the following:

• Blade
• Jar
• Housing
• Lid
• Jar base
• Gasket

The bottom most part of the blender is the housing that consists of a speed control and a motor. During blending, the bulky weight of the housing helps keep the blender intact. The jar base, blade and the gasket are detachable parts and can be fixed together; however, in some blenders the blade and housing are permanently fixed together. The blade is fixed into the gasket to avoid seepage. These parts are then fitted into the jar base and are later screwed to the jar. The jar arrangement is connected to a coupler projecting out of the housing. The connector is bonded to the motor which manages the blender’s movement.

The airtight lid of the jar has a detachable part called the fill cap. This facilitates to put in the ingredients without switching off the blender. This fill cap can also be used as a measuring container in some models.

Most blenders consist of four blades positioned at varied angles and many planes helping in increased contact between the blade and food. The outer form of the jar plays a vital role in the blender’s efficiency. Tapering jars, directing food into the blades, are very much efficient in performance.

How do Blenders Work?

The ingredients to be blended are first dropped into the jar and a button is pressed to start the blending process. First, the motor starts functioning by turning the blades. The circular movement of the blades produces a spiral motion in the liquid. The fluid within the jar consists of the ingredients as well as air. A vacuum is created within pulling the constituents towards the middle. The ingredients are thus mixed and the circular movements continue, whipping vacuum into the ingredients facilitating the ingredients to mix quickly. The constant churning and space deficiency forces the mixture up, thus ending the blending process. The blender can be switched off once the required consistency is reached.

Uses of Blender

Blenders are multipurpose appliances having a range of applications at home, laboratory and industries. These are used at home or bar mostly for crushing ice cubes. Blenders are also used for whipping cream, emulsifying softer food ingredients, liquefying food, etc. Blending ingredients gives the food a smooth texture and deep consistency. Many manufacturing industries also make use of commercial blenders for mixing various chemical powders. The use of blender in the laboratory is mainly for extracting microorganisms from samples.

Video Tutorial:

To see how do blenders work, take a look at this video: