Would I say that having an Immersion Blender in your kitchen gadget lineup is essential? No, of course not. BUT, when you have a need for it, you’ll be so happy you have it. There are several reasons why I do so enjoy having this tool.
First, it’s portable. I store it in my drawer with my other miscellaneous stuff – measuring spoons, knives, BBQ skewers, can opener – you know…the usual suspects. It’s conveniently located across from my stove and under the part of my kitchen counter where I might transfer a pot that I want to have blended.
Second, it’s inexpensive. Sure – you could pay a lot for one; but you certainly don’t need to. You can find a decent model from Hamilton Beach for under $20. I have the Cuisinart Smart Stick and I paid just under $40. I’ve had it for more than a decade and it’s still going strong.
Third, it’s easy to clean. After using, just run the bladed end under warm water and carefully wash with a sponge. Of course, you can’t EVER put this in the dishwasher.
So now that I’ve made my case for getting one – what the heck do you do with it? Here are three suggestions.
If you want a smooth and velvety soup – this is the way to go. Often, you’ll have vegetables in your soup, which add greatly to the taste, but the texture of soggy veggies is not always that appetizing. Use your handy immersion blender to whir it up into a creamy, totally homogenous liquid. Your soup will look like a cream soup – and you added no cream!
My daughter insisted a long time ago that tomato sauce should be smooth and never chunky. I don’t always agree – but if I’m making a dish that calls for Sunday Sauce and she’ll be in attendance…out comes the immersion blender. Here’s a tip though: Be sure to always turn it off before removing it from the beneath the surface of the liquid you’re blending. Trust me – I’ve learned from personal experience that it’s not only a messy occurence – but tomato sauce in your eye…well it burns!
Finally, you can use your immersion blender to make home-made whipped cream. Add your heavy cream to a chilled bowl – throw in a few tablespoons of powdered sugar and a dash of vanilla and blitz it up. In no time, you’ll have thick and creamy whipped cream that will blow the doors off anything you could get in a can.
There are many more uses – so have fun discovering what they are for yourself. An Immersion Blender is one of my favorite cool tools!
