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Blenders can be used for many things which usually results in people using their blender every single day.
But as useful as blenders are – they are not invincible and over time the blades will lose their sharpness and your blender will not perform like it used to.
Blender blades naturally get duller over time with regular use, but there are ways that you can keep them sharper for longer.
If you like to add dry fruit to your smoothies, for example, make sure that you soak them in warm water first so that they soften up a bit, and then use a knife to shred them a bit.
Another thing to avoid for the sake of your blenders is using cutlery such as a knife or spoon to push ingredients around the blender as it is running. Not only is this dangerous but can also do a lot of damage to the cutlery and the blades.
If you need to push any ingredients down to get them blended properly, make sure that you turn the blender off first and remove it from the base.
In this guide we will talk about the signs that you can look out for that will tell you that your blender blades are in need of sharpening.
We will also talk about how to sharpen them as well as cover some frequently asked questions concerning blender blades.
Signs You Need To Sharpen Your Blender Blades
Luckily there are a few ways that your blender will tell you that the blades are in need of sharpening, you just need to know what to look out for.
The first thing you might notice is that the blending is inconsistent which means that the food that you are putting in the blender is not being blended sufficiently, and you are coming across a lot more chunks and lumps than usual.
Another way that you can tell that the blades have gotten dull is when you find yourself using faster, more powerful settings to blend things that originally didn’t require such a high setting.
However, this can cause a whole new host of problems because having to constantly use a high power setting puts more strain on the blender which can then lead to internal damage.
How To Sharpen Blender Blades
If you need to sharpen your blender blades, you will be glad to know that you can do it in the comfort of your own home, and you don’t need to be a blender guru to do it either.
Before you do anything, the first thing you need to do is unplug the blender from the wall outlet so that you don’t get any electrical shocks or accidentally turn on the blender as you are working on it.
Once you have made sure that the blender has no power and is all turned off, you can separate the blender by removing the pitcher from the base.
You may not think this next step is important, but you will need to completely clean the blender so that you know what you’re working with, and it’s hygienic, so it’s worth doing.
After you have removed all the loose food debris from within the pitcher, submerge it in warm soapy water and get a sponge to give it a good clean.
Soaking the blender in warm water will help the seal to loosen between the blade which will help with removing it in the next step.
Blenders have lots of little bits at the bottom that are quite hard to dislodge things from so make sure that you get in there with a sponge or small brush to get rid of everything.
Once your blender is nice and clean, it is time to take the blade out so that it can be cleaned and sharpened.
To do this, reach down to the bottom of the blender where you will see a base that is housing the blade.
Turn it counterclockwise until it comes off in your hands, you shouldn’t have to strain too much.
Put the pitcher aside, and you should be left with the base, seal, and blade in your hands which you should separate from the base until you have the blade on its own.
The next step is to thoroughly wash the blade in warm soapy water but make sure that you are wearing a pair of rubber gloves when handling the blade to prevent yourself from injury, even if it is a dull blade, it can still do a bit of damage.
Now is the fun bit which is sharpening the blade with a sharpening stone. As you do this, you need to maintain the correct angle so that you are sharpening the blade into the correct shape.
You should also run the blade away from your body to prevent any accidents. Once you have sharpened one edge of the blade, flip it over to do the other side but still run it away from your body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Put In a Blender?
Blenders can do amazing things but not everything can be put inside of one without there being any consequences.
So yes, there are some things that you should not put inside your blender, the first one being liquids that are very hot.
This is because the steam that hot water lets out puts a lot of pressure on the blender which can result in it exploding with hot liquid and glass going everywhere.
To avoid this, wait at least 10 minutes for the hot liquid to cool a bit before adding it to the blender.
Another thing you shouldn’t add to your blender is foods that have just been taken out of the freezer as they are very hard for the blender to break up.
It can even lead to bits of plastic and glass being broken off and ending up in the mixture. Let the frozen foods thaw a bit for 15 minutes before adding them to the blender and cut them up into smaller bits for extra measure.
Summary
There are many ways that you will be able to tell if your blender blades are getting blunt, and you won’t even have to buy a whole new blender to treat the problem.
All you will need is a bit of time on your hands and a sharpening stone and your blender will be blending things like it did the first day you brought it home.
Just keep in mind the hints and tips in this guide that will prevent your blender from getting blunt before its time, and you will never have to drink a chunky smoothie ever again!