Delicious and surprising uses of a kitchen blender

Rarely, if ever, do we think about utilizing our blenders for reasons other than making smoothies, soups, juicing or pureeing fruits and vegetables, or preparing all manners of beverages and shakes.

A blender, however, can be an extremely versatile tool in your kitchen. It is capable of doing a lot more than most of us give it credit for.

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to a host of surprising and absolutely delicious things that you can make with your trusty blender.
Ice Cream
Did you even know that you could use your blender to make ice cream? You don’t need a churner or ice-cream maker to make the smoothest, creamiest, and quickest ice cream ever. We aren’t talking about blending fruits and cream and freezing the mixture to mimic gelato (albeit poorly made ones) here, either.

With the right list of ingredients and the correct recipe, you can impress guests, and yourself, with easy blended ice cream. Make sure that you don’t add any water since it introduces graininess to your ice cream.

If you have plenty of time beforehand, you could consider freezing your milk in ice cube trays and using them instead of plain ice for an even creamier experience. Otherwise just powder milk and double cream are good enough.

Always blend at low speed first, followed by high, and if you like your ice cream extra frozen, throw it into the freezer for another hour. Your friends and family are sure to be blown away by your instant ice cream making skills.
Homemade Nut Butters
If you are one of those people who throw nut butter into everything, both sweet and savory and ends up over-spending on the various nut butter, you will thank us for this tip.

All you need for the best homemade nut butter are your nuts of choice and good quality salt. The best part is that you can make as much or as little as you want and use your flavorings of choice. Oh, and without any harmful preservatives either.

So if you’re suddenly craving just a few dollops of peanut or almond (or whatever nut strikes your fancy) butter, simply throw the nuts into your blender with a small amount of salt until they are coarsely ground.

Taste and add more salt, then continue blending until it is of your desired consistency.

You could go nuts with flavorings when you concoct your own nut butter. Cayenne pepper, maple syrup, paprika, chili powder, caramel, toffee, chocolate, dried ginger, honey—anything can go in. The options are limitless.
Coconut Butter
If you love Indian, Malay, and Thai food or simply love cooking with rich coconut butter, the blender is your best friend. Simply blend dry, preferably unflavored, coconut flakes and watch them turn into butter within minutes. It is cheaper, healthier, and much tastier than any store-bought variety.
Herb Infused Oils, Dressings, Sauces and Pesto
We have all made tomato sauces or purees with our blenders, but they can also help you make brilliant oils that you can cook with or dress your salads, bread, or pasta with.

Simply blanch a good amount of your leafy herb of choice and blend it with olive oil. Depending on your preferences, you could strain it for a clear oil or leave it as it is for a chunky, coarse, flavorful oil.

The same principle can be applied towards making an insanely good pesto. Whether you like it simple, with just basil, pine nuts, and olive oil, or fancier versions with surprise add-ons like sundried tomatoes, walnuts or chili flakes, you can make the freshest, easiest pesto, suited to your personal tastes and elevate your pasta or sandwiches to unforeseen heights.

Blenders are the best tools for making the ever-popular mayonnaise and hollandaise sauce. Both require raw eggs to be blended, so the first trick lies in procuring the freshest, best quality eggs.

The second trick is in getting the best quality butter, which you need to thaw or melt until it is liquefied, or a good quality oil in case you want to make mayonnaise.

Hollandaise is a notoriously tricky sauce that tends to break, hence using a blender to make it, instead of whisking, adds an extra layer of insurance towards the easiest, most perfect sauce.

Do not add the butter too quickly; make sure that the sauce does not get not too warm or too cold, and serve it immediately after preparation.

Mayonnaise, on the other hand, is less complicated and stress-free. Add egg yolks, vinegar or lemon juice, mustard, and salt into the blender and pour oil steadily into the mixture while it is blending.

Et voilà. You have the perfect mayo with the perfect consistency without any harmful additives.
Almond Milk
You might be vegan, lactose intolerant, or simply want to avoid milk from animal sources. The best substitute is considered to be almond milk, which you can actually make at home, whenever you wish.

All you need are almonds, some maple syrup, salt, and water. Blitz them in a blender and enjoy this drink by itself, or in your coffee, tea, cooking, and baking.
Batters for Pancakes, Muffins, and Waffles
Everyone loves homemade muffins and weekend brunches seem incomplete without pancakes or waffles. However, with our busy schedules, it is sometimes difficult to invest the time or energy into sifting, whisking, and preparing batters and washing all the dirty utensils too.

Use your blender to do all of your hard work. Throw all of your desired ingredients into your blender and blitz until the mixture is homogeneous. Pour directly onto your baking tin, griddle, or hot pan.

Think of all the bowls, whisks, and spoons that you no longer have to clean up.
Nutella
You read that right. Why buy expensive jars of Nutella from the store when you can make it yourself? All you need are hazelnuts and chocolate chips and the spread can be stored for up to a week for you to enjoy.
Hummus
We all love hummus, no matter the reason for eating it. Whether you want a healthier dip at parties, a fast and easy snack, or a tasty spread for your wraps and sandwiches, hummus is flavorful and is a less calorific substitute to mayonnaise and cheese or butter-based sauces and spreads.

Hummus is ridiculously tasty when it is homemade and fresh and is also super easy to prepare. Use any of the recipes of the internet that suits you. Use roasted garlic instead of raw ones for greater depth of flavor.

With an extra hint of paprika, cayenne pepper, onion paste, or chili paste, your hummus can itself be a standalone dish.

So do not be afraid to experiment with recipes and textures to figure out the methods that work best for you and your blender.
Last Words
Clearly, a blender is a wonderful kitchen equipment that can help you prepare all manners of food items across a range of flavors and textures. From sweet to savory, creamy to runny, powdery, wet or dry, hot or cold, a blender is truly a jack of all trades.

That said, an old or run-of-the-mill blender cannot be expected to provide you with good results. If you really want a piece of equipment that can handle all manners of ingredients, hard and soft, without breaking down or bending out of shape, consider investing in a top-quality blender.

Not only will it be versatile, but it will also last you through the years. There is a wide range of blogs and websites to consult, like Blender Babes, that will provide you with objective reviews, alongside great deals.

So take the plunge into a world of multitasking kitchen tools and let your blender make your life simpler, easier, and hassle-free.