- Stephen J. Poplawski patented the first electric blender in 1922 to make milk shakes at soda fountains. His company, Stevens Electric, was sold in 1946 to Oster Manufacturing. The blender was marketed as the Osterizer and, in 1960, bought by Sunbeam Products. Fred Osius, of the Hamilton Beach Manufacturing Company, improved upon Poplawski's original design and invented the Waring Blender in 1935. Since these early days, many different types and models of blenders have become available to consumers around the globe.
- Blenders are used in commercial and residential settings for a variety of applications. Typical uses include crushing ice, emulsifying, creating smoothies and purees, powdering small solids such as spices, blending solids and liquids, and dissolving solids into liquids. Blenders with a slightly different configuration are also used in food science and microbiology laboratory settings.
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Traditional blenders contain a housing, blades, motor and a container for foods and/or liquids. The container can be made of glass, plastic or even stainless steel or porcelain with measuring marks on the sides. A lid is placed atop the container to prevent liquid from escaping while the blender is in use.
An electric motor, cooled by a fan, is present in the housing to power the blades. A rubber washer located between the base and the container prevents food and liquid from leaking into the motor. Modern blenders usually feature multiple speeds and settings. -
Handheld BlenderThere are two primary types of blenders. The countertop blender is the traditional stationary design. Handheld blenders, sometimes called immersion blenders, are a recent addition. They are small and lightweight, designed to be immersed into the liquid or liquid-solid mixture that is being blended. They are used most commonly for blending soups or pureeing vegetables. Handheld blenders are portable and consist of only one or two parts -- the motor housing, which is also the grip, and the shaft with a blade attached. - Blenders offer many benefits in the kitchen. They have the ability to quickly and uniformly combine solids with liquids. They can chop, dice, mix, blend and puree with ease that cannot be accomplished by hand, thus reducing food preparation time. Blenders also provide a way to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into the diet by pureeing and sweetening them. Smoothies have become extremely popular in America due to their high nutritional value and great taste.
