How to Troubleshoot a Blender

The last thing you need while you're making mayonnaise or serving up smoothies is for your blender to go on the blink. Here are some ways to get it crushing and pure'eing again.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Long Spoon

1. Make sure the blender is plugged in properly and that the circuit breaker has not been tripped.

2. Check that the jar is fully engaged with the base.

3. Remove the blender jar from the base, and check that the blade moves freely. If not, disassemble the blade and ring. Check for obstructions or misalignment.

4. If the blender is not pure'eing well, check that there are no air pockets in the food surrounding the spinning blade. To get rid of any air pockets, turn off the blender and press the food down with a long spoon.

5. If you've been using the blender for a long period of time and it stops working, it may have overheated. Turn it off and let it cool for 10 to 20 minutes before trying again.

6. You may have a blown fuse or a worn-out motor. If the blender has multiple speeds but now works only at full speed, the triax (or variable-speed control) is broken. Contact the manufacturer for parts and instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• You may need to add a little liquid to help blend the food more smoothly.