A blender may be your best friend in the kitchen and your go-to for emulsifying, liquefying, puréeing, whipping and mixing. You can concoct everything from green smoothies and frothy milkshakes to puréed soups and salad dressings.
Every blender brand is different, and each has varied specifications for washing. In short, yes, you usually can put some parts of a blender in the dishwasher. Typically, the container that you blend into is dishwasher safe. Any parts connected to electricity are not safe to put in the dishwasher. Depending on the model, it might be possible to put the blades of the blender in the dishwasher, but this is not advised because over time, blades become dull if washed in this manner.
What’s The Difference Between A Food Processor And A Blender?
A blender and a food processor both offer razor sharp blades that spin fast. They share many similarities, but they have different purposes. A blender is better suited to liquids and makes things like smoothies. More labor-intensive tasks such as cutting vegetables or kneading dough are better tackled with a food processor.
These two appliances often cross paths and some are powerful enough for varied tasks. Regardless of which one you have, the same rules apply regarding putting the blender it in the dishwasher: Don’t put the blades in the dishwasher and don’t put any electrics in the dishwasher. Only put the bowl or container in the dishwasher if the manufacturer specifies that it’s dishwasher-safe.
How to Clean a Blender
The good news is that if you clean a blender straight after you use it, making it spotless is easy. One method is to blend warm water and a few drops of dish soap together for a few seconds on a low setting. If the blender has lid, make sure that it is secure, or you might get soapy water everywhere.
If there isn’t a lid, only fill the container about three quarters of the way full with water. Pour out the soapy water and rinse with clean water. This is a good way to clean the container and the blades.
You can also scrub the container and the blades with a scrubbing brush, warm water and dish soap in the sink. If you’re not able to clean the blender straight after using it, at least fill it with a mixture of soap and water so that it can soak until you return to wash it properly. You can even leave it to soak overnight
Persistent Stains
If the blender has some persistent food stains or odors, you can try blending some lemon juice or vinegar, or scrubbing the blender with lemon juice and vinegar. The acid in the lemon juice or vinegar can help to break down stains and odors. If that doesn’t help, you can add some baking soda (up to half a cup). Let the mixture bubble up, blend it and let it soak for a few hours before rinsing clean.
Regarding cleaning the base of the blender, this is generally the part with an electrical motor and control system. This should never be fully immersed in water. You can wipe down the base of the blender with a warm, soapy, damp cloth.
If there is any caked-in dirt around the control buttons, you could use a Q-tip to clean up. Dip the Q-tip in rubbing alcohol and rub around the buttons where dirt is ingrained. The rubbing alcohol sanitizes and helps to dissolve any gunk.
After washing, let the entire blender air-dry thoroughly before packing away into storage. If the interior is moist, the condensation could create an environment where bacteria can grow.
Putting a Blender in the Dishwasher
The dishwasher is a dream when it comes to helping to clean the kitchen. If you can save a little time in the kitchen, it means you can do other things elsewhere. The more you can wash in the dishwasher, the less time goes down the drain!
If parts of your blender are declared dishwasher safe, remember that the bottom rack of the dishwasher are typically closer to the heating element of the machine. The water is therefore much hotter at the bottom of the dishwasher. To prolong the life of your dishwasher safe items, rather place them in the top section of the dishwasher. Reserve the bottom part of the dishwasher for cutlery, bowls and plates.
Blender Do’s And Don’ts
If you need to blend hot foods, let it cool for a few minutes before blending. This is to protect you from a potentially painful burn if some hot liquid splats out of the blender while blending. High temperatures can also wear down the blades or other parts of the blender.
If your blender has a lid, after blending hot foods, always open the lid facing away from your face to avoid getting a painful splat in the eye.
When the motor is running, never place any utensils in the blender. First turn off the blender to avoid an accident and to stay safe.
Inspect the cord of the blender. If it is frayed in any part, it could cause electrocution or a fire.
If you are blending very thick foods, don’t let the blender motor run consecutively for longer than a minute or two. This could cause overheating. Consult your instruction manual for the recommended amount of time to run the blender.
How to Clean the Rubber Gasket of a Food Processor or Blender
Many blenders don’t have a rubber gasket or seal. If your blender is more like a food processer, or has a lid, then it probably also has a rubber seal somewhere. You’ll want to ensure that the seal is clean and not a breeding ground for bacteria. It’s best to check your unique instruction manual, but typically, the gasket or o-ring can be removed and washed with warm soapy water. Once it’s dry, you can fit it back into its clean base. Once in a while you can also lubricate the gasket to ensure that it remains flexible. You can coat it with a thin layer of olive oil before re-inserting it.
