The kitchen blender is a tool that many people use to make soups, smoothies, and other blended meals. It can be difficult to clean the blender thoroughly when the blades are stuck in food or when you have just used it for a long time.
When you’re trying to decide when to clean your blender, you might be tempted to wait until it’s full of gunk and then plunge in. But that might not be a good idea.
Let’s say you’re trying to make smoothies and your blender is covered in thick, dried-up residue. If you try to blend it first with a piece of food (and who would want to eat that?), you could clog the blades or motor. So, do yourself a favor and make sure your blender is clean before you start blending.
How do I clean and sanitize a blender?
To prevent bacteria from growing on your kitchen utensils, here are some steps about how to properly clean your blender.
- Fill up the sink with soap and water
- Put dish soap into the bottom of the basin before adding soapy water
- Some blenders come with a removable blade compartment which allows for easy cleaning without removing any part of the appliance. These models usually have instructions on how to remove this piece in the manual.
If you have difficulty reaching in for whatever reason, I recommend using a long spoon that goes inside but could still reach those edges on all sides Take note: when washing blades in soapy dishwater make sure they are fully submerged.
They may be easier to clean if you submerge them first as well before putting it back together This is just like other kitchen utensils such as spoons and spatulas which are often put through this same process.
A quick way to get most of the food residue off surfaces after blending is by wiping it with paper You can also use a damp paper towel or wet washcloth to clean up the outside of your blender.
Cleanup: make sure you thoroughly rinse off any leftover food residue from surfaces such as blades and jar that will be otherwise difficult to remove when they dry out.
This is important for sanitizing Your next step should then involve drying these areas with a dish cloth, hand towel, or paper towels before putting it back together It’s also recommended that you wipe down all those parts again after assembling them.
Before storing: if you plan on using this appliance in the future, now would be the time to disinfect it by using lemon juice or vinegar (both are natural) mixed with water.
Remember not to use soap when cleaning because even though it’s not safe for food contact, it may leave a residue that will attract dirt and eventually contaminate the blender.
How do you deep clean a blender?
The best way to clean a blender is by soaking it and then hand scrubbing the parts. You can also make your own cleaning solution, which will help get rid of stains, such as coffee or red wine.
First you’ll want to assemble all of the pieces that are removable from the blender jar – this includes blades, blade holder (if any), shaker lid if included, tamper/stuffing tube for immersion blenders (again only when applicable) and gasket in some cases.
Put them on a towel so they don’t roll around while you’re working with them. If there’s anything else in there like leftover ingredients that aren’t too thick or otherwise non-pourable just pull those out now using a spoon.
Place the jar in a bowl or other container that is big enough to cover it and fill with warm, soapy water.
Soak for at least ten minutes, then use your hands or an old toothbrush to scrub off any remaining food bits from all surface areas of the blender jar (not inside). Rinse well before proceeding.
Now put everything back together as you found it when disassembling – gasket on top if applicable. Shake/vigorously stir around any residual liquid still left in there until it’s mixed up evenly with the rest of what was already soaking (this will help dissolve any last traces of soap residue too), turn unit on low-speed setting for just a few seconds to rinse out any soap that may have been left behind, then turn off and let air-dry.
