Will an immersion blender scratch pots? Many people who enjoy cooking will have a blender in their kitchen. It will usually be the large, stand-up type that you plug in to use.
However, there is also an alternative – the immersion blender. These are hand-held and come with a long shaft that can be inserted into pots or bowls of soup for blending without ever having to lift them up from the stovetop or countertop.
The question is: will they scratch pots? To find out, I will explore what it means when an immersion blender scratches pots and how best to use one safely so that your pot doesn’t get damaged.
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Why do Immersion Blenders Scratch Pots?
Immersion blenders work by cutting up ingredients with a rapidly rotating blade. The advantage of them is that you don’t have to lift the blender from its base – it simply sits in whatever saucepan or bowl you are using and moves around as needed while blending, thus cutting down on both the time and effort required for cooking.
However, this rapid cutting action can lead to damage to the pot. When a blender does scratch a saucepan, it is usually because the housing of the blender, rather than the blades, is dragged along the bottom of the pot.
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How to Prevent an Immersion Blender from Scratching Pots?
Immersion blenders are great devices, but it can be frustrating when you have finished blending and find scratches all over the bottom of your pot.
There are a few steps you can take to prevent immersion blenders from scratching pots.
Transfer Food to Another Container
If you want to completely eliminate the chance of scratching your pot, you can transfer your food into another container before blending.
A plastic bowl or a metal container that you don’t mind being scratched are good choices for blending.
I am aware that this kind of defeats the purpose of an immersion blender, but if you don’t want your pots scratched, it’s a valid option!
Hold the Immersion Blender at an Angle
The best way to prevent an immersion blender from scratching a pot is to hold it at an angle when you are using it. This will prevent the bottom of the blender from coming into contact with the bottom of your pot.
If you are trying to blend something thick, like hummus or guacamole, turn off the immersion blender and then remove it from the jar before turning it back on again at a lower speed. This will help break up chunks without scratching your expensive pots.
Avoid Touching the Bottom or Sides of the Pot
Try to avoid touching the sides or bottom of any pot when using an immersion blender. This will help to prevent scratching to your pots. It can be hard to stop altogether as the blender will get sucked to the bottom of the liquid as you blend.
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Use a Plastic Immersion Blender Rather than a Metal One
Metal immersion blenders are common, but they can scratch pots very easily. In fact, this is one of the main reasons that people prefer plastic models as these will not do as much damage to your pots and pans.
Metal on metal will always create more scratches so if you are using a metal immersion blender, consider using a plastic one instead.
Use the Right Type of Pot for Immersion Blenders
Different pots are designed to be used with different appliances, so if you want an immersion blender that won’t scratch your pot then it is important to use the right type of jar or bowl.
For example, glass and ceramic jars work well with metal blenders as they will not cause damage due to their non-stick properties. However, these materials can chip and crack over time which means they may not last as long as other types of pots such as stainless steel ones.
Do Not Use Nonstick Pots With Immersion Blenders
Nonstick cookware works by creating a layer between food and its surface, making it much easier to clean and not causing any damage. However, this means that nonstick pots cannot be used with immersion blenders because the blade will get stuck in the pan and destroy this nonstick coating.
Read More: Types of Blenders – A Complete Guide
How do Immersion Blenders Work?
Immersion blenders are a convenient and effective way to blend, chop, puree or whip up food. They’re also very easy to use! All you need is the blender itself (which can be hand-held or full-sized), some liquid for blending purposes, your ingredients, and whatever container you want to put them in.
The immersion blender has an attachment that screws on directly into the bottom of the blender. Turn on your machine by pressing down on its button, then plunge it into whatever food item you want to be blended until it reaches maximum speed.
To remove anything from inside of this attachment, just unscrew it from the base of your machine like any other appliance with a removable part.
Here are some things you can blend up in your immersion blender:
- Soups
- Gravies and Sauces
- Baby Food
Your imagination is the limit when it comes to what this handy appliance can do for you! The best thing about an immersion blender is that there’s no need to transfer ingredients from one bowl or pot into another, which often results in spilling food everywhere.
Just keep blending until everything has reached the texture you want, then remove the attachment by twisting it off of its base.
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Will an Immersion Blender Scratch Pots – Final Thoughts
In this article, I have explained why an immersion blender scratches pots and what to do to prevent it from happening.
While it’s true that an immersion blender can scratch your pots, there are a few simple things that you can do to prevent this from happening.
The best thing to do if you want to completely avoid scratches is to transfer ingredients out of the pot and into another container before you blend them. While this sort of defeats the purpose of an immersion blender, it is the only sure way to avoid scratches on your pots.
If you follow the other tips in this article, you should be able to use your immersion blender while minimizing the risk of scratching your pots.
Read More: 7 Immersion Blender Substitutes – Best Hand Blender Alternatives