6 Ingredients You Should Never Blend

Have you ever used a blender that barely lasts a few years? I’m not referring to those high-end, high-power models; I mean a regular blender that’s supposed to handle everything from smoothies to sauces. If you find yourself frequently replacing your blender, it might be because certain foods damage the blades and motor. While many assume you can blend anything, some foods are better suited for other appliances like food processors, immersion blenders, or coffee grinders. To keep your blender running smoothly, avoid blending these six foods.

Hot Liquids or Foods

Have you ever come across a soup recipe that instructs you to toss everything into a blender for a smoother texture? Think twice! Pouring hot ingredients into a blender can not only burn your hands but also damage your appliance. An immersion blender is a great alternative to avoid using a regular blender, but if you don’t have one, simply let your hot ingredients cool in a bowl before blending them.

Coffee Beans

Here’s the thing: technically, you could use a blender as a coffee grinder, but it’s not a good idea. Blending coarse coffee beans over time will wear down the blender’s blades. More importantly, you’ll never get an even grind due to the blender’s shape.

Ice

Just like coffee beans, ice should not go into your blender as it can damage the machine, dull the blades, and prevent proper crushing. But what about adding ice to smoothies or slushies? That’s an exception because the other ingredients will help break up the ice—just make sure not to overload the blender!

Dried Fruit

When adding fruit to a blender, it’s always best to choose fresh or frozen varieties. While it might seem like a good idea to incorporate dried fruit into a sauce or marinade, doing so in a blender is a mistake. The leathery texture and sticky interior of dried fruit combine to create a messy, difficult-to-blend mixture.

Potatoes

This may come as a surprise, but blending potatoes is a big no-no. When you blend a baked potato, the starch and liquid quickly turn into a gummy, unpleasant texture. For smooth, creamy mashed potatoes, stick with a ricer or masher; a blender isn’t the right tool for the job.

Almonds (and Other Nuts)

While we all know how almond milk is made, did you realize that blending whole nuts can ruin your appliance? When making plant-based milks at home, it's important to soak the nuts in water to soften them before blending. If you need finely crushed nuts like almonds or cashews for salads or desserts, it's better to coarsely chop them with a knife instead.