It’s hard to tell from price alone whether you’re backing a winner. Some of the top performers in our test outclassed products that were far more expensive, so it’s worth doing your research to make sure you’re buying the right blender for you. 

Here are our tips for choosing a blender. Plus, for 糖心Vlog members only, we’ll reveal the top scoring blenders from our rigorous lab tests.

If you’re not yet a member, join 糖心Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews. 

If you just want to get straight to the best products, you can jump to the results now.

What kind of blender should I buy?

From a single-serve model suitable for smoothies for one, through to high-powered machines that can whip up hot soups from raw ingredients using blade friction alone, there are so many options when it comes to blenders. 

So which kind of blender should you buy? It depends on what you want to do with it. 

“If you want to reduce the amount of processed foods you buy, then a high-performance blender is worth considering,” says Fiona Mair, 糖心Vlog’s kitchen expert. 

“It really depends on what you want a blender for. If it’s just for making shakes, smoothies and cocktails, then a standard or personal blender is all you need.”

Do you even need a blender?

If you’re deeply committed to daily green smoothies, milling your own flour or whipping up a batch of nut butter, you’ll need a blender that can handle everything you throw at (or into) it.

But if you’re only making smoothies from fruit, whizzing up milkshakes or blitzing veggies in soup, a stick blender may well do the job.

Here’s what to know before buying a stick blender.

What different blenders can and can’t do

Not every blender is up to the task of liquefying kale or chopping nuts, so before you buy, take some time to think about how you plan to use your new blender.

Once you’ve decided what you need, check our test results 鈥� just because a blender is advertised as being able to liquefy even the toughest veggies doesn’t mean it’ll be good at it!

Portable and personal blenders

These small-sized blenders don’t have the power needed to tackle kale or other heavy-duty tasks.

Because of their small capacity, they can’t take on larger jobs like a full-sized blender can.

But they are a handy and affordable space-saving appliance for basic smoothies for one.

Stick to fresh and frozen fruit and make sure you add liquid before you blend. They can generally handle a few ice cubes if you want to cool things down.

You can also use them to make protein shakes and milkshakes, salad dressings and pureed baby food.

Standard blenders

Regular-sized blenders aren’t all created equal. 

Some are up to the challenge of chopping hard veggies like carrots uniformly (without turning them to mush), effortlessly blitzing kale into submission and crushing ice to the perfect consistency.

But others will struggle with some of these tasks.

Paying a bit more for a standard blender can often mean more functions, such as auto programs, more speed settings, countdown timers, accessories and more. 

Of course, a more expensive blender won’t necessarily do a better job than a cheaper one, so don’t base your decision solely on the price tag.

High-performance blenders

These are the VIPs of the blender world 鈥� Thermomixes fall into this category. Powerful and versatile, they’re far more than just milkshake makers.

Aside from the usual blender tasks, they have a myriad of other uses, including:

• Milling flour
• Grinding nut butters
• Making spice pastes
• Finely crushing ice
• Grating parmesan cheese
• Making hot soup (the friction from the blade creates heat)
• Mixing pizza dough

Our experts put high-performance blenders through their paces in our kitchen lab, assessing their abilities on most of these tasks.

All 18 of the high-performance blenders in our current review nailed crushing ice, dry milling nuts and grating parmesan cheese, and most of them crushed the nut butter test.

Most people associate these super-powered blenders with green smoothies, but a surprising number of them didn’t impress our testers in this domain. Less than two-thirds of them turned out excellent green smoothies, and only four of them scored above 80% for blending kale.

And spending more won’t necessarily give you better results, either: the $949 Blendtec Designer 625 CTB1 was rated as ‘borderline’ for blending kale, while the $200 Ninja Nutri Ninja BL642NZ scored a perfect 100%.

Make sure you check our detailed reviews to find the best high-performance blender for your kitchen.

Which are the best blenders for smoothies and meal prep?

We independently test and review dozens of small appliances each year in our onsite labs, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.

Our detailed testing data is available exclusively for 糖心Vlog members. If you鈥檙e not yet a member, to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from fridges and freezers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which blenders are real whizzes in the kitchen.

The post The best blenders for smoothies and meal prep appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

Compact enough to fit in your bag or backpack, these battery-powered blenders let you whizz up a shake or smoothie even when you鈥檙e away from your trusty benchtop blender.聽

On this page:

• What is the Ninja Blast portable blender?
• Features of the Ninja Blast portable blender
• How well does the Ninja Blast blend?
• How easy is the Ninja Blast to use?
• How does the Ninja Blast compare to other portable blenders?
• Is the Ninja Blast portable blender worth buying?

What is the Ninja Blast portable blender?

The Ninja Blast is a portable blender, delivering the high speed power you may be used to from other Ninja blenders but with a compact, cordless and hand-held design. It retails for $80 and makes big promises with its stainless steel BlastBlade which is designed to effortlessly power through ingredients with speed and precision. 

Portable blenders aren鈥檛 to be confused with personal blenders. While a personal blender can still be compact and offer single serve blending, they require mains power to operate, while a portable blender just needs to be charged before use.聽

A key advantage that portable blenders have over mains-powered personal blenders is that you can take them with you and blitz up a smoothie when you鈥檙e ready to drink it, rather than drinking a beverage that was blended hours ago and may have separated or oxidised. Our experts have put the Ninja Blast to the test alongside other portable options from Kmart, Breville, Tefal, Big W and more. We鈥檝e even tested its larger companion the Ninja Blast Max. To see how these blenders stack up against each other take a look at our blenders review.

Features of the Ninja Blast portable blender

For a portable device, the Ninja Blast packs a punch. It features:

• Rechargeable, water resistant base powered by a lithium-ion battery (which can be charged via a USB-C cable. The wall outlet for charging is not included)
• A BPA-free container with a sippy lid
• Components that are dishwasher-safe
• A blending cup that can hold up to 470mL of liquid ingredients. The larger Ninja Blast Max can hold 650mL of liquid
• Settings for smoothies, protein shakes and frozen drinks
• Separate on/off power switch and blend buttons. 
• Light weight of 790g and compact dimensions of 26cm x 8cm x 8cm (HxWxD)
• Six colour options (Denim Blue, Black, Forest Green, White, Passion Fruit and Cranberry)
• Two-year warranty

How well does the Ninja Blast blend?

Our experts have put blenders of all shapes and sizes to the test in the 糖心Vlog kitchen lab ranging from small portable blenders to high-powered super blenders. 

糖心Vlog home economist, Fiona Mair says 鈥渨e test each type of blender based on their capabilities, so the results in our review aren鈥檛 comparable between types鈥�.

For portable blenders, we test how well they can blend a soft food, crush ice and make a green smoothie filled with cucumber, celery, kiwifruit, pear, spinach and mint leaves. When it comes to blending tough leafy greens like kale, portable blenders struggle. While other blenders can easily tackle this task, we don鈥檛 rate portable types well for blending kale.

Overall though, the Ninja Blast performed impressively in our lab tests. It was excellent for crushing ice and got a 鈥榲ery good鈥� result for blending a soft liquid and green smoothie.  

糖心Vlog editor, Pru Engel also had a good experience when she took the Ninja Blast on a family holiday for her smoothie-loving kids. 

She says, 鈥渢he Ninja Blast made light work of smooth ingredients like berries and fruit, and just two or three 30-second blitzes made for smooth fruit blends the kids loved (no need for shaking or stirring of ingredients).鈥� 

鈥淚 was impressed with the performance of such a compact unit, and it wasn鈥檛 anywhere near as noisy as our full-size blender at home. It also easily coped with chunks of frozen mango 鈥� a win all round.鈥�

However, as our lab testing indicated, Pru found the Ninja Blast struggled with blending kale. 鈥淲hen I attempted to blend roughly chopped kale with banana, coconut water and ice, the blades became stuck, even though I added the liquid ingredients first, and I had to shake it multiple times to dislodge the blockage.鈥�

鈥淟oose spinach leaves might be a better option if you want to pack some greens into your smoothie and retain a smooth texture.鈥�

How easy is the Ninja Blast to use?

Portable blenders are not complicated appliances, and the Ninja Blast is no exception. You just charge, add ingredients and push a button to blend. 

It has two controls that light up. The power switch tells you when the battery is charged, when it鈥檚 ready to blend, if the blades are blocked or when it鈥檚 running out of power. The blend button allows you to pulse or run a 30-second blend cycle which you can repeat to achieve your desired results.

Fiona found the Ninja Blast easy to assemble and disassemble and noted that the cup has grading in 100mL increments, which is convenient if you want to measure out specific ingredients. It also comes with fairly comprehensive instructions along with some recipes for inspiration.聽

Fiona says it鈥檚 important to use the blender safely and follow the instructions for use. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not possible to detach the cup from the blade assembly for drinking, so you鈥檒l need to make sure you don鈥檛 accidentally hit the power button while you鈥檙e drinking.鈥� 

Pru says, 鈥渋t took about two hours to fully charge, and lasted for 10鈥�12 rounds of 30-second blends 鈥� which was much more than I鈥檇 expected of such a small appliance鈥�.

The USB-C charging cable provided with this blender is quite short (about 40cm) and you鈥檒l need your own USB wall socket or charger. You could of course use a longer USB-C cable to charge, or plug the base into a laptop or other charging device.

The blender container鈥檚 sippy-style spout with a non-spill lid makes it easy to drink from, and makes for mess-free pouring if you鈥檙e distributing smoothies between cups.

It also has a carry handle for when you鈥檙e out and about, and it鈥檚 easy to clean (the lid can be a bit fiddly but the base rinses easily and you can pop the cup into the dishwasher).

As mentioned above, you can鈥檛 separate the rechargeable base from the container, so you鈥檒l need to take the whole unit with you. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 slightly too heavy to pop in your backpack if you have to carry it over a long distance, but it does fit in the cup holder of my car so it鈥檚 useful if you want to whip up a fresh smoothie on a car trip,鈥� says Pru.

What else can you use a portable blender for?

As well as smoothies, frappes, shakes and protein drinks, the small size of portable blenders makes them suitable for whipping up smaller quantities of things such as salad dressings, sauces or dips. (The Ninja Blast is not suitable for blending hot ingredients, though.)聽

Pru says, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 own a mini blender, so I could see myself using the Ninja Blast at home as well as while travelling鈥�.

How does the Ninja Blast compare to other portable blenders? 

We put the Ninja Blast to the test against other portable blenders from brands like Breville, Kmart Anko, Tefal and more. They range in price from $15 for the Kmart Anko model to $130 for the Ninja Blast Max. To see how they stack up against each other take a look at our blenders review.

Is the Ninja Blast portable blender worth buying?

Compact, easy to use and transport, and suitable for blending a variety of ingredients (but less effective at blending fibrous greens such as kale), the Ninja Blast blender is worth considering if you鈥檙e looking for a portable blending option.

Pru says, 鈥渋t earned its stripes on our family holiday, and made preparing nutritious smoothies for the family while on the go or staying in accommodation easy with consistent results鈥�.聽

If you鈥檙e wondering if it鈥檚 worth spending $80 for the Ninja Blast, that depends on how often you鈥檒l use it and what features you鈥檙e looking for. We鈥檝e tested cheaper options with similar performance results. Take a look at our blenders review for the full results. There you鈥檒l also find we鈥檝e tested single-serve personal blenders that are mains powered, as well as standard and high performance blenders. 

The post Is the Ninja Blast portable blender worth buying?聽 appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• What can a KitchenAid mixer do?
• Pros and cons of KitchenAid mixers
• KitchenAid attachments
• Which KitchenAid mixer should you buy?
• Is there a cheaper alternative to a KitchenAid mixer?
• KitchenAid mixers: Our verdict

But they’re also among the more expensive mixers on the market 鈥� the models we’ve tested range in price from $749 right up to $1149.

In comparison, mixers from rival brands can cost as little as $79, and you can even pick up one of our recommended models for under $400.

So is a KitchenAid mixer really worth it? What do you get for the premium price tag? And are there other brands worth looking at?

Do you really need a stand mixer?

You may have heard good things about them, but is a stand mixer right for you? If you’re an occasional baker, a hand mixer that’s compact and easy to use might be all you need.

But if baking is your thing and you’re regularly serving up cakes, pastries and doughs in your household, then a stand mixer will be a handy companion.

Consider the quantity you usually make as some mixers have very large mixing bowls, which makes mixing or whisking small quantities awkward and in some cases not possible.

What can a KitchenAid mixer do?

Like all mixer brands, KitchenAid mixers have three main functions: whisk, mix and knead. A mixer takes away the grunt work of having to knead a mixture, whisk egg whites or mix a cake batter by hand, and their large mixing bowl capacity means you can bake in bulk with ease.

What sets a KitchenAid mixer apart from other brands of mixer isn’t functionality, but rather aesthetics. KitchenAid mixers stand out from the crowd with a distinctive look that any keen baker will be able to recognise. There’s also a lot you can do to personalise your mixer, including getting a message or name engraved onto some models for a special touch.

You can also buy an extra mixing bowl in a different design and add additional attachments (like a pasta maker or food grinder) to increase the mixer’s functionality and versatility, and there are other KitchenAid appliances like toasters, kettles and food processors that you can buy to complement your mixer and match the look.

Mixing bowl sizes

The KitchenAid mixers we’ve tested come with mixing bowls ranging from 4.7L to 6.6L.

A 4.7L mixing bowl is a perfect size for the home baker as it can mix as little as a two egg white meringue, but also accommodate as much as a large 20鈥�23cm cake batter or enough cooking dough for a week’s supply of cookies as well as 1kg of pizza dough.

A 5.6鈥�6.6L mixing bowl is suitable for a larger family or for a budding commercial baker.

KitchenAid also has models with bowl sizes up to 7.6L which are best for the commercial baker, cooking on a larger scale.

Keep in mind, the larger the bowl capacity the more ingredients you’ll need to be using to get the best results. The larger capacity may not accommodate smaller amounts so it’s important to consider the quantity of what you’ll be baking when you decide which mixer to go for.

Pros and cons of KitchenAid mixers

Pros

• Sturdy construction.
• Excellent performers.
• Five-year motor warranty (not including accessories).
• Available in a variety of colours and can be personalised to suit your taste.
• Many optional accessories and attachments are available to increase their versatility.
• Beater height is easily adjustable using a flat head screwdriver 鈥� this ensures effective mixing and prevents wear and tear on the mixer and the bowl. 

Cons

• Relatively expensive.
• Optional accessories and attachments are also relatively expensive.
• The heavy motor head is not spring loaded, so can be heavy to lift and lower.
• Generally only OK for ease of use.
• Most accessories only have a one-year warranty.

KitchenAid attachments

All KitchenAid mixers have an outlet at the front of the unit for attaching KitchenAid accessories that can be bought separately.

These optional extras can give your mixer more versatility, meaning you won’t need to buy each dedicated appliance separately.

The attachments are universal and can be used on any KitchenAid stand mixer.

Along with various mixing tools, pouring shields and mixing bowls that can be bought separately, you can buy the following attachments for KitchenAid mixers:

• 3-piece Pasta Roller and Cutter KSMPRA ($299)
• Metal Food Grinder 5KSMMGAA ($229)
• Fresh Prep Slicer & Shredder 5KSMVSA ($179)
• Sifter + Scale KSMSFTAA ($259)
• Pasta Roller KSMPSA ($159)
• Gourmet Pasta Press KSMPEXTA ($399)
• 7 Blade Spiraliser Plus with Peel, Core & Slice KSM2APC ($249)
• Sausage Stuffer Attachment Kit without Food Grinder SSAA ($19)
• Food Grinder 5KSMFGAA ($129)
• Food Processor KSM2FPA ($399)
• Grain Mill KGM ($229)
• Pasta Cutter and Angel KSMPCA ($199)
• Ice Shaver 5KSMSIA ($179)
• Vegetable Sheet Cutter KSMSCA ($239)
• Ice Cream Bowl 5KSMICM ($209).

Keep in mind that many of these attachments will add a significant amount to the cost of an already expensive mixer, and you’ll need to make sure you have the storage space to accommodate the extra accessories too.

Which KitchenAid mixer should you buy?

Our expert testers, Fiona Mair and Chantelle Dart, are avid bakers and know how to put mixers through their paces in the 糖心Vlog kitchen lab. They whisk egg whites and make pizza dough and cake batters to test the three main mixing tools.

They also know the importance of having a mixer that’s easy to use, so they assess the controls, using the locking mechanism and inserting and removing the mixing tools, and check whether you can lift and lower the head and remove and replace the mixing bowl with ease.

If your heart is set on a KitchenAid, we’ve tested five models and found that they all perform well, with a couple of models scoring highly enough to be recommended. But performance is only part of the equation 鈥� to see how the KitchenAid models stack up overall against other models from Breville, Kenwood, Sunbeam and more, take a look at our full stand mixers review.

The KitchenAid models we’ve tested are very similar in terms of features and functionality. All have 10 speeds (except for the Bowl-Lift that has 11 speeds) and come with a five-year warranty (not including the accessories).

KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer 5KSM45

• Performance score: 90%
• Mixing bowl size: 4.3L
• Price: $749

If you’re just after a KitchenAid mixer with the basics, this model is a good starting point. It comes with one 4.3L mixing bowl and the standard whisk, flat beater and dough hook accessories.

KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer 5KSM192XDAPT

• Performance score: 97%
• Mixing bowl size: 4.7L
• Price: $849

Moving up from the Classic, this slightly more expensive model comes with the same accessories, but a slightly bigger 4.7L mixing bowl with a handle. It was near perfect in our performance tests and our tester Chantelle says, “this mixer is good for professional bakers and for baking in large quantities”.

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer 5KSM195PSAFT

• Performance score: 90%
• Mixing bowl size: 2.8L and 4.7L
• Price: $999

If you like to bake in small and large quantities, this KitchenAid model comes with both a 2.8L and a 4.7L mixing bowl. The 2.8L bowl has no handle but is lighter 鈥� perfect for mixing a small amount of ingredients, for example a buttercream or cream cheese icing or for whipping a small amount of cream or a single egg white.

As well as the standard whisk and dough hook, it also comes with a scraper beater (KitchenAid refers to it as a Flex Edge beater) and a pastry beater as well as a convenient pouring shield/splash guard.

For our home economist, Fiona Mair, a scraper beater is a must-have. “It’s a really handy accessory as it scrapes the inside of the mixing bowl for you, meaning you don’t have to stop mixing to scrape the bowl yourself.”

KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer 5KSM70SHXADR

• Performance score: 97%
• Mixing bowl size: 6.6L
• Price: $1149

If you bake often and in large quantities, the KitchenAid Bowl-Lift comes with a large 6.6L mixing bowl that’s perfect for bulk baking. While the large bowl is handy, it’s worth noting that it’s also heavier to hold and scrape out batters and mixtures.

It comes with a whisk, scraper beater, flat beater, dough hook and pouring shield as accessories. What sets it apart from the other KitchenAid models is its bowl lift feature, which allows you to lift or lower the mixing bowl by using a large handle at the side of the mixer. Bear in mind this model is one of KitchenAid’s priciest offerings.

KitchenAid Evergreen Tilt-Head Stand Mixer 5KSM180WSAEG

• Performance score: 97%
• Mixing bowl size: 4.7L
• Price: $1099

If you’re looking for a real showstopper in your kitchen then look no further than one of KitchenAid’s latest releases, the Evergreen Tilt-Head Stand Mixer. Everyone who saw this mixer in the 糖心Vlog kitchen lab commented on the beauty of this appliance and how they would love it in their own kitchen.

This is the most expensive KitchenAid in our test, but you’ll only get the standard wire whisk, flat beater and dough hook as accessories. You’re paying for the aesthetics with this one: a deep forest green colour with a matte finish, brass-plated attachment hub cover and the real showstopper 鈥� a walnut wood mixing bowl.

There’s no denying that it looks great and it performs well in our testing too, but there are a few things to keep in mind with this model. The wooden bowl will require extra care and maintenance 鈥� it’s not dishwasher safe and should be dried immediately after handwashing. KitchenAid doesn’t recommend leaving it submerged in water and to only use gentle, non-abrasive detergents when washing.

You’ll also need to regularly season the bowl with food-safe wood polish, mineral oil or walnut oil. The natural properties of the wood bowl means it’ll show signs of wear as you use it. While a mark here and there won’t affect functionality, using oil to season the bowl can affect performance. Whipping egg whites to a stiff peak, for example, can become troublesome if there’s oil residue in the bowl. KitchenAid even suggests purchasing their 4.7L stainless steel bowl to have on hand with the Evergreen which will set you back another $99.

If you’re an avid baker this model might not be practical for you.

Is there a cheaper alternative to a KitchenAid mixer?

If a KitchenAid is out of your budget, Fiona recommends taking a look at Breville stand mixers. “We’ve found the Breville models we’ve tested perform well and come with a double-sided scraper beater and spring-loaded motor head.”

They also come with a two-year warranty (plus five years on the motor), and don’t command the same high price tag. We’ve tested the Breville LEM 250 The Scraper Beater and Breville LEM750 The Bakery Chef Hub for $269 and $479 respectively.

糖心Vlog tip: Compare the KitchenAid stand mixers with models from Kenwood, Breville, Kmart, Smeg, Sunbeam and more. Models that have a 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of 80鈥�84% aren’t recommended by our experts but are definitely still worth considering. See our latest kitchen mixers review.

KitchenAid mixers: Our verdict

A KitchenAid mixer is an investment that will become a statement piece in your kitchen. An entry-level, medium-sized model will set you back around $749, and that’s without any extra attachments or accessories.

They have a solid construction and are built to last, and while they have a distinctive look, we’re finding more brands offering aesthetically pleasing designs and better value for money.

In fact, Fiona says there are other stand mixers on the market that are “easier to use at a cheaper price, and they may also include other attachments like scraper beaters or an extra bowl”.

Compared to other mixers we’ve tested, KitchenAid models are only OK in terms of ease of use.

“They can be clunky when processing a heavy load and the motor head is heavy and isn’t spring loaded, so you’ll need to manually lift and lower the motor head,” Fiona says.

Her final tip? Try to nab a bargain during sales periods.

“If your heart is set on a KitchenAid mixer, wait for the sales 鈥� you may get a few hundred dollars off the RRP or extra accessories thrown in.”

The post Is a KitchenAid mixer worth it? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• What is the Ninja Swirl by Creami?
• What can you do with the Ninja Swirl?
• How does it work?
• Is the Ninja Swirl easy to use?
• How good is the soft serve dispenser?
• Is it worth making your own ice cream with the Ninja Swirl by Creami?

Ninja has become known for their innovation in the kitchen. From blenders and food processors to air fryers and multi-cookers, the brand has a reputation for easy to use appliances that offer convenience.

The Creami was Ninja’s introduction into the world of frozen desserts, bringing the art of ice cream making into the home. Now their latest release, the Ninja Swirl combines the functionality of the Creami with a soft serve dispenser to add more fun and excitement. But does it live up to the hype and is it worth the investment? Our experts take a look.

What is the Ninja Swirl by Creami?

The Ninja Swirl is the evolution of the original Ninja Creami, a home appliance that churns frozen mixtures into creamy desserts. The fun part is that it not only delivers scoopable ice cream but can also turn that ice cream into soft-serve style swirls via a built-in dispenser straight into your cup or cone.

What you get in the box

It comes with two 470mL tubs that can be used for your mixtures, a bowl that the tubs are placed into for processing, a paddle which does the processing and lids for the tubs and bowl.

The soft serve attachment allows your creations to be expertly dispensed into cones or cups and a drip tray sits underneath to catch any spills. You’ll also receive over 20 recipes to get you started on your ice cream making journey.

Keep in mind that each 470ml tub needs to be pre-frozen with your ice-cream mixture before you can turn it into soft serve, so this limits the amount of ice cream you can make at any one time.

If you want to serve more than 2 x 470ml portions at once (about 4 adult servings or up to 6 kids servings per tub), you will need to buy extra tubs. These are currently available to buy in the US, but they are not yet available in Australia.

What can you do with the Ninja Swirl?

The Swirl not only makes regular scoopable ice cream, but can also dispense the soft serve texture and consistency, using the same star nozzle swirly pattern that you would expect of a takeaway soft-serve ice cream.

With six soft-serve programs and six scoop programs you can even create desserts like sorbet, thick shakes, frozen yoghurt, gelato and fruit whip.

“The benefit is that you can customise the flavour to suit your taste and dietary requirements, knowing exactly what’s going into your frozen treats,” says 糖心Vlog expert tester, Elias Plastiras.

How does it work?

For all ice cream makers you need a pre-prepared custard mixture or fruit base. But Elias says, “unlike other ice cream makers that freeze and churn the mixture for you, the Ninja only does the processing (or churning) part”.

With the Swirl you need to add the mixture to the supplied tubs and leave it in the freezer for 24 hours before it can be churned in the machine. The mixture ideally needs to be level in the tub so that the paddle can spin down onto it to produce a creamy and smooth texture and consistency. For any unprocessed bits you simply need to use a spatula to bring it back into the centre and re-spin.

There’s also a mix-in program that allows you to add things like choc chips to your ice cream, however, there’s no mix-in chute, so you’ll need to remove the tub to add the bits to your mix.

If you’re making ice cream it can take a couple of minutes to churn in the Swirl, while frozen yoghurt can take about five minutes.

“Planning is essential with the Ninja Swirl. Unless you’re using store-bought ice cream, you can’t decide in the morning that you want to make ice cream from scratch for the same day with this machine,” Elias explains.

Is the Ninja Swirl easy to use?

The Swirl is simple and straightforward to use. It’s labelled well and the instructions provided are comprehensive.

If you’re new to making ice cream from scratch, Ninja makes it simple to follow the supplied recipes. And if you want to make it even simpler, the machine can be used to turn store-bought ice cream into soft serve or even thick shakes with the addition of milk.

Is it easy to clean?

While the exterior is fairly easy to wipe over, there are many parts that need cleaning. Thankfully they are all dishwasher safe, however, when making soft serve, there will be remnants left over that need to be manually scooped out of the dispenser, as not all the mixture gets pushed out by the machine.

Elias says, “cleaning can get quite annoying, especially if you switch flavours, from a milk-based ice cream to sorbet for example, you’ll need to clean everything very thoroughly in between.”

Is the Ninja Swirl easy to store?

The Swirl is quite tall and bulky 鈥� it’s essentially the original Ninja Creami appliance with the addition of the soft serve dispenser.

Unless you have a dedicated area to store it permanently on your kitchen bench you’ll need space to put it away and even a standard-sized cupboard is likely not tall enough. (our experts note that due to its height, you may need to store it on its side.)

Is it noisy?

The machine gets very loud when churning and can reach well over 80dB, which is equivalent to heavy traffic noise. Elias says, “thankfully the machine only takes a few minutes to turn icy mixtures into creamy treats, so the noise shouldn’t get too intrusive”.

How good is the soft serve dispenser?

Elias was impressed with how light and fluffy the soft serve was. He said, “it was very enjoyable but the novelty didn’t last long, especially when it came time to clean the machine.”

Store-bought ice cream produced a soft serve that was much softer in comparison to our 糖心Vlog vanilla ice cream recipe, and it was much quicker to melt too.

“For the best results, make your ice cream, put it back in the freezer, then back into the machine for a re-spin before making your soft serve.”

Doing this will help it to hold its shape a bit longer.

What about making regular ice cream?

We also subjected the Ninja Swirl to our ice cream makers test method to see how it fares against other ice cream makers we’ve tested. For vanilla ice cream, the Swirl produced a good result, creating a uniform consistency with a smooth and creamy mouthfeel with vanilla beans evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

The vegan frozen yoghurt produced a very good result, however, the higher water content with minimal sugar means this dessert is best consumed immediately after churning.

The lemon sorbet was rated as good. It had good flavour but because it has no milk solids, it melts much quicker when churning, so you can’t scoop it out like you would an ice cream.

Is it worth making your own ice cream with the Ninja Swirl by Creami?

Sure, having soft serve ice cream at home sounds great, but the novelty could quickly wear off and then you’re left with a bulky machine that’s awkward to store and even more time consuming to clean (when you use it).

Unless making soft serve at home is an absolute must, you can save some money by opting for the original Ninja Creami NC300 (which makes creamy desserts in the same way, just without the soft-serve dispenser). Or another, cheaper ice-cream maker.

Elias says, “If you want to create your own recipes, experiment with different flavours and then have the “wow” factor of a soft serve dispenser in your own home, then the Swirl is the machine for you. Just consider where it’ll live in your kitchen and how much you’ll use it to get your money’s worth.”

However, when we asked 糖心Vlog home economist, Fiona Mair what she thought of the machine she said she wouldn’t buy it and thinks you’ll get better value elsewhere.

“We’ve tested other ice cream makers in the labs that cost less, produce better results and do the freezing and churning all at once.”

See our ice cream maker results, to see how the Ninja Swirl compares to other machines we’ve tested from Cuisinart, Magimix, Breville and more.

The post Is the Ninja Swirl by Creami worth it? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• What is the Ninja Slushi?
• What can you do with the Ninja Slushi?
• How easy is it to use?
• Does it make good frozen drinks?
• Do you need to use sugar to make a slushie?
• Is the Ninja Slushi worth it?

We all love a good novelty appliance, one that’s quick and easy to use and customisable to suit our needs, without compromising on taste.

Ninja is known for its creative appliance offerings that capture the attention of consumers that crave convenience. Their latest offering is the Ninja Slushi, a benchtop appliance that brings the fun and excitement of a cold slushie on a hot day into the comfort of your own home.

What is the Ninja Slushi?

The Ninja Slushi is a frozen drink maker. It works by spinning an auger inside a cooling cylinder that uses an evaporator to cool liquids and turn them into slushy drinks.

No ice or blending is needed. You just add the drink and let the machine do its thing. Along with the base that holds the motor and evaporator, in the box you’ll get:

• 2.6L liquid vessel with handle and spout (1.9L max fill line)
• Auger (the rotating paddle that spins around the cooling cylinder to mix and freeze the liquid into the slushie consistency)
• Condenser tray
• Drip tray
• Removable spout
• Guide with 10 recipes

A locking handle keeps the vessel in place while the auger spins and a spring-loaded handle at the front opens the gate for slushies to pour into your cup.

What can you do with the Ninja Slushi?

Basically any drink 鈥� like soft drink, coffee, juice, chocolate milk or an alcoholic beverage 鈥� can be turned into a frozen treat with the Ninja Slushi. It has five pre-set functions for you to make slushies, frozen cocktails, frappes, frozen milkshakes and frozen juices along with adjustable temperature selection.聽

You can fill the vessel with a maximum of 1.9L which will in turn produce 2.6L of slushie. Ninja says this is enough for around 9 serves. The minimum amount of liquid you can use is 475mL. A lid at the top of the vessel can be opened to easily top up the liquid to keep the party going and the vessel can keep your drinks cool for up to 12 hours.聽

糖心Vlog testing expert, Elias Plastiras, put the Ninja Slushi to the test by making soft drink slushies, frozen orange juice, a frozen chocolate milkshake and a frozen cocktail.聽

It doesn’t cost much to run either. While it depends on the type of liquid you use, the amount of time it takes to turn into a slushie and how long you keep it going (in ‘keep cool’ mode), we estimate that a soft drink slushie will cost about 24 cents to make and then keep cool for five hours.

How easy is it to use?

The Ninja Slushi is quite simple and straightforward to use. The control panel has flat sealed buttons at the front of the unit, with the list of preset functions on one side and the temperature gauge on the other. The temperature is automatically set when you select the function, however, it can be manually adjusted which will allow you to play around with the texture.

“Slushies are formed when there is enough sugar content in the drink to keep the liquid from freezing,” explains Elias.聽

There are instructions on the machine and in the manual to guide you, but if the machine detects too little sugar or too much alcohol, it will stop, beep and flash the temperature lights to alert you to the problem.

The opening at the top of the unit is easy to access to pour the liquid into the vessel, but it’s important to note that only liquid can be used.聽

“No solid ingredients or ice can be placed in the machine. It only swishes things around, it doesn’t blend or whip”, explains Elias.聽

The Ninja Slushi is best used indoors. If you’re wanting to entertain outside, it needs to be undercover, away from rain and direct sunlight and in an area where it’s not too humid. Most importantly, the outside of the unit can get hot and it needs to have good air circulation, so make sure there’s enough clear space at the rear and on each side.聽

Is聽 the Ninja Slushi easy to clean?

The Ninja Slushi comes with a rinse cycle that can be used to clean the cooling cylinder and auger of the machine, removing any remaining bits of slushie. First, make sure all of the slushie has been dispensed before filling the liquid vessel to the maximum capacity line with warm water.

Once you’ve finished rinsing the machine, keep the rinse cycle running to dispense the water, remembering to place a large jug underneath to catch it all.聽

“We had to perform the rinse cycle at least two times for carbonated drinks before it produced clear water and at least three times for milkshakes”, says Elias. “We also had to check for any spillages towards the back of the cooling cylinder.”聽

Even after multiple rinse cycles, remnants of the slushies remained at the top of the vessel and in some corners and crevices. The vessel had to be removed and cleaned manually to get it completely clean. While the vessel and auger are easy to remove and dishwasher safe, its long shape can make it awkward to clean in a kitchen sink.

The condensation tray also needs to be cleaned. It sits under the vessel and catches all the drips as the vessel gets cold and condensates. It’s easy to remove but must be cleaned after each use, especially if the Slushi has been left on for a while.

Elias says to be mindful when using coloured drinks. “If the slushie is made using a yellow or orange drink, staining can occur and is very difficult to remove. Even using dishwashing liquid, hot water and some elbow grease didn’t work to remove the stained colour.”

Is the Ninja Slushi easy to store?

The Slushi takes up considerable bench space. Weighing 11kg, it’s quite sturdy and at 43cm high it’s also quite tall, so storing it in most underbench cupboards would be tricky.

Maybe you have a modern kitchen with plenty of bench space or a spot in your butler’s kitchen for it. But regardless of your kitchen design, you’ll need to consider if you have the room to have the Slushi as a permanent fixture on your kitchen bench.

Is it noisy?

The machine makes noise as it works and emits a slight shudder when the evaporator kicks in to keep the slushie cool. The noise comes mostly from the motor and the fans that are used to extract the warm air from the unit. It’ll beep to let you know the slushie is ready, but it’s not loud and could be easily missed.

“We measured the noise level of the machine at work to be around 50dB. While this is not particularly loud, depending on the layout of your house and typical room ambiance, it can become quite noticeable and distracting, sort of like a loud conversation” Elias says.

Does it make good frozen drinks?

Elias put the Slushi through its paces, making four frozen drinks to test its various functions.

Soft drink slushie

We initially made a Coke Classic slushie by adding 500mL to the machine and simply selecting the Slush setting which preset two temperature bars (the warmer end of the scale). It took about 20 minutes for the slushie to indicate that it was ready, however, there was too much liquid remaining which suggested it wasn’t ‘slushed’ enough.

The temperature setting was then manually increased by one bar (which actually decreases the temperature 鈥� more like turning up the coldness factor) which produced a better slushie, however, the pour consistency wasn’t great, with blobs of iced drink being dispensed.

Elias says “it’s best to let the slushie sit for a while before dispensing to improve pouring consistency.”

He made another carbonated slushie by pouring 1.25L of Kirks Pasito, again selecting Slush mode. It took 35 minutes but this time he waited about an hour before serving. While it still came out in blobs, it was much quicker to dispense, maybe due to there being more weight in the vessel.

The Kirks Pasito caused the vessel to become stained and we were unable to remove the yellow streaks, which is something to be mindful of when using beverages with colourings in them.

Elias says the result was pretty good.聽“The ice texture was fine, with very few larger pieces, and it could pass through a straw. It felt mostly fluffy on the tongue and the temperature made it easy to drink as it wasn’t overly cold. It’s similar to the experience you would get from a service station Slurpee.”

Frozen juice

Elias also made a fresh orange juice slushie by using about nine oranges and one cup (around 250mL) of water to fill the vessel to its maximum level. It took 45 minutes to be ready and was left to rest for around an hour before pouring.

“Everyone who tasted the soft drink and fresh fruit juice preferred the fresh fruit option, saying the texture and taste was better. The fresh juice also flowed better through the spout into the cup.”

Milkshake

To make a milkshake slushie, Elias used 1L of Oak Chocolate Milk. It took 24 minutes and the end result was a fluffy drink that almost had the consistency of a soft-serve ice cream. The 1L of milk produced a lot of slushie 鈥� the vessel was completely full by the end of the process.

Elias says: “The longer you leave the milk spinning in the machine the more it increases in volume, so it’s not the type of drink you could leave on ‘keep cool’ for hours.”

The milkshake also produced a lot more spillage from the spout and required more attention when pouring and cleaning.

“It can get very messy, so it’s worth cleaning any spillages between pours.”

Frozen cocktail

Elias made a Midori Illusion using the Frozen Cocktail setting. This setting used the coldest temperature (9 out of 10 bars) and took an hour to complete 550mL. The drink didn’t flow smoothly from the spout, so you may need a spoon to consume. You might also want to adjust the temperature to make the pour a bit smoother.

If using pre-made alcohol-based drinks, then you can just pour them in and let the machine do its thing. But if you’re mixing your own cocktails from scratch, the alcohol content will need to be between 2.8鈥�16%. The supplied user guide gives some quick measurements based on the recipe size. If you make your drink too strong, the machine’s temperature LEDs will flash upward to warn you that some water has to be added.

Do you need to use sugar to make a slushie?

When you’re making a slushie, you want to prevent the drink from freezing completely. To achieve the slushy texture and consistency and to keep the ice crystals small and smooth, there needs to be 5g of sugar for every 100mL of liquid, so keep this in mind if you’re mixing your own drinks. The drinks we made already had enough sugar (for example the Coke Classic and Chocolate Oak stated 10.6g per 100mL).

It won’t work with artificial sweeteners, but you can add flavoured syrup, sugar, date sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, agave, sugar syrup or honey.聽

With its reliance on sugar, this makes a slushie machine something that should be used in moderation or for special occasions. The extra calories without any nutritional benefit is not ideal if you’re consuming slushies regularly or in large amounts.

If you want the fun of a slushie without the added sugar, the instructions state that you can use diet or low-sugar drinks and supplement them with a natural sweetener called erythritol, some lemon juice and salt. Keep in mind that erythritol will make your favourite diet soda taste even sweeter.

Is the Ninja Slushi worth it?

If you often entertain or love the idea of having frozen drinks at home, the Ninja Slushi brings the fun 鈥� it’s a well-designed machine that requires minimal effort from the user. But you need the space for it, whether it’s on the kitchen bench or in a cupboard, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Our expert Elias rates its performance as OK. The soft drink slushies weren’t as good as the fresh juice and milkshake slushies in terms of pouring performance. You’ll probably want to have a play around with the temperature settings to reach your desired consistency.

“It’s one of those machines that you pull out of hiding a few times a year when the weather’s too hot to handle,” he says. A price tag of $500 is a lot to spend on what is ultimately a novelty appliance, unless you’re going to use it frequently.

If you already have a high performance blender, you can make a slushie by adding liquid and frozen ingredients and blending together to achieve your desired consistency without the added expense of a dedicated slushie machine.

The post Is the Ninja Slushi Professional worth it? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• What is the Ankarsrum?
• How is the Ankarsrum different from other stand mixers?
• How does the Ankarsrum perform?
• Ankarsrum vs KitchenAid: How do they compare?
• 糖心Vlog verdict: Should you buy the Ankarsrum stand mixer?

KitchenAid has long been revered as the must-have appliance for baking enthusiasts 鈥� an iconic brand synonymous with kitchen mixers. But there’s a new kid on the block, making their mark as an option for serious bakers. The Swedish Ankarsrum stand mixer stands out from the crowd with its retro design and, like the KitchenAid, is available in a range of colours to suit your home decor. It comes with a serious price tag though 鈥� at $1395 it’s significantly more expensive than a KitchenAid.

Of course we had to get it in front of our kitchen experts to see how this Swedish masterpiece stacks up against the American muscle of the KitchenAid.

What is the Ankarsrum?

While it’s relatively new to the scene in Australia, the Ankarsrum Assistent Original is a kitchen stand mixer that has been manufactured in Sweden since 1940. In fact, Ankarsrum boasts that it’s assembled by hand and each product is tested before leaving the factory.

It comes with a massive 7L stainless-steel mixing bowl which is capable of mixing up to 5kg of dough. The machine is ideal for all sorts of dough-making, so if this is what you’re into, then the Ankarsrum will make light work of the onerous task of kneading.

What you get in the box

When you purchase an Ankarsrum Assistent Original you’ll receive the tools needed for baking and whisking. These include:

• Dough kit (7L bowl with dough roller, dough hook, dough knife and dough scraper)
• Full whisk set (3.5L mixing bowl with balloon whisks and cookie beaters)
• Versatile lid (for proving dough directly in the bowl and can also act as a splashguard)

You’ll also receive a recipe book, which 糖心Vlog home economist, Fiona Mair says could do with some improvements. Recipes are available on the website, in a hard copy version, and as a downloadable recipe book. Fiona says, “I recommend that beginners start with the downloadable version, as it includes more basic recipes with detailed instructions”.

The machine comes with a seven-year warranty and there are a range of replacement parts available to purchase should your machine be in need of new parts following the warranty period.

There are also many accessories that can be purchased to increase the versatility of the Ankarsrum, turning it into a complete food preparation system. A vegetable cutter, citrus press, blender, ice cream maker, pasta roller and mincer can all be purchased as optional accessories, but keep in mind they will add to the already hefty price tag of the machine.

We purchased the Go Green accessory set for $425 which included a citrus press, blender with tamper and vegetable cutter. The unit has an extra outlet for all these accessories and to use some you’ll need to turn the Ankarsrum on its side to access the outlet.

How is the Ankarsrum different from other stand mixers?

Apart from its distinct design, the Ankarsrum also operates differently to stand mixers we’ve tested from brands like Breville, Sunbeam, KitchenAid, Kenwood and Smeg.

Traditionally, stand mixers have their motor in the head of the unit (up above). This is where all the weight is and why it’s usually important to look for a mixer with a spring loaded motor head, so it’s easier to lift the head to add and manipulate ingredients. Setting it apart from other mixers, the motor of the Ankarsrum sits in the base of the unit and the mixing bowl sits on top of it. This makes it easier to add ingredients into the bowl.聽

The Ankarsrum also works by rotating the bowl (as opposed to to traditional stand mixers where the beaters are rotating while the bowl remains static).

The wide bowl of the Ankarsrum means it usually takes longer than other stand mixers to bring ingredients together. It may also require you to manually move the mounting arm back and forth to help the process.

Making dough

The Ankarsrum uses different accessories depending on the dough you’re making (for example, high hydration doughs use the dough hook whereas the dough roller is used for pasta doughs or softer doughs that require butter).

The method for dough-making is also slightly different in the Ankarsrum than for other stand mixers 鈥� liquid is added first and then the dry ingredients are added gradually.

Stand mixers also usually have a time and speed limit when it comes to kneading heavy doughs, and if you exceed the limit you run the risk of overheating the unit and damaging the motor. With the Ankarsrum this is not the case 鈥� while it takes longer to mix and knead, there’s no time or speed limit for doughs.

How does the Ankarsrum perform?

When our kitchen experts, Fiona Mair and Chantelle Dart test stand mixers they assess their performance based on how well they can whisk egg whites as well as make a dough and cake mix.

糖心Vlog members can view the full detailed results of our testing, and compare how the Ankarsrun stacks up against over 20 other stand mixers in our latest stand mixer reviews.

We can reveal here though that the Ankarsrum was impressive across our range of tests.

“The lightweight beater bowl is used for whisking eggs for meringues, making cake batters and cookie doughs. It has an open shaft through the middle of the bowl and the twin beaters sit perfectly in the bowl so all ingredients get mixed well, with limited scraping down of the sides of the bowl,” Fiona says.

The unit has rubber feet and is fairly stable on the bench when making dough, however, you may need to manually move the hook arm initially to help get all the ingredients mixed together to avoid large amounts of dough becoming stuck and staying unmixed.

How do the extra accessories perform?

When we tested the accessories from the Go Green pack, the citrus juicer and vegetable cutter gave “very good” results.聽

“The blender attachment comes with a tamper so it can be compared to high performance blenders,” say Fiona.

“It was excellent across the range of performance tests but only struggled when it came to processing kale.”

The instructions recommend processing for two minutes at a time and the blender blade is not removable (however, access around the blade for cleaning is fairly easy). The blender jug is lightweight and the unit needs to be turned on its side to attach the blender (the Ankarsrum still stays stable on its side).

Safety issues to consider

It’s important to note that hands or tools should never be placed in the bowl while the machine is running.

There is a risk of crushing injuries occurring between the rotating bowl and dough hook and the arm pin for securing attachments can be stiff or misaligned and can pose a pinching risk if your hand is in the way when pushing down.

Is it easy to use?

Kitchen mixers are a fairly simple and uncomplicated appliance and overall, the same can be said for the Ankarsrum. It features two large dial controls for time and speed, the bowls are easy to attach and remove, it’s very easy to add ingredients and cleaning the unit is a breeze too.

Attaching the mixing tools for dough making is where things can get tricky and this can take some time and practice to get used to. There’s a sequence of steps to follow 鈥� there are two holes in the attachment arm, one for the dough knife/scraper and the other for the dough hook.

Once attached, the arm can then be locked in place by tightening the wheel handle聽which is uncomfortable to grip and can be difficult to loosen聽(you might want to leave it unlocked if you need to manually assist the initial mixing of the dough). Tool height can be adjusted with a screw driver to avoid hitting and damaging the bottom of the bowl.

There’s no separate storage for the accessories and while some can be stored inside the bowl when it’s not in use, you’ll need to have storage space, especially if you purchase extra attachments like the Go Green set.

Keep in mind that the Ankarsrum, like many other stand mixers, is quite heavy and bulky and is designed to be a permanent fixture on your kitchen benchtop.

Ankarsrum vs KitchenAid: How do they compare?

Ankarsrum and KitchenAid are both high-end stand mixers, each with their own distinct design. Our experts have tested five KitchenAid mixers and while they are consistently excellent performers, their heavy motor head that isn’t spring loaded lets them down for ease of use (among other things).

Fiona says: “the Ankarsrum has impressed us with its sturdy design and its durability, especially for dough making.”

To see how these machines perform against mixers from Breville, Sunbeam, Kenwood, Smeg and more, see the results of over 20 stand mixers in our review.

Ankarsrum

笔谤颈肠别:听$1395

• Swedish-built
• Motor in the base
• Unlimited running time
• Unique retro design with 14 colours to choose from
• Ideal for making dough, especially in large batches
• Steeper learning curve due to its unconventional design
• 7 year warranty

KitchenAid

笔谤颈肠别:听$699鈥�$1149

• American-built
• Motor in the tilt head making it heavy to lift
• No spring loaded motor head
• Maximum running time of 6 minutes on speed 2 when kneading dough
• Iconic design with multiple colours to choose from
• Ideal for general baking but can struggle with large dough batches
• Easy to use with intuitive design
• 5 year warranty

糖心Vlog verdict: Should you buy the Ankarsrum stand mixer?

The Ankarsrum has a design that stands out from the conventional mixers we’re used to seeing from popular brands like Breville, Smeg, Sunbeam, Kenwood and KitchenAid. Its differences in design mean it might take you a little longer to learn how to use and adjust it.

It’s also the most expensive mixer we’ve tested, so you really should consider what you usually bake and how often, to determine if this appliance is worth its price tag and a spot on your kitchen bench. The Ankarsrum can be overkill for the occasional baker or if you only make cakes and other light batters. You can pick up one of our recommended stand mixer models for around a quarter of the price of the Ankarsrum 鈥� as Fiona says, “this machine is really for the serious baker”.

“The fact that the motor won’t overheat, allowing for long kneading times, makes the Ankarsrum an attractive option if you’re always baking large batches of bread and other doughs.”

The post Ankarsrum stand mixer: Does this Swedish brand rival KitchenAid? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

You can try these recipe ideas in a personal blender or, if you really want to turbocharge your cooking, consider a high-performance super blender that can offer more power and features.

Whichever one you choose, here are 10 tasty things you can whiz up this winter 鈥� from pesto to pancakes, cocktails to chocolate sauce, and more.

Warning:聽Always let hot foods cool before blending. Otherwise, steam can build up and dislodge the lid, resulting in a hot mess and possible injury.

1. Comforting soups

Nothing says winter quite like a steaming bowl of warming, rich soup. Try these combinations and add a dash of your own culinary creativity:聽

• Turmeric, carrot and ginger
• Zucchini and Thai green curry
• Creamy cauliflower
• Roasted tomato with sumac.

You can use everything from a stick blender to a high-performing model 鈥� all that will vary is the texture.

2. Homemade pizza sauce

Making pizza at home is such a great family activity.聽

You needn’t stop at just making the dough, either. Why not make your own lovely pizza sauce too? Simply cook tomatoes with your aromatics, let it cool, then blend.聽

You could even make a large batch and store it in jars for future feasts.

3. Pesto presto!

For a dinner that will have everyone lining up for second helpings, make a delicious, vibrant pesto for pasta.聽

A classic pesto is always a winner, but you could mix things up by swapping out the basil for broccoli, rocket or kale, and even using a variety of nuts or seeds.聽

4. Winter tonics

Give your immune system a lift this winter by using your blender to make healthy, enlivening tonics.聽

You can create body-boosting beverages using citrus, honey, turmeric, ginger, cacao and even mushrooms.聽

Just be mindful that if you’re making a tonic with tubers, such as turmeric and ginger, you’ll need a blender that can handle their woody texture. And be aware that turmeric may stain your jug.

5. Dips for chips

Take your party nibbles to the next level by making your own delicious dips in a blender. The possibilities are virtually endless, but you can begin with a solid repertoire of hummus, tahini, avocado or roasted-capsicum dip to get the party started.聽

6. Pancakes o’ plenty

Give your arm a rest because you can make lump-free pancake batter 鈥� and other batters, for that matter 鈥� in a blender. This little trick takes all the effort out of the process.聽

Just be sure to add the wet ingredients to the blender before the dry.

7. Nut butters

With the help of a good blender, you can make your own healthier, cheaper and tastier versions of peanut butter, almond butter and Nutella at home.

It only takes a few ingredients and surprisingly little effort to create your own signature nut butter blend.

8. Chocolate sauce

Everything’s better with chocolate sauce: pancakes, waffles, ice cream … the list is endless 鈥� and delicious.聽

To make your own choc magic, mix together some cream, water, grated dark chocolate, icing sugar and a couple of spoonfuls of hazelnut liqueur (if you’re over 18).

9. Cosy cocktails

Blenders may star at a summer cocktail party, but they’re also capable of creating winter warmers too.聽

Get cosy with concoctions such as hot buttered rum, chocolate liqueur creams, wintery espresso martinis, and spiced tipples made with pur茅ed pumpkin.聽聽

10. Healthy alt-milks

Dodge the dairy and make your own nut milks in your blender. These alternative milks 鈥� such as macadamia, almond, rice and oat 鈥� are delicious, especially when homemade, and are easy enough to prepare.

But note that while it’s possible to make alt-milks in a standard blender, you’ll get a far superior result with a high-performance model.

The post 10 clever ways to use your blender in winter appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

Leaving those extra accessories to gather dust in your cupboard could also mean leaving metaphorical savings on the table. We’ve crunched the numbers and found that using the full range of attachments and functions to their potential could save you hundreds of dollars a year.聽

In our recent survey, 19% of respondents told us they used their food processor only every few months and 7% told us they use it only once a year or less. Almost a fifth 鈥� 17% 鈥撀� said that they don’t use any of the attachments that came with their food processor other than the processing blade.聽

According to 糖心Vlog home economist Fiona Mair, they’re missing out on the opportunity to do so much more with this kitchen workhorse.聽

“Food processors are really helpful in your kitchen. They can chop, dice and slice, they shred, they grate, they can mix doughs, make pastry, blend purees 鈥� there are so many things they can do. They’re a great appliance if you want to reduce your reliance on processed foods and make things from scratch,” she says.聽

We’ve crunched the numbers on some common processed foods and figured out you could save hundreds a year by switching from store-bought to homemade with the help of your food processor.

Mayonnaise

Making your own mayonnaise may seem difficult, but emulsifying the ingredients for mayonnaise in a food processor is so quick and easy.聽

“You can whip up mayonnaise in just a few minutes. It’s a great alternative to buying it, which can be quite costly,” says Fiona.聽

You just have to whizz up an egg, gradually adding in a neutral-flavoured oil. You can also add flavourings like mustard, vinegar and salt.

A jar of mayonnaise will cost you around $4 at a minimum and as much as $10 or more if you buy one of the more gourmet varieties, but you can make your own for about $5 for a cup.聽聽

Savings: Up to $5

Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are a handy and versatile kitchen staple, great for adding to meatballs, using to coat schnitzels or sprinkling over pasta bakes for added crunch.

It’s useful to always keep some on hand, and making your own is an easy, cost-savvy option. Our survey found that 60% of food processor owners had used their appliance to make breadcrumbs and it’s certainly one of the easiest ways to save.聽

While a pack of breadcrumbs will set you back only 75c per 100g, making them yourself from bread is almost half the price: about 40c for the same quantity. Of course, if you’re using crusts or stale bread that would otherwise have gone in the bin that’s even better value and it has the added benefit of helping to eliminate food waste.

Savings: $0.35 per 100g

Fruit roll-ups

Are fruit roll-ups a popular snack food in your house? If you own a food processor you could save substantially by making them yourself. Doing so will also help you avoid the extra sugar and additives that are found in many store-bought varieties.聽

To make strawberry-flavoured fruit leather will cost you about $1.40 per 100g if you use frozen strawberries. That’s a big saving on the Uncle Toby’s varieties that will set you back $5.50 per 100g. All you need to do is process the fruit with a little bit of lemon juice, cook it on the stove for 10 or so minutes until it begins to thicken, then pour it onto a lined baking sheet, and cook in the oven at about 80掳C聽 for about four hours or until it’s no longer sticky to the touch. Easy!

Of course, you don’t need to use strawberries: Fruit leathers are a great way to use a seasonal glut of fruit of any variety.聽

Savings: $4.45/100g

Coleslaw

It’s one of Australia’s favourite dishes for barbecues and picnics, and the perfect partner for weeknight dinners like schnitzels and burgers. And while you can easily buy bags of pre-sliced coleslaw from the supermarket, you’re much better getting your food processor out for this job, too. Not only does freshly sliced carrot, cabbage and spring onion make your homemade coleslaw taste better, you’ll also make savings. About 60% of our survery respondents tell us that they’ve used their food processor for this purpose.聽

And it’s not surprising when you consider that a pack of grated and sliced vegetables for coleslaw will cost you around $4, you can make your own for about half that cost.聽

Savings: $2/500g

Shredded cheese

Love a sprinkling of cheese over your pizzas, pastas and sandwiches?

If you regularly purchase shredded cheese you’re probably paying around $5.50 for 250g, but buying block cheese to shred in your food processor will cost only about $3.50 for the same quantity.

Plus, it’ll be free of the additives and preservatives, such as anti-caking agents, typically added to shredded cheese products to preserve shelf life and prevent clumping.聽

Savings: $2

Pesto

Pesto is another handy kitchen staple that can make weeknight dinners a breeze, and your food processor can help here too. A jar of this gourmet sauce can cost as much as $25, but making your own from scratch will cost you only about half of that. A bunch of basil will cost about $3, add some parmesan, garlic, olive oil and a few pine nuts, blend it up in the food processor and you’ll have your own homemade gourmet version for less than $8. As an added bonus, it takes only minutes and will be packed with more freshness and flavour than you’ll get from a jarred variety.聽

You can pay even less than that if you grow your own basil 鈥� it’s one of the easiest herbs to grow and there’s something extra special about using ingredients you’ve nurtured from seed to harvest.聽

Savings: Up to $17

Bliss balls

Bliss balls (also called energy balls or protein balls) are bite-sized snacks usually made from a mix of wholefood ingredients, such as nuts, dried fruit, seeds, and flavourings such as honey, maple syrup or cacao. Billed as a healthy alternative to other snacks, they’re often priced at a premium, costing around $7.50 per 200g.

However, using your food processor, you can make your own version for a fraction of that.聽

In our latest testing, we prepared date and walnut balls to help us assess how well those food processors in our test that make claims regarding this kind of function could handle the job of combining a mix of sticky ingredients. You can view the results in our latest review.

We’ve run the numbers and found that you can whiz up a basic batch of simple bliss balls using dates, raw nuts, vanilla extract, and a dash of cinnamon and salt for around half the price of the shop-bought variety.聽

Savings: $3.50/200g

Chopped onions

Avoiding the discomfort of chopping onions by purchasing a bag of frozen diced onions won’t cost you too much, just $3 for 500g.

However, you’ll pay about $1.80 for the same quantity if you use your food processor to chop them, and still avoid the tears. Plus, you’ll also be saving the environment from extra plastic waste.聽

Savings: $1.20/500g

How much can you save?

While every household’s shopping basket and menu will be different, if you just look at the savings on the eight items we compared in this article, you can see how quickly the dollars add up.聽

Total savings:聽

$1.20 (onions)

$3.50 (bliss balls)

$17 (pesto)

$2 (shredded cheese)

$2 (coleslaw veg)

$4.45 (fruit roll ups)

$0.35 (breadcrumbs)

$5.50 (mayonnaise)

= $36 (total)

If you’re buying those things every week, making them yourself instead could save you $36 on your grocery bill, which adds up to more than $1800 a year.聽

Of course, there are many other ways you could use your food processor to help you save, so take the time to look in your pantry and compare the cost of the raw ingredients to the processed items you regularly purchase and start making more of your neglected food processor.聽

The post How your food processor could save you money appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

These days, food processors can come with a bewildering array of attachments. And unless you’re an experienced and adventurous cook, many are likely to remain unused, gathering dust and taking up space in your cupboards.聽

“Food processors are a great appliance to own if you want to make things from scratch,” says 糖心Vlog home economist聽Fiona Mair. “They can chop, dice, slice, shred, grate and mix doughs 鈥� they can be used in so many ways.”聽

But before you fork out for a food processor 鈥� and it can be a significant investment, with the most expensive model in our latest test costing nearly $900 鈥� you should understand what the different attachments do.聽

If you’re not going to use the attachments, you might be happier with a cheaper food processor with fewer add-ons.

Your basic model will come with a processing blade, a grater (coarse or fine), a slicer, and often a dough blade. But that’s only the start.聽

Some will have a blender attachment (large or small), a mini bowl, a chipper blade for producing chips and vegetable sticks, and even a citrus juicer.聽

Of course, your cooking style and preferences will determine how useful any particular attachment will be. But Fiona offers these insights on the attachments she thinks are the must-haves, and those that are unlikely to see the light of day.

The must-have attachments

Processing blade

According to Fiona, there are only a couple of attachments that will be essential for most home cooks.聽

“The processing blade is probably the most useful attachment you can have,” says Fiona.聽

This comes with every food processor, and it’s what you’ll use to dice, chop and blend ingredients.聽

You can also use it to make mayonnaise and dressings, blitz up breadcrumbs from leftover bread, and puree soft fruit and vegetables.聽

Shredding and slicing blades聽

Fiona also rates the shredding and slicing blades, which are useful for preparing vegetables for things like coleslaws.

Available in coarse or fine, you can also use them for shredding or slicing cheese, onions, fruit such as apples and pears, and frozen meat for soups.

Alternatively, some food processors come with adjustable blades that allow you to change the way it slices, which means you can make short work of slicing vegies to whatever thickness you want. You may find this feature useful to save them having to buy separate attachments.

Attachments that can be useful

Chipping blade

Another potentially useful attachment is a chipping blade, which you can use with potatoes, sweet potatoes and other hard root vegies.聽

“Not all processors come with it, but if you’re making a lot of chips it can definitely be useful,” says Fiona.聽

As mentioned, some food processors have adjustable blades, and these could also be used for chipping.

Blender attachment

Blender attachments are becoming more common with food processors.聽

“We are seeing more and more food processors with blender attachments in the form of a jug or a single-serve cup,” says Fiona.

“These attachments are handy as they allow you to blend liquids like smoothies or soups (which food processors can’t).”聽

But can a blender attachment replace a stand-alone blender? Fiona says not really.

“While they can be useful, they may not be high-powered enough to make things like nut butters and sorbets,” she warns.

Juicer attachment

Citrus juicers are another attachment that might be handy if you make a lot of fresh orange juice, but often they don’t work as well as an actual juicer.聽

“If you don’t juice a lot, you don’t need it,” says Fiona. “If you do juice a lot, a dedicated juicing machine might be a better option.”

The least useful attachment

Dough blade

Fiona nominates the dough blade 鈥� a small, usually plastic blade, similar in shape to the essential processing blade 鈥� as the attachment most of us could do without.聽

“Most of them don’t seem to work very well. Just use the processing blade instead,” she says.聽

Storage for attachments

The versatility of a food processor with all the attachments can be costly 鈥� not just in dollars, but also in terms of the amount of kitchen real estate they’ll consume.聽

“Some of the models we tested will take up a lot of space, particularly once you include the attachments,” warns Fiona.聽

With all the extra attachments, you’ll want to think about storage. Some models come with boxes or caddies in which to store the accessories.

“Breville’s The Paradice 9 Food Processor has a caddy that fits into the bowl, which makes storage easy and doesn’t take up too much cupboard space,” says Fiona.聽

On the other hand, some of the food processors we tested from Russell Hobbs, Durapr猫s and Kenwood didn’t come with any storage for their many accessories.

The post Which food processor attachments do you really need? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

Stand mixers are a valuable secret weapon when it comes to whipping up a simple cake batter, for effortless hands-free beating of egg whites for a showstopping pav, or easily kneading a dough for a homemade loaf or tart.

But with some stand mixers costing up to a thousand dollars or more, you may be wondering if they can do any other kitchen tasks that’ll help justify the high price tag.聽The answer for some models is yes! But there are a few things to keep in mind.

“The new generation of high-end stand mixers are designed to be multipurpose appliances, spruiking features that can help you achieve professional results with everything from shaving ice and making juices to churning homemade ice cream or making your own pasta,” says 糖心Vlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair.

But before you’re completely sold, keep in mind that these tasks require extra attachments and, though nifty, each one can cost up to around $300 each.

“While there are some really handy attachments that could effectively mean your stand mixer can replace tasks performed by other appliances in your kitchen, such as a food processor, the costs on top of an already expensive machine can add up,” says Fiona.

“And some of the attachments can be very bulky, so don’t forget you’ll also need somewhere to store them, even if your stand mixer is out on the bench permanently.”

With all that in mind, you may still decide that the added versatility these attachments bring are well worth the price and storage challenges.

Here are some of the things you may not have been aware you can do with your stand mixer.

Making pasta

If you fancy skipping store-bought and have the time and energy to make your own pasta, a stand mixer could be a handy tool.聽

Many of the high-end stand mixer brands such as KitchenAid, Kenwood and Smeg have various attachments or accessories available that can help you cut and roll pasta.聽

So you can knead the dough in your mixer bowl, then attach the accessory to cut silky lengths of spaghetti, fettuccine or make your own ravioli.聽

These attachments don’t come cheap, though. The KitchenAid Three-In-One Pasta Roller and Cutter attachment will set you back $299, while the Kenwood pasta attachments are each designed for a specific type of pasta and come in at $199 each.

Grinding and mincing meats聽

For keen cooks who love to make everything from scratch, many of the high-end (and a couple of the cheaper) stand mixers have grinding attachments available, which means you can mince your own meat or seafood to make things such as sausages or burgers. They often come with different grades so you can mince meat at different textures based on your preference.聽

But again, they’re not cheap.聽

The Smeg Multifood grinder attachment is $199 while the KitchenAid metal meat grinder will set you back $229.聽

Food processing: Spiralising, shredding, slicing

If you don’t already own a food processor or you’re wanting to consolidate your appliances, you could consider a variety of different ‘slice and dice’ attachments for your stand mixer.聽

The KitchenAid Stand Mixer has a Food Processor attachment that costs $399 and promises to slice, dice, shred and julienne. Other stand mixers have various attachments available to help you prepare, chop or even spiralise vegetables.聽

“If you’re looking to reduce the need for multiple appliances, these attachments can be handy,” says Fiona. “But they are bulky 鈥� they’re basically using the stand mixer’s motor to operate, and are connected to outlets positioned on the motor head.”

Making ice cream or sorbet

Smeg, KitchenAid and Kenwood all have ice cream maker accessories available that are compatible with select stand mixer models for making things such as ice cream, sorbet and frozen yoghurt.聽

“It’s essentially an insulated bowl that you replace your standard mixer bowl with, and you can churn your ice cream right into it using the beater attachment,” says Fiona.聽

Remember that you need to have enough freezer space available to fit the bowl in your freezer. (You need to freeze it for a minimum of 15 hours before mixing up your ice cream).聽

Making butter

While whipping up butter from scratch might seem like too much work, a balloon whisk can make the job far simpler than you’d imagine.

And your efforts will be rewarded not just with fresh butter, but also with buttermilk 鈥� perfect for cakes, scones, pancakes and even marinating chicken.

Fiona’s homemade butter recipe:

Ingredients

• 600mL pure cream
• 录 tsp salt (optional)
• 2鈥�3 litres chilled water

Method

Insert the whisk attachment on your mixer.

Pour cream into the bowl.

On medium speed, whip the cream until clumps form and the buttermilk liquid starts to separate. (Approximately 15 minutes.) The liquid will start to splash; use a clean cloth to reduce splashing by placing the cloth around the bowl or use a mixer splash guard.

Strain the butter and reserve the buttermilk for scones, pancakes, cakes, marinating chicken.聽

Once strained, place the butter into a bowl and pour over half of the chilled water and squeeze the butter. Rinse away any excess buttermilk, repeat this until the liquid is clear.聽

Add the salt to the butter and knead to distribute. (Or salt can be added to the water with the last rinse to give a subtle salty taste.)聽聽

Place the butter on a sheet of baking paper, using a spatula form into a circle and gently flatten to 4cm thick. Wrap the butter in baking paper and then foil, and store in an airtight container.

Place in the freezer for 10 minutes until firm.

Keep in the fridge ready to be used.

Which stand mixer features or accessories do you really need?

Most stand mixers come with a balloon whisk, a flat/creaming beater and a dough hook 鈥� these accessories cover off a lot of the mixing you’d need to do for many recipes.

“When choosing a stand mixer and how much you’re going to spend, think about what you’re realistically going to use it for and how often you’re going to use it,” says Fiona.聽

“Although you may be tempted by fancy accessories, I’d recommend looking for one that comes with a balloon whisk, a dough hook and a scraper beater first.”

A scraper beater has a rubber blade covering the beater attachment that scrapes the bowl during mixing. This helps avoid having to stop the machine during operation, lifting the motor and scraping the mixture that’s been pushed to the sides of the bowl.

“The beater is handy for a number of tasks, such as mashing cooked vegetables, combining mince with other ingredients for meatloaf and meatballs, and making smooth guacamole,” Fiona says.

“It’s especially helpful if you’re making larger quantities, and if you don’t have a blender or food processor.”

“Also look for a mixer with a bowl capacity that suits the quantity of batters and doughs you’ll be mixing up. Bowl sizes on different models can vary from 3.5 litres up to 7 litres,” says Fiona.

“And if you are interested in the additional accessories, make sure you buy a model that will be compatible with them and that you have somewhere to store them.聽

“If you’re spending hundreds of dollars on a stand mixer, it’s also great if you have the space on your bench top to keep it on display to maximise its use.”

When we test stand mixers, we give them scores based on how well they whisk, beat and knead. Read the聽糖心Vlog stand mixer reviews to help you choose the right one for you.聽

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