Find the Right Blending Equipment for Your Kitchen

Food prep involves lots of food processing – chopping, pureeing, mixing, and blending are essential in most kitchens. Finding the right equipment to streamline these tasks can improve timing and workflow greatly in commercial kitchens. We've assembled a guide so you can compare blenders, food processors, and immersion blenders. With a little time and consideration, you can find the best food prep equipment for your commercial kitchen.

Blenders

The blender reportedly was invented in 1922 by Stephen Poplawski, who used it to make drinks. Waring improved the design and made the first commercially available blender, premiering the Miracle Mixer blender at the National Restaurant Show in 1938. Since then, there have been numerous innovations and improvements, leading to a wide selection of blenders available from many brands.

When comparing commercial blenders, it's important to consider what the unit will be used for. Will you blend ice for drinks at a bar or soft vegetables and herbs for salsa? This narrows how much power you need. Thick, dense foods require more power than soft or thin foods. While many companies advertise a machine's peak horsepower, the reality is that units rarely reach that peak output, so an important number to look at is the wattage rating of each unit. Wattage indicates the consistent level of power output from each model. The size of the batches you process also should be considered because an undersized container can lead to service slowdowns and angry customers. An overlarge unit can make it difficult to incorporate all ingredients.

In addition to size and power, you must choose which container material works best for you. If the blender will be visible to customers, you may want glass or plastic, but if it's in the back of the house, durable stainless steel may be better for your kitchen. Some blenders have special features, such as programmable recipes or overheating protection, to make them safer or more useful. Use the table below to compare blenders and find the best fit for your kitchen.

Food Processors

While blenders are ideal for breaking down foods that have some liquid, their narrow containers are less practical for dry ingredients. With their wider bowls and assortment of blades and discs, food processors can puree, slice, grate, and grind dry ingredients. Food processors have a storied history, with the first model being invented in Germany in 1946. This original model had an "all-purpose" motor in the base that could be used for other products, including a vacuum cleaner attachment sold by the same company. In 1960, Robot-Coupe began manufacturing the first commercial food processors as we know them today, and the company still is known for its quality food processors. Throughout the 1970s, new models were developed and sold throughout Europe and the United States, where they soon spread to residential kitchens.

Much like blenders, food processors are rated by horsepower and RPM. Models with higher horsepower can work longer at a stretch and can handle larger volumes of food per batch. RPM measures how fast the blades spin. Higher-RPM machines cut faster but with less torque, so you'll want a high-horsepower, low-RPM machine if you're cutting dense foods. Food processors may come with multiple blades, discs, and dicing kits, so ensure the model you purchase has the available blades you'll need. You may also need to choose between processors that work in batches or those that have a continuous-feed setup: Some models allow you to switch between the two.

Immersion Blenders

The first immersion blender was invented in Switzerland in 1950, and the appliance is a relative newcomer to American kitchens, as it did not start gaining popularity here until the 1980s. Immersion blenders, sometimes called wand blenders or hand blenders, are stick-shaped pieces of equipment with a handle on one end and spinning blades on the other end. Their design enables them to mix, chop, and puree food in the bowl or pot in which it's prepared. This reduces the number of dirty dishes kitchen staff must contend with for fast, easy food prep.

To find the best immersion blender for your kitchen, first look at how much power you'll need. Light tasks such as whipping require high RPM but less horsepower than mixing or chopping dense ingredients. Another factor to keep in mind is the shaft's length because you want the ability to mix all the way to the bottom of the largest container used. Some models include attachments such as chopper blades or whisks, so verify the model you choose has all the available attachments you might need.