Round and Round with Blenders

The formula for a smooth blending program is to choose the right blender.

Professional blenders make delicious mixtures using relatively inexpensive ingredients and turn a profit for efficient operations that indulge the tastes of their customers. High-end blenders offer options for custom frozen drinks. Using programmable controls, speed/power sequences, variable speed pulse options, automatic ramping and shut-off, and digital readouts, these blenders should deliver smooth and consistent beverages with little operator assistance.

The recipe for blender choice success should consider:

• Horsepower – The truly superior frozen blended drink has uniform and finely frozen granules, evenly distributed throughout, with a smooth, creamy finish. A blender motor that’s too weak to live up to the task will merely chop the ice into irregular sizes and shred the frozen fruit. Choose a blender with at least a 2-hp motor.
• Controls – Blenders that produce perfect frozen drinks feature advanced electronics that automate the duration, speed, sequence and power level of each blending step.
• Customization Capabilities – Automated programs offer customization of blending sequences to produce signature recipes.
• Batch Processing – Professional blenders often perform batch processing that saves time and prevents labor-intensive repeats of the same prep/blend/serve operation. Advanced electronics monitor and adjust the blending to make multiple portions uniformly perfect.
• Material and Design – For superior performance, a professional blender should have blades with sealed ball-bearing assemblies of the highest-grade stainless steel that maintains a honed, unbreakable edge, regardless of the hardness of ice or frozen ingredients. For safety, select units equipped with overheating protection. Blender base units with seamless, touch-sensitive panels offer protection from harmful bacterial growth and are easy to clean.
• Containers – Blender containers should be built to fill to capacity and still blend drinks well. They should work in harmony with the blade to ensure proper cavitation, and they should be tough, yet easy to clean. Polycarbonate is the industry-preferred material because it’s durable and ingredients can be seen while blending.
• Service – A professional blender should be supported by superior customer service from a company that backs their products with research, innovation and quality workmanship. Availability of vendor assistance in programming, recipe development and blending techniques is also important when choosing a blender.
• Drink Volume – The number and types of drinks that are served should be considered when purchasing blender equipment. If the volume will exceed 100 drinks per day, a pre-programmed portion ice shaver blender should be purchased so that ice is added automatically, preferably by ingredient weight. If serving 50-100 drinks per day, try a pre-programmed machine blending station for fast and efficient service. If your making very thick frozen drinks, make sure the blender container is designed for extreme blending conditions.