Commercial blenders

A blender is a kitchen appliance designed for mixing, pureeing and liquefying ingredients such as ice, frozen fruit, meat and vegetables to create cocktails, smoothies, soups other blended drinks and dishes.

Consisting of a motorised base and a jar with sharp blades at the bottom, the machine blends the ingredients into a smooth, consistent mixture.

A professional blender is a heavy-duty kitchen appliance used in commercial settings, such as restaurants, bars, and cafes.

With motors ranging from about 1,000 to 3,000 watts, they’re more powerful than standard household blenders, the motors of which range from roughly 200 to 1,000 watts.

Heavy-duty blenders also have a more durable construction, greater capacity, and more speed settings for greater control and precision.

Blenders should not be confused with food processors: The latter can not only puree and emulsify food, they can also chop, slice, dice, grind, grate, shred, and mix ingredients.

While food processors are more versatile, blenders are a better choice for establishments that specialise in creating smooth and well-blended liquid or semi-liquid mixtures.

There are three main types of commercial blenders:

Commercial food blender: Typically more powerful than other types of blenders, commercial food blenders are designed to process large volumes of solid food ingredients such as ice, frozen fruit, meat, vegetables, lentils and nuts to create smoothies, soups, purees, hummus and other blended dishes. Whereas a food processor is used for chopping, slicing and shredding, a food blender is used for blending and pureeing foods that contain some liquid, be it olive oil, cream, yoghurt, mustard, fruits or vegetables.

Commercial bar blender: These are specialised blenders used in bars and restaurants to blend cocktails and other mixed drinks. Because they blend individual or small batches of drinks, they’re typically smaller than other types of commercial blenders. Moreover, their blades are specifically designed to crush and blend ice and other frozen ingredients.

Commercial stick blender: Also known as immersion blender or hand blender, these blenders have a long, narrow shaft with blades at the end. They’re designed to be immersed directly into the pot or jug of food or beverage being blended. They’re particularly useful for making soups, sauces, and purees.

When choosing an industrial blender jar, some of the key things to consider are:

Capacity: The size of the blender jar should suit the amount of ingredients you want to blend. Most jars ranges from 1– 2 litres, however some can hold as much
as 20 litres or more of ingredients. Some blenders have a range of interchangeable jars or containers of assorted sizes, to improve efficiency.

Material: Industrial blender jars can be made of stainless steel, glass, polycarbonate, or copolyester. Stainless-steel jars are durable and easy to clean but are not see-through, making it hard to monitor blending progress. Glass jars look good but are heavy and prone to breakage. Polycarbonate jars are extremely durable but some contain BPA. Copolyester jars can handle hotter ingredients than polycarbonate ones but are more expensive.

Graduations: Graduations on a blender jar help users quickly, easily and accurately measure the amounts of ingredients being added to the jar. This reduces waste, saves money, and ensures the quality and consistency of the recipe.

Lid design: The lid of the blender jar should be easy to remove and securely lock in place to prevent spills and leaks during blending. Some lids have a removable centre cap to allow ingredients to be added during blending.

The most common commercial-blender horsepower ratings are:

0.5–1 HP

• Light- to medium-duty blending tasks.
• Commercial settings such as cafes, smoothie shops, and small restaurants.
• Up to 50–75 servings per day.
• Suitable for blending soft fruits, vegetables, and liquids.
• Ideal for making smoothies, milkshakes, and soups.

2–3 HP

• Medium-duty blending tasks.
• Used in larger restaurants, coffee shops, and juice bars.
• Up to 150 servings per day.
• Handles heavier tasks such as crushing ice, blending tough ingredients, and pureeing fruits and vegetables.
• Suitable for making smoothies, frozen cocktails, and sauces.

4–5 HP

• Heavy-duty blending tasks.
• Used in high-volume settings such as large restaurants, hotels, and catering facilities.
• Up to 200-250 servings per day.
• Blends the toughest ingredients, such as whole fruits and vegetables, nuts and ice.
• Ideal for making large batches of smoothies, soups, and sauces.

There are three types of commercial blender controls, namely:

Toggle / Paddle: These controls are the most basic type: A simple toggle or paddle switch is used to turn the blender on and off. While easy to use and reliable, they offer limited control over the blending process. They’re typically found on lower-end blenders.

Electronic: These controls involve the use of touchpads or buttons to operate the blender. They provide greater control over the blending process, enabling the user to adjust the speed and time settings precisely, and producing more consistent results than toggle controls. Electronic controls are typically found on mid-range to high-end blenders.

Programmable: These are the most advanced type of blender control, offering the greatest control over the blending process. The user can  adjust the speed, time, and pulse settings precisely and even save custom blending programs for specific recipes or tasks. They’re ideal for high-volume commercial settings where consistency and efficiency are crucial. Programmable controls are typically found on high-end blenders.

If your setting is one in which noise levels need to be kept to a minimum, you’ll want to make sure your industrial blender operates quietly. Look for a blender with one or more of the following noise-reducing features:

Sound enclosure: Typically made of a material that absorbs sound waves, such as polycarbonate or tempered glass, the enclosure fits over the blender and muffles the noise produced during blending. Some enclosures have doors that can be opened and closed for quicker and easier access to the blender.

Vibration dampening: Vibration is a major contributor to blender noise, so many blenders are designed with vibration-dampening features. These may include rubber feet or pads that absorb vibration, or internal components that help reduce vibration.

Motor enclosure: Some blenders have an additional enclosure that houses the motor, further reducing the amount of noise that escapes during blending. These enclosures may also include vibration-dampening features.

Blade design: The blender’s blade design can affect the amount of noise produced during blending. Some blades are specially designed to reduce noise levels by minimising turbulence and other factors that contribute to noise.

Programmable blending: Some blenders allow the user to program the blender to automatically blend at specific times and speeds. This can help to reduce the amount of time the blender is in use, thereby reducing overall noise levels.

Heavy-duty blenders that operate at or below 70 decibels (dB) are considered to be relatively quiet, while those operating at 80 dB or higher are considered to be quite noisy.