Culinary Connections

Blenders are an important piece of bar equipment and several variables help determine the blender that's right for you! They are used to make drinks and process food products such as smoothies. Blenders vary in power output, capacity, and are made from materials such as stainless steel and polycarbonate.




There are several questions to ask yourself before purchasing your blender:

• What type of drinks or food products will I be using the blender for?
• How many customers will I be serving in a specific time period?
• Will I be serving a variety of frozen drinks or food products simultaneously?
• Are noise levels a consideration?
• What material works best in my working environment (glass, plastic, stainless)?    

As with other foodservice supplies, blenders come in a variety of sizes. They are available with containers from 32 oz. to One Gallon. The power of your blender is dictated by the horsepower of your model, so bars and restaurants serving high volumes of frozen drinks require higher horse-powered models. The last thing you want to have happen is to have your blenders break down during a busy rush.

Maintenance and cleaning of blenders is important, and blenders should be rinsed well between uses and cleaned thoroughly each night. Otherwise, bacteria and fruit flies will thrive. Blenders are usually easy to clean, as the parts are removable and the plastic, glass, or stainless steel containers are soakable.

Choosing the material your blender is made from may be a marketing or aesthetic consideration. Clear glass and plastic blenders allow the process to be seen while it is happening. If the blenders are in sight range of the customers, they can see their drink being blended. Stainless steel blenders often sweat, and this can be seen if pouring the finished product into glassware in front of the customer. This is also appealing to the eye as it reinforces the soothing chill of the drink. Sound proof covers are available on some models.

The removable parts such as clutches, gaskets and blades break after heavy use, but replacement parts are readily available for most models. It is important to choose the right model for your needs; otherwise, you may be replacing parts more frequently. Some blades are not manufactured to crush ice in high volumes, so be wary of this when considering your purchase. Smoothies and other food products require special restaurant food supplies, such as heavy duty blenders/food processors.

Superior Products offers an array of blending products, including drink mixers for milkshakes, bar blenders, and immersion blenders. We offer larger foodservice equipment such as commercial ice makers and draft beer towers to complete your bar service. Shop now for these products, as well as our selection of hundreds of restaurant glasses. One stop shopping at Superior!