Honestly, do you know the difference between a blender and a chopper?
Or, which kitchen appliance is used for what – and for what not?
The great guide with many answers.
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They come in large and small, cheap and expensive, colorful or elegant chrome: kitchen appliances that chop up all sorts of ingredients with rotating knives.
The manufacturers differentiate between mixers and choppers.
You can find out who is who, what they can do and where their special areas of application lie in our practical guide.
Plus: What you should pay attention to when buying.
Table of contents
The mixer: specialist for precision work
Special case "hand mixer"
The shredder: all-rounder in a small format
Special case of manual multi-chopper
You should pay attention to this when buying a blender and chopper
The mixer: specialist for precision work
With mixers, the motor is usually located in the lower part of the device.
The blender jug with the sharp blades is simply attached using an adapter - and driven by the motor.
These (standing) mixers are mainly used for pureeing or liquefying ingredients.
They are specialists in preparing smoothies, soups, sauces and other liquid dishes.
On some models, the knives can be swapped out depending on the desired mixing result.
Especially practical for on the go: compact smoothie makers or portable mixers in mini format.
Benefits of a blender | Disadvantages of a mixer |
|---|---|
Fast and even mixing of ingredients | Cannot utilize hard ingredients such as nuts |
Can finely puree and liquefy ingredients | Usually requires more space |
Ideal for preparing baby food | Only works with rather liquid consistencies |
Easy handling and cleaning |
The test winner from Computer Bild
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Test winner Philips blender HR3655/00
© Philips blender HR3655/00
36% discount at OTTO
It is the absolute winner in the big test by the magazine
Computer Bild
: The Philips blender HR3655/00 scores with a full 1,400 watts of power and a strong 35,000 revolutions per minute.
Plus:
two additional drinking bottles for on the go
Special case "hand mixer"
Even if they have a similar name: hand mixers can really only mix - i.e. mix.
They can only be used to a limited extent for chopping.
They usually have two types of mixing hooks to use: whisks for more liquid dough or mashed potatoes, kneading hooks for harder ones such as yeast dough.
But some devices can do even more: their motor can also drive extra attachments such as a blender or multi-chopper.
Some manufacturers offer large sets with all kinds of functions.
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Hand mixer with accessories, including recipe booklet, 800 W
© OTTO
This XXL hand mixer set from Springlane has the right attachment for every kitchen case.
In addition to a hand blender for mixing and a multi-chopper with various attachments, the multi-tool is also suitable for kneading dough or whipping cream.
13 parts only €89.90 at OTTO
The shredder: all-rounder in a small format
Choppers work in a similar way to blenders.
Your big advantage: You can liquid and solid!
That makes them the favorites when in doubt.
Although shredders are designed for the coarser chopping of vegetables such.
B. onions, but also nuts - but if you "feed" them water-containing ingredients such as fruit, it also becomes a smoothie.
With many multi-choppers, the desired type of cut can be adjusted using different inserts.
Advantages of a shredder | Disadvantages of a shredder |
|---|---|
Can be solid and liquid | Rather small mixer attachment |
Little space required | Only a lot of performance brings a lot |
Ideal for pesto, salsa and other chopped dishes |
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KitchenAid chopper 5KFC3515EOB
© KitchenAid
KitchenAid is the top dog alongside Kenwood when it comes to stylish kitchen appliances.
This compact chopper is the absolute price favorite - for just €29.99 instead of €79.99 a mega bargain.
62% discount at OTTO
top tip
With powerful multi-choppers, you can easily make nut butter yourself.
It is best to use roasted nuts because they have more flavor.
Press the nuts in the direction of the blade again and again between the individual grinding processes.
After a few minutes, the crushing and heat will cause nut oil to ooze out.
It will soon become creamy nut butter.
Special case of manual multi-chopper
Ingenious and simple: choppers that work without electricity.
They are quieter and - like a salad spinner - can be operated via a cable pull.
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Universal chopper for vegetables, fruit, nuts, garlic, baby food.
Including additional ice crusher, puree and stirrer insert
© Tefal
Free delivery on Amazon
The Tefal K13210 5-second chopper without electricity is the bestseller of the well-known food magazine essen &trink.
And at Amazon, too, it does really well with 4.5 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ among users.
The price-performance ratio is top at only 33.22 euros.
You should pay attention to this when buying a blender and chopper
Performance
: This determines how quickly and efficiently the appliance can process ingredients.
A power of 500 to 700 watts is sufficient for most purposes with mixers.
If you want to crush ice, you should choose a high-performance mixer with at least 1,000 watts.
For shredders, 400 to 500 watts should suffice.
Speed settings
: A good blender and chopper must have at least two speed settings in order to be able to process a wide range of ingredients and consistencies.
A "pulse function" for short, fast mixing units is practical.
Material
: Here it is worth investing a little more in high-quality materials.
Glass attachments last longer than plastic and are more hygienic.
Stainless steel is unbreakable and insensitive.
But stainless steel is also the favorite for the blades.
Features
: What exactly do you need the device for?
Depending on the knife, there are different inserts or special settings for smoothies or crushed ice.
Size and Capacity
: Just want to puree a smoothie to-go?
Or would you prefer pumpkin soup for the family of four?
It is better to choose a mixing container that is too big than too small, this saves frustration (and some messes) in the end.