Your trusty blender can magically transform any recipe into smooth, delicious goodness—but then you’re left with a complete mess.
Have you ever avoided making an amazing strawberry milkshake because you didn’t want to deal with a dirty blender? I have. That’s because cleaning a blender isn’t easy. This appliance has tons of nooks and crannies, plus sharp blades. It’s such a pain to clean!
You usually have to take the whole thing apart, cleaning every piece by hand. But who has time for that?
How to Clean a Blender in 30 Seconds
We’ll keep this quick. Start by filling half of your dirty blender with warm water, followed by few drops of dish soap. Fasten the lid onto the blender and turn it on for a few seconds. The soapy water swishing around the blender will help remove remnants of your pina colada. Remove the hot water, give your blender a quick rinse, and—voila—a clean blender. Pretty amazing, huh?
According to Yumna Yawad, aka @feelgoodfoodie, we’ve been cleaning our blenders all wrong.
What About Stuck-On Food?
For reinforcements, enlist some baking soda. This pantry staple can do everything from making bread rise, to polishing silverware, to, yes, removing stubborn, stuck-on food particles. For the best results, fill your blender jar with equal parts water and baking soda first. Turn on the blender for a couple of seconds, discard the solution, then add your warm water and soap. The extra step may take more than 30 seconds, but if you have crusted pancake batter all over your blender, it’s worth it.
Even though these tricks are quick, be sure to deep clean your blender after every couple of uses to keep mold and bacteria at bay. It’s easy: clean the jar, gasket seal and blade with soap and hot water, then let them air dry before putting the parts back together.
When it comes to the electric base, err on the side of caution. Unplug the blender and wipe down the base with a damp towel.
Not only will our instructions keep your blender looking brand new, but you also can clean it in about 30 seconds, meaning you can get the work done and enjoy the day. Find more kitchen cleaning hacks to try out during your next cleaning sesh.
Our Tastiest Recipes for Your Blender
Berry Smoothie Bowl
We turned one of our
favorite smoothies into a smoothie bowl and topped it with even more fresh fruit and a few toasted almonds for a little crunch. —
Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Go to Recipe
Chipotle Butternut Squash SoupMy hearty soup uses herbs and vegetables from the garden along with convenient pantry items, so it’s easy, fast and mostly fresh. Your family will devour it. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Pork Tacos with Mango SalsaI've made quite a few tacos in my day, but you can't beat the tender filling made in a slow cooker. These are by far the best pork tacos we've had—and we've tried plenty. Make the mango salsa from scratch if you have time! Yum. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
S'mores Milk ShakeWhen cabin fever hits, we whip up a beverage that tastes like s’mores. Oven-toasted marshmallows and a blender make it happen. —Sarah McKenna, Centennial, Colorado
Homemade Hot SauceMake your own hot sauce at home with this spicy recipe. Habanero and serrano peppers provide bold heat that's balanced by the sweetness of carrots and onions. We'll also show you how to can hot sauce for long-lasting flavor.
Peach-Chipotle Baby Back RibsMy son and I collaborated in the kitchen one day to put our own unique twist on classic baby back ribs. We added a sweet peachy glaze and a little heat with chipotle peppers. It was a great bonding experience, and now we have a keeper recipe for fall-off-the-bone ribs. —Rebecca Suaso, Weaverville, North Carolina
Eggplant SandwichThis eggplant sandwich with tomato and goat cheese is grilled to perfection and layered on a crusty ciabatta roll for a delicious meatless meal.
Spiced Pumpkin Coffee ShakesThe winter holidays are my favorite time of year, and this spiced pumpkin drink is one reason I love the season so much. If you don't have a coffee maker, it's OK to use instant coffee—just make it stronger. —Kathie Perez, East Peoria, Illinois
Cod with Hearty Tomato SauceCod in tomato sauce is a sweet, flavorful recipe that goes excellently with nutty grains and starches such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
Berry Breakfast ParfaitsExpecting brunch company but short on time? Parfaits are the perfect solution. Feel free to mix and match with whatever berries you have on hand. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
Pronto Potato PancakesPancake lovers know these fluffy delights are not just for breakfast. Try serving these savory ones as a side dish with any main, or enjoy them solo topped with some homemade applesauce. They will not disappoint. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
HorchataIn this Horchata recipe, the mixture of ground rice and almonds is accented with a hint of lime. Depending on your preference, you can use more or less water for a thinner or creamier beverage. —
James Schend,
Dairy Freed
Makeover Traditional CheesecakeThough softer than a full-fat cheesecake, this lightened-up dessert has all of the original's delectable flavor. It's sure to make any special event more festive. —Anne Addesso, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Fennel Carrot SoupThis soup is perfect as a first course for a special-occasion dinner. It gets its delicious flavor from toasted fennel seeds—a pleasant complement to the carrots, apple and sweet potato. —Marlene Bursey, Waverly, Nova Scotia
Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffed ShellsI rarely invite friends for dinner without someone requesting this easy pasta casserole. The sweet squash complements the spicy sausage, and the creamy goat cheese makes it all just melt in your mouth! You can substitute manicotti or even rolled lasagna noodles for the shells. The stuffed shells and sauce can be prepared a day ahead and assembled just before baking. —Taylor Hale, Sonoma, California
Ginger Salmon with Cucumber Lime SauceLime with ginger is a favorite flavor combo for me, especially with grilled salmon. So good. Even with the cucumber sauce, this recipe is easy, too. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Yogurt Breakfast DrinkSleepyheads will savor this dreamy smoothie. Simply blend yogurt, milk and orange juice concentrate for a fresh start to your day. —Renee Gastineau, Seattle, Washington
German PancakesWhip up a show-stopping centerpiece for your breakfast spread with our recipe for German pancakes.
Creamy Seafood EnchiladasShrimp and crab cooked with a flavorful sauce add up to outstanding enchiladas. I made them for an annual fundraiser, and now they’re always in demand. Spice up the recipe to your taste by adding more green chiles and salsa. —Evelyn Gebhardt, Kasilof, Alaska
Strawberry Watermelon SlushWe like to relax on the back porch with glasses of my slush after a long, hot day. Strawberries and watermelon blend up with lemon juice and sugar for an instant refresher. —Patty Howse, Great Falls, Montana
Bananas Foster Baked French ToastMmm…bananas Foster for breakfast! This yummy baked French toast serves up all the taste of the spectacular dessert in fine fashion. —Laurence Nasson, Hingham, Massachusetts
Mom's Meat LoafMom made the best meat loaf, and now I do too. When I first met my husband, he wasn't a meat loaf guy, but this recipe won him over. —Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas
Taco ChiliRanch dressing mix is the secret ingredient that makes this Mexican taco chili recipe so amazing that guests will wonder how you made it. To make things even better, the chili practically cooks itself in a slow cooker once you've browned the beef.
Strawberry MilkshakeGrab your spoon: this strawberry milkshake is thick, bright with strawberry flavor and infinitely customizable.
Black Bean TartThis colorful dish was a hit at a get-together I had for friends. I served the tart with sour cream on the side, a green salad and crusty bread. —Ellen Papa, Miami, Florida.
Pork, Bean & Rice BurritosGet ready for tailgate season with these slow-cooker pork burritos, featuring tender spice-rubbed pork wrapped up with rice, beans, and your choice of toppings. They're an easy and satisfying meal well-suited for any casual occasion.
Roasted Tomato SoupTurn fresh tomatoes, garlic and onion into a roasted tomato soup that explodes with flavor.
Strawberry-Carrot SmoothiesMy children resist veggies, but they love this carrot smoothie. It packs in lots of good-for-you fruits and veggies—but to my kids, it's just a super delicious breakfast. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah