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Hot liquids and blades: what the makers and the CPSC say
Updated
Only blend hot food in a jar whose maker says it is made for it, with the vented lid in place. Steam expands. In a closed container it builds pressure, and it can blow the lid and spray hot liquid. The rules differ by brand, so read the manual for your exact model before the first soup.
What the makers say
- Vitamix: its blender guide says to let hot liquids cool for 3 to 5 minutes before adding them, and warns that spray or escaping steam may cause burns. It says that if a lid is not vented, pressure may build up, and that Vitamix blenders have a vented lid to release steam. The Vitamix Propel 750 has a Hot Soup program, and the Vitamix 5200 listing says the container makes hot and cold dishes.
- nutribullet: the maker's page for the nutribullet Blender Combo says the pitcher has a vented lid designed for hot ingredients, and to remove the small lid cap before blending hot liquids. That is the pitcher. The cups seal shut, so keep hot food out of them.
- Ninja: the FAQ for Ninja's Professional Blender 2.0, a sibling pitcher blender, says do not blend hot, effervescent or carbonated liquids, because pressure can build and cause cuts or burns. We did not find a hot liquid line in the Ninja Professional Plus BN701 FAQ, so we treat it as a no. Check its manual.
- Blendtec: the Blendtec Total Blender Classic listing includes a hot soup cycle.
- KitchenAid K400 (KSB4027) and Breville Fresh and Furious: we did not confirm a hot liquid claim in what we read. Check the manual before you try it.
| Blender | Hot liquids |
|---|---|
| Vitamix 5200 | Maker says yes |
| Vitamix Propel 750 | Maker says yes |
| Blendtec Total Blender Classic | Maker says yes |
| Ninja Professional Plus BN701 | Maker says no for a sibling model. Check the manual |
| nutribullet Blender Combo | Maker says yes |
| KitchenAid K400 (KSB4027) | Not confirmed in what we read |
| Breville Fresh and Furious | Not confirmed in what we read |
Safer habits for hot blends
- Let cooked food cool a few minutes first. Vitamix says 3 to 5.
- Fill well under the top line. Hot food foams and climbs.
- Use the vented lid the way the manual shows. Start on the lowest speed and work up.
- Pull the blender out from under the cabinet so steam has somewhere to go.
- Never blend hot or fizzy liquids in a sealed single serve cup.
Blades
The CPSC announced a recall of about 1.1 million Ninja BL660 series blenders in November 2015 to give owners new warnings and instructions. The hazard: a cut risk if you pour or tip the pitcher after taking the lid off while the loose stacked blade assembly is still inside. The firm had 53 reports of cuts. The Ninja Professional Plus BN701 is a different model and is not part of that recall, but it uses a stacked blade assembly too, so the habit carries over. Lift the blade stack out by its top before you pour, or pour through the spout with the lid locked on.
- Unplug the base before you reach into any jar.
- Wash blades with a brush, not your fingers. Do not leave them hidden under soapy water in a sink.
- Vitamix's guide says not to put utensils, scrapers or fingers in the jar while the motor runs.
- Blendtec says its blade is blunt with no sharp edges. Treat that as the maker's claim and still keep hands out of a jar on its base.
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