Introduction
Blenders are indispensable kitchen appliances used to puree, mix, and liquefy ingredients. The fast spinning blades are what allow blenders to smoothly blend everything from smoothies to soups. However, over time and with heavy usage, blender blades can become dull. Dull blades are less efficient at blending, requiring more blending time and effort to achieve the desired consistency. Sharpening blender blades helps restore blending performance. In this article, we’ll look at whether it’s possible to sharpen blender blades, methods for sharpening, when to replace blades, and tips for extending blade sharpness.
Can Blender Blades Be Sharpened?
The good news is that it is absolutely possible to sharpen blender blades. Blender blades are typically made from stainless steel. As a hard metal, stainless steel holds an edge well. With the proper sharpening tools and techniques, you can restore the cutting edges of blender blades.
There are a few ways to sharpen stainless steel blender blades:
- Use a whetstone. Whetstones (also called sharpening stones) are rectangular stones used to sharpen blades. By dragging the blade across the stone at the proper angle, material is ground off to form a new sharp edge.
- Use a handheld or electric blade sharpener. These tools have abrasive wheels that reshape and hone the blade edge as it’s drawn through.
- Use a metal file. In a pinch, a metal file can be used to reshape and sharpen the blade edges.
Whetstones produce the best edge, but the other options work too. The key things to remember are using the proper angle (usually around 20 degrees) and drawing the blade evenly across the sharpening medium.
When to Sharpen Blender Blades
The frequency of sharpening blender blades depends on how often you use your blender. If you use your blender every day, you’ll need to sharpen the blades more often than occasional blender use.
Signs that blender blades need sharpening include:
- Ingredients get stuck under blades when blending.
- Blades spin without grabbing and pulling ingredients down.
- Blending takes longer than normal.
- Blades make a screeching sound when running.
- Dips or nicks are visible in blade edges.
- Blades seem duller and less reflective.
- Chopped ingredients like onions or carrots aren’t evenly chopped.
As soon as you notice these signs of dull blades, it’s time to sharpen. Sharpening early helps remove less metal. Waiting too long can make sharpening more difficult.
Many experts recommend sharpening blender blades every 6 to 12 months as preventative maintenance. Mark your calendars to remove blades and sharpen them on a routine basis. This helps avoid a scenario where your blades become totally dull and struggle to blend.
How to Sharpen Blender Blades
Let’s go over the step-by-step process for effectively sharpening dull blender blades:
Remove the blender jar
First, unplug the blender from any power source. Never attempt to sharpen blades while still assembled on the blender motor base. Remove the blender jar from the base.
Remove blades
Examine the underside of the blender jar to locate the mechanism that holds blades in place. There is usually a bolt or nut in the center. Use a wrench to loosen this and carefully remove the blade assembly. Be aware that blender blades are exceptionally sharp! Use caution when handling. Consider covering edges with tape before removal to avoid cuts.
Inspect blades
Take a close look at blade edges. Check for nicks, dents, warping, or thick buildup that could impede sharpening. Minor imperfections can be sharpened out, but heavy damage requires blade replacement.
Choose sharpening method
Select a sharpening method like whetstones, a manual sharpener, or metal file. Have your sharpening medium and any required lubricants ready.
Establish proper angle
It’s critical to sharpen blades at a 20 degree angle. An angle guide can help you consistently hold this angle as you sharpen. Maintaining the 20 degree angle avoids rounding off the cutting edge.
Draw blade across sharpening medium
With the medium lubricated as needed, draw the entire length of the blender blade edge across at the set 20 degree angle in a smooth, fluid motion. Apply even and consistent pressure. Repeat on all edges of all blades.
Use finer grit sharpening medium
For finishing, repeat sharpening using a finer grit medium. This removes any burrs and refines the edge. The blade should feel very smooth after dragging across the fine grit sharpener.
Clean blades
Wash blades with soap and water after sharpening. This removes all metal residue and grinding particles.
Examine edges
Closely inspect blade edges to ensure they are straight and extremely sharp. A successfully sharpened edge should effortlessly slice paper or slice a ripe tomato without pressure.
Reinstall blades
Replace the sharpened blender blades back into the jar and tighten the retaining bolt. Reattach jar to the blender base and run it empty to test performance. Your blender should run quietly and feel like new again.
With the proper tools and patience, sharpening blender blades is absolutely doable at home. Taking time every 6 to 12 months to sharpen will maximize the working life of your blender.
Professional Sharpening Services
If you don’t want to DIY, professional sharpening services are another option. Many cutlery, hardware, and appliance repair shops offer blade sharpening for a small fee. They use professional grade sharpening equipment to expertly restore edges.
Look for a reputable, established sharpening business that comes recommended. They’ll have the skills and tools to handle sharpening blender blades. Expect to pay $5 to $20 for professional blender blade sharpening.
While convenient, the main downside to professional sharpening is being without your blender for several days. You’ll have to go without smoothies or leave blending tasks undone while it’s away being serviced.
When to Replace Blender Blades
With regular sharpening, blender blades can last many years. But at a certain point, blades become too worn and damaged for sharpening. Knowing when to replace blades instead of continuing to sharpen them comes down to a few factors:
- Metal is too thin – Repeated sharpenings grind away metal over time. If blades become excessively thin, they’ll lack durability and be prone to warping or cracking during blending.
- Heavy pitting/damage – Deep gouges or pitted areas can weaken the blade. These problem spots often can’t be fully sharpened out.
- Extreme dullness – A completely dull or rounded over edge may be too far gone to establish a fresh, crisp edge again.
- Loose fit – The central bolt hole can become enlarged, leading to a loose and unstable fit on the blender jar.
When blender blades show any of these issues, replacement is the best option. Expect to get 3 to 5 years of use from a set of blender blades with periodic sharpening factored in.
Thankfully, replacement blender blades are relatively affordable at $15 to $35 per set. Match the new blades to the exact make and model of your blender. Mark your calendars and budget for new blades every 3 to 5 years.
Tips for Extending Blender Blade Life
Here are some tips to keep blender blades sharper for longer:
- Avoid blending excessively hard ingredients like ice cubes, frozen foods, nuts, and seeds. These quickly dull blender blades.
- Hand wash blades instead of dishwashing. Dishwasher detergent is harsh and can lead to pitting over time.
- Don’t stack other objects on top of blender jars to avoid dulling pressure dents.
- Blend in short pulses rather than long continuous runs whenever possible.
- Remove sticky or stubborn food buildup promptly after blending using a bottle brush.
- Avoid dropping blender jars with blades installed. Drops can damage blade edges.
With extra care and following blender best practices, your blades will stay sharper longer between sharpenings.
Conclusion
Maintaining sharp blender blades through periodic sharpening and blade replacements helps blenders function at their best. Dull blades are ineffective and make blending much more frustrating and time consuming. But with the right sharpening tools and techniques, restoring edges to like-new sharpness is totally achievable at home. Or leave it to the professionals for periodic re-sharpening services. Keep your eye out for signs of dulling blades and act quickly to sharpen or replace. With proper care and maintenance, you can keep your blender blades sharp and your blending smooth for years of faithful kitchen service.
