A mixer grinder is one of those appliances that is used on a daily basis in a kitchen. In the initial years, they work hassle-free. But, over a period of time, they start taking a long time to grind and sometimes simply fail to grind to the desired consistency. Also, after 4-5 years, they may require frequent changing of couplers, blades, and gaskets.
But, with careful use and by maintaining it the correct way, you can prolong its life and improve its durability. Let us take a look at a few such easy-to-follow steps.
How To Maintain Mixer Grinder?
Prevent Yellowing of Motor Housing
If you own Sujata Mixer Grinders, Philips HL7701, or such models with a white motor housing, it may start developing a yellowish tint after a few years. This is due to exposure to the masala, oil, and other elements in the kitchen.
To prevent this, clean the motor housing immediately when a spill occurs. Make a mixture of 2 tablespoons of bleach, 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 4 tablespoons of warm water. Apply it to the motor housing with a sponge. Leave it for 10-15 minutes. Then, wipe it away completely ensuring no bleach residues remain.
Dishwasher Is Not Your Friend
A dishwasher is a boon in any kitchen. But, we do not recommend cleaning mixer grinder jars in the dishwasher all the time. Not only does it cause scratches all over the stainless steel jars, but also damages its coupler in the long run. This is because dirty water gets collected in the coupler and over a period of time, food and limescale deposits gather here as a result.
Further, the blades get dull quickly too due to the harsh chemicals and strong water spray.
Related reading: Mixer Grinder Vs Blender- Similarities & Differences
Use Plastic Lid When Needed
Generally, we have a tendency to avoid bringing food in contact with plastic. But, when there is no heat involved in the process and when contact with food is low, it is alright to use plastic.
When grinding spices like garam masala, we highly recommend using a plastic lid instead of polycarbonate. This is because garam masala can permanently cause discolouration to polycarbonate lids. It gets a cloudy appearance, which is almost impossible to remove.
With plastic lids, even if it gets slightly discoloured, it gets back to the previous state after a few washes.
You may also like our article on 7 Best Hand Blenders In India
Run The Mixer Grinder For Cleaning It
The best way to clean the mixer grinder jar is by running it with soapy water. After use, add a drop of dishwashing soap and fill the water to 1/3rd to 1/2 of its capacity, and pulse several times. This ensures that any food residue caught up in the screws and connectors beneath the blade gets dislodged. Also, cleaning this way prevents scratches on the surface of the mixer grinder jars.
Related reading: How To Clean A Bullet Blender?
Never Overload Your Mixer Grinder
The motor overheats every time you overload the mixer grinder and this may trigger the overload protection switch. This could adversely affect the durability of the motor. Hence, never load over one-third to half the capacity of the jar. Also, when dry grinding spices, ensure the ingredients are less than an inch in length so that they don’t get stuck between the blades and the jar, which again can overheat the motor.
Avoid Grinding Tough Spices Frequently
A new mixer grinder can easily grind tough spices like turmeric. But, if you do so frequently or if you try grinding them in an old mixer grinder, you may damage the coupler and blades. Or the motor may get overheated. Hence, it is in your best interest not to grind turmeric in mixer grinders on a frequent basis. Instead, get it powdered from your nearby mill in bulk and store them in an airtight glass container. Transfer a little quantity to a small container for daily use so that you don’t expose the bulk quantity to air frequently.
Avoid Steel Wools and Scrubs
Scratches on the jars and polycarbonate lids can be unsightly. Hence, avoid using steel wools or scrubs like Scotchbrite. Instead, use sponges if you are handwashing the mixer grinder jars.
As one of our readers commented,” All mixer grinders are good. The durability depends on how we use it.” With proper care and sensible usage, your mixer grinder can work hassle-free for at least a decade.
Do let us know in the comments if there are any more tips you would like to share for improving the durability of mixer grinders.
Mixer Grinders We Recommend
Sujata Dynamix 900 Watt Mixer Grinder
Preethi Zodiac 750 Watt Mixer Grinder Food Processor
Vidiem MG521A 750 Watt Mixer Grinder