If you use your blender frequently, you may have noticed it’s not blending like it used to. It still seems to be working just fine, so what gives?
It could be the blades are due for a sharpening. If you use your blender regularly, it’s best to sharpen the blender blades once every 6 to 12 months. This holds true whether you have a top of the line blender or a mid range blender.
If you have never sharpened your blender blades before and aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place. We will go over 2 ways you can sharpen your blender blades right at home, to get your back to blending as soon as possible!
The 2 ways you can sharpen your blades are using eggshells or a true sharpening stone. A true sharpening stone works best but it’s also the most involved out of the 2 options. Let’s dive deeper into these sharpening methods so you can pick the best route for you.
Sharpening Blender Blades Using a Sharpening Stone
Using a sharpening stone to sharpen your blender blades is going to be the most reliable sharpening method. This is similar to how kitchen knives are sharpened. To do this you will need a bit more time in order to disassemble the blender and you will also need a sharpening stone. If you want to use this sharpening method, here are the simple steps!
Step 1: Take the Blender Apart
Start by unplugging the blender and removing the pitcher from the base. You won’t need the base at all during this process, you feel free to move it out of the way. Given that you will be using a sharpening stone, it’s best to have more than enough open workspace during the process.
Step 2: Wash the Blender Thoroughly
Next, make sure to give the blender a good wash. This will help to make sure there is no leftover smoothies on your blender blades as you are sharpening them, otherwise you may be sharpening old blueberries! By getting everything as clean as possible before starting the sharpening process, you are making sure you’ve got a clean slate to start with.
As a bonus, washing the blender will also help to loosen the blades, which is the next step.
Step 3: Remove the Blades
After the blender is nice and clean, you will want to remove the blades from the pitcher to get them ready to sharpen. Most blender blades should start to loosen after you turn them counterclockwise. Once you get them started, they just screw off relatively easily. If you can’t quite get your blender blades to budge, refer to your blender’s user manual to understand how the blades need to be removed.
To keep your hands protected during this part of the process, it’s a good idea to wear safety gloves!
Once you’ve got them off of the container, you should be able to take them apart further, by separating them from the blade base.
Step 4: Clean the Blades – Again
I know you just cleaned everything in step 2, but since you now have the blades free from the rest of the blender, it’s a good time to give them a second cleaning. The blender blades need to be free from any food or debris before sharpening to ensure you get the best results.
To clean the blades, run them under running water and clean them off with a coarse sponge or a scouring pad. Once you have given them a good scrub, dry them off with a towel or paper towel. Again it’s a good idea to use safety gloves here.
Step 5: Sharpen the Blades with a Sharpening Stone
Now you’re finally ready to use the sharpening stone to sharpen your blender blades. To get started, make sure you’ve got enough work space on a table or counter top. Always keep the sharp edge of the blade pointing away from you and run the blade over the sharpening stone away from your body.
Pay close attention to the blender blade as many of them are made with an angle on purpose so they are more effective. If you notice this, make sure to not sharpen the blade to the point where this angle goes away.
Step 6: Put the Blender Back Together
After you’re satisfied with the sharpness of your newly sharpened blades, it’s time to put the blender back together. Start by getting the blades back in working order and reattached to the base of the blender.
Once you have things good to go, give your blender a quick wash again to remove any dust from the sharpening process and you are good to go!
Sharpen Your Blender Blades with Eggshells
If you are looking for more of a “hands off” approach to blade sharpening, using eggshells is a great option. Here are a few simple steps to sharpening your blender using eggshells.
Step 1: Save Your Eggshells
You will need eggshells to do this so save your eggshells for a few days until you have about 3 cups worth of eggshells. To keep them organized, use a small container and put them in the freezer. This will also prevent them from making a mess.
Step 2: Blend Your Eggshells with Water
Once you have at least 3 cups of eggshells saved, toss them in a blender with about 1/2 cup of water. If you have a larger or smaller blender, you can adjust these amounts up and down as needed. Then just turn your blender on high until you completely blend the eggshells. This is where the eggshells work their magic.
Step 3: Clean Up
After you’ve got a water and eggshell mixture all blended up, it’s time to get rid of your new creation and clean up the blender. You may want to throw the eggshell mixture out in the trash as opposed to down the drain as it could clog your pipes and cause problems down the line.
Next, just give you blender a good cleaning and enjoy your newly sharpened blades!
Common Questions on Blender Blade Sharpening
Do Blender Blades Need to be Replaced?
Unless your blender blades have broken or no longer attach to the base as designed, you should not need to replace your blades. When they get dull, you can simply sharpen them using one of the methods above to bring them back to life.
Can Salt Sharpen Blender Blades?
Salt can sharpen blender blades as well. The process is very similar to the process using eggshells, you just need big chucks of rock salt instead of eggshells.
What is the Best Way to Clean a Blender?
Typically you should be able to get a blender thoroughly cleaned using warm water, soap, and a sponge. If you have some dried on food that is difficult to get off, letting the blender soak and using a coarser sponge can help to free the debris from the pitcher.
Most blenders are also dishwasher safe so you can just toss your blender pitcher and lid into the dishwasher for a convenient cleaning.
Final Thoughts on Blender Blade Sharpening
There are 2 of the simple methods to sharpening your blender blades at home. Using a sharpening stone is going to be more involved, but is more likely to give you high quality and reliable results. Eggshells on the other hand require a lot less prep and can be done a lot faster. Depending on how involved you want to be and what tools you have, the choice is up to you!
