Types and Usage
A blade grinder (also propeller grinder is a machine that chops material while mixing it, by means of a high-speed spinning blade. Applications of blade grinders for preparing foods include numerous electric kitchen appliances such as blenders (including immersion blenders), food processors, some garbage disposals, and some coffee grinders. The terms “blade grinder” and “propeller grinder” are in popular use to distinguish the blade grinder type of coffee grinder from other types. Other consumer applications include rotary lawn mowers.
Types of Blade-Grinders:
1. Coffee grinders: Special purpose coffee grinders usually are either blade grinders or burr grinders:blade grinders being less expensive and having additional uses, burr grinders giving a better quality of grind. Special purpose spice grinders usually are either blade grinders or mortar and pestle (or related tools).
Low cost coffee blade grinders for use in home kitchens frequently are difficult to clean.
2. Pharmacy, restaurant, and laboratory grinders: This model is smaller than most found in Chinese pharmacies, although the design is the same – Blade grinders for home grinding of coffee beans are commonly used for grinding spices. However, larger, more powerful versions are used, particularly in Asia. Commonly found in pharmacies in China for grinding Chinese traditional medicine, the blades of this style of grinder can rotate at 28,000 rpm or more and are capable of reducing hard, dried roots to powder. This type of grinder is also used in restaurants for spices as well as for laboratory use.
3. Blenders: Blenders are blade grinders designed specifically for use with wet ingredients. Blenders are popular tools for production of purées and pastes, using both the cutting and shearing effects of high speed blades.
4. Food processor: A food processor is similar to a blender. The primary difference is that food processors use interchangeable blades and disks (attachments) rather than a fixed blade. Also, their bowls are wider and shorter, a more proper shape for the solid or semi-solid foods usually worked in a food processor.
