A pastry blender should have evenly spaced metal blades, be sturdy, and have a straight handle. The center should contain five or six slightly curved blades with about 0.64 inch (0.75 inch) of space between each blade. A standard size utensil is approximately 13.34 cm (5.25 inches) long and 12.07 cm (4.75 inches) wide.
A pastry blender is used to mix dough for cakes, breads and rolls. For best results, these should have evenly spaced metal blades. The blades need to be sturdy so they can cut through shortening or heavy butter. Handle design and construction are also important when choosing a pastry cutter. The right size tool is normally a little longer than it is wide.
The sides of a pastry blender should be mostly straight and the center should contain five or six slightly curved blades. Aluminum or steel are good materials for these blades, as plastic ones may not hold up well when preparing pasta. There should be about 0.64 inch (0.75 inch) of space between each blade, as this will allow the flour and shortening to move freely without getting stuck. It helps if the blades are contained in a single unit rather than individual pieces, as this can ensure they don’t come off.
You may want to move the paddles back and forth to see how much play there is in them. Ideally, the blades on a blender won’t move at all, but if they do they should move slightly. Blades that are too flexible may not be stiff enough to cut through heavy dough; avoid those that are whip-like if possible.
Look for a mostly straight rather than curved handle. You may need to press down on the blender while using it, and a curved handle can make this difficult. The handle must be securely attached to the side parts so that it does not come off during use. Wood or vinyl are both good materials for this piece because they’re generally strong yet comfortable to hold. A blender with a thumb tab can keep your hand from getting tired while allowing you to press harder through extremely thick dough.
A standard size utensil is approximately 13.34 cm (5.25 inches) long and 12.07 cm (4.75 inches) wide. This size is ideal for a pastry blender because it’s long enough to reach the bottom of a standard mixing bowl while still being wide enough to grip with one hand. A blender this size isn’t normally heavy even when chunks of dough become caked in the blades.
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