Many people have found the invention of the Blender Bottle to be one of the best ever (right next to the invention of Netflix, three-day weekends, and Halo Top ice cream, that is). But spending money on something that only guarantees a clump-free protein shake doesn’t seem very useful. What if I told you it was?
It’s time to fish that bottle out from the back of your cabinet, because there are nine things you can make with a Blender Bottle that don’t involve protein powder.
1. Iced Coffee/Lattes
Photo courtesy of @cafeoberkampf on Instagram
If Blender Bottles can make good coffee, they are my new best friend. Those Starbucks iced lattes might seem like a mysterious treat sent from heaven, but in reality it isn’t hard to make an iced latte, iced coffee/tea, or an iced matcha latte (minus the blender part), with this bottle and a few simple ingredients.
Just take a few cups of cooled strong coffee/espresso and add it to your Blender Bottle (with the metal spring inside), add a few splashes of milk, sugar, and cinnamon to taste, shake, and voila! All you have to do is grab a glass, fill it with ice, and enjoy your iced latte that tastes better than the overpriced Starbucks’ version.
2. Cocktails
Gif courtesy of giphy.com
If you don’t have much space for single-use items, then you probably don’t have a cocktail shaker. But don’t worry, because you can use Blender Bottles to simply mix a cocktail while you freeze your serving glass. Finally, you won’t have to deal with terribly mixed drinks anymore anymore.
#SpoonTip: If you are at a loss for drinks to prepare, try some kombucha cocktails, these Candy-Inspired variations, or even a few cocktails for those of you who hate alcohol.
3. Butter
Photo by Elena Bailoni
Oddly enough, you can make butter in a Blender Bottle. That sentence might seem a little contradicting, but don’t rule out the taste of fresh butter until you’ve tried it. You just need some heavy whipping cream, salt, and a bowl of ice water. For more detailed instructions, check out the recipe.
4. Pancake Batter
Photo courtesy of @atelier_bom on Instagram
I love breakfast food as much as the next person, but I don’t like how messy it can all get, especially when making pancakes. The batter always finds a way to drip down the bowl, making everything gross to touch and a pain to clean.
If you use a Blender Bottle to make the batter, it becomes a lot easier because you just have to shake and pour it onto a frying pan. Make pancake batter how you normally would and shake until batter-y (although it may require an initial stir or two). At a loss for pancake recipes? Try this birthday cake recipe for all your special occasions.
5. Ready-to-Pour Salad Dressings and Sauces
Gif courtesy of giphy.com
Those little seasoning packets come in handy in college life. For people living alone, it’s not always feasible to buy large bottles of Ranch, enchilada sauce, or other salad dressings, so these mini ones come in handy. Instead of making it in a bowl and having to spoon out the dressing, shake it up in your Blender Bottle and just pour the contents directly onto your food, whether it’s salad, pizza, pasta, or a tortilla.
6. Scrambled Eggs
Gif courtesy of giphy.com
It’s difficult to scramble eggs the right way. Most people either over-beat the eggs or under-beat them, causing all kinds of flavor or texture mishaps in the process. If you shake your eggs in a Blender Bottle instead of using a fork, they are more uniformly beaten and can offer a smoother egg to make your morning a little more pleasant. If you’re not sure exactly how to make the right egg, follow this recipe and you will be set for life.
7. Crepes
Photo courtesy of @secucinoio on Instagram
Continuing on this breakfast bandwagon, Blender Bottles are amazing for crepes. If you ever thought making such a dainty dessert at home was impossible, think again. As long as there is Nutella in your fridge and powdered sugar in your pantry, there’s nothing that can stop you. Check out this easy crepe recipe for inspiration.
8. Balsamic Vinaigrette
Photo courtesy of @fairytaleatthenight on Instagram
You know that slightly sour and salty black stuff people put on salads? That’s a balsamic vinaigrette, and while it may look and sound classy, it’s not all that hard to make. It’s just a combination of balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, brown sugar, olive oil, and, if you want to get extra fancy for a salad, some blue cheese and walnuts. These are the exact measurements and procedure for making the easiest vinaigrette ever (in a Blender Bottle, of course).
9. Stir Fry Sauce
Photo courtesy of @thefeedfeed.vegan on Instagram
There’s nothing better than making a huge pan of stir fry for your friends and having them think you are a master chef (if only they knew the sauce came from a jar). You can make a simple teriyaki sauce by combining equal parts soy sauce and mirin, followed by adding sugar, minced garlic, and minced ginger to taste. Give it a whirl in your Blender Bottle and pour over your next veggie stir fry. It’s a healthy alternative to store bought sauces, and this will have your friends coming over for dinner every night.
The possibilities are endless, especially when you’re a college student and need to get creative with the things you already have. While a Blender Bottle might seem like a waste of money to be used on smoothies and shakes, they also help make life a lot easier due to its half-blender/half-shaker nature.