Breville VBL074 - User Manual

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Overview

Function Description
Usage Features
Maintenance Features

This document describes the Breville Simplicity 500W blender, an appliance designed for household use, offering various features for blending and food preparation.

Function Description

The Breville Simplicity 500W blender is primarily designed for blending ingredients to create various food and drink items such as smoothies, milkshakes, salsas, soups, and dressings. It features a 500W motor unit that drives sharp blades within a blending jug. The appliance includes a pulse button for precise control over blending duration and speed, as well as a speed control with three distinct settings, allowing users to choose the appropriate speed for different ingredients and desired consistencies. A removable stopper in the lid enables the addition of ingredients while the blender is in operation, enhancing convenience. The blender is equipped with safety features, including a mechanism that prevents operation unless the lid and jug are securely fitted and locked into position. It can also be used to crush ice, with specific instructions provided for both homemade and shop-bought ice cubes to achieve optimal results.

Usage Features

The blender is straightforward to assemble and operate. Before initial use, all parts that come into contact with food should be washed with warm soapy water and dried thoroughly, while the motor unit can be wiped with a damp cloth and mild detergent.

Assembly involves placing the motor unit on a stable, dry, and level surface. The jug is then aligned with the motor unit using specific symbols and twisted clockwise until it locks firmly in place. Similarly, the lid is placed onto the jug, aligned with a symbol, and rotated clockwise until it locks. Finally, the stopper is fitted into the lid's hole and twisted clockwise to secure it. These locking mechanisms are crucial safety features, as the blender will not operate unless both the jug and lid are correctly locked.

To use the blender, ingredients are added to the jug, ensuring not to overfill it. Liquid and smaller ingredients can be added by removing the stopper in the lid. Blending can be initiated by setting the speed control to 1, 2, or 3, depending on the desired speed. For short bursts of blending or to achieve specific textures, the pulse button can be used; it starts processing when pressed and stops when released. During operation, additional ingredients can be introduced by twisting and removing the stopper from the lid.

When crushing ice, it is recommended to slightly defrost ice cubes for best results. For homemade ice cubes, the jug should be filled to 750ml (30 fl.oz) with ice and 200ml (7 fl.oz) of water. For shop-bought ice cubes, 15 ice cubes and 200ml (7 fl.oz) of water are suggested. Ice crushing is performed using the pulse button in short bursts. If large chunks remain, gently shaking the jug and pulsing a few more times can help.

The manual includes several recipes, demonstrating the versatility of the blender:

Fruity Fantasy: A cocktail made with fresh orange juice, pineapple juice, strawberries, honeydew melon, watermelon, and ice cubes, blended on a low speed setting.
Peachy Mango Smoothie: Combines ripe peaches, ripe mangos, lemon juice, white grape juice, and ice cubes, blended on a low speed setting until smooth.
Citrus Slush: Involves crushing ice with water using the pulse setting, then adding fresh orange juice, lemon and lime cordial, caster sugar, and blending on a low/medium speed setting. Lime slices are used for garnish. The recipe also suggests alternative cordials and alcoholic additions for adult treats.
Oreo Cookie Milkshake: Features Oreo cookies, vanilla ice cream, milk, and chocolate syrup. The cookies are pulsed until crumbled, then the remaining ingredients are added and blended on a high speed setting.
Tomato and Avocado Salsa: Prepared by roughly chopping tomatoes, avocado, and onion, adding other ingredients, and then using quick pulses to combine everything.
Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup: Involves roasting peppers, onion, tomatoes, and garlic, then peeling them, blending with vegetable stock on a low speed setting, and finally heating with tomato puree.
Tomato and Chickpea Soup: A multi-step recipe where vegetables, garlic, rosemary, Italian herbs, stock, and sugar are cooked, then tomatoes are added. After cooling, the mixture is blended on a medium speed setting, and chickpeas are added before reheating.
Salmon Dip: Combines red salmon and white wine vinegar, blended on a low speed setting, followed by the addition of double cream, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, blended on a medium speed setting.
French Style Dressing: All ingredients (white wine vinegar, sunflower oil, garlic, Dijon mustard, dried mixed herbs, caster sugar, salt, and pepper) are blended on a high speed setting.
Walnut Dressing: Similar to the French dressing, all ingredients (Balsamic vinegar, walnut oil, olive oil, walnut pieces, caster sugar, salt, and pepper) are blended on a high speed setting.
Hearty Hummus: Chickpeas, garlic, tahini, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, cumin powder, salt, and pepper are blended on a high speed setting until smooth and creamy.

Maintenance Features

Proper cleaning and storage are essential for maintaining the blender. Before cleaning, the unit must be switched off and unplugged from the mains supply. The blending blades are very sharp, requiring extreme caution during washing. The motor base, mains lead, and plug should never be immersed in water or any other liquid. No part of the blender should be cleaned in a dishwasher.

For cleaning, the jug should be washed in warm, soapy water, rinsed, and dried thoroughly. A washing-up brush can be used to remove stubborn food deposits around the blade. Alternatively, the jug can be washed in a dishwasher. The jug lid and stopper should also be washed in warm, soapy water, rinsed, and dried. The motor base should be wiped down with a damp cloth or sponge using a mild detergent solution and then dried thoroughly.

A quick cleaning method is also provided: half-fill the blender with warm water and a drop or two of detergent, then press the pulse button for 10-20 seconds. Afterward, remove the jug and rinse it under running water.

For storage, all parts of the blender should be assembled and stored in a safe, dry place, out of the reach of children.

The appliance is built to high standards and contains no user-serviceable parts. In case of operational failure, users are advised to check if instructions have been followed, if the fuse has blown, and if the mains supply is functional. If issues persist, the appliance should be returned to the place of purchase for replacement or sent to the Customer Service Department, ensuring it is clean, packed carefully (preferably in the original carton), and includes the user's name, address, model number, reason for return, and proof of purchase if within the guarantee period.

The manual also provides information on the mains supply connection, detailing the wiring code (BLUE – NEUTRAL, BROWN – LIVE) and fuse requirements (5 amp, ASTA approved to BS1362). It explicitly states not to connect any wire to the earth terminal, as the unit is a Class II appliance and does not require an earth connection.