The pulse setting on a blender is a function that provides short bursts of power at a high speed. When you engage the pulse setting, the blender quickly turns on and off in rapid succession, creating intermittent bursts of blending power.
The pulse function is useful for certain tasks in the kitchen, such as:
Controlled chopping: The pulse setting allows you to achieve a coarsely chopped texture for ingredients like onions, nuts, or herbs. By pulsing, you can control the degree of chopping without over-processing the ingredients.
Mixing or incorporating ingredients: When you want to mix ingredients together without fully blending them, the pulse setting helps combine them in a controlled manner. It's often used for incorporating dry ingredients into wet ones in recipes like dough, batter, or sauces.
Crushing ice or hard ingredients: If you need to crush ice cubes or break down hard ingredients like cookies or crackers, the pulse function can help you achieve the desired texture without melting or over-processing.
Making chunky purees or salsas: For recipes that require a chunky texture, such as salsa or certain types of purees, the pulse setting can help you achieve the desired consistency without fully liquefying the ingredients.