For many of us, the blender is an essential part of our kitchen. This humble little appliance has become ubiquitous over the past few decades thanks to its versatility, perfect for making our smoothies smooth, our soups super and our sauces smashing. Yet, despite all the tasks it can perform, there are still some things you should never put in there - at least not if you want to avoid a culinary mishap or a damaged device. Here are 9 things you should never blitz up in your blender - and what you should do instead... (Picture: Getty Images)

1. Frozen fruit

First up, one which might confuse you somewhat, especially if you use your blender to whip up a smoothie, fruit juice or even a cocktail from time to time. Obviously berries and other soft fruits are ideal blender fodder, but fruit or other frozen items which are too hard could well damage the blades or motor of your blender. Instead, allow the fruit to thaw slightly before you attempt to blend it, and cut large chunks into smaller pieces to make it easier for the blender to handle - as well as making sure there's enough liquid in the blender to help the process along. Some more powerful blenders are better equipped to handle frozen fruit (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

2. Hot liquids

Just as you shouldn't put anything too cold in your blender, adding anything too hot to it is just as bad. A boiling hot liquid in your blender will release steam which, given the lid of the blender seals it all in, has nowhere to go. Which in turn would lead to pressure building up inside the jug and potentially causing an explosion, which could harm both your blender and you. So, if you're making soup, let it cool down before you blend it, or blend the ingredients first (Picture Getty Images)

3. Potatoes

In theory, potatoes would seem like ideal blender food - after all, surely it's ideal for whipping up a pile of perfect creamy mash? However, your humble spuds contain a lot of starch, and whizzing them at speed in a blender releases this, compromising the texture in the process. Which means instead of fluffy mashed potatoes, you're more likely to end up with a gluey, lumpy mess. Stick to mashing your spuds by hand instead for the best results (Picture: Getty Images)

4. Raw broccoli

If you're using your blender to whip up recipes in the comfort of your kitchen chances are you'll be adding a few vegetables at some point, right? And indeed, the machine can be very handing for blitzing up your veggies to add to soups and sauces - but that doesn't mean all vegetables do well in the device. Raw broccoli, for example, should be avoided as the stems can become stringy and fibrous when blended at high speed, which will leave you with lumpy, unpleasant-tasting veg. Worse still, those bits of stringy fibre could wrap themselves around the blades of your blender, making it harder to clean and potentially even causing damage to the mechanism. If you're blending broccoli cut it into small pieces first or cook it slightly for better results (Picture: Getty Images)

5. Coffee beans

So after all those soups and smoothies you're in the mood for a nice frothy coffee drink, right? Great idea, but don't even think about blitzing those coffee beans in the blender. Yes, you might end up with ground coffee, but equally those beans are hard enough to damage the blades, especially if you do it on a regular basis. Unless your model comes with a specific coffee grinding attachment, grind these by hand or invest in a coffee machine to do the job for you instead (Picture: Getty Images)

6. Nuts

Nuts are wonderfully versatile, whether you're snacking on a handful or whipping up a batch to make your own peanut butter. One place they don't fare well though? You guessed it, the blender. As with other hard foods, there's a risk they could damage or simply dull the blade. Your best bet is to soak them for as long as possible to soften them. They'll be easier to blend and your device will be less likely to be compromised (Picture: Getty Images/500px)

7. Dough

Raw dough shouldn't go near your blender. Not because it will necessarily harm the device, but because the speed of the blender would most likely overwork it - leaving you with an overly tough, potentially inedible loaf. Opt for a food processor with a dough hook instead, or just make your favourite crusty bread by hand or in a breadmaker (Picture: Getty Images/Image Source)

8. Ginger

Fancy a ginger martini? Got a new recipe to try which involves a whole load of ginger? Great. But however tempting it might be, don't think about blitzing your fresh or dried ginger in the blender. It's so full of fibres it won't blend well, meaning you'll end up with little more than an unusable, stringy mess. Chop it by hand instead folks - it might be more time-consuming but the end result is a lot better (Picture: Getty Images)

9. Your fingers

Yeah, yeah. You know this one. But, really, how many times have you dipped a finger in to have a taste or dislodge something stuck in the blades? Putting your fingers, or whole hand, in the blender at any point is an absolute no-no. Whether the blender itself has paused, it's stopped working for no apparent reason or if you just want to sneak a taste of whatever you're blending, there's always a risk it could splutter back into life while your hand is in it, with some very serious consequences. If you must reach into the blender, always fully unplug it first and use another object you treasure less than your fingers (Picture: Getty Images)