Appliances that make mincemeat out of tough kitchen chores

Mincemeat is traditionally a combination of spices, dried fruit and meats that is seasoned with vinegar or wine and used as a pie filling. It can also refer to finely chopped meat, or hamburger. In modern parlance however, “to make mincemeat out of someone” does not necessarily mean to literally beat him up and cut him into smithereens, it refers to defeating an opponent very easily.

Oster is a brand that makes mincemeat out of the toughest, time-consuming kitchen tasks. “To osterize” is generally understood to be synonymous with blending to be able to make smoothies, shakes and even thick soups. But while blenders are the item mostly associated with the brand, Oster also makes a whole range of small kitchen appliances. These include mixers, choppers, indoor grills, pressure cookers, coffee makers, electric carving knives and can openers, food processors, and others.

“For the main part, Oster is best known for the Osterizer blenders,” confirms Joanne Mercado, Oster brand manager. She relates that the devices were first created to make it easier for soda-fountain owners in the late 1940s to early 1950s to prepare milkshakes. Since then, the blenders have become more powerful. They are able to take on new tasks such as mincing, chopping and pureeing. Quality has been vastly improved so that the Oster label stands apart from other brands.

Electric mixer makes blending the batter for cookies and cakes easier

“Oster blenders use an All-Metal-Drive system so that all the power generated by the motor is transferred to the blade,” Joanne explains. “This is a patented feature that reduces the wear and friction so that parts do not break down easily. The stainless steel blades can cut through the hardest ingredients like ice and coffee beans; and apart from being scratch- resistant the blender’s glass jar is will not crack with sudden changes in temperature.” For quality-conscious consumers, this simply means efficient, dependable performance from an Oster blender for many years.

Recently, the brand introduced its new Oster ambassadors, celebrity mom and housewife Chesca Garcia Kramer and chef Kalel Chan. “Chesca represents the many young moms out there who are able to balance career and family life by making the right choice,” says Joanne Mercado. ”On the other hand, Chef Kalel embodies creativity at home and in the workplace. As the innovative culinary artist who continues to evolve as he searches for new and exciting flavor combinations, he is not afraid to experiment but he also values the cherished traditions.” Fittingly, the new Oster brand ambassadors were introduced to media at the Raintree Group of Restaurants’ M Café in Greenbelt, Makati where chef Kalel whipped up a delectable spread using devices made by Oster.

The durable Oster blender with reversible motor makes mixing drinks and blending smoothies easier.

Why agree to endorse Oster? Chef Kalel shares that the brand is something that he grew up and is thoroughly familiar with. “As a kid, I grew up thinking that all blenders were called osterizer. So when I wanted something blended, I said osterize it,” he grins. “My mom has a 12-speed that has been working for many years. I started using that Osterizer to make calamansi, watermelon and other fruit shakes when I was six years old and the device remains efficient up to this day.” He relates that he is able to use the same blender during visits to his home province of La Union.                 

Kalel Chan is able to appreciate the brand even more. “Oster makes efficient kitchen tools that cut my preparation time by half; or sometimes by even more than half.” He singles out the Oster pressure cooker as particularly useful because it can shorten the usual cooking time of three hours to one hour. “It is a big help in the professional kitchen because it allows me to produce fresh food everyday for daily restaurant consumption.” He adds that the Oster Food processor is handy in making a variety of pastes, while the hand mixer is a quick way to emulsify salad dressings. “Cooking processes and techniques will continue to evolve, but dependable kitchen tools will always contribute to efficiency in a restaurant kitchen,” he concludes.

Cook without the fat with the steamer

The brand promise is “to provide expert knowledge, innovation, exceptional performance, versatility and perfect results every time,” adds Joanne Mercado. “Oster’s global vision is to equip anyone—from homemakers to professional chefs — with easy-to-use kitchen and home appliances so that they are able to multi- task efficiently.”

As showbiz personality, TV host, wife to basketball player Doug Kramer, and mom to Kendra, Chesca Garcia Kramer appreciates being chosen to represent the Oster brand. “It’s such an honor to be a spokesperson for a product that has been around for a long time, and is trusted by most mothers out there,” she says. 

She admits that although it takes a lot of creativity to fulfill her many roles, she finds the time to prepare healthy meals for her family. “I want to make sure that I give my family the best food, so I make food that it is organic, healthy and fresh. While it may take some ingenuity to convince children to eat their vegetables, Chesca shares, “It is exciting to be able to mix and experiment with different concoctions. I can blend in fruits and vegetables without Kendra even knowing it because the drinks taste good. That’s where my blender becomes an important kitchen partner.”

In the Philippines, Oster is exclusively distributed by Focus Global, Inc.

No more charcoal with an indoor grill