Abstract: A blender adapted to reduce food pieces and produce a blended food mixture, comprising a blending container for holding the food pieces, a pedestal having a motorized blade for reducing the food pieces, and a food scraping assembly positioned within the blending container. The food scraping assembly has a scraping ring adapted to dislodge unblended food particles adhering to an inner surface of the blending container, a rod adapted to alternatively raise and lower the scraping ring within the blending container, and an air pocket puncturing projection adapted to collapse a cavitation air bubble which surrounds the blade and interferes with the production of the blended food mixture.