Hamilton Beach (51101AV) Personal Blender Reviews

First, I have been using Hamilton Beach Mini Blenders for TEN YEARS. I have tried different models, they're all mini blenders, but some are a bit better than others. THIS is my fav (and I liked when you could easily and cheaply get one with TWO cups). THIS one, to me, is better than the "upgraded" one.

PROS:

CONVENIENCE - I had a large blender, hated using it to just whip up a smoothie for me. This size is not only great, I drink from the cup, easy to clean and doesn't take up storage or counter space.

BLENDING - OK, if you need a POWERFUL blender that you can put lots of big frozen chunks of fruit in, GET A POWERFUL blender! I use protein powder, almond milk, spirulina and FROZEN wild blueberries or frozen dark cherries and have NO problem. BUT I'm also just using about a half cup of frozen fruit and LEAVE ROOM so the blender isn't too full, you need to leave about an inch and a half at the top. ALSO AND THIS IS HUGE FOR ME....

the blender motor may sound like it's just getting stuck, TAKE THE CUP OFF, HOLD THE LID DOWN TIGHTLY AND GIVE IT A COUPLE SHAKES, TAKES SECONDS! THEN put back on and PULSE, taking finger on and off power button. VOILA. IT REALLY ISN'T THAT HARD.

PRICE - FOR THE PRICE I FIND HAMILTON BEACH HARD TO BEAT. Is it meant to last forever? NO. At this price, would you expect it to? I use a blender often, having been using Hamilton Beach mini blenders for about 15 years. I replace them as needed and, at THIS price, I keep two around at all times, in case one eventually gives out.

CAVEAT: OK THE CUP GETS PITTED after awhile. EVEN if the motor is going STRONG, after awhile, you will wait to replace the cup. I find it easier just to get another blender OR get the blender that has TWO CUPS, which also comes in handy if you're making a smoothie for yourself and one for someone else.

I bought two of these blenders. One for my and one for my husband to keep at work. We use them mainly to make smoothies using water, powered smoothie mix, ice cubes and berries. It mixes all of the ingredients including chopping up regular size ice cubes just fine. It is super easy to clean, just rinse out with a little soapy water. I have not put it in the dishwasher although it says dishwasher safe. I choose this one because it has an electric cord vs some of the other ones that use usb. it is small enough to take with us when we travel and having an electric cord allows us to make smoothies and margaritas while on vacation. Made my own margaritas in the hotel room and took it to the pool and saved a ton of money by not having to get a drink at the tiki bar. lol This is a great mini blender for smoothies etc.. highly recommend.

➕I pulse the pulse button (off & on button motion) some ppl have recommended it so you don’t kill the tiny motor

➕YOU CAN NOT PUT ANY HOT LIQUIDS IN THIS BLENDER IT SAYS THAT REPEATEDLY IN THE USER MANUAL (it’s a plastic cup it can’t handle that kind of heat of course like most plastics it would eventually break or crack if you continuously put hot liquids in it people let’s think)

➕ it does crush ice and frozen fruits

➕super easy to clean I wasn’t sure how clean this blender would get since you can’t detach the blades but it definitely does get cleaned pretty well as long as you don’t let whatever you blended seat and dry up in the cup...add some water and dish detergent and let it soak for a few mins

➕for the price and the tiny motor that this thing has I’m surprised at how great this blender performs it took me less then 8 minutes to make my smoothies

All and all if you’re looking for something to cheap and good quality to make your quick smoothies or protein shakes then this might fit the bill for you it definitely does for me❗️

I had one of these for a number of years, but the bottom of the cup cracked and I needed a new one. I saw no reason not to get the exact same thing again. It's powerful enough to blend frozen fruit into my smoothies, and even some kale. Of course the cup is relatively small so you have to be careful not to put too much of that stuff in. I got it to use as a travel blender (which it's great for) - but a while back I found that I'd stopped using my big heavy counter blender, and now just use this one every day.

I wanted something that could make me a one person smoothie away from home and after looking at several of these types of blenders, comparing prices and reading the reviews, I settled for this one. I have been using it everyday for the last 3 weeks and it has met all my expectations, and more. I have a, Nutri-Blender(Bullet) at home that I am accustomed to using and one of my concern with the, Hamilton Blender was, if it would be able to blend all the fruits combined with things like; beets, ginger, carrot, and mainly the nuts. Well, it has been doing so successfully. Just remember that blenders were meant to be ran in short intervals of about 30 seconds, giving the motor a break, of at least 1-2 minutes, allowing it to cool off or it will definitely burnout, the Hamilton Blender is no different. If you use it correctly it will perform as expected.

Edited review: I originally gave this blender a 2 Star review because it was my 2nd one and the jar cracked after a month of use for the specific purpose of making bulletproof coffee and regular dishwasher use. My bad, I guess I’d forgotten or possibly never read the user’s manual because it clearly shows an illustration showing to hand wash the jar and lid and there is an actual statement saying NOT for the use with hot beverages. I used my original one for a few years for making protein shakes and it worked great, the jar didn’t crack until a few weeks of using it for coffee. But it definitely does not work for hot liquids. Total user error. ;)

Quick easy way to throw together a smoothie. You do have to hold the button down the whole time, but if it's just 20 seconds or so, it's no big deal. I make a banana smoothie on mornings when I play tennis and it's quick and easy! (1 average banana, 3-4 ounces milk [in my case, rice milk because of allergy], three ice cubes, a few drops of banana flavoring [to enhance], and a third of a teaspoon of sugar. Put in the blender and hold the button down 'til you hear no more ice cubes being cracked. Drink right out of the mixer!} I have a "real" blender, but this one is easier, quicker, and less to clean up afterwards.

Liked my own so much that I bought/sent my daughter one as a surprise gift.

We purchased this specifically for use with our alternate current converter in our van - so as not to use up too much power storage just to mix a smoothie. It's small, light and will get the job done, but cannot manage much more than a tiny bit of fruit, cut very small in addition to the liquids and protein powder. Can't mix a mean margarita- chop ice or anything heavy duty or it will ruin the tiny blades. The booklet says you can grind about 12 tablespoons of coffee beans. I wouldn't recommend it for much more than an easy protein powder plus liquid power stir.

I love this little blender -- this is the second one I've bought, so now there's one for home and one for the office. It's great that the container can double as a drink cup so that you can mix your drink and then take it with you, no messy transfers necessary. I bring the cup home, fill it with fruit and ingredients, then wait to blend it until I get to work so that the fruit has thawed a bit and it doesn't separate. The noise is modest unless you're trying to crunch up ice or frozen fruit, but even then it isn't ridiculously loud. The entire unit is quite small and fits in most small cupboard spaces.

works well ordered more, everyone that see it like and wants one for them. it allows you to add more ice while blending and just take it and go right out to the door into the car no need to do anything mix and go or mix and drink right from cup.

have made mixed drinks, smoothies, powered drink mixes with water. made pancake mix in it as well with milk eggs oil pancake mix. poured right out of cup into fry pan perfect 10 pancakes. cleaned the cup before last one was still cooking. using blender 3 to 4 times a day now.

mother in law and sister in law each want one. even my co worker wants one now for his protein shakes.

p.s. - don't buy old model with stainless steal cup better with the clear cups.

also do not hold blender while mixing. just lock it before hitting button. holding the cup adds stress to blender gears.

wish the black came with 2 cups like the white. but my wife wants it black