Full-size blenders are great for smoothies. With just one press of a button, you can whip up enough smoothies for 4 people. But what if you’re the only one who drinks smoothies, or you live alone? Do you really want to invest in a full-size blender? And as most of you know, large blenders require a certain amount of liquid to work properly, which may be too much for one person.

A personal blender solves this issue completely by allowing you to create single-serving smoothies. It’s kind of like the Keurig of blenders

And Hamilton Beach’s 51101BA personal blender is one of the best on the market. We were lucky enough to give this blender a try, and were impressed by its ease of use and portability.

Before we get to our detailed review, let’s take a quick look at what we liked and didn’t like about this blender.

Pros

Cons

We did notice that the lid on the blender pitcher was a bit flimsy. We replaced it with another lid and had no issues. If you plan on using the pitcher as a travel mug, you may consider also replacing the lid to prevent spills and leaks.

Hamilton Beach 51101BA Personal Blender Review

The 51101BA does one thing: blend. Unlike a full-size blender, this model does not feature multiple functions, like dicing, chopping and grinding. It just blends, which makes it ideal for smoothies and shakes.

The 175W motor isn’t as powerful as full-size models, but again, you’re only making a single serving each time you blend. In other words, the motor is more than sufficient for making 14oz. of smoothies and shakes.

This blender and easy to use, too, with just a single button for blending and pulsing.

We were able to blend up smoothies in less than two minutes – and that includes prep work. Simply fill the container with your smoothie ingredients, attach the pitcher to the base, lock it into place, and press the blend button. That’s all there is to it!

When you’re done, unlock the pitcher, and take it with you on the go.

All food zones are BPA-free, so you don’t have to worry about chemicals leeching into your drinks.

And you can use this for more than just smoothies and shakes. We’ve seen others use it to make baby formula, marinades and even salad dressings. It’s versatile and so easy to use.

But the lid is a bit flimsy, as we mentioned previously. This can easily be fixed by simply replacing the lid. We had a few lying around that were a perfect fit.

Blender Features

• 175W motor
• Compact design
• 14oz blending jar that doubles as a travel mug
• BPA-free food zones
• Drinking lid features a spout for easy pouring
• One-touch operation
• Sturdy base
• Convenient cord storage
• Dishwasher safe parts

The Hamilton Beach 51101BA is a great choice if you’re looking for a lender that makes single-serving size smoothies and shakes. Affordably priced, we highly recommend this blender to single households and those who are short on space. It’s just the right size and just powerful enough to make smoothies that you can easily take with you on the go.