For those who enjoy blended drinks and smoothies, the Hamilton Beach 51101 Single-Serve Blender is an economical option. Ideal for people who live alone, it allows a person to only make enough for one serving of their favorite beverage and eliminates the hassle of storing leftovers.

With an MSRP of just under twenty dollars, it is a basic model and would not be suitable for users who are looking for an extensive feature set. However, for those who are seeking reliable operation at a great price, this is a practical solution.

With over 175 watts of power it can easily handle most of the common ingredients for shakes and smoothies. Although the 14 ounce blender chamber does not include a pour spout (a possible disadvantage for people like myself who are clumsy in the kitchen!) it does double as a travel cup. This is a notable advantage in that it cuts down on cleaning time, since only one container is used to both create and consume the end product.

Although the durability of this product has proven itself so far, the basic craftsmanship of the item does not lend itself to years of constant use. However, thanks to the budget pricing of this model, a user should feel confident about relying upon it for a couple of years, but not reluctant to replace it as needs dictate. However, the stainless steel blades are very well constructed, which is a plus since they drive the overall functionality of the product as a whole.

The one-touch functionality allows for superior ease of use. Yet, it also means that special settings designed for ice crushing or pulsed blending are absent.

Even though this is a very basic blender model, it is perfect for someone who seeks efficiency at a good price.

By Sarah Szczerbiak