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iCucina Portable Bullet vs Hamilton Beach 51101AV Side-by-Side Comparison
iCucina Portable Bullet vs. Hamilton Beach 51101AV comparison. The two mid-powered personal blenders battle it out on our unique course of hands-on tests.
iCucina Portable Bullet
Tested Using Methodology v1.0Hamilton Beach 51101AV
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Overall Verdict
In the smoothie test, the Hamilton Beach had a longer blending time than average, taking twice as long as the others to produce a protein shake and still ending up with a slightly coarse texture. While the texture was deemed acceptable, the prolonged blending time could cause the motor to overheat, even tiring or numbing the user’s hand. The blender struggled with breaking down high-fiber food, resulting in a considerable amount of pulp and mediocre extraction.
In comparison, the iCucina blender performed slightly better than the Hamilton Beach in most tests and was able to grind frozen fruits pretty well, although it did compromise on time and texture. Still, we don’t consider it a suitable option for preparing a complex workout drink— something that involves raw nuts and dried fruits— or for incorporating fiber-rich ingredients into your diet.
Overall, if you have to choose between the Hamilton Beach and the iCucina, we’d recommend the latter.
Pros & Cons
- It’s good for simple plant-based blends.
- Built quality is mediocre but fine for the price.
- Simple design allows for straightforward use, cleaning, and storage.
- It stands stably, rather than jumping around, while working.
- Inexpensive and easy to use with one-touch blending.
- Blending cup features measuring lines.
- Compact design makes it perfect for use in small spaces.
- It is adequate for light blending performance.
- The lack of versatility.
- Short power cord.
- The low-powered motor limits its capabilities.
- Poorly-built quality impairs the machine’s overall performance and durability.
- It works inconsistently
- The blades are too short, which affects the blending time and final results.
Key Specs
Where to Buy
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Analysis and Test Results
Performance
Protein Shake
Frozen Fruit Smoothie
Fibrous Greens
Crushed Ice Cubes
Design
In the Box
Dimensions
Build Quality
Blades
Motor Base
Blending Cup
Speed and Controls
Usability
Hands-Free Operation
Assembly
Cleanability
Behind the Comparison
Tina Pham is a staff writer and reviewer, with five years of experience in the industry. As a passionate amateur home cook, she loves to discover practical cooking solutions, and has made it her mission to bring her findings to every kitchen. Her ultimate goal is making cooking more of a pleasure for all.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
Tuyet Pham is an award-winning Saigonese chef passionate about delicious and healthful foods. At HealthyKitchen101, she develops recipes and collaborates with our Research, Testing, and Review lab to evaluate the performance of cooking appliances. Her assessments add a strong authoritative voice to our product scoring process.
Nguyen Ntk is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer whose philosophy centers around respecting and celebrating the beauty of reality. Through his lenses, Nguyen strives to capture the true essence of objects and events, showcasing and highlighting authentic features without distortion or exaggeration.
