Purchasing a mini blender for your kitchen is a wonderful way to save yourself time, effort, and space while simultaneously increasing your versatility in the kitchen. Mini blenders come in several different styles and sizes, all (of course) smaller than your standard upright blender. One of the most popular is the immersion blender style. This is a small, hand held blender, that involves a motor with controls (on the part you hold), and a blade on a long blending arm, which is immersed directly into whatever you are blending.
How much you pay for an immersion mini hand blender really can vary. You can find such blenders that cost $20, $1,000, or anything in between. On the lowest end of the price scale, you find simple, every day blenders that have basic settings and are intended for relatively soft, liquid foods such as soups.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, for $1,000 or so, you will find industrial grade, heavy duty immersion mini blenders. These not only are meant to work harder and longer, but are often larger (with a longer immersion arm for larger pots) and can often accommodate tougher foods (such as, say, whipping potatoes).
In the middle, you will find much variation. Some blenders come with far more settings, speeds, and power levels than others. You will also find that there are quite a number of attachments available. Blenders that are compatible with attachments, or that come sold with attachments included, may cost a bit more but will also give you more options. Attachments may include things like an egg beater extension (for whipping eggs, meringues, flour, etc.), or a chopping extension, that comes with a chopping container, much like a mini food processor, but with a tall handle on the top.
For most people who just plan to use your mini blender once in awhile for a soup, sauce, or dressing, there is not much need to spend more than $50. For an at home gourmet, $100-$150 may give you some extra power and finesse that you are looking for.
