Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender Review: Would Owners Buy It Again?
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this review was made: We did not test this blender ourselves. This verdict rests mainly on America's Test Kitchen's published blender testing, backed by one short product summary from Reviewed. Both are listed at the end. We could not read the paywalled RTINGS or Consumer Reports pages, so we do not cite them. Our method.
Skip it: a respected test found it slow and weak at core jobs
America's Test Kitchen put the Hamilton Beach Power Elite (model 58148A) in its Not Recommended group in its blender testing published in October 2025. Testers said it struggled at nearly every task: smoothies took more than six minutes versus about 60 seconds for higher-ranked blenders, it could not really crush ice, and almonds were only roughly chopped after about ten minutes. It is a low-cost blender that will blend soft, simple things, but the test evidence says other budget options do far better.
Check current price on Amazon → Prices and availability change often, so we don't list them here.Buy it again if you…
- only blend soft, simple mixtures occasionally
- need a very basic full-size blender with a glass jar
Skip it if you…
- want smooth smoothies without long blending times
- want to crush ice or chop nuts
- want a blender that handles mayonnaise, nut butter or frozen fruit
The Hamilton Beach Power Elite is a long-running, low-cost countertop blender with a 700-watt motor and a roughly 40-ounce (5-cup) jar. Several jar and color versions exist, and the listing we confirmed is the glass-jar version, model 58148AG.
The strongest independent evidence we found is America's Test Kitchen's blender testing. It tested the closely related model 58148A, so we treat that result as applying to this family, while noting we could not confirm every jar version was tested.
What owners say, at a glance
Bars show our editorial summary of how consistently owners praise or complain about each area across all sources — not a lab measurement.
What America's Test Kitchen found
America's Test Kitchen compared blenders on timed smoothies, smoothies made to each maker's instructions, mayonnaise, almond butter, crushed ice, ease of use, noise, and ten rounds of cleaning. The Hamilton Beach Power Elite was placed in the Not Recommended group.
A second, lighter source
A Reviewed product page lists poor blending, chopping and crushing performance and a cheaply made feel under its cons, and could find no pros. That page gives no test numbers or review date, so we treat it as supporting context only.
What it does reasonably
It is a simple, full-size blender with a glass jar and a three-year warranty, and it is inexpensive. ATK noted it did eventually produce acceptable smoothies, so it can handle soft, forgiving blends if you are patient. Our concern is that other budget blenders, including one ATK named as its best budget pick, did the same jobs much faster and better.
Evidence we could not find
- We found no long-term durability study of this blender.
- We did not read owner reviews in depth, so we cannot say how often units fail.
- ATK tested model 58148A, and we confirmed the 58148AG glass-jar listing, so small version differences are possible.
If you already own one
- Cut ingredients small and add liquid first to help it along.
- Skip ice and nuts, which the test showed it handles poorly.
- Blend in short bursts and rest the motor if it feels hot.
Pros and cons
What owners love
- Simple, full-size glass jar
- 700-watt motor and 3-year warranty per ATK
- Inexpensive, entry-level option
- Can make acceptable soft blends given enough time
What owners complain about
- Smoothies took more than six minutes in ATK testing
- Could not really crush ice
- Weak at mayonnaise and nut butter
- Lid creeps up during use in testing
- Reviewed lists a cheap-feeling build
Better-tested blenders to consider
These blenders have their own Arepeat reviews, and the Ninja was named a best budget pick by America's Test Kitchen.
| Model | Style | Consider it if… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Beach Power Elite (this review) | Basic full-size | Only for occasional, soft blends | See on Amazon |
| Ninja Professional Plus BN701 Read our review | Budget full-size | You want a budget blender that crushes ice and makes smoothies | See on Amazon |
| Vitamix 5200 Read our review | Premium workhorse | You blend often and want a long-lived, powerful machine | See on Amazon |
Still want to see this blender?
Check the current listing and version on Amazon, but compare it with the alternatives above first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hamilton Beach Power Elite recommended by America's Test Kitchen?
No. It is in the Not Recommended group in ATK's blender testing published in October 2025.
Can it crush ice?
ATK testers said it could not really crush ice.
Is it fine for simple smoothies?
It eventually made acceptable smoothies in testing, but only after more than six minutes.
What did ATK name as its best budget pick?
The Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ.
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Sources we analyzed
- America's Test Kitchen: The Best Blenders — Not Recommended verdict, test results, model 58148A specs
- Reviewed: Hamilton Beach Power Elite 58148 — pros and cons summary, no test numbers
Figures reflect each source as of October 21, 2026 and may change. We summarize owner feedback in our own words and do not reproduce retailer reviews.