Who each type suits

Small-kitchen milkshake maker

If chocolate milkshakes are your main use, a compact body, detachable foot and manageable number of parts may matter more to you than a large accessory bundle.

Texture-control buyer

If you make shakes of different thicknesses or batch sizes, compare the exact models’ speed controls and blending-foot designs rather than relying on motor wattage alone.

One-tool-for-more-than-shakes buyer

If you also want to chop ingredients or whisk, check which attachments come with the model, what its instructions permit and where you will store the extra parts.

What matters when choosing

For shakes made with soft ingredients, decide how much blending control you want, then consider the parts you will need to store and clean. Hard add-ins call for a separate check of the exact model and accessory.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Milkshake texture Compare speed controls and any independent milkshake or smoothie testing of the exact model. If I vary the thickness of my chocolate shake, I want to adjust blending rather than rely on one setting; around 45% of consumers would put texture control first.
Storage and clean-up Check whether the foot detaches, the beaker size and which parts the instructions allow you to wash in a dishwasher. With little drawer space, I want only the parts I will regularly use and wash; roughly 33% of consumers would make storage and clean-up their primary concern.
Add-ins and other jobs Check the supplied chopper or grinder and its permitted ingredients, particularly for ice or solid chocolate. When I also prepare add-ins or whisk desserts, I need the right tools for those jobs; about 22% of consumers would put versatility first.

Buying pitfalls

  • Choosing solely by wattage

    Motor wattage does not tell you the finished texture of a chocolate milkshake. Good Housekeeping includes a banana milkshake in its hand-blender testing, while Which? tests ingredients of varying thicknesses.

    Use wattage as one specification, then look for relevant results for the exact model and check its controls, beaker and cleaning arrangements.

  • Buying extra tools you will rarely use

    A chopper, whisk or masher creates more parts to store and clean, even when your regular task is blending a simple shake.

    List the other jobs you expect to do before choosing an accessory set over a compact hand blender.

  • Assuming the blending wand can process hard add-ins

    An accessory supplied with one model does not establish that another model can process ice, nuts or solid chocolate.

    Check the exact model number, supplied attachment and instructions before processing hard ingredients. For a straightforward shake, use soft ingredients and chocolate powder or syrup.

  • Overlooking electrical-product information

    The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards advises checking appropriate product marking and the manufacturer’s name and address. Its July 2024 report on a particular JHB-228 hand blender identified non-compliant plug pins and a fire risk; that finding should not be generalised to other models.

    Check the product listing and packaging for the required information, and review the seller identity, instructions, warnings and any applicable safety alerts.

Brands to consider

Braun

The MultiQuick range offers a choice between simpler hand blenders and models supplied with more controls and attachments.

  • Braun Household specifies 21 speeds plus turbo for MultiQuick 5; its MQ 9138XI set includes a chopper, grinder, whisk and beaker.
  • Compare the exact model’s controls and included tools: an accessory-rich set needs more storage than a basic stick blender, and listed specifications alone do not establish milkshake results.

Bosch

Bosch offers both a straightforward one-stage model and a model with more speed settings and an included chopper.

  • Bosch UK specifies a 600 W motor and one switching stage for the MSM2610BGB, compared with 12 speeds plus turbo for the MSM66020GB.
  • Those specifications distinguish the models’ controls, not their finished milkshake texture; the chopper-inclusive model also adds parts to store.

Kenwood

The Triblade XL+ HBM60.307GY is relevant if you expect to use a hand blender for chopping, whisking and mashing as well as shakes.

  • Kenwood GB lists variable speed, a 500 ml chopper, whisk, masher and beaker for the HBM60.307GY.
  • The additional tools need storage and cleaning space; their inclusion does not by itself establish how a particular milkshake will turn out.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

Can I make a chocolate milkshake with a hand blender?

Yes, a hand blender is an option for a shake made with soft ingredients such as milk, ice cream and chocolate powder. Good Housekeeping includes a banana milkshake in its hand-blender testing, but results depend on the model; check its instructions before adding ice or solid chocolate.

Do I need variable speed for milkshakes?

Not necessarily for a simple shake made with soft ingredients. Variable speed gives you a way to adjust the setting when you change thickness or quantity, but extra settings do not guarantee a particular texture. Bosch UK specifies 12 speeds plus turbo for the MSM66020GB, while Braun Household specifies 21 speeds plus turbo for MultiQuick 5.

Can a hand blender process ice or solid chocolate?

Only use an exact model and supplied accessory that its instructions permit for the ingredient. Braun Household lists an ice-crush knife and grinder with the MQ 9138XI; that does not establish the same permitted use for a basic blending wand or another model.

Which hand-blender parts can go in the dishwasher?

Dishwasher guidance depends on the exact model and part. Kenwood lists dishwasher-safe tools for the HBM60.307GY, while Braun directs MultiQuick 5 owners to its instructions for the relevant parts. Check the manual rather than assuming that the motor unit or every attachment can go in the dishwasher.

What safety information should I check before buying in the UK?

Check the electrical product’s appropriate marking and the manufacturer’s name and address, as advised by the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards. Review the specific product and seller information, instructions and warnings before purchase.