The Cheap Kitchen Tool I’ll Be Using at Lunchtime All Summer Long

Once warmer weather hits, I lose my will to cook. Summer, to me, means cheese and fruit plates, veggies and dip, and deli sandwiches. Although on the days I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll throw something tasty on the grill.

So it may come as no surprise that until recently, my summertime lunches were often lackluster. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good snack plate! But they can get old after a few weeks. Everything changed when I was gifted a KitchenAid immersion blender.

These little guys, which can range from $30 to $60, make a perfect single-serve smoothie every time. Lunch is no longer just the contents of my fridge on a plate — it’s the contents of my fridge on a plate with a mango smoothie on the side. On other days, it’s a wild berry concoction or a strawberry-banana one. Sometimes, protein powder is even involved.

I use my KitchenAid hand blender almost every day in the spring and summer, when I find myself wanting fruity smoothies over anything else. (It doesn’t collect dust in the winter, either — I use it to blend soups!) And long after lunchtime, once the sun has set, I’ve also been known to blend up a fruity cocktail or two.

I love that it doesn’t take up much space in my cabinet; it’s about the size of a large water bottle. Another hugely important feature? It’s super easy to clean. Washing out a big ol’ blender is one of my least favorite chores, but quickly rinsing and washing my immersion blender is a breeze. What’s not to love, I ask?

I will immerse and blend this kitchen tool until it can immerse and blend no longer. Smoothie girl summer draws near, and you can count on me to be the one to kick it off.

Buy: KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender, $49.99 (originally $59.99)