The best hand blenders are a fantastic alternative to full-size jug blenders and have sharp blades that are capable of blitzing soups and shakes into smooth tasty treats. Not only are they smaller and easier to store than many of the best blenders, but they can be used in any container, from huge pans of soup to small jugs of batter or baby food.

While you can buy a hand blender without any accessories, it’s common for them to come with attachments like whisks and mini choppers which makes them really versatile little kitchen gadgets. Mini chopper attachments are useful for chopping herbs and vegetables or making salsas and dips. But be sure to check what accessories you really need as well as what you already have, there’s no point doubling up, it’s a waste of money and the attachments will just gather dust in your valuable kitchen storage space.

We like the stick blenders that have added safety features built-in, there’s a reduced risk of switching the blender on accidentally, which is a great feature if you’ve got children in the house. Most come with a tall blending jug that’s the perfect size and shape for optimal results, but as we said, you can use them in almost any container.

What is the best hand blender?

We tested some of the best hand blenders on the market and the Braun MultiQuick 9 came out top, wowing us with its array of accessories and powerful blending capabilities. It replaces several other kitchen gadgets so is the perfect space-saving option. But if you don’t want a stick blender with a multitude of accessories, The KitchenAid Cordless hand blender is a great choice. It’s a sturdy stick blender that gives you the freedom to blend without being tethered to a power socket. For must-have soup accessories, take a look at the best soup makers.

1. Braun MQ9007 MultiQuick 9 Immersion Hand Blender

Best multipurpose hand blender

Power: 1200W
Speeds: 2 speeds and pulse
Accessories: 2 litre food processor bowl with metal blade, kneading blade and six grating, slicing and julienne discs, 500ml mini chopper bowl with additional ice crush blade, puree accessory, whisk accessory, beaker with lid.

Reasons to buy:
· Doubles as a food processor and mini chopper
· Lock feature for safety
· Comfortable grip
· Most parts are dishwasher safe

Reasons to avoid:
· Expensive
· Lots to store

The Braun MultiQuick 9 is far more than a simple stick blender, it offers all the functionality of a full-size food processor as well as a mini chopper. Add to this the puree and whisk accessories and there’s really no end to the number of foods you can chop, whip, blend, slice and grate.

Despite being the heaviest of all the stick blenders on this list, it didn’t feel it thanks to the comfortable rubberised grip and the fact that there wasn’t much suction towards the base of the pan. It also has a very effective safety feature which makes it trickier for children to switch on.

There might only be two speed settings, but the innovative Smartspeed technology means the more you squeeze the power button, the faster it blends. Yes, it comes with lots of different accessories to store, but if you’re looking to replace the best food processor, mini chopper, and a stick blender, this represents a space-saving solution that’s great value for money.

Ideal Home rated 5 out of 5 stars

2. KitchenAid Cordless Hand Blender

Best cordless hand blender

Speeds: One speed
Accessories: Pan guard, 700ml beaker with lid
Colours: Red grey or cream

Reasons to buy:
· Cord free blending
· Safety feature
· Easy to store

Reasons to avoid:
· Expensive
· Only one speed
· 2-hour charge

The KitchenAid Cordless Hand Blender is very tall and feels a little heavy in use, but the convenient cordless design far outweighs these minor grumbles. Gone are the days of moving your hot pan of soup closer to a socket so you can blitz it to a lump-free liquid. This stick blender gives you the freedom to blend anywhere, perfect if your kitchen’s lacking power sockets. But you do have to remember to charge it.

Two buttons have to be pressed simultaneously to operate the stick blender, a useful safety feature, but there’s only one blending speed. And it comes with a plastic pan guard that clips onto the blade shaft so you can blend in delicate non-stick pans without the worry of ruining the coating. With just a blending beaker included in the box, there’s not too much to store but this means it’s a pricey choice given that it can’t perform any other functions.

Ideal Home rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

3. Dualit 700W Hand Blender

Best premium hand blender

Power: 700W
Speeds: Adjustable speed dial and turbo
Accessories: 1 litre blending jug, whisk, 600ml mini chopper bowl

Reasons to buy:
· Most accessories are dishwasher safe
· Plastic foot avoids scratching pans
· Mini chopper has a feed tube to add ingredients during blending
· Good range of accessories

Reasons to avoid:
· Chunky handle
· No safety feature

All of the accessories for the Dualit 700W Hand Blender feel well made and sturdy. With a mini chopper, whisk and blending jug it offers plenty of versatility and will be a useful addition to your kitchen. Dualit describe the handle as having an ergonomic grip, but we found it chunky and not as well balanced as some others, which also made it feel heavy at times. We think it’s best suited to people with larger hands.

We enjoyed the range of adjustable speeds when blending soup, but felt some vibration up through the handle. Additionally, there was some suction towards the base of the pan but thankfully the plastic foot of the blender means it won’t scratch your pans.

Despite the premium look and feel, this Dualit blender has a lower price tag than most on this list making it a great choice as long as you can forgive some of the issues with the handle, which shouldn’t be too difficult given that it’s only used in short bursts.

Ideal Home rated 4 out of 5 stars

4. Smeg 50’s Retro Hand Blender

Best retro hand blender

Power: 500W
Speeds: 5 speeds and pulse
Accessories: Whisk, masher, 500ml mini chopper, 1.4 litre jug with lid
Colours: black, cream, red, pastel blue

Reasons to buy:
· Plenty of accessories
· Choice of colours to coordinate with kitchen

Reasons to avoid:
· Expensive
· Button is uncomfortable to hold in

In keeping with other Smeg appliances, the Smeg 50’s Retro Hand Blender has a familiar retro style and there are four colours to choose from. It comes with a good range of accessories, including a mini chopper, whisk, masher and jug, but in comparison to others, it’s still an expensive option.

The blending speed is adjusted using a dial on top and it feels powerful, but can vibrate through the handle on the higher speed settings. There was some suction towards the base of the pan which made it feel heavy and we also found the button uncomfortable to keep pressing.

Having said this, if you love the retro style and don’t mind paying a bit extra for it, you’ll get a good stick blender that’ll pulverise foods into smooth liquids.

Ideal Home rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

5. Breville Flow Hand Blender

Best budget hand blender

Power: 500W
Speeds: 2 speeds
Accessories: 500ml beaker with lid

Reasons to buy:
· Inexpensive
· Lightweight

Reasons to avoid:
· Low power
· No safety feature

With a very wallet-friendly price tag the Breville Flow Hand Blender is our budget choice. It’s a no-frills design that doesn’t come with any accessories other than a beaker. When blending soup, the normal mode didn’t feel very powerful, it was much better in turbo, although it took longer than the others to achieve a smooth consistency.

We noticed some vibration up through the handle, but thankfully there was very little suction towards the base of the pan. A big selling point of this particular stick blender is that it’s significantly lighter than all of the others on this list, making it a great choice for anyone with hand or wrist issues looking for a lighter model.

If you want a stick blender for occasional use or for simple tasks like creating smooth milkshakes and soups, this budget model will get the job done.

Ideal Home rated 3 out of 5 stars

How we tested the best hand blenders

We made a huge batch of chunky carrot and butternut squash soup and portioned it out into smaller saucepans for blending. This made sure we could compare the stick blenders like-for-like. We left the butternut squash and carrot pieces really chunky to ensure it was a particularly tricky task to puree the ingredients into a smooth soup. During blending we assessed handle comfort including the amount of suction and vibration as well as any other notable features.

The post Best hand blender 2022: for blending smooth soups, shakes and sauces appeared first on Ideal Home.

This guide aims to answer the question of how much do solar panels cost. And, crucially, if that is worth it for you. Does the outlay for all the new kit mean you’re going to be making savings in the longer run? And when will you get your money back?

While everyone’s circumstances are different, this guide aims to give clear examples that show how your specific situation could benefit – or not – from investing in solar panels for your home.

To be clear, solar is a more environmentally friendly choice. And in the future, with electric cars putting more strain on the grid, their value will likely continue to rise. But they will cost you up front, so is this an investment worth making? Or simply too much hassle for not enough return?

Image credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

How much do solar panels cost to buy and install?

If you’re coming to this guide now, having considered solar panels before, know that they’re currently priced lower than they have been in the past. In fact since they took off at scale back in 2010 the price has dropped by a massive 70 per cent. We’re referring to the upfront cost of the panels and their installation.

There were previously government grants which meant companies offered solar panels for free. This has since largely ended with just a few remaining. The idea was that they installed and supplied your panels and you got your electricity bills paid for. They took the profits from any excess electricity sold back to the grid – usually with a 20-year contract.

The difference now, with government incentives like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), is that you can cover the cost up front. That means you stand to keep any profits from selling your energy produced back to the grid. This is now more possible than ever since, as mentioned, the prices of panels are at a low. And you could stand to make money in the future.

• What would have cost you £15,000 back in 2010 will now set you back just £6,000. A big difference that may put solar panel ownership within reach of many that could not afford it before.
• Take into account that on average a £5,940 setup will save you £339 per year. But let’s get more specific.

How much do the panels cost?

The panels themselves can be bought directly. That means you have the option to install yourself, although this isn’t recommended. You could also get a professional to carry out the works using the panels you’ve bought.

To take a premium panel, let’s look at the LG NeON R. This panel has an impressive 25 year warranty, generates nearly 4% more electricity than the competition outputting up to 440W thanks to a 20% efficiency. The other factor to check is what that efficiency is after the 25 year guarantee, above 85% being what you’d want at least. In the case of the LG that is an impressive 90%.

• The average UK household of three needs to produce 3,000kWh per year. That means the need for about 10 panels which requires about 20 square metres of roof space.
• The LG model costs £318 per panel, meaning 10 panels will cost £3,180 plus installation.

How much does solar panel installation cost?

Most companies that install solar panels don’t advertise their prices in a breakdown. You simply get a finalised price that includes the panels and installation. This is why it’s important to check which panels they are going to supply so you know you’re getting what you want. Ideally you need a 25 year warranty and at least 20% power efficiency.

Based on the above LG solar panels, priced for 10, the average quote for these or similar installed is £5,520. That means you’re looking at an installation charge of £2,340. But there will be other components, wiring and installation materials in that price so the labour cost is actually going to be under the £2,000 mark.

Three case studies of solar panel system costs

• Starting small, if you want a minimal install of a 1kW system, that needs around eight square metres of roof space, this will cost around £1,840. That amount of power is super minimal though and is likely only to cover bills for a person living alone.
• Jump up to a couple, with a 2kW system and they’re going to need around 12 square metres of roof space and a system that will cost about £3,680. Again this is likely to cover electricity bills but not produce too much more for the SEG payments.
• Go for a larger three bed family home and it’s going to be close to the 4kW system you’ll want if you plan to cover bills and make money back from the SEG. This will need a 20 square metre roof space and should cost around £6,000.

The location you have these installed likely won’t change the price too much but based on the amount of sun you get, it can affect how much you stand to save in bills and make in selling back electricity to the grid. This is so varied it’s best to go for a local free quote to find out the potential in the area you are.

Image credit: Getty Images/Westend61

How much will I get paid for the electricity I generate with solar panels?

The (Smart Export Guarantee) SEG tariff, which is government subsidised, means you can make a decent amount of money from selling your energy back to the grid. Factor in the money you’re saving on your electricity bills and this can add up to an amount which means paying off the cost of panel installation quickly.

The price a supplier pays for your power varies across companies. Most will require you to have a battery system installed, so that could mean factoring in a greater cost up front. The best option, at time of publishing, is Social Energy which offers 20p per kilowatt hour (capped at 1,000kWh). Then it’s Tesla at 12p/kWh and this goes all the way down to 1.5p from EDF Energy, but lots of companies offer around the 5p mark.

According to The Energy Saving Trust, the average household could make between £65 and £125 per year based on a low rate of just 3.99p per kWh.

Another factor to consider is the value you can add to your property. Josh Jackman from The Eco Experts told Ideal Home: “Solar panels will typically make selling your home easier, not harder. The latest research shows that homes with solar panels typically sell for 4.1% more than those without – which currently means you pocket an extra £11,000.”

What can affect how much I get paid for my solar energy?

The main factor that affects what you’re paid is how much energy you produce. Secondary to that is what you get paid for it. But of course how much energy you produce to sell isn’t the same as the energy produced by your solar panels. You have to factor in how much you use too.

What you use is important as it can determine what you have left to sell back. So by using most of your power during the day, when there is solar, you stand to make more than at night – depending on if you have battery storage. As otherwise that power is lost and you’ll be charged for what you need from the grid during those dark hours when you’re not generating power.

As mentioned above the company that you sell to is also important as the rates of payment vary wildly from as low as 1.5p/kWh to 20p/kWh.

Of course the initial outlay affects all this too. Spend more and get the maximum number of solar panels and you’re going to produce a lot more power than you need, meaning you have more to sell. But with the average charge for electricity greater than the amount paid to buy it back, you’re still looking at a while to pay back the initial solar panel cost.

How long does it take to break even on the cost of my solar panels?

It can take years to break even on the cost of your solar panels and their installation cost. If we take a typical 3.5kWh system, which will cost you about £4,800 to get fully installed and ready to go, it can take between nine and 21 years to pay it back.

This depends on a number of factors including where you live, how much electricity produced and when you’re using it. Then, of course, there is the amount you’re getting paid for the energy you sell back under the SEG.

• If you live in London you can save up to £440 on electricity bills and export as much as £125 on the SEG. At the cost of a £4,800 system you would have it repaid in just under nine years.
• Go further north to Stirling and that can be different. There you can save up to £412 on bills and earn up to £95 on the SEG. Based on the same solar panel installation cost this can be paid back in 10 years.

Both these examples use favourable examples with the biggest bill savings and the most SEG payments.

Can I get help with the cost of solar panels?

The government once offered various schemes which allowed you to get solar panels either part funded or totally paid for. Since the prices of panels have dropped so much the newest scheme, SEG, gives money back for selling electricity but won’t cover the up front costs of solar panels.

However, until March 2022 there is still a chance to use the Green Home Grant. This offers up to two-thirds of the cost (capped at £5,000) of installing your solar panels on your home. For lowest income households that amount can be as high as £10,000 and in some cases it will cover the entire cost. But with this being phased out it’s not something to aim at if you’re reading this now.

The only other option is to take out a private loan to pay for the upfront costs. Since the solar panels will save you money on electricity bills, and can make you money through the SEG offering, you can pay off that loan over the years. But do keep in mind this is a longer term money-making solution so any loan with a rate of interest can mean it will take you even longer to cover your costs.

Another option is to install yourself to save money on the upfront cost. But Josh Jackman of The Eco Experts doesn’t recommend this. ‘You’ll end up paying around £3,000 more on the basic material if you do it yourself, according to our calculations,’ he says. ‘And you won’t get any Smart Export Guarantee payments, assuming you’re not personally a Microgeneration Certification Scheme-accredited installer.’

Image credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

3 reasons why solar panels are worth it

1. You become an eco-warrior

You are helping the environment by producing electricity from sustainable sources, which means you’re helping long-term, globally.

2. You don’t pay bills

You won’t have to pay a penny on your electric bills anymore, so immediately factor that into prices. Given energy price hikes, this could become even more critical in the weeks and months to come.

3. You make money

In the short term with the SEG you can start making money with your excess electricity generated by your solar panels. But as electricity powers more and the prices rise – and with electric cars set to expand rapidly – you could make even more money in the near future.

3 reasons why solar panels might not be for you

1. You need the cash

The upfront costs are still not small and the time it takes to pay them back, even when offsetting bills and making money selling power back, is near to a decade at least.

2. You can’t stomach the maintenance

There’s no escaping the fact that you need to clean solar panels and carry out some maintenance. You may find that you have more costs added on if anything goes wrong or if you need to pay a professional to look at your setup.

3. You might not need solar

If you use very little power anyway, then the cost of the panels and installation may not be worth it for the amount you pay on your bills.

The post How much do solar panels cost and are they worth it? appeared first on Ideal Home.

Standard variable and fixed rate energy tariffs have been a hot topic recently, with many suppliers removing fixed rate tariffs from the market amid the energy crisis, and customers on standard variable tariffs being impacted by the new energy price cap. 

In the past, the solution to rising energy bills would have been to shop around and switch to a cheaper fixed rate tariff. But the world of energy looks very different now. The traditionally more expense standard variable rate tariffs are now over 50% cheaper on average than the best value fixed rate deal. 

Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, says: ‘For the vast majority of the life of the cap, it has simply limited how much energy companies could charge people on their most expensive tariff, so you could save hundreds of pounds by shifting to a better deal. However, over the past six months, as prices rocketed, the market changed dramatically, so that currently no deal is cheaper than the price cap.’

What is the difference between a fixed rate tariff and an SVT?

Image credit: Future PLC

An energy tariff is simply how companies charge customers for the gas and electricity they use. 

You can get single fuel tariffs, where you pay for your gas and electricity separately or dual fuel, where you pay together. 

The actual product that comes through your pipes and wires will be exactly the same, whichever tariff or provider you choose. 

There are two main types of energy tariff:

Fixed rate tariff

With this tariff, the cost per energy unit used is fixed for the length of the contract – typically 12 to 18 months. If the wholesale cost of energy rises or falls it won’t affect what you pay. This makes it easier to budget, but you will miss out on savings if the market prices drop. You can normally switch deals up to 49 days before the end of your contract without facing an early-exit penalty.

Fixed rate deals tended to be cheaper than the standard variable alternatives and were often used as a way to compete for new business. 

But due to spirally energy costs, there are no cheap fixed rate deals to be found at the moment.

Standard variable rate tariff (SVT)

If you don’t do anything when your fixed rate tariff comes to an end, then your provider will automatically put you on to their standard variable rate plan. It is called ‘variable’ because what you pay per unit of energy can change each month depending on the wholesale price of energy. 

Providers can only charge you as much as the current energy price cap. Unlike a fixed rate deal, you can leave a SVT at any time without facing a penalty.

How do I know which tariff I am on?

According to comparison website Comparethemarket.com, 20% of energy customers aren’t sure what tariff they are on. Over half of those on fixed rate deals don’t know when their contract comes to an end. 

If you haven’t switched energy providers in the last couple of years – or ever – then you will likely be on the standard variable rate tariff.

You can easily check by looking online at your billing information or calling your provider directly.

Which should I choose?

Image credit: Douglas Gibb

If you are on a fixed rate deal, you should continue to pay the same amount each month even when the energy cap goes up in April, unless your provider goes bust. 

If your contract is coming to an end or has ended and you are currently on the supplier’s SVT, again, it will probably be best for you to do nothing. The cheapest fix on offer right now is an average 56% more expensive than the energy price cap. 

Coles adds: ‘If you haven’t already switched to paying by direct debit, it’s worth doing so, because people who pay by cash or cheque are charged £130 extra a year.’

While there is no harm in looking around and calculating whether it will be worth moving, at the end of your fixed rate contract you will be moved on to the SVT which is protected by the price cap. The other benefit is that you won’t be locked into that deal, so you are free to move when prices do eventually fall.

The post Standard variable versus fixed rate energy tariffs: what’s the difference? appeared first on Ideal Home.

There’s no escaping it ruffles and frills are back in fashion in all their 80s glory. Whether it is a flounce on a table cover or a fill on a cushion edge they’re here to stay. It’s no small wonder then that Primarks frill bedding has stirred up a large fanbase on Instagram with its retro looks.

No longer reserved for girly 80s and 90s bedroom ideas, Primarks frill bedding is the perfect example of the modern interpretation of ruffles that are pretty, but grown-up. The simple marshmallow pink bedding is made out of 100 per cent cotton and features a rough frill all the way around the edge of the pillowcases, and down the edges of the duvet cover.

Primark frill bedding

When an image of the bedding appeared on the Primark Homes Instagram account it quickly clocked up over 8,000 likes, with shoppers swooning over the set in the comments, and keen to note its retro appearance.

‘Very retro!! Takes me back to a holiday in a B&B in Blackpool in 1980. In a good way ,’ commented one shopper.

‘My god that’s s throwback I had this in the 80s as my bedding as a child,’ wrote one fan. ‘Might have to get it again.’

‘This is so pretty ,’ commented another.

Priced at just £20 for a double set, the bedding is an affordable way to dip into the nostalgic frill resurgence. However, remember that despite the 80s references these aren’t the same ruffles as you remember seeing at your nan’s.

Image credit: Primark

The passion for all things frilly has grown out of the Cottagecore and Cluttercore trends that embrace accessories, floral patterns, and all things pretty in their abundance. However, we’re huge fans of how Primark has styled their ruffle bedding in the post, with a minimalist backdrop in a muted putty shade. Rather than an overdose of sweetness, the filled bedding is the perfect extra texture dimension to a pink bedroom idea.

We would pair the bedding with beige textured throw pillows for an earthy twist on this pretty trend. Alternatively, you can fully embrace the cottagecore aesthetic with a bright, richly coloured cushion in a Liberty print or floral pattern.

Better act quick as we predict this bedding set is going to sell out quick.

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