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Best blender for crushing ice smoothies


The 5 Best Blenders For Crushing Ice - Winter 2022: Reviews

  1. Table of Contents
  2. Intro
  3. Best Blender
    1. Best Upper Mid-Range
      1. Best Mid-Range
        1. Best Budget
          1. Best Personal
            1. Recent Updates
            2. All Reviews
            3. Discussions

            Updated Nov 17, 2022 at 09:10 am

            By Theresa Ketterling

            If you like to make frozen drinks and slushies on a hot day, you'll want a blender that can crush ice. However, not all models can blend ice cubes, as ice can sometimes get stuck on the blades, preventing the cubes from breaking down. For a pleasant and tasty drink, most users want a consistent, snow-like blend without any uneven chunks or clumps left behind in the mix.

            We've tested over 80 blenders, and below are our recommendations for the best blenders for ice crushing you can buy. See our picks for the best blenders for frozen drinks, the best blenders, the best Ninja blenders, and the best blenders for smoothies.


            1. Best Blender For Crushing Ice

              Vitamix 7500

              SEARCH

              Amazon.de

              Unavailable

              Missing Store

              Ice Crushing

              9.7

              Blender Type

              Full Size Blender

              Power

              1,640 W

              Hot Blending

              Yes

              See all our test results

              The Vitamix 7500 is the best blender for ice crushing we've tested. While there are lots of cheaper options that can pulverize ice cubes, this blender stands out for its fantastic build quality. It also comes with a seven-year U.S. warranty, depending on where you buy it, which is great if you tend to make a few batches of ice or frozen drinks in a row or use your blender every day. Using its 64-ounce jar, it makes snow-like crushed ice perfect for slushies, snow cones, or drinks. There's a two-part lid and tamper included, so you can add ingredients or stir your recipe mid-blend.

              It makes a very smooth puree with fibrous ingredients, meaning it can make silky frozen drinks with frozen fruit or leafy greens. However, it makes a less smooth blend when you're working with smaller batches of ingredients, like for a single-serve smoothie. You might prefer the Vitamix 5200 for that reason. It makes a better personal-sized smoothie but produces less snow-like ice than the 7500.

              Βoth the 5200 and the 7500 lack automatic blending programs, so you need to stop the machine manually when your recipe is done. Many 'Ascent' series Vitamix blenders are equally fantastic ice crushers and offer more features, including blending programs. Models like the Vitamix A3500 are also dishwasher-safe. However, they cost more, and you don't necessarily need all the extra features for the best performance.

              See our review

            2. Best Upper Mid-Range Blender For Ice Crushing

              Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender

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              Amazon.de

              Unavailable

              Missing Store

              Ice Crushing

              9.6

              Blender Type

              Full Size Blender

              Power

              1,400 W

              Hot Blending

              Yes

              See all our test results

              The Ninja Foodi Cold & Ηot Βlender is the best upper mid-range blender for ice crushing. Like most of Ninja's full-size blenders, it's very well-suited for ice-crushing, easily pulverizing ice cubes into snow-like ice in about 30 seconds. It lacks Vitamix's long warranty and isn't as well-built, but it has excellent build quality. The main jar is made of glass, which you may find is less likely to get scratched than plastic, and its 64-ounce capacity means it can handle big batches of ice. Unlike most Ninja blenders, it comes with a two-part lid for the jar and a tamper, so you can pour in ingredients or stir your recipe while the machine is running.

              There are less expensive options that perform similarly for crushing ice, so this one is worth considering if you prioritize build quality and versatility. Like the Vitamix 7500, it can process hot ingredients and even cook ingredients, thanks to the heating element built into the jar. It can puree fibrous ingredients like kale into a smooth blend, although it makes less silky puree with fibrous ingredients than the Vitamix blender. The jar can't be immersed in water and isn't the easiest to clean by hand, but if you're just working with ice and liquid, its 'Self-Clean' program will do most of the work for you.

              See our review

            3. Best Mid-Range Blender For Ice Crushing

              Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ

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              Amazon.de

              Unavailable

              Missing Store

              Ice Crushing

              9.7

              Blender Type

              Full Size Blender

              Power

              1,400 W

              Hot Blending

              No

              See all our test results

              The best mid-range blender for crushing ice is the Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ. This blender comes with a large, 72-ounce main pitcher and is ideal for making a big batch of crushed ice for cocktails or frozen drinks at a summer party. With its 'Ice Crush' blending program, it can crush a dozen ice cubes in about 30 seconds. It's not as well-built as the more expensive options on this list, and its motor base and gears are made of plastic, but it still feels very sturdy and well-made. The lid for the main jar isn't a two-part lid that allows you to add ingredients mid-blend but has a spout so you can easily pour your recipe into glasses.

              Like most full-size Ninja blenders aside from the Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender, its blade assembly is a column of very sharp blades. Most Ninja models have identical blade designs, and most are outstanding ice crushers. However, this blade design makes the blender hard to clean by hand because you can cut yourself so easily on the blades. This model also struggles to fully process fibrous ingredients in its main jar, so smoothies with leafy greens or frozen fruits won't be as silky. The Ninja Mega Kitchen System BL770 is a similarly-designed blender that makes better smoothies. It's equally good for ice crushing but costs more, so the extra price might not be worth it if you don't make a lot of smoothies.

              See our review

            4. Best Budget Blender For Ice Crushing

              Ninja Professional Blender 1000

              SEE PRICE

              Amazon.de

              Unavailable

              Missing Store

              Ice Crushing

              9.7

              Blender Type

              Full Size Blender

              Power

              1,000 W

              Hot Blending

              No

              See all our test results

              If you don't plan to use your blender for much besides ice-crushing, a straightforward, budget-friendly blender might be just what you need. This blender is just as good for crushing ice as our previous pick but comes with fewer features and a less sturdy build in exchange for a cheaper price tag. It doesn't have automatic blending programs but otherwise has a similar design, with a 72-ounce main pitcher and a lid with a pouring spout. It can make snow-like crushed ice in about 30 seconds using its manual 'Pulse' mode.

              However, it's not ideal for processing fibrous ingredients, especially in large batches, so it's not that well-suited for smoothies or frozen drinks with ingredients like leafy greens. That said, you may not mind that if you just want to crush ice for cocktails or make drinks like slushies and blended margaritas. Like the Ninja Professional Plus Βlender with Auto-iQ, its extra sharp blades can make it tricky to clean by hand, but it won't be hard to clean if you're working with liquid ingredients. The jar, lid, and blades are all dishwasher-safe as well.

              See our review

            5. Best Personal Blender For Ice Crushing

              Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO

              SEE PRICE

              Amazon. de

              Unavailable

              Missing Store

              Ice Crushing

              7.3

              Blender Type

              Personal Blender

              Power

              1,100 W

              Hot Blending

              No

              See all our test results

              You may not want a bulky full-size blender to make blended cocktails for only one or two people. The Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO is a personal blender that easily crushes small batches of ice. Its short, compact motor base also makes it easier to store out of the way in a cupboard when you're not using it. It comes with a pair of 24-ounce jars that you can use to make snow-like crushed ice. Unlike most of the blenders on this list, it also does a fantastic job of processing fibrous ingredients, so you can use it to make silky single-serve drinks with ingredients like kale. The jars each come with a resealable lid so you can bring your drink on the go.

              It's very loud when running, but has a few automatic blending programs, so you don't need to stand next to it the whole time it's running. It's versatile for a personal blender, thanks to its 14-ounce 'Smoothie Βowl Maker' that works very well for thick mixtures like nut butter. It's well-built, like the Ninja Professional Βlender 1000, but doesn't feel as sturdy as the more expensive blenders on this list. Like most personal blenders, it can't hot blend and has only one speed setting, which limits its versatility. That said, it's easy to clean by hand, and all the jars, lids, and blade assemblies are dishwasher-safe.

              See our review

            Recent Updates

            1. Nov 17, 2022: Updated text to provide more information about the recommended products.

            2. Sep 20, 2022: Reorganized picks due to Test Bench 1.0 updates. Added the Vitamix 7500, the Ninja Foodi Cold & Ηot Βlender, and the Ninja Professional Plus Βlender with Auto-iQ.

            3. Jul 22, 2022: Added the Ninja Blender Duo with Auto-iQ BL642 as the 'Best Mid-Range Blender For Ice Crushing' and moved the Ninja Mega Kitchen System BL770 to Notable Mentions.

            4. Jun 30, 2022: Replaced the Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ with the Ninja Professional Βlender 1000. Added the Vitamix A3500 as the 'Βest Ice Crushing Βlender For Professional Use'.

            5. Apr 22, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and the products are in stock.

            All Reviews

            Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best blenders for crushing ice for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (a cheaper blender wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no blenders that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

            If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for blenders for ice-crushing. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no blender is perfect, most blenders are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you look for them.

            Discussions

            7 Best Blenders For Frozen Drinks & Crushing Ice

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            • Top Blenders
            • What To Look For?
            • Verdict
            • FAQs

            Are you looking for the best blender for frozen drinks or perhaps crushing ice? Let’s say you want a dependable machine for making slushies, cocktails, and other icy drinks, or on the healthier end, a blender that can take on frozen fruits?

            Unfortunately, not all blending machines are created equal; some aren’t built for crushing ice, especially those low-quality models. However, there are cheap blenders that will do just fine, and that is what this guide is all about.

            We’ve already reviewed over a hundred blending machines, and we know which ones can effortlessly turn ice cubes into snow.

            So, without further delay, here are the best blenders for crushing ice and frozen drinks of 2022.

            That’s the quick overview of this guide. Feel free to click the links above to read the in-depth review of each product. Otherwise, let’s talk more about your choices below.

            Top 7 Best Blenders for Frozen Drinks & Crushing Ice

            By default, I would recommend a Vitamix blender right away. That might be a little biased, but they are really on top of the game in terms of blend quality. However, I also understand that majority of consumers can’t afford the brand’s hefty price tag.

            Here are some fantastic blenders that aren’t Vitamix, well, except for one.

            #1 KitchenAid K400 – Best Blender for Frozen Drinks

            Kitchenaid is one of the biggest kitchen appliance manufacturers, and the K400 model is their flagship blender. It’s not that cheap, but it’s more than half the price of a competing Vitamix product.

            KitchenAid’s design language is something that I admire. I like the blend of classic and retro aesthetics. Not only it’s a head-turner, but it’s also a powerful blending machine with a 1. 5 HP motor.

            It’s not a high-powered blender by any means. However, it’s one of the best blenders for crushing ice and frozen drinks. With 56 oz (1.65 L) in capacity, you sure have plenty of room to keep your guests hydrated.

            It also has four walkaway functions—self-clean, crushed ice, smoothie, and of course frozen/icy drink.

            In any case, the best part about it is the color finishes, which is as KitchenAid as it can get. You can have it in matte black, contour silver, passion red, pistachio, blue velvet, or white.

            If you want an even cheaper option, you might want to check its more affordable sibling, which is ironically called an ice-crushing blender—the KitchenAid K150.

            You can read the full review of KitchenAid K400 here.

            #2 Ninja BN701 – Best Blender for Crushing Ice

            or get it at Ninja Kitchen →

            What’s unique about the brand is the three levels of the blade assembly, or as they call it, the “Total Crushin Blades.” This blade design is highly efficient at crushing ice without the need for a tamper.

            Here’s why the Ninja Professional Plus is the best blender for crushing ice:

            If you only need a blender that can crush ice, any Ninja blender with a triple stacked blade system would be a dependable frozen margarita or daiquiri maker.

            The Ninja Professional Plus model also has automatic functions denoted by the “Auto-IQ” on its name. It has a button for making a smoothie, crushing ice, and frozen desserts.

            The best part, however, is the Ninja blender lineup is rock bottom cheap.

            If you want a total package, its sibling might interest you. The Ninja Kitchen System includes a full range of useful accessories that will take your blending game to the next level.

            You can read the full review of Ninja Professional Plus here.

            #3 Blendtec Stealth 885 – Best for Commercial Use

            Even though the Blendtec Stealth 885 has a powerful 1800-watt motor, it’s still a quiet blender thanks to its sound enclosure. In any case, having this powerhouse of a machine will make things swift and easy.

            For instance, this blender will blend up a frozen margarita for only 10-12 seconds.

            On top of that:

            It immediately features 24 blending cycles. If your restaurant is busy, you’ll benefit from this function the most. Essentially, you only need to add the ingredients and press the automatic program for the desired recipe. By having these presets, you can efficiently multitask.

            And just like everything else, the cleanup is also quick and easy with the help of their rapid rinse accessory (sold separately).

            If you want other options, check out this guide for the best commercial blenders.

            You can read the full review of Blendtec Stealth 885 here.

            #4 Nutribullet Pro – Best Blender for Smoothies & Ice

            The Nutribullet Pro 1000 happens to be the best portable blender in the market. It has a robust 1000-watt motor that can take on smoothies and ice with no problem. Better yet, this blender is the most straightforward to use with just a simple push and twist, no buttons.

            Here’s why it’s the best blender for smoothies and ice:

            Despite its size, you’ll be amazed at how smooth the blend is. The powerful 1000-watt motor does its job perfectly well. As long as you follow the instructions and add enough liquid, your drink will be silky smooth.

            If you’re thinking of using it as a portable ice crusher, well, sad to say, most personal blenders aren’t built for that purpose. Without any added liquid, it will surely struggle.

            Your best bet at a portable blender for ice are full-sized countertop blending machines that are not too big, like the Vitamix One or Vitamix E310.

            Going back to the Nutribullet Pro, it includes 2 cups—32 ounces (946 ml) and 24 ounces (709 ml). By having so, you can choose whether to make two servings or just for yourself.

            You can read the full review of Nutribullet Pro 1000 here.

            #5 Vitamix A2500 – Best Blender for Frozen Fruits

            With or without added liquid, you can process frozen fruits with any of the Ascent Series Blenders. I’ve been using the A3300 model on a daily basis, and it never fails to deliver.

            As I said a while ago, Vitamix blenders are highly efficient blending machines. Any 2.2 HP blender on their product lineup will do justice to your frozen fruits.

            In this guide, however, we decided to showcase the cheaper Ascent blender—the Vitamix A2500.

            Despite its retro look, it’s a smart blender. It’s compatible with all the Ascent accessories like the Vitamix Food Processor Attachment, upgraded containers, blending bowl, and the new Vitamix Blending Cup.

            On top of that, you can also connect it to your smartphone to unlock hundreds of recipes and dozens of automatic blend settings.

            You can read the full review of Vitamix A2500 here.

            #6 Blendtec Total Classic – Best Frozen Margarita Maker

            The Blendtec Total is a “totally” awesome blender. Making icy drinks is like a walk in the park with this blending machine. You see, it has a high-powered 1560-watt motor which is robust enough to heat soup with just friction.

            In other words, it’s not just for frozen drinks. Instead, it covers a wide range of applications, from easy smoothies to hard-to-blend thick smoothie bowls. It can even grind fine flour for baking.

            Here’s more:

            This blender features 6 pre-programmed settings to take the guesswork out of the equation. In other words, its usability—including the cleanup—is so simple.

            You can read the full review of Blendtec Total Classic Blender here.

            #7 Ninja Foodi Hot and Cold Blender

            The Ninja Foodi HB152 is one of the most unique blenders in the market. Out of a hundred (and counting) that I’ve reviewed, there are only 7 of their kind—cooking blenders.

            For a roundup list for frozen drinks, it sounds counterintuitive, but hear me out:

            Just like regular blenders, it can make frozen drinks—margarita, daiquiri, slushie, frozen smoothie, etc.—no issue. So, what makes this an excellent blender for icy drinks is its versatility.

            There are also hot cocktails, right? Well, there are no other blenders that can better infuse hot drinks than this one. In other words, the Ninja Foodi Blender is the best of both worlds—frozen drinks and hot drinks.

            You can read the full review of Ninja Foodi Blender here.

            What makes the best blender for frozen drinks?

            Luckily, this isn’t that complicated. The majority of blenders can make frozen drinks, so there are only a few considerations for weeding out the bad apples.

            Budget and Power

            Here’s the deal:

            Powerful blenders have various excellent uses. However, for frozen drinks, you don’t need a crazy amount of wattage or (Horse Power) HP rating. Even the magic bullet mini can make cocktails, albeit with limitations.

            This is why you can never go wrong even with the cheapest blender on this list.

            However, when it comes to the consistency of crushed ice (or frozen fruit) in your drink, it’s a different story. High-powered blenders will yield fine, smoother blends, whereas weaker blenders will leave rice grain-sized constituents.

            Size and Capacity

            When it comes to the size and capacity of the blender, it will largely depend on you. 

            Will it be just for yourself and your partner? If that’s the case, a personal blender like the Nutribullet Pro will be more than enough.

            On a slightly different note:

            When you’re usually the host or hostess of parties, a countertop blender is a more ideal choice. In the top 7, the product with the most significant capacity is the Blendtec Total Blender.

            Over to You

            Now that we’ve talked about all the things that you need to know when picking a blender that would work well for frozen fruits, crushing ice, or simply for making smoothies, it’s your turn.

            That being said, let me leave you with the best blender for frozen drinks—KitchenAid K400, or the best blender for crushing ice—Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ.

            FAQs

            What is the best blender for making frozen drinks?

            The best blender for frozen drinks in 2021 is KitchenAid K400. It has a powerful and efficient motor that can crush ice effortlessly. So, when it comes to frozen margaritas, slushies, daiquiri, or any frosty cocktails (or smoothies), the KitchenAid K400 will deliver well. Better yet? It has an icy drink preset, so multitasking is easy.

            For commercial use, it has to be the Blendtec Stealth 885. Think about it, for the front of the house, you want a quiet blender. For context, you can have a normal conversation even when the Blendtec Stealth 885 is in operation.

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