If looking to make smoothies and frozen drinks at home, it’s important to invest in a high-quality blender. In this post, I share our recommendations for the best blenders for ice crushing. I also share our tips on what to consider and what features to look for when purchasing a blender.
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Best Blender For Crushing Ice
In this post, we offer detailed reviews of each of our recommended blenders. If short on time, though, feel free to use the table below to shop. We recommend using Amazon for a few reasons.
First, they have the largest selection of quality blenders online. Second, we try to recommend products that are part of Amazon Prime, which provides purchasers with free and often super-fast delivery. (Get 30 days of Prime free here.)
Making An Investment In A Good Blender For Ice And Smoothies
When looking for a blender that can crush ice properly, it is worth it to make an investment in a quality blender. If you are only looking for the best blender for margaritas and such, to roll out a few times over the summer months, then a more affordable blender might work.
For kitchen appliances that you plan to use more regularly, I always recommend making more of an investment. We’ve bought too many cheap coffee makers and cheap blenders over the years trying to save money. They always break. One coffee maker we bought ended up spewing coffee all over the countertop. When we lived in Bali, one cheap blender spewed papaya smoothie all over the counter.
Once we moved to Spain and then Ireland, and committed to building out a proper kitchen again, this meant starting to invest in some proper kitchen appliances.
When it comes to a blender, if you plan to make smoothies and juices on a regular basis as part of an attempt to lose weight, or to just increase fiber intake, you want to look for the best blender for frozen fruit and ice.
By choosing a blender to crush ice that has a strong, quality blade and can operate at high power, you will actually save time. It will take less time to reach the right consistency than if using a cheaper option.
Reviews Of The Best Blenders For Ice Crushing
BLENDTEC BLENDER
Made in the US, Blendtec is the blender of choice for both restaurants and home cooks. The Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender features 6 pre-programmed cycles, including pulse, and 10 manually controlled speeds.
Using advanced technology and jar design, Blendtec blenders create a vortex that pulls ingredients toward the blade. This produces a more complete mix. The blender uses a patented blade that’s 80% thicker than other blades. Made of forged stainless steel, the blade features wings that provide ultra-smooth blends.
The blender is easy to clean. Simply add a little soap and water and run on the pre-programmed self-cleaning function. Beyond blending, the Blendtec blender can heat food during the blending cycle as well as make ice cream.
The blender comes with a BPA-free, four-sided, 75-ounce plastic jar (32-ounce blending capacity). An eight-year manufacturer’s warranty is included.
Pros:
- Blends, heats food, and makes ice cream
- Stainless steel blade
PROFESSIONAL NINJA BLENDER – TOTAL CRUSHING
Ninja appliances are some of the most innovative on the market. The Ninja Professional Countertop Blender is a high-performance kitchen blender that features 1100 watts of power.
With multiple speeds, including pulse, ice crush, and single-serve functions the Ninja Professional is perfect for smoothies, soups, and frozen drinks. The Ninja Professional comes equipped with a 6-blade assembly made from high-strength stainless steel.
An extra large 72 oz BPA-free plastic jar is easy to clean with soap and water as well as dishwasher safe. The Ninja Professional also comes with two 16 oz single-serve travel cups with lids for drinks on the go. A limited manufacturer’s warranty is included.
Pros:
- 72 ounces of total blending capacity plus 2 16 ounces to-go cups
- 6 blade assembly
VITAMIX ASCENT ICE CRUSHER BLENDER
Made in the USA and trusted by professional chefs around the world, Vitamix builds passion and power into their blenders. The Vitamix Ascent Series Smart Blender features variable speed control along with 17 different mixing programs including pulse mode.
The Vitamix is rather high-tech as far as blenders go. The Ascent’s motor base automatically adjusts the maximum blending times for the container size chosen. A built-in timer helps avoid over or under-blending and will turn the machine off automatically. The blender comes with laser-cut stainless steel blades. These blades are designed to deliver the same quality results each and every time.
The Ascent comes with a low-profile 64-ounce container. The container is easy to clean coming programmed with a 60-second self-clean setting. The Vitamix Ascent comes with a mobile app containing over 500 recipes. It also comes with a limited manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros:
- Laser-cut stainless steel blades
- High-tech features with wi-fi connectivity
BREVILLE BLENDER – FRESH & FURIOUS
Making high-quality kitchen appliances in Australia since 1932, Breville continues to be a leader in cookware and appliances. The Breville Fresh & Furious Blender combines the functionality of a powerful blender with the versatility of a food processor.
A built-in LCD display monitors blending time to ensure perfect blends. The Breville comes with several pre-programmed settings including ice crush, smoothie, and a handy auto clean. There’s one-touch programming too.
Heavy-duty stainless steel blades are strong enough to crush ice while also making perfect smoothies and shakes.
The blender comes with a 50 oz shatterproof, BPA-free, Tritan jug with a tight-fitting Breville Assist lid. That makes sure it is secure when blending but easy to remove. The Breville blender comes with a limited manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros:
- Quiet and efficient
- Heavy-duty blades made of surgical steel
CLEANBLEND BLENDER
The CleanBlend Commercial Blender is a powerful heavy-duty blender that packs 1800 watts of blending power. From crushing ice and frozen fruit to blending soups and smoothies, Cleanblend is up to the task. The blender features a solid, virtually unbreakable 64-ounce BPA-free plastic container.
A stainless steel enclosed assembly features eight cutting blades providing maximum performance. Because they are enclosed in the blender it’s safer. There is also a tampered wand to push food down when needed. The blender comes with variable speed control as well as a pulse function.
The easy-to-clean, plastic container is dishwasher safe. The CleanBlend Blender comes with a free recipe guide in addition to a money-back guarantee and a 5-year warranty.
Pros:
- Replaces up to 9 appliances
- 8 hardened stainless steel blades for blending
HAMILTON BEACH WAVE CRUSHER
From one of the leaders in home appliances, the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender is equipped with 700 watts of blending power.
The revolutionary and patented WAVE action blending system continuously forces the mixture down for thorough blending. Equipped with Hamilton Beach’s Ice Sabre stainless-steel blades, the Wave Crusher makes quick work of ice making it the perfect blender for frozen drinks and much more.
The Wave Crusher comes with a 40-ounce glass jar. The jar has an easy-pour spout that eliminates drips and prevents messes. The blender’s design includes a convenient dispenser valve, which can be removed and replaced by a cap for standard blending operation.
The Wave Crusher comes with 14 different blending functions including pulse. Dishwasher safe, the Wave Crusher comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros:
- 40-ounce glass jar
- Patented ice saber blades
- The best blender for frozen drinks when used on occasion, like margaritas summers
What To Look For In The Best Blender For Ice Crushing
It could be simple enough to say look for a quality blender with good blades and a lot of power. But, what does that mean? And, what other features should you look for when searching for a good ice crushing blender. There are a few things to consider when looking for blenders that crush ice well.
Blade
The blade will make the biggest difference when looking to crush ice in a blender. The blade will determine how well the ice blends and how smooth the ultimate drink or smoothie will be. Look for blenders with stainless steel blades.
Whereas many more affordable blenders have metal blades with two or four prongs, some of our recommended blenders have six or eight prongs. Some have more than one layer of prongs to the blade. All of these different shapes are meant to better break up the ice as it blends.
Power
Second, to the blade, the power or wattage is also important for crushing ice in a blender. Some people suggest that the higher wattage the better. To some extent this is true. But blenders that operate at lower wattage but with a high-quality blade can blend just as well. Look for a blender with at least 1000 watts, although around 1500 watts is better.
Blender Jar And Lid
The blender jar should be thick and durable. Look at the size of the blender capacity as well. This is important if you want to make personal smoothies or you are preparing drinks for a family or for entertaining.
Nothing is worse than making a frozen drink, juice, or smoothie in a blender, and liquid leaking out of the top. It’s important to have a lid that seals well and keeps the food in. On the other end, it should be easy to remove when it’s time.
Self Cleaning Function
This is a feature you find in more high-end ice crushing blenders. You certainly won’t see this is your typical $20 blender at Bed, Bath & Beyond.
A self-cleaning blender is one that does not need to be disassembled to wash. Instead, add a drop of mild dish soap and some warm water. Put the blender on and it cleans itself. This is a pretty handy feature if you plan to use the blender regularly.
Durability
Look for blenders that are made with stainless steel blades and plastic blender jars made of Tritan plastic. Tritan plastic is shatterproof. It’s the same type of plastic used for unbreakable wine glasses. Tempered glass also works well. Be sure that if the blender has a glass jar that it is tempered so that it won’t crack or shatter.
Which Blender Should I Buy?
When looking to make an investment into a quality blender that doesn’t break the bank, it’s important to take a few things into consideration. What is the perfect blender for one person is not the perfect one for another. It’s why it’s hard for us to say one is the absolute best. Here are some considerations:
Size Of The Blender
The blender “jar” is the container that is used for blending. It can be either glass or plastic. Each blender brand will say what the capacity is. Some of the blenders are small, more personalized sizes. These are best for making smoothies and juices for a single person. Others are larger and can be used to make meals for an entire family.
Also, remember the larger the blender the more storage space that is needed. This can mean keeping the blender on the countertop or in a pantry or closet.
Glass Versus Plastic
I generally prefer glass blenders. They tend not to scratch and don’t absorb smells or foods. But, they can shatter. In the past, plastic blenders were not made very well, to be honest.
Blender brands have really upped their game. If considering plastic blender jars, look for ones that are BPA-free. They are made from higher quality material that doesn’t absorb smells as much.
Power And Watts
At its most basic, the higher the number of watts the more powerful the blender is. But, when it comes to what is the best blender to crush ice, the higher the power doesn’t always mean the best value. If a blender has a higher wattage but the blade is not made of good quality material, then it still won’t be able to crush ice well.
Blender Speeds
A good blender should have a variety of speed settings, including a pulse setting. Don’t think, though, that just because a blender has two dozen speed settings it is better quality. Think about how you plan to use the blender and what kind of settings you need.
Unique Features
Good quality blenders also sometimes have really unique features. This can include pre-programmed settings or even the ability to heat the food inside the blender. I couldn’t even imagine this when I was younger. It seems almost futuristic.
Some blenders have loads of buttons and controls, including timers or buttons for specific foods or beverages. Some of these unique blender features are fun, but might not be necessary for your uses.
Best Blender Brands
There are a lot of great blender brands as well. Some of our recommended blenders are from well-known kitchen appliance manufacturers. This includes Oster and KitchenAid.
Others are newcomers to the market. We like the Instant brand of products as well as Ninja. They are newer but are offering a lot of bells and whistles at a good price.
FAQs – Blenders For Crushing Ice
There are a number of high-quality blenders for crushing ice on the market. It should come as no surprise that many are made by leading kitchen appliances companies such as Ninja, Vitamix, and Blendtec. You can’t go wrong with any of these brands.
Yes, but if you are going to be crushing ice in a blender often, it’s best to purchase a blender designed to crush ice. You can crush ice in an ordinary blender, but it’s recommended to put some sort of liquid such as water in the blender along with the ice. Ordinary blenders are subject to damage from ice more easily.
You can use a 1000-watt blender to crush ice. These types of blenders have the horsepower and sturdiness to withstand the force associated with crushing ice.
As the focus of this post indicates, not all blenders are ideally suited for blending ice. While strong, the blades in normal blenders can easily dull, weaken, or even break if they are routinely used to break ice. Therefore, if you are going to be making a lot of smoothies or frozen cocktails, it’s best to invest in an ice-breaking blender.
How We Review And Rate Products ⭐️
We only recommend brands we trust. We try to recommend kitchen products we’ve owned or used personally and we offer alternatives. We choose these alternative products based on recommendations from other food bloggers and chefs, sommeliers, and winemakers.
We conduct thorough research on the company, how the products are made, and whether they are a good value for home chefs. This allows us to offer competitive analysis, provide pros and cons of various products, and ensure you are purchasing quality products for your home.
- Some of the kitchen brands we love the most include 360 Cookware, UnoCasa, Calphalon, Ninja, and Instant Pot.
- For wine and drink products, we love Wine Enthusiast, VinGarde, and Danby.
- We often recommend purchasing products from Amazon because of the variety of kitchen and homeware brands they carry.
- Sometimes, we recommend buying a product directly from the manufacturer when we know it’s a brand we trust.
Learn more here.