Best Blender for Ice
There’s one ingredient that goes well in almost any smoothie or shake, but isn’t handled well by many blenders. That ingredient is ice.
Who doesn’t like cold drinks and desserts?
While a lot of blenders are powerful enough to crush ice as part of the service, some most certainly aren’t, which is frustrating if you want an iced drink.
Whatever your budget, we have some fantastic blenders recommendations which all make light work of ice, so you can make your healthy drinks even more refreshing.
Let’s dive into the best blenders for ice available! Here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
⭐ Our Other Top Ice Blender Picks:
- Best of the Best: Ninja BL660 Countertop Blender
- Best on a Budget: Oster Reverse Crush
- Best Premium: Vitamix Series 750
Best Blender for Ice Reviews
Ninja BL660 Countertop Blender (👑 Top Pick)
The best blender for ice is undoubtedly the Ninja BL660 Countertop Blender. In our view the best blender for crushing ice had to be a countertop blender over a personal blender, due to the sheer power it can generate and the larger quantities it can handle.
As to why we picked the Ninja BL660, let’s just say it can whip up a storm in a pitcher. It’s fitted with a 1,100 watt motor, which is more than sufficient for the purpose of crushing ice constantly. That, coupled with the Total Crushing pitcher, which is designed to pulverise ice, is a winning combination.
The large 72oz pitcher has been named so for its unique design which makes crushing ice its speciality. So any doubts you had about this blender’s ability to do the business should have already been dispelled. There’s no doubting that any ice you throw in this unit quickly gets crushed, adding a cool extra element to your smoothies and shakes. The fact that it holds a large capacity is useful if you enjoy making big batches, or are feeling generous and want to dish out ice cold drinks to your friends or family.
To complete the trio of important factors for crushing ice, this blender is fitted with Total Crushing blades and features various speed settings. There are 3 different speeds on this blender, as well as a button for pulsing, and one for single serve. This gives you options, and lets you blast through ice at high speed, or pulse it if you prefer it to be slightly chunky. The single serve function will allow you to make a cool drink for one, in spite of the extra large pitcher.
You also get two extra cups with this blender, both 16oz, which should make cold smoothies on the go a possibility. When you consider everything you get with this blender that isn’t much more than $100, it provides excellent value for money.
Features:
- Countertop blender
- 1,100 watt motor
- 72oz pitcher
- Total Crushing blades
- 2 16oz cups
- Various speed settings
- Dishwasher-safe
- BPA-free
- 1-year warranty
Blendtec Total TB-621-20
The Blendtec Total countertop blender is a mid-range model that has a whole host of handy features, as well as powerful performance that makes crushing ice a joy.
Although this is definitely a countertop blender, the light weight of this Blendtec model suggests that it’s more of a personal blender. Yet it’s backed up with a staggering 1,560-watt motor that should reassure you that it’s anything but lightweight when it comes to power. This motor will spin the blades at a rate that makes anything you put in the container turn to liquid in seconds. Add to that the sturdy stainless steel blades, and there’s nothing you can’t crush in this blender.
One of the other standout features of this blender is its different pre-programmed cycles and speed settings. On the base of the blender different drinks and dishes are represented by icons on buttons, which makes the process of making them incredibly easy. You can also switch between different speed settings, and pulse the ingredients for ultimate control over the consistency. You also have a self-cleaning function which makes cleaning a non-issue.
With a huge 75oz pitcher capable of blending up to 32oz of liquid, you can easily quench the thirst of 3-4 people. This will also allow you to make large batches of iced drinks of frozen desserts that you can then store for later consumption.
To contrast the blender’s efficiency in making cold refreshments and treats, you also have the ability to heat soups and other beverages. This will save you money on kitchen appliances, and adds versatility to an already great all-round model.
Features:
- Countertop blender
- 1,560-watt motor
- Stainless steel blades
- 32oz blending capacity
- Various pre-programmed cycles
- Speed settings
- Self-cleaning function
- 8-year warranty
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher
Proving that there’s a place for personal blenders on this list, we have the very reliable budget-friendly Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher. If you had doubts that an affordable personal blender could handle ice with ease, then hopefully this model can go some way to removing them.
Let’s start with the power, since this is the first factor you might expect a personal blender to fall short on. The 700-watt motor is very capable, and can take care of ice easily enough. It is also strong enough to deal with a variety of tougher vegetables too. What makes it even better though is the wave action system. This blender has been designed to continuously suck the ingredients down towards the blades, to ensure the best end product possible. This also makes crushing ice straightforward for this model.
The advantage of opting for a personal blender over a countertop blender, aside from price, is the portability. With this model you can very quickly and easily make an iced drink in the 20oz container, and then take it with you wherever you need to go. The jar has a handy travel-friendly leak-proof lid, and makes drinking your cold homemade smoothies on the go easy.
Also worthy of note with this blender is its food processor functionality. You will not only be able to make all sorts of frozen treats and iced drinks, but nut butters, ground coffee, and sauces. This is made possible with a bowl and food processing kit that come included with the blender.
Features:
- Personal blender
- 700-watt motor
- Food processor functionality
- Wave action system
- Travel-friendly design
- 20oz cup
- Includes accessories
- 3-year warranty
Oster Reverse Crush (💸 Best on a Budget)
Oster has a strong reputation for creating budget-friendly blenders like the My Blend model, so it’s no surprise that the Reverse Crush is such a hit.
It’s rare to find such an affordable countertop blender, and one that looks so sleek. Oster knocked it out of the park when it comes to making a visually appealing model, but they also ensured this blender was very capable.
Featuring a 1000-watt motor, the low price doesn’t mean this blender is sacrificing any power or performance. This amount of power should be enough to blend ice in an instant, as well as all kinds of other ingredients. The strength of the motor is enhanced by the dual direction stainless steel blades, which have been specially designed to prevent jams. The 6-point design of the blades makes them capable of crushing ice effortlessly.
It doesn’t end there though, as this blender makes the whole process easy for the user with its Smart pre-programmed settings and various speed settings. If you want a frozen drink, all you have to do is add the ingredients and tap the corresponding button. If you prefer to do the blending yourself, then there are several speed buttons, including one for pulsing, which put the power in your hands.
The last features of this blender worthy of note are the large glass jar, and generous warranty. The jar can hold up to 6 cups’ worth of liquid, which is substantial, and makes it perfect for preparing batches of your favourite iced treats. The 10-year warranty is worth mentioning as it ensures that any problems you may have with the blender can be addressed for a long time into the future.
Features:
- Countertop blender
- 1000-watt motor
- 5 speed settings
- 6-cup glass jar
- 2 pre-programmed settings
- Dual direction blades
- 10-year warranty
Vitamix Series 750 (💎 Best Premium Blender)
Hands down the best blender for crushing ice as it were nothing is the Vitamix Series 750. The only reason this didn’t make it as the best blender overall is due to the hefty price tag, which makes it a premium option. Vitamix is known for their high-quality blenders, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they top the list for best premium blender for crushing ice.
To start, this blender features a 2.2 horsepower motor which operates up to 1400 watts. Even if you don’t know much about wattage, you can probably guess that this makes the blender suitable for blending just about anything. This opens the doors for all kinds of ice-based recipes, not just smoothies. You’ll be able to make all kinds of delicious dishes in this blender, including your favourite frozen desserts.
This power is complimented perfectly by the aircraft-grade stainless steel blades. Made to last, these blades will work their way through the toughest of ingredients without an issue. This of course makes them ideal for dealing with ice, and other frozen ingredients.
To make life easier, this blender is fitted with plenty of pre-programmed settings. These are easily switched between with the convenient dial on the base of the unit. You can adjust the speed between as many as 10 different settings, as well as selecting special pre-programmed settings if you want the blender to do all the work. There’s also a pulse switch next to the dial, which gives you even more flexibility in how you make your iced treats.
The blender is equipped with a modest 64oz pitcher, which has a handle on the side making for easy pouring with minimal spillages. The fact that it’s slightly smaller than other countertop blender pitchers is good news if you are tight for space in the kitchen. Yet it’s still large enough to hold a decent amount if you want to make batches.
Lastly, in case you were worried about how hard it will be to clean this impressive blender, we have some good news: there’s a self-cleaning option. Yes, that’s right, just add soap and water to the pitcher, and the Vitamix 750 series will take care of the rest in less than 60 seconds. This will inevitably save you a lot of time and effort.
Related: Vitamix A2300 Review
Features:
- Countertop blender
- 2.2 horsepower motor
- 1400-watt motor
- 64oz pitcher
- Speed settings dial
- Aircraft-grade blades
- Food processor functionality
- Self-cleaning function
- 7-year warranty
What To Look For When Selecting A Blender For Crushing Ice
If you were wondering what elements are required for a blender to crush ice well, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to break down the different factors that influence a blender’s ability to crush ice, as well as other things you might consider.
1. Power
As you would probably expect, power is one of the biggest determining factors of whether a blender will be able to deal with ice. If you’ve got a blender with less than 600 watts, you will struggle to blend ice with ease. Though there are some exceptions available on a budget that will tear through ice too.
Generally though, you should be looking at motors with 700 watts or more. The ideal number is hard to say, because other factors play a part in a blender’s ability to crush ice, but around 1000 watts should be the sweet spot.
The higher the wattage of the motor, the less likely your blender will stutter when you try to add ice. A powerful blender will ensure that the blades keep running, no matter how hard the ingredient you put in it is. The blenders you see people crushing phones in can do so because the high wattage permits the blades to spin fast whatever you throw in it.
2. Blades
Going hand in hand with the power of the motor is the blades of the blender. If you have a strong motor spinning weak blades, then you’ll have problems blending hard ingredients like ice consistently. Or if you have aspirations of becoming a frozen dessert chef, then ingredients like frozen fruit will cause the blender to jam or get stuck.
That’s why you need robust blades that are tough enough to slice through anything without experiencing much wear and tear. Usually the types of blades that are best suited for this purpose are crafted from stainless steel, and are sometimes labelled as aircraft-grade, which as you can imagine, is a sign that they are fit for an ice-crushing blender.
3. Speed Settings
A factor you might not have considered when it comes to crushing ice in a blender is the speed settings.
While speed settings are usually present in a blender to offer the user more control over the end result in terms of consistency, they can also help you work away at tougher ingredients. Especially if a blender has a pulse option, it will really help you to chip away at ice until it’s suitably crushed.
The ability to go faster for harder ingredients and slower for softer ones is also crucial. Some blenders will let you toggle between fast and slow, while others will have a scale of 5 or so different speed settings for your convenience. Others still will take care of the blending automatically. That means they will determine what speed is necessary to blend the ingredients you’ve added.
4. Type of Blender
The type of blender you invest in will depend in large part on your budget, but also on your preferences. There are many different types of blenders, but the main ones you should consider for crushing ice are personal and countertop blenders. If you’re on a shoestring budget you could even consider bullet blenders, which are like extremely portable personal blenders.
- Personal Blenders
Ideal for kitchens lacking countertop space, and for anyone who’s only interested in making single-serve smoothies or smaller batches. They also tend to be much more budget-friendly. The only thing to watch out for with this type of blender is that not all of them will deal with ice well. For this reason, take care to assess the wattage of the motor, the blades, and the speed settings as these are important factors.
- Countertop Blenders
Ideal for those wanting to do it all, and for making larger batches. It’s rare to find a countertop blender that won’t do a great job crushing ice, but then again, this type of blender won’t come cheap. If you have a larger budget, and are interested in making more than just smoothies, then a countertop blender is your best bet for crushing ice like it was nothing.
5. Capacity
Capacity is generally dictated by the type of blender you choose. Personal blenders understandably have less capacity, and will normally have smaller cups for single-serve. Countertop blenders on the other hand usually come with large pitchers which are ideal for making batches.
So here the question is do you want to make an iced drink for one, or a pitcher of it for many?
Accessories will also play a part with regards to capacity, as some personal blenders have larger cups you can switch out for if you want a slightly bigger portion.
Accessories will also play a part with regards to capacity, as some personal blenders have larger cups you can switch out for if you want a slightly bigger portion.
Related: Best Blender for Protein Shakes
Frequently Asked Questions About Crushing Ice & Blenders
What is the best blender for crushing ice?
The best blender for crushing ice is the Ninja BL660 countertop blender. We love the Total Crushing technology integrated into the blades and pitcher, which make it the best option for crushing ice.
It also has a very large 72oz pitcher, so you can make bigger batches, if you want to make ice drinks to store for later.
If you have a bigger budget, and you want the most powerful ice-crushing blender, then we strongly recommend the Vitamix 750 Series. There isn’t much this blender can’t do. But it’s especially effective at crushing ice due to the aircraft-grade blades and many different speed settings.
Can all blenders crush ice?
No, not all blenders have enough power to crush ice well. The trouble you might run into with some low-power blenders is that crushing ice will cause the blades to jam.
This can also be a result of the quality of materials used to make the blades. If they aren’t stainless steel or aircraft-grade, they might have difficulties blending harder ingredients like ice.
Always check the user manual of your blender before attempting to crush ice in it, since you don’t want to cause it to malfunction.
Can you put ice cubes in a blender?
You can, if the blender can handle harder ingredients like ice. Not all blenders are up to the task, and this depends largely on the quality of the blades, the power of the motor, and the speed settings available.
If you have a blender with a weaker motor (less than 500 watts), or blades not made from stainless steel, or a lack of speed settings like pulse, then it might be the case that it can’t crush ice effectively. Doing so anyway can lead to jams, and can even damage the blades of the blender.
How do you blend ice smoothly?
In order to blend ice smoothly, the main thing to keep in mind is that you should add the ice gradually, and in smaller chunks.
If you throw in a large number of ice cubes all at once, your blender will likely have a hard time grinding them down smoothly. You risk clogging in the blender too if you add too many ice cubes at once. You should blend the ice until it is fully taken care of before you add more too.
Aside from this, there are a few other ways to make the experience as smooth as possible. You could try blending frozen fruits for example instead of ice. This way it will be easier for your blender to deal with the smaller pieces, and you also get a nice extra hit of fruit in your iced drink. Another option is to make your own fruit or vegetable ice cubes. These will add extra flavour and can still cool down your drinks or desserts/
A Final Word From Energetic Lifestyle
While not all blenders can take on ice and come out on top, the ones that can should deliver a refreshingly cool end result. These blenders are great because being able to crush ice likely means they can take on many other hard ingredients, which gives you plenty of flexibility in what you’re able to make.
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