Ice cold protein shakes or smoothies are perfect for cooling the body, especially after an intense workout or on a hot summer day. While going to your grocery store to pick up a cold frozen drink is convenient, knowing exactly what is in your drink is a better, healthier choice. In addition, making your own smoothie or shake allows you to experiment with different flavors of your choice.
If you have tried making ice and frozen drink at home using the typical blender, you may have experienced chunks of fruits in your drink. Getting a chunk in your mouth while you were expecting a smooth, delicious flavor is annoying, to say the least. However, this is avoidable when using the best blender for ice and frozen fruits.
While there are a variety of blenders on the market, not all are capable of crushing ice. For that reason, we have come up with a list of the best blenders for crushing ice and frozen fruit to help you narrow down your choices. In addition, we have included a guide on how to choose the best blender on the market.
What is An Ice Blender?
An ice blender is a kitchen machine primarily designed for crushing ice. While it has features similar to the normal blending machine found in any kitchen, a blender for crushing ice has more powerful features, such as an automatic heating feature and a powerful watt motor. In addition, the best blender for crushing ice has angled blades to slice the ingredients.
Crushing ice frozen ingredients at home for making shakes and smoothies is super easy and convenient when using an ice blender. Unlike most blenders, you can say goodbye o berry and fruit chunks in your frozen drinks. In addition, the best blender for crushing ice and frozen fruit has preprogrammed presets to ensure that you get the most out of your machine.
What is the Best Blender for Ice?
1. Ninja BL610 Professional Blender
With a watt motor of 1000 watts, the Ninja Professional blender is ideal for crushing ice and breaking down hard and frozen ingredients. In addition, it comes with a 72 oz jar that has a maximum liquid capacity of 64 oz. This makes it an excellent choice for making frozen drinks, such as creamy smoothies, for a complete family.
The Ninja professional blender employs total crushing technology with its sturdy stainless steel blades to crush ice in seconds. In addition, it highlights five easy-to-use settings, which include low to high, pulse and on and off.
Finally, the Ninja BL610 professional ice blender boasts effective and high performance for its price. In addition, it has a BPA-free pitcher that is also dishwasher safe hence making cleaning easy. Included in the package is a recipe book to give more drinks and food options.
PROS
- Reasonably priced
- Dishwasher safe jar
- Its design is attractive
- Simple to use
CONS
- Does not have a specific pulse switch
- Chunks need to be pushed to the center for a smooth blend
- Plastic pitcher easily breaks
- Loud
- Sharp blades are not the easiest to clean and dull fast
2. Vitamix 5200 Blender
The Vitamix 5200 blender is perfect for achieving different textures. This is because it has a variable speed control option that enables you to adjust the blending speed. In addition, you can rotate the variable speed button any time during the blend to give you total control.
This powerful blender by Vitamix has a 1500 watts motor base that guarantees its strength to crush ice and frozen ingredients. It has a capacity of 64-ounces, making it convenient for making large batches of frozen drinks. In addition, it is self-cleaning with just warm water and a drop of dish soap.
The Vitamix 5200 construction features thermal protection system and a radial cooling fan. This is to prevent damages caused by overheating. The design of the blades is aircraft-grade stainless steel, which is strong enough to handle the hardest ingredients. In turn, this gives a consistent blend. In addition, the blades reach speeds fast enough and create some kind of friction heat responsible for bringing cold ingredients to steaming hot in a short time period.
PROS
- Constructed from quality materials
- Handles solid blending ingredients
- Good performance
- High capacity jar for large families
- Multi-purpose
- Has radial cooling fans
- Has a long warranty of seven years
CONS
- Does not have the pulse feature
- High-priced
- Not compatible with a dishwasher
3. Ninja BL660 Professional Blender
The Ninja BL660 Professional blender features three pre-programmed settings speeds, a pulse and a single-serve function. This blender has a 72-ounce blending container that crushes the ice into snow to make cold, creamy drinks and smoothies. In addition, to offer more convenience, the blender has 2 16ounce Nutri Ninja cups with lids to take your drink on the go.
The 11100 watts powerful motor provides a professional performance when crushing the ice. In addition, the plastic pitcher is BPA-free and has an XL capacity to make healthy filling drinks for the entire family.
PROS
- Affordable
- Compatible with a dishwasher
- Allows single-serve blending
- Powerful motor
CONS
- The plastic pitcher easily cracks to cause leaks
4. Blendtec Classic Original Blender
The Blendtec classic original is a high-quality blender for ice and frozen beverages, such as smoothies, shakes and cocktail drinks. It has a very powerful 3-peak horsepower motor equivalent to 1560 watts. This motor power ensures that it performs well when tasked to crush frozen fruits.
When it comes to usability, the Blendtec classic blender is easy to assemble, use and disassemble. It comes with already programmed blending cycles, digital touchpad controls and an automatic shut-off. If you are not a techie nerd and feature-heavy interfaces are overwhelming, you will love this blender. In addition, you can select your approved blending speed and the machine will automatically shut off when blending is completed.
The Blendtec classic blender incorporates a modern, sleek design that makes it an attractive appliance to have on the kitchen countertop. The two stainless steel blades spin at a fast speed to crush even the hardest ingredients. Additionally, the Blendtec BPA-free plastic jar has a narrow shape towards the bottom. This allows food ingredients to fall on the blades, removing the need to use a tamper to drop down food chunks.
PROS
- Simple to clean
- Big enough to make servings for 3-4 people
- Has a hot soup setting
- 2-year warranty
CONS
- Expensive
- Loud
5. Hamilton Beach 58148A Blender
Closing our list is the Hamilton 54220 blender. Compared to other ice blenders on our list, this machine has the least motor power at just 700 watts. However, it does a good job of crushing ice effectively while being budget-friendly, especially if you are not looking to break your bank for a blender.
This blender by Hamilton employs a wave action system that pulls the food content and ingredients down into the blades for blending. This action prevents annoying unblended chunks from being present in your drink. In addition, this multipurpose machine has up to 12 blending functions combined into 5 easy-to-understand simple buttons. This makes this power blender easy to use while still retaining its powerful functions.
The Hamilton Beach blender blades are removable to ease cleaning. This is unlike any other ice blenders that we have reviewed. The glass jar and the lid are also compatible for cleaning in the dishwasher. Furthermore, this blender features a unique patented mess-free spout to avoid spillage when pouring. In addition, it has a convenient cord storage space making it easy to tuck away the cords for assembling and safety.
PROS
- Affordable
- The glass jar is durable
- Super Lightweight
- Multipurpose
- Eye-catching design
- 3-year warranty
CONS
- Has a small capacity
- The motor could be more powerful
- Heavy glass jar
How Do You Choose the Best Blender for Ice?
When looking to add an ice-crushing blender to your kitchen appliances collection, there are many options to look at on the market. However, a cheap blender will break down quickly, while an expensive one may not always deliver the desired performance. So, what factors should you consider when choosing the best ice blender? Below are a few suggestions.
1. Motor Power
A powerful motor is one of the differentiating factors between a normal and an ice blender. Ideally, 1500 watt motor power or higher is sufficient for crushing ice and frozen fruit. In addition, you are guaranteed a smooth and tasty blend. On the other hand, a low-watt motor, although relatively cheap, will not blend efficiently. You may have to leave your frozen ingredients to thaw fast when using such a blender. However, that beats the whole sense of making a frozen drink.
High power is used when crushing snow during blending. In most cases, this will result in the blender being too hot to touch and, worse, burning out. To prevent this from happening, the best ice crushing machine is equipped with a cooling feature. This helps to cool down the machine either during or after blending to prevent overheating. In addition, this reduces the chances of an electric hitch occurring.
2. Blades
The texture and consistency of your blend are highly determined by the available blade system. The design of your blades, whether angled or not, determines the blender’s ability to crush ice and other ingredients. In addition, the material used to make the blades either makes them strong and durable or weak and easy to break.
Sturdy stainless steel blades have the ability to withstand frozen ingredients without breaking. They are more durable than other blades since they are made of stainless steel. If you are looking for an ice blender that can serve other kitchen blending needs, getting one with sharp blades will be great.
The location of the blades is just as important as the blade system. Stainless steel blades located at the jar’s bottom ensure that no ingredients pass through without getting chopped. On the other hand, blades not located at the bottom allow chunks of food to pass through. This results in a blend with an inconsistent texture.
3. Design of the Pitcher
The blending jar is responsible for the overall performance of the best ice blender. The blending process involves food content rotating and being sucked into the blades to the side of the jar. This process is continuous until blending is completed.
A wide jar allows the ingredients and blending mixture to fall to the blades for crushing easily. This is unlike a narrow pitcher, whereby you will be required to push the contents down using a spatula. This ends up being tiresome and a waste of money.
4. Material of the Jar
Blending jars are often made of glass or plastic. When it comes to plastic, Tritan or polycarbonate plastic is often used since the two materials are rigid. However, other than indicate that the plastic is BPA-free, most manufacturers do not disclose the exact plastic materials. In addition, plastic cracks when used under high heat. For this reason, you should ensure that your plastic blending jar doesn’t go into the dishwasher.
Glass is also preferred for many people looking for the best blenders for crushing ice frozen ingredients. However, this material does have its limitations. For example, glass jars can be heavy to carry and break immediately in case of a fall. In addition, if a metallic object, such as a spoon, is accidentally left in the jar during blending, the high-speed blades and motor power is likely to cause the glass to shatter and, worse, cause an injury that could happen.
Stainless steel jars are also an option on the market. However, they are opaque and a bummer, especially if you want to see the blending progress without removing the lid. BPA-free copolyester or polycarbonate plastic is the best durable and safe option for a professional food-grade ice blender.
5. Durability
Like other kitchen appliances, an ice blender should last you a long time while looking good and delivering optimum performance. However, materials used in the overall construction determine how durable the blender is. For example, dense polycarbonate materials or impact-resistant glass jars make long-lasting blending pitchers. This is because they can withstand high pressure during ice crushing.
Blenders for crushing ice made of materials like shatterproof Tritan plastic will guarantee you years of quality use. Stainless steel is known for its long-lasting properties, making it a good choice for blender construction. Materials aside, features incorporated in the machine can influence its longevity. Automatic overheating protection and motor base cooling features improve durability.
6. Usability
Easy use of any kitchen appliance removes the guesswork and saves you time reading manuals and online searches. This gives you ample time to focus on what really matters, your frozen fruit drink. For the best blender for ice, ease of assembly and disassembly is quite important.
Depending on how frequently you intend on using your ice-crushing blender, it should be convenient to assemble and use and then disassemble for cleaning and storage. The best blender for crushing ice that fits on the countertop is small and wide in size. However, this might mean compromising the performance.
The best blender for ice should also have an easy-to-understand interface. Some blenders will have presets that make a certain function as easy as pressing the button or turning the knob. However, if you are a techie nerd and don’t mind a feature-heavy interface, different control buttons will help you get the most out of your machine.
6. Capacity
Having a big family means getting the best blender for crushing ice to accommodate the exact or more food capacity you need. On the other hand, if you’re making a small amount, preferably for a single serving, you might consider getting a personal blender instead.
7. Functionality
Rather than have different blenders performing different but similar tasks, a versatile multipurpose blender for crushing ice will save you not only the countertop space but also money you would have spent on other blenders. The multipurpose feature can be reached by using extra accessories bought together with the machine or separately.
Extra accessories include milling and grinding blades, mincing containers, and self-serve cups. This allows you to make the most out of your ice-crushing blender at no extra cost.
8. Price
The performance and durability of the best blender to crush ice and frozen fruits go hand in hand with the price. This means that you have to invest a little more in getting a durable machine that does not compromise performance. In addition, the features in a certain machine will also determine its price.
If you are looking for a low-midrange machine in terms of price, you must be willing to sacrifice some key features, such as the watt motor and texture of the blend. For this reason, it would be best if you checked through different manufacturers to see the features that you would like and how they fit into your budget.
9. Warranty
Even with professional high-grade ice blenders, it is not uncommon for them to experience burnout. This is because blenders take so much pressure to produce the best results in such a small space resulting in stress. This is the number one reason you need to invest in a machine with a long warranty.
Since you are paying a lot of it, you might need some level of assurance that it will last long without breaking or some parts failing. Therefore, manufacturers of low-quality blenders will often give a short warranty since they know the level of performance and longevity the item will give you. In addition, this means that in case of any faults, the manufacturer is not liable.
How do You Clean the Best Blender for Ice?
Cleaning your ice blender should be just as easy as using it. Below are two methods you can use.
a). The Easy Method
After every use, this method is applicable to prevent residues from sticking to the jar’s walls or the stainless steel blade. However, you need to use this easy method between deep cleanings to ensure that your machine is completely clean.
The first step is to add warm water and a few drops of dish soap to the jar. Ensure to put just a little to account for the bubbles formed. Next, add the lid and pulse the blender a few times at a time. Ensure that the soapy mixture gets to all the points and if not, add some more water and continue.
The final step is to rinse all the soap from the machine completely. This ensures that your next frozen drink doesn’t have a soapy taste or smell. In addition, check that other parts, such as the lid and the bottom, are clean and do not have any residue.
b). Deep Cleaning
This method involves three easy steps:
- Rinse out to remove smells and colors from the blender
- Take the removable parts out and place them in a warm soapy solution. Here, you can also choose to put parts compatible with a dishwasher separately to clean them.
- Use a dishcloth or a sponge to clean the pitcher while scrubbing the exterior and interior parts thoroughly. Be careful when cleaning the blades since they are sharp. You can run them under water to reduce your cleaning workload.
Tips to Care and Maintain Your Blender for Ice
- Always make sure that the blending jar is about 25% full. This gives space for the mixture of fruits and vegetables to circulate in the jar during blending.
- Add your ingredients to the order listed. Recipe books, such as those that come with your Vitamix blender, are very specific and require you to add ice as your last ingredient.
- Start on a lower setting and increase the speed settings gradually. If you are using presets, this happens automatically.
- You can place a dish towel over the lid while firmly holding the lid down during blending. This reduces the chances of the lid popping off and splashing the mixture all over your working surface.
- Handwash the jar with warm soapy water and a brush rather than dishwashing. This extends the longevity of the jar.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can blenders blend ice?
Everyday kitchen blenders will shave ice but will not crush it completely. This is because they do not have the required watt motor and their blades are not specialized to crush ice. To blend ice efficiently, investing in the best blender for ice will give you a smooth, consistent blend.
2. Can I blend frozen fruit?
Yes. However, you want to leave out the fruits to thaw or put them in a water bath for the same reason. This will prevent lumps from forming in your drink and protect your blade system from cracking. Ultimately, a blender specialized in frozen ingredients will work best in this case.
3. What wattage blender do I need for ice?
1000 to 1500 watt motor is enough to crush ice. A powerful motor with variable speed is key to get the job done.
4. How do you blend ice smoothly?
Pour the ice cubes into a blender and let them sit for a few minutes before blending. Ensure to leave adequate space for the ice to bounce during blending. Next, secure the lid and use the pulse setting in short bursts until you achieve your desired texture and consistency.
