Best Blender for Ice and Frozen Drinks (Updated 2020) Reviews and Comparison
If you don’t want to end up ruining your blender, as happened to one of our followers Karen, be sure to read this guide.
As soon as Karen got her new shiny blender shipped from Amazon, she eagerly placed some veggies and fruits into the jar and added ice to chill things up.
Great idea?
Not at all.
After a minute or so, a strange smell came out of her new appliance, and she shut it off.
But it was too late. The motor has gone.
A closer inspection of the owner’s manual revealed that blending ice and frozen ingredients is “not recommended”.
Turns out crushing ice is one of the most challenging tasks for a blender.
It can also be difficult to tell whether a model will actually get the job done, even if the product specs say that it will.
To help you select the best ice crushing blender, I’ve prepared this quick guide on what to look for, and which popular models are recommended.
Ice-Crushing Blenders for Smoothies: Direct Comparison
Type: High Performance Blender
Key Characteristics
Our Rating
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Type: Countertop Blender
Key Characteristics
Our Rating
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Type: Countertop Blender
Key Characteristics
Our Rating
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Type: Portable Blender
Key Characteristics
Our Rating
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Name & Image | Type | Key Characteristics | Our Rating | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TOP PICK  | High-Performance Blender | |||
 | High-Performance Blender | |||
 | Countertop Blender | |||
 | Countertop Blender | |||
 | Portable Blender |
What to Look for in an Ice-Crushing Blender
Appliance Type
There are several types of blenders including countertop, immersion, high performance and personal (or single-serving) blenders.
The high performance and some of the more heavy duty personal blenders are your best bets for handling frozen ingredients.
In general you’ll want to select the most powerful and durable machine within your price range - click HERE to see our reviews of a few models at different price points!
Powerful Motor
Chopping ice requires a lot of torque, so it’s important that your blender have a powerful motor of at least 600 watts, but the more powerful the better for this application.
Motor Speed
Ice crushing is usually conducted at the high-speed setting, so you’ll want to select a blender that has a sufficient speed setting for this.
Generally if the motor meets the above power specifications, it will be able to reach a sufficient speed for processing ice.
Blade Design
Ice cubes tend to be hard on the blade, so you’ll need a strong, durable blade that’s designed to handle the impact.
Jar Design and Materials
Dealing with ice can be hard on your blender’s jar, and may crack thinner polycarbonate pitchers.
The jar should be durable and made of impact-resistant glass, heavy polycarbonate or copolyester.
The top models featured here, all have a pitcher designed to withstand the pressures of ice crushing.
How to Crush Ice in a Blender
To make crushed ice for frozen drinks, slushies, frozen fruit smoothies or frappes, you'd need a relatively strong blender.
Check your blender’s instruction manual to see if there are manufacturer-specific guidelines and also to make sure that it’s actually designed for this purpose!
It is not recommended to use ice or frozen ingredients, in a blender that's not specifically intended for this purpose.
The following steps should be compatible with most models:
- Remove ice from freezer and allow it to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. This step isn't necessary if you use a high performance blender.
- Fill the jar about ⅓ full with ice cubes.
- Add fruit juice, milk or other liquid ingredients. A small amount of water can also be added to speed up the process.
- Place lid on pitcher and press the pulse button 6-7 times in 2-second bursts, or use ice presetting if available.
- Set blender at high speed for 15-30 seconds. To help churn the ice during blending you can use the tamper (plunger) or gently shake the pitcher.
- Remove ice once it has reached the desired consistency.
Crushing Ice Without a Blender
If you don’t have a blender, fear not! You can still make crushed ice with a little bit of elbow grease.
It’s best if you can cheat a little bit by starting out with chipped ice or store-bought pelleted ice, but you can also start the following steps with whole ice cubes:
- Remove ice from freezer and place in a plastic bag. Thicker, durable bags designed for food storage work best.
- Place bag on a wooden cutting board or other surface that won’t be damaged. If starting with whole cubes, strike each cube swiftly with a wooden mallet to break up cubes.
- Once smaller fragments have been generated, use slower, grinding motions to crush fragments into smaller pieces.
- Remove from bag and enjoy!
Reviews and Top Picks
Many blenders are capable of processing ice, to various degrees of success. But I’ve picked a few of my favorites at a wide range of price points, so you’re sure to find the blender that’s right for you!
1. Vitamix 5200 - Our Top Pick
The Vitamix is definitely a heavy duty blender and can handle virtually anything edible, so it’s sure to be up to the challenge of breaking ice!
The Vitamix is one of the higher-priced blenders on our list, but if you’re willing and able to drop some extra cash, we've found it to be well worth it!
Features & Capabilites | Value for | Ease of | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|
Manual controls allow for wide range of speeds but no hands-free blending. | One of the higher-priced options, but well worth the money. | Very easy to use. Buttons and knobs take more time to clean. | 7-year warranty and great customer service. |
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | |||
Excellent quality and versatility. | |||
Pros
- Top rated high-performance blender.
- Durable copolyester jar is BPA-free won’t be damaged by ice cubes
- Sturdy blade assembly and high-power motor are well up to the challenge of ice or frozen fruit.
- Rotary control and pulse offer wide range of speeds for a variety of textures
Cons
Higher price than some other models reviewed.
Manual controls do not allow for hands-free blending.
Pro Tip
To crush ice with the Vitamix, turn the speed up to the highest setting and pulse, using the tamper to push crushed ice down if needed.
The manufacturer recommends adding a bit of water, but test kitchens and user reviews report that this isn’t necessary.
2. Blendtec Designer
The Blendtec Designer is the Cadillac of blenders! Its powerful motor, innovative “wild-side” jar and cold-forged blade assembly make it highly functional.
The Blendtec is also loaded with impressive and useful features including touchscreen controls and pre-settings for everything from icy drinks to hot foods.
Several trusted online reviewers have noted it as being especially well-suited for ice crushing.
Features & Capabilites | Value for | Ease of | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|
High-performance and loaded with features! | High price but also well worth the money. | Presettings allow for hands-free blending and the perfect finished product every time. | 7-year warranty and good customer service. |
Our Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | |||
Great appliance that’s easy and convenient to use. | |||
Pros
- Has an ice crush presetting!
- Durable BPA-free jar won’t be damaged by ice.
- Cold-forged wingtip blades are durable and built to last.
- Lots of crushing power under the hood with a 1560-watt, 3HP motor.
Cons
Does not have a tamper (but we found it unnecessary with this blender)
Slightly louder than Vitamix and other high-performance blenders
Pro Tip
Crushing ice with the Blendtec is a snap with the ice crush presetting.
Do keep an eye on it during the cycle to make sure that you don’t over-blend!
3. Oster Reverse Crush Blender
The Oster is a great option if you’re looking for a more reasonably priced blender that crushes ice.
It’s not as powerful as the Vitamix or Blendtec, but is still more than up to to the task of processing ice and making ice-cold drinks.
Features & Capabilites | Value for | Ease of | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|
Not as powerful as high-end blenders but still gets the job done. | Excellent price and value. | Easy-to-use and has a frozen drink presetting. | 10-year limited warranty with good customer service. |
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | |||
Great blender for the price! | |||
Pros
- Excellent value
- 6-cup glass jar can handle ice and is dishwasher-safe
- Stainless steel 6-blade assembly is durable enough for ice.
- Dual-direction blade technology keeps blade from becoming jammed.
Cons
600-watt motor isn’t up for tougher recipes such as nut butters.
Glass jar is heavier than plastic alternatives.
Pro Tip
To handle ice effectively with the Oster, simply use the “Frozen drink” presetting and you should be good to go!
4. Breville Boss Superblender
The Breville Boss Superblender BBL910XL stands up well to its high-end competitors, and was rated by test kitchens as being the best ice smoothie maker in comparison to the Blendtec and Vitamix.
The Breville actually has two smoothie settings, one for fruit smoothies and one for green smoothies, so is perfect for frozen smoothies!
Features & Capabilites | Value for | Ease of | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|
High-powered with convenient presettings. | High price point, but worth it! | Great for hands-free blending | 1-year limited warranty with good customer service. |
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | |||
Great blender for frozen drinks! | |||
Pros
- Has two smoothie settings so is perfect for making frozen drinks
- 2HP motor is powerful enough for handling ice
- Reinforced polymer jar is both durable and lightweight
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
Warranty doesn’t measure up to other high-end blenders
Motor is not as powerful as other high-end blenders
5. Kitchenaid 5-Speed Blender
Available in a rainbow of colors, the Kitchenaid 5-Speed Blender is more modestly priced than some of the higher-end options, but is still up to most tasks including crushing ice!
The solid metal base is durable and keeps the blender from moving mid-cycle.
Features & Capabilites | Value for | Ease of | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|
Has ice-crush presetting but not as versatile as other models. | Modestly priced but high-quality and durable. | Presettings allow for hands-free blending. | 5-year limited warranty with good customer service. |
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | |||
Great value and high-quality. | |||
Pros
- Ice-crush presetting
- Pitcher is durable, lightweight, dishwasher safe and holds 60 ounces!
- Available in 20+ colors to coordinate with virtually any decor.
- Intellispeed motor senses content to maintain optimal speed.
- Digital touchpad controls make cleaning easy.
Cons
Doesn’t have the wattage of high-end options so may not be up to tougher recipes such as nut butters
Narrow pitcher bottom may cause jams.
6. Ninja Master Prep
A jack of all trades, the Ninja Master Prep QB1004 has three different jars including a 48-ounce pitcher for frozen drinks, 40-ounce food processor and 16-ounce chopper bowl, each with their own stacked blade assemblies.
And to top it off, this is one of the most modestly-priced blenders in our roundup!
Features & Capabilites | Value for | Ease of | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|
Versatile and all-in-one, but not as powerful as other options. | Price for what you’re getting can’t be beat! | User-friendly but does not offer presets. | 1-year limited warranty and good customer service. |
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | |||
Great value and high-quality. | |||
Pros
- Versatile with three separate units.
- Excellent price!
- Capable of tackling ice and making frozen drinks.
- Stacked blade assembly keeps ice and food from getting jammed.
Cons
Warranty is not as generous as other options
At 450 watts, the Ninja isn’t as powerful as other options so can’t handle nut butters or other more challenging ingredients.
7. Oster My Blend with Travel Sport Bottle
The Oster BLSTPB-WBL My Blend is a personal blender that’s designed for crushing ice and making smoothies, and features an innovative to-go sport travel bottle.
This modestly-sized personal blender is the cheapest blender on our list, and offers good value for the money.
Features & Capabilites | Value for | Ease of | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|
Convenient single-serve, but only has one speed. | Very low-cost but durable. | Simple and user-friendly. | 1-year limited warranty with good customer service. |
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars | |||
Excellent single-serve blender that is convenient to use! | |||
Pros
- Easy and convenient to use.
- All parts are dishwasher-safe.
- Jar detaches and blades are replaced by a lid, meaning you can drink your smoothie on the run without having to dirty another bottle.
- Blade assembly and pitcher are more than capable of handling ice.
Cons
Only has one speed
250-watt motor can handle ice in the single-serving size, but may not be up to frozen fruits or nuts.
May overheat with prolonged use.
Pro Tip
To chop ice with the Oster, allow ice to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before beginning, and add a little bit of water or other liquid to the mix. Also be sure only fill the jar about ⅓ full.
And the Winner Is…
Of the high-end blenders, my pick is the Blendtec Designer, as it’s known specifically for turning ice cubes into powdery, fluffy wonderfulness!
If you’re rushing in the morning, you’ll find the programmed ice cycle to be very helpful for hands-free blending.
For the mid-line blenders, my pick is the Oster Reverse Crush. The dual-direction blade assembly keeps ice from becoming jammed, and is great for frozen drinks. It also has an excellent warranty and customer support, so you can buy with confidence.
Conclusion
The right blender for you will depend upon your budget, how often you plan to use it, and whether you’re just wanting to process ice, or would also like to make more advanced recipes such as nut butters or soups.
Hopefully I’ve provided some insight into the world of ice-crushing blenders! Please feel free to leave your own insights in the comments below!
