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10 Best Blenders For Crushing Ice & Frozen Drinks in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

juicer blender for crushing ice

juicer blender for crushing ice

There’s nothing quite like an ice-cold smoothie, but if you want to save money and make it at home, you’ll need a powerful blender to crush ice and frozen fruit. Finding the best model for your needs can be time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be.

To help you shop for a great blender, we’ve compiled this list of the 10 best blenders for crushing ice and frozen drinks. Each of our top picks has a detailed review, including the price, design, power, features, and warranty, so you can easily compare them.

If you’re wondering which features are most important, take a look at our handy buyer’s guide, which will walk you through your choices.

A Quick Glance At Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Blendtec Classic 575 Blendtec Classic 575
  • Lightweight
  • Self-cleaning feature
  • Works well on ice
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Ninja BL610 Ninja BL610
  • Large capacity
  • Low cost
  • Easy to use
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Vitamix 7500 Vitamix 7500
  • Strong motor
  • Works well with frozen fruit
  • Built-in thermal protection
  • Hamilton Beach 54220 Hamilton Beach 54220
  • Inexpensive
  • Patented blades
  • Wave Action blending system
  • Oster Reverse-Crush Oster Reverse-Crush
  • Sturdy blending jar
  • Dedicated frozen drinks preset
  • Automatically reversing blades
  • The 10 Best Blenders for Crushing Ice

    1. Blendtec Classic 575 Blender – Best Overall

    Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender

    Our top pick is the Blendtec TB-621-20 Total Classic Original Blender. It’s a lightweight, powerful model that justifies its higher price with a great range of features. This model weighs 7.28 pounds and has a 1,560-watt motor that effectively crushes ice. The simple button interface offers six pre-programmed cycles, 10 variable speeds, a pulse feature, and a handy self-cleaning button.

    The BPA-free plastic pitcher has a smaller 32-ounce blending capacity but is well-designed, with a fifth wall that pulls ingredients down onto the blade. The two-tip stainless steel blade feels durable and isn’t sharp, so it’s safe and easier to clean. This model isn’t particularly stylish and is very loud. In testing, we found that the gaskets may leak, and the plastic components aren’t as durable. However, Blendtec has a generous 8-year warranty, and it was our pick for the best overall blender for crushing ice.

     

    Pros
    • Lightweight
    • Powerful motor that works well on ice
    • Many presets and speeds
    • Sturdy, well-designed blending jar and blade
    • Self-cleaning feature
    • Doesn’t require tamping
    • Lengthy 8-year warranty
    Cons
    • Smaller blending pitcher
    • Not very stylish but expensive
    • Less durable gaskets and plastic components

    2. Ninja BL610 Ice Crushing Blender – Best Value

    Ninja Professional

    Are you looking to save money? You may be interested in the Ninja Professional BL610 Countertop Blender, which we recommend as the best blender for crushing ice and frozen drinks for the money. This 7-pound model is affordable and lightweight but still has a 1,000-watt motor that can quickly crush ice and frozen fruit. It has a BPA-free, dishwasher-safe pitcher with a large 64-ounce blending capacity and a sturdy six-blade assembly, plus a simple interface with pulse, low, medium, and high options.

    The BL610 has a reasonably appealing design and works well with ice, but it is also loud and requires tamping for smooth blends. The pitcher isn’t as durable as we’d like, cracking and leaking with heavy use, and the sharp blades can be difficult to clean and become dull when blending ice. Ninja offers a basic 1-year warranty that doesn’t cover the pitcher.

    Pros
    • Lightweight, affordable, and fairly attractive
    • Large capacity
    • Strong motor and blades that work well on ice
    • Easy to use with three speeds and a pulse option
    • Basic one-year warranty
    Cons
    • Requires tamping to blend smoothly
    • Less durable pitcher that isn’t covered by the warranty
    • Sharp blades are harder to clean and quickly become dull
    • Fairly loud

    3. Vitamix 7500 Ice Blender – Premium Choice

    Vitamix 7500

    If you have extra room in your budget, you may want to give the Vitamix 7500 Blender a try. This high-end model has a powerful all-metal drive and plenty of useful features but is also heavy and has less durable components.

    This 13-pound blender has a powerful motor and a 64-ounce blending capacity. It has a clunky switch and dial interface with 10 variable speeds and a pulse option. The motor has a radial cooling fan and a thermal protection system, and the four-tip stainless steel blade assembly effectively cuts through ice. We especially liked the self-cleaning feature and the choice of attractive colors.

    In testing, we found that the gears and blades aren’t very durable and may break down over time. Ultimately, this model is more expensive than its features can fully compensate for. Vitamix offers a good 7-year warranty.

    Pros
    • Strong motor
    • Works well with ice and frozen fruit
    • Self-cleaning feature, 10 speeds, and a pulse option
    • Radial cooling fan and built-in thermal protection
    • 7-year warranty
    Cons
    • Very expensive and heavier
    • Clunky interface
    • Less durable blades and gears

    4. Hamilton 54220 Ice-Crushing Blenders

    Hamilton Beach Wave 54220

    The Hamilton Beach 54220 Wave Crusher Blender is a very affordable and lightweight option, though it isn’t particularly durable and doesn’t work as well on ice. This 7-pound machine has a  700-watt motor, patented four-tip blade assembly, and a Wave Action system that blends smoothly. The small 40-ounce blending jar is made of glass, and the machine has a self-cleaning feature. The eight-button interface offers an impressive 14 blending functions, including a range of presets.

    The Hamilton Beach isn’t too loud, but it has less durable plastic pieces, like the blade attachment, and the pitcher has indents that prevent smooth blending. The machine can crush ice but doesn’t produce as smooth of a blend as other models. Hamilton Beach provides a 3-year warranty but charges shipping fees for repairs.

    Pros
    • Inexpensive and lightweight
    • Patented blades and Wave Action blending system
    • 14 blending functions, including several presets
    • Durable glass pitcher
    • Three-year warranty
    Cons
    • Smaller blending capacity
    • Less powerful motor and flimsy plastic parts
    • Not as smooth of a blend
    • Must pay shipping fees even under warranty

    5. Oster Reverse Crush Ice Blender

    Oster Reverse Crush BVCB07-Z00-NP0

    Another low-cost option is the Oster BVCB07-Z00-NP0 Reverse Crush Counterforms Blender, an interesting-looking model with several convenient features.

    This 9.15-pound machine has an overly complicated, though well-labeled, nine-button interface. You can choose between two presets, one of which is for frozen drinks, and five manual speeds. We liked the stop button and the dual-direction six-tip stainless steel blades, which reverse automatically when the machine jams. The 48-ounce blending jar is made of sturdy, dishwasher-safe glass, and the lid has a two-ounce filler cap to add ingredients while blending.

    This model’s 1,000-watt motor is very loud but does a reasonably good job crushing ice. In testing, we found that blending smoothly requires quite a bit of stirring. Though the all-metal drive is durable, the plastic components on the base aren’t, and the warranty doesn’t cover them. Oster includes a 10-year motor warranty and a 3-year satisfaction guarantee.

    Pros
    • Inexpensive and attractive
    • Dedicated frozen drinks preset and a range of speeds
    • Automatically reversing, durable blades
    • Sturdy blending jar
    • Strong motor that works well on ice
    • 10-year metal drive warranty and three-year satisfaction guarantee
    Cons
    • Complicated interface
    • Very loud and somewhat heavy
    • Requires frequent stirring to blend smoothly
    • Warranty doesn’t cover plastic components

    6. Cleanblend 2001 Blender

    Cleanblend

    The Cleanblend 2001 Commercial Blender is another powerful option, but it is heavier, more expensive, and not especially well-designed. This bulky 12-pound blender has an impressive 1,800-watt motor that easily crushes ice. The package includes a Japanese-made eight-tip stainless steel blade assembly, a 64-ounce BPA-free blending jar, and a BPA-free tamper and spatula. It’s not a particularly attractive model, with a clunky switch and dial interface that has a range of speeds.

    In testing, we found that even the lower speed settings were very fast, so this blender doesn’t have a wide range. The pitcher doesn’t fit perfectly on the base, so you may have to hold it down while blending and it isn’t well-designed for smooth blending, so you’ll probably need to use the tamper. Cleanblend has a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 5-year warranty.

    Pros
    • Very powerful, high-speed motor
    • Works well on ice
    • Durable blades and blending jar
    • Includes tamper and spatula
    • 30-day money-back guarantee and 5-year warranty
    Cons
    • Less attractive and heavier
    • Fairly expensive
    • Doesn’t operate at lower speeds
    • Pitcher doesn’t fit well on base and requires frequent tamping

    7. Homgeek Ice Crushing Blender

    Homgeek Blender Smoothie Maker

    Homgeek’s offering, the H22259US Blender Smoothie Maker, is reasonably priced and has a range of good features, but it doesn’t work especially well with ice and has a complicated interface.

    The 1,450-watt motor is strong but seizes quickly and can’t cut through full-size ice cubes. This 9.9-pound machine has eight speeds and four presets, including ice crush and smoothie buttons, and a complicated but attractive interface. The 68-ounce pitcher is made of extra-thick BPA-free Tritan plastic and can blend hot liquids up to 228° F.

    The motor can’t be used for more than 10 minutes at a time, so you may have to spend extra time if you’re blending large quantities. Homgeek includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 2-year quality guarantee.

    Pros
    • Reasonably-priced and fairly light
    • Several speeds and presets, including ice crush button
    • Durable blade and pitcher
    • Can blend hot liquids
    • 30-day money-back and 2-year quality guarantees
    Cons
    • Less durable motor that is prone to seizing
    • Not as effective on ice
    • Only works for 10 minutes at a time
    • Complicated interface

    8. COSORI C700-PRO Blender

    COSORI Blender 1500W

    COSORI’s C700-PRO Blender is attractively-priced and effective, but it has a cheaper feel and isn’t very durable. This heavy 13-pound model has a powerful 1,500-watt motor and a six-tip stainless steel blade assembly. It’s not aesthetically pleasing, but the switch and dial interface is relatively easy to use, and the 70-ounce BPA-free pitcher feels very durable. The package includes a recipe book, a 27-ounce travel bottle with a lid, and a cleaning brush. The built-in tamper works through the lid, so you can easily use it while blending.

    The C700-PRO does an excellent job crushing ice, but we found the motor and blades less durable, and the machine feels bulky and cheap. COSORI backs it up with a 60-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty, with an extra year if you register through their website.

    Pros
    • Reasonable price
    • Strong motor works well with ice
    • Includes large pitcher, travel bottle, and built-in tamper
    • 60-day money-back guarantee and extendable 1-year warranty
    Cons
    • Less attractive design
    • Heavy, with a cheaper feel
    • Less durable motor and blades

    9. AICOK BL1192 Blender

    AICOK Blender

    The AICOK BL1192 Blender is near the end of our list because it’s bulky, loud, and less attractive, though it is favorably priced and works reasonably well on ice. At 10.4 pounds, it is on the heavier side. The 1,400-watt motor is fairly powerful, with three manual speeds and three presets, including the ice crush and smoothie buttons. There’s automatic overheating protection, a six-tip stainless steel blade assembly, and a large 70-ounce plastic pitcher made of BPA-free, dishwasher-safe Tritan.

    This blender isn’t a great-looking machine, with a cheap-feeling black plastic body and a clunky switch and dial interface. It’s deafening, but the all-metal drive effectively crushes ice. AICOK backs this model up with a 2-year warranty.

    Pros
    • Strong motor with a range of speeds and presets
    • Durable blade and large blending container
    • Less expensive
    • Works fairly well on ice
    • 2-year warranty
    Cons
    • Heavy and very loud
    • Clunky switch and dial interface
    • Less attractive, with a cheap-feeling black plastic body

    10. Addwin Countertop-Blenders

    Addwin

    Our least favorite model is the Addwin Countertop Blender, an uninspired and not very durable option with a very powerful motor.

    This light 8.85-pound blender has a 2,200-watt motor, a six-tip blade assembly, and a large 70-ounce pitcher made of BPA-free, dishwasher-safe Tritan. Its basic body, which comes in red and black, looks cheaper than its price. The switch and dial interface is simple to use, with variable speed and pulse options but no presets. The package also includes a tamper.

    With such a powerful motor, this machine does a decent job crushing ice and frozen fruit. It’s very loud, though, and we had issues with the pitcher cracking and the blades rusting over time. Addwin includes a basic 1-year warranty.

    Pros
    • Lightweight and reasonably-priced
    • Powerful motor that works well on ice
    • Large pitcher, six-blade assembly, and tamper
    • 1-year warranty
    Cons
    • No presets and a clunky interface
    • Unattractive, cheap-looking design
    • Very loud
    • Less durable pitcher and blade assembly

    Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Blenders for Crushing Ice

    You’ll probably want a strong blender with sturdy blades if you want to crush ice. But how do you sort through all of your options and find the best model for your purposes? Keep reading for a handy guide that details which features you should focus on when shopping.

    Price

    Are you looking to get the most value for your money, or are you willing to spend more to get all the features you want in the best blender for ice? No matter your budget, you can find a great blender that will work well on ice, but if you’re willing to spend a bit more, you might enjoy the additional power and features.

    Power

    If you’re looking for a machine that will pulverize whatever you put into it, you’ll probably want a motor with a high wattage, around 1,500 watts or higher. If you’re willing to thaw your frozen fruits and vegetables before blending or use smaller ice cubes, you may be fine with a lower-wattage motor. Keep in mind that less powerful machines may be more budget-friendly.

    Blades

    As arguably the most important feature of a blender, the blades will determine how smoothly and thoroughly you can blend. The most durable blade assemblies are made of stainless steel and come in several shapes with various numbers of tips.

    If you’re only using your blender to crush ice and make frozen drinks, you may want one with a two-tip, blunt-edged blade assembly, like our top pick, the Blendtec TB-621-20 Total Classic Original Blender. This design works incredibly well on ice and is safer to clean. If you’d like a more multi-purpose blender, blade assemblies with sharp edges and a larger number of tips may suit you.

    Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender with FourSide Jar

    Durability

    Chances are good that you’d like your new appliance to last as long as possible. You can ensure that by looking for sturdy materials like stainless steel, tempered glass, and shatter-proof Tritan plastic. You may also be interested in features like automatic overheating protection and effective motor cooling fans.

    Interface & Features

    How much time are you willing to spend learning a new machine? If you’d like to spend some time with a manual, you may be okay with a complicated, feature-heavy interface. If you’d prefer an easy one-button start, you may want to look for a blender with simple options and useful presets.

    Some models have ice crush, frozen drink, or smoothie buttons, which will take the guesswork out of blending. If you’re more hands-on, you may want to look for variable-speed dials that allow you to control the process. Tampers can be helpful to ensure smooth blending, and reversing or automatically reversing blades can keep your blender from jamming or being difficult to clean.

    Warranty

    All the blenders we’ve reviewed here have at least a 1-year warranty. If you’d prefer more protection for your investment, you may want to look at models with multi-year warranties, covering up to 7 or 8 years. You may also want to check what each warranty covers, as some apply only to the metal drive or motor. With these warranties, you may pay out of pocket to replace cracking pitchers or less durable blades.

    Conclusion

    Our favorite model is the Blendtec TB-621-20 Total Classic Original Blender, which is powerful, lightweight, and feature-heavy. If you’re working with a tighter budget, you may prefer the Ninja Professional BL610 Countertop Blender, which offers excellent value with a strong motor, a choice of speeds, and a large capacity. If you’re in the market for a premium blender, the Vitamix 7500 Blender could be for you, with a powerful motor, several features, and a great warranty.

    There are quite a few blenders on the market, but not all of them can crush ice and frozen fruit. We hope this list of the year’s 10 best blenders for crushing ice and frozen drinks, complete with comprehensive reviews and a handy feature guide, helps you find a great model. You’ll be sipping an ice-cold smoothie or margarita in no time!

    See also: Why Doesn’t Ice Melt in The Microwave? What Science Tells Us

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