Shopping for a blender that can crush ice?
You’ve come to the right place.
Are Blenders Good for Crushing Ice?
Blenders are great for crushing ice – as long as you have a blender with the right amount of power.
You can make crushed ice in a blender with power as low as 600W. But it’ll probably only handle small amounts of ice and may be prone to overheating when you work it too much.
The recommended minimum power for cruising ice is 1000W. A powerful blender can crush lots of ice quickly and produce finely crushed ice that’s great for slushies, margaritas, and snow cones.
Not only that, but it can also handle any frozen drinks such as smoothies without an issue.
Even if you are on a budget, try to stay above 700W. But a 1000+ watt blender will give you the best results.
Tip: If you already have a blender that’s great for most tasks except crushing ice, you can buy a crushed ice maker instead. It’s cheaper than buying a new pricey blender and can crush ice just as effectively as a powerful blender.
What’s In This Buying Guide?
In this 15-minute buying guide, we review the best blenders for crushing ice. These blenders are also great for making frozen drinks.
Best Blenders for Crushing Ice
All links below go to Amazon.com
- Best Overall: Ninja BL610 Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender
- Best High Powered: Blendtec Total Classic Original
- Most Durable: Vitamix 7500
- Best Value: Oster Pro 1200
- Best Budget: Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher
- Best Personal: Nutri Ninja
1. Best Overall: Ninja BL610 Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender
The Ninja BL610 is one of the most affordable 1000-watt blenders you’ll find. It effortlessly pulverizes ice and turns frozen and fibrous fruits and vegetables into creamy smoothies.
It also comes with a bigger jar than most blenders.
Pros
- Good value for money.
- Powerful motor.
- Large capacity jar.
- Easy to use and clean.
Cons
- Blades get dull after some time, affecting the blender’s performance.
- Not as durable as other brands such as Vitamix.
Our Review
Powerful blenders that can crush ice are pricey if you go for premium brands like Vitamix and Blendtec.
If you want a powerful blender without a high price tag, Ninja blenders are some of the best bargains.
The Ninja BL610, in particular, boasts a powerful 1000 watt motor and a large capacity jar for less than a fifth of the price of the Vitamix 7500.
The motor combined with the super sharp blades allows the Ninja BL610 to crush ice and make frozen smoothies without a problem.
Unlike the traditional blender design with blades at the bottom of the jar, the Ninja BL610 uses a unique stacked blade design. The sharp blades are integrated into a vertical column at the center of the jar.
This crushes ice faster and more effectively. Just 5 seconds of blending gets you coarse crushed ice. Leave the ice to blend for longer, and you’ll get fine fluffy snow that’s perfect for frozen treats.
The stacked blade design also works great for blending frozen fruits and veggies and turning fibrous foods into creamy smoothies.
Another advantage is that you don’t need to keep stopping midway through blending to tamp down bits of fruits or kale. The blades reach everything.
The control panel is easy to use, and it has just three speeds, a pulse button, and a power button.
Cleaning the Ninja BL610 is also easy. The stacked blades come off easily (just be careful because the blades are super sharp), and the blender is dishwasher safe.
Issues & Limitations
The Ninja BL610 depends on its sharp blades to deliver an exceptional ice crushing and blending performance. Unlike a blender like the Blendtec Total Classic that has dull blades and relies on power and speed to pulverize stuff.
The problem with relying on sharp blades is that they get dull. Customers who use their Ninja BL610 daily say that the blades get dull within months. And it seems crushing ice and blending frozen foods hastens this dulling.
The Ninja BL610 takes a little longer to crush the ice with fewer sharp blades, and the crushed ice is less fine. Smoothies are also less smooth and creamy.
After about a year, you’ll need to buy a replacement blade to keep the blender working correctly.
Overall, the Ninja BL610’s build quality is not as good as that of a Vitamix or Blendtec blender. The average lifespan is about 3 years, compared to premium blenders’ 5-10 year lifespan.
That said, we still think it’s a good bargain.
Bottom Line
The Ninja BL610 is best for: Anyone looking for a powerful but affordable blender that can crush ice and make frozen smoothies.
Avoid if: You’d rather pay more for a blender that will last twice as long.
2. Best High Powered: Blendtec Total Classic Original
If you want as much power as you can get in a blender, the Blendtec Total Classic is our top recommendation.
Of course, it’s expensive. But you are rewarded with unmatched ice-crushing power and durability.
Pros
- Extra-powerful motor.
- Versatile.
- Presets make it easy to use.
- 10 speeds.
- Large capacity jar.
- Dull blades that are safer.
Cons
- Pricey.
Our Review
The Blendtec Total Classic has 1560 watts of power, and it handles anything you throw at it, from ice cubes to frozen smoothies.
It easily crushes ice into coarse ice or fine snow, depending on how long you blend the ice.
It also blends frozen fruits and vegetables into creamy smoothies.
Unlike the Ninja blender above, the Blendtec Total Classic has dull blades, and there’s no risk of cutting yourself.
It relies on power, speed, and blade design to crush ice and blend stuff.
The thick stainless steel blades are specially designed to pull things down for blending. You don’t need a tamper or scrapper.
Even if you are getting the Blendtec Total Classic for its ice-crushing ability, there are plenty of other things it can do. The control panel has preset for hot soup, smoothies, juices, and batters.
You also get 10 variable speeds, giving you finer control over the blender. You can run the blades as fast or as slow as you need.
Cleaning the Blendtec Total Classic is easy, thanks to the convenient self-cleaning feature. Simply add water and dish soap and blend to clean the blades and jar.
Issues & Limitations
If you are shopping for a budget blender for crushing ice, the Blendtec Total Classic is probably not it, and it is one of the more expensive blenders in the market.
Bottom Line
The Blendtec Total Classic is best for: Anyone shopping for a high-powered and versatile blender that can crush ice, make creamy smoothies, and other recipes like hot soup and ice cream.
Avoid if: You are shopping for a budget blender.
3. Most Durable Blender: Vitamix 7500
Crushing ice is hard on any blender, and most tap out after just a couple of years of daily use. If you want a blender you are sure will last 5+ years without an issue, we recommend the Vitamix 7500.
It’s pricey, but the 7-year manufacturer’s warranty guarantees you’ll get your money’s worth.
Pros
- One of the most durable blenders – backed by an extended warranty.
- Powerful 2.2HP motor.
- Low profile design fits under kitchen cabinets.
- Versatile.
- 10 speeds.
- Self-cleaning.
Cons
- You have to add water to crush ice.
- Requires constant tamping to blend some things.
Our Review
The Vitamix 7500 is just as powerful as the Blendtec Total Classic Blender. Where Vitamix outshines, Blendtec’s built has quality and longevity.
While most Blendtec users keep their blender for 2-4 years, we have seen customers who’ve had their Vitamix for more than 5 years.
The 7-year warranty that comes with the Vitamix 7500 guarantees that you’ll enjoy the blender for a long time.
With its sharp blades and 1,440 watts of power, the Vitamix 7500 has no trouble crushing ice. You can produce coarse crushed ice or fluffy snow by adjusting between the 10-speed options and varying how long you blend for.
Similar to Blendtec, the Vitamix blender can do more than crush ice. It makes creamy drinks out of frozen ingredients, prepares hot soup, and can grind nuts and seeds.
It doesn’t have presets like Blendtec, but you have plenty of control over the blender with the 10-speed dial and the pulse feature. But it may take some trial and error to get certain recipes right. We recommend you start with the included recipe book then try out your own recipes.
The Vitamix 7500 has a self-clean feature, so keeping it clean is pretty easy. The Vitamix blender is also easy to store. It has a lower profile than other blenders (partly because of a smaller jar) and easily fits under the cabinets on your kitchen counter.
Issues & Limitations
Both Blendtec and Ninja use unique blade designs to improve blender performance. The Blendtec blender also has a wide bottom jar so that everything stays at the bottom, and you don’t have to keep pushing it down.
In contrast, the Vitamix 7500 has a traditional star blade design that sits at the very bottom of a narrow-bottomed jar.
As a result, you have to use the included tamper to make sure everything is blended.
Another limitation of this design is that the Vitamix 7500 cannot crush ice on its own, and it’ll only crush the ice at the bottom, leaving chunks of ice on top. You have to add water along with the ice cubes.
That adds another step at the end of the crushing process – straining out the water.
Bottom Line
The Vitamix 7500 is best for: Anyone shopping for a powerful ice-crushing blender that will serve them for years.
Avoid if: You are shopping for a budget blender.
4. Best Value Blender for Crushing Ice: Oster Pro 1200
If you want the best bang for your buck, get the Oster Blender Pro 1200. With 1200W of peak power, it crushes ice in seconds, and it also produces some of the best smoothies you’ll get from a blender in this price range.
Furthermore, the Oster Pro 1200 has preset for different kinds of recipes, uses a durable glass jar, and even comes with a personal smoothie cup.
Pros
- Good value for money.
- Powerful motor.
- High build quality – the blender lasts for years.
- 7 speeds.
- Personal smoothie cup.
Cons
- Smaller capacity jar.
- Loud.
Our Review
Most blenders, even the really pricey ones, come with a plastic jar.
The Oster Pro 1200 is unique in its use of a glass jar. It’s made from borosilicate glass that can withstand extreme temperatures and is highly resistant to cracking, clouding, and shattering.
As long as you don’t drop it on the floor, the glass jar should last years without any issues.
Unlike some cheap plastic jars, you don’t have to worry about ice causing cracks in the jar. You can crush ice as often as you want, and the glass can withstand it.
The extra-sharp blades of the Oster Pro 1200 and the powerful 1200W motor crush ice just as effectively as a Blendtec blender. It takes just 5 pulses to get fine snow.
And because the base of the jar is broad, you don’t need to add water to crush ice. Ice cubes get distributed evenly around the blades and stay at the bottom.
In fact, the Oster Pro 1200 doesn’t come with a tamper since you likely won’t need one even when making smoothies.
The wide base helps provide even, thorough blending. The Oster Pro 1200 also has another trick to improve blending and ice crushing. The blades can go forward and reverse, which frees up any stuck foods and keeps the blades spinning smoothly.
In addition to its power and performance, building quality and longevity are two other reasons who picked the Oster Pro 1200 as the best value blender.
The glass jar will outlast plastic jars that come with most blenders. The motor has a metal drive that the manufacturer has warranties for 10 years and everything else is covered for 3 years.
Many customers have had their Oster blender for 5 years or more. The only parts that might start to fail are the blades, and they get dull after a couple of years, especially if you crush ice often.
But you can easily get an off-brand replacement like this one from Blendin. For now, Oster doesn’t sell an official replacement blade for the Pro 1200.
Issues & Limitations
We know blenders are loud, and that’s to be expected, especially when crushing ice. But the Oster Pro 1200 is exceptionally loud, and you should probably wait until everyone is awake before you crush ice.
The other limitation is the jar size. It has a capacity of 6 cups or 48oz, which is smaller than other blenders. But it still makes enough crushed ice or smoothie for most families.
Bottom Line
The Oster Pro 1200 is best for: Anyone looking for a good bargain on a powerful blender that can crush ice.
Avoid if: You’d like a blender that’s not too noisy.
5. Best Budget Blender: Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher
Don’t want to spend more than $50 on a blender? Our favorite budget blender for crushing ice is the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher.
It has a respectable 700W of power, enough to crush small amounts of ice and make good smoothies.
Pros
- Low price.
- Powerful enough to crush ice.
- 14 speeds.
- Easy to clean.
Cons
- Doesn’t crush ice as well as 1000+ watt blenders.
Our Review
If you crush a lot of ice daily, the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher is probably not the right blender for you.
It’s not that it can’t crush ice, it can, but only small amounts of ice. Its 700W motor is about the lowest you can go in terms of power and still crush ice. But do not expect the performance of a Blendtec, Vitamix, or even a Ninja blender.
Here are some tips to get the best out of the 700W Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher when crushing ice.
- Only crush a few ice cubes at a time – about 6 cubes.
- Use standard size or smaller ice cubes.
- Add water to the blender when crushing ice. This will help keep the cubes close to the blades. You can then strain the water after crushing ice.
- When making frozen smoothies, use small chunks of frozen fruit.
- You may need to store the ice 1 or 2 times during blending to get all of it crushed.
Follow these tips and the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher works pretty well. It’s the cheapest blender we could find that does a decent job crushing ice.
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher comes with a 40-ounce glass jar, so no worries about cracks, chips, and clouding.
The control panel has 14-speed settings plus a pulse function.
As for cleaning, the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher has a self-clean feature. You can also take it apart and put the jar, lid, and blades into the dishwasher.
Issues & Limitations
We’ve already explained where the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender is limited above. Essentially, while it can crush ice, it doesn’t do it as well as blenders with more power.
If you make lots of crushed ice at home, get a more powerful blender or buy a crushed ice machine. The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher works best for occasionally crushing small amounts of ice.
Bottom Line
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher is best for: Anyone looking for a cheap blender that can crush ice.
Avoid if: You want a powerful blender that crushes a lot of ice easily and quickly.
6. Best Personal: Nutri Ninja
Want to make crushed ice just for yourself? There’s no need to get a full-size blender. The Nutri Ninja makes the perfect amount of smoothies and crushed ice in either an 18oz or 24oz jar.
And with the 1000W Auto-IQ base, it’s just as powerful as premium family-size blenders. Anything you can make in a large Ninja blender, you can make in this mini Ninja.
Pros
- Powerful personal blender.
- Two jars with lids.
- Easy to use settings.
- Makes great smoothies.
- Easy to clean.
Cons
- Really loud.
Our Review
It took some searching to find a personal blender with at least 1000W of power. Most personal blenders use less powerful motors that are good for just smoothies and milkshakes.
The Nutri Ninja packs as much power as a regular size blender, so it has no trouble pulverizing ice cubes into fine snow.
The sharp blades are shaped to create a vortex that draws everything down, ensuring all the ice gets crushed evenly without any chunks left behind.
The Nutri Ninja also works great for making personal frozen smoothies. You can make your smoothie or crushed ice in the smaller 18 oz cup or the slightly bigger 24 oz jar, and both come with lids so you can carry them with you.
The buttons on the base are easy to use. There are two-speed buttons: blend and ultra-blend. Because this is the Auto-IQ base, you just need to press one of the buttons, and the blender automatically blends, rests, and pulses to produce the perfect smoothie.
For crushing ice, though, just use the pulse button.
Issues & Limitations
The main issue with the Nutri Ninja is the noise level. The powerful motor is really loud, loud enough to be a nuisance to your neighbors if you live in an apartment.
Luckily, crushing ice takes just a few seconds, and blending doesn’t last longer than a minute.
Bottom Line
Nutri Ninja is best for: Anyone looking for a personal blender powerful enough to crush ice.
Avoid if: You are shopping for a family/regular-sized blender. Also not suitable if you want a quieter blender.
Ice-crushing Blenders Buying Guide
Ice Crusher Blender vs. Crushed Ice Machine
If you didn’t know, crushed ice machines exist, and these appliances do only one thing – turn ice cubes into crushed ice.
The most significant advantage of buying a crushed ice machine over a blender is the price, and a crushed ice machine is way cheaper than buying a 1000W or more blender that can handle ice.
The obvious downside is that you can only do one thing with an ice crusher, and it’s not as versatile as a blender.
Here’s our recommendation. If you already have a blender that makes good smoothies in your kitchen, you’ll save money by getting an ice crushing machine instead of a new blender.
But if you were also looking to replace your aged blender with a newer one that can crush ice, then a blender is the best choice.
However, if you find that the powerful 1000+W models are a bit too pricey, you can get a lower-wattage blender for making smoothies and a crushed ice machine for crushing ice. You’ll still spend way less compared to splurging on a Vitamix.
What to Look for in a Blender that Crushes Ice
Just because the manufacturer says, a blender can crush ice doesn’t mean that it can do it well. Here’s what makes a blender good for crushing ice.
1. Power
The most important feature to consider when getting an ice-crushing blender is power, and crushing ice cubes requires a lot of watts.
Ordinary 300-600W blenders can’t handle the task. They’ll overheat or just break up the cubes into large chunks.
As we mentioned at the beginning of this buying guide, the minimum wattage of an ice-crushing blender should be 700W.
But for best results, you want a blender with 1000 watts or more in power, and it’ll crush ice quickly and finely.
2. Blades
Good blenders are not just about power. The best ice-crushing blenders have specialized blade designs that produce finely crushed ice and creamier smoothies.
Some blenders also use blades that draw ice or whatever you are blending towards the bottom of the jar to ensure everything is blended evenly.
Some of the best blade designs we’ve come across include the stacked blades of the Ninja BL610, the winged blades of the Blendtec Total Classic Original, the forward and reverse blades of the Oster Pro 1200, and the vortex-creating blades of the Nutri Ninja.
It goes without saying that the blades should be thick stainless steel, which ensures they can withstand years of crushing ice and retain their sharpness for longer.
3. Build Quality
If you plan to crush ice a lot with a blender, get the best quality one you can afford. When it comes to crushing ice, build quality matters.
A cheap,low-quality blender will burn out in months, or you may end up with a cracked jar.
The best ice-crushing blenders have strong and durable plastic or glass jars as well as long-lasting motors.
Check the length of the warranty to get an idea of how long the blender will last. Generally, a good midrange blender like Ninja’s should last about 3 years, while a high-end blender should last 5 years minimum.
4. Controls
You don’t need lots of controls for crushing ice. Unless you plan to make lots of different recipes with a blender, a basic 3-speed blender will do.
In fact, all you need to crush ice is the pulse button.
5. Noise Level
Blenders are noisy, but some can be really noisy to the point of annoying your neighbors. If the noise level is a big deal for you, look for a blender that makes a bit less noise and consider also buying a sound enclosure for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are glass blender jars better than plastic jars?
The most significant advantage of glass jars is longevity. They look good for years because they don’t chip or crack from repeated blending and ice crushing.
On the downside, they are heavy. If you don’t have a lot of arm strength or have arthritis, pick a plastic blender, and it’ll be much lighter.
How many watts do I need to crush ice?
At least 700W. But blenders with at least 1000W of power are the best for crushing ice.
Can you crush the ice with a stick blender?
Stick/immersion blenders are not designed for such a rough task. You’ll quickly dull the blades or damage the motor, and it also won’t crush ice properly.
For crushing ice, stick with a regular tabletop blender.
Can I crush the ice with any blender?
Not all blenders can crush ice, and most are not powerful enough, and you can even damage the motor or break the jar.
To crush ice, get a blender with a strong jar and a motor with a minimum of 700-1000W of power.
How to crush ice in a blender
Check the instructions in the manual for directions on how much ice to put in the blender and whether you need to add water or not.
After adding the ice, pulse the blender 3-5 times to crush the ice. Some blenders also have a preset button for crushing ice.
To get fine snow-like crushed ice, pulse the ice for longer.
Final Verdict: Which is the Best Blender for Crushing Ice Sold Today?
The Ninja BL610 Professional is the best blender for crushing ice. While not the most powerful, it’s powerful enough to pulverize ice, and it’s affordable. If you want lots of ice-crushing power, get the Blendtec Total Classic Original, and if you want the best bargain, get the Oster Pro 1200.