The 5 Best Blenders For Crushing Ice - Fall 2023 Reviews

The Vitamix 7500 is the best blender for ice crushing we've tested. Even though plenty of blenders can get the job done and cost less, if you want something heavy-duty with versatile overall performance, it's worth considering this high-end blender. It's extremely well-built and comes with a seven-year U.S. warranty (depending on where you buy it) which is especially important if you use your blender daily for crushing ice and other hard ingredients, like frozen fruits. It comes with a 64-ounce jar and has a simple control scheme, with a speed dial and a switch for pulse mode that's useful for ice crushing.

It's part of Vitamix's 'Legacy' product line, and like other 'Legacy' models, no part of the blender is dishwasher-safe. It has no blending programs, so you must stop the machine manually. If you want a blender that can crush ice automatically and stop when it's done, you might prefer the Vitamix Propel 750. It's more expensive but has a 'Frozen Drinks' mode that crushes big batches of ice with just one button push. However, the 7500 stands out from other Vitamix models because it has durable metal siding around the motor base instead of plastic. It offers a better build quality in exchange for the extra cost.

If you're not prepared to spend that much but still want a versatile blender, you might prefer the Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender. It feels less well-made than the Vitamix 7500 and comes with a much shorter warranty, but it's very sturdy and easily makes snow-like crushed ice ideal for frozen drinks like blended cocktails or slushies. Unlike some of the cheaper options here, it's also a good option if you don't plan to only use your blender for crushing ice. It can produce a silky-smooth blend with fibrous ingredients, so if your recipe has pineapple or blueberries, it won't have unprocessed bits left over.

Like the previous pick, it can hot blend and heat ingredients, which you might care about if you plan to use your blender for a bit of everything. It offers many automatic blending programs for different recipes, which is nice if you often have your hands full in the kitchen since the machine will automatically stop when finished. That said, its design has a few downsides. Instead of heating ingredients with friction from the blades like the Vitamix, it has a heating element built into the jar, which means you can't put it in your dishwasher or immerse it in water in the sink. You might find that annoying, especially if you plan to mainly use the blender for crushed ice. However, it has a self-clean program that cleans the jar well, especially if you only blend ice and liquid.

The best mid-range blender for ice crushing is the Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher System. While Ninja's full-size blenders aren't always the most versatile, they reliably make fantastic ice crushers. This blender can crush a batch of ice cubes into snow-like crushed ice in seconds using its 72oz main jar. It comes with additional jars, including a 24oz personal jar for single-serves and a specially designed jar smoothie bowls and other thicker recipes. There's a button for pulse mode, which can be helpful for ice crushing, and also features blending programs, which you can use to have the blender stop automatically.

It also performs well with fibrous ingredients, so it can smoothly blend recipes with fresh fruit, although it'll take longer to blend a big batch of fruit cocktails than the Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender. If you plan to use your blender for various recipes, it's worth noting that you can't use it for hot blending. It's also difficult to clean by hand because of the main jar's sharp blades, which can be tedious to clean carefully. However, all of the jars and blades are dishwasher-safe.

If you don't plan to use your blender for much besides crushing ice, a straightforward, budget-friendly blender might be just what you need. This blender is just as good for making snow-like crushed ice as the previous picks but offers less versatility in exchange for a cheaper price tag. It only comes with a 72oz jar, but its controls include a button for pulse mode, which can be useful for breaking up bigger chunks of ice, as well as a few automatic blending programs, so you don't have to manually shut off the blender when a recipe is done.

Unlike the previous picks, it doesn't have a 2-part lid for the jar, so you must stop the machine and remove the lid to add ingredients. However, the lid has a pouring spout, which helps serve drinks directly from the pitcher. It won't make a completely smooth blend with fibrous fruits and vegetables, which can result in grainy smoothies and blended cocktails. It also has the same blade design as the Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher System, which makes it difficult to clean by hand. Still, all of its components are dishwasher-safe. It's also the quietest blender listed here.

You may not want a bulky full-size blender to make blended cocktails for only one or two people. The Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO is a personal blender that easily crushes small batches of ice. Its short, compact motor base also makes storing it out of the way in a cupboard when you're not using it easier. It comes with a pair of 24-ounce jars that you can use to make snow-like crushed ice. Unlike most of the blenders on this list, it also does a fantastic job of processing fibrous ingredients, so you can use it to make silky single-serve drinks with ingredients like kale. The jars each come with a resealable lid to bring your drink on the go.

It's loud when running but has a few automatic blending programs, so you don't need to stand next to it the whole time. It's versatile for a personal blender, thanks to its 14-ounce 'Smoothie Βowl Maker' that works very well for thick mixtures like nut butter. It's well-built, like the Ninja Professional Blender 1000, but it doesn't feel as sturdy as the more expensive blenders on this list. Like most personal blenders, it can't hot blend and has only one speed setting, which limits its versatility. It's easy to clean by hand, and all the jars, lids, and blade assemblies are dishwasher-safe.