The 5 Best Blenders For Crushing Ice - Fall 2024

The Vitamix 7500 is the best blender for ice crushing we've tested. Even though many cheaper blenders can get the job done, it's worth considering if you want a heavy-duty ice-crushing blender with versatile overall performance. This high-end blender is very well-built and comes with a seven-year U.S. warranty (depending on where you live and where you buy it), which is nice if you use your blender daily for crushing ice and other hard ingredients, like frozen fruit. It comes with a 64oz jar and has a simple control scheme, with a speed dial and a switch for pulse mode useful for ice crushing.

It's part of Vitamix's 'Legacy' product line, and like other 'Legacy' models, its jar isn't dishwasher-safe. It has a straightforward design without 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 at the push of a button. However, it's not quite as well-built as the 7500, which has durable metal siding around the motor base instead of plastic.

The KitchenAid K400 is a cheaper option that still offers a fantastic ice-crushing performance. While it's not as well-built as the Vitamix 7500, it's still very sturdy. It easily makes big batches of snow-like crushed ice for frozen desserts and cocktails, although it does it a little slower than the Vitamix. It's also very versatile. The jar has a two-part lid, so you can pour more liquid into your recipes without stopping the machine. It has no problem liquifying stubborn ingredients like kale or blueberries, so it'll do a great job even if your recipe includes fibrous fruit like pineapple.

However, it's not as easy to use for thicker recipes as the Vitamix. To make a spoonable smoothie bowl, you might have to stop the machine to remove the lid and stir for the recipe to blend properly since it doesn't come with a tamper. The jar's non-removable blades are tricky to clean if you're working with sticky ingredients, but if you're mostly blending ice and liquid, that won't be as much of an issue. All of its components are also dishwasher-safe.

Consider the Ninja Detect Duo Power Blender Pro if you want a cheaper option that can easily crush ice. This sturdy blender isn't as well-built as the KitchenAid K400, and it has a less versatile performance, but it's just as good for ice crushing. It has a pulse mode that can help break up big chunks of ingredients, and you can also use its automatic 'BlendSense' feature for snow-like crushed ice. The 72oz main jar is big enough for multiple servings of slushies or blended margaritas at your next party, and the lid includes a pouring spout that makes it easy to serve drinks from the pitcher.

It comes with a pair of 24oz jars, so you don't have to use the big jar when you're blending for one. It makes a very smooth blend with fibrous ingredients in the personal jars, which is important for the silkiest fruit smoothies, and while it makes a less smooth blend in its main pitcher, it still does a good overall job. If you want more personal jars, the Ninja Blender Duo with Auto-iQ BL642 is a very similar blender that comes with three. However, it doesn't blend fibrous ingredients like kale as smoothly. Both models are more difficult to clean by hand than the KitchenAid, and if you plan to use your blender for a variety of recipes, it's worth noting that you can't use either for hot blending.

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. The Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ is just as good at making snow-like crushed ice as the previous picks but offers less versatility in exchange for a cheaper price tag. It only comes with one 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.

There's no two-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 Blender Duo with Auto-iQ BL642, 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 if you usually just need to blend enough for one or two people, but not all personal blenders are suitable for crushing ice. The Ninja Foodi Power Nutri DUO comes with a pair of 24oz personal jars that you can use for ice crushing. Its short, compact motor base also makes it easy to store out of the way in a cupboard. 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 14oz 'Smoothie Βowl Maker' that works very well for thick mixtures like nut butter. It's well-built, like the Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ, 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. On the plus side, it's easy to clean by hand, and all the jars, lids, and blade assemblies are dishwasher-safe.