The 5 Best Blenders For Crushing Ice - Fall 2024

The Vitamix A3500 is the best blender for crushing ice that we've tested. This high-end blender is probably overkill if all you want is a good ice crusher. However, if you want a multi-purpose blender with a fantastic ice crushing performance, look no further. This blender can crush about a dozen ice cubes into snow-like ice in seconds with its 'Frozen Drinks' program. It's very well-built, which is especially important if you blend a lot of hard ingredients like ice cubes.

It has an equally good performance for other blends. It creates a very smooth blend with fibrous ingredients like fruit and leafy greens, making it a great option for smoothies, and it's quite easy to use for recipes like nut butter as well. Its blending programs make ice crushing easier, but if you don't mind manually pulsing, you might prefer the Vitamix 7500. It's very well-built and makes snow-like crushed ice with its pulse switch. However, it lacks any blending programs and performs worse for some recipes, like single-serve smoothies.

If you want a cheaper ice crushing blender that still has a versatile performance, you might prefer the Breville The Q. This full-size blender isn't quite as well-built as the Vitamix A3500, but it's still very sturdy. It quickly and easily makes snow-like crushed ice in its 68oz jar with its ice crush/auto pulse blending program. While it's not quite as fast as ice crushing as the A3500, it's still a quick and easy process.

Otherwise, it has a versatile performance. It's an excellent choice for smoothies since it makes a smooth blend with common additions like fruit and leafy greens, although again, it's not as quick as the Vitamix. It's easy to use for thicker recipes, like nut butter or a spoonable smoothie with a lot of frozen fruit or ice. Its wider-based jar also makes it easier to clean by hand.

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 Breville The Q and 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, making 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.