The best blenders for crushing ice combine awesome power and reliable performance you’ll need to blend sorbets or frozen drinks.
Quality components can also make a big difference in the results…
But you might be surprised to find that the best doesn’t necessarily have to cost a lot of money.
Read on to find out our top pick for crushing ice and frozen fruit.
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What’s the Best Blender for Crushing Ice & Frozen Fruit?
Our pick for best blender for crushing ice or frozen fruit should come as no surprise. Vitamix is pretty much considered the pinnacle of blending perfection, and the Vitamix 7500 for crushing ice and frozen fruits definitely upholds the brand’s tradition of excellence.
Interestingly, the 7500 isn’t the most powerful model in this roundup. The 7500-watt motor is certainly capable of dishing out heavy-duty performance, but that isn’t what makes it such an efficient unit. With a meticulously-designed blending system that ensures optimal performance from each and every component, the Vitamix 7500 out performs many other units with a lot more horses under the hood.
Demonstration
Budget Option
If you can’t spare the cash for the Vitamix 7500, the Oster Pro 1200 Blender for crushing ice is a more affordably-priced model that doesn’t seem like a budget choice at all. This one definitely ups the ante as far as power is concerned, and it can process fruits and vegetables into smooth and creamy drinks with minimum effort.
Sure, you can spring for a Vitamix when your finances are a lot more…existent. Until then, the Oster Pro 1200 will provide you with a whole lot of blender for not a whole lot of cash.
Blender Buying Guide – How to Choose the Right Blender?
When shopping for an ice and fruit crushing blender, the primary consideration is of course power.
There is no getting around it: you simply need a unit with a motor capable of driving the blade mechanism with sufficient force to crush through ice. Anything upwards of 800 watts or so would suffice, but you do get considerably better performance the more wattage your unit is packing.
Of course, the blade system will have to be taken into consideration as well. All that power wouldn’t amount to much if the blade system is an inefficient, single-blade design that struggles to chip away at an ice cube. A less than optimal blade system will be the bottleneck in your system, and a jam could even cause the motor to burn out.
For best results, you need
a) a motor that is powerful enough to drive the blade system efficiently, and
b) a blade system that can effectively use the power that the motor pumps out.
With this combo, you could chop through ice and frozen fruit just as easily as you would a ripe banana.
Best Blender for Crushing Ice and Frozen Fruit
Vitamix 7500
Vitamix is one of the most respected brands in the high-performance blender market. The Vitamix 7500 for crushing ice is easily one of the most highly-regarded models in the company’s extensive product line, and it is easy to see why. Offering enough power to compete with the best of them, it truly stands apart with its consistent performance and solid durability. If you have gone through your share of lower priced blenders that ultimately failed to deliver–or simply failed–it might be time to move up to a Vitamix.
Specs, Design, Usability
It is interesting to note that the Vitamix 7500’s reputation isn’t hinged on power. As the manufacturer says, the goal isn’t to provide the highest horsepower. Instead, the company has focused on delivering focused power that results in smoother and more flavorful blends in less time.
Don’t get us wrong: the Vitamix 7500 definitely has power to spare. But instead of relying on sheer brute force, the blender brings together a variety of efficient components that do the work efficiently and elegantly.
What power the Vitamix 7500 does have is harnessed by the variable speed control with ten settings. These enable you to control the blending process to a remarkably precise degree. As a result, soups are incredibly smooth and creamy, and salsas are as chunky as you like.
What others are saying
The performance capabilities of Vitamix blenders are well known, and the Vitamix 7500 seems to share the same reputation. Many users marveled at how effective the blending mechanism is at processing practically anything. Whether used for fruits or vegetables, the result is always smoothly-blended mixes with no solids whatsoever.
Understandably, the price did make a few users consider other options. Once they experienced what is was like to use a truly capable blender however, most agreed that the 7500 was worth every penny.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
With its huge capacity, impressive power, and reliable performance, the Vitamix 7500 pretty much represents the pinnacle of modern blender technology. As pricey as it is, the quality of its performance cannot be denied. If you have the money to spend on a state-of-the-art blender that delivers on every score, this is the one for you.
Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender
The Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender for crushing ice and frozen fruits takes the classic blender concept into the 21st century with a host of features that modern users will definitely appreciate. It looks like pretty much any modern blender from the outside, but underneath the hood is a surprising amount of power and functionality that delivers consistently high-quality performance.
The Total Classic is as user friendly as they come. One-touch operation is provided via a variety of preprogrammed settings that make blending fast, simple, and easy. And with a unique heating feature that takes you from blend to table in minutes, the Total Classic is so much more than your run-of-the-mill blender.
Specs, Design, Usability
Blendtec blenders are clearly built to last, with a durability and reliability that you would expect to find only in state-of-the-art commercial kitchen equipment. Blendtec claims that the Classic’s blades are 80% thicker than the competition’s, and they certainly do look and feel more substantial.
The availability of preprogrammed blending cycles is probably what first-time buyers will appreciate the most. Ten settings are provided, enabling you to make everything from smoothies and shakes to soups and sauces, and even ice cream. Of course, the Classic also excels at crushing ice, and you will find that it is just as capable at this task as a dedicated icemaker machine.
What others are saying
Users of the Blendtec Total Classic are unanimous in their praise of its efficiency. Nearly all of the preprogrammed settings produced the desired result, and almost no solids remained when frozen fruit is processed on the “smoothie” setting.
The hot soup setting was a pleasant surprise for many, opening their eyes to the varied possibilities offered by this unit. The ability to make hot soup from a blender was a novelty that many simply did not expect.
Some users did mention the loudness of the blending mechanism, especially when crushing ice. This is to be expected from a high-powered blender of course. It should also be noted that other users didn’t find the noise level excessive at all.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
The Blendtec Total Classic is a good choice for someone looking for a blender that does more than your typical smoothie maker. Being able to make both soup and ice cream with the same blender is definitely a plus. Although not quite a budget unit, the Classic does deliver decent bang-for-the-buck.
Blendtec Designer 625 Blender
Also from Blendtec, the Blendtec Designer 625 Blender for crushing ice offers many of the features as the Classic, albeit in a more robust and modernist-looking package. Like the much-cheaper Classic, the 625 also has enough power to handle most blending tasks. It also offers the same versatility, being able to make hot, steaming soup from fresh ingredients in minutes.
The 625 boasts of a unique jar design that pulls ingredients inward to the blade mechanism. This is a welcome feature for anyone that has had to stop blending for a few minutes in order to scrape foodstuff off the sides of the jar.
Specs, Design, Usability
Blendtec blenders are known for their rugged durability, and the 625 definitely lives up to that reputation. From the jar to the blending mechanism–and even to the lid–the individual components are obviously built to the highest standards.
Like the Classic, the 625 also features one-touch operation with various settings for different blending requirements. You could theoretically make a refreshing smoothie, rinse out the jar, and then proceed to whip up soup for lunch. And with the company’s exclusive SmartBlend technology, consistent results are achievable with minimum effort.
What others are saying
Blendtec blenders tend to attract users that are looking for a high performance machine, but don’t necessarily want to spend the cash on a “premium” model. The Blendtec Designer 625 Blender isn’t exactly cheap. But most users seem to feel that the cost is justified given the performance and durability they get for the money.
Even experienced users love the way that the motor adjusts itself automatically depending on the setting. While many still prefer to have full manual control over blending speed, many seem to be convinced of the usefulness of the preprogrammed settings.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
The Blendtec Designer 625 Blender isn’t what anyone would call a “budget” blender. Although it isn’t as expensive as the highest-priced model in this lineup, its cost still represents a significant investment. But if you want something with a bit more features and capabilities than the Classic, the 625 could be the one for you.
Cleanblend 3 HP Commercial Blender
The Cleanblend 3 HP Commercial Blender for crushing ice is easily the most powerful blender in this roundup. Offering 1800-watts of blending power, it beats out the closest competitor’s relatively modest 1400-watt motor by a wide margin.
Of course, power isn’t everything as far as blenders are concerned, and some might argue that 1800-watts is overkill for most blending tasks. But the Cleanblend is more than just about sheer brute force, and its versatility and quality construction show that it can more than hold its own in the high-performance blender arena.
Specs, Design, Usability
In many ways, versatility–not power–is actually the main selling point of the Cleanblend. The awesome power that lies under the hood is simply there to handle difficult task–such as ice crushing–when the situation calls for it. Used for other applications, the motor is as smooth and steady as they come, with quality results that you wouldn’t normally expect from such a high-powered screamer.
The unit’s other components are equally impressive. The blending mechanism consists of six blades made of stainless steel, ensuring that no food you put in comes out unscathed.
Setting it all in motion is the spinning mechanism fitted with stainless steel bearings. While most manufacturers equip their blenders with plastic bearings over a plastic housing, Cleanblend has opted to use stainless steel bearings for maximum traction.
What others are saying
One user with extensive food industry experience compared the Cleanblend 3 HP favorably to similarly-featured Vitamix and Blendtec models. For less than half the cost of either of those two brands, he found that the Cleanblend provided pretty much the same results. Even ginger–typically one of the toughest ingredients to blend–was reduced to liquid in seconds, with no trace of fiber to be seen.
Some users did report a tendency for ingredients to be pushed to the sides of the jar. This is fairly normal behavior for blenders that spin at high speeds, so many users did find the included tamper to be quite useful.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
The Cleanblend 3 HP Commercial Blender is an affordably-priced unit that delivers enough power to hang with the big boys. Although most users will rarely need this much power, it’s good to know that it’s there when needed.
Oster Versa Pro
Another powerful model that delivers outstanding value, the Oster Versa Pro is driven by a 1400-watt motor that can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. At even less cost than the Cleanblend, the Versa Pro can whip up sorbets from frozen fruit, and even turn chunks of ice into snow within seconds.
The aforementioned motor sets the stainless steel blade in motion at a top speed of more than 250 MPH. That’s pretty decent performance for any blender, but the low cost of the Versa Pro makes it even more impressive.
Specs, Design, Usability
Of course, the Versa Pro packs more than just power underneath its snazzy black housing. Three programmed settings are available, which combine with a pulse function to give you the versatility you need to handle most any blending task. With these three settings, you can make smoothies, soups, and even smooth and creamy spreads at a push of a button. The blender mechanism even decides on the optimum speed for specific tasks, and stops automatically when done.
The “Versa” in the name obviously stands for “versatile”, and the unit certainly delivers. You can process fresh ingredients into steaming hot soup just as easily as you could crush ice into snow, so you really are only limited by your imagination.
What others are saying
Users that had previously considered purchasing a more expensive Vitamix or Blendtec found the Oster Versa Pro to be a worthy alternative. Many seemed particularly impressed at how versatile the Oster is, citing its ability to take the place of several dedicated pieces of kitchen equipment.
One of the features that appealed to users the most is the reversing blade system. Many blenders typically suffer from the problem of having food stuck to the sides, particularly those that spin at high speeds. For many users, the bidirectional blade allowed for longer blending, without having to lift the lid to scrape off bits of food from the sides of the jar.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
The Versa Pro for crushing ice and frozen fruits is a good choice for those looking for a simple and reliable blender. If your needs are simple, and you would rather not spend money on features you will never use, the Versa Pro will get the job done at a reasonable price.
Ninja Chef Blender
Ninja is a brand that should be familiar to anyone who ever yearned for a high performance blender. The company has built its reputation largely on power and features, both of which came at a premium cost. With the Ninja Chef Countertop Blender for crushing ice, the company aims to provide the same power and functionality at a lower price.
The Chef definitely has enough power to live up to the company’s reputation. Driven by 1500-watt motor system, this could conceivably handle most any blending task. The high-speed blade design–which Ninja dubbed “next generation”–provides the brand’s widest speed range yet.
Specs, Design, Usability
1500-watts is a pretty impressive rating by most standards, but it’s what the Chef does with that power that counts. When operated in manual mode, the blender spins from 7,000 to 18,000 RPM. This makes it suitable for a wide variety of tasks, and it definitely enhances the versatility of the unit.
If you would rather let the Chef do all the work, you can choose from any one of 10 pre-set Auto-iQ programs. These settings provide a range of speeds and blending times that can be used for anything from making smoothies to crushing ice.
What others are saying
Vitamix is something of a standard among high performance blenders, so it isn’t surprising to see the Ninja Chef compared against that brand. One user with extensive restaurant experience compared the Chef favorably with Vitamix models, saying that it delivered close to the same results. Even though he continues to use a Vitamix at work, it is strictly the Ninja Chef at home for him and his wife.
The cost of the Ninja Chef also made true believers out of a few other users. For the same money as a premium unit, some opted to purchase a second Ninja Chef instead. For twice the performance at less than half the cost, this was undeniably a great deal.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
It’s something of a mystery how the Ninja Chef Blender packs so much power and capability in such a low cost package. If you have any reservations about purchasing such an inexpensive blender, you can rest assured knowing that its performance and durability are proven without a doubt.
Oster Reverse Crush Counterforms Blender
The Oster Reverse Crush Counterforms for crushing ice is fast becoming a favorite among dedicated blender users–and not just for its low cost. Sure, the Counterforms is as affordable as they come, with a price tag that you probably wouldn’t have believed. But more than an attractive price tag, this Oster model also packs some pretty impressive features that you would only expect from a higher-priced model.
Foremost of these is the dual-direction blade that ensures consistent results every time. There is also the seven-speed motor that has sufficient power for most tasks. Let’s take a look at these and other features one by one.
Specs, Design, Usability
The 1000 watt motor cranks out 600 watts in use. Not the most powerful motor in the blender world, but certainly capable of plowing through most anything, including ice.
Kicking the works into action is the Smart Settings feature that provides a variety of programs with different blending speeds. Triggered by a one-touch control, this automatically blends your ingredients at the appropriate speed and length of time.
The dual direction blade is responsible for most of the action. Built from rugged stainless steel, the six-point blade system chops and slices with precision. It is so effective that it can cut through frozen fruit and ice just as easily as it would a peach slice.
What others are saying
The dual direction blade is what users seem to appreciate the most about the Counterforms. One user who experiences a lot of overflows especially liked being able to toss in large pieces of fruit without issue.
The different settings seem to get a lot of use too. One user sets the unit to “frozen drinks” in order to process frozen fruit. He then uses the aptly-named “high ice crush” setting to ensure a smooth and consistent end product.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
The Oster Reverse Crush Counterforms Blender provides almost unbelievable value for the money. For this price, you would be hard-pressed to find a blender that can deliver the same performance. More than just a good deal, this unit is practically a no-brainer.
Ninja Professional 72oz Countertop Blender
The Ninja Professional Blender 1000 is another low cost blender that aims to break the price-performance barrier. The “1000” in the name refers to the 1,000 watts of power that the motor is capable of delivering. That is definitely more than enough for your typical home blending needs.
Like all Ninja models, this one handles a multitude of tasks with ease. It could easily serve as a smoothie maker one minute, and then crush ice the next. From fresh produce to frozen fruit, to huge chunks of ice, the 1000 blends it all without so much as a hiccup.
Specs, Design, Usability
Ninja’s “Total Crushing Technology” is largely responsible for the efficient performance of the 1000 for crushing ice and frozen fruits. The blade system can rampage through even the hardest and toughest ingredients, giving you a smooth and consistent product in seconds.
The 1000’s blender jar is clearly intended for big jobs. With a very respectable 72 ounce capacity, it can easily hold enough margaritas or frozen daiquiris to satiate a thirsty group.
The 1000 has a fairly modest selection of settings as compared to other models. There is a “low”, a “medium”, and a “high” setting, along with “pulse”. Simple as they may seem, they are all you need to make a variety of blended concoctions.
What others are saying
The plastic construction of the 1000 initially made some users skeptical. But all concerns were laid to rest once the blender kicked into action. The components have a satisfying heft to them, and they don’t feel cheap at all.
Many users were also impressed with the efficiency of the blade system. Sharp enough to cut through dense, fibrous fruits, they can make slush out of most anything.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
The Ninja Professional 72oz Countertop Blender isn’t the cheapest blender in this roundup but it definitely fits into the “affordable” and “reasonably-priced” categories. In any case, you get a whole lot of blender for the money. Definitely look into this one if you believe that high-performance doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive.
Ninja Master Prep
Even less expensive than the Ninja Professional Countertop Blender 1000, the Ninja Master Prep Professional for crushing ice and frozen fruits is simplicity personified. A wide variety of blending and processing tasks can be accomplished simply by pushing down on the top of the unit, and the results are pretty impressive.
In addition to the full-sized pitcher, the Master Prep also comes with a chopper bowl. You could simply do all your processing in the pitcher from start to finish, but using the bowl for pre-prep makes it so much more efficient. Both pitcher and chopper bowl come with their own splash guards, so you don’t have to worry about making a mess.
Specs, Design, Usability
There really isn’t a lot to the Master Prep once you have gotten to know all its functions. You can simply place any fruit or vegetable of your choice in the pitcher, press down on the top for a few seconds, and you get a smooth and even blend. Simple.
As we mentioned previously, the chopper bowl can be used in conjunction with the pitcher if you want more control over the end product. You could chop up carrots in the bowl for example, and then pour the chopped bits into the pitcher to finish it up. This method gives you more consistent results than if you placed the carrot pieces in the pitcher right from the get-go.
What others are saying
The Ninja Master Prep simply excels at making smoothies, as many users have discovered. Putting in a variety of frozen fruits results in smoothies that are remarkably..erhm..smooth, with an almost ice cream-like consistency.
Other users seem to have gotten mixed results. Although many have reported using the unit for several months without issues, one user noticed a gradual decrease in power over time. It took longer and longer for this user to get the results that he desired, although the blender was still functional.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
As the cheapest blender in this lineup, the Ninja Master Prep provides adequate performance…but not much more. It could certainly handle the most basic tasks, and you could reasonably expect good performance for a while. Eventually however, you might find yourself wishing for a more versatile and more powerful unit.
Oster Pro 1200 Blender
This is more like it! The Oster Pro 1200 Blender for crushing ice and frozen fruits brings together many of the best qualities of a state-of-the-art Oster blender in an affordable package. With an established reputation for quality kitchen equipment that delivers exceptional value, Oster once again proves its capability in blender design and technology.
The “1200” in the name offers a clue as to the power that lies beneath this model’s slick brushed-nickel exterior. Operating at 1200 watts of power, this motor crushes ice and frozen fruit just as easily as it would a leafy green. And with the company’s exclusive Smart Settings feature, a wide variety of drinks can be made with minimum fuss.
Specs, Design, Usability
The 1200-watt motor is what will likely impress users the most. The Blender Plus is actually a blender and a food processor rolled into one, so that power definitely comes in handy. With it, you can whip up everything from your standard smoothies to salsa and soup, all in the same device.
The aforementioned Smart Settings Technology gives you easy access to the seven speed settings. Three of these are pre-programmed for specific types of preparations, so making smoothies, milkshakes, and salsas is a one-touch operation.
The dual-direction blade is another welcome feature, ensuring smooth and consistent results. The blade system is also 50% larger than the ones in other Oster blenders, so you will notice a definite boost in performance.
What others are saying
Users like how the Blender Plus is able to process such a wide variety of ingredients so efficiently. “Picky” isn’t a word that could be used to describe this unit, as it happily plows through ice cubes and frozen fruits just as readily as it would softer fruits.
Surprisingly, even users that like having full control over the blending process appreciate the one-touch Smart Settings feature. Providing a degree of convenience that comes in handy, it turned out to be a more useful feature than many users initially thought.
Read customer reviews @ Amazon
Bottom-line
The Oster Pro 1200 Blender is a solid performer with features and capabilities that seem at odds with its low price. Even though this model is our pick for best budget option, it would still be a top contender even if it came with a higher price tag.