The 10 Best Blenders For Ice
This wiki has been updated 19 times since it was first published in December of 2018. Anyone who’s tried making shakes or frozen margaritas with the average home blender knows it can be difficult to get results that are completely free of ice shards. These high-powered models can liquefy the hardest of ingredients to provide drinks with an extremely smooth consistency. Some are also suitable for food processing tasks, like mixing dough and preparing hot soup. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Vitamix 5200
2. Ninja Mega Kitchen System
3. Blendtec Total Classic
Editor's Notes
September 11, 2020:
In today’s update, we added in models from a couple of well-known brands in small kitchen appliances. The Cuisinart Hurricane Pro features a sleek, simple design that’s capable of making anything from frozen drinks to hot soups. It’s available with either 3.5- or 2.25-peak horsepower motors, and can hold up to 64 ounces at once. In addition to a variable speed control of 1,500 to 25,000 RPM, it also offers a special turbo boost mode for maximum blending power. It conveniently can remember previous presets and will save them until you change them. The pitcher is made of durable BPA-free tritan plastic and a soft-grip handle, and the base is available in your choice of gunmetal or white. We also added in the KitchenAid K150, which comes in the brand’s signature bright red, or other options like black, blue, white, and gray. In addition to the 48-ounce pitcher, it comes with two 16-ounce jars that are perfect when you want to take your smoothies on the go. The two new additions replace the Vitamix Professional Series 750 and the BlendWorks Pro Series, neither of which are available at this time.
For an elegant, sleek design that’s not just a pretty face, look to the Breville BBL620, which boasts a high-torque motor and rugged blades that enable food processing as well as smoothie-making. It’s got a handy built-in timer and a pull-ring right on the lid that makes it a cinch to open when your food or beverage is done. If you find yourself making breakfast shakes early in the morning before anyone else is awake, the Hamilton Beach 58870 is worthy of a look. Once you pop on the quiet shield, it will dampen the noise. It conveniently features dedicated settings for four commonly used cycles, so your drinks and meals can be ready in a jiffy.
For a powerful model at a price that’s tough to be beat, check out the Ninja Mega Kitchen System, which includes a large blending pitcher, two take-along cups, and a food processor bowl. In addition to cold drinks, it comes in handy for chopping foods and mixing up dough. If you’re partial to its brand and are looking for more of its models, check out a range of blenders from Ninja, some of which are also capable of food processing and preparing hot soups and sauces.
December 17, 2018:
We are very aware of the fact that in order to effectively crush ice, blenders need very powerful motors. For that reason, we only included the mightiest of models. Unfortunately, that meant there was often a trade off in aesthetics, since the most effective options often feature a somewhat commercial design. We did our best to balance style with functionality to bring you the best of both worlds.
Special Honors
Omcan 43071 Featuring a powerful brushless DC motor, this durable blender can crush ingredients quickly and easily. It’s well suited for healthy meals, drinks, and desserts, and can cover most kitchen tasks, thanks to its eight pre-programmed settings. It’s comparatively quiet and features a convenient touchpad controller and an FDA-approved and BPA-free jar that’s safe and nontoxic. omcan.com
4. Cuisinart Hurricane Pro
5. Hamilton Beach Tempest
6. Breville BBL620
7. KitchenAid K150
8. Oster Counterforms
9. Cleanblend 2001
10. Hamilton Beach 58870
Karen Bennett lives in Chicago with her family, and when she’s not writing, she can usually be found practicing yoga or cheering on her kids at soccer games. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and a bachelor’s in English, and her writing has been published in various local newspapers, as well as “The Cheat Sheet,” “Illinois Legal Times,” and “USA Today.” She has also written search engine news page headlines and worked as a product manager for a digital marketing company. Her expertise is in literature, nonfiction, textbooks, home products, kids' games and toys, hardware, teaching accessories, and art materials.