The 10 Best Ice Crushers
This wiki has been updated 30 times since it was first published in February of 2017. If you like to host parties, an ice crusher is a must-have that'll help you keep all your guests happy. They are designed to shave or smash cubes into a texture suitable for use in frozen drinks and snow cones. Our top picks include powerful, commercial-quality, electric models along with a few basic, manual options that should be fine for occasional use and don't cost much. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Zeny Electric
2. Cuisinart Snow Cone
3. Blendtec Designer Series WildSide+
Editor's Notes
September 10, 2020:
An ice crusher lets you make delicious treats and drinks at home; at this time, we've cultivated a range of both manual and electric options to meet light and heavy-duty needs. In the former category, we kept the Gourmia Shaver, even though its less-than-robust handle means it's far from perfect. It's perhaps the best of its type, however, so if you don't want to invest in a large, electric machine, it can be a big help. But we replaced the Viski Professional Lewis Ice Bag with the Barillio Big Shot Muddler Kit. They both come with a Lewis Ice Bag, but the Big Shot has a muddler in place of a mallet, so it's more versatile, since you can use this implement to crush ice and muddle ingredients. Pair this with a cocktail shaker, and you'll be whipping up refreshing adult beverages in no time.
As for electric models, the popular Cuisinart Snow Cone was added, joining the Zeny Electric as a top choice. Both produce the fluffy ice you need to make fun treats for kids and adults alike; just remember that these machines, and similar, have fast moving blades and are not appropriate for use by children. We also kept one blender, the Blendtec Designer Series WildSide+, for those who want a machine that does more than just crush ice. Although a Vitamix blender might be a more popular choice, we selected the Blendtec because it has a preprogrammed ice crushing cycle, so it is slightly more convenient for this purpose. But, realistically, it's hard to go wrong with a model from either maker.
March 12, 2019:
Although the Victorio Kitchen VKP1126 remains somewhat popular, we decided to remove it due to ongoing concerns about rust. Even with careful cleaning and drying, it simply does not hold up. We added the Gourmia Shaver, instead, which is a similar portable model that offers incredibly easy operation. We also selected two additional non-electric models: the Arrow Home Products 60-Cube trays and the Viski Professional Lewis Ice Bag. They're both fine for casual entertaining, but if you have a large get-together on your hands or want crushed ice every day, a more robust, higher capacity model might be better. That's why we selected the Blendtec Designer Series WildSide+ and the Zeny Electric, although technically the former is a blender. This will be a positive for many users, however, as a multi-function device means fewer items to store and clean. Plus, Blendtec blenders are known for their durability and hassle-free operation.
Special Honors
Santos #53 In a mere 30 seconds, the Santos #53 can deposit just over 2.5 pounds of crushed ice into the sturdy bucket, and do so without making as much noise as some other machines. It boasts two modes, one manual and one automatic, the latter of which offers time-saving hands-free use. omcan.com
Hatsuyuki HC-8E A robust commercial machine, the Hatsuyuki HC-8E is both NSF certified and UL listed, making it appropriate for use in a wide variety of settings. You can change the texture of the output with its handy blade adjustment knob, while the blade itself is replaceable, which helps extend the machine's lifespan. 1-800-shaved-ice.com
4. Great Northern Popcorn Company Ice Cub
5. Yescom Shaver
6. Segawe Commercial
7. Westmark Germany Manual
8. Barillio Big Shot Muddler Kit
9. Hawaiian S900A
10. Gourmia Shaver
Melissa Harr is a language-obsessed writer from Chicagoland who holds both a bachelor of arts and master of arts in English. Although she began as a TEFL teacher, earning several teaching certificates and working in both Russia and Vietnam, she moved into freelance writing to satisfy her passion for the written word. She has published full-length courses and books in the realm of arts & crafts and DIY; in fact, most of her non-working time is spent knitting, cleaning, or committing acts of home improvement. Along with an extensive knowledge of tools, home goods, and crafts and organizational supplies, she has ample experience (okay, an obsession) with travel gear, luggage, and the electronics that make modern life more convenient.