Best Blenders for Frozen Drinks In 2022: Reviews & Buying Guide

As the hot months approach, nothing is more soothing than an ice-cold smoothie. If you are looking to make frozen drinks, you will definitely need a blender with enough power to crush ice and frozen fruit. Choosing the right blender to meet your requirements can be a challenge, but with the information in this article, it doesn’t have to be.

In this post, we will consider five of the best blenders for frozen drinks that you can buy right now. We consider models from the best brands and that offer features that give overall excellent performance. Without further ado, let’s consider the best blender for making frozen drinks.

 

5 Best Blenders For Crushing Ice & Frozen Drinnks

1. Vitamix 5200 – Best Premium Blenders for Frozen Drinks

Our best pick is the incredibly popular Vitamix 5200 blender. This unit is an absolute powerhouse from the Vitamix Legacy series of powerful blenders. Although it is quite dated (released in 2007), this blender remains one of the best blenders for frozen drinks due to its incredible durability and overall quality.

Key Features:

• 64-ounce container
• 120V 11.5 A Power rating
• 7-year warranty
• 2 HP Peak Power
• 56 pounds weight

The container is a 64-ounce container with a height of 20″. It isn’t a low –profile container and might be a tad cumbersome to fight beneath a small cabinet. The container is made of high-quality copolyester which will withstand impact. It is also BPA-free and will not contaminate your drink in any way. The body of the blender rests on a rubber pad that works to reduce vibration and improve stability.

Away from the container, the blades of the Vitamix 5200 are high-quality options made of stainless steel. The body of the blender houses the control panel. This panel has a dial for up to ten speeds, a high switch, and the ON/OFF switch. Overall, you will find it very easy to use.

Under the hood is a powerful 2 HP motor that gives the speeds of the blades of up to 37000 RPM. All parts of the motor are made of metal and will last for a long time.

Performance-wise, this model is perfect for crushing frozen fruits and ice. It works to crush these in a short time and can handle these frozen foods without any addition of liquid.

Pros:

• Easy to use and clean
• 7-year warranty
• Versatile blender
• Powerful motor
• Ten-speed controls

Con: 

• No pre-set models
• Noisy performance

 

2. Cuisinart CBT-2000 3.5 Peak Hurricane Pro Blender

Up next is a frozen drink blender that earns top marks for the design, weight, versatility, and general performance. This blender is a relatively powerful model that is one of the best blenders for frozen drinks that you can buy right now.

Key Features:

• 5 HP Motor
• 64-ounce container
• Variable speed control
• BlendLogix Operating Technology
• 1.1 pounds of weight

This is a model that packs quite a punch. It comes in a compact and lightweight design that will fit comfortably on your counter. In terms of portability and space, it is certainly better than our number one choice.

The features are quite impressive overall. First, the pitcher is a 64-ounce container made out of BPA-free plastic. The size and dimensions of this container enhance your use. You can serve up to nine people at a go. The container is also designed with a large handle that will make it easy to hold and pour from it.

Under the hood, you have a powerful 3.5 HP motor operating at around 1200 W. This amount of power is what allows the blades to break up and pulverize whatever you throw into the blender. The blades are made of high-grade stainless steel and also ensure that the blender blends almost everything you put in it.

The blender offers three-speed control options. Unlike the top choice, this is a ‘Smart’ blender. Therefore, it comes with a memory function for saving preset blending times. There is also BlendLogix Smart technology that adjusts the speed of the blender based on the load that is inside the blender.

With a metal drive for durability and memory features, among other features, you have a powerful blender that offers quite a lot of power while in a compact form.

Pros:

• Preset blending programs
• All-metal drive
• Powerful motor
• Easy to clean
• Large container

Con:

• Noisy
• Not self-cleaning

 

3. Ninja Professional Blender

This model is certainly a strong contender for the best blender for ice drinks. It is an excellent blender that will allow you to create several types of drinks, ranging from frozen drinks to iced coffee, sauces, and more.

Key Features:

• 1000 Watts Power
• 72-ounce blender jar
• 6 blade assembly
• 1 pound of weight
• 1-year limited warranty

The model has a 72-ounce container that is bigger than any other container from the blenders that we have reviewed so far. The container is made of high-quality plastic and is BPA free as well. With a large capacity, it will provide drinks for the entire family in one sitting. This container is dishwasher safe which makes it easier to clean after use.

If you are looking to save money, then this is just the right option for you. It is a 7-pound model that houses a 1000W motor to help you to quickly crush ice and frozen fruits.

The model has a relatively appealing design and a durable six-blade assembly. The control panel is also simple to understand and use.

At this price, the Ninja blender surely comes with some drawbacks. For one, the container is not very durable and is prone to cracking. It is loud as well, and after use, the blades are quite difficult to clean.

Pros:

• Affordable blender
• Powerful motor
• Easy to use
• Large pitcher

Con:

• Poor pitcher durability
• Loud
• Blades are tricky to clean

 

4. Ninja BN801 Professional

The Ninja BN801 is one of the best ice crushing blenders on the market. It is a full-size blender with a large container that will deal with plenty of frozen drinks for the family. It is designed with your comfort in mind, which is why there are several preset modes and several other attachments.

Key Features:

• 1400 Watts Power
• 72-Ounce Container
• 5 Preset Programs
• 4 Pounds Weight
• 3″ x 17.2″ x 12.4″ dimensions

Among the attachments found in the package include a pair of 24 ounces jars that let you take your drink with you wherever you go. This versatile blender also comes with a food processor attachment.

The main reason why this blender is on this list is its ability to deal with ice. It works excellently at crushing ice and will make the best-frozen drinks for you. With this model, you can enjoy making smoothies and frozen drinks from the comfort of your kitchen.

The Ninja blender also comes with an easy-to-understand control panel and offers you multiple speeds.

Under the hood is a 1400 peak watt motor that will deliver plenty of power as you blend. The base is solid and makes this model one of the most stable models that we have found on the market.

Pros: 

• Powerful and durable engine
• Quiet performance
• Lovely design
• Easy to use and clean
• Comes with useful accessories

Con:

• Cannot use it to hot blend
• Just 1-year warranty

 

5. Clean Blend 3HP 1800-Watt Commercial Blender

The CleanBlend Commercial Blender is the best commercial blender for frozen drinks. It is a worthy addition to this list of the best blenders for smoothies with ice. It offers plenty of power, however, it is heavier and costlier than any of the others that we have reviewed.

Key Features:

• 18″ x 15″ x 13″ dimensions
• 1800 Watts Motor
• 5-Year Warranty
• 12 Pounds Weight
• 8-blade Sealed Ball-Bearing

This blender weighs 12 pounds, hence, it isn’t something that you carry around without some strain. It is made to sit on a spot and not kept away for storage. It is thus not surprising that it is made of high-quality parts that will certainly last for a long time. All that bulk also goes into helping you to completely crush ice and frozen fruits without plenty of fuss.

The 64-ounce container is BPA-free and shatter-proof. While the CleanBlend isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing model on the market or even on this list, it offers plenty of functionality to make up for that. It offers variable speeds and a simple interface.

Performance is where this unit truly shines. It will take care of the thickest ice and frozen fruits. It does come with flaws, apart from the ugly design. For one, you’ll likely need the tamper if you want smooth blending. The container also doesn’t sit stably on the blender so you’ll have to hold it down.

Pros:

• Very powerful motor
• Durable, heavy-duty build
• Powerful blades
• 5-year warranty

Con:

• Bulky design
• Costly
• Needs tamping

 

Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Blender for Frozen Drinks

In this section, we consider some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a blender for frozen drinks.

• Price: When making a purchase, you certainly want the best value for your money. Or you might decide to splurge on a blender that has all the features that you desire. Either way, with your eyes peeled and considering posts like this, you can find the right blender regardless of your budget.
• Power: Since your blender will have to crush ice and frozen fruits, you have to choose a blender with plenty of power. To that end, check out the Horse Power or the Wattage of the model. For the best results, look for blenders with around 1500 Watts or even more.
• Blades: The blades are considered by many to be the most important part of any blender. Your blades are surely important and will determine the smoothness of your blend. The blender must have durable blades that will retain its edge even after heavy use. If the blender is purely for blending ice, then the dull blades found on some units will suit just fine. However, if the blender will do more than just crush ice, then you should look for blades with sharp edges.
• Durability: There’s no point buying an appliance if you have to send it back the next day or week. Therefore, ensure that the blender is made of durable parts. You might also consider models with overheating protection and cooling.
• Ease of Use and Cleaning: If you don’t have the time to learn how to use a blender, then you should consider buying models that have pretty easy interfaces and presets. You should also consider how easy the blender would be to clean after use. Some of the best models have dishwasher-friendly parts and self-cleaning functions.

Blending Tips for Making Frozen Drinks & Crushing Ice

Creating the perfect frozen drink requires that you have the right tool and apply some pretty useful tips. Here are some of the things that you should keep in mind when making frozen drinks.

Use a powerful blender

The blender is the most important appliance that you need when making frozen drinks, therefore, your chosen blender must be as powerful as required.

There is nothing worse than having chunks of ice in your frozen drink. Therefore, the blender should have enough power to crush all of the ice.

Use Crushed Ice

Another tip that will help you to make the perfect frozen drink is to use crushed ice. Many people use a tray of ice cubes, dump them, into the blender, and are surprised when the result isn’t what they expected. Well, to get the best out of the ice, it is important to break it down. This will reduce the strain on the blender and will likely give you better consistency.

Blending time

We get it- you want the drink as slushed as possible so you extend the blending time. Well, letting the blender run for too long is a sure way to ruin your drink. It will likely make the drink too runny or thin. ‘Overblending’ will eliminate the slushy consistency that you desire.

Use Frozen Fruit

If your drink includes fruits in its recipe, then you should think about using frozen fruit. Using frozen fruit will improve the consistency of the frozen drink.

Start from a low speed

Immediately switching the blender to the highest power is usually done out of impatience – or perhaps you don’t know better. Cranking it to the highest will take a toll on the blades of your blender. For your blender’s durability, start from a low speed, perhaps with a few pulses. After this has broken up the chunks of frozen fruit and other things in the blender, then you can slowly increase the speed to whatever you want.

Conclusion

Choosing the best blender for frozen drinks can be hard, but with this post, it is easier to choose the model that will meet your needs. The Vitamix 5200 Blender Professional-Grade is our top pick. It is a relatively affordable unit that offers plenty of power. The parts are safe, durable, and will help you to blend ice and frozen fruits with ease. The 2.2 HP motor offers you up to 10 variable speeds and is easy to clean after use.

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