Often people buy blenders for the simple task of crushing ice to make cocktails but is it such a simple task and can blenders actually crush ice? There are many types of blenders available and they also vary in power. When looking to buy a blender you will find it is extremely important to do your homework first and not simply rush out and buy the most affordable blender you can find.
By simply buying the first and cheapest blender you see you may end up with a surprise when it doesn’t have the power to do what you were expecting of it. There are different types of blenders available such as a stick or immersion blenders, countertop blenders, heavy-duty blenders and single serve blenders or personal blenders.
When looking for a blender that can crush ice you must remember that not all blenders are created equal and not all types of blenders are designed or strong enough to crush ice. So, if you are looking for the best blender to put behind your bar to crush ice for your cocktails there are a few things you will need to look for when buying a blender.
Types of Blenders
Not all blenders are designed to crush ice. While some stick or hand-held blenders may crush a few blocks of ice, they won’t do a very good job of it and will probably only manage to do it once or twice before burning out the motor.
Some single-serving personal blenders will also manage to crush ice, however, if you are looking for a blender to put behind your bar this type of blender simply will not be big enough.
You will be best served using a countertop blender that has a large enough capacity to give you enough ice in one go. Countertop blenders are also more powerful than stick blenders and single serving blenders.
They are also more durable and made of stronger materials that can take the hammering that the blender will undergo while crushing ice.
Power
Generally, countertop blenders vary in power from 300 to 1000 watts. A blender of 300 watts will possibly crush ice but would not be recommended for that use as the motor will not be able to generate enough speed to effectively crush the ice. You will find that a blender with a motor of 600 watts or more will easily give you enough power and speed to crush as much ice as you will need.
Blades
The blade needs to be well designed and made of a strong durable material to be able to stand up to the ice and crush it with ease. A flimsy, poorly designed blade will either not be sharp enough or will buckle after the first batch of ice you crush and leave your blender useless.
Jug or Container
If you have a blender that has a jug or container that is made of flimsy plastic or thin glass, you are most likely to break it on your first attempt at crushing ice. Most of the best blenders have a durable plastic or hardened glass container which won’t scratch or break when crushing ice.
Can You Crush Ice in a Blender?
Once you have taken all the above into consideration you will see that yes, you can crush ice in a blender but not all blenders. Using a handheld or stick blender is a definite no, and these types of blenders should never be used to crush ice. Not only will you destroy your blender, but it could be very dangerous.
Unlike the countertop blender which has a closed container, the stick blender can be used but immersing it into any container, once you power it up you may have ice blocks flying around if not using the correct container and this could be extremely dangerous.
Also, before using any appliance you should always check the manual. Read the instructions carefully and if the manual says it shouldn’t be used to crush ice then it would be best not to use it to crush ice.
When using your blender to crush ice, start off with a small amount and then slowly add more as you go. It is best to add some water to the blender as well; it will help to get the process going without shooting the ice cubes around too much. Another way to avoid this is to take the ice tray out the freezer 5-10 minutes bore you need to crush them.
Do yourself a favor and look for a heavy-duty, high-powered blender and you will be guaranteed of perfectly crushed ice every time. The best blender to crush ice would be any blender that has 600 watts of power or more with a hardened glass jug or container.