Best Blenders for Frozen Drinks in 2022

For these occasions after we wish to fake we’re on a heat seashore, sipping a frozen daiquiri, we have to make use of a blender for frozen drinks. One thing high-powered that effortlessly crushes ice, is straightforward to make use of, and straightforward to scrub will do very properly. The excellent news is there’s fairly a number of in the marketplace proper now that match this description. The unhealthy information is that discovering the most effective one for you could be overwhelming.

However there’s extra excellent news—we spoke to consultants to get their suggestions, and we examined an array of blenders, so that you don’t should. Learn on to see our prime picks for finest blenders for frozen drinks.

Our Prime Picks

Greatest Total: KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed Blender

Watts: 1200 | Capability: 56 fluid ounces | Dishwasher Protected: sure, on the highest shelf

Why we selected it: Advisable by one in all our consultants, this KitchenAid blender may help you make all kinds of frozen drinks with out a lot effort in your half.

“I exploit the KitchenAid K400 at residence for all my blended drink wants,” says Natalie Migliarini, writer of Beautiful Booze and social media maven. “One factor that I actually like about this blender is that one of many dials on the face is definitely a blended cocktail, and it blends to the right consistency for what I like. It additionally has an ice crush possibility, which is nice for once I’m making a bramble or different cocktail that’s served over crushed ice. I can simply put the ice within the blender, and it’ll make it completely crushed for me to place in my glass and pour my cocktail excessive.”

With its three pre-programmed settings for drinks—ice crush, icy drinks, and smoothie—this blender was made for producing all method of chilly drinks. And to sweeten the pot, it’s not almost as noisy as among the different blenders in the marketplace, and even on this checklist.

That being stated, it is a expensive blender, coming in at simply over $350. And a few consumers have famous that their blenders leaked out of the underside.

Greatest Worth: Ninja TWISTi High-Speed Blender Duo 

Watts: 1600 | Capability: 34 fluid ounces | Dishwasher Protected: sure

Why we selected it: This Ninja blender comes with 5 program buttons and three totally different sizes of blender cups, all for lower than $140.

For lower than $200, you possibly can have a blender that makes completely sippable slushies. Outfitted with 5 program buttons damaged into two classes—drinkable: extract, smoothie, and frozen; and spoonable: unfold and bowl—this blender could make a complete vary of meals and drinks with ease. However we’re right here to speak about the most effective blenders for frozen drinks, and we’re completely satisfied to report that this makes these very, very effectively. The frozen setting expertly pulverizes ice whereas combining all of the substances collectively to create an ideal slush. And although it does an awesome job, it’s extremely loud, so it may not be excellent for these with grumpy neighbors…or grumpy relations.   

The blender additionally comes with three totally different cup sizes, so you can also make a single-serve frozen margarita or sufficient in your pals. Nevertheless, the biggest cup (the pitcher) solely makes 4.2 cups value of drinks, so if you’re entertaining a lot of individuals, you’d should make a number of batches.

Greatest Splurge: Vitamix Professional Series 300 Blender 

Watts: 1000 | Capability: 64 fluid ounces | Dishwasher Protected: not expressly said

Why we selected it: Advisable by one in all our consultants, this Vitamix is dear, however completely value it for making lush frozen drinks.

Revered by many as one of many best blenders in the marketplace, this Vitamix is highly effective, producing easy frozen drinks. That’s why Micah Wilder, beverage director at MercyMe, loves it. “The [1,000] watts and pace dial give highly effective precision leading to luxurious frozen cocktails,” he says.

And even if it seems this Vitamix shouldn’t be put within the dishwasher, many consumers say it’s very simple to scrub by simply including some cleaning soap and scorching water to the pitcher, placing the lid on and mixing for a number of seconds, then rinsing. 

Whereas this blender is well-loved, it’s an funding on account of its value. However so far as we will inform, it’s value the fee when you’re trying to splurge on an awesome, sturdy blender.

Greatest Sensible Blender: NutriBullet Smart Touch Blender Combo

Watts: 1500 | Capability: 64 fluid ounces | Dishwasher Protected: sure

Why we selected it: With a smooth interface and 4 program settings, this NutriBullet blender can whip up an icy drink in below a minute.

At slightly below $190, this blender can be a success the subsequent time you make frozen drinks in your pals. It has 4 program settings—purées, soups, frozen drinks, and smoothies—together with choices for pulsing, low, medium, and excessive. Although, it’s value noting that this blender is so loud it truly triggered our tester to leap when first turning it on.

When testing this blender, we made piña coladas utilizing the frozen drinks setting. Although it made the drinks in below 30 seconds, there have been nonetheless some small chunks of ice that wanted to be blended additional. So whereas this blender is quick, it may be value including in a number of further pulses on one thing like this.

Greatest Multi-use: Hamilton Beach Professional 1800 Watt Peak Power Blender With Programs

Watts: 1800 | Capability: 64 fluid ounces | Dishwasher Protected: sure

Why we selected it: With its pre-programmed settings, a pulse button, and a variable pace dial, this Hamilton Seashore Skilled blender could make all kinds of various meals and drinks, together with slushies.

Housing a blade that may attain as much as 140 mph, this blender is all enterprise. With pre-programmed settings for purée, crush, smoothie, and clear and a pace dial starting from one by 10, you may have complete management over the feel of your concoction. Utilizing the crush setting, it made a easy, sippable piña colada tremendous fast. And because it has solely two buttons and a dial, the blender could be very easy to make use of. 

Plus, this blender is each dishwasher protected and has a cleansing setting that means that you can get any caught on stuff off with ease.

The one factor we weren’t jazzed about with this blender is that, not like many blenders we examined, this one doesn’t have a locking operate on the bottom. That means, you mainly set the pitcher on prime of the bottom and switch it on. Although it carried out effectively, it’s barely worrisome from a security perspective to not have the pitcher lock into place.

Greatest Compact: Beast Blender + Hydration System

Watts: 1000 | Capability: 750 milliliters within the massive blender cup, and 350 milliliters within the small blender cup | Dishwasher Protected: every part apart from the bottom of the blender and the blade is dishwasher protected

At 1,000 watts, this blender is a drink-making workhorse. Once we examined it, it produced a frothy, creamy, well-blended piña colada. 

The most effective points of this blender is its noise stage. It makes noise, positive, however it’s not unreasonably loud, making it an awesome alternative for flats, dorms, or anybody who simply doesn’t like noisy machines. 

Plus, you get good bang-for-your-buck with this blender system. For $185, you get the blender base, the blade attachment, two totally different sizes of blender cups, a consuming lid and carry cap that may be hooked up to them, and a glass water bottle with a detachable infusion chamber. To not point out, it is likely one of the prettiest, sleekest blenders round.

The factor is, although, this blender doesn’t have program buttons. It solely has one button that can be utilized for pulsing or regular mixing. That’s actually it. You possibly can nonetheless make a good quantity on this blender, however it doesn’t provide the identical choices that different blenders with built-in packages do.

Issues to Think about Earlier than Shopping for a Blender for Frozen Drinks

Energy

When making frozen drinks, you need a highly effective blender that’s not less than over 1,000 watts, Wilder says. “The upper wattage ensures that the ice is crushed successfully,” he says.

“In case your blender doesn’t have adequate energy you’re simply not going to get the consistency you want,” says Migliarini. 

Ribbed Jar

Migliarini and Bad Birdy, CEO of Kuduowl, international cocktail inventive, and restaurant guide, each suggest on the lookout for a blender with a ribbed jar. It will assist you obtain a pleasant, constant texture in your frozen drinks. “A vortex-creating ribbed jar design helps guarantee a seamless mix,” says Dangerous Birdy. 

Uneven Blade

To ensure your frozen drink will get correctly blended, you’re going to need a blender that has an uneven blade. “For iced drinks, search for a blender that focuses on numerous textures and speeds by way of an uneven blade,” Dangerous Birdy advises. “This ensures that it could pull substances to create a great mix.”

FAQs

Can you place frozen fruit in a blender?

Sure! If in case you have a high-powered blender that does effectively with mixing ice, it ought to mix up frozen fruit no drawback. Nevertheless, when you’ve got a lower-powered blender, you may find yourself with a drink that isn’t as easy when you put in absolutely frozen fruit. So, you’ll wish to let the fruit thaw ever so barely on the counter or pop it within the microwave for a number of seconds to make it a bit of softer and simpler to mix.

Can you employ an everyday blender for frozen drinks?

In response to our consultants, sure, however not each blender produces nice frozen drinks. And when you’re utilizing a blender that isn’t very highly effective, you may wish to change your method. “In case you are working with a decrease grade or wattage blender,” Wilder says, “I might suggest beginning it out at a slower pace and including ice into the combination in smaller parts, as a substitute of all of sudden.”

How do you make frozen drinks in a blender?

There are many methods! We used this recipe for testing the blenders, however Wilder additionally gave us the recipe for his Kick-Ass Colada, which he serves at Mercy Me. Right here is the recipe, when you’re on the lookout for a brand new tackle a piña colada, that includes caramelized pineapple.

Kick-Ass Colada

Created by Micah Wilder, obtainable at Mercy Me

Caramelized Pineapple:

1 oz Ron Zacapa 23 

.75 oz Licor 43  

2 tsp salted butter

1 ripe Pineapple

Pores and skin, core, and reduce a ripe pineapple into wedges. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place pineapple slices on a rimmed baking sheet. Stir collectively rum, Licor 43, brown sugar, and butter in a saucepan on low warmth. Brush rum combination onto pineapples, then roast for 30 min or till pineapple is caramelized. Set the pineapples on a wire rack to chill, then freeze in a quart container.

Cocktail:

3 cups ice  

1 cup frozen caramelized pineapple chunks  

3 oz coconut cream  

2 oz coconut milk  

1 tsp kosher salt  

1 oz easy syrup 1:1  

1 oz lime juice  

3 oz white rum  

Pineapple slice for garnish

Lime wheel for garnish

Mix every part besides the garnish in Vitamix. Produces 2 servings.

Ultimate Ideas

The perfect blenders for frozen drinks are high-powered with an uneven blade and ribbed jar and, in our expertise, have packages which might be particularly set for making frozen drinks. These blenders offers you the smoothest texture with the most effective mix. 

Methodology

We talked with consultants and obtained their insights and proposals for blenders for frozen drinks. Then, we did analysis independently and selected 4 blenders to check for ourselves. We examined these blenders utilizing a variation of this piña colada recipe, paying attention to how effectively the blenders crushed ice, how simple they have been to make use of, how effectively the blenders mixed all substances, what program buttons they provide, and the way simple they have been to scrub.