Finest 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 simple to make use of, and straightforward to scrub will do very properly. The excellent news is there’s fairly a number of available on the market proper now that match this description. The unhealthy information is that discovering the most effective one for you might be overwhelming.

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

Our Prime Picks

Finest General: KitchenAid K400 Variable Pace Blender

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

Why we selected it: Really helpful by one among our specialists, this KitchenAid blender might help you make all kinds of frozen drinks with out a lot effort in your half.

“I take advantage of the KitchenAid K400 at residence for all my blended drink wants,” says Natalie Migliarini, writer of Lovely 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 choice, which is nice for after 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 a few of the different blenders available on the market, and even on this checklist.

That being mentioned, this can be a dear blender, coming in at simply over $350. And a few patrons have famous that their blenders leaked out of the underside.

Finest Worth: Ninja TWISTi Excessive-Pace Blender Duo 

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

Why we selected it: This Ninja blender comes with 5 program buttons and three completely 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 blissful to report that this makes these very, very nicely. The frozen setting expertly pulverizes ice whereas combining all of the elements collectively to create an ideal slush. And although it does a fantastic job, it’s extremely loud, so it won’t be good for these with grumpy neighbors…or grumpy members of the family.   

The blender additionally comes with three completely different cup sizes, so you can also make a single-serve frozen margarita or sufficient in your mates. Nevertheless, the most important cup (the pitcher) solely makes 4.2 cups price of drinks, so if you’re entertaining plenty of individuals, you’d must make a number of batches.

Finest Splurge: Vitamix Skilled Sequence 300 Blender 

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

Why we selected it: Really helpful by one among our specialists, this Vitamix is pricey, however completely price it for making lush frozen drinks.

Revered by many as one of many finest blenders available on the market, 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 velocity 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 patrons say it’s very simple to scrub by simply including some cleaning soap and sizzling 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 as a result of its worth. However so far as we will inform, it’s price the price should you’re seeking to splurge on a fantastic, sturdy blender.

Finest Good Blender: NutriBullet Good Contact Blender Combo

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

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

At slightly below $190, this blender shall be a success the subsequent time you make frozen drinks in your mates. It has 4 program settings—purées, soups, frozen drinks, and smoothies—together with choices for pulsing, low, medium, and excessive. Although, it’s price noting that this blender is so loud it truly precipitated 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 beneath 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 price including in a number of additional pulses on one thing like this.

Finest Multi-use: Hamilton Seaside Skilled 1800 Watt Peak Energy Blender With Applications

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

Why we selected it: With its pre-programmed settings, a pulse button, and a variable velocity dial, this Hamilton Seaside 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 velocity dial starting from one by way of 10, you may have whole 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 may be very easy to make use of. 

Plus, this blender is each dishwasher protected and has a cleansing setting that permits you to 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 principally set the pitcher on high of the bottom and switch it on. Although it carried out nicely, it’s barely worrisome from a security perspective to not have the pitcher lock into place.

Finest Compact: Beast Blender + Hydration System

Watts: 1000 | Capability: 750 milliliters within the massive blender cup, and 350 milliliters within the small blender cup | Dishwasher Secure: every little thing aside from the bottom of the blender and the blade is dishwasher protected

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

The most effective features of this blender is its noise degree. It makes noise, certain, but it surely’s not unreasonably loud, making it a fantastic alternative for residences, 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 completely 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, but it surely 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 no 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 Unhealthy Birdy, CEO of Kuduowl, world cocktail artistic, and restaurant marketing consultant, each advocate on the lookout for a blender with a ribbed jar. It will enable you obtain a pleasant, constant texture in your frozen drinks. “A vortex-creating ribbed jar design helps guarantee a seamless mix,” says Unhealthy Birdy. 

Uneven Blade

To verify 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 means of an uneven blade,” Unhealthy Birdy advises. “This ensures that it may pull elements to create a perfect mix.”

FAQs

Can you set frozen fruit in a blender?

Sure! If in case you have a high-powered blender that does nicely with mixing ice, it ought to mix up frozen fruit no downside. Nevertheless, when you’ve got a lower-powered blender, you would possibly find yourself with a drink that isn’t as easy should you put in totally 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 just a little softer and simpler to mix.

Can you employ a daily blender for frozen drinks?

In keeping with our specialists, sure, however not each blender produces nice frozen drinks. And should you’re utilizing a blender that isn’t very highly effective, you would possibly wish to change your strategy. “If you’re working with a decrease grade or wattage blender,” Wilder says, “I’d advocate beginning it out at a slower velocity and including ice into the combo in smaller parts, as a substitute of abruptly.”

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, should you’re on the lookout for a brand new tackle a piña colada, that includes caramelized pineapple.

Kick-Ass Colada

Created by Micah Wilder, accessible 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 lower 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 little thing besides the garnish in Vitamix. Produces 2 servings.

Last Ideas

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

Methodology

We talked with specialists and acquired their insights and suggestions 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 nicely the blenders crushed ice, how simple they had been to make use of, how nicely the blenders mixed all elements, what program buttons they provide, and the way simple they had been to scrub.