Best Blenders for Frozen Drinks
Not all blenders are up to the task. These CR-tested models get the job done.
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Some bartenders shake margaritas, swearing that it makes them taste betterāand taste stronger. Others are fans of slushy margaritas made in a blender.
Though the task seems simple enough, our tests show that not all blenders can do it well. In fact, only a handful of more than 100 full-sized models in our blender ratings aced our tests for making icy drinks.
Blending Tips for Frozen Drinks
Here's what our blender experts recommend.
Use the best ingredients you can. Starting with the alcohol and fruit juice, use the best you haveāand the freshest. The ice should be clean-tasting, with no hints of food odors that migrated from the refrigerator section.
Go easy on the blades. Try using cracked iced rather than big cubes, because it's easier on the blender blades. Plus, it will crush faster. If your refrigerator doesn't turn out crushed ice, crack the cubes by wrapping them in a kitchen towel, then hitting them with a mallet or small skillet.
Start with the liquids. Whatever your recipe, pour in the liquids first (juice, alcohol), then add the ice. Start the blender on a low speed, then gradually increase it. With top-performing blenders, the task goes fastā1 minute or 2 for a batchādepending on your blender. So watch closely to avoid overblending your drinks, or they'll come out runny.
Blenders That Make Fantastic Icy Drinks
These full-sized blenders are the only ones that aced our tests for making icy drinks and scored a rating of Very Good or better for crushing ice. They appear in alphabetical order (not by CR rank).
For more details and other options, see our full blender ratings.