Can you crush ice in a blender? If you ask us, we think this question is so easy that even five-year-olds can answer it. Then again, some of us wonder: are there blenders that cannot crush ice? If there are, how can you know if your blender can or cannot handle it?
These are but a few of the questions that we are going to tackle in this article. However, before we can get on with those, it is important that we first talk about what blenders really are and how they came to be. In this way, we would have a clear understanding as to how they work.
How Blenders Came to Be
In order to understand how something works, it is best to look at the facts behind its invention and evolution. That being said, did you know that a man named Stephen Poplawski invented the very first blender back in 1922?
His only desire back then was to mix sodas, malts, and milkshakes easily. Back in the day, it was not that convenient for restaurant owners to do those. Hence, he took that need to come up with the first-ever blender.
Having a business means finding solutions to a list of problems, and what he was trying to accomplish back then definitely wasn’t easy. His company and colleagues failed many times; the motor did not work the way they planned; their financial status was at stake.
So, as you can see, crushing ice during the early manufacturing days is not the main purpose of a blender; it was all about blending liquids. Things weren’t working as they should be, but guess what? They made invention successful, and millions of people are now enjoying the convenience that this equipment is able to give.
What Is a Blender?
Now that we have understood the reason behind why blenders were made, we can now take a closer look at it and see what it is really. Most people think that a blender is just that—a blending machine. While this is true, there is more to it than just its name.
A blender is generally anything machine that could be used to mix ingredients, paints, and even makeup. Hence, just by taking into consideration the definition of the term “blender”, we can now conclude that not all blenders could literally crush ice. Kidding aside, what we’re talking about here is the kitchen blender.
Regardless of the kind of blender it is, its purpose remains the same, and that is to mix things up. However, the meaning becomes a little different and is now coupled with upgrades due to the advancement of technology.
Can You Crush Ice in a Blender?
Generally speaking, there are two major classifications of kitchen blenders: countertop blenders and immersion-type blenders. These two classifications can be further subdivided into sub-categories.
Below, we will talk about each of them and discuss whether or not they can be used to crush ice.
Countertop Blenders
- Personal Blender
When using a personal blender to crush ice, the size of the ice cube should be taken into consideration. Personal blenders can be used to crush ice provided that it is only in small amounts and the ice tube should be small in size as well.
- Margarita Blender
This blender can shave the ice but not to the point that it could totally crush it.
- Food Processor Blender
This surely works for blends or grinds like peppercorn, biscuits, or coffee beans. It is a multi-functioning blender, but it is not invented for the purpose of crushing ice.
- Smoothie Blender
A smoothie blender is perfect for crushing ice since it has stronger blades than the Personal Blender.
- All-purpose Commercial-grade Blender
If you’re looking for some quality crushed ice, then this is the perfect find. It’s a heavy-duty machine, and its ice-crushing process is faster than the average blenders.
Immersion Blenders
- Hand Blender with Minimum Attachment
More often than not, this kind of blender is made out of low-cost materials. It doesn’t have a motor and blades that are powerful and sharp enough to crush ice.
- Stick Blender with Multiple Attachments
While this type of immersion blender has a strong motor, it definitely cannot meet the technical requirements needed for crushing ice.
- Commercial HD Immersion Type
Immersion blenders that are designed for commercial use could have advanced features, but they are still not enough for the purpose of crushing ice.
The Catch
Do you now know whether or not can you crush ice in a blender? Quite interesting, isn’t it? While there are questions that may, at first, sound ridiculous and can be answered with common sense, the next thing you know you are finding answers that are more interesting than what you were expecting.
So, the next time someone asks you if you can crush ice on a blender, you now know what to answer. Don’t just dive into that “yes”. Give them details!
If you want a blender that can truly crush ice in an efficient and effective manner, then go for an all-purpose, commercial-grade blender or a smoothie blender. These are specially designed to be heavy-duty enough to take on that kind of task.
Final Thoughts
If you want something done quickly and done right, then you would have to choose the right equipment to take that task on. Why? That’s because no matter how much you want to do something and get it done right, it will never work out if you do not have the proper tools needed for it to work.
With that said, how can you know if your blender can crush ice? That’s pretty simple. If you haven’t bought one yet, as with anything else you buy, learn all about its features and functionalities. You can ask questions, read the manual, look at reviews, and the likes.
In the end, it is your responsibility to figure out whether or not the product you want to buy can do what you intend to use it for or not. After all, it is your money that you are spending on that particular product and not anyone else’s. So, to get your money’s worth, learn about it before you buy it.
