How to Crush Ice In a Blender

Crushing ice does not sound like a very complicated task to accomplish. It’s really not rocket science, and anyone can do it, right? Sure! But on a hot summer day, who doesn’t envision that refreshing and cool drink with just the right consistency of perfectly crushed ice? Whether you’re craving a soda, iced tea, or a cocktail, there’s a consistency of ice that’s just right for your beverage of choice!

1. Make Sure Your Blender is Equipped for Crushing Ice First things first, check that you are able to blend ice without damaging the blender. Unfortunately, all blenders are not capable of crushing ice due to the varying wattage of different motors. Blenders with lower-wattage motors are not typically equipped to crush ice. Another detail to check for is whether or not the blender has a thin plastic container that won’t withstand the extreme cold of the ice. 
2. Prepare Your Ice Once you have determined that your blender is capable of crushing ice, it’s time to grab your ice out of the freezer. Take the ice and place it in a bowl next to your blender so it will be ready to go. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes so it will be a bit more compliant. Make sure to use smaller ice cubes. They tend to be better for crushing ice in a blender.
3. Place the Ice into the Blender Begin placing the ice into your blender. Only fill the container or pitcher part of your blender about a third of the way using regular ice cubes. It is very important that you leave a sufficient amount of space in the blender so that your cubes have space to move around, similar to when you fill your washing machine. It may be tempting to add more ice to crush the desired amount of ice more quickly. However, you should always avoid overloading. It will prevent you from achieving the optimum results, which in this case, is subtle, snow-like ice for your beverage. You can choose to add some water or fruit juice at this point if you are making a flavored slush-style drink or ice. 
4. Confirm the Lid is on Securely Always make sure that when you’ve put the lid on your blender, that it is on there securely before you begin to crush the ice. A lid not on securely leaves you and your kitchen open to the possibility of an indoors, ice storm clean-up! So always check that lid! 
5. Choose and Maintain the Correct Setting Once you are sure your lid is on securely, choose your setting and begin crushing the ice. The most common setting for crushing ice is the “pulse” setting, which gently and effectively crushes the ice to the above-mentioned desired consistency. If your blender does not have the pulse setting, you could set your blender at medium speed. Or, there may be a specific chop or crush setting available on your model of blender. The ice in your blender will begin to churn, and you may need to give it a bit of assistance occasionally by removing ice from the base and giving the container a strong shake to keep the ice moving. Once the ice reaches the desired consistency, switch off your blender and remove your crushed ice. It’s best to place it in an adequately insulated ice bucket that will prevent your ice from melting. 

By following these 5 steps, you’ll be sure to create that bartender-style, snow-like crushed ice you’ve been craving! So get out those glasses, you’re ready to relax and bask in your cool and savory drink iced to perfection!