What’s the Best Blender Settings for Frozen Items?

Modern blenders have become more powerful and versatile: the blades are a lot sharper, and the controls are more than just “1-2-3″ when it comes to speeds and settings. They also vary in size and other features. So, it’s quick to assume that blenders can do almost every single kitchen task.

But the question is, can a blender crush frozen items? The answer is, yes, it can – depending on the type of food or how frozen it is.

It’s all about figuring out the best blender settings so that your blender can crush frozen items in a way that you desire without compromising its efficiency.

The types of blender settings

But first, let’s explore a bit about the types of settings in a blender. Most American households have, at least, conventional stand or countertop blenders. They feature a control panel that provides you the option of selecting the different settings based on the recipe you’re using.

  • Mix – it combines ingredients. This is ideal for recipes that use specific ingredients, such as chicken or tuna.
  • Puree – it crushes fruits or vegetables and liquifies them to a smooth, creamy consistency.
  • Stir – it blends the ingredients. This setting is great for making shakes because it combines the ingredients well and thoroughly while leaving a thicker texture.
  • Chop – it chops ingredients into smaller pieces.
  • Crush – it crushes ingredients into much smaller or finer pieces.
  • Liquefy – it turns any ingredient into liquid or makes it more liquid. This setting is excellent for making smoothies as it will make them more drinkable.

Meanwhile, if you want to know the history of the blender, read here.

Working with frozen items with a blender – what’s the best setting for them?

fruits inside a blender

Frozen fruits – It’s best to choose the “puree” setting. This is the perfect setting to make frozen items, such as berries and chopped fruits for making smoothies.

However, make sure that the fruits should be at least slightly thawed. You still do want to get the icy texture of the smoothie. But when the fruits are still rock-hard by the freeze, you’re most likely to get the “not-so” smoothie: a smoothie with lumps and chunks of fruits. In some cases, crushing rock-hard frozen fruits can even cause the blades to crack and break. 

Put the frozen fruits in the fridge and leave them out there for a while. Or, transfer the frozen fruits to a Ziploc bag and place it in a big bowl of water before blending.

Many blenders come with stirring sticks that help dislodge some food particles that may get stuck under and between the blades. 

person pouring crushed ice on clear drinking glass

From ice cubes to crushed ice – If you want to make frozen margaritas or ice-blended drinks, choose only powerful and high-speed blenders that can crush ice cubes. 

Set the blender to “chop” or “crush” at medium speed. Then churn the ice by gently shaking the jar for 15 to 30 seconds. Or, turn the blender off and use the stirring stick to dislodge some ice cubes that may clog the blades.

When it reaches the desired consistency, turn off the blender and transfer the crushed ice into an insulated ice bucket. Use the crushed ice immediately or store it in the freezer for later use.