Best Blenders for Margaritas in 2024

Ryan Hansen Avatar

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Updated 11:33 pm

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What are the features that make the best blender for margaritas? To make the best margarita, you need a reliable, high-powered blender with at least a 1000-watt motor that’s capable of crushing ice and blending frozen ingredients. Durable stainless steel blades and variable-speed settings is an added plus as it will assist with achieving the correct margarita texture.

You should look for a pitcher size of no smaller than 48 ounces since you’ll likely be entertaining. Lastly, take note of how easy it is to clean and the material of the pitcher itself. We tend to favor plastic, but only if BPA certified, as it’s easy to throw it in the dishwasher and makes it more versatile, especially if you’re using it by the pool or outside where bare feet might be present.

Keep reading our buyer’s guide to learn more about what to look for in the best blenders for margaritas.

Top Blenders for Margaritas

 #1  Nostalgia MSB1AQ 154 Oz Blender

Award: TOP PICK

WHY WE LIKE IT: This blender is specially designed for making and serving cocktails. It has insulated walls to keep beverages cold. We love its protruding spout that makes serving easy.

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  • Immense 154 oz capacity is ideal for parties
  • Double insulated walls keep drinks cold
  • Easy-pour dispenser

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  • It’s noisy

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The Nostalgia MSB1AQ 154 oz blender is a specialty device designed for making and serving margaritas. It has a large 1-Gallon jar that’s ideal for parties and large gatherings. With a stainless steel blending cage, this device is quite durable. It has a double-wall insulated construction to keep drinks cold. The blending chamber detaches from the base for hassle-free cleanup. However, this margarita and slush machine is a bit noisy.

This Nostalgia MSB1AQ 154 oz blender has cord management space underneath for storing the cable. A carry handle enables lifting and moving this device from place to place easily. It has an appealing aqua color that will lighten up the mood at any party. An easy-pour spout dispenses drinks without risking messy spills. Featuring a transparent jar, this device offers 360-degree views to enable easy monitoring. It has a tight lid to prevent spills.

 #2  Margaritaville Key West 36 Oz Blender

Award: HONORABLE MENTION

WHY WE LIKE IT: This dedicated appliance for cocktails has a large 36 oz pitcher for making drinks fast. Featuring Shave and Blend functionality, this device is ideal for a wide variety of beverages.

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  • Gigantic glass container
  • Built-in ice reservoir
  • Shave and Blend functions

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  • The blender jams when exposed to large ice particles

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The Margaritaville Key West 36 oz blender is the appliance of choice for consumers who want to make and keep margaritas handy. This device has a large jar that keeps an equivalent of 2.5 pitchers of frozen drinks. It has an integrated reservoir for keeping ice handy. The margarita maker produces shaved ice and crushed ice for wide-ranging use, making this one of the best blenders for ice. An easy-pour jar on this device makes emptying the ingredients easy. However, this appliance struggles with large ice particles, which sometimes results in jams.

This Margaritaville Key West 36 oz blender has four preprogrammed drink settings, enabling users to generate delicious drinks effortlessly. Built-in cycles include Automatic Blend, Manual Blend Only, and Shave Only. Featuring a versatile design, this device also makes other frozen concoctions such as Pina Colada and Amaretto sour slushy. The 36 oz jar is adequate for family-sized beverages. Powered by a 450W motor, this device makes easy work of crushing ice and fruits.

 #3  Ninja Professional Plus BN701 72 Oz Blender

Award: BEST FOR COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS

WHY WE LIKE IT: The blender has a very powerful motor that crushes ingredients in a matter of seconds, making it a good choice for large homes and restaurants. Its sturdy blades and preset for chilled beverages are ideal for margaritas.

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  • Incredible power
  • Ice-crushing blades
  • Frozen Drinks preset

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  • Plastic pitcher is prone to scratches

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The Ninja Professional Plus BN701 72 oz blender combines smart features with incredible ice crushing power. This device is equipped with auto-iQ tech that puts blending chores on autopilot. With a 1400W motor, this device is fast and efficient. Its BPA-free pitcher is microwave-safe for easy cleanup and has a high-quality build for durability. However, the pitcher is made of plastic, making it prone to scratches in intense ice-crushing cycles.

This Ninja Professional Plus BN701 has a large 72-oz blending capacity that’s suitable for large families and commercial establishments. It comes with a 15-recipe guide for inspiration. Its blades are very powerful and crush ice particles easily, making this device a good pick for making margaritas and other frozen drinks. We like this blender’s stacked design that saves space on the kitchen counter. An intuitive touch control panel enables precise control. The blender has three built-in presets for smoothies, frozen drinks, and ice cream.

 #4  Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher 40 Oz Blender

Award: BEST FOR FAMILIES

WHY WE LIKE IT: This blender has a large pitcher ideal for making cocktails for families. The blades are tough enough to deal with all the ingredients needed for making delicious margaritas.

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  • Immensely spacious pitcher
  • Ice-crushing blades
  • Premium construction

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  • Opening the lid is challenging

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The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher 40 oz blender was designed with families in mind. It has a large glass jar that makes margaritas and other frozen treats. This blender features powerful Ice Sabre blades and a 700W motor that will crush anything from ice to fruits. With a Wave Action system, this blender effectively removes ingredients from under the blades for fast results. However, opening the lid of this blender is challenging.

This Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher 40 oz blender has a thermal and shock-tested glass jar that provides durability. It has dishwasher-safe blades, lid, and glass jar for simple cleanup. Its motor makes up to 8,000 frozen drinks in its lifetime. The base of this appliance has a sleek stainless steel finish that simplifies cleanup and complements other appliances. It has manual dials for simple operation. Built-in presets on this unit include functions for milkshakes, smoothies, and ice crushing.

 #5  Oster Pro 1200 24 Oz Blender

Award: BEST FOR MULTI-INGREDIENT COCKTAILS

WHY WE LIKE IT: This blender has a 1200W motor and strong ice-crushing blades that will appeal to margarita lovers. Its blade arrangement and dual direction action are effective at pulling down ingredients for fast results.

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  • Powerful ice crushing blades
  • Clean stainless steel design
  • Included 24-oz smoothie cup

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  • Assembling this blender is challenging

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The Oster Pro 1200 24 oz blender combines contemporary style with a multifunction stature. This device has seven different motor speeds, allowing precise customization. It has presets for frozen smoothies, food chop, and milkshakes, letting users make a wide variety of beverages fast. Its powerful blades are quite effective, and use dual-direction blade tech to draw out ingredients for fast results. A 1200W motor provides raw power, and the blender avails 900W for fast ice-crushing m. However, assembling this appliance back after cleaning is a bit difficult.

This Oster Pro 1200 24 oz blender comes with a 24-oz smoothie cup for taking beverages on the go. Its Boroclass jar withstands thermal shock for durability. A 1.5-foot power cord allows flexible placement on the kitchen counter. The device has a stainless steel finish to blend in with other kitchen appliances and supports simple cleanup. A pulse feature enables precise control. The ultra-modern control panel is easy to operate.

 #6  Modern Comfort BlenderX MC-PRB-01 20 Oz Blender

Award: BEST FOR ON THE GO

WHY WE LIKE IT: This blender is compact and comes with a carry bag to simplify taking this device on trips. It has powerful blades that squash all cocktail ingredients easily.

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  • Incredibly compact design
  • Powerful ice crushing blades
  • Built-in rechargeable battery

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  • Mediocre battery life

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The Modern Comfort BlenderX MC-PRB-01 24 oz blender is a compact device designed for travel. This appliance has powerful blades that are effective with items ranging from fruits to coffee beans. It has a stainless steel base that simplifies cleaning and offers aesthetic appeal. A BPA-free plastic jar provides durability, while an easy-pour spout simplifies serving. The blender has a prominent power button that simplifies operation. However, the battery life of this Modern Comfort blender is not adequate for parties.

This BlenderX MC-PRB-01 20 oz blender has a slim vertical design that will fit into luggage bags and large backpacks for easy transportation. It also comes with a sleek carry bag that facilitates safe transportation. It’s battery-powered for simple use on the go. Powerful blades and a well-powered motor easily crush ice and the ingredients needed for making margaritas and other cocktails.

Beginner’s Guide to Blenders for Margaritas

What Are Blenders for Margaritas?

At its core, a blender for margaritas is a blender that excels at crushing ice and frozen fruits into a uniform and slushy texture.

Typically, these appliances incorporate a powerful motor, high-speed options, and large jar attachments or pitcher sizes to mix and serve frozen cocktails and other drinks. Of course, this also means that they tend to be pricier than other models because they have to stand up to the wear and tear of whatever goes into your favorite margarita recipe.

Blenders for Margaritas vs. Standard Blenders

The key differences between a standard blender and a high powered blender that’s optimal for the perfect margarita mix is found in its motor strength, specific settings, and large pitcher sizes. For the perfect frozen margarita mix, you want something that can quickly and smoothly blend hard-to-mix ingredients. In this case, that means something that sports a 1000-watt motor or greater. While some of your lower wattage settings (i.e., 500-700 watts) will do the trick, it’ll take longer to blend your ingredients and wear out your machine more quickly.

Standard blenders offer a variety of pre-programmed settings, adjustable speeds, and different pitcher sizes to appeal to a large consumer market, but the ideal blender for margaritas will include a pulse setting, high-speed options (manual or automatic), stainless steel blades, and large pitchers. In contrast, many standard blenders fall into the 500-700-watt range which just don’t have the fire-power to blend tough ingredients efficiently.

Finally, blenders for margaritas should have larger pitcher sizes closer to 72-ounces if you’re looking to serve multiple drinks at a restaurant or party. Many standard blenders (48-ounces or less) are designed for single servings or on-the-go use. Additionally, you tend to lose motor strength with these compact blenders.

How Blenders for Margaritas Work

Mechanically speaking, a margarita blender works the same as standard ones. The base of the appliance houses the motor and blades. The pitcher locks onto the base, and the power cord connects to an outlet.

The blades spin at high-speeds to create a vortex inside the pitcher. This draws food, ice, and liquid towards the blades to efficiently mix the ingredients.

Why Should You Buy a Blender for Margaritas?

If you are often found hosting parties, own a restaurant, or have a personal weakness for a well-mixed margarita, then you need a high-quality blender to fit your needs. Even if you don’t plan to make frozen cocktails, a quality blender designed for margaritas can be handy for making other frozen drinks. Looking for the best blender for an acai bowl? These high-performance appliances are perfect to mix thick blends and create smooth textures.

Is a Blender for Margaritas Worth Buying?

  • You Want Versatility: Many high-powered blenders that are optimal for margaritas can function as a great smoothie maker and might have other features that include making nut butter or hummus. The settings used for margarita blends are the same options that create green or fruit smoothies and other frozen drinks.
  • You Want Easy-to-Use Features: The optimal blender for making margaritas have user-friendly features. Look for options with a pulse button or smoothie function. High-end blenders include timers and touch-screen options for you to select and see how much time is left in the blending process. Lastly, most of these appliances offer BPA-free plastic or glass pitchers that easily disconnect from the base and are dishwasher friendly.
  • You Want Something Quick and Powerful: High-powered blenders can mix the toughest ingredients into a smooth blend in seconds. This feature allows you to mix drinks for multiple people in a timely and efficient manner. Look for blenders around 1000-watts or higher and features that incorporate high-pulse and speed settings.
  • You Will Use It Frequently: Whether you host a lot of parties or just love margaritas, a high-powered blender is a necessity. If you think that you’ll use it frequently, then this will likely be a worthwhile investment.

Why a Blender for Margaritas Might Not Be for You

  • You Don’t Drink Frozen Cocktails: A blender for margaritas loses its purpose if you don’t like frozen drinks, aren’t hosting large gatherings, or don’t require a full-sized, high-powered blender. Look at other kitchen appliances to best fit your needs, such as the best blender for milkshakes which require less motor strength, or a self-serve blender for on-the-go protein mixes.
  • You Don’t Have Space: While a personal blender may be easy to store, it might not be worth investing in a larger blender if you don’t have the space in your kitchen. Blenders that work well for margaritas are typically robust in size, standing at an average of 17 inches in height. Look at the specs and sizing of the blender to ensure you have adequate room and storage before purchasing.

How Long Will a Blender for Margaritas Last?

Based on consumer reports, high-powered blenders, such as those used for margaritas, are expected to last up to eight years. However, this applies primarily to high-end brands that offer extended warranties.

Experts, such as those at Blendtec, agree that industry standards for these appliances should have a 7-year warranty. However, Blendtec is an expensive brand and it is highly possible a cheap blender will wear out faster (especially with heavy use) and may require frequent repairs or replacement parts.

Because the best blenders for margaritas need to pulverize ice, it takes a major toll on the blades, pitcher, and motor. Using either the high-speed function or pulse-setting to blend ice and frozen ingredients will wear out your stainless steel blades faster, rendering them less effective. To help improve the longevity of your appliance, be careful to not fill your jar to the very top with ingredients and make sure your blender has come to a complete stop before removing it or changing settings.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take that will help prolong the life of your blender. As a rule of thumb, you should do a quick cleaning immediately after every use. This includes adding dish soap and warm water to the jar (again – be careful not to overfill) and pressing the pulse button for a few seconds. This will help clean both your blades and the difficult to reach places at the bottom of your pitcher.

How to Choose the Best Blender for Margaritas

In addition to all the above, there are a few other things to consider in a blender for making frozen margaritas. Keep reading to learn more.

Key Factors to Consider for a Blender for Margaritas

1. How Do You Plan to Use It?

Are you looking for the perfect addition to your margarita night, pool party, or restaurant? Frozen margaritas are a great addition to any menu or gathering. Purchasing a high-powered, full-sized blender is the ideal appliance for quickly dishing out multiple drinks.

Don’t let margaritas limit you to what these appliances can do. Additionally, the high-speed and performance specs on these blenders can easily transition to creating salsa and hummus – the perfect side dish to any fun-filled party.

2. What Size Blender Do You Need?

Take some time to consider what size blender will work best for your needs. Whether you’re hosting a party or using this appliance at a new restaurant opening, a larger pitcher size will allow you to serve more people at once. Anything less than 48 ounces will be more practical for small groups or individual servings.

3. Do You Need Something Easy To Clean and Maintain?

The last thing you want to do after purchasing a full-sized blender is spend significant time cleaning food stuck in hard to reach places. Make sure you opt for blenders with wide jar openings that are easy to disassemble. By looking for ones with minimal nooks and crannies, you’ll spend less time cleaning and more time serving up fresh drinks.

Blender for Margaritas FAQs

When should I replace the blades?

Unfortunately, there aren’t specific time frames on replacing your blades. Look for dulled edges or poor blending mixtures as indicators that your blades aren’t working as efficiently. Lastly, if it is taking significantly longer to blend your ingredients, that can also be a sign that you need to sharpen or replace them.

Are all the parts of my blender dishwasher safe?

Check your manual before loading up the dishwasher. Most jars (plastic or glass) are dishwasher safe nowadays, however, it is usually recommended to hand-wash your appliance for the best results and to improve longevity.

Can I make a frozen margarita without a blender?

Ultimately, a blender is going to be the easiest way to mix the best frozen margarita. In a pinch, food processors can also work. Some recipes give you outlines for mixing liquid ingredients before adding to a plastic bag and putting in the freezer for a few hours. Unfortunately, reviews are mixed, and it’s a much longer process than blending.

Should I purchase a general or dedicated blender?

General blenders are great for multi-use in the home whereas a dedicated margarita appliance might be helpful if you have a bar or restaurant that is looking to specifically serve margaritas. Additionally, dedicated blenders usually shave the ice, however the pulverize setting found in a general, high-performance blender closely replicates the ideal frozen margarita texture.

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