BLACK+DECKER Crush Master Blender, 10-Speeds with Stainless Steel Blades, Black, BL2010BP

This blender is perfect! My grandchildren love milkshakes, now we're making them at home! It works great for slushes too!

What I Loved (PROS): Actually Crushes Ice (Not Just Claims To) - This is where most budget blenders fail spectacularly. The Crush Master lives up to its name - those stainless steel blades pulverize ice cubes into snow-like consistency in 30-45 seconds. I've made countless frozen margaritas, smoothie bowls, and crushed ice for cocktails with zero issues. This feature alone justifies the purchase price. 10 Speed Settings Provide Real Control - Unlike blenders with "3 speeds" that all feel identical, these 10 settings offer genuinely different blending intensities. Low speeds for gentle mixing, high speeds for aggressive blending, mid-range for everything in between. I actually use 6-7 of these settings regularly, which is more than I can say for most blenders. Stainless Steel Blades Stay Sharp - After 9 months of daily smoothies (frozen fruit, ice, protein powder), the blades still blend as efficiently as day one. No dulling, no performance degradation. I've tested budget blenders where blades dull within months - these haven't shown any decline. Pulse Function That Actually Pulses - The pulse button provides genuine on/off bursts rather than just being "high speed with a different name." Essential for chunky salsas, controlled ice crushing, and when you need short bursts rather than continuous blending. Glass Jar Resists Staining and Odors - The 48-ounce glass blending jar hasn't absorbed smoothie colors or retained odors like plastic jars do. After hundreds of berry smoothies, it still looks new. Glass is also dishwasher-safe without warping concerns. Sturdy Motor Base Doesn't Walk Across Counter - The weighted base (feels like 4-5 pounds) stays planted during operation. Even when crushing ice at max speed, minimal movement. This stability matters more than people realize - dancing blenders are infuriating. Easy to Clean - Add water and drop of dish soap, blend for 30 seconds, rinse. That's it. The smooth glass jar and removable blade assembly make thorough cleaning straightforward. No hidden crevices where mold grows (looking at you, fancy blenders with complex gasket systems). Cord Storage is Built In - The base has a cord wrap feature that keeps the cable tidy. Seems minor until you've dealt with 6 feet of tangled cord falling behind the counter every time you move the blender. Reasonable Noise Level for Price Point - Yes, it's loud (all blenders are), but it's not ear-splitting. I'd estimate 85-90 decibels at full speed - annoying but not "wake the whole house" levels. Comparable to most blenders in the $30-60 range. Dishwasher Safe Components - Jar, lid, and blade assembly all go in the dishwasher. For busy mornings when hand-washing feels impossible, this convenience is a game-changer. Compact Footprint - Base is about 7" x 7", total height around 15 inches. Fits under standard kitchen cabinets and doesn't monopolize counter space. Perfect for apartment kitchens. Outstanding Value - For $25-35 (depending on sales), you're getting a functional, ice-crushing blender that does everything most home cooks need. The price-to-performance ratio is exceptional. What Could Be Better (CONS): Plastic Components Feel Cheap - The lid, measuring cap, and base housing are all lightweight plastic that feels budget-grade. Nothing's broken yet, but the tactile quality screams "inexpensive." If build quality aesthetics matter to you, this will bother you. Loud Operation - While not exceptional for budget blenders, this is still LOUD. Early morning smoothies will wake sleeping household members. If you're noise-sensitive or have sleeping babies/roommates, the volume will be an issue. Not Built for Hot Liquids - The manual warns against blending hot soups or liquids. The glass jar and gasket aren't designed for heat. If you frequently blend hot soups, you need a different blender. This is strictly for cold/room temperature blending. Jar Capacity is Modest - 48 ounces sounds generous until you're making smoothies for multiple people. It comfortably makes 2-3 servings but is too small for batch processing or large family needs. The max fill line is actually around 40 ounces. Motor Struggles with Thick Mixtures - When blending very thick smoothie bowls or frozen fruit with minimal liquid, the motor bogs down and sometimes stalls. You need adequate liquid for proper blending. This isn't a Vitamix that powers through anything. No Pre-Programmed Settings - This is manual control only - no "smoothie" or "ice crush" automatic programs. You determine speed and duration. For some this is preferable; others want one-button convenience. Blade Assembly Removal Requires Care - The blade unit screws off the jar bottom for cleaning, which is good, but the exposed blades are SHARP. I've nicked myself twice being careless. Handle with respect. Speed Dial is Slightly Imprecise - The numbered dial (1-10) doesn't have firm clicks at each setting. It's a continuous rotation dial, so getting exactly to "7" vs "6" or "8" requires attention. Minor issue but worth noting. Gasket Requires Occasional Replacement - After 9 months, the rubber gasket seal is showing wear. It still seals fine, but I anticipate needing a replacement within 12-18 months. Gaskets are cheap ($5-8), but it's additional maintenance. No Tamper Included - When blending thick mixtures, ingredients can create an air pocket around blades. You have to stop, remove lid, and stir manually. A tamper stick (like expensive blenders include) would solve this, but none is provided. My Professional Assessment: I've tested blenders across every price category, from $20 impulse purchases to $600 professional machines. The BLACK+DECKER Crush Master occupies an interesting sweet spot: it's cheap enough not to worry about, but capable enough to handle 90% of home blending tasks reliably. What separates this from truly terrible budget blenders is consistent performance. The ice-crushing capability is genuine, not marketing hyperbole. The motor has adequate power for typical smoothie ingredients. The glass jar is genuinely better than plastic alternatives. These aren't just checkboxes - they're meaningful quality indicators. Where it shows its budget origins is durability uncertainty and build quality. After 9 months, mine works perfectly, but I can't confidently predict 5-year longevity. The plastic components feel like they could crack if dropped. The motor might not survive years of daily frozen fruit torture. But at $30, even 2-3 years of reliable service represents excellent value. Real-World Testing Results (9+ Months of Daily Use): Daily Green Smoothie (9 months, ongoing): Ingredients: Spinach, frozen banana, frozen berries, protein powder, almond milk, ice Performance: Consistently smooth results in 45-60 seconds on speed 8-9 Texture: Occasional small chunks if I skimp on liquid, otherwise smooth Cleanup: Quick rinse cycle, full clean every 3-4 days Motor performance: Still strong, no power degradation noticed Frozen Margaritas (15+ batches): Ingredients: Tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, ice Performance: Ice crushed to perfect slushy consistency in 40-50 seconds Capacity: Comfortably makes 4-5 margaritas per batch Result: Restaurant-quality frozen drinks Note: Motor gets warm after 2-3 consecutive batches (let cool 5 mins between) Protein Shakes (200+ made): Ingredients: Protein powder, milk, banana, peanut butter, ice Performance: Smooth, lump-free shakes in 30 seconds Consistency: Powder fully incorporated, no clumps Speed used: 6-7 (lower speeds work fine for non-frozen ingredients) Cleanup: Easiest recipe to clean (minimal residue) Salsa/Chunky Blending (10+ batches): Ingredients: Tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime Performance: Pulse function perfect for controlled chunky texture Result: Restaurant-style salsa, not over-blended Note: Small batches work better than large (ingredients need to reach blades) Smoothie Bowls - Thick Blends (20+ attempts): Ingredients: Frozen açaí, frozen banana, minimal liquid Performance: Motor struggles, requires tamping and liquid addition Result: Eventually achieves thick consistency but requires patience Verdict: Not ideal for extra-thick blends; needs more liquid than premium blenders Who Should Buy This: Budget-conscious shoppers wanting functional blender under $40 College students or first-apartment dwellers Singles or couples making 1-2 servings at a time Smoothie enthusiasts who don't need professional performance Anyone replacing a broken blender temporarily Secondary/vacation home kitchen needs People who want ice-crushing capability affordably Casual blender users (3-5 times weekly or less) Anyone whose last blender was destroyed by household members Gift-givers seeking practical, affordable presents Who Should Skip This: Large families needing to blend multiple servings simultaneously Smoothie bowl enthusiasts requiring extra-thick consistency Hot soup blenders (not designed for heat) Commercial/professional use (not built for that intensity) Those needing absolute quietest operation possible Anyone wanting premium build quality and aesthetics Heavy-duty users blending 5+ times daily People who want pre-programmed automatic settings Those with $200+ budget wanting best-in-class performance Realistic Performance by Common Use Cases: Standard Smoothies (Fresh/Frozen Fruit + Liquid): Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Best Feature: Consistent smooth results Time: 45-60 seconds Tip: Use speed 8-9 for best results Ice Crushing: Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Best Feature: Actually works reliably Time: 30-45 seconds for snow-like consistency Tip: Add ice gradually for even crushing Protein Shakes: Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Best Feature: No powder clumps Time: 20-30 seconds Tip: Lower speeds (6-7) work fine Frozen Cocktails: Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Best Feature: Restaurant-quality results Time: 40-60 seconds Tip: Let motor cool between batches Extra-Thick Smoothie Bowls: Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Adequate Challenge: Motor bogs down with minimal liquid Time: 90+ seconds with stopping/stirring Tip: Add slightly more liquid than you'd prefer Chunky Salsas/Dips: Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good Best Feature: Pulse function provides control Time: 15-30 seconds pulsing Tip: Cut ingredients smaller for even blending Nut Butters: Rating: ⭐⭐ Poor Challenge: Motor not powerful enough Verdict: Don't attempt - use food processor instead Hot Soups: Rating: ⭐ Not Recommended Issue: Not designed for hot liquids Verdict: Cool soup first or use immersion blender Maximizing Performance Tips (Learned Through Testing): For Smoothest Results: Add liquid first (helps vortex form) Add soft ingredients (banana, yogurt) Add frozen/hard ingredients last Don't overfill past max line (40 oz actual capacity) Start low speed, gradually increase Blend 45-60 seconds minimum For Ice Crushing: Don't fill jar more than 1/3 with ice Add small amount of liquid (2-3 oz) Use pulse function initially (5-10 pulses) Then blend continuously at high speed Check consistency after 30 seconds For Thick Mixtures: Use tamper technique: stop, remove lid, push ingredients down Add liquid in 1-2 oz increments Blend in shorter intervals to prevent motor overheating Consider blending in two smaller batches For Longevity: Never run empty (damages blades/motor) Let motor cool 5 minutes between heavy-duty batches Don't exceed max run time (60-90 seconds continuous) Clean immediately after use (prevents residue hardening) Check gasket periodically for wear Cleaning & Maintenance Guide: Quick Clean (Daily): Rinse jar immediately after use Fill halfway with warm water Add drop of dish soap Blend 30 seconds on medium speed Rinse thoroughly Air dry upside down Deep Clean (Weekly): Unscrew blade assembly from jar bottom Wash all parts in dishwasher OR hand wash with brush Clean gasket carefully (remove if accessible) Wipe base with damp cloth (never submerge) Dry all parts completely before reassembly Monthly Maintenance: Inspect gasket for wear/damage Check blade sharpness (should still be keen) Ensure blade assembly screws tight Clean any residue from base/control dial Check cord for damage Troubleshooting Common Issues: Problem: Motor stops mid-blend Solution: Too thick - add more liquid. Let motor cool 5 mins. Problem: Leaking from bottom Solution: Gasket worn or improperly seated. Check/replace gasket. Problem: Ingredients not blending (spinning on top) Solution: Not enough liquid. Add 2-4 oz liquid and retry. Problem: Loud grinding noise Solution: Ice or hard ingredient stuck. Stop, remove obstruction. Problem: Burning smell Solution: Motor overheating. Stop immediately, let cool 10+ minutes. Cost Comparison Analysis: Budget Option - BLACK+DECKER Crush Master: Cost: $30 Lifespan estimate: 2-3 years moderate use Cost per year: $10-15 Best for: Budget buyers, casual users Mid-Range Option - Ninja/Oster: Cost: $80-120 Lifespan estimate: 3-5 years Cost per year: $16-40 Best for: Frequent users wanting better performance Premium Option - Vitamix/Blendtec: Cost: $400-600 Lifespan estimate: 7-10+ years Cost per year: $40-85 Best for: Daily heavy users, smoothie enthusiasts Verdict: For casual to moderate users, BLACK+DECKER offers best value. Heavy daily users should invest in mid-range or premium. What You Can Actually Make (Tested Recipes): Definitely Works Well: Green smoothies Fruit smoothies Protein shakes Frozen margaritas/daiquiris Milkshakes Crushed ice Chunky salsa Guacamole Simple vinaigrettes Pancake batter Works with Limitations: Smoothie bowls (need extra liquid) Hummus (small batches only) Pesto (may not get super smooth) Nut milk (requires straining, not ultra-smooth) Don't Even Try: Nut butters (motor can't handle) Hot soups (not designed for heat) Grinding coffee beans (wrong tool) Kneading dough (definitely wrong tool) Large batch processing (capacity too small) Final Verdict: The BLACK+DECKER Crush Master is the blender equivalent of a reliable Honda Civic - it's not exciting, it won't impress blender snobs, but it'll get the job done day after day without drama or buyer's remorse. After 9 months of daily smoothies, weekly margaritas, and countless protein shakes, this $30 blender has earned its permanent spot on my counter. It's not perfect - it's loud, plasticky, and won't win design awards - but it crushes ice reliably, blends smoothies smoothly, and hasn't broken despite significant use. The critical question is: "Do you need a $500 blender, or do you need a blender that costs $30 and works?" For 80% of home cooks making smoothies, shakes, and frozen drinks, this budget option delivers entirely adequate performance. Save the $470 difference for actual food to blend. Is this the last blender you'll ever buy? Probably not - I'd estimate 2-4 years of lifespan depending on use intensity. But at $30, even two years of reliable service represents exceptional value. When it eventually dies, I'll buy another without hesitation. Would I buy it again? Yes, and I'd recommend it without reservation to anyone wanting basic blending capability on a budget. Recommendation: STRONG BUY for budget-conscious, moderate users ✅

I needed a blender to make powder out of egg shells for our garden soil. This blender did the job. I am quite happy with the performance of this machine. Now, time for a margarita!

Powerful motor! Black and Decker quality! The lightweight plastic pitcher is a great improvement, but the plastic is easy to scratch if you use it for grinding coffee or such and could break if dropped. Not exactly a space saver. At 16 & 3/4 inches it stands too tall to fit under the kitchen cabinets, so placing the carafe next to the motor doubles the footprint. Still a good deal!

I used this blender for about a month to make smoothies. I blend milk and spinach and then add chia, hemp seed heart seeds and flax seed meal. I also add a banana and frozen fruit. It worked to blend this up, sometimes I could tell it struggled with the frozen fruit but a lot of these cheaper blenders will. One thing I noticed early on was that the bottom cap that screws on to hold the blade in place doesn't screw on that well and sometimes the smoothie would leak out of the bottom, not the biggest inconvenience but annoying to clean. However, I tried to blend up a drained and rinsed can of chickpeas and a quarter cup of peanut butter and the blender could not handle this, even with the pulse mode. I would continuously have to stir the mixture to get it to blend, again not a huge problem, just an annoyance. The problem arose the following morning when I went to make my smoothie. I could tell the blade wasn't turning properly and after picking the blender up off the base unit and unscrewing the attachment that holds the blade onto the bottom of the blender, the piece that connects to the blade and that turns when the blender is on, simply fell off. I cannot find any piece that would hold this onto the actual blades which has now made the blender useless. Amazon is letting me return the blender and is issuing a refund, but bottom line is I would not buy this blender again. If you are only going to be blending small amounts of things or just leafy greens, it is likely ok, but anything else you will just want to spend more to get a better blender.

Amazing blender! Very powerful and blends everything smoothly, even frozen fruits. The quality feels premium and it’s super easy to clean. Totally worth the money — highly recommended! 👍

Used it mostly for oat milk and smoothies (nothing intense or with hard parts), and the part right under the blades melted! Now it's leaking and I have an unusable blender. Majorly uncool.

Works great , ordered a 2nd one as the one before just died on me .its not expensive so might as well got the same so you know atleast you are stress free for a year or two .

The thing zapped shortly after I got it. Very rude customer service. After a few weeks of waiting, I’m still left with just a broken blender.

Buena licuadora útil solo si pones mal la licuadora en la base se te puede dañar

Sharing my experience so that other people are careful when they try to buy this product. I saw the review from different people. After a month of seldom use, lower part started leaking. Basically you need to through this to garbage when it started leaking from the bottom part. Please think one more time if you decided to buy this product.

hace demasiado ruido y no muele muy bien