Review of Ninja Professional Blender- NJ600 Series

Ninja Professional Blender
NJ600 Series

I just bought the Ninja Professional Blender NJ600 series in March 2012. It is manufactured by this company called Euro-Pro Operating LLC, which also makes other stuff, like Shark vacuums. I purchased it at Target for $99, and got a free $10 Target gift card for making that purchase. So, I guess you could say that the blender really cost me $89. I think that the timing of the sale was perfect for me, because I was already in the market for a good blender. I used to have a Black and Decker blender, but it conked out on me. Anyhow, so far so good.

Well I want to start off 2012 in a healthy way, so I have gradually changed my eating habits. All the junk foods are slowly getting kicked to the curve and I am consuming a lot more fruits and veggies. Now I don’t see myself chewing up 8-10 servings of fruits and veggies daily, so I decided to buy a blender so that I can get my servings in by drinking them in the form of healthy fruit smoothies. I plan to also use the Ninja blender to make protein shakes and an occasional mixed alcohol beverage, as well.

Here are some descriptive features of the Ninja Professional blender NJ600 series:

• Easy lock lid with built-in pour spout
• Patented Ninja Blade technology- with six sharp blades
• BPA free 72 oz (9 cup or 2.15 Liters) pitcher
• Built in pour spout
• Control panel with three speeds and a pulse feature
• 1000 watts
• Non slip bottom

As for the blade design, it differs from that of the regular blenders that you can buy at Walmart or Target.  Unlike the blade assemblies that are located along the bottom of most blenders, the Ninja blade assembly spans almost the whole length of the pitcher.  There are six very sharp, curved, blades spread out on a long plastic rod.  I know that with my old Black and Decker blender the blades, were only on the bottom.  With that blender, I had to stop it during the blending process, and take a spoon and scrape along the sides and bottom of the pitcher.  I had to do this because food would sometimes get trapped at these places during the blending process.  This problem has not occurred since I have been using the Ninja Professional blender.

Ninja Professional Blender NJ600
Control Panel

Ninja Professional Blender Blade
Top View

Ninja Professional Blender blades
side view

I have been making some delicious fruit smoothies, such as the following recipe:

2 ripe bananas,

½ cup blueberries

1 cup strawberries,

1/2 cup blackberries

1 cup of frozen peaches

1 cup of white seedless grapes

1 cup 1% Organic cow’s milk or Organic Coconut milk

1 cup of ice cubes

1/3 cup of honey

This recipe is good for about 4 servings.  The smoothie is really sweet, too. I am a beginner at this, so this recipe is really an experiment. I let the contents blend at the first speed for about 1 minute. The smoothie tastes very delicious, but I must say that it does not blend consistently smooth. I don’t know whether this is due to the blade design or the power of the motor.

As I drink the smoothie, I can always see and feel bits of the seeds from the berries and other particles in it. I have tried pulsing and blending at the other speeds but this does not make a difference. The texture is not the same as you would get with consuming a smoothie made in an industrial grade blender. Those particles are a little bit annoying, especially when they get stuck between the teeth. It is something that I can get over, though.

I will need to continue using my Ninja Professional blender in order to get a feel for how well it blends certain foods. For now I think that this gadget suits my needs. I am not looking for absolute perfection from a blender that only costs $99. I certainly don’t expect for this Ninja blender to pulverize material in the same way that a more expensive blender would.

Some people are completely mesmerized by watching videos of blenders which are powerful enough break bricks or iPads down into fine dust. I see the fact that the Ninja Professional blender is not quite that powerful, as only a minor flaw. At some point in the future I may choose to purchase a much more powerful (and more expensive) blender, such as the Vitamix or Blendtec. I expect that this blender will last until I am ready to upgrade.

Vitamix and Blendtec blenders are higher quality products, but they differ from Ninja blenders in a few ways. Blendtec and Vitamix blenders costs $400 and up. Blendtec and Vitamix blenders have higher watt motors in them. Blendtec and Vitamix blenders last longer and carry longer warranties than Ninja Professional blenders (7 year warranty for Vitamix and Blendtec blenders compared to only 2 years for Ninja blenders).

Pros and Cons of Ninja Professional blender:

Pros:

• The blender has a safety feature that prevents the blender from starting if the components aren‘t situated properly.
• It has a 1000 watt motor.
• It comes with a 2 year warranty.
• It does a fair job of blending, pureeing and crushing ice.
• Very quick and easy to clean

Cons:

• The contents don’t blend to a 100% smooth consistency.
• It is loud as hell (but then again, most blenders are).
• Sometimes the blender lid is a little bit difficult to remove from the pitcher.
• Use caution while handling the blades, because they are very sharp.

Is the Ninja Blender Any Good?

So in closing, I recommend the Ninja Professional Blender NJ600 series if you are a very budget conscious person, seeking a simple, effective starter blender. This is a product suitable for people who want to eat healthy, but are new to the subject of "how to make smoothies".   I think that it beats most blenders (in the same price range) available at retail stores today. If you are looking for a blender that can turn a brick or iPad into dust, then this product isn’t for you. 

Update June 2014:

I have been using the Ninja blender for over two years and it is still going strong with no problems. 


Where to Buy Ninja Blender?

I purchased my ninja blender at Target, but is also available at most well known retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Bed Bath, and Beyond.  It is available direct from their website, too.  I put the link below.

For more information about Ninja products, visit www.ninjakitchen.com.

　

© Copyright 2012 Susan Broadbelt

 www.thewhimsicalmusingsofsusan.com