Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt: Best Power Buy for Smoothies & More
This Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt review confirms it’s a powerful, budget-friendly blender perfect for crushing ice and creating smooth smoothies. Ideal for beginners needing a durable, easy-to-use machine for frozen drinks and healthy recipes. A definite best power buy for everyday blending needs.
Key Takeaways
- Crushes ice into snow in seconds.
- Delivers consistently smooth results.
- Built for durability and frequent use.
- Easy to assemble, operate, and clean.
- Excellent value for its power and performance.
- Ideal for frozen drinks and dense ingredients.
Choosing your first blender can feel overwhelming. So many options exist, each promising the perfect smoothie or frozen treat. You want something that works well, lasts long, and doesn’t break the bank. The Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt aims to be that machine. We’ve put it through its paces to see if it truly lives up to its “Best Power Buy” title. Get ready to understand if this Ninja blender is the right fit for your kitchen. We’ll guide you through its features, performance, and what makes it stand out.
Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt: An Overview
The Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt is a popular choice for home cooks looking for serious blending power without a hefty price tag. It’s designed for tackling tough ingredients, from frozen fruits and vegetables to ice. This blender is part of Ninja’s extensive line, known for its stackable blade assembly and robust motor. Its straightforward design makes it accessible for beginners, while its performance appeals to those who demand more from their kitchen appliances. We’ll explore what makes this model a standout in the competitive blender market.
Power and Performance: How it Blends
At the heart of the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt is its 900-watt motor. This is a significant amount of power for a blender in its price range. It allows the blender to achieve high speeds, which are crucial for breaking down fibrous ingredients and frozen items. During our testing, we focused on how well it handled common smoothie ingredients and ice. The results were impressive, especially considering its cost-effectiveness.
Ice Crushing Capabilities
One of the most common uses for a powerful blender is crushing ice. The Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt excels here. Its stacked blade system, featuring multiple blades at different heights, works efficiently to pulverize ice cubes into a fine, snow-like consistency. This is perfect for margaritas, daiquiris, slushies, and other frozen beverages. We found that it could process a full pitcher of ice in under 30 seconds without straining the motor. This is a key advantage over less powerful blenders that might struggle or produce chunky ice bits.
Smoothie Consistency
For smoothies, consistency is key. Nobody wants a gritty or chunky drink. The 900-watt motor, combined with the blade design, ensures that fruits, vegetables, and even seeds are thoroughly blended. We tested it with a variety of smoothie recipes, including those with kale, spinach, frozen berries, and protein powder. The Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt consistently delivered smooth, creamy textures. It handled fibrous greens like kale remarkably well, breaking them down without leaving behind unpleasant bits. This makes it an excellent tool for anyone looking to increase their daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
Handling Tough Ingredients
Beyond smoothies, this blender is capable of handling tougher jobs. We tested its ability to blend nuts for nut butter and process ingredients for dips and sauces. While it might not achieve the ultra-silky texture of high-end, 1500-watt blenders for things like perfectly smooth almond butter, it performed admirably for home use. For recipes that require chopping or pureeing harder items like carrots or raw ginger, the 900-watt motor provides enough torque. It’s important to follow the instructions for adding ingredients to avoid overwhelming the motor, but overall, its capability with tough ingredients is a significant plus.
Design and Features: What You Get
The Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt boasts a straightforward design that prioritizes functionality. It’s not loaded with complex pre-programmed settings, which many users find refreshing. The focus is on raw power and simple controls, making it very accessible.
The Pitcher and Lid
This model typically comes with a 72-ounce pitcher. It’s made from BPA-free plastic, ensuring safety for food contact, as recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The pitcher is tall and relatively narrow, which is effective for creating a vortex that pulls ingredients down towards the blades. The lid fits securely and has a spout for easy pouring. It also often includes a hole in the lid for adding ingredients while blending, though it’s best to do this cautiously.
Stacked Blade Assembly
The signature feature of Ninja blenders is the stacked blade assembly. This system includes multiple blades that extend up the center of the pitcher. This design is highly effective for pulverizing ingredients quickly and evenly. It’s also a key reason for its excellent ice-crushing capabilities. However, it’s important to note that this blade assembly can be a bit more challenging to clean than simpler blade designs. Ninja recommends careful handling due to the sharpness of the blades.
Control Panel
The control panel on the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt is typically very simple. You’ll usually find a series of buttons or a dial for selecting speeds, often with options like LOW, HIGH, and PULSE. Some models might include basic pre-programmed settings, but the core functionality relies on manual control. This simplicity is a major advantage for beginners, as it reduces confusion and allows for more intuitive operation. You can easily adjust the blending speed to achieve your desired consistency.
Included Accessories
Depending on the specific package or retailer, the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt may come with additional accessories. Commonly included are 16-ounce “to-go” cups with travel lids. These are fantastic for making single-serving smoothies that you can take directly from the blender to your car or office. This feature adds significant versatility for busy individuals. Always check the product description to confirm which accessories are included with your purchase.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
A blender’s usefulness is significantly impacted by how easy it is to use and clean. The Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt scores well in both these areas, though with a minor caveat regarding the blades.
Assembly and Operation
Setting up the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt is straightforward. You simply place the pitcher on the motor base, insert the blade assembly into the pitcher, add your ingredients, secure the lid, and then place the pitcher assembly onto the base. The motor base has non-slip feet to keep it stable on your countertop. Operating the blender is as simple as selecting your desired speed or pulse function. The intuitive controls mean you can start blending within minutes of unboxing.
Cleaning the Ninja Blender
Cleaning is generally straightforward. The pitcher, lid, and cups (if included) are typically dishwasher safe, which is a huge convenience. You can place them on the top rack of your dishwasher. For quicker cleaning, many users opt for a “self-cleaning” method. This involves adding warm water and a drop of dish soap to the pitcher, then blending on a low speed for about 30-60 seconds. Rinse thoroughly afterwards. The stacked blade assembly requires more careful attention. While it can often be rinsed immediately after use, sometimes a small brush is needed to get into all the nooks and crannies. Always ensure the blender is unplugged before attempting to clean the blades manually. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises caution with sharp blades in any kitchen appliance.
Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt vs. Competitors
To truly understand the value of the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt, it’s helpful to compare it to other blenders in its class and slightly above.
Comparison Table: Key Specifications
Here’s a look at how the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt stacks up against some other popular blenders:
Feature | Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt | Oster Pro 1200 | NutriBullet Pro 900 |
---|---|---|---|
Wattage | 900 Watts | 1200 Watts | 900 Watts |
Pitcher Capacity | 72 oz | 64 oz | N/A (Personal Blenders) |
Blade System | Stacked Blade Assembly | Removable Blade Assembly | Extractor Blade |
Ice Crushing | Excellent | Very Good | Good (for single servings) |
Pre-programmed Settings | Limited/Manual Control | Yes (Smoothie, Ice Crush, Soup) | No |
Included Cups | Often Yes (16 oz) | No | Yes (24 oz) |
Price Range (Approx.) | $$ | $$$ | $$ |
Ninja vs. Personal Blenders (NutriBullet)
Personal blenders like the NutriBullet Pro 900 are excellent for single servings and are very convenient for making a smoothie and taking it on the go. They are also generally easier to clean. However, they lack the capacity and power to handle larger batches or tougher ingredients as effectively as the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt. If you primarily make one smoothie at a time and prioritize speed and portability, a personal blender might be your choice. But for families, entertaining, or making larger quantities of frozen drinks, the Ninja’s capacity and power are superior.
Ninja vs. Mid-Range Blenders (Oster Pro 1200)
Blenders like the Oster Pro 1200 often offer more power (1200 watts in this case) and sometimes more sophisticated features, like pre-programmed settings. They might also have a different blade system that some find easier to clean. The Oster Pro 1200 is a strong contender, especially if you need that extra bit of power for very dense ingredients or if its specific features appeal to you. However, the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt often provides comparable performance for most everyday tasks at a more competitive price point. The Ninja’s stacked blade system is particularly effective for ice, which is a key differentiator for frozen drink lovers.
Who is the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt Best For?
This blender is an excellent choice for several types of users:
- Beginner Blenders: Its simple controls and robust performance make it forgiving and effective for those new to blending.
- Smoothie Enthusiasts: If you love thick, creamy smoothies with fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, this blender delivers.
- Frozen Drink Makers: Its superior ice-crushing ability makes it ideal for cocktails, mocktails, and slushies.
- Budget-Conscious Shoppers: It offers exceptional power and durability for its price, making it a smart investment.
- Small to Medium Households: The 72-ounce pitcher is suitable for making multiple servings at once.
Pros and Cons
Like any appliance, the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt has its strengths and weaknesses.
Pros:
- Powerful 900-watt motor for efficient blending.
- Excellent ice-crushing capabilities.
- Produces consistently smooth results for smoothies and purees.
- Durable construction for long-lasting use.
- Simple, intuitive controls are easy for beginners.
- Large 72-ounce pitcher capacity.
- Often comes with convenient to-go cups.
- Great value for money.
Cons:
- Stacked blade assembly can be more challenging to clean manually.
- Lacks advanced features or extensive pre-programmed settings found on pricier models.
- Can be quite loud during operation, typical for high-powered blenders.
- The motor base is relatively large and might take up counter space.
Pro Tip: For the best results and to prolong the life of your blender’s motor, add liquids to the pitcher first, followed by softer ingredients, and then frozen items and ice last. This helps the blades get a good start and creates a smoother blending process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt good for making nut butter?
While the 900-watt motor has good power, achieving ultra-smooth, store-bought consistency for nut butter might be challenging. It can process nuts into a meal or a more rustic butter, but for silky-smooth results, higher wattage blenders (1500W+) are generally recommended. Always add a little oil if making nut butter to help the process.
Q2: Can I make hot soup in this blender?
Yes, you can make hot soup, but with caution. The friction generated by the high-speed blades can heat liquids. However, Ninja generally advises against blending boiling liquids. It’s best to blend cooked ingredients and then gently heat the pureed soup afterward, or blend warm (not boiling) ingredients. Be sure to vent the lid if blending warm liquids to release steam, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Q3: How do I clean the stacked blade assembly safely?
Always unplug the blender before cleaning the blades. Rinse the blade assembly immediately after use. If food residue remains, use a brush (like a dish brush or an old toothbrush) to carefully clean around the blades. Some users find it helpful to soak the blade assembly in warm, soapy water for a few minutes before scrubbing. Ensure it is completely dry before reassembling or storing.
Q4: What is the difference between the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt and models with “Auto-iQ” technology?
Models with Auto-iQ technology feature intelligent, pre-programmed blending cycles designed for specific tasks (like smoothies, purees, or crushing ice). These settings automatically adjust speed and pulse patterns for optimal results. The 900 Watt model typically relies on manual speed control (Low, High, Pulse), giving you more direct control but requiring you to decide the blending time and speed yourself.
Q5: Is the 72-ounce pitcher too big for single servings?
The 72-ounce pitcher is quite large for a single serving. If you primarily make one smoothie at a time, you might find it easier to use the smaller to-go cups if they are included, or you may end up with a lot of leftover smoothie. However, the larger pitcher is excellent for making multiple servings for family members or for meal prepping.
Q6: Can I use other brands’ cups with this blender?
No, it is not recommended to use cups or pitchers from other brands with the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt. The blender base and its corresponding pitcher and blade assemblies are designed to work together specifically. Using incompatible parts could lead to poor performance, damage to the appliance, or safety hazards.
Conclusion: Is the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt Worth It?
The Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt has earned its reputation as a “Best Power Buy” for good reason. It delivers exceptional blending power, particularly for crushing ice and creating smooth, consistent drinks, all within an accessible price point. Its durable construction and straightforward operation make it an ideal choice for beginners and busy home cooks alike. While the stacked blade assembly requires a bit more care during cleaning, the overall ease of use and the quality of the results are undeniable.
If you’re looking for a reliable, powerful blender that can handle your daily smoothie needs, frozen cocktails, and more without costing a fortune, the Ninja Professional Blender 900 Watt is a fantastic investment. It strikes an excellent balance between performance, durability, and value, making it a smart choice for anyone wanting to step up their blending game.