Can this CHEAP Ninja Blender Beat My Vitamix?

I would be interested in the cleaning process for each blender. Cleaning our kitchen gadgets plays a big part in how often we use them.

The reason your margarita separates is because it's over-blended and the ice is starting to melt from the heat of the blender. Try blending at a lower speed in 5 second intervals just until it reaches the consistency you want.

The Ninja blender isn't really a blender; more of a tall food processor. A blender's blending power comes from the small blades and the RPMs creating a cavitation bubble at the bottom which annihilates most everything you throw into it. The Ninja's tall blender column just cannot accomplish this because of the design. Hence, I use the standard blending column as a first pass in my morning smoothies but then pour the resultant liquids into a smaller blending cup with a proper blender blade (came as part of the Ninja Blender package) and THAT is what makes the whole thing much, much more smooth. Hope this helps for anyone looking.

Frozen alcoholic drinks tend to separate unless some type of stabilizer is added. Starbucks' frappucinos don't separate because they have a base which contains xantham gum or some other stabilizing ingredient to keep the ice and other ingredients together. Try adding ~1/8 to 1/4 tsp of xantham gum directly into the blender as the ingredients are spinning. Has usually worked for me!

-me sweating while watching this after buying a vitamix

One important note about Ninja: DO NOT blend very hot soup straight from heat, because blending jar might get cracks (mine did). Give it to cool down a bit before pouring to the blender

I bought my Ninja more than a decade ago. It was $150 for the pro level, but it came with the blender pitcher, a more "food processor" shaped bowl, and an attachment for individual-size cups (meant for smoothies, etc.). All of the attachments use the same base. Interesting to note that the blending mechanism for the individual attachment is like the Vitamix, with the metal, four-blade spinner at the bottom, and it makes a better smoothie, milk shake, frappuccino, etc. than the big blender 100% of the time. So much so that I will take the time to make four individuals than try to save time by makine more than one in the big blender. Has to have something to do with the type of and placement of the blade. At the time, the $150 was a BIG spend on a kitchen gadget for my family and I certainly couldn't afford a bunch of other tools, so it was great for what I was able to justify spending... none of the components were the best, but very good in a world where it was my blender AND food processor. As times have changed, and I have upgraded to a good food processor, I find myself using it less amd less. But I still use the individual part almost daily for my frozen coffee concoction. So all of that is the long way of saying I bought that thing more than a decade ago, I used the crap out of it as a multifunction tool for years, and it still works well to this day. When it finally bites the bullet or my daughter moves out on her own & I give it her (whichever comes first), I will upgrade to the Vitamix, but for my, at the time, broke family that had neither the money nor the kitchen space for a bunch of different machines, the Ninja was a great investment.

An important economic consideration: I've been using my Vitamix regularly since the early 90s. Same unit. No maintenance. No problems. There aren't many appliances you can count on that sort of longevity from — but from all I hear, over the decades Vitamix has stuck to that level of quality and folks can expect that sort of longevity. I'm not sure that can be expected from the Ninja with the plastic drive...

I used to work in a kitchen where I would make soup at least every other day. The day we got a Vitamix was like Christmas morning. I stopped straining my pureed soups because there was nothing left in the mesh strainer when it passed through. Such a time saver. You could drop your phone into one of those things while you were blending something and there'd be no trace of it. If you use a blender a lot, it's 100 percent worth it.

One thing I’ve found with my Ninja when making hot sauce. Blend longer than you think, and it will eventually hit that “pro” level consistency. Maybe 1.5X the blend time, and you should be good.

Some Ninja Professional models come with single serving, smoothie cups that have blade attachment lids. Setting aside that they are single serving, they totally overcome the grainy smoothie problem. Raspberries and Blackberrys don't stand a chance. It makes more dishes, but works great for quick grab and go drinks in the morning.

I bought my Vitamix in 1994 and it still does what is says. I got it with two blender containers: dry and wet. I love it! Yes, the best investment of my life. Yes, I’ve blended everything in it.

Had my Vitamix 5200 from 2003-2020. Would still be going strong if not for dropping it on concrete while moving. Absolutely worth the extra $$$

Our local Steakhouse uses the ninja pro in their bar. Talking with the bartenders, they hate it, they keep hoping it will die for good, but the manager just keeps running down to the local store and buying a new one they used to use the vita mix, but the new manager decided to cheap out. We have that same vita mix at home and I’ve had it for years. The motor did burn out once, but Vitamix replaced it. The only thing I will say that the ninja wins on is that locking cap

I bought the Ninja BN701 1400w blender in Nov 2020 for $60 from Amazon (Hello cyber Monday!). A year ago I bought a vintage stainless steel Vitamix 3600 for under $40 from an online thrift store auction site. The vortex action of the Vitamix definitely results in smoother drinks and soups, and vintage was no problem because new parts are readily available - I just replaced the gaskets/seals, even though there were no leaks. It's all steel - it's literally built like a tank. But if I'm making smoothies for the family, the Ninja can make four 12-16 ounce servings at one time easily and effortlessly, and that's a big plus.

I have a similar ninja blender, and I find that the smaller personal cups are better for smoother purees, and better blended drinks. The bigger jar is serviceable, but makes for a less consistent texture.

The difference in warranties tells you all you need to know. Filling landfills with dead appliances is an environmental disaster

When I worked in a smoothe shop after school we had 2 BlendTec blenders and they were absolute beasts! I made a point a few years ago to go buy one for myself now that I have my own home.

It’s worth noting that the Ninja isn’t even supposed to have hot anything in it.

I love my Vitamix. My first one lasted 15 years with heavy use and my new one, which I bought at Costco, for $299.00 on sale. Love it.