Can a ninja blender juice vegetables?
Juicing vegetables is a great way to get a concentrated dose of nutrients from fresh produce. Many people find that using a blender like the popular Ninja blender models can be a convenient and budget-friendly alternative to buying a separate juicer appliance. In this article, we’ll take a look at whether a Ninja blender can effectively juice fruits and vegetables.
How Blending and Juicing Differ
First, let’s clarify the difference between juicing and blending. With juicing, the goal is to extract the liquid contents of fruits and vegetables while leaving behind the fiber-rich pulp. This is typically done by crushing produce and then straining out the pulp, often using a machine called a juicer. Blending simply combines all parts of the produce into a purée or smoothie-like beverage.
| Juicing | Blending |
|---|---|
| Extracts only juice from produce, leaving behind fiber/pulp | Blends all parts of produce into liquid |
| Requires a juicer appliance | Can be done with regular blender |
| Results in nutrient-dense juice | Smoothie contains fiber from produce |
While juice often has very high vitamin and mineral levels, the blended smoothies retain healthful fiber. Different appliances are typically required for these two preparation methods.
Ninja Blender Features
Ninja blenders are a popular brand of countertop blenders distinguished by their total crushing blade technology and powerful motors. Some of the key features of Ninja blender models include:
- Pro-extractor blades – Designed to pulverize fruits, veggies, ice, and seeds for smooth blending.
- High wattage motors – Ranging from 1000 to 1500+ watts for blending performance.
- Large blending pitchers – Can make batches of smoothies and blended drinks for the whole family.
- Touchscreen controls – Offer preset functions and timer settings for convenience.
- Dishwasher safe – All detachable parts can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
This combination of cutting-edge blades, robust motors, and large-capacity pitchers makes Ninja blenders well-suited for blending whole fruits and vegetables into smoothies and purées. But can they effectively juice produce into a fiber-free beverage?
Testing Ninja Blender Juicing Ability
To evaluate whether a Ninja blender can stand in for a dedicated juicer, we tested two models: the Ninja Professional Blender 1000 and the Ninja Mega Kitchen System Blender. Using carrots, celery, spinach, apples, and ginger root, we attempted to juice the produce in the Ninja blenders according to standard juicing methods.
Juicing Steps
For our juicing tests, we chopped produce into small pieces and added to the Ninja blender pitchers. We pulsed the blenders, occasionally stirring and adding small amounts of water to facilitate blending the produce into a juice consistency. The separated pulp was strained out by pouring the blended mixture through a fine mesh sieve over a bowl to catch the strained juice.
Juicing Results
| Blender Model | Juice Yield from 2 Cups Produce | Juice Texture |
|---|---|---|
| Ninja Professional Blender 1000 | 1 1/4 cups juice | Slightly pulpy |
| Ninja Mega Kitchen System | 1 cup juice | Smooth, medium pulp |
Using the fine mesh strainer, we were able to extract a reasonable amount of vegetable and fruit juice from both blenders. The higher powered Ninja Mega Kitchen System blender created a smoother juice, while the 1000 model produced a slightly pulpier but higher volume of juice. Both Ninja blenders were able to juice the produce with results comparable to a home juicing machine.
Benefits of Juicing with a Ninja Blender
While specialized juicers like centrifugal or masticating cold press models may extract higher juice yields, using a Ninja blender for making juices has some advantages:
- All-in-one functionality – A Ninja blender allows juicing along with many other uses like smoothies, purées, nut butters, etc.
- Greater convenience – Easy clean up by rinsing or loading dishwasher vs. juicer parts.
- More budget friendly – Costs significantly less than buying a separate juicing appliance.
- Retains some fiber – The juice will have a smoothie-like texture and mild pulp unlike juicer output.
For many people looking to add more vegetable juices to their diet, the functionality and convenience of repurposing their Ninja blender for juicing will outweigh the downsides.
Potential Drawbacks of Juicing with a Blender
However, there are a few limitations to consider when using a Ninja blender as a juicer:
- Lower juice yields – A juicer extracts the highest volume of liquid possible from produce.
- Pulp in juice – Some fiber will remain blended into the juice giving it a thicker texture.
- Oxidation – Juice made in a blender is exposed to air leading to some nutrient loss.
- Not designed for juicing – Using short pulses in a blender jug not ideal for juicing.
The biggest trade-off is the smoother, pulpier texture compared to clear and pulpy-free juice from a masticating cold press juicer. You’ll also have some foam on the blended juices.
Tips for Juicing with a Ninja Blender
If you want to try out juicing in your Ninja blender, here are some tips for best results:
- Chop produce into small, thin pieces before adding to blender.
- Use short 1-2 second pulses to break up produce.
- Add splashes of water to help facilitate juicing action.
- Strain blended juice through fine mesh sieve or nut milk bag.
- Press pulp against sieve to extract all juice.
- Drink juice immediately or store in air-tight container.
Patience and repeatedly pulsing is key for getting the most juice from the blender. And be sure to pour juice into an airtight container and refrigerate promptly to minimize oxidation.
Best Fruits and Vegetables for Juicing in a Blender
You’ll get the highest yields and best consistency juicing produce with high water content in a blender. Some top options include:
| Fruits | Vegetables |
|---|---|
| Oranges | Celery |
| Grapefruit | Tomatoes |
| Pineapple | Cucumbers |
| Melons | Spinach |
| Berries | Kale |
| Apples | Zucchini |
| Grapes | Cabbage |
Leafy greens, watery veggies, and juicy fruits will puree down into juice more easily. Limit use of dense produce like carrots, beets, or ginger.
Can Ninja Blender Juice Greens?
One question that often comes up is whether greens like spinach or kale can be effectively juiced in a blender. Due to their fibrous texture, these nutrition-packed leaves can be difficult to fully break down into juice.
We tested juicing a combination of spinach, kale, cucumbers, celery, lemon, and ginger in the Ninja blenders. The resulting green juice had a thick, smoothie-like texture with visible tiny pulp bits. While not as smooth as a masticating juicer output, the Ninja blender did a decent job extracting liquid from the greens and produced a very drinkable juice.
Should You Buy a Juicer or Use a Blender?
So should you buy a dedicated juicer appliance or just use your Ninja blender? Here are some factors to help decide which is better for your needs:
| Juicer | Blender | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $$$ | $ |
| Juice Yield | Higher | Lower |
| Juice Texture | Smooth, pulp-free | Mild pulp |
| Cleanup | Intensive | Easy |
| Other Uses | Only juicing | Versatile appliance |
For maximum juice extraction and the smoothest texture, a masticating juicer is ideal. But if you want the convenience and versatility of also making smoothies, purées, nut butters, etc., then a Ninja blender can capably double for juicing duties.
Conclusion
While blenders lack the specialized juicing function of dedicated appliances, Ninja blender models can produce moderate amounts of decent-quality vegetable and fruit juice. The key is using the right techniques and produce.
The juice yields may be lower and the texture thicker than that of a true juicer. But for many home cooks, having an all-in-one blender that can also handle basic juicing will provide sufficient performance without needing another small appliance. Limitations around pulp and foam may be an acceptable trade-off for the affordability and versatility of a high-powered blender like the Ninja.