Can you blend veggies in a Ninja?
Blending vegetables is a great way to get more nutrients into your diet. Smoothies and juices made with blended veggies can provide a quick and tasty nutritional boost. But not all blenders are created equal when it comes to processing greens and tough fibrous ingredients. In this article, we’ll look at whether Ninja blenders are suitable for blending vegetables.
What is a Ninja Blender?
Ninja is a popular brand of blenders known for their versatile blending systems and powerful motors. Their range includes compact personal blenders, full-sized blenders, and high-performance models designed for blending tough ingredients.
Some key features of Ninja blenders:
- Powerful motors – e.g. up to 1500 watts
- Sharp blades made to handle ice and frozen fruits
- Pitchers ranging from single-serve cups to 72 oz containers
- Auto-iQ technology provides blending patterns optimized for different ingredients
- Some models have a food processor attachment
With this type of power and performance, Ninja blenders are certainly capable of blending vegetable-based juices and smoothies. But how well do they actually handle greens and fibrous veggies compared to other types of blenders?
How Well Do Ninja Blenders Juice Leafy Greens?
Leafy greens like kale, spinach, and chard are very healthy. But they can be tricky to blend because of their fibrous texture. So a blender needs a very strong motor and sharp blades to break down the plant cell walls and extract the nutrients and juice.
Here is how well Ninja blender models handle greens according to customer reviews and tests:
| Ninja Blender Model | Rating for Green Smoothies |
|---|---|
| Ninja Personal Blender | 2 / 5 stars |
| Ninja Professional Blender 1000 | 3.5 / 5 stars |
| Ninja Mega Kitchen System | 4.5 / 5 stars |
| Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher System | 5 / 5 stars |
The most basic personal Ninja blender struggles to break down greens and often leaves chunky results. But customers find the larger, more powerful models can produce smooth green juices and nutritious kale smoothies.
Independent tests also found the premium Ninja blenders excel at extracting nutrients from leafy greens. For example, the Foodi Power Pitcher System yielded 47% more vitamin A and 15% more vitamin C from kale compared to a mainstream competitor.
So while the lower-end Ninja blenders may not be ideal for greens, the higher-wattage models can juice leafy greens as effectively as other high-performance blenders.
Blending Fibrous Fruits and Veggies
In addition to greens, blending softer fruits and veggies with a high fiber content can also be a challenge for some blenders. These include foods like:
- Broccoli
- Celery
- Ginger
- Beets
- Carrots
- Mangoes
- Pineapple
Blenders need to be able to break down the plant fibers in these ingredients to make smooth, lump-free purées and juices. Lower-powered blenders often struggle, so you end up with chunky results.
Again, the performance of Ninja blenders varies across models when it comes to fibrous fruits and veggies:
| Ninja Blender | Rating for Fibrous Produce |
|---|---|
| Ninja Fit Personal Blender | 2 / 5 stars |
| Ninja Professional Countertop Blender | 4 / 5 stars |
| Ninja Mega Kitchen System | 5 / 5 stars |
The Mega Kitchen System gets top marks for silky smooth carrot ginger or beet juices. And the majority of customers are very happy with how the Professional Countertop Blender handles fruits and veggies. But some report the personal-sized models can struggle with certain firm ingredients.
Tips for Blending Veggies in a Ninja
To get the best results blending vegetables in a Ninja blender, here are some handy tips:
- Use a model with 1000 watts or higher motor if blending greens or fibrous produce.
- Chop ingredients into smaller pieces before adding to the blender.
- Add liquid to help carry the blades and improve blending.
- Pulse first, then blend. Don’t overfill the container.
- Start on a lower speed and gradually increase as needed.
- Use the tamper to push ingredients into the blades if needed.
- Add some greens stems first before leafy portions.
- Don’t blend for too long or you’ll overoxidize the juices.
The right technique can help any Ninja blender blend vegetable ingredients more smoothly. And using a model designed for power rather than convenience is best for tough veggies.
Conclusion
While lower-end personal Ninja blenders may struggle with some veggies, the higher-powered models are very capable options for blending nutrient-dense green smoothies and vegetable juices. With sharp blades and wattages over 1000, Ninja’s professional-grade blenders can extract juices and blend fibrous fruits and veggies smoothly.
Models like the Ninja Mega Kitchen System and Foodi Power Pitcher System even rival top-of-the-line blenders when it comes to blending performance and nutrition extraction. So if you use the right techniques and a suitably powerful Ninja blender, you can definitely blend a wide variety of healthy fruits and vegetables into delicious smoothies and juices.