How many cups is a ninja blender?

Blenders like the Ninja Professional Blender are popular kitchen appliances for making smoothies, shakes, and other blended drinks. But when a recipe calls for “3 cups” of ingredients, how do you know what that looks like in your Ninja blender?

Ninja Blender Cup Sizes

The amount that fits in a “cup” depends on which Ninja blender cup you are using. Ninja blenders come with different sized cups, including:

• 16 oz cup – holds about 2 cups of liquid
• 24 oz cup – holds around 3 cups of liquid
• 32 oz cup – holds approximately 4 cups of liquid

For example, if a smoothie recipe calls for “3 cups” of ingredients, here is how that translates to each Ninja cup size:

Ninja Cup Size	Recipe “Cups”
16 oz	Fills the cup almost to the top
24 oz	Leaves about 2 inches of space at the top
32 oz	Leaves 3-4 inches of space at the top

So a “3 cup” smoothie recipe will nearly fill a 16 oz Ninja cup, mostly fill a 24 oz cup, and leave headspace in a 32 oz cup.

Measuring Cup Sizes

Another factor is the size of the actual measuring cup you use. In the United States, a standard measuring cup is 8 oz. So 3 “cups” refers to 3 batches of 8 oz, which is 24 oz or about 700 ml.

However, some measuring cups may be slightly larger or smaller than the standard 8 oz size. Here are some common sizes:

• 1 cup = 8 oz = 240 ml
• 1 cup = 250 ml
• 1 cup = 16 tbsp = 48 tsp

So if your measuring cup holds 250 ml instead of 240 ml, your 3 “cups” will be slightly more than if using a standard US cup.

Tips for Measuring Blender Ingredients

Here are some tips to get the right amounts when measuring ingredients for Ninja blender recipes:

• Use standard dry measuring cups (not liquid ones) for accurate volumes.
• Level off ingredients like flour, sugar, etc. for an exact cup amount.
• Lightly pack down brown sugar to fit into the cup.
• Use measuring spoons for small amounts under 1⁄4 cup.
• Fill liquid cups to the very top for a full cup amount.
• Know your cup sizes and how that converts to Ninja blender cup capacities.

Common Blender Recipes

Here are some typical ingredient amounts used in popular blender recipes:

Smoothies

A single-serving smoothie is typically 1-2 cups total liquid. A larger smoothie may be 3-4 cups total volume. Common ingredients include:

• 1 cup milk or liquid base
• 1 cup frozen fruit or juice
• 1⁄2 banana or other fresh fruit
• 1-2 tbsp yogurt
• 1-2 tbsp nut butter
• 1-2 tsp sweetener like honey
• 1-2 tbsp protein powder, seeds, etc. (optional)

Shakes

Milkshakes and protein shakes often use 2-4 cups total ingredients. Typical ingredients include:

• 1-2 cups milk or alternative like almond milk
• 1-2 scoops protein powder
• 1⁄2 cup frozen fruit
• 1-2 tbsp nut butter
• 1-2 tbsp chocolate or other flavoring

Salsas

Salsas may use around 2-3 cups total volume. Ingredients often include:

• 1-2 cups chopped tomatoes
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup onion
• 1-2 cloves garlic
• 1-2 tsp lime juice
• 1-2 tbsp chopped peppers or herbs
• Salt and pepper to taste

Pesto

Pesto recipes typically make about 1 cup or 4-6 servings. Common amounts include:

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1⁄4 cup pine nuts or walnuts
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Dips and Spreads

Dips may use around 2-3 cups ingredients. Hummus, guacamole, and bean dips often contain:

• 1-2 cups cooked or canned beans/chickpeas
• 1⁄4 cup tahini or olive oil
• 1-2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• 2-3 tbsp herbs like cilantro
• Salt and pepper to taste

Sample Smoothie Recipe

Here is a sample smoothie recipe with common cup measurements:

Berry Green Smoothie

Yield: 2 servings

• 1 cup almond milk or milk of choice
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 banana
• 1 cup mixed berries
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender.
2. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.
3. Pour into two 16-24 oz cups and enjoy!

This smoothie uses about 3-4 “cups” total volume. Depending on your Ninja blender cup size, it will likely fill a 16 oz cup to the top or come close to filling a 24 oz cup.

Tips for Adapting Recipes

When adapting blender recipes, keep these tips in mind:

• Single servings often use 1-2 cups total.
• Larger amounts may need 3-4 cups total volume.
• Scale ingredient amounts up or down based on servings needed.
• Aim to fill about 3⁄4 of a blender cup to leave room for blending.
• Add extra liquid if needed to get smooth consistency.
• Use frozen ingredients in smoothies to thicken up thinner mixtures.

With some simple math and measuring, you can modify any recipe to fit perfectly into your Ninja cups. Just remember approximately how much each size holds and make adjustments as needed.

Conclusion

In summary, a “cup” measurement in Ninja blender recipes depends on both your exact cup sizes and the capacity of the Ninja blender cups. Standard single servings often use about 1-2 cups total volume. This fills up a 16 oz Ninja cup or comes close to filling a 24 oz cup. Larger recipes may call for 3-4 cups total, which leaves some headspace in a 24 oz cup or fills about 3⁄4 of a 32 oz cup. To adapt recipes, know your cup capacities, understand typical ingredient amounts, and scale recipes up or down based on the servings you need. With a little practice, you can master mixing the perfect smoothies, shakes, sauces, and more in your Ninja blender.