Can this CHEAP Ninja Blender Beat My Vitamix?
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- Опубліковано 6 тра 2024
- Putting the Ninja Professional to the test against my Vitamix to find out if you REALLY need to spend a lot of money to get a great blender. Use my link to get a free bag of Trade coffee with any subscription: drinktrade.com/brian
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NINJA PROFESSIONAL BLENDER: amzn.to/3Rokqnw
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro and why I chose these blenders
1:16 Tech specs and features
3:53 Test 1 Pureed soup
6:58 Test 2 Frozen margaritas
8:49 Next test, but first Coffee (ad)
9:52 Test 3 Green smoothie
12:30 Test 4 peanut butter
15:05 Final thoughts and score
#blenderreview #vitamix #ninjablender - Навчання та стиль
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.
Cleaning vitamix is easy. Add some soap and warm water and stick it back on the blender and run for like 10 seconds. Rinse.
the ninja blades detach, and they can be easily washed but both can be washed with a little soap and warm water and blending.
@@angelheartshp I am aware of how to clean a Vitamix…I have one. I would be interested in seeing a comparison between the two blenders in regards to cleaning.
@@ClayDaddy5 not sure how @angelheartshp was supposed to know that you already have one. that might've been relevant context if you were gonna be snappy about already knowing. "I have the vitamix and thats pretty easy to clean. what about the ninja?"
@@angelheartshpfacts. Surprisingly easy to clean. Made breakfast protein shakes for 10 years every weekday in mine and so fast to clean
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.
Try adding Pectin (Low Methoxyl) and Guar Gum (pure). Depending on the amount made only fractions of gram is needed per serving. Best results would b to mix the gums into the liquid an hour b4 to allow them to reconstitute. These guns will help bond the mixture making it less likely to separate. Additionally chill ur glasses as it will slow the melting.
using a touch of xanthan gum helps this in case someone can't fix the overblending!
@@Nighthorde26 They will separate eventually even without over blending, Xanthan Gum is the way 100%, that is what Starbucks uses to keep their fraps homogenous.
Try my Frozen margarita recipe:
2oz tequila blanco
3/4oz Cointreau
3/4oz lime
1.5 tbsp granulated sugar
5 drops 💦 20% saline solution
1/4 tsp or 1gr Xanthan gum
180gr nugget ice
Blend in your Vitamix at variable speed 7 for about 15 seconds
Serve in a double rock's glass wit a salted rim
Enjoy, xo.
Found the bartender.
-me sweating while watching this after buying a vitamix
@@GodX_Gem you don’t need a professional camera to record quality content. If there’s a good story, I think people will stick around!
Nah, I’m still watching it, but I just don’t like cleaning the ninja blade contraption on the food processor I have, I like the traditional vortex of more classical blenders
@@DominicGreene72 totally agree. Thankfully I still feel great about choosing a vitamix
I was shocked at how well the vitamix did with the peanuts. I almost want to buy one just to make that peanut butter lol.
We really do feel a vested interest in our gadgets winning! Or I do anyway. Not sure why it matters so much if I'm happy with what I've chosen, but it does!
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.
Yes this is important to note. The shape and pitch of the blades makes a huge difference as does the rpm
exactly!! it sucks so much for smoothies and drinks. but if youre making like a chimuchurri or salsa, it's good.
Their kits that include smoothie cups and traditional blender blades do exist too.
Maybe I'm being pedantic but there is no effin way any blender could accomplish cavitation.
@@insederec it does. Creates an air pocket directly above the center of the blades because it's forcing the liquid down towards the bottom of the pitcher
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!
the real reason is that starbucks frappuccinos have a "frappuccino blend" syrup that baristas add to these drinks whenever they make them. It contains stabilizers and sugar to make sure the drink separates more slowly.
Second that!
@@AlexDahlback I. The day it was a large powder bag you premixed with the milk… man I hated that.
The stabilizer is xanthum gum@@AlexDahl
@@schmup53xanthan (edit: not being a smart a**, just in case someone wants to buy it)
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
now that explains why my jar is cracked. I have wondered
Learned this the hard way
So it also means, that you cannot use it in dishwasher.
haha, I have a similar ninja blender and I remember the manual warning against the hot liquids so I was initially concerned when he was blending the soup
You should not be putting hot food in a plastic container in the first place, so it applies to the Vitamix too.
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 have had my 5200 since the mid 90's no issues. Use it almost daily.
It's the classic conundrum of "buy it cheaper now, but have to replace it sooner and end up spending more in the long run" vs. "spend more now, but it'll last longer and do a better job, ending up cheaper in the long run". Question is just how much of an immediate outlay can you afford.
I can't say for that long period of time, becsuse I haven't had the device for that long, but I have ninja for 10 years now, I use it 5-6 times a week for smoothies, and when I am batch cooking (1x a week)I also use it for cream sauces, soups and chopping and grating + slicing ( although the grater+slicer attachment is a recent purchase, maybe slightly over a year old). It holds up well and I had no issues so far. The only thing is I use blending cups for all smoothies and it really makes colour like the Vitamix green smoothie for similar recipe, looks and feels very smooth as well, but I haven't tasted Vitamix on the same stuff. I can say tho, that the texture of my homemade ninja smoothies made in the cup attachment is no different to the fancy ones from high street and they are made in vitamix, so I take it as a good thing?
I have a 20 year old vitamix in my restaurant. We all know restaurant use is not even close to comparable to home use in terms of wear and tear. I've had to replace the bowl a few times from being dropped and cracked, and just recently replaced the blade and bearing assembly FOR THE FIRST TIME and honestly probably didn't even need to. Just needed to replace the bowl and noticed the bearing was pretty thrashed in the process
I’ve had my vitamix maybe 10…12 years at most… with use averaging 1-2x per week- not even enough to have replaced plastic container, much less blades- & it’s been smoking/ smelling “hot”… & you can tell it’s running slow- so motor is done… AND I find design pain in the butt to scrape down container/ scrape food OUT of container (yeah actual cleaning part is easy, just blend hot soapy water… but you lose a lot of the food you made cause u can’t scrape it out- looking at you hummus!).. so should I bother contacting vitamix to see if they can repair? Or just get a ninja??
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.
I appreciate that you took the time to write this. Thank you.
The small four blade works better for those applications because they require a blender. Most Ninja "blenders" with the multiple blades are, in fact, just misshapen food processors. Generally, a blender's purpose is to crush everything by focusing it to a single-point votex, whereas a food processor is intended to cut everything while throwing it outwards so that other things fall back into the blades. Heck, Vitamix's own dry blade containers have blades shaped to throw everything out because it's essentially an over-focused food processor. (The much older 3600 models even had a "reverse" switch so that the blades on the only container would run backwards for dry grinding).
When you do upgrade and get a Vitamix, a couple things to remember...
The two major lines of Vitamix right now are Self Detect (Ascent and Venturist) and classic (all the others)
-The Self detect will only work with Self-Detect containers.
--These have the advantage of automatic shutoff vita timers or max runtime to the specific containers. They can also connect to the app "Perfect Blend" (Android or iOS) for automated settings.
-Classic machines will work with all containers (at the time I'm writing this) EXCEPT the personal 20/8 oz base and the Food Processor
--There is a "Personal cup adapter" for the classic containers. It will work with the 20-oz containers, but the automated shutoff with the self detect is nice. Because they're a sealed system, if you let them run too long, heat/pressure builds up and *BOOM*. The 8-oz containers will PHYSICALLY fit on the Personal cup adapter, but Vitamix (and I personally) recommend NEVER putting them on the PCA. Because they're so small, that pressure builds up MUCH quicker. (Also, the PCA is kind of cumbersome with the intended 20-oz containers. They're even worse with the 8-oz)
--While the Self-Detect has many advantages to consider, the food processor isn't one of them. It SUCKS. It only has a single speed. I've frequently had to replace one of the discs. (Though Vitamix support was good about that. It actually only happened twice, but that's a LOT for a Vitamix product.)
-On the app, I've heard rumors that the "Perfect Blend" app can run it at different speeds via automated settings, but only on the iOS version. (I have Android and The Perfect Company and Vitamix evidently had a falling out after the last iOS update, but before the Android update. Also, that app also works with the perfect scales. "Perfect Bake", "Perfect Drink" and "Perfect Blend". All three scales are the same and will all work with all three apps. The only difference is what useless accessories come with the scales. That said, the scales are pretty cheaply made and unless you REALLY need the app functions.
--The apps really aren't well designed in the first place. If you really NEED automated settings, they're far more convenient with a machine that has them built in. (Though the number of automated settings are much more with up to 17, depending on the container. (I'm hoping Vitamix eventually releases their own app instead of relying on the outdated app by the perfect company)
I purchased the same exact blender as you about 10 years ago, and mine is also still holding up. Green smoothies are very delicious and smoothe to me, and the seeds break up just fine.
Same! Literally could have written this! Unfortunately my motor base died this past summer. It's likely a .38 cheaply made capacitor. My brother still has it a he is eventually going to solder in a new one. I miss it 🥲
Yeah, unfortunately big blender container with ninja is kinda useless. I don't really understand why they didn't use similar blades they have in their individual cups. I mean they already have food processor container, and big blender container has similar kind of blades -.- All other blenders use those smaller blades that are on the bottom. Basically, ninja blender is just tall food processor, and for life of me I can't understand why it is so. I love my ninja blender system, but I just never have any use for the big "blender" container.
The difference in warranties tells you all you need to know. Filling landfills with dead appliances is an environmental disaster
This feels like a very underrated consideration, even when just thinking about value/product longevity.
I ditched my Vitamix for a high end Ninja. All the Vitamix had was this big blender container. I wrote and told them that I wanted a personal size cup too. The next thing they come out with is a blender with a personal size cup BUT if you want both then you had to purchase 2 bases. WTF?? Now they have both options on a single base BUT still you have to upgrade if you have an older base bc either their engineers are so dumb they don't know about backward compatibility OR their company so greedy that they want you to toss your old vitamix in the landfill and purchase a new one.
With the Ninja, I have a big container, a personal size container, and a food processor attachment at a fraction of the price. The Ninja gets my smoothie super smooth. I don't smooth creamy soups so I don't know how well it would work for that. I've used my Ninja daily for various things for years and it's still going.
I have the same ninja blender and I love it, you do need to used the smoothie setting on the ninja though, high speed makes them frothy, and the smoothie setting only goes for 30 seconds or so. A minute on high is too long.
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.
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.
Agreed, I noticed a huge difference in the smoothie texture. And I’m really picky with them because I like my extra smooth which for me the Ninja just doesn’t cut it for me. And the best thing is Vitamix are built to last. I don’t have to worry about it breaking after a year or 2.
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.
Yeah I have the same thing but for my vitamix. The single serving cups are a cool idea for on-the-go situations.
This is what I have and I love it.
They are unsanitary though - it’s impossible to clean the top with the blade where it screws onto the cup
UA-camR IS A HACK - JUST MAKES UP THE RESPONSE AFTER V-MIX IS FAR SUPERIOR AND PRE GROUND COFFEE SUCKS - GET A FLAT BLADE OF QUALITY - AND YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK
@@prostheticballerina all components of the Ninja are dishwasher safe. Both of my individual cups are perfectly clean.
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.
Exactly, a slightly longer blend time is an extremely acceptable tradeoff for the price difference
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.
Thanks for doing the research, again. I always appreciate your advice!
Awesome, Brian. Very good, informative review! Thank you!
I've had a Ninja for years, and I echo a lot of these sentiments and plan to upgrade to a Vitamix whenever this thing finally breaks. For the smoothie issue, Ninja makes this cheap add-on accessory that's screw-on blender blade that attaches to these single serving smoothie cups. You just cram everything you want in your smoothie into one of those cups, screw on the top, pop it on the blender, and it's ready in 15-20 seconds. Beats the hell out of using the big main blender pitcher for smoothies 100%...been using that setup for smoothies as long as I've had this blender and I'm happy with it, also way easier to clean than the main pitcher/blade combo so it's preferable if you're just trying to make a quick smoothie after the gym on your way back to your desk or whatever.
The single-serve Ninja attachment is the only way to make smoothies. It's great
I can honestly say, I’ve run the gambit on blenders - including that ninja in the video and a comparable Vitamix. I started cheap and gradually worked my way up - burning out blender after blender in one way or the other.
The Vitamix reigns supreme.
Two things to note -
1. for a home Cook the Vitamix E520 is more than enough.
2. Do not put your Vitamix container in the dishwasher. Just put some soap and water in it and run it on max.
Loved the editing and review format that goes straight to the point! Subbed!
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 $$$
I have the same model. Bought it 15 years ago and it still pulverizes everything I put in it. Best kitchen appliance I've ever had.
I've learned so much from watching your videos. Your attention to detail and expertise in the kitchen is truly inspiring. 👌👌🤩
I do love these comparisons but I think it would be good to compare high, mid, and low cost options to see their differences.
Great analysis! I have several Ninja kitchen appliances and have been very pleased with their performance and value.
I bought a Vitamix 5200 10-15 years ago and it's still kickin', I'm about to make a big batch of smoothies for lunch. I bought it remanufactured from Vitamix, everything I got was brand new except for the motor base which was reconditioned to like new specs. Pretty great blender and 100 bucks cheaper than all new, I don't know if they still do that but it's worth checking out
Same. Bought ours about 8-9 years ago. Reconditioned from Vitamix is still offered to this day.
@@ClayDaddy5 I used to live right around the corner from their factory in Ohio, drove past them at least twice a day so many times.. sooner or later I HAD to buy one 🤣
I invested in a BlendTec years ago, which was comparable in price with Vitamix - worth the money after burning out 2-3 cheaper blenders.
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.
I bought a Ninja to make smoothies with (labeled "total texture control") for about $100. My previous blender was (operative word) an old Hamilton Beach I've had for decades that basically self-destructed trying to blend frozen fruit into a smoothie. The Ninja came with 3 sizes of containers: a single portion (approx. 12 oz) with a drinkable spout, a double portion (bigger) also with a drinkable spout, and a normal pitcher size container. I typically use the small one. The base has 3 "drinkable" options: extract, smoothie and frozen, and 2 "spoonable" options: spread and bowl. So far I've just used the smoothie option. As you said it seems these options are just to vary time. The smoothie option runs about 60 secs with the small container which is way more than what's necessary. It makes perfect smoothies. If you push the pulse button first it pulses the contents repeatedly, automatically stopping an restarting to allow the contents to settle to the bottom over the pre-programmed time. The large container also has a feature that allows you to stir the contents from the top while the machine is running forcing stuff down onto the blades (of which 4 are med size, 2 are larger, and 2 are much smaller. I've only had this thing a few weeks and made smoothies with it maybe a dozen times and it works perfectly (for smoothies). I can't imagine spending over 4x as much for something else. I was wondering in your tests if you had allowed the Ninja another 15 seconds say for the soup whether results would have been more comparable in terms of smoothness... for $375 I think I'd be OK with allowing it a little more time.
This was an excellent review of two very competitive machines. I own so Vitamix myself but I have friends that are constantly touting their ninjas. One thing I would’ve also liked you to have reviewed is what is the quality of the actual physical build beyond your opinion of the plastic casing. If you were to open the bottom of both machines, you would see the difference in quality of parts. Ninjas are a lot of motherboard and light gauge wiring. VitaMix seems to be a heavy duty motor with heavy duty wiring. That to me makes a big difference in which one is going to last longer. And I remember the story of the little old lady whose first Vitamix broke down after something like 50 years and VitaMix repaired it free of charge. That also goes to aftermarket service that I may be very important in your decision to purchase. Looking forward to more great vlogs. Cheers from Canader eh!
I have the same ninja blender and I've found that the smoothie cups and using the "smoothie" setting makes the smoothies come out less frothy/gritty. It's because the long pulses from the smoothie setting let's the liquid settle for a moment and deflate a bit and it uses a standard bottom blade.
For things like soups and sauces, you do have to let them run for longer but eventually they get to that same smooth consistency you get with the Vitaminx or close to it.
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 was googling that recently!!! Best timing ever Bri
I love my Ninja. I got the one that has the interchangeable smoothie cups with the standard four blade as well as the tall food processor you’re using, so I can use the same unit for food or smoothies by just changing up the attachments. When you use the smoothie blending cups it makes amazing margaritas and smoothies.
Adding a small bit of xanthum gum before blending will help with the separation in the margarita! It is a good additive for any frozen drink!
It's just the nature of frozen drinks to separate like that. Blend in a VERY TINY amount (like 1/8 tsp max per 6 cups of liquid) of xanthan gum to keep it together. It does slightly affect the flavor, so I stopped adding it to my frozen margaritas.
Loving this new series so far
Great video! Just a heads up for smoothies. Raw kale is difficult on our digestive systems and often it's better to blanch or boil the kale before adding to a smoothie.
Huh, $500 blenders exist...and I though ninja blenders were already expensive
Going second hand is a really good option. I got a Kenwood Standmixer, with blender, with spice grinder, extra jars and meat grinder for only 250 euros. I'm still so happy with it! The only downside is that its an older model so attachments are hard to find nowadays
Great review! I was expecting the insane avocado pit blend test. Any thoughts on Blendtec vs Vitamix? Thanks for the great content!
Love these comparisons!
My question is, why didn't you use the smoothie blender attachment for the ninja? It has more similar blades.
Blend Tec is also an amazing blender that a lot of commercial kitchens use
I have a ninja that also doubles up as a food processor and smoothie blender. It works amazingly well. It was an extra fifty and then just has different containers on the same base
This was a perfect 👌 Blender video review. Straight up to the point, zeal accomplished. Thank you 😊. I am currently going through Amazon looking for a good, long-lasting blender to buy.
I have a slightly fancier Ninja that I got on a whim at Costco, and I love it way more than my old KitchenAid, but I do share the same concerns about plastic.
However, my biggest gripe is Ninja blenders do not have a center hold where you can drop in oil or another ingredient mid-blend.
I had a Ninja Pro that I returned to Cosco after 6 months when the base slot deformed, causing that locking mechanism you like to make it very difficult to seat the blender jar on the base. The Vitamix had been on my want list for a long time, I was able to stack some Amazon gift cards during a Vitamix refurb sale. I was amazed at the difference in power and build quality over any other blender I'd ever used. I'm convinced my grandkids will someday inherit this thing. Never going back to anything else.
Agreed. Plus those dangerous blades on the ninja!
1:56 this is a format I’d like to see more of! Great concept. Your channel is fantastic. I’ve been subscribed a long time
In the Ninja you do smoothies in the individual cups that come with it and they turn out great, or in the pitcher on a slower speed and run it longer. Less air, foam, and more thorough solids breakdown.
The soup gets processed for another minute too.
To save $300 to $400 bucks it's worth the extra minute here and there.
I love mine.
For the smoothie issue with the ninja - the solution is to get the Ninja which includes a separate set of blades and individual cups for smoothie making. The blades on the smoothie cups are designed much more like the vitamix, creating that vortex, and resulting in a much smoother blend. The down side is that they only fit on the 20oz cups, so you can’t blend a large volume of anything all at once.
But I use those smoothie cups for more than just smoothies - eg: try making a small amount of nut butter in the smoothie cup attachment instead of in the standard blender pitcher. ;)
I was going to say the same thing. I think Brian was going for a 1 to 1 comparison. So I get why he didn’t. Or maybe his version didn’t come with them, but I find that hard to believe. I would be curious to see if using the Ninja blender cups gets a close result to the Vita as well.
the ninja is good for smoothies if you don't mind things like chia seeds not being blended in well, but the vitamix actually blends it all and just works so much better.
I’m a GM at Chipotle and we use the same Vitamix blender to make our vinaigrette (you know that salad dressing people get multiple of without knowing each cup has 400 calories to dump on their 2000+ calorie “salad”). Mostly honey, salt, and red wine vinegar.
I’ve seen that blender go to hell and back for 8 years and basically laugh in employees faces while putting it to the test. Even when someone would accidentally put the pitcher back on while spinning at full rpm, the gears wouldn’t miss a beat.
About a year ago someone dropped it off a table and that was the way it died, not from blending.
I put in an order for a new one but it was gonna take 2 weeks to arrive. My boss told me to take the petty cash card and go buy whatever we could afford for the time being. I had $104. Had to settle on a Kitchenaid I found at Walmart for $90. No idea the specs but that thing didn’t even last 2 weeks. Started smoking and sounding like a pissed off cat.
Our new Vitamix works like a champ.
For continuous use in a restaurant accept nothing else
Thank you SO MUCH for this video! Really saved us here.
For those on the fence, the vitamix goes on some pretty deep sales from time to time. I got the 5200 for half price on some prime day sale, and I expect that it probably goes on sale for black fridays as well.
Yea and Vitamix I think has a huge sale every year and the Costco model is great and it goes on sale sometime (which is extreme sale because your getting the Costco deal on the normal price)
I have a 99 dollar Vitamix clone and so far it’s been great. Makes smooth smoothies, crushes ice like a champ and it even made almond butter.
Cool vid! We came to the same conclusion here at home. Had a Ninja before and then upgraded to a Vitamix and noticed much better results in our favorite recipes. Ninja is still great though.
Love these videos. I’d love for you to do cookware- maybe Made In vs. All Clad?
How about stoves? Viking vs. Samsung or GE?
In terms of smoothies on the Ninja, mine came with a separate cup attachment to go on the base for smoothies. I’ve had success with that.
Definitely a Vitamix fan. I've owned it for over 15 years and it has never let me down - it is the best for pureed soups. Totally agree with Brian regarding the beast mode switch - I suspect every cook has made this mistake. It's one of my $$$ no regret purchases.
I think the shortcomings can be overcome by just using the ninja a bit longer than you would use the professional one and by using the other ninja attachments, it comes with some (the smoothie cup) that blends with a bottom blade the same as the other one and are a lot better than the long food processor one
Thank you for the review
Bought a Vitamix over 10 years ago. Still going strong after all these years. Love it!
7:42 The drink separated because it was unstable. You can use Xanthan Gum to stabilize it.
My Ninja has a second "mode" with different containers, round and narrower, that have a 4 blade setup in the lid. The highest blending speeds are only available for this. I think that's what you're supposed to use for green smoothies and everything that needs high rpm.
Never tried peanut butter but I'll give it a try.
Thanks Brian. I just went down the middle road myself with a $200 Bella Pro. It replaced a much smaller consumer-level blender. The warning about tipping the jar off the base is appreciated! That hadn’t happened yet, and maybe now it never will. The pourable spout on the Ninja is a nice feature but the metal-on-metal attachment at the base for the Vitamix is critical.
I'm always surprised by how a single blade can somehow cut tiny seeds
So the cool thing about blending (particularly with high-powered blenders like Vitamixes), is that very little of the processing comes from the blade physically cutting. The vast majority of the power comes from the shearing force of the blade accelerating and smashing the liquid, and another action called cavitation: ua-cam.com/video/iCmjZboscPM/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/aHYQIpZM6-M/v-deo.html
It doesn't cut at all, it smashes and pulverizes.
@@PeterC-zp4dt This tells me that the Ninja is trying to rely more on cutting power of the blades with it's setup than cavitation. I'd be interested to see how well a Ninja motor with a similar pitcher shape and blade setup would stack up to a Vitamix...
@@matt1988ish Yep, exactly, the Ninja actually has a lot in common with a food processor in that regard. If you compare them, the blades in both are sharp and the actual blade shape is almost identical on the Ninja vs a food processor, just smaller.
@@matt1988ish You're exactly right about the food-processor similarity. While I respect this guy's video for going Blender vs Blender, there are plenty of Ninja packages that include smoothie glasses that DO use a 4-blade assembly like the Vitamix, and they make great smoothies and shakes. They just lack the volume of a big pitcher.
I worked at a smoothie shop that used commercial Vitamix blenders (I know Brian says this Vitamix is fit for use in commercial kitchens, but it’s nothing like the models that will be installed in smoothie places, usually sunk right into the counters, I assume because of a larger motor). I now just have a ninja to use at home, the same model as in the video and have also found it to aerate smoothies to a ridiculous degree. They’re almost fluffy. It’s an advantage when I want to make a kind of imitation dole whip, but yeah sucks for smoothies since it doesn’t blend smooth enough, has a bit of trouble fully obliterating ice, and makes them so airy.
Recently I used a different ninja model that fits the smaller single serving blender jars (like a nutribullet), and the attachment just had a regular four prong blade at the bottom, not the column like the full size jar, and it made excellent smoothies. Completely smooth and not aerated at all. So if you want a ninja either primarily or heavily for smoothies, look into one that will let you imitate the form factor of the Vitamix, with a four prong blade at the bottom.
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.
Top-notch review! Ever considered including ease of cleaning in your comparisons? That's often my deciding factor for kitchen gear. Cheers!
Props to Lauren for daring tomato soup in a white shirt.
I have the Ninja and the most noticeable difference I can think of is the blade stack does not really create that center vortex drawing top, unblended material down to the blades like a Vitamix does. It sort of just sloshes it around. That said, they are INCREDIBLY sharp. I cut myself very badly on the blade stack.
This is pretty much the gist of it right here. Unless your Ninja is full enough to use the full blade stack, it doesn't work all that well. The fact that the Vitamix has the blades on the bottom, combined with the shape of the jar, both contribute to that perfect vortex. The indentions on the vitamix jar help push food back into the center to get sucked down by the vortex, leading to that iconic 4 pointed star pattern when you're done blending. I have a Ninja, and I don't even use the regular blender jar, just the food processor attachment, and the smoothie jars, since they actually vortex decently well.
Love the vid, Bri! Btw- can we get that tomato soup recipe? Looks different from your baked soup version?
My favorite is Braun TriForce Power Blender. Brauns are not known well in the US but they are high quality. Definitely recommend if you are looking for Vitamix alternative.
Would have liked to see the Ninja getting twice the time, just so see if it could do the same job. Also Bamix vs blender
I love ninja blenders! Totally recommend if on a budget.
My own experience with the Ninja over a few years: the machine did work really well (for my purposes) mostly thanks to the triple blade. My issues with it: the lid was fiddly and it often refused to lock down, somehow "stuff" got stuck in the clear hollow handle and it was never coming out, finally the pour spout hinges failed and a replacement lid was really pricey. I replaced the whole thing with a nice simple KitchenAid model and have been really happy with it.
I bought a different Ninja model, that goes with food processor, 2 smoothie jars amd this one for soups and I cant be happier. It can shred vegetables so I dont have to, I made pizza dough (when I was super lazy), hummus, peanut butter, soy beans for milk and tofu, nut milks, seitan, sauces. I love mine because how variable it is. Im not gonna bash on Vitamix as I never had one, but since I paid only few extra bucks (i think it was on sale for 160) it covered most of my needs.
I appreciated the last test with the peanuts most of all and I hope Brian will make that make that sort of test the standard for these videos. I think when you're weighing whether or not to get a premium brand (KitchenAid stand mixer or the Vitamix) or a cheaper one, you're considering not just the end product but the time it took to get you there.
For instance, I don't have the expectation that the Ninja and the Vitamix are going to produce the same smooth tomato soup, given the same amount of time. My questions are more: is it possible for the Ninja to ever match the smooth tomato soup of the Vitamix and, if so, how long does it take to get me to that point? For me, that makes it easier to decide if the trade-off (price vs. time and taste) is worthwhile.
I'd agree with this. It would be interesting to see a "Part 2: How to achieve the same results with the Ninja - including using its attachments"
It's an ad
Spousal pet peeve - when the Vitamix knob isn't turned all the way back down to 1. Even worse if left on high!
Fortunately my Vitamix has a lockout feature- if it’s not turned all the way back down, it starts and runs on about 1 speed and you can’t adjust it. Saved me a few times.
I’m the same about the heat and windshield wipers in the truck. 😂
Good video, Brian. We have a Ninja, mostly due to price, but there are things I agree it doesn't do the best.
Would be interested in seeing a comparison of the Cuisinart food processor against other brands, including the Ninja - for food processing and dough making
We own a magimix blender and we have to give our live in mother in law advance notice of turning it on so that she can vacate the area. It sets off her heart arythmia! Heavy feels for your cat.
I set up a price search for my Vitamix and got the pro model for $169 on Amazon during their annual sale.
Yeah I’d definitely say that major purchases like this are worth waiting a few months to find a good sale.
😮
You should put your stick blender to the same sort of tests - I’ve gotten by with the stick blender you recommend (cuisinart smart stick) and a $30 ninja. Hummus, butter chicken, smoothies, fruit purée, soups, etc.
Great idea!
I bought a random stick blender on Amazon clearance a few years ago (no idea of the model, it's red & shiny), and it's absolutely one of the best kitchen purchases I ever made. Does it blend soup to a smooth, creamy consistency? Not really. Is that soup still amazing? Hell yes, and I persuade myself that the odd lump here & there is actually nutritionally beneficial.
The motor went bust on my Blendtec after ten years. I called customer service and received a new one, in the same red colour, within ten days. This was during the height of Covid. I gave my sister my old blender which has been replaced three times, including a ninja.
Nice Video as always!! Try Hummus next please...
Thoughts as watching...
Any Vitamix owner knows you don't need to preheat a pureed soup. Just let it blend from cold for about 6 minutes.
On newer home models, Vitamix has replaced the turbo boost button with a "pullse" switch. (Much more useful to just do that and have 10 on the dial be max)
Nut butters are one of the application where I've discovered the variable speed is most useful. Instead of blending on the highest setting, I start low and SLOWLY increase while tampering only if necessary until I go just barely past the cavitation point where tampering doesn't help. I then back down and let it blend in a vortex for a few seconds. I then slowly increase the speed again. Repeat the process until it vortexes at max speed without tampering. The butter is smooth enough to pour out of the container with not a solid nut in sight.
I used to be a Vitamix demonstrator. We were allowed to mention nut butters, but not make them. We were told to mention that most nut butters didn't require oil, but Almonds did. There's a reason it was almond butter that killed your machine.
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As far as smoothies go, there's a reason the VAST majority of smoothie shops use vitamix. When I was demonstrating, I'd often use celery in the smoothies. If a Ninja owner insisted their machine could do just a well, I'd hand them a stick of celery, tell them to use it in a smoothie, then come see me.
I called celery "The Shredder" because it murders Ninjas. (Okay, it didn't actually kill them, but it killed people's faith in them.)
Is it fair to dock the Vitamix for heat on the smoothie when you admit you could have created the smoothie with the Vita in 1/3 of the time?
The Vitamix makes awesome peanut butter.
My non-negotiable kitchen gadgets:
- Vitamix
- KitchenAid mixer
- Breville toaster oven
-Anova sous vide
- Foodsaver vacuum sealer
I’ve played with an Anova chamber sealer. It’s lots of fun but isn’t non-negotiable. It’s awesome for sealing bags of homemade stock, though.
I've had my Vitamix for over a decade and use it 3-4 times a week and it's still going strong. I think I replaced the blades in the single carafe that came with it once and only because I got a set on sale -- I don't remember it actually feeling like it 'needed' to get replaced. Yeah it may have been expensive at the time, but with over 10 years of use and probably another 5 years+ left in the tank I don't think it was a poor investment at all.
One negative about the Ninja for us is that blade is the only sharp thing in my kitchen that we wash in the dishwasher and I've stabbed myself twice reaching into the dishwasher without realizing something sharp was in there. And for this I blame the Ninja blender and not myself because that's emotionally easier to deal with. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. I have to say I'm surprised by the difference between the two blenders, thanks for the informational video!
We received a ninja blender a long time ago as part of some creator program. We used it for a few years but we absolutely hated the blade contraption thing. I ended up getting a Vitamix on sale for a good price and have loved it
We also hated the lid with the snap-on pour spout thing
Blades are an accident waiting to happen. lid is a botheration.
Hey dude! I used to make these super oniony burgers a year back. A regular smashburger with any burger sauce, but I used fresh onions, pickled onions, caramelized onions and finally fried onions (the store bought kinda dryed/fried, crispy onions.
I liked how every type of onions gave it something it needed; freshness, acidity, sweetness and crispyness.
You could try it out sometime when you're making burgers and if you like it, maybe make a video?
I suppose there's more to do with the recipe, like adding a oklahomastyle onionfried patty, deep fried floured onions, onion rings.
I just think the idea is cool :).
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.
Have both, Vitamix kills Ninja so hard it's really incomparable.
I have a VM and my DIL has a Ninja I've used; the VM wins hands down. I also have my old Oster which has the one-cup containers which are great for dressings.
I just left a vacation Airbnb that had this exact Ninja blender, which made pretty solid frozen drinks. I was impressed! The automatic modes did wonders.
Other applications would likely have varied results but, for 100 bucks? Not bad at all!
Loved this video. I have a different model of Ninja and its accessories include, in addition to the main blender jar, two 24-oz "to go" cups, similar to the cups on a NutriBullet. The "to go" cups have their own blades and use the traditional vortex method rather than a spinning column. They make purees and smoothies noticeably smoother than the main blender jar does -- but the trade-off is the smaller capacity. There is also no way to drizzle in or add ingredients to the cups while blending.
I will also say that, while the original price on my Ninja was great for what I got, it's turned out to have major hidden expenses over time because of the iffy build quality of the accessories. While the motor base has held up like a champ, I've had to replace multiple jar and blade accessories and those replacements are EXPENSIVE AF. Definitely going to invest in a Vitamix whenever it's time to retire the Ninja.
I like the replacement socket system on the Vitamix. If you get a frozen chunk stuck just wrong, you sacrifice a socket but those are straightforward to replace.
I have a Ninja blender and the amount of air it whips into everything is infuriating. Smoothies are so full of air that they're difficult to drink and bloat you.
Unless you want to make mayo...
Agreed, I make all my smoothies in the individual blender cups that came as part of my set.
Bri - how hard was it to get the peanut butter out of the vitamix? I love mine, but I couldn't imagine making PB in it because I feel like you'd lose 20-30% of the output being unable to scrape it out from around the blades.
They make thin, long-arm spatulas specifically used to retrieve sticky nut butters from blenders. OXO makes one and so does Vitamix. But inevitably you won’t get all of it out. Make a peanut butter smoothie in the blender with the remaining amount. Cleans the blender of sticky PB, does not waste the remaining PB, and provides a nutritious treat.
I get almost all of the peanut butter out with a thin silicone spatula I got on Amazon for about $6. It’s not that hard.
Hi Brian. Great video. I used to watch frequently before I had a ❤️ attack a couple years ago and developed a different relationship with food. It just didn't excite me like it once did, and I got away from watching cooking videos (and lost about 35 lb by just eating less of the same things I was eating before). I think I just put a Vita Mix on my "must buy" list. I'm never drinking a green smoothie, so hopefully you'll do some VitaMix recipes now and again going forward to give me some ideas, though it might he worth it just for homemade tomato soup. Hope you guys are well.
Chris
I would love your tomato soup recipe! Ive made soups in my Vitamix just by throwing in raw ingredients and blending for 10 minutes... it comes out steam hot! Very tasty.
Shockingly, you'll find better results making a smoothie in the Ninja if you Use The Smoothie Button! Understand why you tested them as you did, but...yeah. My Ninja also has a food processor part and a small 20oz blender container that lets you make things like dressings directly in the bottle for easy storage and pouring when done.
I'd be interested to see the results of some of the specialized ninja attachments such as its own smoothie cup and the "food processor" mixer