I get so many questions about how the Ninja Professional Blender stacks up against the Vitamix, and most often, I really don’t know, as I had never used a Vitamix until last week. However, I do know quite a few folks that own Vitamixes, so when I get questions, I often ask one of them, “How does it do X?”
I’m sure they really appreciate tolerate this questioning.
To see this blender first hand, last week, I went over to my friend Lisa’s to do a head-to-head showdown with a green drink I make quite often. It’s an iteration of the Dr. Oz Detox Drink, and contains:
- 8 ounces coconut water
- 2 handfuls kale
- Juice from one lemon
- 1/2 a cucumber
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
- 4-5 mint sprigs
- Small chunk of ginger
- Handful of ice
As most people that have blended greens with the Ninja standard jars know, it doesn’t fully pulverize greens and leaves little flecks behind. This is primarily due to the blade design, with the blades running through the center instead of being at the bottom. The single serve cups (if you have one) successfully pulverize greens into oblivion, but the standard jars really don’t completely obliterate them.
The idea with this test was to blend exactly the same ingredients for exactly the same amount of time, and see what happened. We had a little helper in this process, who is a much better model for these drinks than I am!
Neither he nor his older brother cared for the end result much, which is honestly not surprising! What was surprising was their willingness to try. I can’t even get 2Chili to try one, so, that is really saying something about their willingness to experiment with new things. If you want to give green drinks to kids, be sure to hide the greens in something dark, like blueberries or strawberries, and add 1/2 a banana or so for sweetness.
Since we don’t have a kitchen right now, it was great to go to Lisa’s and do this project in a proper setting. She even took the photos! I need to to projects at her house more often.
Anyway, on to the test. Here we have the Ninja Mega Blender and the Vitamix as we started adding ingredients. I don’t know what model Vitamix this is, but it does have variable speeds. I found out this is a Vitamix 5200.
Here is a little video we made if you prefer to see them in action.
If you’re more about photos, here you go…
We loaded these up with plenty of kale (the more the better, right?)
And then topped it with pineapple. I added exactly 6 ice cubes (not pictured) to each jar before we blended.
After 45 seconds of blending, this is what we had. To be fair, I have created smoother versions of this drink at home — when it wasn’t based on time — but I wanted the test to be under exactly the same conditions and time constraints. You can clearly see that the Vitamix made a much smoother drink with fewer kale flecks.
Here is this same drink that I made when I was reviewing the Ninja. The difference is I made this without coconut water (just used ice only for liquid) and probably blended longer. As you can see, it’s much smoother.
Bottom Line: Due to the design, the Vitamix makes a smoother drink faster, but does that mean it’s better?
You know, I just don’t know that I’d say that. The Ninja is just so versatile (and less than half the cost), so it really depends on what you want it for and your budget. If you want to only make fast smoothies (but don’t care about single serve cups), then yeah, Vitamix wins. Although, did you notice I had to really work the smoothie with the little prodding device to get it all incorporated? That was not necessary with the Ninja.
If you want to make to-go smoothies in a single serve cup, my homemade Lara Bars, or even homemade nut butter, I believe the Ninja is better. But, since I don’t have absolute proof, it looks like I will have to go back and do more tests, huh?
View Comments (30)
i would love to see more comparisons like this one! i’ve been on the fence for a while now really wanting a vitamix and i feel like i’ve settled with my Ninja.
It is the Vitamix 5200 model. Any time you want to try the other recipes, let me know!
Yeah, I agree with Amanda, it would be interesting to see more comparisons with your previous recipes.
On QVC, they have made nut butters very easily with the Vitamix, as well as ice cream, but when they start scooping it out, it looks great at first, but I think it would be awkward when you get to the bottom because I dont’ believe the VM blade is removable like the Ninja’s is.
On the other hand, I found all the nooks and crannies in the Ninja bowls to be a pain when trying to remove thick mixes like nut butters. My food processor comes out a winner regarding that. LOL
and that is one of the reasons why I returned my Ninja. It just didn’t do anything extra that my blender and/or food processor couldn’t.
But yes, anyway, please do more!!!
2-18-13
My solution to large amounts of smoothies with the ninja? I go ahead and make a large amount.. It’s not totally smooth… Put that in the fridge… When I want a smoothie, I pour what I want in my nutribullet and wow… Smooth as can be… Haven’t tried the ninja single serve yet..
Works for me… I had the bullet before I bought the ninja.. So, I have the versitality of the ninja and the smoothness with my bullet.
Marsha
That is an interesting approach, Marsha. I stayed at a condo a couple weeks ago that had a Nutribullet, but, I didn’t try it out. Rats! I missed my chance (for now). Maybe I need to go on the Nutribullet bandwagon and see if they will send me one to review, as I don’t think I can justify buying another blender around these parts. Hahah!!
I love mine… Use it all the time!
Get one.. So easy to use and clean..
Marsha
P.S. nutribullet is far cheaper than the vitamix.
Marsha
I love using the Ninja because it of it’s versatility. When making the green drinks I just in the large blender cup I just blend ingredients longer or use my On -the – go cup.
Wow you guys, I didn’t realize this would be as popular of a topic as it is. I will take your feedback and plan on doing some other tests in the future!
I came here looking for feedback to help me decide between a nutribullet and the ninja. You have some great information and I think my decision has been made to select the ninja.
I see lots of tips being passed around and thought I would add one… You often mention using ice cubes. I also see people recommending adding coconut water. Or just plain water. Try freezing the coconut water in ice cube trays and get the best of both worlds.
Thanks for all of the research and insights here its been truly helpful.
Hi Tanya,
Thanks for the tip – great idea!
Glad you have found the site helpful!
I finally found a website that has this topic. I would like to know how smooth is the ninja single serve for green juicing? Also i have the older ninja and I have not been able to make smooth green smoothies any advice on how to get smoother? Do i add water and how much water should I add? OR is ice better?
Hi Daamin,
The Ninja Single Serve is very smooth – like a traditional blender, since the blade is more traditional. The limiter of course, is it only holds so much. What I recommend for that is to add liquid and greens to the single serve, puree, and then add the rest of your ingredients to save space.
As far as the traditional 72 ounce pitcher, you can get very smoothe (but not totally smooth) green drinks by doing two things: 1) be sure to add 4-5 ice cubes to your smoothie 2) Blend longer than you think you need to – usually at least 60 seconds, but preferably 90 seconds. This will smooth out your green drinks and make them more palatable.
Hope that helps!
Angela
Ok going to order the mega for the single serve attachments, I was on the fence about the nutribullet i heard it works but breaks fast. I would use it a lot so going to stick with ninja. Are you saying that add water to the single serve? I purchased your book by the ways since i have the traditional ninja 1200.
I have never tried the Nutribullet, but I know a few people that have it and like it, but I have also read a lot of reviews that Magic Bullet stuff breaks fast.
One advantage of the Nutribullet is that the “mugs” seem to be bigger than the single serve cups on the Ninja Mega, though the power on the Mega is substantially higher. One thing to consider, though, is if you would want all the other accessories that come with the Mega. If you already have the Ninja 1200, purchasing the Mega could be a little redundant in that you”ll get another 72 ounce pitcher that you already have, so it would be an expensive purchase to effectively only add single serve capacity to your arsenal. Not to sway your opinion, but you may want to go to a place like Target or Bed Bath and Beyond and look at the Nutribullet vs. Ninja Mega in person to see which would be better for your needs, which sounds like smoothies and juices. The Nutribullet just may be a better fit.
However, to your question – When I make green smoothies in the single serve, I usually add my liquid and greens, blend to combine, and then add the rest of my ingredients, because the greens take up so much space. If I’m making a green juice, I wouldn’t add liquid, but I’d blend the greens and the ice first, then add the remaining ingredients. It’s just a space saving technique!
I hope that helps and hasn’t made you more confused!
No thank you this is the best help I have received. I might get the mega and just give the 1200 to my mother who I am trying to convert to this lifestyle.
Great, glad to help, and your plan to sway your mother seems like a good one!
Okay did a test bit kale flakes I had to chew taste is good. do you still have to chew with single serve? do you have a single serve demonstration
You definitely don’t have to chew green flakes with the single serve, but I haven’t done a demonstration. I’ll try to do one next week and post that. What ingredients do you like to put in your smoothie? I’ll make that.