I have heard your cries, your nudges, and even your carrier pigeons, asking me to please review the Ninja Ultima Blender, Ninja’s latest entry into the super-powered blender market.
And today, I present you with the much-requested review. Much like reviews I’ve done in the past, this will be a multi-parter so that I can show you a few different aspects of the machine.
As a reminder, I have absolutely no affiliation with the company that makes Ninja Blenders (Euro-Pro), and this on purpose. This lets me bring you totally unbiased reviews. It also makes me a crazy blender lady, because I have way more blenders than any person really needs!
Speaking of too many blenders, if you’re shopping for a blender, be sure to check out my other Ninja reviews: Ninja Mega Kitchen System, Ninja Pulse, and Ninja Professional Blender. I am planning a post in the coming weeks that will answer the question you will likely have after reading all of these reviews: Which Ninja Blender is right for me? So, please stay tuned for that. In the meantime, this FAQ sheet may be helpful if you have Ninja questions.
But for now, we’re going to poke around under the hood of the Ninja Ultima, okay?
The Ninja Ultima Blender Line
Much to my chagrin, there are so many models to choose from with this blender, just as there are with all of the Ninja blenders these days. This is of course to have a blender in every price point, but it can be very confusing.
They start with the BL800, which is the “base” model and just comes with the 72 ounce pitcher, and go from there, to models with single serve cups, food processing attachments, and more. Different retailers carry different models, so, depending on where you buy your blender, you can get different accessory systems.
Fun, right? <–sarcastic font in full use there!
Since I already have a Ninja Mega Kitchen System, Ninja Professional, and Ninja Pulse, I picked up the base model Ultima from Wal-Mart (the only place that sells the BL800), for $199 that came with a $50 e-gift card, making the price $149. Ninja has a good comparison chart of which models have which accessories, here. However, I’ll boil it down for you for easy reference in the simplified chart below. All models come with the 72 ounce pitcher and removable quad blade assembly, so I haven’t listed that below.
I do have one suggestion, though. Unless you find a screaming good deal on the BL800, like I did, I would recommend trying to get at least the BL810 or higher when it comes to models. This is a personal preference, but I am a huge fan of single serve cups, and the BL800 does not come with any. This isn’t a problem for me, since I have lots of single serve cups for other model Ninjas (they are not interchangeable, by the way). Assuming you are not like me, do yourself a favor and start with a model that comes with single serve cups – they are incredibly convenient to have.
Ninja Ultima Models
| Model | BL800 | BL810 | BL820 | BL830* |
| Accessories | None | 2 single serve cups & lids Single serve blade assembly |
2 single serve cups & lids Single serve blade assembly Slicing disc Grating disc Feed chute lid Drizzle hold lid 64 ounce food processing bowl Disc adapter Food pusher Dough blade |
3 single serve cups & lids Single serve blade assembly*Model BL830C comes with the “Ninja Ultima Creations” recipe book |
| Speeds | Preset dial: Low Medium, High | 10 speed variable dial | 10 speed variable dial | 10 speed variable dial |
| Power | 1500W/ 2.5 peak horsepower | 1500W/ 2.5 peak horsepower | 1500W/ 3 peak horsepower | 1500W/ 2.5 peak horsepower |
| Where to Buy | Wal-Mart | Direct from Ninja, Target, Lowes, Canadian Tire | Bed, Bath & Beyond | Bed, Bath & Beyond, Amazon.com |
The model I bought also comes with a user’s manual and “Inspiration Guide,” which has a handful of recipes and tips. One would assume these two items come with each model in some form or fashion, as they serve as getting started guides to using the blender.
What’s the Big Deal About the Ninja Ultima, Anyway?
In general, the Ninja blender line offers really powerful blenders at more affordable prices than something like a Vitamix or BlendTec.
The Ninja blade system is different than most blenders, as it goes up through the middle of the jar, instead of being clustered at the bottom. For a lot of uses, this is awesome. For some uses, it’s not so great.
For instance, this blade set up is great for making homemade Lara Bars. But, when it comes to making green smoothies, some people are turned off by the inability of the Ninjas to get greens like spinach or kale totally pureed. The single serve cups for everything from the Ninja Pulse to the Ninja Mega KS work really well to puree greens, but that is because the blade design is more like a traditional blender.
With the Ultima, the makers at Ninja have clearly aimed to solve this problem, with a hybrid blade set up.
First, there is a standard looking blender blade at the bottom (though it is significantly beefier than what you’d find in a cheap blender).
Then, there is a “quad blade” that stacks on top of this blade, should you need it. It should be noted that the blender *will* operate without the quad blade stacked on top.
Here is a look at the Ultima Blade side-by-side with the blade from the Ninja Mega. The Mega has a six-blade configuration, whereas the Ultima has a quad-blade configuration.
With the Ultima, you can blend either with just the lower blade cluster, or, with the lower cluster and the removable quad blade. This, of course, could cause confusion of when to use which setup, so Ninja provides a little quick-reference chart that outlines best blade selection.
The general rule is that you use both blades for most uses except emulsifying/pureeing. Here is the chart provided in the Inspiration Guide for the BL800. This is likely to be slightly different for other models with variable 1-10 speed settings but you get the idea.
Size Comparison
In terms of size, the Ultima is fairly similar to the Ninja Mega, with a slightly stouter base and jar (though the jar is the same size – 72 ounces).
The main thing you’ll notice is that the power and speed buttons are different. Though, with the BL800, the options are similar: Pulse, low, medium, and high. With the other models, BL810 and higher, your power dial will have numbers 1-10 instead of low-medium-high for more fine-tuning type speed adjustments.
Additionally, the Ultima has suction cups on the base, like the Mega, but there is no lever to release them. They’re just “there” and you don’t have to worry about activating them.
The jars lock onto the bases in a similar manner, and, the standard “line up the arrows on the lid with the jar handle” that is basic to all the Ninja blenders applies here as well. In many aspects, it’s very similar to the Ninja Mega, with a few changes, the blade differential being the biggest tweak. The power is the same at 1500 watts.
But Will it Juice?
By far, the most common search term that people use to find this blog revolves around juicing with a Ninja Blender: How to juice with the Ninja Blender, recipes for Ninja Blender juice, why there is pulp in juice from the Ninja Blender, and on and on.
So, I’m sure one of the main questions anyone shopping for this blender has is, “Will it juice?”
I will stand behind the statement I’ve made for years: It depends on how you define juice.
Like all the other models, this is a blender, not a masticating juicer. A juicer removes the pulp, leaving only juice. This blender will tear fruit and veggies to shreds, but, it doesn’t make the pulp evaporate. Here is an article I wrote about this very topic. If you want completely pulp free juice from this blender, you are going to have to strain it with a sieve or nut milk bag. And, for the first time that I’ve seen, Ninja is telling folks this upfront in the included “Inspiration Guide.” Here is what they
Tip: If less pulp is desired, pour juice through a filtration bag or fine mesh strainer.
This blender is no different from the Ninja Mega Kitchen System in that it can produce “whole food juice,” which I explain how to do here. (For what it’s worth, you can also do this in the Ninja Professional blender as well, if you blend a little longer).
The Green Smoothie Test
Okay, with all of that lead in information covered, let’s get to what you really care about: Green Smoothies. I couldn’t give you a green smoothie test without a recipe, now could I? This is a smoothie I made up on the fly, and it is delicious (ahem…if I do say so myself!) If you don’t have Matcha tea powder, just leave it out. But, I recommend Matcha tea if you have it!
For those that like to cut to the chase, I made a short video of this process. This video will also give you a good gauge on the volume of the blender – it’s not exactly quiet, but 2Chili thinks it’s quieter than some of the other models, and he’s extremely sensitive to blender noise.
Super Green Super Smoothie
Makes: 1 Smoothie
- 1/2 cup almond milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
- 1 small to medium banana (not frozen, but you could freeze if you please)
- 1/2 Hass avocado
- 2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder
- 1 serving Hemp protein powder (30 grams)
- 2 handfuls kale or spinach
- 1-2 pitted dates, optional – If you have a sweet tooth, go ahead and add
- 1 cup ice
Method:
- Add quad blade to blender jar
- Add all ingredients to the blender jar
- Pulse 5-6 times to combine
- Begin blending on low, and slowly ramp up speed to high, until a creamy consistency is reached – about 30-40 seconds
The Ninja Ultima turned this:
Into this…in no time flat:
Here is a close up of the jar which shows how smooth this is – look at the lip of the jar. You can’t see any green little flecks of kale because there really are no measurable flecks!
Bottom Line: Does it Pass the Green Smoothie Test?
Absolutely, hands down, no question. It passes and then some. I have made quite a few smoothies now with green ingredients (whole strawberries with tops, kale, spinach), and have not have any issues with green “bits” in the smoothie. This is the closest I’ve seen a Ninja blend to a Vitamix in terms of green smoothies, and I believe it addresses the issue that folks have with green smoothies in Ninja Blenders. The hybrid blade system blends the heck out of kale, which is incredibly fibrous.
Lid Removal and Clean Up
Removing the lid of this model is just like the Ninja Mega or Ninja Professional: You press the “release” button to release the handle on top of the lid, and use one hand to hold the blender jar down while simultaneously pulling up on the lid’s handle. It does take some effort to pull this lid off – it’s not something you can do with one hand. It’s not hard, by any means, but does require a bit of force. If you are curious about this process, definitely watch the little video I made, as I specifically pulled the lid off in that demo.
Clean up is truly a breeze: Either rinse all the parts and put in the dishwasher (being very careful with the quad blade), or, drop a bit of dish soap in, put the quad blade and lid on, and blend for about 30-45 seconds on high. Then, rinse and let dry.
The main thing to note here is to be very careful when handling the quad blade, as it is sharp. Be aware of where you have placed it, don’t leave it in the sink for someone else to find it with their flesh, and be careful if you put it in the dishwasher. It is very easy to handle by the top, where there is no blade, so there is no real worry that it is dangerous to handle. However, I have been called to the carpet in the past for not explaining clearly that the blade is sharp. So, there you have it: The blade is sharp, use care!
If you are in the market for a new high-powered blender, the Ninja Ultima is definitely a winner. I am honestly impressed with it. It is right in line with what I’d expect from a Ninja, and delivers on its “total crushing” promise.
If you do your homework and shop around, you can get a good deal on all of the different iterations of this blender.
What if you already own a Ninja of some other model? Should you sell or donate your current Ninja and run right to the store to buy this one? It really depends on what you want to do with it. I truly find that most of my needs are met with the Ninja Mega KS, and, a lot of the time, with the Ninja Pulse.
That said, I am super happy I have this one now – green smoothies are a big part of my diet, and creamy green smoothies are a good thing. This blender is really for the person that wants a Vitamix but doesn’t necessarily want to spend the greenbacks to get a Vitamix.
I will continue to test the Ultima out over the next few weeks and bring you more installments of my little “will it blend?,” experiments. I’m planning to make some form of nut butter, perhaps a hummus, and a whole food juice. If there is anything you want to see it do/make, please leave that for me in the comments and I will be happy to oblige.
And always, if you found this review helpful and want to buy a Ninja Ultima, or anything really, doing so via Amazon puts a little change in my piggy bank to help keep reviews like this coming. Thanks for reading!
View Comments (22)
Awesome review Angela! Thanks for addressing so many points that I was curious about.
I am looking forward to more!
Thanks Debbie!
I am making almond butter this afternoon…so stay tuned for that one!
Hi Angela,
My husband got me the Ninja Ultima Blender from Walmart that you have, thinking that it was the one I wanted, but I had actually wanted the Ninja Mega Kitchen System because I wanted a blender and food processor combo. So I was all set to return that one and order the Ninja Mega Kitchen System, with the food processing prep system add-on, on the Ninja website for the great price of $179.80 with free shipping, when right at the last minute, I decided to check into the Ultima first before I put in the order for the other system. I decided to check your website, and there was your review for the Ultima Blender, so that was good timing!! After reading your review, I saw that Bed Bath and Beyond carries an Ultima Kitchen System, which also comes with the food processing prep system included. Right now it is on their website for $262.49, minus a 20% off coupon, plus tax, would bring it to approximately $230, which is about $50 more than the Mega Kitchen System.
So from what I can gather, the differences between the 2 systems are:
Mega Kitchen System:
1500 watts, 2 HP
3 buttons plus pulse (I assume those are speeds?)
5 year warranty (when purchased on their site with that deal)
Ultima Kitchen System:
Same wattage but 3 HP
10 speeds
different blades
2 year warranty
If you know of any other differences that I missed, please let me know. I don’t believe that you know anything about the food processing food-prep system on either model, and I know that the Ultima you have doesn’t have the 10 speeds so you don’t know how those work, but given your experiences with the 2 blenders and the differences listed above (more speeds, more power — if 2 HP is stronger than 3 HP (I don’t know what wattage and horsepower mean for power), but also a shorter warranty on the Ultima), would you spend an additional $50 to go for the Ultima Kitchen System over the Mega Kitchen System? Or would you stick with the Mega System?
I know you said you were going to do reviews and comparisons of all the different models you have in the coming weeks so I’m sorry for not waiting, but I’m very eager to get one of them right away, so if you could answer this for me, that would be great!!
Thanks,
Joanne
Oops, I meant to say — if 3HP is stronger than 2 HP!
Hi Joanne,
It’s funny you ask, I did a task today where the Mega with the food processing bowl was actually better: Making almond butter. I am still working that out, but, upon initial try for almond butter, the Mega did better. I had to take it out of the Ultima and transfer to the Mega food processor bowl (mini size) to finish it up because after a certain point, the Ultima just wouldn’t move it in the jar anymore.
But, speaking of all of the food processing attachments, I have a guest review here that is very thorough and was published a couple weeks ago for the Mega Prep System: https://testkitchentuesday.com/2014/04/29/guest-post-ninja-professional-prep-system-how-to/. The difference I can tell with the Ultima food processing attachments, is that the Mega Prep System shoots the items out into a separate bowl, whereas the Ultima operates more like a traditional food processor where the processed food stays in the bowl.
To answer your question about the 3 buttons on the Mega, yes, those are speeds “1-3” for different purposes, which is not unlike the BL800 that you have, which has three pre-set speeds. The BL810 and higher of course have 10 speeds, which is more like a Vitamix.
To get to the heart of your question, though, I can’t really say yet. I am perfectly happy with my Ninja Mega KS, which is why I dragged my feet on getting an Ultima. The Ultima does an amazing job in the large pitcher with green smoothies — way better than the Mega large pitcher in terms of pulverizing the greens. But, the Mega single serve cups make perfectly great green smoothies. The Mega has ample power for everything I’ve needed. I do notice that the Ultima is quieter when running.
I’m sure I have made this even more confusing, but, hopefully some of the above helps!
Angela
Thanks for your response Angela. Yes I had read Mr. Bob’s very helpful review of the food processing add-on for the Mega system, and that helped me to decide to get that system initially. Thanks for mentioning that that system shoots items out as opposed to the more standard food processing of the Ultima because I hadn’t realized that difference, and I actually would prefer a more standard food processing system, so that probably has swayed me to go for the Ultima. There are a couple more discs with the Mega system (like crinkle cut and fries) which I figured I probably wouldn’t use anyway, and it seems like there would be more to store with the Mega system and I like the idea of less required storage space for all the items — particularly because I think that the Mega’s food processing add-on comes with a separate food processing bowl, in addition to the regular food processing bowl that comes with the unit — do you know if that is the case?
I also wonder if, when you said that you made almond butter today in the Ultima and it didn’t work as well as in the Mega, did you normally used to make almond butter in the food processing part of the Mega, or in the blender part? Do you think that was just a difference between using a blender vs. a food processor for that task, as opposed to the Mega working better than the Ultima in that respect?
Thanks for your help — your website has been so helpful!
Joanne
Hi Joanne,
The Mega system definitely comes with an additional food processing bowl, so yes, that is an extra part! And all those items to store is definitely something to consider.
As far as the almond butter, you’re right, I do typically make it with the food processing bowl. But, I also always soak the almonds over night, which I did in this case as well. In researching further, Ninja recommends toasting the almonds prior to making almond butter in the Ultima, so, I’m going to try that method and see how it does. I have made almond butter in the Ninja Professional blender before, but I don’t think I soaked the almonds, so that could be the differentiating factor. In any case if you’re comparing Mega KS to Ultima KS, I don’t think there should be much of a difference in the broad range of capabilities.
Good luck and let me know what you decide!
Angela
Hi Joanne,
Just to follow back up with you on the almond butter, I made it again today in the Ultima 72 ounce pitcher, this time with roasted almonds. It worked like a champ. Easy and fast. So, my issue was I soaked, but didn’t toast the almonds, and it couldn’t get them blended.
Hope that helps!
Angela
Today I was all set to order the Ninja Mega Kitchen System with free shipping & free food prep add on. However when I went to the website to order it I realized that when you get the bonus gift of the Professional Prep System you have to pay s&h of $59.90 which makes the total $240. I ordered the Ninja Ultima Kitchen System from Bed Bath & Beyond. It was $262.49 which reflects a 25% instant rebate. I used a 20% off coupon making it $209.99. Shipping was free on orders over $49. The total, including tax was $227.
Nice job, Janet, and thanks for sharing so others can benefit from your good bargain hunting!
Janet, it sounds like it’s too late now since you already ordered the Ultima Kitchen System from Bed Bath and Beyond, but if you follow the link below, you get free shipping for the entire Mega Kitchen System, including the food prep system, costing $179.80 total for everything.
That’s why I was originally wondering if the Ultima System was worth $50 extra dollars over the Mega.
Glad to hear! So I went to Bed Bath and Beyond today and bought the Ultima Kitchen System! It is on clearance now, so between the clearance sale price and my 20% coupon, I got it for the $230 (including tax) like I had expected. It was normally well over $300 — I don’t know why they have it on clearance now. I will let you know how it all works once I open it up and start using it. I’m excited! Thanks again for all your help!!
Joanne
Wow, Joanne, you found a great deal!
When you open it up and start using it, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Angela
Joanne, great deal!!! Can you explain how you used the coupon online? I thought they were in store only. Thanks!!!
Oops my comment was for Janet not Joanne. Sorry!!!
Hi Debbie,
I have used the 20% coupon online before as well. I don’t have one in front of me right now, but I think there is a coupon code on the card that you enter into the site on checkout.
Angela
Hmm interesting. I’ll have to check my coupons! Thanks!
I have the BL810 I needed the travel cups and I got a good deal from sams club. I use it for everything from for my coffee beans to smoothies to milk shakes and baking stuff. I put things in the travel cups and use it as a food processor. My kids love putting there favorite frozen fruit with milk or juice and yogurt to make a smoothie and making icee on hot days.
Thanks for the review. I purchased the mega back in April with a ton of extras from the Ninja website and I love it. But I really want to order the 72oz container from the ultima but not sure if it will fit my mega. I assume it would and I was going to call and ask and if so order it because I love the idea of having the bottom blade.
I have to say when I made my first green smoothie in the mega 72oz I was REALLY disappointed with the results because my $25 blender was better (just was no longer very strong). *I only tried with pitcher once, I planned on trying again bc I figured I may have to play around with it.*
I love using the single serving cups but sometimes I want to just make a large container for a group of people or just for convenience.
So please tell me the ultima container will fit on the mega.
Hi India,
Unfortunately, the pitchers are not interchangeable. The attachment mechanism to the base is totally different on the Mega than the Ultima. This has long been a gripe of mine about the Ninja folks. They come out with new models that are not interchangeable with old models.
That said, I believe you can make a decent green smoothie in the Mega — and have done it a ton. What you want to do is make sure to add ice or something like frozen banana or mango to green smoothies, and blend them for about 1 minute to get everything totally smooth. A lot of people have this gripe about the Mega due to the blade design, and it just takes a little toying around with to get your recipe adapted to work really well. The key is the ice for some reason.
Hope that helps and good luck,
Angela
Thank you Angela for your response. Awe… how could they ? ! Well thanks for the advice. I will definitely try that. Yes I LOVE my single serve cups! I figured I had to play with it more.
India
The Duo model claims to pulverize the seeds when making smoothies, does the Ultimate Kitchen model also do this?