Not long ago, I was thinking of getting a professional blender as they are powerful and get things done in a shorter time than other types of blenders. Then, I bought the Ninja NJ601AMZ Professional Blender. Since Ninja is one of the leading brands in the kitchen appliance world, I didn’t even bother to think twice before buying.
The only thing that I noticed was the 1000-watt motor, and that’s it. I immediately took it as I needed a powerful one. Now, if you are also considering buying this same one, you may be wondering whether it will be a wise decision to purchase it or not. Well, as I have been using it for a while, I can help you in this regard.
Today, I will present a full review of Ninja Professional Blender NJ601AMZ. Hence, keep up with me to learn its worth!
Remarkable Features At A Glance
Here are the features of this model that pleased me the most.
- 1000 watts of performance power
- Equipped with blades that can pulverize and crush through ice
- BPA-free build
- Large batch blending capacity
- Easy lock lid with built-in pour spout
- Non-slip bottom
Alright, you just got a quick look at its few incredible traits. Now, let’s explore all of its key specifications to gain more insight into this professional blender.
Key Specifications
Product Brand: Ninja
Item model number: NJ601AMZ
Color Available: Black
Total Jar Capacity: 72 oz.
Max Liquid Capacity Mark: 64 oz.
Motor Power: 1000 watts
Power Source: Electrical power cord
Voltage: 120 Volts
Material Type: BPA free
Number of Speeds: 3
Special Feature: Programmable
Is Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Recommended Uses: Blending, crushing
Product Dimensions: 6.75 x 9 x 17.5 inches
Item Weight: 7.28 pounds
Warranty: 1 Year
What I Like About This Blender
✅ Excellent ice crusher
✅ Surprisingly quiet for a professional blender
✅ Extra-large 72 oz. pitcher
✅ Power cord storage at the back
✅ Dishwasher safe accessories
✅ Easy to clean electronic control panel
The reason I got this blender is that it has a 1000 watts powerful motor. All I wanted was a professional blender that could handle any tough ingredients, and it did the job perfectly. Especially when it comes to crushing ice, this Ninja NJ601AMZ blender is fabulous!
It can quickly turn ice into snow and create amazing frozen cocktails with chosen ingredients. Besides ice, it can also handle whole fruits and vegetables.
Anyway, when we hear the term powerful in a blender, we automatically assume it will be louder. Right? But this blender really blew my mind here! Even though it has a powerful motor base, it is relatively quiet compared to many other blenders with the same motor power.
Moreover, it has a non-slip bottom and power cord storage at the back of the base. I didn’t know about these things before buying, and when I found out, I was thrilled since these are highly beneficial.
What I Didn’t Like
❌ Not so good at handling fibrous ingredients
❌ No personal jar included
❌ Isn’t suitable for hot blending
Even though I like this blender for making smoothies, I was surprised to see that it couldn’t blend kale properly. I tried to blend for several minutes, and there were still grains of kale. Then, I tested a few other fibrous items, and the result was the same.
You should never blend hot liquids in this blender. The manufacturer strictly forbids doing so because there can be a risk of pressure buildup and steam exposure, which could result in burning the user.
Another fact is that this blender doesn’t come with a personal jar, which is okay, but it could be better if it was included. This could help users who like to make single servings occasionally.
Anyway, every type of appliance has its own pros and cons, and this is not exceptional. What qualities your particular type of blending calls for should be your first concern when choosing a blender.
That’s why knowing every characteristic of this blender is necessary. The 1000-watt Ninja NJ601AMZ can then be evaluated to see if it meets your needs.
From here, I will describe every detailed information like design, what type of blending it can do, build & blade quality, etc. So, explore every segment to make the right decision in the end.
Ninja NJ601AMZ Professional Blender with 1000-watt Motor Review
This model is a decent full-size professional blender. Since I didn’t do much research on this model, I wanted to know what type of accessories it would offer, how its performance will be, the controls, and all the other factors that determine a blender’s worth.
Therefore, as soon as I opened the package, I checked everything, beginning with the items inside the box.
What’s in The Box
- Ninja Professional Blender 1000-watt motor base
- Blade stack assembly
- 72 oz. pitcher
- Pitcher lid
- Manual & recipe guide
I got nothing more in the box except for the above items, not even a spatula.
Build Quality
This Ninja Professional Blender has good build quality. The motor base is made of plastic which doesn’t feel premium. But it’s not cheap either. The plastic is just okay. If you want a premium finish, it won’t give you that feel.
However, the plastic transmission seems strong, and the pitcher and lid are solid. Once twisted into position, the jar won’t move, and the blender won’t turn on unless the lid is on.
The motor base doesn’t move around on the counter when it’s operating, even though there are no suction cups underneath. So, their claim for a non-slip bottom is absolutely valid.
Jar Capacity & Materials
It comes with a 72 oz pitcher, which is excellent for making large batches of smoothies and drinks. The max liquid capacity is 64 oz. So, stay within this mark for both better blending results and safety. Anyway, speaking of the materials, the pitcher and lid are both made of decent plastic.
About Blades & Lid
Just like the majority of Ninja blenders, this model’s blade assembly is also a column with spiral blades around it. You can take it out of the jar for cleaning, but you must handle it cautiously due to the sharp edges. This 6-blade assembly is exceptionally sharp and can crush ice into snow within seconds.
As a safety measure, if the pitcher and lid are not installed correctly, the motor will not operate. The ready light will be solid green when the pitcher and lid are properly attached, indicating that the blender is prepared for use.
The lid is pretty simple to put on and remove. You need to lock the handle in its place before starting the blender. By the way, it doesn’t have a removable center; hence you won’t be able to add ingredients in the middle of blending. However, there is a spout opening on one corner that allows you to pour from the pitcher, even with the lid on.
Motor & Power Cord
It comes with a 1000-watt powerful motor base. And the power cord is sufficiently long to reach a nearby electrical outlet. There is a compartment to store the cord when not in use. However, tucking the cord inside requires a bit of effort.
Is It Noisy?
For a full-size blender, it isn’t particularly loud. Although it is noticeably quieter than some other professional blenders, standing next to it for more than a few minutes can be uncomfortable if you get easily irritated by noise.
Is It Bulky?
This Ninja Professional Blender is a large full-size blender. Thus, it may not fit in your cupboard, and it will take up some space on your kitchen counter.
How to Set Up It?
To set up the blender for use, follow the below steps.
1. Place the motor base on a surface that is clean, dry, and level.
2. Lower the jar onto the motor base.
3. Now, rotate the jar as far to the left as it will go. As the pitcher rotates and lowers, the safety tabs on the bottom of the pitcher’s base will slide beneath the safety tabs on the top of the motor base.
4. You can position the pitcher on the motor base in two ways, with the handle on either the left corner or right corner.
5. Next, Place the Stacked Blade Assembly on the gear shaft inside the pitcher by holding the shaft. Ensure that the blade shaft stands straight and the stacked blade assembly fits around the gear shaft. Note that the blade assembly will sit loosely on the drive gear.
6. Fill the pitcher with the ingredients. And ensure that the total amount of ingredients does not exceed the highest measured marking line (64 oz. recommended) on the pitcher’s side.
7. Place the lid on top of the pitcher by holding it by the handle in the upright position and lining up the arrows on the lid and the handle of the bowl.
8. Lastly, plug the power cord into a nearby electrical outlet, and it will be ready to use.
Controls & Programs
It has pretty simple controls. Four buttons are available: power, 1, 2, 3, and pulse. Find out each button’s function below.
Power Button
This button is for turning on/off the appliance. Make sure to turn off the blender when not in use.
Button 1
This one is for mixing and processing. You may use this button to scramble eggs, puree cooked food and raw fruit, mix thin batters, gravies, and marinades, and cut veggies for salsa and dips.
Button 2
This is for blending and ice-crushing. You can use this to shred hard cheeses, blend sauces and spreads, beat dips, grind nuts, and thoroughly chop. Also, it can be used to blend mixed beverages, drinks made from powder, or milkshakes, crush ice cubes for snow cones, cold drinks, or frozen slushies.
Button 3
It is for pureeing and liquefying. Use this button to liquefy thick mixtures and blend whole fruits and vegetables to make smoothies and frappes.
Pulse Button
This one is for controlled processing. You may use it for chopping and processing.
How to Reset The Motor Thermostat?
This blender has a special safety system that prevents any damage to the motor and drive system if you mistakenly overload your appliance. The motor will shut down if the appliance is overloaded. Then, you will have to allow the blender to cool for about 15 minutes.
To reset the appliance, follow the procedures listed below:
1. Unplug the cord from the power outlet.
2. Remove the container, empty it, and ensure no food debris is clogging the stacked blade assembly.
3. Let the appliance cool down for 15 minutes.
4. Put the container back on the base and re-plug the appliance into an electrical socket.
5. Continue using the appliance as you normally would. And be careful not to overload it to its maximum capabilities.
Is It Easy to Clean?
This Ninja blender is pretty easy to clean. The pitcher, lid, and blade assembly are dishwasher safe. The lid and blade assembly can be cleaned in a top-rack dishwasher. But, before putting the container in the dishwasher, make sure to remove the blade assembly.
You can also hand wash it if you are not a dishwasher fan. Clean the jar, lid, and blade in warm soapy water. Use a dishwashing tool with a handle when cleaning the blade assembly to keep your hands away from the sharp edges. After that, rinse thoroughly and air dry.
To clean the motor base, first, unplug it. Then, wipe the base with a damp clean cloth.
What Type of Food Can It Process?
Alright, it’s time to see how well this blender performs. As I said, it is suitable for making smoothies, so I won’t discuss that. Instead, I will let you know how did it perform while I tried to blend fibrous ingredients, nut butter, and crushed ice.
Nut Butter
This Ninja professional blender is excellent for making nut butter. But, to achieve the perfect texture, you will have to pause the blender a few times, remove the lid, stir the mixture, and scrape the jar’s sides. It takes some time, but it makes superb smooth nut butter.
Crushed Ice
I have used various blenders, and I have to admit that this Ninja NJ601 is one of the best for crushing ice. It can quickly crush 12 ice cubes into a snow-like texture. If you are particularly looking forward to buying a blender for making slushies, this will be the best option for you.
Small Batch of Fibrous Ingredients
This blender is decent if you will process small batches of fibrous ingredients. For ingredients like kale, it creates a little gritty puree, and you must run the blender for an extended period of time to achieve that.
Large Batch of Fibrous Ingredients
When I filled the main pitcher’s maximum capacity with kale to make a large batch, it made a grainy puree. Unfortunately, even after a lengthy blend time, there were still more visible grains than in the smaller batch, despite the fact that I had to run the blender for a prolonged period of time to break down fibrous ingredients. So it’s better to blend in small batches.
Soups
This blender isn’t suitable for blending hot ingredients. You can only blend ingredients for soups once they are cool. But never put either hot liquid or food items in this blender. It may explode from pressure building up inside from the steam. And since it doesn’t have a removable centerpiece, there is no way to release the pressure while blending.
Why Should You Buy This?
If you want to purchase a professional blender to make large batches of smoothies, sorbet, salsa, sauces, and dips, this NJ601AMZ Ninja Professional blender will be the best choice. With its powerful 1000-watt motor, it can crush ice into snow like crushed ice which is perfect for frozen drinks.
Moreover, this blender is quite affordable compared to other professional blenders. So, if you want a budget-friendly blender that can easily do all the above-mentioned blending jobs, this can fulfill your requirements.
In Which Case Should You Avoid Buying This?
Blending hot liquids or foods is strictly prohibited in this blender. Moreover, you will have to run this blender several times to blend fibrous items, and that is also for small batches. Once you try large batches of fibrous items, it will give you a hard time achieving the required consistency.
Another fact is it doesn’t come with any extra accessories like a personal jar. If you want all of these characteristics in your blender, avoid buying this one.
By the way, using a stick blender is far safer for blending hot items than a counter blender. So, if you need a hand blender, you may take a look at the Cuisinart Smart Stick Blender and see if that meets your needs.
Is It Worth The Price?
It’s an inexpensive full-size blender from Ninja. Considering the brand’s reputation and capabilities of crushing through the ice and blending whole fruits and veggies within seconds and its relatively quiet but strong motor, this blender is a great deal for the price.
Where to Buy?
Now, in case you are interested in purchasing this Ninja NJ601AMZ blender online, you may check Amazon, eBay, or other online shops. You might also physically visit your local appliance store, look for this model there, and make the purchase.
Still, if you are hesitating to buy this one, I think comparing this model with similar types of other professional blenders can help you make the final decision.
Comparing This Model with Other Professional Blenders
I will compare this blender with another Ninja Oster brand’s professional blender. So, keep reading to see the differences.
Ninja NJ601AMZ Vs. Ninja BL610 Professional Blender
The NJ601AMZ model is the next generation of the Ninja BL610 professional blender. Both of them have almost similar overall performance, but BL610 has a little advantage due to its better build quality. Another fact is that the NJ601AMZ can process large batches of fibrous items like kale and spinach a little bit faster than the BL610, although the difference is negligible.
Otherwise, all of their features are similar, like they both have 1000-watt motors, total crushing technology, dishwasher-safe pitcher, etc.
Ninja NJ601AMZ Vs. Oster Pro 1200
The Oster Pro 1200 and the Ninja Professional Blender NJ601AMZ do vary in terms of strengths. The Ninja one is far more sturdier and quieter while operating. Its pitcher is bigger and does better while crushing ice.
On the other hand, the Oster one serves multipurpose as it is suitable for hot blending and also comes with a 24-ounce small pitcher for single-serve smoothies.
Anyway, I have nothing further to say about this topic. So, I am gonna move to the final verdict.
Final Verdict
After reading my whole Ninja NJ601AMZ Professional Blender Review, I hope you understand this blender’s pros and cons. I Have presented my own user experience here. Now, it’s on you to judge it from your viewpoint. Hopefully, you can make the right decision.
