'It's everything you'd want from a blender' - here's why Ninja's newest product might be your kitchen saviour

The Ninja Detect Power Blender and Processor is a reminder of quite how far things have come from old-school blenders and food processors, combining them all into one gadget and offering up 20 functions in one go.

As good-looking as all the other Ninja gadgets, it’s not a cheap purchase, but for what you get I think it’s worth it. From slicing veg to blending smoothies, it’s not only easy to use without needing a degree in Ninja instructions, but also does the job well in speedy time. And on top of that, it’s easy to clean, which is always a winner.

During a week of testing, I find myself gleefully swapping between chopping, slicing, blending and more, and by the end am happy to ditch my previous blender and food processor and embrace a long-term relationship with the Ninja. Here's why I think this new release from the brand earns the title of one of the best blenders.

Ninja Detect Power Blender Pro & Single Serve TB301UK specs

• Size, Dimensions: H: 44.5 cm x W: 21 cm x D: 17.5 cm
• Weight: 6.3 kg
• Colour: Black,
• Power: 1200W,
• Modes: 20 functions - 14 manual & 6 automatic
• Includes: Motor base, 2.1L jug, 1.8 Food Processor Bowl, 3x 700ml Single-serve cups, Ninja Detect Total Crushing & Chopping Blade, Chopping Blade, Dough Blade, Slicing/Shredding Blade, Hybrid Edge Blades & Recipe Guide

Who tested this blender?

Freelance Reviewer

Freelance Reviewer

Ellen Manning

Ellen Manning is a freelance food and drinks writer and has tested all sorts of kitchen gadgets in her time, including air fryers, blenders, coffee grinders and barbecues. A self-confessed amateur when it comes to cooking, she approaches every review not as a professional chef, but a simple home cook keen to get the most out of her gadgets. She tests each product carefully, seeing if it lives up to the marketing spiel and to make sure you know what you’re getting if you’re planning on buying it.

Unboxing the product

Opening a Ninja box is always an event, with all the right blurb on the outside to get you excited for the product you’re about to get your hands on. The Ninja Detect Power Blender & Processor is a hefty bit of kit, and you might spend a while unboxing it thanks to its various functions, attachments and bits of kit.

All carefully wrapped in sustainable packaging, you’ll find the motor base itself, along with the food processor jug, the blender bit and what they call a ‘personal blender’ that has a Nutribullet feel.

There are extra single-serve cups and various blades for its many functions. You’ll definitely need a bit of space to store it, along with all these bits, but that’s the price you pay for something that has 20 functions and does all sorts for you. In all honesty, it’s the kind of gadget you’re likely to be quite happy to leave out on the counter, because it definitely looks the part, all sleek and black and space-age.

Setting it up is fairly easy thanks to the quick start guide, and I’m overjoyed to find that it has big suckers on the bottom to ensure it sticks down firmly and won’t move around.

Testing

Making a smoothie

The first test is a basic smoothie using fresh fruit. I choose my ‘personal blender’ for this one as it’s not too bulky, and chuck in raspberries, blueberries and kiwi with a splash of water for a simple fruit juice/smoothie.

I’m eager to try the ‘BlendSense’ function, which basically auto-senses the ingredients inside and adjusts the settings. It’s super intuitive to use - just put it in the BlendSense mode then hit start and off it goes. Within what feels like seconds I’ve got a smooth juice that I can guzzle straight out of the cup.

Perfect for a morning juice or smoothie, and easy to use. The ‘liquid detect’ element of the Ninja - designed to kick in if I haven’t got enough liquid in the blender - doesn’t interfere because I’ve picked juicy fruit and a bit of water, but it’s reassuring to know that it would.

Making a coarser smoothie

I go for something a bit more challenging next, using the blender jug and opting for some smoothie ingredients that might be a bit more challenging. Frozen berries, celery, oat milk and more kiwi, plus a few fresh berries for bulk. Again, I go for BlendSense and in response to the tougher ingredients it takes a bit longer, but still makes light work of them.

It’s not a quiet machine, and a decibel meter registers up to 100dB at some points, but I’m not sure we’d expect a blender to be particularly quiet - and it’s not a problem when it goes on for less than a minute. It certainly feels more aggressively noisy than my old school blender, and does the job in far less time.

The lid of the blender jug has an easy pouring spout so I can get my smoothie into a glass to enjoy. The fact it makes light work of frozen berries - and indeed ice - means it’s also advertised as being the gadget to go to for frozen cocktails, and that combined with the pouring spout means it’s going to get some regular use for cocktail hour in my house.

Food processor

Next up is the food processor function. I’m keen to make a soup, but am a bit sad to discover that I’m not supposed to blend hot liquids in my food processor.

So instead, I decide to use the Ninja’s chopping and slicing functions, so use this to prepare my soup instead. First up is onion, which I chop with the blade. It’s a revelation. I’m not particularly averse to chopping onions the conventional way with a knife, but may never do it again after experiencing how easy this is.

In it goes, I simply select the chopping function, then decide the size I want (I go for large), and let the Ninja do its thing. It runs for a few seconds, pauses, runs again, pauses, and runs a final time and there it is - my chopped onion. I’m impressed.

I’m so excited I try leeks too. It takes a bit longer, and I have to be careful not to put them in too long, but cut them into manageable chunks, but it still makes light work of them.

I’m so excited I swap the chopping blade for the slicing blade and feed a carrot through the spout at the top. Lo and behold, neatly sliced carrot in seconds. It’s a time-saving dream, and could be a real game-changer for busy people, or if you’re prepping food for big meals and lots of people. Like Christmas, for example.

There’s a dough blade, too, which again will no doubt be a time-saving dream. Again, it’s super intuitive, with automatic programmes for different doughs and batters, so you can almost leave it to it.

What's it like to clean?

If the ease of use wasn’t delightful enough, the fact that the jug, cups, food processor bowl, lids and blades are all dishwasher safe is the cherry on the cake.

No messing around with hard-to-clean accessories and attachments - it’s just a case of chucking it all in the dishwasher and knowing it’s ready for the next use.

Should you buy the Ninja Detect Power Blender & Processor Pro?

The Ninja Detect is the blender and food processor I really didn’t know I needed in my life, but am overjoyed to have found. Yes, it’s not small, but the sheer number of functions it can do, and the easy and intuitive way it does them, is a revelation compared to old school food processors and blenders.

Not just that, it does what it says on the tin - and does it well. Chops, slices, blend and more without a pause, and all quickly and efficiently. Add to that the fact it looks good and is easy to clean, and I’m sold.

Yes, at £229.99, it’s not a cheap gadget. But it’s worth remembering that it’s almost three good quality gadgets in one, so with that in mind, if you’re someone who does a fair bit of cooking, prepping, blending and more, it’s worth the money. I’m converted.