Stepping into the world of healthy eating and effortless meal prep often starts with one crucial kitchen tool: a powerful countertop blender. And if you’re serious about blending, the Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender with its impressive 1100-watt base is a name you’ve likely heard. This isn’t just another blender; it’s a versatile workhorse designed to tackle everything from icy frozen drinks to smooth purees, making it a favorite for both individual health enthusiasts and busy families alike. It truly stands out by offering robust performance and a suite of convenient features that elevate your blending experience, positioning itself as a top contender in the countertop blender market.
Unleashing Power: The 1100-Watt Advantage
At the heart of the Ninja BL660 lies its commanding 1100-watt motor, a significant power output that defines its “professional” designation. What does this translate to in your kitchen? It means raw, unyielding power that effortlessly pulverizes ice into fluffy snow in mere seconds, transforming solid ingredients into smooth concoctions without a hitch. This kind of wattage isn’t just about speed; it’s about efficiency and consistency. Compared to many standard blenders that might struggle with dense ingredients or leave behind unwanted chunks, the Ninja BL660 powers through frozen fruits, hard vegetables, and tough nuts, ensuring a consistently smooth texture every time. Whether you’re craving a thick green smoothie, a creamy nut butter, or perfectly crushed ice for cocktails, this blender delivers the muscle needed to get the job done quickly and effectively.
Total Crushing Technology: A Deeper Look at the Blades
What truly sets the Ninja BL660 apart is its innovative Total Crushing Technology, embodied in its unique stacked blade design within the large 72 oz pitcher. Unlike traditional blenders with a single blade at the bottom, the BL660 features a removable spindle with three sets of sharp, stainless steel blades positioned at different heights. This multi-tiered approach creates a powerful vortex that processes ingredients from the top down, ensuring every component in the pitcher receives consistent contact with the blades. This design eliminates the common frustration of ingredients getting stuck or unevenly blended, often found with conventional blenders. It means you don’t need a tamper to push ingredients down, simplifying the blending process and delivering superior results faster. The efficiency of this system is particularly noticeable when dealing with large batches or challenging ingredients, proving that thoughtful engineering can make a world of difference.
Beyond Smoothies: Versatility for Every Meal
The Ninja BL660 isn’t just a one-trick pony for your morning smoothie routine; it’s designed for maximum versatility, catering to diverse culinary needs. The expansive 72 oz Total Crushing Pitcher is perfect for preparing family-sized servings of everything from salsas and dips to large batches of frozen margaritas. But what if you’re just blending for one or two? The BL660 has you covered with two convenient 16 oz Nutri Ninja cups, each equipped with its own dedicated single-serve blade assembly and “to-go” lids. This “two-in-one” design allows you to blend personal portions directly in the cup, then simply twist off the blade and attach the lid for an instant, portable meal or snack. This incredible flexibility means you can effortlessly switch between crafting a big batch of gazpacho for a dinner party and whipping up a quick post-workout protein shake.
Beyond beverages, the Ninja BL660 excels at creating:
- Smoothies and Shakes: Achieve perfectly smooth, chunk-free drinks, even with fibrous greens and frozen fruits.
- Nut Butters: Make homemade peanut, almond, or cashew butter with ease, achieving a wonderfully creamy consistency.
- Dips and Sauces: From chunky salsas to velvety smooth hummus, the blender handles it all.
- Cold Soups: Prepare refreshing cold soups like gazpacho without needing to heat liquids first.
- Crushed Ice: Turn ice cubes into fine snow, ideal for slushies and frozen desserts.
Design & User Experience: Smart Features for Modern Kitchens
The Ninja BL660 marries powerful performance with thoughtful design elements, ensuring a user-friendly and safe experience. All containers and lids are crafted from durable, BPA-free plastic, giving you peace of mind about the safety of your food. Cleaning is a breeze, as all removable parts are dishwasher-safe, though handwashing is also quick and easy due to the removable blade assembly preventing food from getting stuck in crevices.
Safety is a top priority with the BL660. The blender features a robust safety locking mechanism; the machine simply won’t operate until the lid and pitcher are correctly secured and locked into the base. This prevents accidental spills and ensures safe usage, particularly important in busy kitchens. Stability during high-speed blending is also addressed through strong suction-cup feet on the base, which firmly grip your countertop to prevent the blender from “walking” across the counter, even during intense ice crushing. Additionally, a clever cord storage compartment at the back of the base helps keep your kitchen tidy by neatly tucking away excess cable.
One practical consideration for potential buyers is the blender’s height. At approximately 17 inches tall when assembled with the main pitcher, it might be a tight squeeze for storage under some lower kitchen cabinets. It’s a small detail but worth noting for optimizing your kitchen space.
Getting Started with Your Ninja BL660: Tips and Maintenance
Using your Ninja BL660 is straightforward thanks to its intuitive control panel. You’ll find a power button, three distinct speed settings (for processing/mixing, blending, and pureeing/liquefying/ice crushing), a pulse button for controlled chopping, and a dedicated “Single Serve” button for the Nutri Ninja cups.
Cleaning and Maintenance Tips:
- Immediate Rinse: Always rinse the pitcher, cups, and blade assemblies immediately after use, while food residue is still moist. This prevents food from drying and sticking.
- Self-Cleaning: For a quick clean, fill the pitcher with warm water and a drop of dish soap, then blend on speed 3 for 15-30 seconds.
- Dishwasher Safe: All removable parts are dishwasher safe, offering convenient cleaning.
- Base Care: Never submerge the motor base in water; simply wipe it clean with a damp cloth.
- Blade Safety: The stacked blades are incredibly sharp. Handle them with extreme care during cleaning and assembly to avoid injury.
The Ninja BL660 comes with a 1-year limited warranty, covering the unit and non-wearable parts, offering peace of mind for your investment.
Is the Ninja BL660 Right for You? Addressing Common Concerns
While the Ninja BL660 is an outstanding blender, it’s helpful to address a few common points of discussion to help you make an informed decision.
Noise Level: Like most powerful blenders, the 1100-watt motor generates a notable amount of noise, especially when crushing ice or blending harder ingredients. There’s no such thing as a completely silent high-performance blender. However, some users report that its multi-tiered blade system can make it feel less vibratory than blenders with just a single bottom blade, as the machine doesn’t have to work as hard to pull ingredients down.
Hot Liquids: It’s crucial to remember that the Ninja BL660 is not designed for blending hot liquids. The plastic pitcher and the sealing mechanism are not rated for high temperatures, which could lead to steam buildup and potential injury. If you plan to make hot soups, it’s best to blend cold ingredients first and then heat them on the stovetop.
Potential Issues (and how to avoid them): Some isolated user reports mention issues with the lid fit or, in rare cases, the pitcher cracking. While these are not widespread, they are often attributed to overfilling the pitcher or blending extremely hard, frozen ingredients without allowing them to thaw for a few minutes first. The powerful multi-tier blade system generates significant force, so giving very hard items a moment to soften can minimize stress on the pitcher. Ensuring the lid is correctly aligned and locked (matching the arrows) is also key to preventing leaks.
“For anyone looking to upgrade their kitchen without breaking the bank, the Ninja BL660 is a standout. The combination of its powerful motor and versatile attachments means you’re equipped for everything from morning smoothies to sophisticated sauces,” says Eleanor Reed, a Home Economics Specialist. This blender truly offers exceptional value for its price point, often delivering performance comparable to more expensive models without the hefty cost.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender
How powerful is the Ninja BL660?
The Ninja BL660 boasts a robust 1100-watt motor base, providing significant power to handle tough ingredients and achieve smooth blending results quickly and efficiently.
Can the Ninja BL660 crush ice effectively?
Absolutely! The Ninja BL660’s 1100-watt motor and Total Crushing Technology with its unique stacked blade design excel at crushing ice, turning cubes into fine snow in seconds.
Is the Ninja BL660 easy to clean?
Yes, the Ninja BL660 is designed for easy cleaning. All removable parts, including the pitcher, cups, and blade assemblies, are dishwasher safe. For quick cleaning, you can also blend warm soapy water in the pitcher.
Can I make hot soups in the Ninja BL660?
No, the Ninja BL660 is not suitable for blending hot liquids. Its plastic pitcher and sealing system are designed for cold ingredients. If you want to make hot soups, blend the ingredients cold and then heat them on the stove.
What’s the warranty on the Ninja BL660?
The Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender comes with a 1-year limited warranty, covering the main unit and specific non-wearable parts, offering protection for your purchase.
Does the Ninja BL660 come with single-serve cups?
Yes, the Ninja BL660 includes two 16 oz Nutri Ninja cups along with their own dedicated blade assembly and “to-go” lids, perfect for making individual servings and enjoying them on the go.
Conclusion
The Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender with its 1100-watt base is a genuinely impressive kitchen appliance that stands out for its raw power, versatility, and thoughtful design. From its innovative Total Crushing Technology that handles ice and tough ingredients with ease, to its dual functionality with both a large pitcher and convenient single-serve cups, it’s built to cater to almost every blending need. While it’s not for hot liquids and demands careful handling of its sharp blades, its overall performance and value proposition are hard to beat in its category. If you’re looking for a reliable, powerful, and adaptable blender that won’t break the bank, the Ninja BL660 Professional Countertop Blender is an excellent choice that promises to elevate your culinary creations and simplify your daily routine. Make a smart purchase and unlock a world of blending possibilities!