We tested 14 blenders and there was one clear winner. Here's why our expert Testing Team dubbed the Ninja Detect Duo Power Blender the best of the best.
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Having a blender in your kitchen is a great way to mix things up. These handy kitchen appliances allow you to create delicious smoothies, frozen cocktails, nut butters and more. When shopping for a new blender, you’ll want to invest in a model that is easy to operate, easy to clean and, most importantly, blends well.
Our expert product testing team helped us find the best blenders for your kitchen. And after 75 hours of research, they determined that the Ninja Detect Duo Power Blender checks all the boxes and then some. Read on to learn why this blender earned the coveted best overall title.
EMIKO FRANZEN FOR TASTE OF HOME
This Ninja blender features a powerful motor, three-tier blade and smart BlendSense technology to ensure perfectly smooth results.
The Ninja Detect Duo Power Blender is a corded blender equipped with a powerful 1800-watt motor, large capacity pitcher and smart BlendSense technology. This technology uses sensors to sense when both fresh and frozen ingredients have been added and automatically adjusts speed, time and pulsing for perfectly smooth results.
In addition to its quality construction and BlendSense technology, this blender has a removable three-tier blade that is easy to scrape clean and highly effective when it comes to crushing ice. “The three-tiered blade design seems to be the key behind Ninja’s stellar performance,” notes product tester Dylan Fischer.
Our Product Testing Team tried 14 blenders ranging from budget-friendly options to splurge-worthy Vitamix blenders. The team spent roughly 75 hours in the Testing Lab looking at features, performance, ease of use and value to thoroughly evaluate each appliance. During their search for the best blender, our team:
In the Testing Lab, our testers began by preparing an almond, kale and banana smoothie following the manual’s instructions regarding ingredient order and settings. They blended each smoothie for 90-120 seconds or according to the automated smoothie preset. Once they finished blending, they poured the smoothie through a colander to evaluate its consistency.
Once they added the ingredients to the Ninja blender, our testers used the BlendSense setting for 50 seconds. While they noted some rattling when it initially turned on, our testers were intrigued by the performance. “It was cool to watch the interface as it sensed and detected what to do next,” says Dylan.
When the smoothie was finished, our testers noted that the kale didn’t look fully incorporated. The drink wasn’t a uniform color and there were a couple of kale pieces floating on top. They also found a bean-sized chunk of banana and some shreds of date skin left in the strainer. “You wouldn’t be able to drink your smoothie through a straw without getting pieces clogged,” says Dylan. However, our team suspects user error may have been the culprit here. “We suspect the blender pitcher wasn’t filled enough, which could’ve been the cause of the poorer performance,” Dylan explains.
After the team finished their smoothie, they moved onto an ice crush test. The manual claims the blender can detect ice, so our testers filled the pitcher halfway with ice and once again used the BlendSense setting. This cycle took about 50 seconds, which our team thought was a bit long. “The ice was probably done after 15-20 seconds, but then it ran for an extra 20 seconds,” says Sheri. In spite of the long cycle, Sheri and Dylan were thrilled with the end result. “The ice looks really nice and consistent,” raves Sheri. “Like a sno-cone.” Our testers attributed this result to the three-tier blades which prevented the ice from getting too packed down toward the bottom of the pitcher.
For their final test, our team added four cups of peanuts to the blender in an attempt to make peanut butter. Once again, they used the BlendSense setting which ran for one minute and 30 seconds. Once the BlendSense cycle was finished, Sheri and Dylan manually blended the peanuts for an additional 45 seconds in order to ensure it was completely smooth. Not only were they successful in their endeavor to make creamy peanut butter, but they were particularly pleased to find that the peanut butter did not splatter up the sides of the pitcher.
Of the 14 blenders they tested, Sheri and Dylan determined that this model was the easiest to clean. Thanks to the removable blade, they didn’t struggle to clean the gunk that was trapped in the bottom of the blender. However, they did find that some peanut butter got stuck inside the blade column. They chalked this up to the fact that the blade was removed during the peanut butter test to scrape and added that it was pesky to clean. “We love the removable blades from both of the Ninjas,” raves Dylan. “They are safe and easy to clean.”
EMIKO FRANZEN FOR TASTE OF HOME
This blender produced a delicious smoothie, perfectly smooth peanut butter and sno-cone-like ice in under two minutes.
The Ninja Detect Duo Power Blender retails for $179.99 and is available directly on Ninja’s website. It’s also available at a number of other retailers including Walmart and Amazon. And if the price seems a bit steep, you’ll be happy to know that Ninja frequently offers discounts, meaning there’s a good chance you’ll be able to snag this appliance on sale.
Our expert product testers followed the instruction manual’s instructions regarding ingredient order and settings for each test. They used the appliance’s BlendSense setting which automatically adjusted the time and speed during each test. They finished the peanut butter by manually blending it for 45 seconds after the BlendSense cycle was complete.
According to the manufacturer’s instructions, accessories are top-rack dishwasher safe but should not be cleaned with a heated dry cycle. Ensure the blade assemblies are removed from their containers before placing in the dishwasher. Blade assemblies should be carefully washed by hand in warm soapy water using a dishwashing utensil. The motor base should be wiped down with a clean, damp cloth.
At Taste Recipes, we rely on our Product Testing Team to perform a series of controlled tests for every single product they bring into our dedicated Testing Lab. The team has a combined decade of experience testing and evaluating products and has evaluated everything from coolers to food processors. Every product that makes it into our hands is put through a comprehensive testing process to ensure accurate, quality results. We then use those results to create detailed reviews that will help you make informed buying decisions. We will never recommend a product that doesn’t meet or exceed our expectations.
