Photo: mymuffintopbellyfix.com
What We Like
- Includes 3 containers in the set
- Powerful 1100-watt motor
- Easy to clean
- Effective 6-blade assembly
- 4 manual programs plus a single-serve function
What We Don’t Like
- No presets
Bottom Line
The Ninja BL660 is an all-round blender that contains a large pitcher and two small cups. As such, it is ideal for personal, family, or commercial use.
Introduction
Personal blenders usually have small single-serve cups while for family or commercial use, a large pitcher is recommended. Ninja’s BL660 combines all these in one because it comes with all these components.
Additionally, it has a relatively powerful motor, which allows it to produce smooth, professionally-made drinks. Here’s more about this unit.
Ninja BL660 Review
Photo: Ninja
Performance: Crushes Ice to Snow in Seconds
With a relatively powerful 1100-watt motor base, Ninja’s BL660 packs in enough power to pulverize ice into snow in seconds. This works in tandem with a 6-blade assembly, which has the blades positioned in sets of two along a vertical column.
As a result, it cuts through ice and other hard ingredients quickly and with ease because it chops from different levels. This design does not even need a tamper to push down the stubborn ingredients because the blades fill up the jar.
That said, this blade assembly cannot fit inside the single-serve cups and therefore, a single-serve blade assembly is included to make your smoothies and frozen drinks on the go. When blending using these cups, there is a dedicated single-serve function that produces the best results.
On the other hand, when using the pitcher, there are 4 manual programs at your disposal. These include 3-speed settings plus a pulse setting.
Note: Though quite powerful, you should take care not to overload the motor. However, if this happens, there’s no need to worry. A built-in thermostat will detect the excessive heat then shut it off.
To reset the thermostat, unplug the blender from the wall outlet then check the container and remove the food that is jamming or causing the overload. After that, let it cool for about 15 minutes before plugging it back and resuming blending.
Design: Neat and Easy to Use
Ease of use is always recommended for any product for convenience purposes. In this case, Ninja’s BL660 has several features that make it easy to use.
For starters, it has very few control buttons, which give it a neat, uncluttered design on the control panel. These are clearly marked and evenly spaced out for easy use (better than dials).
Other than that, the pitcher is fitted with a lock-on lid that has a pouring spout at the opposite corner of the handle. This allows you to easily pour out the blended mix without removing the lid.
After use, the motor base has onboard storage for the roughly 4-ft. power cord. This should be wrapped around the base, leaving the unit neat when not in use.
Functionality and Versatility: Ideal for Personal or Commercial Use
With a 72-oz. pitcher, this blender is the perfect choice for serving large families or entertaining guests. This jar has a maximum liquid capacity of 64-oz., which leaves the rest of the space as a safety measure to prevent spilling.
That said, this capacity is still enough to serve multiple people and is ideal for commercial use. This is backed by a powerful 1100-watt motor, which makes it a viable option for businesses such as coffee shops, restaurants, bars, schools, etc.
Also included in the set is two 16-oz. and this brings the blender’s power down to a personal level, allowing you to make frozen drinks, smoothies, etc. on the go.
These cups are accompanied by to-go lids, which ensure you blend then seal the drink in the same container and carry it to the gym, work, outdoors, or any other place.
Maintenance: Dishwasher-Safe Parts
There are two ways to clean the Ninja BL660’s parts after use. The easiest method is by using a dishwasher. The containers, their lids, and blade assemblies are dishwasher safe and this significantly simplifies the cleaning process.
However, they don’t go in as one piece. You must dismantle them and then place the lids and blade assemblies at the top rack of the dishwasher.
The second cleaning method is by handwashing and this is very straightforward. Dismantle the pitcher or cups then wash the parts using warm, soapy water. After that, rinse then air dry them before putting them in storage.
Note: Make sure you handle the blade assemblies with care because they are sharp and can cause serious cuts.
While the cups are made using plastic, the pitcher is a glass container, which does not discolor over time. However, it requires delicate handling when cleaning to prevent cracking or shattering.
Other than that, the motor base should be wiped using a damp cloth. The control panel is particularly easy to clean because it has few buttons and no dial, which reduces the surface area that requires detailed wiping.
Loudness: Depends on What You Are Blending
Ninja’s BL660 is just as loud as its peers and this does not cause that much of a disturbance. What brings about the major difference in noise levels is the ingredients you are blending.
For instance, ice causes a lot of noise before it is broken down into snow. Similarly, hard ingredients such as dried nuts can be very noisy as they are tossed around the container. With soft fruits and veggies though, the noise will be very minimal.
Price: Mid-Range
Since it costs just slightly above $100, this blender is neither too affordable nor too expensive. It sits somewhere in the middle of the price range and this gives you a large pitcher plus two cups, which makes it worth the money.
In comparison, the manufacturer has a couple of other mid-range blenders and the closest rivals of the BL660 are the Ninja BL610 and BL642.
The BL610 is cheaper than the BL660 but only comes with a 72-oz. pitcher. No cups are included. As such, it also lacks the single-serve function on the control panel.
On the other hand, the BL642 costs more than the BL660 but adds on a more powerful 1200-watt motor, an intelligent Auto-iQ base with 3 presets, 5 manual programs, a built-in timer and 3 to-go cups with a capacity of 18, 24 and 32 oz. respectively. These justify its higher price.
Verdict
A powerful all-round blender that is ideal for home or commercial use
With its 1100-watt motor, large 72-oz. pitcher and two 16-oz. cups, Ninja’s BL660 can be used as a personal blender or to serve a large family/ many guests.
It can also be used commercially in restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, and the like because it has the power and capacity required for this task.
Specs
- Product Name: Ninja BL660
- Product Brand: Ninja
- Wattage: 1100 watts
- Speeds: 4
- Capacity: 72 oz. pitcher, two 16 oz. cups
- Product Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 17 inches
- Weight: 7.6 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year limited
Key Features
- 72-oz. pitcher plus two 16-oz. cups.
- 1100-watt motor.
- 3 speeds, pulse, and a single-serve function.
- Dishwasher-safe and BPA-free parts.
- Single-serve blade assembly and a 6-blade assembly for the pitcher.