“How did you become this blender person?” 2Chili asked inquisitively when I showed up with yet another blending device around the holidays.
Truth be told, I don’t really know how it happened, it just did. Last year, when I broke our traditional blender, I replaced it with a Ninja Professional Blender, wrote a little review, and BAM, it seemed like I had created a repository of blender recipes almost overnight. And, I started getting a ton of people stopping by the blog to ask questions about their Ninja Blenders.
Fast forward to today, and, I felt compelled to pick up a Ninja Pulse to try it out. The Ninja Professional Blender is great, but, it is pretty big. I don’t always want to blend 72 ounces of things, and, I don’t always want to clean a 72 ounce jar!
The Pulse appealed to me with its individual cup blending, as well as a blender jar option for larger jobs. I already have a similar blender to the Pulse, however, the Pulse does have some significant differences over the Cuisinart SmartPower that I have, which I’ll get into later in the review. As an aside, I looked into the Magic Bullet for quite some time before deciding not to buy it based on many people’s reviews that they burn up quickly.
That said, let’s get into the review, shall we?
What it is: A multi-container blending system. The Pulse is a likely competitor to the Magic Bullet, yet it doesn’t have quite the variety of blending cups for which the Bullet is known.
Blending jar, with a blending blade, a dough blade, cookie paddle and storage cover, should you wish to store something in the blender jar. In traditional Ninja fashion, the blending blade goes through the middle of the jar and has four blades, instead of traditional bottom-of-the-blender blades.
I will admit to being slightly confused when I pulled the Pulse’s blending jar out of the box, as the lid doesn’t lock down. Loyal Ninja Professional Blender users know that the lid must lock down to blend.
Ah, but this is where the Pulse is different. There are no blending speed options with the Pulse – it…well…it pulses. Don’t get me wrong, you can perform steady state blending, but the unit is a little different from most blenders.
For the individual cups, you drop the cup with the blending base attached into the base of the blender, and by pressing on the top (really, the bottom) of the cup, the Pulse becomes engaged. Press and release for pulsing, press and hold for blending.
Getting the right “touch” for pulsing can be a little bit of a learning curve, but once you’ve blended a few things, you’ll have it down pat.
Aside from there not being any buttons to press to blend, the other striking difference from the Ninja Professional Blender is the size of the Ninja Pulse. It is much more “normal” in size, and fits easily under my upper cabinets, whereas it’s a very tight squeeze with the Ninja Professional Blender.
I make a lot of smoothies, which is why I originally bought the Cuisinart SmartPower system, and which makes the Ninja Pulse highly appealing. Multiple cups and a blender jar means I can blend on an “as-needed” basis a couple times a day without having to wash the container each time.
When I bought the Cuisinart, the Ninja Pulse wasn’t on the market yet, which is too bad – because it is quite a lot better than the Cuisinart.
Barely clears the cabinet (the white at the top of the photo).
Easily clears the top of the cabinet, with about six inches to spare.
When considering the Ninja Pulse, I couldn’t quite figure out how the blender jar really works – and the photos from Ninja didn’t really help! I hadn’t seen the infomercial, so I never saw it demonstrated before I picked one up.
There is a bit of an optical illusion that happens because the jar locks into place with the handle facing to the front, it looks as if the jar is divided, but it isn’t.
In reality, the suggestion presented in this photo from Ninja is not physically possible. You wouldn’t mix cookie dough and salsa at the same time (or if you did, you’d get salsa cookies).
When deciding which of these blenders is right for you, I really think it depends on the type of blending you do, so here is a little comparison of the two.
Volume. The Ninja Professional Blender has a ton of volume in the jar (72 ounces), which is great if you perhaps make a lot of blended soups or smoothies for more than one person. On the other hand, the Ninja Pulse is great for smaller jobs and individual sized smoothies. Blending in the to-go cups is so convenient, and, the tops for these cups are great because you can open and close the lids, making them good to take in the car.
Power. The Ninja Professional Blender has 1000 watts of power – quite a lot for a blender. I haven’t found anything it won’t blend yet, including rock hard frozen winter squash. The Ninja Pulse has 700 watts of power – quite ample for the size of the blender jar and blending cups. In fact, it far exceeds the Cuisinart SmartPower system I have. There are no variable speeds for the Ninja Pulse, but the one available speed seems to be more than sufficient.
Number of Blades. The Ninja Professional Blender has six blades that run through the middle of the blender jar, which shred just about anything. The Ninja Pulse has four blades, also running through the middle of the blender jar, and also which shred just about anything. The individual cups rely on a more traditional blender blade design, with some enhancements.
Blends without “burning” or jamming?
But fairly expensive compared to cost of unit.
One thing that makes the Ninja Pulse single serve in-cup blending so good — in addition to its sheer power — is the unique take on the blending blades. At first glance, they are just normal blender blades. But, compare them side-by-side to the blades from the Cuisinart SmartPower, and you can see a slight difference with the addition of an extra set of blades in the center. I really believe these extra blades prevent that gumming up that can happen with traditional blender blades, because they keep everything moving.
Another great feature is the locking lid for the to-go cups. The Cuisinart cups have lids that are always open, but, the Pulse has lids that can be closed, making them ideal for taking your morning smoothie to go.
Note: A reader correctly informed me that the Ninja Pulse lids do not completely seal when closed. There is a small gap, where if the cup tips over, liquid could spill out. Worth noting!
The Verdict – Which One Should You Buy?
There has been a lot of discussion in the comments section on several pages on this blog with folks trying to decide which blender to buy – the Ninja Pulse or some variant of the Ninja Professional Blender.
While I can’t tell you which one is best for you, I’ll tell you that I have put the Ninja Pulse through the paces over the past coupe of weeks, and haven’t found a scenario where it doesn’t perform to my satisfaction. In fact, I have been really very pleased with it! It blends everything I throw at it with ease – frozen fruit, big batches of butternut squash soup, smoothies galore, even dog biscuits (we chop up large dog biscuits into smaller ones so our dog doesn’t get too much at once). I have determined that the Ninja Pulse can do pretty much anything its big brother can do.
The only area where I think you might not be satisfied with the Ninja Pulse is if you regularly need multiple blending speeds, like making nut butters, where variable speeds are valuable. So, it really comes down to your individual needs and if you prefer the single serve blending option available with the Ninja Pulse.
If you enjoyed this review and decide to purchase this blender, purchasing from Amazon via this link – Ninja Pulse – helps support Test Kitchen Tuesday by providing a small referral fee from Amazon. Thanks for stopping by!
The Ninja 1000 Blender you have has 1000 watts, not 1100 watts (the Ninja Kitchen System 1100 has the 1100 watts).
Great review of the Ninja Pulse though!
Great, catch, you are right – here is the info on Ninja’s site. I am fixing this now!
The Ninja pulse is a great little blender BUT… the to go cups really leak badly. Even when properly closed there is a big gap that allows your smoothies to gush out.
I just got one today and totally agree! I’m thinking about returning it. Did you ever find a fix for this problem?
I agree wholeheartedly Kristin! However I had to wait two weeks to return mine since I took it on vacation after only using it once.
Furthermore, not only did it leak the individual cups from the Ninja 1100 W stem do NOT FIT the 550W base. So I had to pour the contents of one container into another in order to prepare 2 shakes. I couldn’t wait to get back so I could return the BL201!
Ninja intentionally made the bases NOT interchangeable. Four prongs versus Three. what a ripoff!!
Wow, you make me want to buy one of the pulses! LOL. I think I’d like the single serving cups! I’ll have to think about this. So tempting!
Thanks for your thorough review!
Deb, I just bought the Ninja Professional 660 with 1100watts. It also comes with two individual sized travel containers with lids. It was getting both for only $99.00. This is in Canadian Tire stores too so no Shipping costs.
Oh and I forgot, making ice cream would be so awesome too!!!!
I have really been happy with it so far – super handy! If you decide to get one, keep an eye out for a 20% Bed, Bath and Beyond coupon – you can really save $$.
That’s what I am thinking of doing. I’m in no hurry, I’ll keep checking on it!
Thanks so much for the review. After many, MANY years of service my magic bullet is finally showing it’s age. I’ve been trying to decide between the Ninja Pulse and another Magic Bullet. Based on your review I think I will go ahead and give the Ninja a try.
Glad you found it helpful! I just love the Ninja Pulse – I have been really happy with it so far!
Glad I found your site. Thanks to your review and responses of others I purchased the Ninja Pulse this weekend. I got a great deal at BJ’s. They have a $14 coupon off their usual $69 price that includes 4 individual cups and the Pulse It Up recipe book.
Made my first ever mixed fruit smoothie and I am hooked. I’ll be putting this to a lot of use this summer! Thanks again for being here.
Thanks for your note! Sounds like you are well on your way to a summer of delciousness!
Thanks for your enthusiasm…I had wanted a Vitamix for several years, and bought one this Christmas, then suddenly QVC had this system on yesterday, and I ordered it, and am returning my Vitamix. The one they sold also has another jar , where discs fit in to slice veggies and grate cheese…The Vitamix I only gotto use once, but amazing power…I just felt that the Ninja System with all these features would probably get more use…I wanted smoothies, and wanted to make pie dough. Listening to all of you, seems like we’ll enjoy it….maybe one day I’ll feel I really want that Vitamix, but right now I can’t wait to enjoy this syste m that seems more my size…the 7500 Vitamix fit under my cupboards, but just, like the Ninja pro…Thanks for the review and comments…enjoy your Ninjas!
Did you get the Ninja Pulse from QVC and has work out for you,Do you think it was a good deal,really thinking about getting one.
I bought mine at Bed Bath & Beyond, and it has been great. Still going strong after years of use. For those that don’t have a lot of storage space and just want a simple high-powered blender, it is great.
Ninja Pulse – So how did it turn out? Was it worth the purchase?
Ninja Pulse – So after a year of having the mixer, do you still love it?
Sorry for the delay – I just saw your question!
Yes, after several years of having it, the Ninja Pulse is still going strong and I use it plenty. For those that want a small, powerful blender, it really does the trick!
Is it still working well?
Have you used the Ninja Pulse for making vegetable drinks with whole fresh veggies like carrots, spinach and Kale? How does it work? I was thinking about the Health Master (promoted by Montel Williams) but the reviews out there aren’t great.
I guess it depends on your tolerance for straining and if you do or don’t want any pulp! Everyone is different on this perspective. Personally, I love it because it cleans up in a snap and is just so powerful.
I just bought a Ninja 700 Professional series yesterday. I purchased it at BJs Wholesale Club in Connecticut. Like most clubs they throw you bone on a bonus pack plus offer their members a great price. I paida great price of $69 plus mine came with an extra “To Go” blender cup (4 in total as opposed to the typical 3) plus a deluxe recipe book with 500+ recipes in full color! I was really thinking of buying a Magic Bullet but after hearing about the Ninja on the radio (Howard Stern Show) I was interested to learn more. The first thing I did was take everything out of the box and put it in my dishwasher for a quick 1-hour wash. After everything was clean, I fired up 2 pitchers of frozen Margaritas for the family (Saturday night)! They came out perfect with the second batch better than the first as I added more ice the second time (Learning curve) to get it right. Plus as the reviewer mentioned you learn the proper pulse touch. The longer you press the less frozen your drinks will be as it tends to liquify. This morning I am enjoying a smoothie for breakfast using Whey Powder and Flax Seed along with a bannana, peanut butter, milk, yogurt with a number cubes of ice. I am very happy with this purchase! I love the small travel cups to make the smoothies for one person. There is so much that you can make with this machine. Later today I am going to the grocery store to buy more ingrediants to try other things including mangos to make a salsa!!
Great review of the product! You were dead spot on with everything that you stated!! I laughed at your comments on how the picture made it look like you can mix cookie dough along with salsa. I thought the same darn thing when I saw this picture. I thought I was missing a part at first…LOL . Bottom line is the Ninja Pulse Professional 700 Watt is that one dream machine that can literally make a positive change in your life. I am looking forward to making healthy smoothies each day to improve my health for years to come. It looks like a very solid machine that is easy to clean and store. My recommendation is to buy this machine as you won’t be disappointed!!
Hi Johnny – you got a great deal! I absolutely love the to-go cups because they are powerful but you don’t have to make a huge smoothie. I am honestly getting to the point where I prefer the Pulse over its larger Ninja Professional blender sibling because it is just so handy.
The Ninja Pulse comes with single serve cups!
I think you can buy the smaller cups separately on their web site too.
The jar of the Pulse is more than ample for one person, and the to-go cups allow for great versatality. The to-go cups also make the smoothest smoothies because they are more of a traditional blender design with the blade at the bottom, but they don’t get gummed up like other single cup blenders due to the uniqueness of the blade. The Pulse jar/blade design is very similar to the Ninja Professional, just on a smaller scale. And because it is very powerful for it’s size, you won’t miss the variable speed blending. I even use it to make peanut butter with no issues. So, you really get the best of both worlds.
I say go with the Pulse – you will love it!
I am very interested in making nut butters (peanut and almond) in the Ninja Pulse. Do you “pulse” it the entire time? Any other hints on making nut butters?
When you juice, you can get the nutrients of 10 fruits or vegetables into one drink because you are leaving behind the woody parts of the fruit or vegetable. With this, you are turning the entire thing into the drink, so you will be getting only the nutrients from like 3 fruits or vegetable.
I saw the Pulse at our local BJ’s last night, and thought of you, Angela. Darn, I keep wanting to buy one of these, but I’m trying to hold off.
I moved my convection counter oven to a new place, so my old black & decker blender is moved from the cupboard onto the counter now. I’m hoping that I will start using it more, and maybe I won’t need the Ninja! LOL Or I’ll find that I need the ninja’s different design instead. We’ll see!
I am not trying to entice you…but I just purchased a pulse at BJ’s today for $55 (with 4 cups/mugs). Reg. price was $69.99 but they have a $14 off coupon in their June coupon book. It think that the cut off date is 6/15/12.
Hey thanks TJ! I’ll have to find a copy of their June book! That’s a great deal!
oopps, that should be JT! Sorry about that!
ooh nice! I’ll look for that post!!!! yay!
I love my Ninja Pulse. Use it everyday!
It crushes ice like snow. It crushes flax seeds into powder.
It’s simply my favorite kitchen tool.
Bought mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond using my 20% off coupon. Great deal!
I really appreciate this review and have had a most of my questions answered. I am almost convinced to buy the pluse, but I wonder what the differences are in regards to the kitchen system’s food processor. How do the two compare in regards to salsa? I see the cookie salsa pic on the pulse,but what is the review??
I would say the Ninja Kitchen System and Ninja Pulse could make identical salsa. The blade designs are the same, the Pulse’s is just shorter and has one less set of blades. To be totally honest I use the Pulse now way more than the KS because it is smaller and just so convenient!
Thank you for the review on the Nijia Pulse. I have been considering buying something to juice with and I believe this will be much better on my wallet than the Montel Williams juicer that one of my friends has. It is so expensive. I want to try and eat better and I think this will help. I have also seen it at BJ’s for $69. I have a very small kitchen so I like the fact that it is on the smaller side. I am glad I came across your site.
Glad to be of help! If you don’t mind straining the pulp, I think you can make perfectly fine juices with the Pulse. And, it is way easier to clean than a juicer. I use the Pulse pretty much every day – and you’re right, it doesn’t take up much room.
Bed Bath and Beyond has the Ninja Pulse for around $79.00. Get a 20% off coupon and you got a great deal!
I love the way it crushes ice just like snow !
Well I did it FINALLY! I picked up a new Ninja Pulse at BBB with their 20% off coupon. $64, no tax in New Hampshire! whoo hoooo!
And I was true to my word, Angela, I made ice cream with it firs!!! LOL. I had some TJ’s frozen raspberries in the freezer and I used DH’s half & half with a tbsp of sugar and it worked very well. I was shocked because DH really liked it. He’s got all kinds of ideas going like frozen bananas & peanut butter!
I can’t wait to use the individual cups for things like almond butter and chopping onions.
What were the specific amounts you used for the ice cream? I haven’t given up my Pulse yet; still deciding between it and the KS 1200, since I can’t afford both! 🙁 BTW, I’m hooked on your site, Angela! So glad I found it….and I haven’t even gotten to the recipes yet!! 😉 LOL!
That is awesome Debbie! I think you will love it. Seriously, that is the only thing I HAVE to take back and forth between Bend and Seattle – I just love it. In general, you need less liquid in the Ninja blenders than others because they are so powerful. It makes it easier to make ice cream facsimiles in your blender! Enjoy!
Lyla, I watched a couple of recipes on youtube, and just winged it, but I used approx 3/4 cup of berries, just kind of plopped them in without measuring, 1/3 cup of half/half and 1 Tbsp of sugar. I pulsed quickly about 3 times, then held it down for about 15-20 seconds, until it looked right.
The second batch came out the best because the first time I poured in a little bit more half/half. I think using too much liquid can make it soupier.
WOW! Thanks so much for the prompt response, Debbie! What model do you have? I’m so torn between the two and need to make a decision soon! 🙁 Thanks again, Hon!
Oh sorry, Lyla, I thought you were replying to my last comment. LOL….
I have the Pulse. Just picked it up yesterday.
No problem! I appreciate the response! How do you like it so far? Would love any and all comments!
So far, I’ve only made the ice cream, so I’m not sure yet, but it’s made better than I expected, the plastic is pretty sturdy. I know the larger container that comes with the KS System would be nice to have, but I have a larger blender, so I don’t think I’d need it. The Pulse’s main 40 oz container is smaller, but I think it’s all I’ll need. I really like the individual cups, I think I’ll use them more actually!
Didn’t you get a 48-oz pitcher along with the 40-oz processor bowl?
If you take a look at the photo that Angela included in her blog post, that is what I got as well.
There are some other configurations, with cookbooks & and the larger container, but always for more $ than what I wanted to spend.
Boy, you two have had quite the conversation! Lyla, if I only had to choose one, I would go with the Pulse. I absolutely love it, and its size is very convenient. If you are blending large quantities, the KS may suit you better, but for just one or two people, the Pulse will take care of you!
I understand when making ice cream that you have to put it in the bowl of your ice cream freezer, according to my recipes, or isn’t this necessary?
I don’t have an ice cream maker. I just make soft serve with the Ninja, and if I want hard ice cream, I put it in the freezer for a few hours. You don’t need much liquid at all to make soft serve – I have a couple recipes in the Ninja Recipes section that will give you some ideas.
Can you adjust the lids on your to-go cups so that they’re open or closed? Mine don’t.
thanks for the great review. When the magic bullet came out, I loved it. I came to find out that the motor burned out about every 9 months to a year. I purchased 4 magic bullets, over time and finally…after compiling untold number of lids and cups…etc…I just could not get a fifth.
I started buying knock off brands…that just did not perform to the magic bullet standards…I have been in limbo for the last 2 years….resigned to the old system of the large blender….Now…New hope springs forth! I have just printed the 20% bed bath and beyond coupon and am on my way.
I reviewed the Ninja models for hours and as a guy, I was compelled to go large and get the BL 660 with the 1100 watts….and in the back of my mind …thinking …good grief….72 oz blender…what am I going to do with that….the whole time buying it for the 2 single serve cups.
In comparing the wattage of the Ninja Pulse with the magic bullet, I was impressed.
The 250 watts on the magic bullet are vigorous, while the 700 watts of the pulse sound like a good old down right blue collar worker.
Thank you so much for your in depth review!
I have you bookmarked and am looking forward to more great info from you, thanks.
I purchased the Pulse today…took your advice on the bbbeyond and got the 20 % off.
The Pulse is by far, and there is not even a close second, the best mixer I have had for ice.
I have used the magic bullet and full size blenders…and have always been dissatisfied, and worried about either burning up the motor, or breaking the mixing blade.
The Pulse lives up to your billing, and I am more than pleased with it’s performance.
I have to say that I personally found the drinking lids …..a disappointment.
I noticed immediately upon opening the box, that there was a gap in the seal, as I could see light….
I found this odd, I mean, why not have the lid so that it would seal completely …with such a fine product?
I almost returned the item without trying the Pulse…but I did try it and the performance of the Pulse outweighed the annoyance.
To me the feature that makes the single blend option so nice, is the ease and speed, making it great for being on the go.
Now, if i am going to work or to the gym, and I have something in the cup that I want to transport and drink later, I have to wedge the cup in a position that won’t spill.
I am aware that the blender blades screw in and form a solid seal, but kind of awkward.
I did send a comment to Ninja, asking them if they do have a solid lid that is available.
I did find the drinking lid comfortable, with excellent flow….
To be clear it is not the sealing surface between the lid and the cup, but the seal of the lid in the “closed” position itself ….so that if the cup is tipped,the lid leaks quite a bit.
The leaking lid is a mild distraction and there are simple ways of getting around it….
Interesting. Reading your comment, I thought, “hmm, that has never happened to me,” regarding the lid, and then I realized something important. I blend in the to-go cup a lot – but I pretty much never travel with it. I work from home most days, so I rarely have the reason to take it anywhere. I just blend, pop the lid on, and drink. But, you are totally and completely right. When the lid is closed, it will protect your contents from a major spill, but I could see some sloshing coming out that hairline gap where the mouth-opening is because it isn’t a complete seal. Thanks for your input – I will adjust the review with this new information.
Otherwise, I am glad you found the review useful! I try to provide honest and un-biased reviews, so, it is always nice to hear when people find them helpful!
Took the pulse to work and showed the guys.
They were impressed with the ability of the Pulse to break up Ice.
I work in a boiler house, which, as you may imagine gets quite hot in the summer.
We made cherry Slurpee’s ……sealing the high marks ….for the Ninja.
Look forward to reading your reviews in the future.
So glad you like it. I enjoyed that you took it to work to show the guys – awesome! Cherry slurpees sound great!
I did buy myself a Ninja Pulse, but saw that you had purchased several NutriBullets in the past. I was wondering if you still have the recipe books hanging around, and if you do, if you would be willing to sell one to me? I like the recipies that came with the NutriBullet (tried them at my sister-in-laws). Please let me know…that is if you ever see this comment! It’s been quite awhile since you posted.
I have never owned a NutriBullet, so I’m afraid I can’t help here. Maybe your SIL can photocopy or scan in her book for you?
I want to make home made peanut butter, and grind some seeds and nuts and such, can the pulse do that?
thanks so very much, you have sold me!
I gave my Pulse from QVC to my daughter and kept the 1200. After which I returned it in favor of an actual food processor. Having done so, where would you suggest I get the best deal for another Pulse? I know…you can’t say anything to me that I haven’t said to myself! LOL! Thanks n I appreciate your input.
Get yourself a 20% off coupon for Bed Bath & Beyond and get yourself a new Pulse. That is the best deal in pretty much any town!
Any idea how to get one or a promo code?
When I wanted a Pulse, I signed up for their newsletter on their website and they sent my coupon right away to my email!
Got a Pulse from Wal-Mart, but noticed it has only 550 watts. Is that the same is yours? I know the one from QVC has 700 watts. Wonder if I should get another one of those, but I don’t need the slicer/shredder as I got a food processor now. Also, I noticed the to go cups on this one can be locked as the one from QVC are not adjustable. Do you think 550 watts of power is enough? I got the BL201. Thanks for any and all input!
I’m looking for something that can make smoothies using greens and other veggies – to create a smooth blend like the Nutribullet claims or like I hear you can make with the VitaMix. Can the Pulse do this? Would the extra power of the Ninja Professional be better for this purpose? Also would be nice to be able to make almond butter. Do you need almond oil to do this?
I would say the single serve cups in the Pulse can absolutely make a smooth blended green smoothie. The blender jar will leave a little bit of small particles from the greens due to the way the blade goes through the middle instead of being at the bottom. However, the individual cups make a very, very smooth green smoothie. The only thing is, of course, you are constrained by size. The Ninja Pro will have the same “particles” (and they are very small) as the Pulse jar, however I hear there is a new Ninja Pro that has a single serve cup attachment. I would expect that single serve cup to perform as well as the single serve for the pulse, but it is larger. I am planning to review this system in the coming months, but not sure when.
As far as making almond butter, either the Pulse or the Ninja Pro can do this fine. If your almods are raw — not roasted — you will need some sort of oil to get a smooth consistency, but it doesn’t have to be almond oil. Coconut oil works great, as does light olive oil (believe it or not).
I hope that helped – let me know if you have more questions.
Do you know if you can get the travel cups and blade for the KS or is that specific blade only fitting for the pulse? I am amazed at how attentive you are to this site!! I know that is a lot of work, thank you!
This has been a common question. I called Ninja a while back to understand, and they do have a NEW KS with travel cups/blade, but it doesn’t work on the old systems. So, if you have what I’ll all a “normal” KS, not one that was made specifically to support the travel cups, it won’t work. The Pulse travel cups work really well if you are considering between the KS and the Pulse. I honestly use my Pulse more than the Ninja Pro blender nowdays.
Love your reviews. Bought the ninja ks, but returned it & bought the pulse since I mainly wanted it to make smoothies for one. Also bought Amazing Meal (vanilla chai). I add frozen fruit, usually banana, blueberry and pineapple and unsweetened almond milk. Awesome healthy breakfast. And it holds me til lunch. Need to try some of your other recipes, but extremely happy with pulse.
Thanks for your note! I really love the Pulse. It fits the bill so nicely to blend for one. And, I honestly live on the Vanilla Chai Amazing Meal. It is getting me through not having a kitchen at all (for now with a remodel) as the best go-to breakfast. So glad you like it!
Mke sure they are frozen and orange juice and protein powder awesome try it.
Hi – I just bought a Ninja KS at Bed Bath and Beyond tonight and now I’m considering the Pulse since it’s literally half the price of the KS. I did have two questions I was wondering if you could help me with.
How is the cookie dough/pizza dough blade mechanism with the Pulse? Also, I was thinking it would be more convenient to be able to put things in the KS jar and push the button and walk away rather than having to babysit it. Can you do this with the Pulse or do you always have to hold it down? I noticed when I used my KS to make a smoothie tonight it did take some time to blend the frozen bananas and the half of an apple I threw in there. Maybe it’s quicker with the pulse?
Sorry, I guess that’s three questions.
Thanks for this post. It’s been very informative!
1) The dough paddle and dough blde on the Pulse both work great, but, if you make a lot of dough or cookies, the jar itself may not be large enough for you.
2) It’s not possible to blend without holding the lid down on the Pulse. You can either pulse, or, steady-state blend, but you do have to actively hold down the lid to steady state blend.
3) As far as blend times, I’d say the Pulse and the KS are quite comparable. The blade design is the same, it’s just smaller for the Pulse. You may not have had enough liquid in your smoothie. I would say I can blend one of my “ultimate green smoothies” to completion in about 30-45 seconds in either the Pulse or the KS, which calls for frozen bananas.
I really love my Pulse — and use it more than it’s big brother lately — but I do find times when I just need the sheer volume of the pitcher that comes wtih the KS.
Hi Angela!, this is my first post. I was thinking about buying the Ninja Pulse for kale/spinach green drinks (kale, cucumber, pear, ginger and celery). my one question is: Would I have to strain in order to have a drinkable end result? I know it would be thick..but would it be smooth..
I would not be interested in straining at all.
Yep, the Pulse would work great for green drinks! You only have to strain if you want true juice. If you use the single serve cups, you will get a very smooth smoothie with greens + water. If you use the larger jar, you will have little bits of greens (very small bits of just the leafy green parts, something like pear will completely blend), but the end result is still drinkable. This is due to the different blade designs. The single serve cup blends from the bottom with a more traditional blender blade design, whereas the jar blends through the middle with many different blades. Here is my current favorite green smoothie — http://testkitchentuesday.com/2012/07/19/the-ultimate-green-smoothie/. I make this in the single serve cup Ninja pulse.
Hope that helps, and happy blending!
That’s awesome, Dale! Would you say the new lids are better or worse?
Hi, I was interested in the ninja pulse and you have sold me on its capabilities and came across a review on a different website that stated only two possible problems and was wondering your take on them.
1. Whatever you are blending gets caught in the handle of blender potentially leading to mildew.
2. When setting the lid down on the counter after blending you should face it down even the the gooey cobtents may get on the counter because if you face it up the gooey contents may seep into the pulse button causing a possible gooey build up over time and possibly making the button malfunction.
Otherwise they said they loved it. Im assuming with knowing this I would be careful to just clean it thoroughly. Im thinking of purchasing it for my mom and she doesnt like appliances that take more work to clean than to use. Thanks for your help!
Interesting observations from the other reviewer – I haven’t had either of those issues. However, when I blend, I don’t usually put the lid down on the counter. I just blend until it’s done and then rinse the lid and put it in the sink. In fact, I find the Pulse so easy to keep clean! I use it more than its larger counterpart, the Ninja Professional Blender, because it is smaller and easier to clean (fits in the dishwasher so nicely)!
Thanks for your review! I think I’m going to skip the professional (based on size, I don’t need that much!), but when I was poking around Walmart’s site, I see they have a Kitchen System Ninja Pulse and a Ninja Pulse blender. Any thoughts on which might be better for smoothies, baby food, and occasional substitute for a traditional blender?
For Smoothies, you just can’t beat the ninja pulse system. You blend the smoothie right in the serving cup and pop on the lid (or not, Maybe I’m crude, but I drink my morning smoothie right out of the lidless container, 1 less thing to clean).
as far as the comments regarding stuff going into the handle. Maybe they have changed the design. The 2 pulses (the system, not the blender) I’ve had don’t have any ‘passage’ for the stuff to get into the handle. The pulse actuator on the lid is just a steel pin on the underside of the circular piece. when you push down on the circle the pin goes through a largish ‘U’ shaped cutout in the edge of the lid. No way to clog that up at all.
I really like this blender and use it at least daily!
BTW Bed Bath & Beyond sells this at the same price and usually has a 20% off coupon available.
As Dale said, BB&B is the best place to get it if you have a 20% off coupon (sign up for their newsletter if you don’t, and they will send you one in email).
Can you tell me if it is possible just to chop vegetables with Ninja Pulse? I would like to use it instead of separate food processor.
Yes, it sure is, especially for harder veggies like carrots, potatoes, etc. You won’t get an even chop like you would if you did them by hand, but you can get similar results to a traditional food processor. Just place the veggies (cut into smaller chunks like quarters) into the 40 ounce bowl and pulse a few times until you get a size you like.
Thanks Angela for your reply!
I will give it a try. I am on a quest to find a single device that will serve as a blender and a food processor.
Keep in mind this is a blender, not a juicer, so your juice will be thicker than juice from a masticating juicer, but it is a million times easier to clean, and I happen to prefer the pulpier juice.
If clean up is a concern, I would say the Pulse is good for you – it is very easy to clean and can be put in the dishwasher. All of the Ninja jars are BPA-free.
I don’t know the difference in the various models, but they are all likely very similar. If price is a concern, I would recommend signing up for the Bed Bath and Beyond newsletter – they will send you a 20% off coupon!
I looked into the Magic Bullet a while back and most people complained that they “burn up” fast. I have had all the Ninja Pulse for over a year now and it is still going strong, even with daily use.
Yes, I think it would be a good choice for you! That is just one of the models of the Pulse, and if you are shy on space, it is a great option. You can use either the single serve cup or 40 ounce jar to make your juices. Good luck!
Hi I just received the ninja pulse blender bl-250 it’s 700 watts and comes with a 48 oz pitcher. It did not come with any attachments and was wondering if I could use the blending cups with this unit? I see the web sight for ninja offers them. Thanks.
I can’t seem to find any info on this particular model – is it possibly the BL-205? If it is the 205, you are in business. One way to check, though, is to see how the jar attaches to the base. In order for the single serve cup to work, there should be three notched out areas at the attachment point, which allows the cup to seat. The way the cup works is you drop it into the base and turn it to the right to enable blending. The cup has three “prongs” on it, so if you have the notched out areas, you should be in good shape.
Not sure if that helped you or not – let me know if not and I will email you a picture of what the base should look like to accept the single serve cup.
Thank you Angela for this really great site.
I cannot choose either QB1004 or a ninja pulse.
Can you tell me if it is possible just to chop vegetables of the very small quantity with single serve in-cup ?
I would like to use it instead of separate food processor.
If it was me, I would choose the Ninja Pulse because of the single serve cup. The single serve is very convenient! And, the blade design on the two blenders you are considering is pretty much the same, so with the Pulse the big advantage you are getting is the single serve cup, plus a couple extra blades, like a dough bade. It is possible to chop vegetables in the single serve cup, and also with the 40 ounce jar. You can either rough chop them, or blend them to very fine pieces, or somewhere in the middle. The key is to pulse, not blend, which of course, the Ninja Pulse does fine.
Angela, Thank you very much!
I can choose the Ninja Pulse by advice.
Glad to help, hope you enjoy!
thank you soooo much for this. I’ve been wanting to buy the ninja kitchen system 1200 but then I seen the pulse and started watching and reading a lot of reviews and i love the single serve cups which do not come with the other one, I will totally be buying this one now that I know it has like the same power and works just as good (: do you make ice cream in your single serve cups at all?
Finally, you can make any of my ice cream recipes in the single serve cup – just scale the recipe accordingly to make sure it will all fit in the cup!
Sometimes the lid can seem to be stuck, but you just need to pull up hard on the handle. If you wash it in the dishwasher, be sure to fully dry before you put the lid back on, as it can “suction” to the jar. It may seem like it won’t budge, but just pull up very hard and it should come off. If not, I would recommend contacting Ninja directly for help.
I just bought the Ninja Professional 660 with 1100 watts and it comes with the 72oz container and two travel containers with lids for the price of $99.00.
I would love to buy a ninja system. I thought I wanted the Ninja Professional 1100 watt, but now I am leaning towards the ninja pulse. My boyfriend I will mostly be using it. We will mostly be using it for smoothies and my frozen coffee. I was thinking about putting oreos in my frozen coffee. Would I just chop those up first or pulse it all together?
I don’t think you need to chop up the Oreos (why make extra work for yourself?!). Here is what I would do: Blend your smoothie or coffee how you want it. Once you like the consistency, add 1-2 Oreos, and pulse 6-10 times to chop and combine. Done!
To-go lids LEAK. I place it in fridge at work and it tripped twice so far causing a mess. I know that it leaks people don’t.
How hard would it be to make a spill proof leak? It seems like Ninja hires the worst product design / validation engineers ever..Shame on you guys if you are reading this.
How much does Ninja plays you to run this “so called” independent blog? My Ninja is a total mess; after 6 month I have turned my second lid into some gooey stuff which is not very palatable….And Ninja does not care!
I’m sorry to hear about your experience. Contrary to what you believe, I have zero affiliation with Ninja — never have — and have never received a penny from them. When I have a Ninja question, I simply go on their support page and IM with one of their reps, just like anyone could do. Your Pulse has a warranty, so you should leave a comment on their Facebook page or contact them through their support page and ask for another lid.
My search for something with the power and rpm’s of the nutribullet with glass instead of plastic jars like a blender led me to your wonderful blog. I read all the posts but no one seems to have this concern but me. I get that they are BPA free but I think for the price glass should be included . Blenders are usually glass and can be had for only $ 30.00 !
I know many find plastic more convenient. I would really like to know if you have come across time anything with my above criteria or if the ninja pulse comes in glass.
I definitely hear where you are coming from. When I bought my first Ninja Professional Blender (before this blog was anything and I had broken a glass jar blender), I really wanted something with a glass jar. My concern was less about the plastic, since it is BPA free, but about scratching it up. I am a bit of a neat freak and like to have things stay “brand new.” But, I also wanted something powerful, and power led me to the Ninja. I have yet to find something with a glass jar that also has power, sadly. Even the Vitamix has a plastic jar. I used a Breville blender at a rental house a while back that had a glass jar. It was a quick reminder of how traditional blenders lack power.
Sorry I don’t have a better answer for you, but, at this time, I don’t know of anything!
Hi! So glad I found this blog. I’m looking to buy a new blender/food processor since mine blew up. The motor actually died while I was making almond milk, so I’m wondering if the Pulse would be strong enough to make almond milk easily?
Yes, the Ninja Pulse can certainly make almond milk with no issues. It has 700 watts of power, which is about 2X the power in a normal blender. However, you may want to consider spending about $20 more and upgrading to the Ninja Professional Blender, because the only way to steady state blend in the Pulse is to hold down the lid. If you make a lot of almond milk, you may get tired of this.
Thank you! In your opinion, is the Pulse or the Professional blender better for food processing? I make a lot of homemade caveman bars (or Larabars), and I need to be able to chop a lot of nuts and dried fruits. I’m not sure which model to choose!
They will both work, but I would probably steer you towards the Professional blender based on what you described, simply because you won’t have to hold the lid down to steady state process your bars. Here is my Ninja Pro review, as well as my Lara Bar formula for the Ninja!
Awesome, I needed some inspiration for new flavors. Thank you!
Thanks for perfect review. Exactly what I was looking for. I have the 1100 watt model w single serve and love it but was trying to decide if I bought the pulse for someone else, who would only be whole juicing, would it blend as well. I think I’m going to go for pulse because I like lower price and she will love smaller size. I have a feeling pulse speed prob not very different between models. Thanks!
Glad to help! I bought the Pulse for my MIL and she loves it (doesn’t have much space).
I think it would depend on the severity of your arthritis and the mobility you do have. I gave a pulse to my mother in law and she loves it because it’s small and easy to use. The issue I think you might have would be in screwing/unscrewing the blade assembly on the single serve cup, as it does take some dexterity to do. The 40 ounce jar is relatively easy to put the lid on and off, and the actual amount of pressure required to “pulse” is not much. So, if you were just wanting the 40 ounce jar part, it could work out great for you due to its light weight and ease of use.
Hello, Is the ninja pulse difficult to push down? I bought the nutribullet but returned it because I had difficulty keeping it pushed down or locking into to place. I don’t have much muscle strength due to a chronic illness. Thank-you.
I don’t believe the 48 ounce pitcher is hard to press down – you use the lid to pulse. However, the single serve cup could be considered hard to push down depending on your strength.
I haven’t use a Nutribullet before, so I can’t compare the two, unfortunately. I would recommend going in to a Bed Bath & Beyond if you can, and taking a look at the floor model to see if you think it would work. I am confident the pitcher doesn’t take a lot of strength, but just can’t say about the single serve cup.
I have BOTH Ninja Pulse and Ninja Professional. I NOW KNOW that I’ve blown tons of money n the past because I’ve had MAJIC BULLETS, EXPENSIVE BLENDERS, SMOOTHIE MAKERS, almost everything u can buy that claim to “chop n crush ice”, make everything from smoothies and soups to bread dough. Like all others b4, my SMOOTHIE MAKER ( oh even NAMED so because it claimed to make wonderful smoothies, even had a paddle to stir while it blended and had the dispenser!) STOPPED IN MID BLENDING!! Then as I googled problem solving, it stated NOT TO RUN IT LONGER THAN A COUPLE OF MINUTES AT A TIME OR THE MOTOR WOULD BURN UP, REALLY??? THEN……..THE NINJA!!! It is AWESOME!! Both are! I use the NINJA PULSE for a quick smoothie or frozen treat ( and YES…..It’s a BEAST with ice). No burning up motors or harming the container etc! U put anything u want in it, pulse it OR hold it down n u get a blender FULL of EXACTLY WHAT U DREAMED OF!!! The BIG BOY…NINJA PROFESSIONAL is larger and even MORE POWERFUL!! If u really want to see, hear and taste ice turned into snowcone consistency, NINJA is your guy! EVERY day I put n ice, frozen banana, protein powder, whatever frozen fruit I want n pulse/hold down/ blend/ for a couple of minutes TOTAL n have the smoothest, well blended, yummiest treat EVER!! Best ” BLENDER/ SMOOTHIE MAKER/MIXER” whatever u want to call it, I’ve EVER PURCHASED!!
where can I buy Individual containers and blades for the professional ninja? I realy don’t want to have to buy a whole new blender just to get them.
Thank you and hope you can help.
Hi Angela thank you for responding so quickly, what I need is a blade and single serve container for my professional NJ 600 series blender and I can’t seem to find them anywhere. Buy the way I love my Ninja blender.
You are very welcome! I’m sorry to tell you that the reason you can’t find the single serve for that model is that it doesn’t exist.
Wow, that is crazy. I have used my Ninja Mega KS daily for over a year with no issues at all. You have a manufacturer’s warranty on your 1100 – I would recommend contacting Ninja Customer Service online and telling them about this to see what they can do.
I do agree – that is typical Ninja to have parts and pieces in different combinations by retailer. It can be very frustrating. I think you could get by without the dough and cookie paddle and just use the normal blade. I have never used either of those items with my pulse. That’s just my opinion, but if you really want the grater blade, it is probably more valuable than the dough attachments because the standard blades can do dough.
Reduction of cups is a mistake. I needed two lids for the two cups and there was only one…there needs to be two.
I bought this system to fix smoothies for Alzheimer’s parent and this system allwed me to make foods in liquid form for parent when their dietary needs precluded a need for it. Thank you Ninja!
great review. had an odd question. wondering if anyone has tried to fit the twist to close ninja pulse lid on the ninja professional cup? i purchased the snap top lid on the ninja pro but it doesnt seal very well. keep up the good work, thanks!
Hi Dale, thank you for the reply. That’s some good info. I will hold off on trying to get that lid to fit. Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth. Since I primarily use the blender for non alcoholic drinks (and I don’t down the contents) the mix often separates. Would have been nice to have a lid that would hold the contents in if wanted to shake it. Maybe a hold the flip top shake? haha. I’ll give that a try. Have a great week everyone.
I thought it was not that easy to install it initially.. A blender with a lot of flexibility.
there were 2 generations (at least) of the pulse which used different cups and caps.
I had the first generation initially, If memory serves, those cups had the little tabs that retain the single-serve placed on the cup-base/blade assembly. the newer generation has the tabs molded into the cup. you can chat with the ninja customer service reps directly from that page.
P.S. I have been using my pulse every day for a few years and really like it.
I am tempted by the Mega Kitchen System 1500 w/ slicer shredder discs.
It goes on sale today at Costco for $139.
I would contact Ninja directly on this problem. Good luck!
Hi, I just found these reviews and find them very helpful. As a Ninja Pulse user for about 2.5 years I thought I’d share my experience. While I love the power of the Pulse, and would love for it to last forever, I’ve had a few issues with mine. After the first year I had an issue where the single serve cups just stopped blending. I figured out the blade piece was not engaging with the spinning motor well, so instead of a constant rotation, it would only spin about a third of the time. I called Ninja and they sent me a new blade part and the new one works much better. That same year I had the large blending jar start to crack, right where the tabs of the top slip into position and the plastic on the jar is thinner. After a little cracking the insert section completely broke. Luckily the other one was still there so it still latched and worked. Fast forward to another year later and the tab on the other side did the same, cracked and broke off. At this point it’s past the one year where they replace the parts, so I’ve got to see if I can still use it with those broken pieces, but just be aware of that area on the blender jar being fairly weak. I’m not exactly sure what I’ll replace it with in the future. Oh yeah, and I use the blender jar about once a month, for making cat food so it’s mixing small meat chunks and many other soft ingredients. I may just switch back to my food processor because that’s a better unit. At least the small cups still work for smoothies, and for that it does a great job!