Ninja Detect Power Blender and Processor Pro: does ‘the most intelligent blender yet’ actually make life easier?

RRP at time of testing: £230 | Check price at Amazon, Argos or Ninja directly

My verdict

I’ll be honest, I am not the target audience for complicated kitchen gadgets. If something requires a manual longer than a bedtime story or involves more than a couple of steps, I’m out. 

So the fact this has stayed out on my worktop for weeks rather than being banished to the cupboard says quite a lot.

The Ninja Detect Power Blender and Processor Pro is trying to do a big job. It’s not just a blender. It’s a food processor, a smoothie maker and a general “sort your life out in the kitchen” appliance. That kind of promise usually comes with compromise somewhere. Either it’s brilliant at one thing and mediocre at the rest, or it’s so fiddly you give up.

The box is quite large and a little heavy, take care when lifting

The good news is that this mostly avoids both traps. The standout for me is how little thinking it requires. The BlendSense feature takes over in a helpful way. You chuck ingredients in, press the dial and it works out the speed and timing. For someone like me who doesn’t instinctively know what “pulse” should feel like, that’s a relief.

Hummus became our unofficial test case. My four-year-old is borderline obsessed and shop-bought tubs disappear in record time every week. The Ninja handled it without any drama. Smooth, consistent, no weird grainy bits. The kind of texture that actually gets eaten rather than abandoned after first taste. I did get cocky and attempted toum, which ended badly, but that was entirely user error. The machine did its job. I did not (the emulsion broke). 

It’s also made the general “chop a load of veg quickly” job much less painful. Salads, quick prep, the kind of things that usually feel like a chore after a long day. It’s not life-changing, but it does shave off effort in a noticeable way.

Pictured: the food processor (L) and blender (R) attachments

That said, it’s not perfect. It’s big. If your kitchen already feels like a game of appliance Tetris, you’ll need to think about where this lives. And while it replaces multiple gadgets, you do end up with a fair few attachments that need storing somewhere. Plus, it’s tall - so it’s hard to stash under a kitchen cupboard if you do want it out on the worktop. 

The blades are another thing to mention. They’re excellent at what they do, but they’re seriously sharp. You have to pay attention when cleaning or putting them away, especially if small children are lurking nearby.

Would I recommend it? Yes, with caveats. If you’re trying to simplify your kitchen setup and actually use what you buy, this makes a strong case for itself. If you hate clutter or only ever make the occasional smoothie, it might feel like overkill.

How I’ve tested

I’ve used the Ninja Detect Power Blender and Processor Pro for the last two months in our busy family kitchen. Testing focused on everyday use rather than ambitious cooking. Think hummus, chopped vegetables, dips and after-school smoothies.

I’ve deliberately approached it as a non-confident cook, using both the automatic BlendSense functions and manual controls to see how intuitive it feels in real life.

Ninja Detect 3-in-1 Power Blender: what’s in the box?

You get quite a lot here, which explains the ‘replaces three appliances’ claim: 

• Motor base

• 2.1L blending jug

• Food processor bowl with lid and pusher

• Two 700ml single-serve cups

• Crushing and chopping blade

• Hybrid edge blades

• Chopping and dough blade

• Slicing and shredding disc

• Recipe guide

Everything that comes with the Ninja Detect Power Blender

Like I said, there’s a lot but there is a decent range. You’ve got the main blender jug for bigger batches, the processor bowl for chopping and slicing, and the single-serve cups for quick smoothies or sauces (if you’re mainly after that, it’s worth seeing our guide to the best blenders). Then there are the different blades and discs to handle everything from chopping to shredding.

It covers most bases, which is the whole point of a machine like this. The downside is storage. All those attachments need somewhere to live, and while I’ve managed to squeeze them into a cupboard, it does take a bit of organisation. A storage case or blade guards would have been a nice addition.

Is the Ninja Detect Power Blender easy to use?

Very, and that’s coming from someone who avoids complicated kitchen kit on principle. The Detect Dial does most of the heavy lifting. You’re not scrolling endlessly through settings or second-guessing timings. It’s clear, simple and tells you what’s going on.

The settings and dial are easy to navigate

BlendSense is useful rather than a gimmick, especially if you’ve ever struggled with more manual appliances like a hand blender. It removes that hesitation of “have I done this right?” and replaces it with “press the button and see what happens”, which is exactly what I need midweek.

There is a small learning curve with the attachments. The first couple of times you swap between the blender jug and the processor bowl, you’ll probably double check the instructions. After that, it becomes second nature.

It’s not completely foolproof, but it’s about as close as I’d realistically expect from something that does this many jobs.

Plenty of garlic and tahini in our hummus recipe

How well does the Ninja Detect Power Blender perform?

The blending side of things is reliably smooth. Hummus came out silky rather than that slightly gritty texture you sometimes get when cheaper machines give up halfway through. It handled chickpeas, tahini and oil without needing constant scraping down the sides or repeated blending. 

Smoothies have been equally straightforward. Frozen fruit, yoghurt, seeds and the odd handful of spinach for balance. It deals with all of it without complaint. No lumps, no odd bits left floating around at the end, which is usually where my kids draw the line. Especially my eldest. 

Simply twist to slide each part in place on the processor

Chopping is quick and fairly even. I’ve used it mostly for veg prep and salads and it saves a surprising amount of time when you’re trying to get dinner on the table before everyone starts circling the kitchen asking for snacks. 

I didn’t push it too far into more ambitious territory like dough beyond a quick test (mainly because we have a bread maker), but for everyday family cooking, it feels more than capable. 

How durable is the Ninja Detect Power Blender and Processor Pro?

It feels solid. The base is weighty and stays put when it’s running, which is reassuring given how powerful it is. There’s no rattling around the worktop or sense that it’s struggling. The suction feet help here. Once it’s down, it’s not going anywhere, which makes it feel safer - especially when the kids are hovering nearby. 

The plastic components don’t feel flimsy, but there are quite a few of them. Over a longer period of time, I’d want to see how well all the attachments hold up with regular use. It’s one of those appliances where longevity will depend partly on how carefully you store everything.

The blades, as mentioned, are extremely sharp. Great for performance, slightly less great when you’re juggling washing up and trying not to lose a fingertip.

Before and after making hummus for my youngest

Is the Ninja Detect Power Blender good value for money?

At £230, it’s not an impulse buy. That said, it’s replacing a blender, a food processor and a smoothie maker in one go. If you were buying those separately, you’d easily spend the same, if not more, and still end up with more clutter.

Where it gets interesting is during sales. Mumsnet users have spotted it dropping to around £170, and even lower during big events like Prime Day*. At that price, it starts to look like very good value.

If you’ll actually use the different functions, it justifies itself. If it’s only ever going to be a smoothie machine, it’s probably more than you need.

How easy is it to clean the Ninja Detect Power Blender? 

Easier than expected, which makes a big difference to how often you’ll actually use it.

Most parts can go in the dishwasher, and anything you wash by hand rinses clean without much effort. I haven’t had issues with food getting stuck in awkward corners, which is often where these things fall down.

The only real caution is the blades. They need careful handling when washing and drying, but that’s the trade-off for how well they perform.

If something is a nightmare to clean, it ends up gathering dust in my house. This doesn’t.

All parts except the main motor are dishwasher-friendly

Comparison: Ninja food processors

If you’re weighing this up against other options, our full guide to the best food processors is a good place to start. 

Final verdict: should you buy it? 

If you’re trying to cook a bit more from scratch without turning it into a full-time hobby, this makes things easier in a very real way. It won’t suddenly turn you into someone who lovingly batch cooks on a Sunday afternoon, but it will take some of the friction out of everyday meals. Less chopping, less guesswork, fewer appliances cluttering up your kitchen.

It’s best suited to busy households who want versatility without complication. Families who go through a lot of dips, sauces, smoothies or quick prep meals will get the most out of it.

If space is tight or you only need something for the occasional smoothie, it might feel like overkill.

For me, the fact it’s stayed on the worktop and actually gets used is probably the biggest compliment I can give it.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts (aka Beccy) is our resident lifestyle expert with a practical focus on sleep, wellness and everyday comfort. She’s equally at home tackling frank, NSFW‑adjacent topics as she is road‑testing kitchen appliances, mattresses and vacuums that work for real parents. As a mum of two, she writes with the time‑poor, sleep‑deprived in mind - honest product reviews, realistic routines and products that make parents’ lives easier.

When she’s not at her desk, she’s probably product‑testing with her two helpers, corralling a PTA or walking her two dogs up and down country lanes.

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of hands-on testing. We never accept payment for coverage, and our verdicts are independent and honest. We may earn a small commission through affiliate links, which helps fund our work - but it never influences our opinions.

All prices are correct at the time of writing.

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*Conversational analysis by mumsGPT, 21 April 2025 to 21 April 2026