Ninja Blender and Soup Maker Review (After 6+ Years of Use)

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Since buying the Ninja Blender & Soup Maker (sometimes called the Ninja Foodi Soup Maker & Blender) I’ve been busy putting it through its paces.

If you’ve followed my blog or used any of my soup maker books, you’ll know I’ve been using soup makers for years. My first one was a Morphy Richards model back in 2016, and when Ninja released their soup maker a few years later, I bought that as well.

Fast-forward more than six years and I’ve made hundreds of soups, smoothies, sauces and drinks in the Ninja. I’m still asked all the time whether it’s worth buying, especially compared to other soup makers.

In this updated review I’ll walk you through:

• What you get in the box
• How each programme actually performs
• The pros and cons after long-term use
• How it compares to other soup makers
• Who I think it’s best suited to

If you’re sitting on the fence and wondering whether you really need another kitchen appliance, hopefully this will help you decide.

Read on to find if the Ninja Soup Maker can take the title of the best soup maker!

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Ninja Soup Maker – At A Glance

• Power: 1,000W motor
• Capacity: 1.4L for hot recipes, 1.7L for cold
• Programmes: Smooth Soup, Chunky Soup, Smoothie, Frozen Drink, Milkshake, Dessert, Jam, Sauce, Chop, Sauté
• Manual modes: Manual Cook (low/medium/high) + Manual Blend
• Cleaning: Built-in 6-minute heated clean cycle
• Extras: Keep-warm function (up to 60 minutes), heat-on indicator light

It’s essentially a blender with a built-in heating element, which is what makes it so versatile – it can cook and blend in the same jug.

Watch This Ninja Soup Maker Review on YouTube

What’s In The Box?

At the time of recording my video and updating this post, this is what came in the box:

• Motor base with touch control panel
• 1.7L glass jug with built-in heating element
• Jug lid with removable centre cap (which also works as a mini measuring cup)
• Tamper – fits through the lid to push ingredients down towards the blades
• Cleaning brush – very handy for getting under and around the blades
• Instruction manual
• Inspiration guide with recipes and loading diagrams

I always recommend starting with a few of the manufacturer recipes. They’re useful for learning how much liquid to add and how to layer ingredients, and then you can start adapting your own recipes.

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Size & Weight

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Ninja is its size and weight.

• Approx. 45cm tall with the jug on
• The empty jug weighs about 2.5kg
• A Morphy Richards jug, by comparison, is around 32cm tall and about 900g

So yes, the Ninja is taller and noticeably heavier than most jug-style soup makers. Once it’s full of soup it can feel quite hefty, and I think this is the biggest downside for some people.

The upside is that the extra size and sturdiness helps it cope with:

• A powerful 1,000W motor
• Hot cooking temperatures
• Tough, frozen ingredients

If lifting a full jug worries you, you don’t have to pour from it – you can just ladle soup straight from the jug into bowls or containers instead.

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Programmes & How They Actually Perform

Chop

I use the Chop function all the time, mainly for onions and garlic.

• Quarter the onion, add your garlic and any other veg
• Pop the lid on
• Press Chop – it runs for 12 seconds and then stops automatically

It chops everything finely and evenly, and I’ll sometimes use it for carrots and celery too when I want a fine dice for sauces or chunky soups.

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Sauté

The sauté function is handy to have but, being honest, it’s not my favourite.

Compared to the sauté on some other soup makers:

• You have to keep the lid on, so you can’t really stir with a spoon like you would in a pan
• Ingredients can stick to the base and around the blades
• The actual hot surface area at the bottom is fairly small, so you’re limited in how much you can sauté at once

If you do use it:

1. Add a little oil or butter
2. Add chopped onions/veg
3. Press Chop if you want them finely chopped
4. Then press Sauté – it runs for around 5 minutes

It works, but I personally don’t rely on it too much – I often soften onions in a separate pan if I want a proper sauté.

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Chunky Soup

The Chunky Soup programme is great for soups like:

• Leek & potato
• Chunky vegetable soup
• Chicken soups or chowders

It runs for 30 minutes, cycling through heating and stirring. Twice during the programme the Ninja does short pulses:

• First pulse at around 19:55
• Second pulse at around 10:55

These pulses lightly chop the ingredients, so the end result is not a completely “true” chunky soup. You still get pieces, but they’re slightly broken down.

If you want:

• A chunkier result → serve it as soon as the programme finishes
• A softer, in-between texture → tap Pulse once or twice at the end

If you want no pulsing or blending at all, use Manual Cook instead (more on this below)

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Smooth Soup

This is easily my most-used function.

I use Smooth Soup for:

• Tomato soup
• Butternut squash soup
• Chicken soup
• Lentil soups
• And many more!

What I love about this setting is how incredibly smooth the soup turns out. Because the blades are at the bottom and the motor is powerful, there’s often no need to peel things like:

• Potatoes
• Sweet potato
• Carrots
• Tomatoes

Most of the time I just wash, chop and add – skins and all – and the Ninja cooks and blends everything into a silky smooth soup.

You can also:

• Use frozen prepared veg to save prep time
• Roast ingredients like tomatoes or butternut squash first if you want extra flavour (I only do this when I have time)

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Cooking With Raw Meat

One of the big advantages of the Ninja over some other soup makers is the ability to cook raw meat directly in the jug.

I typically use:

• Boneless chicken thighs (my preference)
• Chicken breast
• Mince (for certain soups)

As long as the meat is cut into sensible pieces, it will cook through in the 30-minute soup cycle. The pulsing on the chunky programme does break the meat up a little, but that actually works well for shredded-style chicken soups.

This is a big plus for me – it means you’re not limited to leftover cooked meat.

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Manual Cook

The Manual Cook setting is one I think a lot of people overlook (me included, for a long time!).

Manual mode lets you:

• Choose Low / Medium / High heat
• Decide how long to cook for (up to 60 minutes)
• Decide whether to blend or not
• Avoid any automatic pulsing

It’s ideal when:

• A recipe doesn’t need a full 30-minute programme
• You want a chunkier result with no pulsing
• You’re adapting a recipe from the booklet that specifies a shorter cook time

For example, the tomato & basil soup in the Ninja recipe guide only needs about 14 minutes because tinned tomatoes cook quickly. On manual, you can simmer it for exactly that long and then blend to the texture you like.

The timer counts up, not down, so I recommend setting a separate timer on your phone. Ninja only lists the heat levels as low/medium/high – they don’t give exact temperatures.

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Sauce

The Sauce function is designed for things like:

• Pasta sauces
• Curry sauces
• Dips

It runs for 30 minutes 30 seconds, gently cooking and stirring – more like a slow simmer than a rapid boil. I don’t use it as often as the main soup programmes, but it does work well for simple tomato or creamy sauces where you want even heating and regular stirring.

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Smoothies

One of the reasons I like the Ninja is that it doubles up as a proper smoothie maker.

• Maximum cold capacity: 1.7L
• No minimum fill level – you can make one portion or a full jug

The Smoothie programme runs for 45 seconds, using a mix of short bursts and longer blends.

I often use:

• Frozen berries
• Frozen smoothie mixes
• Yogurt, milk or dairy-free milk
• Protein powder

If you use lots of frozen fruit it can come out very thick – you may just need to add a little more liquid after the first blend.

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Milkshake

The Milkshake setting is similar to Smoothie but tuned for thicker, creamier drinks.

A classic vanilla milkshake is:

• Ice cubes
• Vanilla ice cream
• Whole milk
• Vanilla extract

The programme crushes the ice first and finishes with a longer blend so you get a thick, café-style milkshake with no icy lumps.

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Frozen Drink

The Frozen Drink function is for anything icy, slushy or cocktail-style.

• Runs for 1 minute
• Uses strong blending and pulsing to crush ice/frozen fruit

I’ve tested it with the Strawberry Frozé recipe from the Ninja booklet:

• Rosé wine
• Fresh mint
• Frozen strawberries

Everything goes into the jug, you press Frozen Drink, and it turns into a smooth, icy slush. Perfect for summer.

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Dessert

The Dessert programme is a fun extra you don’t often see on soup makers.

In the Ninja booklet there’s a Blueberry Vanilla Freeze made with:

• Frozen blueberries
• Cream
• Lemon juice
• Vanilla
• A little white chocolate

Everything goes in, you press Dessert, and it runs for about a minute. You do need to use the tamper while it’s blending to push ingredients down towards the blades, otherwise the frozen fruit can ride up the sides.

The result is a soft-scoop style dessert similar to something made in a food processor or ice cream maker. You can pop it in the freezer for 10–15 minutes afterwards if you want it firmer.

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Jam

On paper, the Jam setting sounds brilliant – small batches of homemade jam without standing over the hob.

You:

• Add fruit, sugar, lemon juice and pectin
• Press Chop to break everything up
• Then press Jam – it runs for about 30 minutes, heating and stirring

In reality, I’ve had mixed results. My jam has tended to be more of a thick sauce than a properly set jam, even when I’ve tried:

• Granulated sugar + separate pectin
• Jam sugar with added pectin

That could absolutely be down to my jam-making skills (I’m definitely not a jam expert!), but for me this programme has been the least reliable. The flavour has always been good though, and the “not-quite-set” jam has still been very usable on toast or in yogurt.

If you’ve had success with the jam setting, I’d love to hear how you did it.

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Clean Programme

The Ninja has a built-in Clean programme, which is really handy.

• Add about 700ml warm water and a small squeeze of washing-up liquid
• Put the lid on and press Clean
• It runs a 6-minute hot wash, heating and blending the soapy water around the jug

A couple of important tips:

• Don’t add too much washing-up liquid or it can foam up and leak out of the lid (speaking from experience!)
• The clean cycle loosens most food but you’ll still need to use the brush for thicker, sticky recipes (cheesy soups, jam, anything that might cling around the blades)

Because the heating element is built into the base of the jug, you can’t submerge it in water or put it in the dishwasher.

The lid is dishwasher safe. It’s worth removing the rubber seal and cleaning behind it regularly – smells from leek & potato or curry soups can linger there.

Extra cleaning tips I’ve picked up:

• Don’t store the jug with the lid locked on – it traps moisture and can make smells worse
• Wipe the narrow groove where the jug meets the base – little bits collect there over time and it’s a design area that could definitely be better

Overall, I wouldn’t say cleaning is difficult, but it is slightly more effort than lighter, non-glass soup makers.

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Replacement Parts

One good thing about Ninja is that you can buy replacement parts directly from the Ninja UK website, including:

• Lids
• Seals
• Tampers
• Cleaning brushes
• Replacement jugs (usually available if needed)

This is reassuring if you plan to keep the machine for several years.

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Useful Accessories

You don’t need accessories to use the soup maker, but these are things I genuinely use alongside it:

• Microwave-safe jugs or containers – great for storing leftover soup in the fridge and reheating it straight in the container
• Silicone portion trays – ideal for freezing soup in individual portions; once solid, pop out the blocks and transfer them to a freezer bag
• A good soup flask – perfect if you like taking homemade soup out and about; a quality flask will keep it hot for hours

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Is It Easy To Use?

Yes, overall the Ninja Blender & Soup Maker is very straightforward to use.

• The programmes are clearly labelled
• The inspiration guide is helpful for learning how to layer ingredients
• Manual mode gives you flexibility once you’re more confident

My advice if you’re new to it: start with a couple of the recipe booklet soups to get a feel for timings and liquid levels, and then move on to adapting your own favourites.

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Is It Easy To Clean?

Mostly, yes, but it’s a bit more involved than lighter plastic soup makers.

Pros:

• Built-in clean cycle
• Lid and tamper are dishwasher safe
• The included brush makes cleaning around the blades easier

Cons:

• Jug is heavy and can’t be submerged or dishwashed
• You need to clean fairly soon after use or dried-on bits are harder work
• The seal and groove around the base need occasional extra attention to avoid smells

If you get into the habit of rinsing and running the clean cycle straight after cooking, it’s very manageable.

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Is It Better Than Other Soup Makers?

In my opinion, yes, in many ways – especially if you want a machine that can replace both a soup maker and a traditional jug blender.

What I prefer about the Ninja:

• Extremely smooth blended soups
• Ability to cook raw meat in soups
• No strict minimum fill level – you can make soup for 1 or 2 people
• Proper frozen blending for smoothies, milkshakes and icy drinks
• Manual cook and blend options for full control

The main trade-offs:

• Heavier and bulkier than many simple soup makers
• Slightly more effort to clean
• Higher price point than basic models

If you only ever want very simple, small batches of soup and nothing else, a lighter, cheaper soup maker might be enough. But if you want one appliance that does soups, smoothies, sauces, frozen drinks and more, the Ninja stands out.

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Is The Ninja Blender & Soup Maker Worth Buying?

For me, after six years of regular use, the answer is yes.

Pros

• Extremely versatile – soups, smoothies, milkshakes, sauces, jams, dips, desserts and more
• Powerful motor – blends very smooth, even with frozen and fibrous ingredients
• Can cook raw meat in soups
• No minimum quantity – great for smaller households
• Manual cook and blend for full control
• Built-in clean programme
• Replacement parts available
• Looks smart enough to live on the worktop

Cons

• Heavier than many other soup makers
• Jug can feel heavy when full, especially for anyone with mobility or strength issues
• Sauté function is just “okay”, not amazing
• Jam function has been hit-and-miss for me
• Higher price than entry-level soup makers

If you’re mainly looking for a high-quality, powerful soup maker that can also replace a blender, I think it justifies the price.

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Where To Buy

Prices change regularly, so it’s always worth shopping around.

👉 Ninja Foodi Blender & Soup Maker on Amazon

👉 Ninja Foodi Blender & Soup Maker on Ninja Kitchen – they sometimes offer instalment options

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Ninja Blender & Soup Maker Recipes

If you’re looking for ideas on what to make:

• I have a whole Ninja Soup Maker recipes section on the blog as well as a more general soup maker recipes section
• Many of my Morphy Richards soup maker recipes also work in the Ninja – just keep an eye on the maximum fill line
• I run a Soup Maker Recipes Facebook group where people share what they’re cooking, ask questions and swap tips

You can also find a dedicated Ninja Soup Maker playlist on my YouTube channel with step-by-step recipe videos.

And if you prefer something you can keep in the kitchen, I’ve written three soup maker books (two paperbacks and one digital edition) with lots of recipes tested in the Ninja.

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Final Thoughts

The Ninja Blender & Soup Maker isn’t the smallest or the cheapest soup maker you can buy, but it is one of the most capable and versatile I’ve used.

If you:

• Love homemade soup
• Want a powerful blender for smoothies and frozen drinks
• Like the idea of one appliance doing the job of several

…then I think the Ninja is a solid, long-term investment.

⭐ Where to buy the Ninja Soup Maker ⭐

👉 Check Price on Amazon
👉 Check Price on Ninja UK

If you have any questions about using it, or want to know whether a particular recipe will work, feel free to ask in the comments – I’m always happy to help.