Ninja Kitchen Systems generally offer great value and versatility as a multi-functional blender-food processor combo. Even though Ninja do not always have the same power as a Vitamix, they can surely do some great things as a mid-tier blender.
As Ninja continues to innovate, they’ve introduced a number of different kitchen systems, which is a good thing except that it gets a little confusing.
But fret not. That’s what we are here for.
In this article, we’re going to be talking about the Ninja Intellisense Kitchen System. It is essentially a blender-food processor combo. Compared to the Ninja Mega Kitchen System, the blender is slightly less powerful at 1200W and there are less accessories (such as the single-serve cups). But what sets the Ninja Intelli-Sense apart is the smart base that can auto-detect which container is on.
If you haven’t done so, we would highly recommend that you also take a look at our review of the Ninja Mega Kitchen System.
Now, let’s get to the in-depth review of the Ninja Intelli Sense Kitchen System.
What Is The Ninja Intelli Sense Kitchen System?
The Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System is basically one smart base that works in conjunction with multiple component parts, to carry out all kinds of food and drink prep.
The base effectively senses which component has been attached to it, and this informs the Smart Sensor base what functions it can carry out. And all you have to do then is press the touch screen on the base to select which of the detected functions you want it to perform.
And not only does the Smart Sensor base know which functions it should perform, it also knows how long it should work for, and at what speed and what level of torque.
- SMART PROGRAMS: 8 chef-designed Smart Programs effortlessly create an endless array of delicious recipes. These Smart programs are precisely calibrated patterns of pausing, pulsing, and speed that create everything from fresh salsa and pizza dough to margaritas and ice cream at the simple touch of a button
- SMART VESSEL RECOGNITION: This blender features Smart Vessel Recognition that automatically displays a unique menu of Smart Programs for each vessel attached and adjusts speed, power, and torque accordingly
- TOUCHSCREEN INTERFACE: The Ninja Intelli-Sense features a touchscreen interface that lets you easily switch between vessel-specific Smart Programs and manual options, all while standing up to everyday kitchen wear and tear
- PRECISION PROCESSOR: The 8-cup precision processor helps you to easily chops, puree, garnish, and make dough. You can add in the ability to slice and shred so that you can truly reimagine your meal prep
- FROZEN BLENDING: The frozen blending adds a refreshing chill to your routine making fresh, nutritious pops to flavor-packed ice water. Additionally, the 72 oz Total Crushing Pitcher Blast through everything from ice to whole fruits in seconds for frozen drinks, ice cream, snow cones, and more
What Does The Ninja IntelliSense Kitchen System Include?
So, there are four main components that come with the base. These include a 72 ounce crushing pitcher for drinks and other liquids, a 64 ounce precision food processor bowl for solids, a double-decker spiralizer for your fruit and veg, and a small 24 ounce high-speed blender cup to drink from.
(Please note the values given in ounces describe the capacity of the components and not their weight!)
The component parts are easy to fix onto the base, and they will simply snap into place.
How Does The Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System Work?
So, as we have mentioned already (it bears repeating here), the Smart Sensor Bases sense what component is attached to it. You snap the part into place and secure the lid. This then causes the correct selection of possible functions to light up on the touchscreen control panel.
For example, if you add the food processor, the functions that light up on the touchscreen are as follows: puree, dough, chop, or dips. And all you have to do is press the one you want, and away it goes.
Similarly, if you were to attach and snap on the high-speed blender cup, the different functions that come up on the touchscreen include: smoothie, refresher, extract, and dressing. And again you simply select the one that you want.
Or alternatively, if you were to attach the crushing pitcher, the functions you can select from include: smoothie, frozen drink, ice cream, and snow cone.
The chopping function of this machine is particularly invaluable, because of just how finely it can chop your vegetables. It would take a very well trained chef to achieve such results by hand.
It’s great for mincing things like garlic and ginger. Which is perfect if you don’t happen to own a grater, and saves you a lot of effort.
And if you were to attach the automatic spiralizer, you get to enjoy fruit or vegetables cut in a beautiful spiralized design, that makes instagram worthy results. You get a choice of two spiralizer blades for different thicknesses of spiralized veg.
Spiralized vegetables are great for pasta dishes, salads, smoothie bowls, or even curries.
How Powerful Is The Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System?
There are certain blender functions that require a lot of power in order to work optimally. A good example is the power required to crush ice. You simply cannot crush ice effectively with a low wattage blender, you need a blender of at least 600 watts, preferably more.
Wlll, we’re pleased to report that this system is not only up to the task but performs it well. Which is not really surprising when you consider that the system has 1,200 watts of power, which is effectively double what’s required for crushing ice.
What Kind Of Dishes Can You Create With The Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System?
The range of what you can create with this machine is astonishing! And the accompanying recipe book that comes included in the box does not do it justice at all.
Here’s a quick list of some potential ideas for you:
- Fruit Smoothies
- Fruit Juices
- Snow Cones
- Frozen Fruit Cocktails
- Dough for Pizza, Cookies or Bread
- Salsa
- Soups
- Smoothie Bowls
- Spiralized Veg
- Riced Vegetables
- Purees
- Dips
- Hummus
- Chopped Vegetables
- Ice Cream
- Curry Paste
- Curry Sauce
- Salad Dressing
Please note, this is not an exhaustive list, and you may well come up with more ideas.
You have to admit that it’s an incredibly versatile kit, and it certainly feels like the possibilities are endless.
How Do You Clean The Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System?
We’re pleased to report that every last one of the various attachments are all completely safe to wash in the dishwasher, which makes cleaning up an absolute breeze.
It’s not safe however to place the base into the dishwasher. But this should never cause an issue, because it’s very easy to simply wipe down with soapy dish cloth.
It’s worth noting at this point however that you should not use any abrasive pads, brushes, or sponges to clean it, since this could cause the surface to dull or scratch. And ideally you want to keep it looking as sleek as when the box first arrived.
How Noisy Is The Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System?
We’re going to level with you here. The Ninja Intelli-Sense system is not particularly quiet, and in fact, a lot of customers have described it as loud.
However we would argue that this is a very minor drawback, and you’re not going to find an equally powerful system that’s much quieter than this one.
Is The Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System Right For Me?
There’s no doubt that the Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System is an impressive and incredibly versatile selection of kitchen equipment. I would certainly be a great addition to anyone who loves to cook and often eats at home.
The only real drawback to this system is that it is not the latest model of Ninja Kitchen System.
Although you might still be able to find a new unit on Amazon, it comes at a more hefty price tag compared to the powerful Ninja Mega Kitchen System and newer series such as the Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ and the latest flagship Ninja SS401 Foodi Power Blender Ultimate System.
This could be a reflection of the low inventories of this popular kitchen system, which also puts a question mark on whether they will be discontinued. But when this article was written you could still purchase replacement parts for the system.