Ninja Foodi SS401 Power Blender & Processor System Review
When you buy through the Amazon links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Last updated October 31, 2026
The Ninja Foodi SS401 is a genuinely capable blender and a competent, not a complete, food processor. It is a good buy for the cook who wants one base that chops, slices, shreds, grates, blends and kneads, and who will actually reach for the discs. It is the wrong buy if high-volume slicing and shredding, dicing, julienne cuts or heavy dough work are the main job.
The SS401 is sold as the Ultimate System. That is the version that adds the feed-chute lid and the select-cut discs, which are what turn it into a real food processor rather than a blender with a chopping blade.
What the SS401 does well
The SS401 processes food directly in its 72-oz pitcher. The feed-chute lid with a 2-part pusher, a reversible slicing/shredding disc and a grating disc sit on top of the same vessel used for blending, so there is no second bowl to store or wash.
Shredding and grating
These are the strongest processing jobs. Cheese, including hard cheeses like parmesan, and carrots shred cleanly and fast, and grating comes out fine and even.
Slicing
Potatoes, celery and mushrooms come out in even, consistent slices, with little food left stuck to the disc. Reviews at other retailers note that coleslaw comes out in uniform strips in seconds, close to what a standalone processor gives.
Chopping
The Total Crushing & Chopping stacked blade handles onions, nuts and similar chopping tasks well, and the Chop preset runs the work without you holding a button.
Blending and frozen work
smartTORQUE is designed to keep the motor from stalling under a heavy load.
Programs and dough
Seven Auto-iQ presets cover Smoothie, Extract, Bowl, Spread, Chop, Food Processing and Dough, with manual speed control and Pulse for texture. The dough blade and the Dough preset knead bread and pizza dough in the pitcher.
Everyday handling
Containers, lids, discs and blade assemblies are dishwasher safe, the base sits on suction-cup feet, a 24-oz Nutrient Extraction Cup covers single servings, and a 20-recipe guide comes in the box. The discs on the pitcher, the smoothie bowl maker and the extraction cup together are what justify this machine as an all-in-one rather than a blender with a chopping blade.
Where the SS401 falls short as a food processor
The limits come from the design itself, and they matter most to someone who processes food every day.
- No separate processor bowl. Processing and blending share the 72-oz pitcher, so you cannot shred cheese while a soup sits in the blender, and back-to-back jobs mean emptying and washing in between.
- One shred thickness. The shredding disc gives a single size, with no adjustment.
- No dicing kit and no julienne disc. It slices, shreds and grates; it does not cut cubes or matchsticks.
- Narrow feed chute. A big potato or a whole cabbage wedge has to be cut down to fit, which slows volume prep.
- No hot blending. It is not designed for hot soups or sauces, so ingredients have to cool first.
- Manual mode runs about 60 seconds continuously before the machine stops, which is fine for most jobs and worth knowing for long runs.
- Loud at full speed.
- Dough is kneaded in the pitcher, not a dedicated bowl, so batch size is capped by the pitcher's dough line.
The product in this review
Ninja Foodi SS401 power blender & processor
See on AmazonWhat the SS401's Motor, Pitcher and Processor Bowl Mean for Your Daily Cooking
The rated and peak power figures, the 64-oz maximum liquid fill and the 60-second manual run each change something in daily use.
| Specification | Figure and what it means |
|---|---|
| Power | 1,200 W rated, 1,600 W peak, 120 V, with smartTORQUE stall prevention. The rated figure is the continuous draw; the peak figure is the short burst the motor can pull. |
| Pitcher | 72-oz Power Blender & Processor Pitcher, with a 64-oz maximum liquid fill. |
| Additional vessels | 18-oz XL Smoothie Bowl Maker with built-in tamper and storage lid; 24-oz Nutrient Extraction Cup. |
| Controls | 7 Auto-iQ programs (Smoothie, Extract, Bowl, Spread, Chop, Food Processing, Dough), manual speeds plus Pulse, digital timer. |
| Blades and discs | Total Crushing & Chopping blade assembly, Hybrid Edge blade assembly, reversible slicing/shredding disc, grating disc, dough blade, disc spindle. |
| Materials | Stainless steel blades, BPA-free plastic vessels. |
| Size and weight | 8.7 in deep, 8.3 in wide, 16.14 in high; 12.1 lb. |
| Cleaning | Containers, lids, discs and blade assemblies are dishwasher safe; the motor base wipes clean. |
| Warranty | 1-year limited. |
| In the box | Motor base, pitcher, feed-chute lid with 2-part pusher, XL Smoothie Bowl Maker with storage lid, Nutrient Extraction Cup, the blades and discs above, and a 20-recipe inspiration guide. |
How the Ninja Foodi SS401 Sounds and Cleans Up After a Job
Noise is the point buyers raise most. Buyers on Amazon describe the machine as very loud, and reviews at other retailers put it above 90 dB at top speed. Short bursts are fine; in an open kitchen you will hear it.
Cleaning
Most parts go in the dishwasher and the base wipes clean. The gasket under the blade assembly is the spot that traps residue and the usual cause of a leak, so hand-clean it and check it sits flat. The built-in tamper in the XL bowl does not come out, so wash that piece by hand.
Footprint and stability
The base is compact at 8.3 in wide and 8.7 in deep, and the suction-cup feet hold it down. The pitcher is tall, so measure the clearance under your upper cabinets before you commit to a spot.
Safety
The blades and discs are very sharp, so handle them by the rim and keep fingers clear of the chute. The lid has to be seated for the machine to run, and it takes firm downward pressure.
What the SS401's Build and Coverage Mean for Years of Daily Use
The warranty is 1 year limited, and normal wear on vessels, lids and blades is excluded.
Buyers on Amazon are divided on durability: some report years of use, others an early failure. Owners on forums and reviews at other retailers mention a leak from the pitcher base at the blade-assembly seal, a lid safety mechanism that needs firm pressure to start, and an occasional overheating smell with very thick frozen loads, which clears after unplugging and letting the machine cool. Treat these as things to check on arrival rather than a prediction.
Replacement parts are sold separately, including the pitcher, blades, discs, lids, cups and bowl maker, which matters for a machine used daily.
The Ninja Foodi SS401 is a very good blender and a competent food processor in one base. Buy it if you want a single machine for chopping, slicing, shredding, grating, blending, smoothie bowls and the occasional dough, if counter space is tight, and if you will use the discs regularly.
Skip it if slicing and shredding volume, dicing, julienne cuts, adjustable shred thickness, a separate bowl for simultaneous tasks or hot blending are central to how you cook. Those needs point to a dedicated food processor. The SS401 earns its place as an all-in-one for the cook who wants real processing without a second machine, as long as the discs, not just the blender, are what you reach for.
Frequently asked questions
Most of what buyers get wrong with the SS401 comes down to expecting a full processor bowl from a machine that puts its discs on the blender pitcher.
Does the Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor SS401 give you a separate bowl for chopping and shredding?
No. The discs, spindle and blade assemblies on the Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor SS401 all mount on the same 72-oz pitcher used for blending, so a soup already sitting in that vessel has to be emptied and washed before any cheese can be shredded.
How long can the Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor SS401 run in manual mode before it stops?
Manual speed runs for about 60 seconds continuously and then the motor cuts out for a rest. Ordinary chopping and pureeing fit comfortably inside that window, while longer grinding jobs are best split into bursts.
Can the Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor SS401 blend hot soup straight off the stove?
The Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor SS401 is not designed for hot ingredients, so cooked soups and sauces need to cool down first. Blending steaming liquid in the pitcher is outside what the machine is built to handle.
What shred thickness and cut shapes does the Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor SS401 offer?
One fixed shred size is all the reversible slicing/shredding disc produces, with no adjustment dial and no second disc for a coarser or finer grate. The set also lacks a dicing kit and a julienne disc, so cubes and matchsticks are not possible; the SS401 slices, shreds and grates only.
How much liquid can the Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor SS401 pitcher hold?
The pitcher is rated at 72 oz, but the maximum liquid fill for the Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor SS401 is 64 oz. Staying under that line leaves room for ingredients to move and expand during high-speed blending.