Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Wow. We've had our ninja for about a month now, and I can definitely say I'm impressed. The only parts we've not used are the little cups and the dough blade. The only reason I can't give it 5 full stars is bc I know now that it's not the best out there. After buying this one, I found the newer one with the smart functions for smoothies and all. That's my only regret. This machine itself though, for what it is, and what it's supposed to do, it excellent. The thing has more wattage than my professional Italian hairdryer (that's a lot). It Juuust fits underneath my cabinet so the size is perfect. I love all the little clever bits, like the bottom handles that release the suction cups, and the lock that holds open the pour spout lid. Attention to details like these are what make for excellent products. I use it so often that I nearly always just hand wash it right away. I've found a water bottle brush to be perfect for getting down walls quickly and maneuvering safely around cleaning the blade. The only thing I've encountered any difficulty cleaning so far is after I made nut butter, getting inside the blade. Speaking of, the food processor portion has proven invaluable. It is the perfect size for the majority of those types of jobs I need done and unlike my large dedicated food processor, there's no hole in the middle! Hallelujah! So recommendation? If you absolutely cannot get the newer one, or you loathe smoothies... then yes, absolutely. In and of itself it's great. Would I buy this one again? No- knowing what I know now, I'd spend the $50 more for the new one (at least that was the price difference when I was shopping). I make too many smoothies not have as many advantages working in my favor as possible. I'd like to say something in regards to the melted/fire/etc. reviews & pics. This is a reflection of my own experience and not meant to demean or diminish anyone else's situation in any way. 1) the Ninja is Covered in neon safety warnings as you unbox it detailing exactly how to use it. 2) it has built in emergency shut off procedures and when that happens there are things you're supposed to do as well. 3) never walk away from a kitchen appliance while it's running (or the stove top) no matter how secure you may think it is. 4) be mindful of the environment you're working in- there's a reason we've been putting stone in kitchens for centuries. This being said: I have not had any issues remotely resembling overheating at all. I operate my machine in a well ventilated area on my granite countertop. While the machine runs, I do a fair amount of pulsing, I don't just put it on high & leave it going for 10 min, while it runs I'm touching the machine (as I would my stand mixer). I feel where the motor is in the base, and monitor the heat output. I'm turning it off frequently to scrape down anyway, but I'm aware of how hot it is and maintain control of the situation. That's just what I do. If it's beneficial for anyone else, then great.