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As stupid as it may sound, knowing how to sharpen Ninja blender blades can save you big time. Not just from the extra fees you are about to spend on a replacement, but also on the performance.
Same as with cutting knives, the edges of the blender blades will eventually go dull after some time. And when that happens, you’ll notice a drop in blend quality if you’re using the blender for smoothies or chopping veggies.
Ninja Needs its Blades Sharp More than Vitamix
It’s no secret Ninja is one of the best choices when looking for decent blenders under 200. Although not a big fun, I’ve come to admire the way the brand packs the machines with single blending and food processor accessories.
But different from a high-power brand like the classic Vitamix 750 or 5200, Ninja blenders rely widely on their blades to work. Thus, they require blades sharp all the time to complete the tasks at hand.
Back when we looked at the tips on how to use the Ninja blender, I happened to mention the machine processes ingredients by cutting through them. And this applies to even the machines like Ninja Bl770 and Bn801 that advertises to have 1400+ watts motor.
In the case of true high-power blenders, they usually process ingredients by pummeling through them. It’s the same reason we’ve just seen the Blendtec Classic 575 and Total Blender have an all-thick-and-dull blade.
Anyway, my topic today is Ninja blenders, where you need the blades as sharp as possible. If the edges are not sharp, you’re likely to end up with a chunky smoothie or excessive crunchiness if you were using the blender for making butter.
Worst scenario, the dull blades will have your Ninja working longer than usual. And this risks overheating the motor, which in extreme can end up smoking.
How to Know You Need to Sharpen Ninja Blender Blades
Typically, there are two main ways to know you need to sharpen the blades of your Ninja blender. The first method is to watch the quality of your blend as it will drop when the blades are dull. You’ll start noticing unblended chunks in the smoothies or whole green leaves hanging on the side.
Once you’ve noticed your blender no longer performs as it used to, pull out the blade and check the status of the edges. Don’t attempt to run your fingers on them (blade edges) as they may be dull to blend but still sharp enough to cause lacerations.
At other times, you can easily tell the blades of your blender are dull and need sharpening with just a nice stare. And if you don’t have a keen eye, get a piece of paper and try to slice it down with the cutting edge of the blade.
If you have had your blender for more than six months and blend regularly, the blades will obviously have started to dull. So, when you start to notice a difference in performance, you shouldn’t even bother examining the blade edges.
Easy Steps How to Sharpen Ninja Blender Blades
First, after the launch of the new hand blender, Ninja now has at least four different types of blenders. And when covering a broad topic like this one, I like to go through all the variables- in this case, all the Ninjas you could sharpen.
The second thing you should know is that Ninja is clearly against sharpening the blades of its blenders. I initially thought this was just a precautionary measure for those with the Total Crushing blender due to its Systematically stacked blade system.
But after a couple of hours researching online, I’ve come to learn the Nutri Ninja and also the dedicated hot and cold blender has the same precaution: “DO NOT attempt to sharpen blades”.
One thing worth mentioning is that Ninja does sell replacement blades from $23 to $35. So, the reason they don’t want you to sharpen your blade is more or less a stunt to sell you the replacement system.
Long story short, the steps on how to sharpen Ninja blender blades are straightforward to do. The system mounted with the blades is removable in either full-size or single-serve machines.
Nonetheless, you’ll find the process is easier on the personal blender extractor blade than it’s for the 6-blade Total-Crushing system.
What You Need to Sharpen Ninja Blender Blades
- Your Ninja Blender Blade system
- A sharpening file- preferably the multipurpose needle diamond file often used in delicate works
What You Need to Do to Sharpen Ninja Blender Blades
- Get your Ninja Blender blade and locate the natural edge of the blade. The natural edge is the bevel angle of the blade, which, the same as the knives, marks the direction you should sharpen the blade
- Hold the blade firmly with the non-dominant hand. A pair of cut-resistant gloves will allow you to achieve that tight grip (if available)
- Grab the needle diamond file with your dominant hand and run it back and forth on the cutting blade until you have a new, sharp edge. The blade will only get sharp if you follow the natural edge in Step (1). Also, this means you shouldn’t run the file along the edge as some people do when sharpening their knives. If you run the file along the blade, you’re simply countering the natural edge, which will end up giving rounded edges instead of a sharp one
- Repeat Step (3) from the tip to the heel of the blade of your Ninja until it’s all sharp.
- Once done with the first side (say the top edge), turn over the blade and sharpen the other side. Do everything as you did with the first side, including following the natural edge with a back-and-forth motion.
Key Takeaway: Sharpen all the Blades
The Ninja blender blade system usually comprises multiple cutting edges. In the personal blender extractor blade, we have four blades- two blades pointed down and the other pair pointed straight up. The blades pointing up are the only ones that can be sharpened.
If you have a full-size Ninja blender, the blade system consists of six blades stacked over each other. They all usually come razor-sharp when the machine is brand-new. So, you’ll have to sharpen all edges on the top and bottom sides too.
With the stacked Ninja blade, you could also use smart knife sharpener like the Work Sharp EDC Pivot to complete the task. The little gadget only requires you to pass the blade between the sharpening hones several times. Thus, it actually gets the edges sharp again faster than with the diamond file.
Oops! You’ve Just Voided the Warranty
As you can see, the steps on how to sharpen Ninja blender blades are pretty easy even with only the traditional diamond file. The hack is also pretty fun and will take you less than fifteen minutes to do. So, it’s worthwhile, considering the $35 for a replacement blade can even get a whole personal blender or immersion blender.
Sadly, however, the printed user guide that comes with the Ninja blender has clearly warned against sharpening the blade. If you proceed with it, the company may consider it as an alteration. Thus, could end up locking you out of a free replacement if the machine had issues within the one-year warranty cover.