The single deciding factor between the Ninja BL660 and the Ninja SS351 is whether you need a dedicated food processing system capable of kneading heavy dough and churning ultra-thick smoothie bowls, or simply want an efficient, straightforward blender for frozen drinks and morning protein shakes.
Shoppers looking for an uncomplicated pitcher and two travel cups for everyday beverage blending should choose the Ninja BL660, while home cooks who want automated culinary presets, dough mixing blades, and a built-in bowl tamper will find the Ninja SS351 well worth the upgrade.
Ninja BL660 vs Ninja SS351 at a Glance
| Feature | Ninja BL660 | Ninja SS351 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Wattage | 1100 Watts | 1400 Peak Watts / 1200 Watts |
| Motor Technology | Standard Motor Base | smartTORQUE Motor Base |
| Speed Control | 3 Manual Speeds, Pulse, Single Serve | Variable Speed Control (11 Speeds) |
| Preset Automation | Dedicated Single-Serve Button | 6 Auto-iQ Programs |
| Main Pitcher | 72-oz. Total Crushing Pitcher (64-oz. max liquid) | 72-oz. Power Blender & Processor Pitcher (64-oz. max liquid) |
| Pitcher Blades | Stacked Total Crushing Blade Assembly | Total Crushing & Chopping Blade, Dough Blade |
| Personal Cups Included | (2) 16-oz. To-Go Cups with Spout Lids | (1) 24-oz. Nutrient Extraction Cup with Spout Lid |
| Specialty Containers | Not listed | 14-oz. Smoothie Bowl Maker with Built-in Tamper |
| Warranty | Not listed | 1 Year Limited Warranty |
| Best For | Frozen drinks, ice crushing, and paired single-serve smoothies | Heavy dough, thick smoothie bowls, chopping, and complete culinary prep |
Motor Power and smartTORQUE Performance
Motor strength and drive resistance dictate how smoothly a blender handles difficult ingredients like frozen fruit chunks, root vegetables, dense nut spreads, and bread dough. When examining motor output, the Ninja SS351 smarttorque motor wattage stands out with a 1400-peak-watt motor base rated at 1200 watts. This specialized smartTORQUE system is engineered to maintain constant rotational speed under heavy resistance, preventing motor stalling when tackling thick mixtures without requiring you to stop, remove the lid, and shake or stir the contents.
The BL660 operates on an 1100-watt motor base that delivers ample power for traditional liquefying and ice pulverizing tasks. In standard drink-making situations, this motor spins the stacked blade assembly quickly enough to transform solid ice cubes into snow within seconds. However, the BL660 does not feature torque feedback technology. When presented with ultra-dense loads like thick chilled açai bases or stiff bread doughs, standard motors face drag that requires added liquid to maintain circulation. Readers who have explored our ninja bn701 vs ss351 guide know how much motor resistance shapes kitchen versatility.
For buyers evaluating whether the added power translates to real-world utility, the SS351 provides a noticeable mechanical advantage whenever thick textures are involved. While the BL660 handles light batters, purees, and beverages with reliable force, the SS351 handles heavy resistance without motor hesitation, keeping ingredients moving across the blades.
Edge: Ninja SS351, delivering greater wattage and a smartTORQUE drive system that powers through dense mixtures without stalling.
Food Processing, Chopping, and Dough Kneading
Pitcher design and accessory blades determine whether a blending base can double as a genuine kitchen workstation. The Ninja Foodi SS351 food processor setup includes both a Total Crushing and Chopping Blade and an interchangeable Dough Blade. These dedicated attachments transform the 72-ounce pitcher into a food processor that chops vegetables evenly, mixes cake batters, and kneads up to bread dough with automated ease.
By contrast, the BL660 relies solely on its stacked Total Crushing blade spindle inside the 72-ounce pitcher. While the product listing highlights food processing capabilities for items like fresh salsas and dips, the BL660 lacks a blunt dough paddle. Attempting to mix stiff doughs with high-speed cutting blades slices through gluten strands rather than stretching and kneading them. When deciding between the Ninja BL660 or SS351 for dough, the mechanical setup makes the choice clear: only the SS351 provides a dedicated dough blade engineered specifically for baking prep.
Chopping uniformity also differs between the two machines due to blade design and speed regulation. The SS351 allows users to run on very low speeds or use intelligent pulsing to produce clean, diced vegetables without reducing the bottom layer to mush. The BL660 operates at higher base RPMs across its three speeds, requiring rapid manual pulsing to avoid over-processing produce. As seen in our breakdown of the ninja bl660 vs tb401, blenders lacking variable low speeds require far more manual vigilance during food prep.
Edge: Ninja SS351, thanks to its specialized dough blade, dedicated chopping configuration, and lower speed thresholds.
Single-Serve Cups and Smoothie Bowl Maker Attachments
Single-serve attachments provide grab-and-go convenience for morning routines, but the two models address personal blending with completely different container setups. The BL660 includes two 16-ounce to-go cups fitted with travel spout lids and a dedicated Pro Extractor Blades assembly. This configuration is tailored for couples or roommates who want to whip up individual morning smoothies back-to-back without washing a single vessel in between.
The SS351 takes personal blending further into specialized culinary territory. It includes one 24-ounce Nutrient Extraction Cup designed for smoother breakdowns of seeds, tough skins, and fibrous greens using Hybrid Edge Blades. More importantly, it features an innovative 14-ounce Smoothie Bowl Maker container equipped with a built-in manual tamper. By turning the tamper collar while blending, you actively force frozen fruit and thick nut butters down into the spinning blades without stopping the motor or adding excess liquid.
When weighing the Ninja BL660 or SS351 for smoothies, your preference depends on drink volume and texture. If your routine focuses on standard liquid fruit smoothies and protein shakes shared between two people, the dual 16-ounce cups of the BL660 provide immediate convenience. If your focus is spoon-thick smoothie bowls, nut spreads, and nutrient extractions, the SS351 attachments provide superior mechanical control. Shifting between personal formats is also explored in our review of the ninja ss351 vs tb401.
Edge: Ninja SS351, because its built-in tamper bowl maker and larger extraction cup produce thicker textures and finer seed breakdown.
Speed Controls, Interface, and Auto-iQ Automation
User interfaces alter how much attention you must pay while preparing recipes. The BL660 uses a straightforward push-button layout with three manual speeds, a manual Pulse button, and a dedicated Single Serve button. To achieve specific textures, you manually monitor the process and hit the stop button when the blend looks uniform. This direct approach appeals to users who dislike complex control panels and prefer immediate manual control over blending duration.
The SS351 introduces 6 preset Auto-iQ programs alongside a variable speed dial offering 11 distinct speed levels. The Auto-iQ technology utilizes timed sequences of pulsing, blending, and pausing patterns specifically calibrated for smoothies, extractions, bowls, spreads, chopping, and dough. You press one button and step away while the blender executes the cycle and shuts off automatically. The variable speed control lets you start exceptionally slow for delicate chopping and ramp up smoothly to high-speed blending.
For shoppers wondering is Ninja SS351 worth it, the addition of Auto-iQ programming eliminates the trial-and-error of manual pulsing. In our Ninja BL660 review analysis, manual monitoring is functional but requires constant kitchen supervision. The automated intelligence on the SS351 ensures consistent results whether you are kneading pizza dough or preparing chunky vegetable relish. Similar interface trade-offs appear when reviewing the ninja bn701 vs bl660.
Edge: Ninja SS351, providing one-touch Auto-iQ presets and 11 variable speed settings for complete process automation.
Pitcher Design and Total Crushing Performance
Both blender systems center around a 72-ounce pitcher with a maximum liquid capacity of 64 ounces, manufactured from BPA-free materials that are top-rack dishwasher safe. Both models utilize Ninja’s vertical blade shaft configuration, which places cutting edges along a central column rather than resting only at the bottom of the container. This layout ensures rapid contact with ice cubes and large fruits throughout the entire height of the pitcher.
In terms of raw ice crushing, the BL660 matches the performance of the newer system. Its Total Crushing stacked blade assembly cuts through frozen cubes instantly, turning full trays of ice into uniform, snow-like flakes suitable for frozen margaritas, daiquiris, and granitas. Because the pitcher volume and liquid maximums are identical between both models, you can prepare large batches for family gatherings or meal prep in either container with equal spatial capacity.
The primary difference lies in versatility rather than volume. The SS351 pitcher accepts both the Total Crushing and Chopping blade assembly and the blunt plastic dough blade, making the vessel dual-purpose. The BL660 pitcher is dedicated to crushing, pureeing, and liquid blending. For standard frozen drink preparation and family-sized purees, both pitchers deliver virtually identical capacity and ice-crushing performance.
Edge: Tie, as both blenders utilize identical 72-ounce total capacities and 64-ounce liquid limits with proven ice-crushing blade columns.
Pros and Cons
Ninja BL660
Pros
- 1100-watt ice crushing performance
- Includes two 16-ounce personal cups
- Simple three-speed manual control
- Large 72-ounce Total Crushing pitcher
Cons
- No dedicated dough blade attachment
- Lacks automated Auto-iQ preset programs
Ninja SS351
Pros
- 1400-peak-watt smartTORQUE motor never stalls
- 6 one-touch Auto-iQ preset programs
- Dedicated dough blade and chopping blade
- Smoothie bowl maker with built-in tamper
- 11 variable speed settings
Cons
- Includes only one extraction travel cup
- More complex interface to navigate
Who Should Buy Each One
Choose the Ninja BL660 If
- You primarily make standard fruit smoothies, iced protein shakes, and frozen cocktails.
- You want two 16-ounce to-go cups included out of the box so multiple household members can blend their drinks.
- You prefer simple button controls with three speeds and a manual pulse button without complex digital dials.
- You do not need to knead bread dough, mix thick nut butters, or make spoon-thick smoothie bowls.
Choose the Ninja SS351 If
- You want an all-in-one appliance that acts as both a high-power blender and a food processor with a dough blade.
- You love thick smoothie bowls and need the built-in tamper bowl maker to blend frozen recipes without adding water.
- You value one-touch automation and want 6 Auto-iQ programs that manage pulse, blend, and pause intervals for you.
- You need 11 variable speeds and a smartTORQUE motor that will not stall under dense ingredient loads.
Final Verdict
When completing this Ninja BL660 vs SS351 comparison, the Ninja SS351 proves to be the superior overall kitchen investment for most households. Its 1400-peak-watt smartTORQUE motor, 6 automated Auto-iQ presets, and 11-speed variable control dial elevate it well past the capabilities of a standard drink blender. Combined with the dedicated dough blade and the 14-ounce Smoothie Bowl Maker with its built-in tamper, the SS351 serves as a genuine multi-tool capable of kneading bread, chopping vegetables, creating thick spreads, and extracting dense green smoothies with unmatched efficiency.
The Ninja BL660 remains an outstanding option if your kitchen needs are strictly centered on beverages and ice crushing. With its dependable 1100-watt motor, two included 16-ounce travel cups, and simple three-speed interface, it provides everything necessary for everyday protein shakes and frozen cocktails without requiring you to navigate extra programming. If you have no intention of baking dough or pureeing dense nut pastes, the BL660 delivers proven Total Crushing reliability in an uncluttered, accessible package.
FAQ
Can the Ninja BL660 knead bread dough?
No, the Ninja BL660 does not come with a dough blade and is not designed for kneading yeast doughs. Its stacked Total Crushing blades have sharp edges meant for slicing and crushing ice, which will shred dough rather than knead it. If you need a blender that mixes pizza or bread dough, choose the Ninja SS351 with its dedicated dough blade.
What is the difference between the personal cups on the BL660 and SS351?
The BL660 includes two identical 16-ounce to-go cups with spout lids, making it convenient for two people to prepare individual drinks. The SS351 includes one larger 24-ounce Nutrient Extraction Cup and one 14-ounce Smoothie Bowl Maker cup fitted with a manual built-in tamper designed to process thick ingredients with less liquid.
What does smartTORQUE technology do on the Ninja SS351?
The smartTORQUE technology in the SS351 motor base is engineered to recognize ingredient resistance and maintain constant blade speed under heavy loads. This prevents the motor from stalling or bogging down when blending thick nut butters, smoothie bowls, or stiff doughs, eliminating the need to stop and stir the container manually.
Are the pitcher parts and blades dishwasher safe on both models?
Yes, all removable parts across both models, including the pitchers, lids, personal cups, and blade assemblies, are constructed from BPA-free materials and are top-rack dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Can I make hot soups in the Ninja BL660 or Ninja SS351?
The listings for both the BL660 and SS351 indicate they are designed for crushing ice, blending cold drinks, chopping, and room-temperature prep. Neither model is rated for blending boiling hot liquids in sealed containers, as steam buildup can compromise lid seals.
Does the Ninja BL660 have preset automated blending programs?
The BL660 features three manual speeds, a pulse button, and a dedicated Single Serve button designed for personal cups, but it does not have automated Auto-iQ programs. The SS351 features 6 distinct Auto-iQ presets that automatically run calibrated cycles of pulsing, blending, and pausing.
