This Nutribullet doesn’t just blend, it chops and grinds — so I put it to the test in my small kitchen

When I think of Nutribullet, I picture a personal blender full of delicious fruit, ready to make a smoothie. Yet, Nutribullet has more than just blending in mind. Despite performing well in our best blender guide, it also has a few other tricks that will help you in the kitchen.

So, when I got the chance to test the Nutribullet Ultra Plus 3-in-1 compact kitchen system with a 1200-watt power base, I was keen to discover not only how the blender worked, but also how the extra grinder and mini processor held up. Here’s what I think after testing the Nutribullet Ultra Plus in my own kitchen.

Nutribullet Ultra Plus Compact Kitchen system: Price and availability

This Nutribullet is $214 at Nutribullet — but we've spotted it for half price, which makes it a great buy, seeing you get three appliances in one. The Nutribullet Ultra Plus is listed as $224 at Amazon, but at time of writing it was just $159 on sale.

Watch out for big discounts In the U.K., too, where you can find it for £146 at Amazon, and £149 at Nutribullet, although it's currently out of stock.

It’s a little tricky to compare it to other Nutribullet appliances, as this is a 3-in-1 buy. Still, the Nutribullet Ultra 1200 blender, which we’ve previously tested, is available for $194 at Amazon for the deluxe version.

Nutribullet Ultra Plus Compact Kitchen system: Design

Cup

If you’re looking to make a single-serve smoothie in the Nutribullet cup, I hope you’ve got a good appetite! It’s exceptionally large, holds 32 ounces, and comes with a flip-top to-go lid. I think it will keep me going all day, although I might need two hands to hold it!

Processor

The mini processor sits on top of the motor base and comes in lots of pieces. (I was glad to have the skills of a ninja Lego master.) The processor bowl sits inside the processor base, where you add the chopping blade and then the lid. You can also pop in the reversible slicer and shredder, which is a thin metal disc, and push your items through with the food pusher.

Image 1 of 2

Grinder

If that wasn’t enough, the Nutribullet Ultra Plus also comes with a neat-looking grinder to blend coffee beans and spices. It looks really smart and has a metal inner and a clear top, so you can check on the grind without stopping and starting.

Image 1 of 2

Power

This Nutribullet mini kitchen (as I like to call it) has 1200 watts of power, 300 watts more than the Nutribullet Pro 900 blender. But when it comes to the extra functionality offered by the food processor and grinder, I can see why the power boost makes a difference. Grinding beans is tough.

The Nutribullet Ultra Plus also has two power options, giving you the flexibility to chose a 30-second automated blend, or a go-as-you-please pulse function, which lets you press the touch sensitive control for a second or two at a time.

Once either the blender, grinder or processor are locked in place on the base, the power controls will light up.

Image 1 of 2

Nutribullet Ultra Plus Compact Kitchen system: Performance

Using the cup

I started by making one of my favorite smoothies with the Nutribullet Ultra Plus — banana and blueberries with natural yogurt. I added the ingredients to the cup, screwed on the rapid extractor blade, and secured it to the motor base by twisting it clockwise until it locked in place.

As soon as the cup was secured, the power lights lit up. The top indicator is a full circle, indicating an automated blending cycle that stops after 30 seconds. Alternatively, you can press and hold the dashed circle for a pulse blend, and once released it will stop.

I started with a pretty easy blend, so I used the automated blending cycle. However, if you have any particularly tough ingredients, such as ice, I recommend using the pulse setting to give it an initial blitz or two before going full force.

The blend was speedy, and I had no worries about any spillages from the lid, which is obviously upside down when placed on the motor base. I was also pleased with the texture, and apart from seeing tiny pieces of blueberry skin, everything mixed well.

My next challenge was a bit more heavyweight, and I placed a mix of frozen berries into the cup with yogurt and milk. It was like testing crushed ice, as the berries were frozen into clumps. For this blend, I started using the automatic setting, but switched to the pulse to give it a gentler start. I also needed to step in and see what was going on, as although most of the mix had blended, there were still some large lumps that needed breaking up. I got there eventually, but it did require a bit of intervention to help the blend along the way.

I then thought about experimenting with making pesto in the cup, just to see if it would blend a mix of dry ingredients, with a small amount of olive oil and lemon juice. However, the Nutribullet Ultra Plus really wasn’t up to the task of coping with a lack of moisture, so I tipped all the ingredients into the processor bowl.

I must say something about the noise. While testing the blender, my family wanted to know what was going on and a few doors got shut! At its peak it reached 85 dB, which is pretty loud. But not quite a loud as when we tested the Nutribullet Ultra Pro 900, which hit 97 dB.

Testing the food processor

There’s no doubt that the Nutribullet Ultra Plus processor can make a mean pesto. I added all the ingredients at once, but with the chute design in the lid, you can easily add ingredients as you go, such as increasing the amount of oil if you need more liquid. I also found the bowl handle to be ergonomic and firm to hold, and it helped twist the bowl into place on the motor base.

Apart from pesto, I also like to make hummus, but when I started blending, nothing much was happening. Luckily, and for your information only, it was user error; I’d forgotten to replace the blade after cleaning. I did need to stop the blend and scrape the ingredients off the side of the bowl with a spatula, but I only needed to do this once. And, as when making pesto, I was able to lighten the texture by adding more liquid through the chute — making the process much easier than stopping and interrupting the blend to add extra oil.

With a two-cup capacity, the Nutribullet Ultra Plus obviously isn't a full-size food processor. However, for small kitchen tasks, such as preparing baby meals or cooking for one or two, it could be plenty for your needs. Although you might already have the Nutribullet Baby, which is $58 at Amazon; it's possibly one of the cutest baby blenders I’ve found.

I’ve never had much success with attachments for food processors that slice and dice, and I was intrigued to see how I’d fare with this processor, which has a single reversible blade that shreds on one side and slices on the other. Luckily, it states on each slide of the blade whether it shreds or slices, so as long as it’s facing up, you’ll know what you’re going to get.

I started by slicing a cucumber and placed it in the chute. I thought I might need to push it through, but since it’s got such a soft texture, there was no need to intervene. However, I ended up with a few slices, and the rest was a mushy mess.

My next attempt was to switch the blade around and shred cheese. Since cheese is denser than cucumber, I expected I would need to nudge it through the chute, but it worked its way through again, and the result was a pleasant pile of shredded cheddar. However, the shreds were short, so if I was looking for a longer shred, I’d revert to my manual grater.

Testing the grinder

The added bonus with this 3-in-1 Nutribullet is that you get a grinder. If you love to grind your own coffee beans, to make an ultra-fresh brew with one of the best coffee makers, it could be the extra accessory you need. It’s also suitable for grinding nuts and spices. I can imagine using it to grind hazelnuts for one of my favorite nutty chocolate cake recipes.

I placed a handful of beans into the grinding cup, screwed on the grinder blade, and secured it to the motor base. For best results, the instructions advise you to use 1-to 2-second pulses by pressing the dashed circle on the controls. It didn't take me long to gain a fine grind, and I would be happy to use this as my regular coffee grinder.

What I particularly liked about the grinder, apart from the cup’s attractive chrome interior, is that the top is clear, so you can see how the texture of grind is without having to stop. You’ll also spot a maximum filling level inside the cup. And it warns that if you overfill the cup, the blades may stop spinning freely and the motor may overheat.

Nutribullet Ultra Plus Compact Kitchen system: Cleaning

I had no quibbles with cleaning up with the Nutribullet Ultra Plus. The blender is super easy to clean, and as the blades are separate, unlike a traditional blender where they are at the base of the unit, such as KitchenAid Pure Power Blender, they are simple to access to rinse and wash. The only issue I had was removing the processor bowl from yet another base, and then the lid, reversible disc, and blade. I’m used to using a much simpler gadget, such as the KitchenAid food chopper, although it doesn’t have the option to slice or shred.

The base is also easy to clean and should be wiped and dried with a clean cloth. As a plus, the touch controls are flush, so there is no awkward space for food residue to accumulate.

However, if you prefer to pop everything into a dishwasher, rather than washing up by hand, you can place the items on the top rack of your appliance. Just note that Nutribullet warns against using a heat/santize cycle as it can cause damage.

Nutribullet Ultra Plus Compact Kitchen system: Comparison

The Nutribullet Ultra Pro is a bit of a monster on the noise front, but at a maximum of 85 dB, it’s far quieter than the Nutribullet Pro 900, which reached an epic 92 dB when tested. However, it’s noisier than Ninja’s Blast Max, which reached 77 dB.

You also get lots of capacity with a 32 oz cup — that’s an extra 10 oz compared with the Ninja Blast Max, but the same as the Nutribullet Pro 900.

The Nutribullet Ultra Plus isalso easy to clean, unlike our top recommended blender, the Beast Mighty 850. Plus, the touchpad controls on the base mean there’s nowhere for food residue to go, unlike the Magimix Power 5, which has dial control. Comparing prices is not easy, as it’s a 3-in-1 appliance and doesn’t quite fit the comparison to a food processor. However, it costs $214 compared to the Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System, which is $219 at Amazon.

Nutribullet Ultra Plus Compact Kitchen system: Verdict

Overall, I enjoyed using the Nutribullet Ultra Plus, but keep in mind you’ll need space to store the additional mini food processor and grinder. If you’re not going to use a grinder or food processor regularly, you’re probably best off buying a single blender. That said, the set is available at half price at Nutribullet right now, which should help you decide if you’re on the fence.

You’ll also need to consider whether you'll make single smoothies in the cup or whip up more than one at a time. It’s a pretty large cup for one, and may be more than you need. If single smoothies are all you require, you could consider the Nutribullet Pro 900.

One thing I love is the pulse and automated 30-second settings, and I’d recommend only buying a blender with both, as the pulse function helps crack tough blends without making the motor feel like it’s going to burn out. So, before you make a buying decision, make sure the blender has a pulse control — you'll thank me later.

What’s more, the motor base also feels really sturdy on the countertop, with the suction feet adding to its stability. And all the parts can be separated easily, making clean up hygienic and worry-free, without the risk of residue remaining on the blades.

It's an excellent buy, especially when you can catch it discounted, and I think it makes a pretty good mini kitchen system if you need the functionality to blend, grind and chop — but don't have the space for three separate appliances.