Is this food processor actually durable, or does it break easily?
Ninja calls it built to last, but durability is its one real weak spot, so some caution is fair. The feed chute can crack within about three months, and in one case the replacement lid cracked in the same place a couple of months later. A piece of the cheese shredding disc can also come apart, in one case after six months. Ninja sorted out both cases, replacing the first machine quickly and the disc free of charge, but the second lid was a paid replacement. The motor itself is solid, and a machine can still work like new after more than a year, so the reported problems centre on the lid and discs rather than the motor.
Does it really have 7 speeds, or is it single-speed like some descriptions suggest?
It is not a single-speed machine. Ninja lists seven speeds for the NF701, and it builds everyday use around four Auto-iQ preset programs for chopping, slicing and shredding, pureeing and dough, so for most jobs you pick the task and the program handles the rest. Both the lid and the buttons are easy to use.
What comes in the box?
Ninja includes the 1200-peak-watt motor base, the 12-cup processing bowl, an XL feed chute lid with a 3-part pusher, a chop/quad blade, a dough blade, an adjustable slicing disc, a reversible shredding disc and a 10-recipe inspiration guide. That covers all four core jobs without buying extra attachments.
Is it easy to clean?
Mostly, with one big caveat. Ninja says the bowl, lid, discs and blades are all dishwasher safe. Pulsing a little water and dish soap in the bowl and rinsing makes for a quick clean, one of the best parts of owning it. The blades are very sharp, though, and hand-washing the slicing disc can cut you even at its thinnest setting, so the dishwasher is the safer choice for the discs, with care when loading and unloading them.
Is the 12-cup bowl actually big enough for a family?
Yes. Capacity is a strength, and the XL size suits meal prep or cooking for more than one person, with consistent results. The motor stays consistent even when cooking for a large extended family, and it will slice 18 onions for French onion soup if you cut them into wedges to fit the feed chute. Ninja pairs the 12-cup bowl with an XL feed chute and 3-part pusher for bigger batches and larger pieces. It is a big machine, and you may need to store the base and bowl in separate places.
Is it worth buying given the durability problems?
For most home cooks, yes. Build quality, power and chopping performance are all excellent, and it is well liked overall. Value for money and ease of cleaning are less clear-cut, and durability is the weak spot, with reported cases of a cracked feed chute and a disc piece that came apart. If you cook in volume, it earns its place, but go in knowing the lid and discs are where problems have shown up.
