When I’m preparing meals at home, I appreciate kitchen tools that make food preparation easier without leaving me with a pile of extra dishes to wash. That’s what makes the Ninja PREPi 6-in-1 Prep & Store System an interesting option to consider. With a focus on food preparation and convenient storage, this system is designed to help simplify everyday kitchen tasks.
In evaluating a product like this, I look beyond the advertised features to consider how practical it is to use, how easily the components clean up, how well the storage system fits into a busy kitchen, and whether the overall convenience justifies the price. In this review, I’ll examine the Ninja PREPi 6-in-1 Prep & Store System’s key features, potential drawbacks, and what buyers should know before deciding whether it belongs in their kitchen.
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Ninja PREPi 6-in-1 Prep & Store System Review
The Ninja PREPi 6-in-1 Prep & Store System is designed to make everyday food preparation less time-consuming by combining chopping, slicing, shredding, dicing, puréeing and crinkle cutting in one compact appliance. What makes it different from a conventional food processor is that its bowls also double as food-storage containers.
When evaluating a food-prep system like this, I look beyond the number of functions it offers. What matters is whether it makes preparing ingredients easier, whether the cuts are consistent enough for everyday cooking, and whether the time saved during preparation is worth the effort of cleaning the blades and attachments afterward.
The PREPi’s main appeal is its prep-to-storage design. Instead of processing ingredients in one container and transferring them to another for refrigeration, you can use the included bowls for both tasks. The two bowl sizes also give you more flexibility when preparing ingredients for different meals.
However, this isn’t a replacement for every full-size food processor. Its compact design and 500-watt motor make it more appropriate for everyday, small-batch food preparation than demanding jobs such as processing large quantities of dough.
In this review, I’ll focus on the features that matter most when deciding whether the Ninja PREPi is a worthwhile addition to your kitchen: cutting performance, bowl capacity, ease of use, cleaning and overall practicality.
Why I considered the Ninja PREPi
One of the less enjoyable parts of preparing meals isn’t necessarily chopping the ingredients. It’s everything that follows: scraping food out of the processor, transferring it to a storage container, washing the bowl, and finding somewhere to keep all the attachments.
The Ninja PREPi is designed to reduce that extra work.
Its motor pod sits above the processing bowl rather than underneath it like the base of many conventional food processors. Once processing is finished, you can remove the motor pod and processing components, fit the storage lid and put the prepared ingredients in the refrigerator.
That approach makes the most sense if you regularly prepare vegetables, salad ingredients, sauces or toppings ahead of time.
The important question, however, is whether the convenience of the storage bowls outweighs the additional parts you need to clean and store.
That’s the trade-off I’d pay attention to before buying.
What is the Ninja PREPi 6-in-1?
The Ninja PREPi PN351 is a compact food-preparation system designed for six functions:
- Dicing
- Chopping
- Puréeing
- Slicing
- Shredding
- Crinkle cutting
The configuration described in this review includes a 5-cup bowl, a 7-cup bowl, storage lids, a 500-watt motor pod, a chopping and puréeing blade, a reversible slicing and shredding disc, a crinkle-cut disc and a dicing kit.
The smaller bowl is suitable for modest quantities of ingredients, dips and sauces. The larger bowl gives you more room for preparing salad vegetables, shredding cheese or processing ingredients for several meals.
I would think of the PREPi as a compact food-prep system rather than a large-capacity food processor. Its design prioritizes convenience and versatility over handling very large batches.
First impressions: a different approach to food preparation
The PREPi’s design is different from the traditional food processor layout, where the motor sits beneath the bowl.
Here, the motor pod is removable and sits above the processing assembly. This makes the motor unit easier to handle separately, while the bowls can be used for storage after processing.
The plastic bowls also help keep the system manageable. They may not feel as substantial as glass, but they are practical for a product designed to be moved between the countertop and refrigerator.
The controls are relatively straightforward, with options for different processing tasks and speeds.
One thing worth remembering is that a multi-function appliance requires more organization than a basic electric chopper. You need to select the appropriate blade or disc, assemble it correctly and make sure the lid and motor pod are properly positioned.
Once you understand the setup, the different attachments give you more flexibility than a basic chopping appliance.
What stands out about the Ninja PREPi
- 1. Two bowls that make meal preparation more flexible
The two-bowl arrangement is one of the most practical features of the Ninja PREPi.
A 5-cup bowl is useful when you’re preparing a smaller quantity, such as ingredients for a dip or a modest batch of sauce. The 7-cup bowl is better suited to larger quantities of chopped vegetables or ingredients for multiple meals.
The advantage is that you don’t have to treat every preparation task as though it needs the same capacity.
For example, you might use the larger bowl for salad ingredients and the smaller one for a dressing or sauce. The storage lids also allow prepared ingredients to be covered without immediately transferring them to separate containers.
That can reduce the number of dishes you use during meal preparation.
There is a limitation, though: the bowls do not eliminate every cleanup task. The processing components still need attention, and you may need another container for ingredients that exceed the available capacity.
- 2. Prep and store in the same bowl
This is the feature that gives the Ninja PREPi its strongest practical advantage over a conventional processor.
After chopping or shredding, you can remove the processing components, attach the storage lid and refrigerate the prepared ingredients in the same bowl.
This is particularly useful for meal preparation because you can prepare ingredients in advance rather than repeating the same tasks whenever you cook.
For example, chopped onions and peppers can be ready for later cooking, while prepared salad ingredients can be covered and refrigerated until needed.
The benefit isn’t necessarily faster chopping. It’s reducing the extra steps between chopping, storing and cleaning up.
One caveat: always remove the blade and other processing components before using the bowl for storage or serving. Also, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for food storage, refrigeration and safe handling.
- 3. The dicing kit is useful for consistent vegetable pieces
The dicing attachment is worth considering if you regularly prepare ingredients for soups, stews, salads or roasted vegetables.
Uniformly sized pieces help ingredients cook more evenly, although the appropriate size still depends on the recipe.
Hand-dicing can be time-consuming when you’re preparing a large quantity of firm vegetables. A dedicated dicing attachment can make that task less repetitive.
However, the results depend on the ingredients and how they’re prepared. Firm vegetables, such as potatoes, require a different amount of force from softer ingredients. You should follow the manufacturer’s guidance on ingredient size and preparation rather than forcing oversized pieces through the attachment.
The dicing kit also introduces another cleaning task. Small pieces of food can become lodged in the grid, so inspect the attachment carefully after use and clean it with the recommended tool.
For frequent meal prep, that extra step may be worthwhile. If you only dice an onion occasionally, it may be difficult to justify buying a more elaborate appliance solely for this function.
- 4. Slicing and shredding for everyday cooking
The reversible slicing and shredding disc adds useful flexibility.
Slicing can help prepare ingredients such as cucumbers, carrots and apples, while shredding is useful for cabbage, carrots and cheese.
The main advantage is consistency. A food processor can produce more uniform pieces than rushed knife work, particularly when preparing larger quantities.
Still, you shouldn’t assume that every ingredient will come out exactly as you want it. The thickness of slices and texture of shredded ingredients depend on the disc design and the ingredient being processed.
If you prefer very thick shreds or unusually fine slices, check whether the included disc matches your cooking preferences.
- 5. Chopping and puréeing for sauces and dips
The chopping and puréeing blade makes the Ninja PREPi useful for more than vegetables.
It can be used for tasks such as chopping herbs, preparing salsa, blending cooked vegetables into a purée and making dips, depending on the recipe and quantity.
The important distinction is that a compact food-prep system isn’t necessarily designed to produce perfectly smooth results from every ingredient.
Thick mixtures can collect around the sides or below the blade’s effective reach. When that happens, stop the machine, disconnect the motor pod and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safely scraping down the bowl before continuing.
Using short pulses can also help you control texture when you want a coarse salsa or chopped ingredients rather than a completely smooth purée.
This is one area where understanding the recipe matters as much as choosing the correct attachment.
- 6. Crinkle cutting adds variety
The crinkle-cut disc is a less essential feature, but it can be useful if you enjoy making homemade potato wedges, fries or decorative vegetable slices.
The ridged shape gives ingredients a different appearance and can add texture to the finished dish.
I would consider it a bonus rather than a primary reason to purchase the PREPi. Most households won’t need crinkle-cut vegetables every day, and ordinary knife work can achieve many of the same basic results.
Still, if you enjoy experimenting with presentation or preparing homemade sides, it’s a useful addition to the system.
Everyday usability: what matters most
A food processor can have several impressive attachments and still be inconvenient if it takes too long to assemble or clean.
With the Ninja PREPi, I would pay particular attention to three things.
Assembly: Make sure the appropriate blade or disc is correctly positioned and the lid and motor pod are secured before operating the appliance. The safety interlocks are useful, but they don’t remove the need to follow the assembly instructions.
Capacity: Choose the bowl based on the quantity you’re preparing. Overfilling can affect processing results and create a mess, so prepare larger quantities in batches when necessary.
Cleanup: Consider the number of components involved in your usual recipes. Chopping an onion with a basic chopper is a simpler job than setting up the PREPi’s slicing disc or dicing kit.
The PREPi makes the most sense when you use several of its functions regularly. If you only need one simple task occasionally, a less complicated appliance may be more practical.
What I like about the Ninja PREPi
- Prep-to-storage design: The included lids let you refrigerate prepared ingredients in the processing bowls.
- Two bowl sizes: You can choose between smaller and larger preparation tasks.
- Multiple cutting functions: Slicing, shredding, dicing and crinkle cutting extend its usefulness beyond basic chopping.
- Compact motor pod: The removable motor unit is easier to handle separately from a heavy traditional processor base.
- Useful for batch preparation: It can help reduce repetitive knife work when preparing ingredients for several meals.
- Versatility: One system can perform several common food-preparation tasks.
What I don’t like
- Several components to clean: The dicing grid, blade and discs require attention after use.
- Plastic bowls: Buyers who prefer the weight and feel of glass may find the construction less premium.
- Limited capacity compared with large processors: The 5-cup and 7-cup bowls aren’t intended for large-scale batch processing.
- No substitute for a heavy-duty processor: Its 500-watt motor and compact design make it a less suitable choice for demanding, high-volume tasks.
- Learning curve: You need to understand which attachment to use and how to assemble it correctly.
- Storage still matters: The bowls, lids, discs, blade and motor pod all need a place in your kitchen.
Who should buy the Ninja PREPi 6-in-1?
I would consider this system if you regularly prepare ingredients in advance and want to make that process more organized.
It’s particularly worth considering for:
- Home cooks who prepare vegetables and salad ingredients several times a week.
- People who make dips, sauces and purées.
- Smaller households that benefit from compact preparation bowls.
- Anyone who wants to reduce transfers between a processor and storage containers.
- Cooks who regularly shred cheese, slice vegetables or dice firm ingredients.
- People who want several food-preparation functions in one appliance.
Who should skip it?
I’d look at a different appliance if you:
- Frequently prepare very large batches for a big family.
- Need a food processor primarily for demanding dough preparation.
- Want a heavy-duty machine for intensive processing tasks.
- Dislike washing multiple attachments.
- Prefer glass processing bowls.
- Only need to chop small quantities occasionally.
A basic electric chopper may be enough for occasional onions, herbs or small quantities of vegetables. A larger traditional food processor makes more sense for bulk cooking and demanding recipes.
Ninja PREPi vs. a traditional food processor
| Feature | Ninja PREPi 6-in-1 | Traditional food processor |
|---|---|---|
| Main advantage | Prep-to-storage convenience | Broader capacity and processing options, depending on model |
| Bowl arrangement | Two bowls with storage lids | Usually a main processing bowl |
| Food storage | Bowls can be covered for storage | Often requires a separate container |
| Cutting functions | Includes several specialized attachments | Varies by model and accessories |
| Motor design | Compact removable motor pod | Usually a motor base beneath the bowl |
| Best use | Everyday small-batch meal preparation | Larger batches and more demanding processing |
| Main drawback | Multiple parts to clean and store | Can require more counter and storage space |
Neither design is automatically better. The PREPi prioritizes convenience between preparation and storage, while a larger food processor may be the better choice when capacity and demanding processing tasks matter more.
Is the Ninja PREPi 6-in-1 worth buying?
The answer depends on how you cook.
If you regularly chop vegetables, prepare salads, shred cheese, make sauces and store ingredients for later, the Ninja PREPi has a practical advantage: it combines several preparation functions with bowls designed for storage.
That can simplify your workflow and reduce the number of containers you need to wash.
The dicing kit is especially worth considering if you regularly prepare firm vegetables in consistent pieces. The slicing and shredding disc also makes sense for anyone who prepares salads or other ingredients in quantity.
However, I wouldn’t buy the Ninja PREPi simply because it offers six functions. Those functions are valuable only if they match your regular cooking habits.
If you mostly chop one onion at a time, a simpler chopper may be cheaper and easier to maintain. If you need to process large quantities of ingredients or regularly tackle demanding jobs, a larger food processor would be a better investment.
My final verdict
The Ninja PREPi 6-in-1 Prep & Store System is best understood as a compact meal-preparation and storage solution, not a replacement for every food processor.
Its biggest advantage is the combination of multiple cutting functions, two bowl sizes and storage lids. That design can make weekly meal preparation more organized by reducing the need to transfer ingredients between containers.
The main compromises are the limited bowl capacity, plastic construction and additional cleaning involved with the attachments.
I’d recommend the Ninja PREPi if you prepare food regularly and will use its storage bowls and multiple cutting functions. If your needs are simpler or your batches are much larger, a basic chopper or full-size food processor may offer better value.
Ultimately, the best reason to buy the PREPi isn’t the number of functions printed on the box. It’s whether its prep-to-storage design fits the way you actually cook.