Is The Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Worth It
Yes! If you want an air fryer that can do more than air frying, Ninja Foodi is a good option. The cooking appliance can air fry, steam cook, dehydrate, bake, roast, slow cook, broil and sauté. It is a great device that can bring flexibility to your kitchen and work harder for you to make tasty air fryer desserts and more.
Instant Pot Vs Ninja Foodi: Design
To make things fair, I took a look at the most comparable models from both brands when comparing. These were the Instant Pot Pro Crisp and the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid: both have air fry options, both have 11 cooking modes, and while the Pro Crisp only comes in an 8-quart capacity, you can buy the Ninja SmartLid in either 6.5 or 8-quart capacities.
The main difference here is that the Instant Pot has two lids: something you’d have found with any Ninja Foodi that can also air fryer. That is until the SmartLid hit the market. Instead of having to switch from a pressure cooker to an air fry lid, you can now just slide the handle on the lid to choose from different cooking modes. This alters the internal functioning of the cooker, meaning you can pressure cook and air fry using just one lid.
Given that my main gripe with the Instant Pot when I tested it in the Instant Pot Pro Crisp review was its hefty storage requirements, I was excited when Ninja created a cooker that wouldn’t require me to store an extra lid alongside the cooker. Instant has very recently come out with a single-lid alternative, too, but we’re still reviewing that model.
What Kind Of Accessories Does An Air Fryer Come With
Some fancy models may come with extra accessories, but really all you need is an air fryer basket with wire or nonstick grates. They come standard with most air fryer models and help the superconvection to hit all sides of your food evenly. I prefer the nonstick variety as wire baskets can be particularly tricky to clean.
All the air fryers we tested came with a grated fryer basket or tray. The Philips Essential Digital model has it attached to the handle making it easier to remove for cleaning.
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Where Instant Pot Loses
Giving credit where it’s due, Instant Pot has closed the air frying gap that once put it at a serious disadvantage. It not only offers a variety of crisping models that come with the air frying lid as well as the lid for separate purchase for anyone who already has an Instant Pot, but now offers a model with a single lid that can do it all without swapping lids. That’s nothing special compared to the latest Foodi, which has a similar lid. The way to beat the Foodi would have been to make the lid completely removable rather than making the same mistake of using hinges, which has always been irksome about the Foodi. Small point deduction for that.
The Duo Crisp with the Ultimate Lid is the most similar to the classic Foodi, so it makes the most sense to compare them. While Instant Home did upgrade to 6.5 quarts instead of its usual 6-quart, it doesn’t take as much advantage of the extra cooking space as Ninja does. It only includes one rack that makes it possible to cook two layers at once, while Ninja’s double-tiered rack can do three layers at a time.
Is The Ninja Foodi The Same As The Instant Pot
Not a yes, but not necessarily a no, either.
Instant Pot invented the electric pressure cooking game. Though the first Instant Pot model came out in 2008, the hype around a single kitchen device to do it all grew to unprecedented levels around 2015. People both seasoned food enthusiasts and those who only cook out of necessity obsessed over it so much that it felt like no appliance would ever even share the spotlight.
Ninja had a quieter entrance to the scene around 2018, when it diverted from the realm of fancy blenders to create the Foodi: a pressure cooker that doubled as an air fryer. At the time, the ability to offer both kitchen buzzwords in one device was more than Instant Pot could say.
Thus, it began.
Ninja and Instant Home are constantly growing their product lines to close gaps and compete with one another. On top of upgrades to the classic pressure cookers, both brands have expanded to non-pressure cooking air fryers that also do a ton of other stuff. The Instant Vortex, Instant Omni, and Ninja Speedi are the big ones. Totally not confusing at all!
Also Check: Can You Use Instant Pot As Slow Cooker
Its Capabilities Are Vast
This one-stop-shop appliance can replace several space-stealing appliances. It can sous vide fish, proof dough, dehydrate fruit, ferment yogurt, and countless other tasks that you may not have expected yourself to be capable of at home.
Other multicookers we’ve tested have offered some of these functions, but this machine goes above and beyond in offering a much wider rangeall under one lid.
The previous Foodi multicooker we tested required switching between two lids: one for air frying and crisping, and the other for pressure cooking and steaming. This new model nixes that inconvenience, and replaces it with a SmartLid slider, where you can easily switch between Pressure, SteamCrisp, and Stovetop/Air Fry settings.
And with an interface that I found to be user-friendly and intuitive, navigating the countless cooking functions wasn’t intimidating.
Instant Pot Air Fryer Vs Ninja Foodi: Comparison Between The Two
Both Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot Air fryer are multifunction cooking appliances. The kitchen appliances can work as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, food steamer, and air fryer. They have almost the same features and functionalities but differ slightly in parts. You can buy one of the two, and you will have more flexibility in your kitchen. Read on to learn the comparison between Instant Pot Air Fryer vs Ninja Foodi.
Also Check: Instant Pot Air Fryer Attachment 8 Qt
What Size Air Fryer Should You Get
While there are several features to consider, the size of your air fryer is likely the most important decision you’ll make. If you’re typically cooking for one or two people, a 2- or 3-quart air fryer should be large enough. Consider adding another quart of capacity to your air fryer for every person that you’re regularly cooking for. A family of four or five, for instance, should be fine with a 5-quart model. If you plan on regularly cooking full meals for a family including meat and veggies or sides, you might consider a larger, dual-basket air fryer like the Ninja DualZone that we’ve recommended above.
Here’s the tiny 2-quart Gourmia air fryer next to the more standard 4.25-quart Phillips model.
All that said, the smaller the air fryer you can get away with the better. I’ve found that smaller air fryers such as the Magic Bullet 2- to 5-quart model and Instant Pot’s Duo Crisp net better results since food is going to get blasted faster and more often than inside a larger model. But smaller air fryers mean less overall capacity, so you may have to cook in batches.
Pressure Cooker Air Fryer Combo
I bought the Instant Pot months after it came on the market, when there were NO recipes out there. People were still afraid to use it. SO, I started figuring it out and used it every day for months. Now I have 101+ Instant Pot recipes to show for it.
- Even though it says Instant Pot you can use all of these in the Ninja Foodi using the pressure cooker function.
- AND you can use all of our easy air fryer recipes for it as well, that means two for the price of one.
Also Check: Instant Pot Com/support/register
Is The Ninja Foodi 11
Ill be blunt, all multi-cookers have learning curves.
Luckily, heres the good news:
Youll quickly understand the easy-to-use controls, so the starting point will be a piece of cake. Plus, Ninja includes a 45+ recipe cookbook to get you started.
On top of that? The Ninja Foodi Pro Pressure Cooker has a few user friendly functions. For instance, when the sous vide function finishes preheating, it will tell you to ADD FOOD.
Heres another example:
Suppose a pressure buildup occurs when the selected function is slow cook. In that case, the Ninja Foodi will notify you to open the vent. Otherwise, the machine will shut off to prevent any accident.
Likewise, the Ninja FD302 assembles comfortably. Watch this video from SharkNinja on how to use the accessories.
On the flip side:
Using the crisper plate with no handle is more challenging than a basket. To get things out, you have to remove the cooking pot altogether. Nevertheless, its just a minor flaw in exchange for a bigger capacity.
Now, lets talk about the cleanup:
Can The Ninja Foodi Be Used As An Air Fryer Is It Similar To Other Pressure Cookers And Air Fryers Out There
Yes. If youâve used other pressure cookers or air fryers, using this device will be very easy, and you should have little to no learning curve at all. It has all the familiar buttons youâre used to, making it simple to cook with.
For the recipe I made in my review video, I cooked an entire meal in one pot and it came out perfectly. This is especially helpful for recipes that could benefit from both the pressure cooker function and the air fryer function because you donât have to move the food from one device to another.
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Instant Pot Duo Crisp 8
Another versatile tool with excellent performance is this Instant Pot Duo Crisp. By using this kitchenware, your family can bond better, especially on a dining table.
This is an 11-in-1 device that you are able to air fry, bake, dehydrate, saute, pressure cook, slow cook, roast, steam, make yogurt, sterilize, and warm foods. Therefore, if you need the finest air fryer dehydrator, I think this one is also a great alternative.
In addition, you will be surprised with the air fryer lids EvenCrisp technology since it can cut down 95% oil, offering crunchy and tender dishes in just 1 bite. For a smaller version, you can go with a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Crisp at a lower price.
Key Features:
- Equipped with 11 smart functions, such as bake, air fry, pressure cook, dehydrate, saute, slow cook, roast, steam, sterilize, make yogurt, and warming
- Pressure cooking can perform 70% quicker than other techniques
- Have 10 safety features with Overheat Protection and a safe-locking lid
- Air fryer lid with EvenCrisp technology can cook food with less than 95% oil usage
Pros
| Brand | Instant Pot |
How to use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp properly for making many tasty meals? Check here and see.
How Well They Cook
To get a sense of how each air fryer in this test group handles, we ran a battery of three tests on each model. Each test focused on one food: chicken wings, Brussels sprouts and frozen french fries.
Most air fryers we tested passed the French fries test, although it’s critical to check on them frequently so you don’t overcook and dry them out.
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About This Review And Our Reviewer
Terris product review experience ranges from home goods to office equipment to TVs, speakers, and headphones. She has product review bylines at Realtor.com, Bob Vila, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, The Daily Beast, Toms Guide, and Investopedia. Terri is always on the lookout for new products that can make chores easier .
What Is An Instant Pot Air Fryer
An instant port air fryer is a kitchen appliance that comes as a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, rice cooker, and food steamer all in one. The device features stainless steel cooking pot, smart lid, air fryer lid, LCD screen, one-touch control panel, and more advanced features. In addition, the cooking appliance features preprogrammed functions and safety features, ensuring the device cooks without putting you or your family at risk.
It is essential to note that an instant pot air fryer can cook crunchy bacon, rice, vegetable, and steak. You just need to choose the right function or customize the cooking settings for the cooking procedure. For instance, if you want to slow cook, you just need to choose the slow cook function, and the machine will do the rest for you. However, it is advisable to adjust settings manually for best results depending on what you are cooking.
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Ninja Foodi Vs Instant Pot: Which Is Better
I love to cook many dishes but hate using many different appliances, so the Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi all-in-one cooking pots are fantastic. I did not know which one was better or the differences between the two, so I decided to get to the bottom of it and see which one was the champion of the kitchen.
Both the Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are all-in-one multi-function cooking appliances. They both have many of the same features and functions, including steaming, pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, and more.
The main differences between the two are that the Ninja Foodi comes with an air fryer lid built onto the appliance, and the air fryer lid is sold separately for the Instant Pot.
This article will look at all the features and functions of both the Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot. Then we will detail the similarities and differences between the two, including their price ranges, and in conclusion, we will pick a winner.
The Instruction Booklet Falls Short
I found myself struggling to get accustomed to how this machine works, at first. The provided booklet wasn’t as helpful as I would’ve liked. It doesn’t include photo diagrams describing each piece of the machine, so I had to dig through the Ninja website to find the full manual, which was more helpful.
There were other instructions that were lacking as well, like an explanation of how the steam knob works, and certain core recipes that disappointed me about the included booklet.
When you consider that some folks may not be as tech savvyor have access to the internet at allit’s much more crucial to include all the user information in the provided booklet, rather than hidden somewhere online.
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Instant Pot Vs Ninja Foodi: Which Should You Buy
If you’ve read our full reviews, you’ll know that we love both the Instant Pot and the Ninja Foodi, but for very different reasons.
The Ninja Foodi was the first multi-cooker to add an air fry lid to its machines, bringing a new element to the classic Instant Pot design. However, Instant Pot was quick to follow suit with its own line of Crisp lids that can be fitted onto select models. While both brands make some of the best air fryers we’ve tested, we think the winner for those who want a smart multi-cooker that can also air fry is the Ninja Foodi.
However, if you want a classic multi-cooker that will allow you to sear, sous vide, slow cook, and pressure cook, the classic design of the Instant Pot and its deeper inner pot is perfectly suited. And if the price is your main priority, we also think the Instant Pot is the smartest choice.
Difference Between Instant Port Air Fryer Vs Ninja Foodi
The main difference is that the crispy lid is built onto the Ninja Foodi, but the instant pot air fryer comes with two removable lids. Price is almost the same but can vary with the model you go for. There are no other significant differences between the Instant Pot Air Fryer and Ninja Foodi as they have almost the same functions and results in healthier meals.
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Best Design: Dash Deluxe Electric Air Fryer
This oversized air fryer is easy on the eyes. The Dash Deluxe has the largest cooking capacity of any of the ovens we tested with a 6-quart cooking basket. It also has some undeniable retro appeal and is available in a few fun colors. The appliance we tested was aqua, though it also comes in red, black and white. This model also has all manual controls with no presets and was exceedingly simple to operate.
Aesthetics aside, the Dash fried up batches of wings, Brussels sprouts, tater tots and French fries that were all cooked evenly and well. In our first round of testing, we found it easy to overshoot when air frying a mozzarella stick if youre not careful. For us, thats a good thing and only means the air fryer has considerable power that you simply need to learn to manage.
I rarely rely solely on food manufacturer recommendations or oven presets but rather use them as a loose guide and do lots of peeking and checking along the way. The Dash has exactly zero presets and no cooking modes such as roast or dehydrate but still got the most important jobs done.
The Dash is also solidly built, although not quite as sound as the Ninja. Its also on the heavy side, so this is one you might need to find a permanent home for. If you like this model but prefer a smaller size, the compact model for just $50 right now.