Meet the Ninja Foodi: This Combination Air Fryer and Pressure Cooker Makes Meal Prep a Breeze

As home chefs who are always looking for the next best kitchen gadget, we’ve cracked the code when it comes to our favorite appliances. This includes the best air fryers and pressure cookers, and the handy accessories to go with them.

But, what if we told you there was one multi-cooker powerhouse that combined all the best features of these buzz-worthy appliances? Yes, true love does exist and goes by the name, Ninja Foodi. Our Test Kitchen loves that it saves money by not having to buy multiple gadgets—and we know you’ll love it, too. Here’s everything you need to know about this genius multi-cooker.

What is the Ninja Foodi?

Basically, it’s the kitchen appliance of our dreams. With nine cooking methods, the Ninja Foodi is an air fryer, pressure cooker, broiler, dehydrator, slow cooker and steamer all in one. Though it boasts all the features of our favorite pressure cookers, the included air crisping lid is truly what sets it apart. It solves meal time pain points—like forgetting to defrost meat—by perfectly crisping or roasting frozen foods in a flash. Not to mention its nonstick components make cleanup a cinch.

If you’re not familiar with multi-cookers, allow us to introduce you. Not only are they a quick cooking method where you hardly have to lift a finger, the flavor they offer is unmatched. Since multi-cookers are covered, flavors don’t evaporate like they would by cooking over the stove. Plus, they cut down on cleaning time by not using multiple pots and pans.

Product Features

• Nine cooking functions
• 6.5-quart ceramic coated pot
• 4-quart ceramic coated cook and crisp basket
• Pressure lid
• Crisping lid
• Reversible steam and broil rack
• Cooks up to 70% faster
• Nonstick
• PTFE/PFOA-free
• Comes with recipe book

How to Use the Ninja Foodi

Once you’ve narrowed down the recipe you wish to cook (like these air-fryer recipes), assemble the Ninja Foodi with the appropriate cooking accessories. For example, if you’re making air-fryer French fries, you’ll want to use the included crisping lid—not the pressure lid. Or, if roasting an entire chicken, place it on the included stainless steel rack.

Once the ingredients and necessary components are set, all it takes is hitting the cooking button of your choice. You can also customize the temperature and cooking time, too.

Taste of Home‘s Senior Food Stylist, Shannon Norris, tested the Ninja Foodi and was impressed with its air-frying and pressure-cooking abilities. “I tried out the air-fryer lid with a frozen chicken patty and it worked really well!” shares Shannon. “The insert is nonstick and a little wider than most, allowing you to easily fit things like a whole chicken.”

The only downside? Shannon notes she had difficulty sautéing veggies using the sauté function. “The device took the longest to sauté my veggies as it doesn’t get as hot as other multi-cooker models.” Fortunately, there is a way to brown veggies and meats with the broiler function. “On a whim, I tried the broiler option and that worked really well to brown pork! Then I went back to sauté when I added the veggies. So, there is at least one way to brown items before using the pressure or slow-cook function.”

All in all, Shannon recommends the Ninja Foodi for any foodie who wants the convenience of both an air fryer and pressure cooker. “The only function I tested that I wasn’t impressed with was the sauté feature, but I think the other features make up for it.”

The Best Amazon User Reviews

Our Test Kitchen pros aren’t the only ones who love the Ninja Foodi. Here’s why more than 1,500 five-star reviewers love the multi-cooker:

David, a verified Amazon reviewer, calls the Ninja Foodi his favorite kitchen appliance: “I have a living situation which makes it hard to consistently use a conventional oven to prepare and cook food. This air fryer and pressure cooker has been a life saver. It’s easy to use, not extremely hard to move, and cleaning the device is very easy! It has plenty of extra attachments, and the included recipe book with cooking times for almost any food you would want to make has been very helpful!”