The Ninja Foodi is an incredibly versatile multi-cooker that promises to replace several appliances in your kitchen. With features like pressure cooking, air frying, steaming, slow cooking, yogurt making, sautéing, and more, it may seem like you can cook just about anything in the Ninja Foodi.
What is the Ninja Foodi?
The Ninja Foodi is a combination pressure cooker and air fryer. It has a 6.5 quart ceramic coated pot that can pressure cook, slow cook, steam, sauté, sear, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate, and keep foods warm. There is also a 4 quart air fryer basket that sits on top of the pot to air fry, roast, broil, and dehydrate. The Ninja Foodi has temperature settings from 105°F to 400°F and pressure settings low, medium, and high. There are also preset buttons for common functions like pressure cooking, air frying, steaming, yogurt making, sautéing, slow cooking, and dehydrating.
Having both pressure cooking and air frying capabilities in one appliance means you can use moist heat cooking methods like braising as well as dry heat cooking methods like air frying in the Ninja Foodi. This makes it an extremely versatile appliance.
What Can You Make in the Ninja Foodi?
Here are some of the many different foods and dishes you can make in the Ninja Foodi:
Meats
- Chicken – whole, pieces, thighs, breasts, wings, drumsticks
- Beef – roasts, steaks, stews, meatballs
- Pork – roasts, chops, ribs, tenderloin
- Lamb – chops, leg of lamb
- Turkey – whole turkey, turkey breast
- Sausages
- Meatloaf
Seafood
- Fish – salmon, cod, halibut, etc.
- Shrimp
- Lobster tails
- Crab legs
- Mussels
- Clams
- Scallops
Vegetables
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Green beans
- Asparagus
- Brussels sprouts
- Squash
- Eggplant
- Beets
- Corn on the cob
- Artichokes
Beans and Legumes
- Dried beans – kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, pinto beans, lentils, etc.
- Soybeans
- Lima beans
- Fava beans
- Edamame
- Peas
Rice and Grains
- White rice
- Brown rice
- Quinoa
- Farro
- Barley
- Oatmeal
- Couscous
- Wild rice
Pasta and Noodles
- Spaghetti
- Penne
- Rigatoni
- Fettuccine
- Gnocchi
- Lasagna noodles
- Egg noodles
- Rice noodles
- Ramen
Breads and Baked Goods
- Yeast breads and rolls
- Quick breads and muffins
- Cornbread
- Bagels
- Pizza crust
- Pie crust
- Cakes
- Cheesecake
Breakfast
- Oatmeal
- Grits
- Eggs – scrambled, hard boiled, poached
- Breakfast casseroles
- Yogurt
- French toast
- Pancakes
- Potatoes
- Bacon
- Sausage
Soups, Stews, and Chilis
- Chicken noodle soup
- Vegetable soup
- Beef stew
- Chicken chili
- Beef chili
- Lentil soup
- Split pea soup
- Tomato soup
- Broccoli cheese soup
- Potato soup
Dips and Appetizers
- Queso
- Spinach artichoke dip
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Meatballs
- Wings
- Egg rolls
- Crab cakes
- Stuffed mushrooms
Side Dishes
- Roasted vegetables – potatoes, brussels sprouts, asparagus, etc.
- Macaroni and cheese
- Rice pilaf
- Quinoa salad
- Potatoes au gratin
- Scalloped potatoes
- Beans
- Stuffing
Desserts
- Cobblers
- Custard
- Cheesecake
- Brownies
- Cakes
- Cookies
- Fruit crisps and crumbles
- Bread pudding
As you can see, the list of foods you can make in the Ninja Foodi is extremely long and covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides, appetizers, and desserts. Almost anything that you would normally make in a regular oven, on the stovetop, or in a slow cooker or pressure cooker can be made in the Ninja Foodi.
Benefits of Cooking in the Ninja Foodi
There are several benefits to cooking in the Ninja Foodi rather than using multiple appliances:
- Saves counter space – Replaces a pressure cooker, slow cooker, sauté pan, skillet, and air fryer.
- Cooks food quickly – Pressure cooking is much faster than slow cooking or simmering on the stove.
- Versatility – Ability to pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, bake, broil, roast, air fry, etc. in one pot.
- Air frying capability – Gets food crispy without having to deep fry in oil.
- Easy cleanup – The pot and basket are dishwasher safe and nonstick surfaces make cleaning easier.
- Safety features – The Ninja Foodi has over 10 safety features built in.
Limitations of the Ninja Foodi
While the Ninja Foodi is extremely versatile, there are a few limitations to what you can make:
- Small capacity – With only a 6.5 quart pot, you can’t cook large roasts, whole chickens, or make food in bulk.
- No baking sheet – The air fryer basket is small so you can’t make a full sheet of cookies or roast veggies in a single layer.
- No broiler – You need a flame to get the hatch marks and char from an outdoor grill.
- Size restrictions – Large roasts or whole birds may not fit.
- Limited temperature range – Not designed to safely cook at very high searing temperatures.
Tips for Cooking in the Ninja Foodi
To get the best results when cooking in the Ninja Foodi, follow these tips:
- Cut food into smaller pieces – This helps food cook faster and more evenly.
- Use the trivet – Keep foods like vegetables and fish above the liquid in the pot.
- Preheat if air frying – Get the pot hot before air frying to crisp the exterior.
- Adjust liquid – Use less liquid than stove top since there is less evaporation.
- Use cook times as a guide – Check food for doneness as cook times can vary.
- Let pressure release naturally – Don’t quick release if cooking meat, dairy or grains.
- Clean valve after each use – Ensure the pressure valve moves freely.
- Grease inserts as needed – Oil or grease pots and fryer basket as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cook frozen foods in the Ninja Foodi?
Yes, the Ninja Foodi can cook frozen foods. The pressure cooking and air frying functions work well for cooking frozen foods quickly and evenly. Some examples of frozen foods you can cook are frozen fish fillets, shrimp, chicken breasts, french fries, tater tots and frozen vegetables.
Does the Ninja Foodi replace a slow cooker?
Yes, the Ninja Foodi can replace a stand-alone slow cooker. The Ninja Foodi has a slow cook function that allows you to cook on low or high for up to 12 hours. You can make chili, stews, roasts, dips and more using the slow cook setting.
Can you bake a cake in the Ninja Foodi?
You can bake small cakes and desserts like mug cakes in the Ninja Foodi by using the bake/roast function. However, you may not be able to make a full sized layered cake, as the capacity is only 6.5 quarts. Smaller sheet cakes, coffee cakes and bundt cakes would work better.
Is the Ninja Foodi safe to use indoors?
Yes, the Ninja Foodi is safe for indoor use. It has over 10 built in safety features including a safety lock, anti-block shield, pressure and temperature sensors, and more. As long as you use it properly by sealing the lid and allowing the pressure to release safely, it is safe to use in your kitchen.
Do you need special pots and pans for the Ninja Foodi?
The Ninja Foodi comes with a 6.5 quart ceramic coated, nonstick pot for pressure cooking and crisping, as well as a 4 quart nonstick cook and crisp basket. You can use these accessories for most cooking tasks so you do not need to purchase other special pots and pans.
How do you clean the Ninja Foodi?
The main cooking pot, crisping basket, and lid are all dishwasher safe. You can also hand wash them with warm soapy water. Avoid abrasive scouring pads as they can damage the nonstick surfaces. Make sure to fully dry each part after cleaning. The exterior can be wiped down with a soft, damp cloth to keep clean.
Conclusion
The Ninja Foodi is an extremely versatile multi-cooker that can pressure cook, air fry, slow cook, sauté, steam and more all in one appliance. While there are some size limitations, you can cook a wide variety of foods in the Ninja Foodi from meats to seafood, vegetables, grains, beans, pasta and more. With a few tips on adjusting cook times and liquid, cutting food to size and preheating when air frying, you can get fantastic results. The Ninja Foodi is a workhorse appliance that can replace several other appliances in your kitchen and allow you to cook almost anything.