The Ninja Foodi is an all-in-one multicooker that can pressure cook, air fry, sear, sauté, steam, slow cook, bake, broil, dehydrate, and more. With so many cooking functions, it’s understandable if you’re unsure whether you need to add water when using the Ninja Foodi.
The short answer is: it depends on which cooking function you are using. For some functions like pressure cooking, slow cooking, or steaming, liquid is required. For other functions like air frying, baking, or broiling, no water is needed. Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of when and how much water is required for the different cooking programs of the Ninja Foodi.
Pressure Cooking
Pressure cooking requires liquid in order to build up steam and pressure inside the sealed pot. So yes, you do need to add water or other liquid when pressure cooking in the Ninja Foodi.
The minimum amount of liquid required is 1 cup. However, you’ll typically want to use more liquid than that to ensure the food cooks properly and doesn’t burn. A general guideline is to use at least 1/2 cup liquid for every 15 minutes of pressure cooking time.
Here are some tips for adding liquid when pressure cooking with the Ninja Foodi:
- Use water, broth, juice, wine, or other flavorful liquids.
- Don’t fill more than 2/3 full when pressure cooking.
- For foods like beans or grains that expand, don’t fill more than halfway.
- Vegetables only need 1/4 cup liquid since they release moisture.
- Meat requires at least 1/2 cup liquid to prevent burning.
Slow Cooking
Slow cooking also requires added liquid, again to create steam and moisture for braising. The minimum amount of liquid needed for slow cooking in the Ninja Foodi is 1 cup.
However, more liquid is usually better for slow cooking. A good rule of thumb is to cover ingredients with liquid until almost submerged. You can always remove excess liquid at the end if needed. Some slow cooker recipes call for 2-3 cups of liquid or more.
Good liquid options for slow cooking include:
- Water
- Broth
- Wine
- Tomato juice
- Milk
Avoid filling the inner pot more than 2/3 full when slow cooking to prevent overflow as ingredients cook down.
Steaming
Steaming requires adding water or other liquid to the bottom of the Ninja Foodi inner pot. The boiling liquid converts to steam which cooks the food.
For steaming, add 1-2 cups of water or broth to the inner pot. You can also use wine, juices, or other liquids to add flavor. The amount of liquid needed can vary based on the amount of food you are steaming.
Keep an eye on the water level as you steam and add more liquid if needed. Avoid letting the pot run dry. Steaming times are usually quicker than pressure or slow cooking, around 10-20 minutes.
Sautéing
When using the Ninja Foodi’s sauté function, you typically don’t need to add liquid. The sauté setting heats the inner pot to provide quick, high-heat searing and cooking.
However, you may need to add small amounts of liquid like oil, butter, marinades, etc. to sauté ingredients properly. This depends on the recipe. The key is to use just enough liquid to cook the food without creating excess steam.
Avoid adding more than 1/4 cup liquid when sautéing in the Ninja Foodi or the high heat can cause splattering.
Air Frying
Air frying uses super hot air and no oil to crisp and cook foods. So you do not add any liquid when air frying in the Ninja Foodi.
Adding water or other liquid to foods would prevent them from getting crispy. Air frying works best for foods that are dry, like frozen foods, french fries, chicken wings, etc.
However, you can lightly brush or spray a bit of oil on foods before air frying to promote browning and crispiness if needed. Misting with oil is preferable to adding actual liquid.
Baking/Roasting
When using the Ninja Foodi’s bake/roast function, you typically don’t need to add liquid. The bake setting uses dry heat to cook food evenly throughout.
Liquids like oil or butter can be used to coat baking pans or roast vegetables. But avoid adding excess liquid that would cause steaming. A few tablespoons is usually sufficient.
If a recipe calls for adding liquid to a batter or dough, that’s fine. But don’t pour water, broth, or other liquid into the bottom of the pot when baking or roasting.
Broiling
Broiling uses direct, intense heat from above so no water or liquid should be added. The high heat helps sear and caramelize foods.
Adding liquid would cause steaming instead of searing. You can brush a small amount of oil or glaze onto meat or fish before broiling in the Ninja Foodi if desired. But avoid any excess liquid in the pot bottom.
Dehydrating
Dehydrating removes moisture from foods to preserve them for storage. So no additional liquid should be added when using the Ninja Foodi’s dehydrate function.
Make sure foods are as dry as possible before dehydrating. If needed, blot wet foods with paper towels. Any liquid left on foods will take longer to dehydrate.
Yogurt Making
When making yogurt in the Ninja Foodi, water is a key ingredient. Yogurt making uses low heat over several hours to ferment milk into thick, tangy yogurt.
Fill the inner pot with 4 cups of milk, dairy or non-dairy. Then whisk in 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt with active cultures. Lastly, add 1/4 cup of warm water. The water helps regulate the temperature and acidity as the yogurt cultures.
Keep the lid on during the entire yogurt making process, about 8-12 hours. The water and milk will mix together as the yogurt thickens.
Overall Tips for Adding Liquid
Here are some general tips for knowing when and how much liquid to add when cooking with the Ninja Foodi:
- Pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, and yogurt making require added liquid.
- Air frying, baking, broiling, and dehydrating do not require added liquid.
- For pressure cooking and slow cooking, cover ingredients with 1-3 cups liquid.
- For steaming, use 1-2 cups liquid in the inner pot bottom.
- When sautéing, use small amounts up to 1/4 cup to prevent splattering.
- Avoid excess liquid that will cause too much steaming.
- Use cooking charts from recipes and the Ninja Foodi user manual for guidance.
Conclusion
Knowing whether or not to add liquid to the Ninja Foodi depends on which cooking function you are using. Moisture-dependent cooking methods like pressure cooking, slow cooking, and steaming do require adding water or other liquid. Dry heat techniques like air frying, broiling, and dehydrating should be done without adding liquid. Use cooking charts and get familiar with your Foodi to learn how much liquid is needed for different recipes.