The Ninja Foodi is a popular multi-cooker that offers a variety of cooking functions, including air frying. One of the most common questions about the Ninja Foodi is whether it comes with a dedicated air fryer basket or if you need to buy one separately. The short answer is yes, the Ninja Foodi does come with an air fryer basket.
What is the Ninja Foodi?
The Ninja Foodi is a pressure cooker, air fryer, and multi-cooker all in one appliance. It has several cooking functions including pressure cooking, air frying, baking, broiling, dehydrating, sautéing, steaming, slow cooking, yogurt making, and more. The Ninja Foodi aims to replace several kitchen appliances by combining fast, tender cooking results with crispy, golden finishes.
Key Features
- Pressure cooking speeds up cooking times
- Air frying produces crispy results using little to no oil
- The pot and cooker lid are oven-safe for finishing dishes or cooking one-pot meals
- TenderCrisp Technology lets you pressure cook to lock in juices then air fry to crisp up the exterior
- Digital display and programmable settings make the Foodi easy to use
Does the Ninja Foodi Come With an Air Fryer Basket?
Yes, the Ninja Foodi comes with a 4-quart nonstick air fryer basket. The air fryer basket sits inside the inner pot. Since the Ninja Foodi uses advanced heating technology and rapid cyclonic air to circulate hot air, you don’t need a lot of oil to get crispy, fried results. The nonstick basket makes cleanup easy.
Using the Air Fryer Basket
To use the air fryer basket, remove the inner pot from the Ninja Foodi. Place your food like french fries, chicken wings, or Brussels sprouts in the basket. Slide the basket back into the cooker. Select Air Fry, set the temperature and time, then press start. The Foodi will air fry your food, producing that delicious crispy texture.
TenderCrisp Cooking
One of the signature features of the Ninja Foodi is TenderCrisp Technology. This lets you pressure cook ingredients to lock in juices and flavors. Then you can swap to the crisping lid to give your food a crispy, golden exterior. TenderCrisp opens up a whole new world of recipes and dishes you can make in one pot.
For example, you can TenderCrisp chicken. First, add your chicken and sauce or marinade to the pot. Pressure cook the chicken until cooked through. Then swap to the air fry lid and air fry until the outside gets crispy. You get juicy, tender chicken with a crispy crunchy crust.
TenderCrisp Cooking Steps
- Pressure cook ingredients in the inner pot
- Quick pressure release to release steam
- Remove inner pot
- Add your air fryer basket to the inner pot with food
- Attach the crisping lid
- Select Air Fry mode to finish cooking with crispy texture
Benefits of the Air Fryer Basket
The air fryer basket brings several benefits:
- Nonstick surface for easy release of foods and quick cleanup
- Makes it easy to swap between pressure cooking and air frying
- Holds up to 4 quarts of food
- Allows air flow on all sides for even crisping
- Lets you air fry directly in the Ninja Foodi
More Tips for Using the Air Fryer Basket
- The basket is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- If cooking larger foods, divide them into smaller pieces so they fit into the 4-quart basket
- Avoid overcrowding to ensure proper air circulation
- Use a cooking spray or brush foods with oil to get extra crispy exteriors
- Shake or flip foods halfway during cooking for evenly browned foods
What Can You Make in the Air Fryer Basket?
The Ninja Foodi’s air fryer basket is great for cooking all kinds of delicious fried foods and more. Here are some examples:
| Food | Cook Time | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| French fries | 15-20 minutes | 400°F |
| Chicken wings | 15-20 minutes | 400°F |
| Brussels sprouts | 15-20 minutes | 400°F |
| Chicken nuggets | 10-12 minutes | 400°F |
| Fish fillets or sticks | 8-10 minutes | 400°F |
You can also air fry foods like roasted vegetables, pork chops, tofu, and more. The possibilities are endless!
Conclusion
The Ninja Foodi does come with an air fryer basket to use when you want to make foods with a crispy exterior. The 4-quart nonstick basket lets you cook and air fry a decent amount of food at once. Use the basket for flipping between pressure cooking and air frying during TenderCrisp meals. Or, use it on its own to air fry up wings, fries, nuggets, and all kinds of yummy foods. The air fryer basket is an essential part of what makes the Ninja Foodi so versatile and unique.