Where Ninja Foodi Loses
There are fewer ways to “customize” your cooker needs here, both function-wise and size-wise. Despite what seems like 20 different Foodi models, only a few of them are actually pressure cookers. There’s less clear scaling up in terms of what each model can do, and cookers that are dedicated toaster ovens or air fryers are still just called the Foodi just with “XL” or “Deluxe” tacked onto the end. The Foodi doesn’t come in a mini 3-quart size at all.
While you can sometimes score an Instant Pot for as low as $50-ish if you’re fine with only six appliance functions, buying a Foodi locks you into spending at least $169. And it’s a bummer that the Foodi costs so much and doesn’t even have a stainless steel insert. The nonstick coating isn’t as fragile as Teflon, but there are reports of chipping from the metal rack being pulled in and out. Some people also aren’t comfortable with their food chilling in a plastic-y ceramic coating for hours.
Which Is Better: The Ninja Foodi Or The Instant Pot Duo Crisp
Most people will prefer the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer over the Foodi Deluxe due to the formers lower price point, more cooking functions, and a removable lid. Still, the Foodi is still a stellar appliance, so dont rule it out until you look for a good deal on a Ninja Foodi. Both machines have many useful cooking options, and either is worth the investment.
Editors’ Recommendations
Instant Pot Duo Review
As you may know, Instant Pot has a lot of models I reviewed on , but in order to make life easier for you, I chose the most popular one for this comparison.
The DUO series is wildly popular among both amateur and advanced chefs because it comes with a wide range of cool features without a big price tag.
Pressure cookers in this series are available in three sizes: 3qt , 6qt , and 8qt . I reviewed the 6qt. version, but besides the size, all the features are the same.
The IP DUO 60 is made from fingerprint-resistant brushed stainless steel on the outside and uses food-grade non-stick steel for the inner pot. Moreover, the bottom is made with 3-ply stainless steel to ensure even heating and durability.
Since this is a programmable electric multicooker, it is also equipped with 3rd generation technology and comes with an embedded microprocessor. As such, each dish is monitored for pressure, temperature, and heat intensity, and the pot makes necessary adjustments to deliver ideal results. Furthermore, the sealed lid and steam release valve ensure that flavors and nutrients remain in the food, which means better taste and texture.
Lastly, the pot features a 24-hour delay start and automatic keep-warm function. This lets you customize your cooking according to your availability.
Unlike the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, the Duo model above doesn’t has an air fryer option.
Pros
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Which Is Better: Ninja Foodi Vs The Instant Pot
The complicated answer to the Ninja Foodi vs. Instant Pot debate changes every time either brand launches a new iteration of its device. New releases happen much more often than you’d expect for the humble countertop cooker.
The blind spots each had a few years ago have mostly been covered at this point.
Both have LCD screens, multiple pressure settings, inserts that are dishwasher safe, and the rest of those expected specs. Which cooker you should get depends on the appliance features that you want to pay for and which one you think would look better on your counter, honestly.
Prices for the Foodi start at $169.99 and max out at a $279.99, with about four models in between. Prices for the Instant Pot start at $89 and max out at $249.99, with a few more models in between to ensure your perfect price point. The newest Instant Pot Pro Plus debuted at $169.99, comparing to the price of the oldest Ninja Foodi model that’s all but discontinued.
Keep reading as we dive deeper into where each device wins and loses, based off the models available in November 2021.
Why Didnt You Buy It At Amazon
Well, because Amazon didnt have it for 20% off but the main reason was because theres two different models on Amazon and its confusing which one you are actually going to get.
Some of the product photos show it has the dehydrator function/button but then some of the product photos show that they dont. So I didnt want to order this giant machine and then have to ship it back if I got the one without the dehydrator. See the photo above where this one obviously has the dehydrator option. There are models apparently that dont have that button.
It was just easier to buy in store somewhere.
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What Can You Make In An Air Fryer
The options for foods you can cook in an air fryer are vast but some air fryer favorites include chicken wings, chicken tenders, french fries and mozzarella sticks. You can also make fish in an air fryer, including salmon, for a moist inside and roasted outer crust. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are great when made in an air fryer, as are certain vegetables like Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, onions, peppers and carrots. Frozen foods such as dumplings, potato skins, Hot Pockets and tater tots can be made in an air fryer for a quick and easy snack or side dish. Air fryers can also quickly reheat food like last nights pizza or leftover fried chicken. Air fryers reheat food almost as quickly as a microwave and the results are generally much better.
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Ninja Foodi Vs Instant Pot: Which Should You Buy
Chuck it in
The Ninja pressure cooker can pressure cook, as well as steam, slow cook, sear and sauté, air-fry, bake, roast, broil, and dehydrate. The air-frying abilities are a real selling point as air-fryers are a standalone appliance, but with Ninja’s TenderCrisp technology, which promises to give your food a “crispy, golden finish,” you don’t need to buy another appliance. It comes complete with a 4-quart “Cook & Crisp” basket.
For
Not a total crock
From the much loved and respected Instant Pot brand, the Instant Pot Max 6 quart model offers family-friendly dimensions and the ability to do fermentation, sous vide, simmering, boiling, pressure cooking, sauté, and searing. It also works as a rice cooker, a yogurt maker, and a food warmer. Meanwhile, the 15 PSI pressure means you can also use this model to do home pressure canning.
For
- Even the lid is dishwasher safe
Against
- No air-frying or crisping
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So Which Is The Winner The Instant Pot Or The Ninja Foodi
If you like the idea of a two in one appliance the Ninja Foodi does well as both a pressure cooker and an air fryer. If you only need a pressure cooker, the Instant Pot is fine. It gets the job done.
Because of the additional air fryer feature, the Ninja Foodi is more expensive than the Instant pot as well. At the time I wrote this the 6.5 quart Ninja Foodi retails at about $210 on Amazon
while the 6 quart Instant Pot retails for around $100 on Amazon
I have enjoyed cooking with the Ninja Foodi for the last few months. It did a fantastic job on the roast chicken I showed in this post
All in all, I think the Ninja Foodi is a good appliance if you like the idea of a combination pressure cooker and air fryer. It does a good job at both tasks and is easy to use. It is rather large and a bit heavy at about 25 pounds. Keep that in mind if you have a small space.
How To Choose The Best Instant Pot For You
We’re calling it: 2022 is the year of the Instant Pot. Sure, they’ve been around for a while, but the best Instant Pots now do so much more than pressure cook. The latest models on the market can air fry, steam bake, prove bread, and even dehydrate. In short, it would be easier to list the things you can’t cook in one of these kitchen sidekicks.
From the classic Instant Pot Duo to the latest Instant Pot Pro line, there is a selection of multi-cookers that you can rely on for flavor-packed meals each and every day.
There are even a few Ninja Foodis in our guide, which may be cheating, but we loved them so much in testing that we just had to include them. Our latest top pick from Ninja uses just one lid to air fry, steam crisp, and pressure cook, which is a game-changer if you hate having more than one Instant Pot lid cluttering up your kitchen. We have also featured it in our guide to the
Whether it’s a simple stew to a multi-layered meal of steamed greens and baked fish, you can use the best Instant Pot to cook all manner of meals. Cleaning up is easy, with dishwasher-safe pots and accessories that will keep your life simple.
Look out for a capacity that suits your family size best, and you should also get serious about budget. Instant Pots can get pretty expensive, but prices don’t start too high, so there’s a lot of room to find the right one for you.
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How We Tested Both Air Fryers
I did a handful of cooking tests with different varieties of food including vegetables, frozen fries, white sandwich bread and of course, chicken wings. This was to test both the performance and ease of use of the air fryers. Ill go through my findings below!
Naturally, I did the wings first because I got to eat them right after.
Chicken Wings
First, I preheated the Vortex per the instructions in the manual but the Ninja Foodi didnt need to be preheated. I seasoned the chicken wings and brushed them with a little oil. Then, I put them in each air fryer basket and cooked them for 10 minutes on each side.
I compared the results and the wings were cooked thoroughly in both models but there was definitely a much better crisp with the wings from the Ninja Foodi. I think because it had a little more room inside, the wings were able to cook faster and more evenly.
- Ninja foodi air fryer chicken wings
- Instant vortex air fried chicken wings
White Sandwich Bread
I conducted this cooking test by placing 4 slices of white sandwich bread in each model. Using the bake function, I toasted and the compared the results. The bread from both had been browned nicely, although another minute would have made them too crisp and dry. I also didnt turn the bread to be toasted on both sides.
Frozen Fries
- Ninja foodie air fried french fries
- Instant vortex air fried french fries
Vegetables
Ninja Foodi Vs Instant Pot: Size And Dimensions
Sometimes the minor details can make all the difference when comparing multi-cookers. One example of this is capacity, so lets take a look at this key difference between the Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot Duo Crisp.
If its a case of bigger is better, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a clear winner when it comes to size. The multi-cooker has a capacity of eight quarts compared to the 6.5 quarts of the Ninja Foodi.
However, users may find that the shape of the Ninja Foodi is better for cooking whole cuts of meat, whereas the tall and round shape of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is more suitable for fries and other small items.
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Instant Pot Vs Ninja Foodi: Which One To Give As A Holiday Gift
Instant Pots have taken the small kitchen appliance world by storm over the past few years. Since the debut of the Instant Pot, several competitors have attempted to share in some of the success. The Ninja Foodie is one of the competitor appliances that has held its own against the Instant Pot. Since both of these devices do many of the same things, you certainly dont need to buy both. But which one is better? Which one should you buy? If you are still looking for an excellent gift for that foodie on your holiday gift list, search no more. We have compared the Instant Pot and the Ninja Foodie so you can make the right decision.
Instant Pot Vs Ninja Foodi: Which Kitchen Appliance Wins
July 27, 2022 by Jackson
A multifunctional cooker is a space-efficient addition to any kitchen. It is a compact and affordable replacement for many appliances while also simplifying cooking. Depending on the specific model, it can work as an air fryer, pressure cooker, and steamer, among others.
If you are looking for one equipment that can do several things, read this quick comparison of Instant Pot vs Ninja Foodi. Weâll look at two of the best options that are worth considering and help you decide which one is the better choice.
See Also:
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How We Selected The Best Instant Pot
We try our hardest to review all of the products we feature in our Small Appliance buying guides, and we are currently in the process of reviewing a number of the best Instant Pots in our guide. A few have already been extensively reviewed by our team of expert testers, and you can click through to find out how well they performed when we tried them out in our own homes.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Vs Ninja Foodi
For quite some time, one of the biggest problems with multifunctional pressure cookers is that they lacked the ability to prepare dry and crunchy foods like french fries and breaded chicken. Enter the Ninja Foodi a pressure cooker with an additional lid for air frying, baking, and roasting. Instant Pot, perhaps the most popular name in pressure cooking devices, also came out with its own combination pressure cooker and air fryer: The Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer.
Whats the difference between the two? Below, we break it down in detail.
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Instant Pot Vs Ninja Foodi: Which To Buy
Multi-cookers are not new and are almost ubiquitous in every American kitchen today. These famed kitchen appliances are used to sauté vegetables, cook deliciously fluffy rice, make hearty stews, etc.
Two contenders constantly vying for the top spot. Its Instant Pot vs Ninja Foodi. Given that these two are the most well-known brands in the multi-cooker space, it makes sense that youd compare the two.
This post will help you decide between the Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi and answer any questions you may have so that you can purchase the right appliance for your culinary needs.
Ninja Foodi Vs Instant Pot: How Do They Compare
The Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer both offer tons of functionality and versatility for cooks, but they have several significant differences, too. Analyzing these distinctions will give you a better idea of which machine best serves particular needs.
To compare Ninja Foodi vs Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer directly, heres a closer look at how their design, features, ease of use, and value differ.
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Comparing Instant Pot Vs Ninja Foodi
There are several models under each of the two that we are comparing in this post. To make things easy, take note that we are talking about the pressure cookers from both brands, which can also deliver a plethora of other functions depending on the model that you will choose.
For the Instant Pot, we will focus on the Instant Pot Duo in two sizes and the Instant Pot Pro. For the Ninja Foodi, on the other hand, we will focus on their pressure cookers that are available in three sizes.
Ninja Foodi Vs Instant Pot: What Do These Machines Do
Both Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot offer a range of appliances that are designed to carry out lots of different cooking tasks. The brands have created everything from rice cookers to blenders but for this comparison, were mainly focusing on the multi-cookers that each manufacturer offers.
The first Instant Pot was designed to cook food at intense high temperatures in a tightly sealed pot. Ninja Foodi machines can do the same, although both brands have since diversified by launching air fryers too – both the Instant Vortex Plus and the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer made it into our round-up of the best air fryers.
Well come onto the full features each model offers shortly, but essentially, both Ninja Foodi machines and Instant Pots carry out multiple functions in one and can do anything from pressure cooking to slow cooking, and rice cooking.
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Carl Schmidt Sohn Pressure Cooker And Air Fryer Combo
- Wattage: 1000 watts
- Voltage: 120 Volts
Ending the list is the last but certainly not the least 1829 Carl Schmidt Sohn pressure cooker and air fryer combo. Combining pressure cooking and air frying features, this brand produced a multi-functional kitchen appliance that effectively performs two distinctive functions .
With patented technology, the product uniquely gives a perfectly cooked food with a crispy touch on the outside. This cooker and fryer have a 6.5 Quart capacity, a size that makes it a perfect product for preparing family dishes or large quantity side dishes.
It can perform cooking functions like steaming, pressure cooking, baking/ roasting, air crisping, dehydrate, and other related functions. With its preheat function, users can quickly cook food to the desired temperature without fully monitoring it.
Like several other cookers, it is produced from stainless steel and has plastic lid and plastic handles for convenience and safety a non-stick PFOA and BPA-free ceramic coating makes it easy to clean.
The pressure cooker and air fryer, when used, lower the level of fat in food by 97%. Furthermore, through the use of fifteen presets displayed on its led interface, users can easily carry out cooking.
