Air Fryer Function Of Ninja Foodi
Ive never used an air fryer before this machine so I have nothing to compare it to.
Im very impressed though with how little oil you need for everything to cook and get crisp.
I made my three ingredient nuggets in it dropped the meatballs in raw and didnt even use any oil. They came out so crispy!
Weve made scallops in it, chicken tenders, asparagus, broccoli, and more!
Pressure Cooker Recipes For Ninja Foodi
If you make any soups you can start with making Ninja Foodi bone broth and then go from there. Homemade all the way is wonderful. You can use it in all sorts of things like soups and things like Ninja Foodi cauliflower curry and more.
- Try Ninja Foodi sausage or brats some night, or air fryer bacon in the morning.
I use onions to add a ton of flavor to a dish real cheap. One of the best is this Ninja Foodi french onion chicken recipe we love. We add quite a few to our Ninja Foodi ground beef and potatoes casserole as well.
Then try making a Ninja Foodi tri tip or Ninja Foodi brisket with gravy in one pot. OR if you want something different, try air fryer falafel some night.
Ive got another one that youll either love or ewwwww. Air fryer chicken gizzards. Some hate to waste food, period and want to know how to make everything on the bird taste great. This is for you if youre that person. They are actually quite yummy this way, give them a whirl.
Want a really easy meal? You can throw a frozen pork butt in pressure cooker and walk away. Also, try a frozen turkey burger in air fryer dressed all up.
Testing The Ninja Foodi
When I received the first Foodi, Id never used an air fryer before, so I also sent a Foodi to my good friend and one of the moderators of my , Genene, to test. Genene loves cooking with her electric pressure cookers and she has a couple of air fryers that she uses on a regular basis in conjunction with her pressure cookers, so I knew shed be able to tell me how the Foodi stacks up.
We both agree that its nice having only one appliance that can do two things, but there are drawbacks as well. The biggest drawback is that the air frying lid / crisping lid is not removable. The crisping lid stays in the open position while youre pressure cooking. Genene felt the crisping lid was in the way when she was using the saute feature to saute vegetables before pressure cooking.
The pressure cooking lid is a separate, detachable lid, so youll need room in your pantry or kitchen to store it.
Recommended Reading: Jimmy Dean Loaded Potato Breakfast Bowl
Read Also: Does Instant Pot Air Fryer
What You Need To Know Before Buying
- The Ninja Foodi TenderCrisp Pressure Cooker is a big and heavy machine, so youll need to have a big space available to use it.
- The crisping lid is hinged and not removable. You need room for the crisping lid to be open while using the pressure cooking lid. The attached air fryer lid means you cant cook with the Foodi on a counter under your cabinets.
- The Foodi electrical cord is only 33 inches in length, so youll need to be close to an outlet to use it.
- The pressure release valve on the Foodi is short and a little more difficult than the Instant Pot to maneuver without bringing your skin into contact with the steam.
- Hot air comes out from the back of the unit as its air frying, so youll need to place it away from walls and cabinets.
- Many accessories that fit in most 6-quart pressure cookers will be too tall to use in the Foodi.
- The beep at the end when your time is up is not very loud and not adjustable.
Pros Of The Instant Pot
- It does its job.
- There are presets for those that are nervous about not knowing about cook times.
- If you just want a pressure cooker, this is really honestly the only machine youll need.
- Its smaller so easier to store although I know some people think even the IP is too big!
- It has the ability to slow cook too so again, if you need space and dont want two appliances, the Instant Pot is a good option.
- Multiple size options. 3 quart, 6 quart, and 8 quart.
- Price you can always seem to find it on sale on Amazon for like $89.99 or similar especially during flash deals and Black Friday.
Also Check: Largest Air Fryer With Rotisserie
Ninja Foodi Vs Instant Pot: Prices And Products
To put it simply, Instant Pots are standalone electric pressure cookers. But they do so much more than that. At the most basic end of the spectrum, Instant Pot multi-cookers act as a 6-in-1 pressure cooker. This means that all models in the Pot range can pressure cook, slow cooker, steam, sauté, cook rice and act as a food warmer.
While some of the more premium models can also air fry, sous vide food, make yogurt and sterilize baby bottles. Most of the Instant Pot multi-cookers come in 3, 4, 8 and 10-quart options.
- Instant Pot Duo
- Instant Pot Duo Plus
- Instant Pot Lux
Winner: For us, Instant Pots range comes out on top when it comes to price and the sheer range of great products available. The brand has far more multi-cookers to choose from, each of which are kitted out with a whole host of different features. It also beats Ninja Foodi on price every time.
Soup Recipes Ninja Foodi
If youre forgetful you can make Ninja Foodi chicken noodle soup with frozen chicken. Or use fresh or leftover meat to make a batch of buffalo chicken soup in your pot.
Want to make your kids a fan of whatever you make? Serve your main dish with russet potato chips using the air crisp function.
Creamy, but still with healthy ingredients, you can try this Ninja Foodi potato leek soup some night with a side of rolls. If you want to start from scratch with dry beans and NO soaking required, try our Ninja Foodi 15 bean soup recipe.
Healthy pressure cooker cabbage soup is killer during the Fall. And when you have lots of people over for the big game, make Ninja Foodi pork butt with bbq sauce.
Recommended Reading: Powerxl Vortex Air Fryer Pro Plus 10 Quart
Making Ninja Foodi Roast Chicken
The first thing I cooked in my Foodi was a roast chicken. I used the recipe that was in the recipe book that is included with the Foodi. The recipe called for a 4 to 5 pound chicken. The smallest chicken my store had was 5.5 lbs. It was a little bit too tall for the Foodi, but it fit in the crisping basket fine.
The chicken was a little too close to the top and there were lines on the chicken leg where it touched the crisping lid.
The recipe called for cooking it in the Cook and Crisp Basket. Its great that the basket is included with the Foodi. The holes in the bottom of the basket make it great for pressure steaming food, as well as crisping up food using the crisping lid. My only complaint about the basket is that the legs have lots of crevices that are difficult to clean.
The Herb-Roasted Chicken recipe has you add lemon juice, hot water, honey, peppercorns, kosher salt, fresh thyme, and garlic to the pressure cooking pot. I found the flavorful ingredients in the bottom of the pot didnt really infuse the chicken with flavor. I added some fresh rosemary to the recipe and my husband said he could taste the rosemary a little, but I couldnt really taste the lemon, thyme or honey.
If I made the recipe again, I would probably make a compound butter and put it under the skin rather than rely on the pressure cooking liquid to flavor the chicken.
My chicken wasnt as tender as Id like, so I probably should have increased the pressure cook time more than 2 extra minutes.
Instant Pot Or Ninja Foodi
I have been testing out the Ninja Foodi because Im trying to decide whether or not to get rid of my Instant Pot.
UPDATE 12/26/2019: Instant Pot came out with its own air fryer lid for their 6 quart machines!
This is such great news for those of you who dont want to buy yet another small appliance for another task. What a great option for just being able to attach it to a machine you already have!
I cant wait to test it out and will be sure to give a review, but for now, the Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot review below!
I tested the Ninja Foodi out for a full week and made all our meals in it.
Ive put together an informative pro and con list for each and my final decision below.
Perhaps this will help those of you who are still wondering whether or not you should get an Instant Pot.
There is definitely more and more options out there starting with this Ninja Foodi!
Oh, this is not sponsored. I bought both machines myself so you can trust that this review is 100% unbiased.
Dont Miss: Chefman 3.5 Liter Air Fryer Recipes
Also Check: Air Fryers At Macy’s
Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Instructions
If youre wondering how long does Ninja Foodi take to preheat so you can prepare things in a timely manner, we answered that in this article. Heres how to use the pressure cooker function:
- Use the included pressure cooker lid
- Place your food into the inner pot
- Follow instructions in recipe. You can even cook frozen meat in Ninja Foodi!
Or put food into the air fryer basket. Its good for meats so drippings drip away from food and into the inner pot.
- Push the power on button
- Put lid on, not the one that is attached.
Move top steam valve to seal now.
Ninja Foodi Vs Instant Pot: Design
One major thing to notice about Ninja Foodis design is how big its multi-cookers are. For example, the 6.5-quart Ninja Foodi is 17 inches wide, 14 inches deep and 13 inches long. Plus it weighs 25lbs. Thats hefty.
Instant Pots are more compact in their design. Theyre also available in smaller quart sizes compared to Ninja Foodi cookers. This means that even if youre a one-person household, you dont have to miss out on all the brilliant features these multi-cookers have to offer.
Unlike Instant Pots lid design, you cant fully take Ninja Foodis Air Crisp lid off. This can prove tricky when it comes to cleaning Ninja Foodis exterior. Both Instant Pots and Ninja Foodis multi-cookers come with a super simple digital display and a sleek and shiny exterior.
Winner: Based on the overall design, wed have to say Instant Pots multi-cookers come out on top again. They have a much sleeker and more compact design which is important to think about, especially if youre limited on counter or storage space.
Dont Miss: Folding Air Fryer
Recommended Reading: Air Fryer Model Hf 919b
Looking For More Easy Ninja Foodi Recipes To Try Using The Air Fryer Function
- These air fryer brussel sprouts are amazing but if you have kids you might want to try Ninja foodi sweet potatoes cubed because theyre sweet.
- Our bacon wrapped air fryer steak is over the top.
- Air fryer chips are easy and much healthier than bagged versions.
Ninja Foodi chicken cordon bleu we made wrapped in dough and air fried so it was like a hot pocket of sorts. A favorite amongst the kids for a carry and go type of meal.
When I am heading to a potluck I might make a healthier dish. Our air fryer Mediterranean roasted vegetables is always a huge hit to break thru all the other heavy dishes there.
Take a few extra minutes and make these homemade air fryer fish nuggets for you and your kids. You can eat them as is with tartar sauce or go a step further and add all the things into tortillas to make Ninja Foodi tacos!
Then you can make a batch of air fryer tofu bites that are incredible and a healthy snack.
Speaking of that.try some Ninja Foodi popcorn some movie night with your kiddos for fun.
- Heres a basic air fryer wings recipe that is always a winner appetizer.
If youre looking for low carb we have this Ninja Foodi spaghetti squash pizza pasta that is yummy. You can even make Ninja Foodi frozen broccoli and serve it as a side dish.
Then try our air fryer egg rolls or if you like frozen egg rolls in air fryer instead, theyre great too. Then try a batch of bbq Ninja Foodi chicken legs for dinner.
Ninja Foodi Dessert Recipes
And during the Fall, air fryer pumpkin pie is a must. If you want something a little lighter you can try our air fryer peaches.
Use a box of cake mix to make just a few or 18 Ninja Foodi cupcakes with your kiddos.
Then go on and try to make a few air fryer cookies yall! Small batches are great so theyre always fresh and NO need to heat up your oven. You can even make an air fryer pizookie now too.
We love a frozen burrito in an air fryer or air fryer sweet potato chips as a quick snack. Over mashed potatoes we love a dinner of Ninja Foodi pot roast. OH MY is this tender and delicious.
Using our very popular dry rub we made air fryer steak bites that were out of this world!!
- Then make dressed up frozen chicken patties in air fryer for dinner.
Theres a new device on the market now too for dessert. You can now try the Ninja Creami ice cream machine which we love.
Recommended Reading: Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowl In Air Fryer
Testing Out Other Foods In The Ninja Foodi
The first recipe Genene made was the Baked Macaroni & Cheese recipe from the Foodi cookbook. Genene said it seemed like a lot of liquid prior to the Air Crisp time of 7 minutes. But its the perfect amount of liquid after air frying the noodles absorb the liquid as the topping browns.
An interesting twist on this mac and cheese recipe is you start it with lemon juice and baking soda, cook it for 0 minutes and let the noodles finish cooking during a 10 minute natural release. The noodles were softer than Genene likes, so the next time she would reduce the natural release time to 8 minutes. Both she and her husband enjoyed the mac and cheese recipe.
Genene also baked biscuits, Louisiana Battered Flounder, and Frozen Curly Fries using the crisping lid all crisped up beautifully. She tested the pressure cooker by making hard boiled eggs, and the timing for hard boiled eggs was exactly the same as in her Instant Pot.
What Is The Ninja Foodi Deluxe Xl Fd401 8
There is certainly no shortage of air fryers on the market these days and The Ninja brand is one of the most popular not just for air fryers, but for kitchen appliances in general.
The idea here is to give you a device that makes cooking as easy as possible, all the while bringing out the best flavor of the food you are making. They have designed it to be as simple to use as possible, with a dial right on the front that lets you pick one of the nine different cooking functions! It also is designed so that cleaning it is as easy as can be.
Also Check: Little Potato Company Air Fryer
How Much Is The Ninja Foodi
So, its not cheap when you compare it to the Instant Pot BUT if you think about it, it includes an air fryer. So thats kind of like you buying an Instant Pot AND an air fryer separately.
The cost ends up being the same, if not more, depending on what brand air fryer you buy.
The Ninja Foodi cost me roughly $193 including tax. Retail price is $229 but I bought it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond so I was able to use a 20% off coupon.
However, , it is now $179.99!
You May Like: Gourmia Gta 2500
What Can You Cook In A Ninja Foodi
All the things. We even figured out how to use a wet batter in it too. We made beer battered fish in air fryer with this little trick and it worked great. It is always great to use a sauce to keep it moist. BBQ is an easy choice but others like the one on Ninja Foodi pesto chicken is amazing too.
Then try Ninja Foodi pork chops and rice together. You can serve this with a batch of air fryer carrots to add some veggies to your plate.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings baking powder are a game changer. This every day kitchen ingredient sprinkled on chicken makes the skin so crispy youll never go back. Want tender thighs or breasts? Try our Ninja Foodi chicken tacos.
And buttered pressure cooker cabbage goes with all the things friends. I mean even air fryer turkey necks are pretty killer with it.
You May Like: Air Fryer Toaster Oven Recipes
