Ninja Foodi Deluxe Product Review

If you’ve done any research on the Ninja Foodi, you may have realized that there are quite a few options to choose from.

There’s the Ninja Foodi Grill, Ninja Foodi Airfryer, Ninja Foodi Countertop Convection Oven, Ninja Foodi Blender, and, lastly, the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker plus Air Fryer. 

The Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker plus Air Fryer is an increasingly popular small kitchen appliance. We purchased the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL (FD401) so we could try it out and provide you with a detailed, honest review.

We've been using this appliance extensively over the last few weeks to test out its numerous features.

If you’ve been thinking about getting the Ninja Foodi Deluxe or even any other pressure cooker, we hope this review will help you with your decision. 

Let’s do the short and sweet version first. 

Here’s what we like about the Ninja Foodi Deluxe:

• Lots of features
• User-friendly interface
• Handles for easy transportation
• Pressure cooker + tendercrisp technology guarantees flavorful food & great texture
• Sleek, modern appearance

Here’s what we think could be better on the Ninja Foodi Deluxe:

• Bulky, heavy size that may be difficult to store and carry
• Venting knob can be finicky
• To maximize benefits, you need to purchase additional accessories 

When it comes down to the pros and cons, the pros certainly outweigh the cons.

As mentioned, there are countless Ninja Foodi models on the market. So, for clarity, here's the exact model we're reviewing:

Click here to see the Ninja Foodi on Amazon.

About The Ninja Brand

The Ninja brand is a part of the Shark Ninja parent company. The company focuses on small household appliances and cleaning equipment to make life simpler for busy people everywhere.

The Shark extension of the company focuses on small household cleaning appliances while Ninja focuses on small kitchen appliances. 

Shark Ninja was founded in Montreal, Canada by Mark Rosenzweig. The company has since moved all of its operations to just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. 

Shark Ninja is well known for its quality items at competitive, affordable prices. With the brand's vast product line, you’re sure to find something that fits your individual budget.

What's more, they’re always innovating and creating new products that make life simpler.

We also own the Ninja blender and food processor combo and a Shark duo clean vacuum. We've really enjoyed these products over the last few years, and they're still in tiptop shape.

This speaks to the quality of the brand, so we're hopeful that the Foodi will be the same.

All About The Ninja Foodi Deluxe

Since the product was ordered on Amazon with Prime, it arrived in two days with free shipping. Here's the link we used to purchase it.

The Foodi itself arrived well-packaged and undamaged, with all of the components and accessories in one box.

With your order, you’ll get the Ninja Foodi pressure cooker, crisping lid (attached with a hinge), pressure lid, 8-quart ceramic-coated pot, 5-quart ceramic-coated cook & crisp basket, stainless steel deluxe reversible rack, and an inspirational guide with 45 unique recipes to help you start enjoying this appliance's features right away.

The pressure cooker has an 8-quart capacity, 9 cooking functions, and a stainless steel finish.

*Not pictured: ceramic-coated pot and cook & crisp basket

The Ninja Foodi's 9 cooking functions are as follows:

• Pressure cook
• Slow cook
• Steam
• Yogurt
• Sear/sauté
• Bake/roast
• Air crisp
• Broil
• Dehydrate

What’s more, it even has 14 different safety features to ease your mind, knowing you’ll have a super safe cooking experience.

If you feel overwhelmed and are not sure where to begin with your Foodi cooking adventures, don't be afraid to get help from a cookbook.

There are quite a few available now! Whether you are a beginner or have a good amount of experience with the Foodi, you won't be disappointed with the recipes in this cookbook:

Check out this cookbook on Amazon.

The Initial Setup

The Foodi is very easy to set up. All you have to do is unwrap all of the accessories and components, give them a brief rinse to remove any factory residue, and you're ready to start using your appliance.

What We Like about the Foodi

Lots Of Features

Basically, if you can dream up the recipe or what you want to cook, the Foodi can manage it. There are seemingly endless features and programs on the Foodi.

In fact, when you first see the cooking options, you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options at your fingertips. 

All of these features run the gamut of general meal/snack preparation, from dehydrating to pressure cooking to crisping. With the right recipe, this small appliance can be your one-stop shop.

What's also neat about all the features on the Foodi is that you can cook a whole meal at once. By that, we mean you could cook meat, grains, and a veggie side all at once.

To do this, you'll need to utilize the reversible rack. Layer it by placing your grain on the bottom of the pot, stacking a vegetable on the bottom rack, and placing your protein on the top rack. These are called the Ninja 360 meals.

We're also a family that likes slow cooker meals. This means that if we want to make something low and slow, we have that option.

So, while the Ninja is a larger small appliance, we can now get rid of our slow cooker! This frees up some kitchen space. One of our favorite recipes is this easy baked potato soup.

User-friendly interface

It’s super easy to navigate through all the settings offered on this pressure cooker. The rotating knob is what you’ll use to toggle between cooking functions, temperature settings, and timer settings. 

Whenever you select the feature you want (cooking function, temperature, and time), it clearly displays on the screen. 

A small light moves around the display, letting you know which option you are currently on.

If you’re pressure cooking something, the screen will let you know that the pressure is building. Once the pressure has built up, the timer will start.

All in all, the interface leaves nothing to be desired. Its layout and functionality are surprisingly simple given the number of features this appliance offers.

Handles For Easy Transportation

Even though this pressure cooker is pretty hefty, it has convenient, ergonomic handles.

The handles are completely open loops, so you can really get a secure grip on the appliance (unlike lip-style handles on other appliances that don't provide much purchase).

So, even if you are carrying it to the counter or putting it away somewhere, the handles certainly make it easier. 

Pressure Cooker + Tendercrisp Technology

The combination of pressure cooking capabilities and crisping technology makes for an unbeatable combination. While pressure-cooked food remains full of flavor and juices, it can sometimes be lacking in texture.

The tendercrisp technology ensures that you don’t miss out on texture. We think this technology is a must for pressure-cooked food.

We put this feature to the ultimate test by cooking a whole chicken. The entire process only took 45 minutes. We used the pressure cook setting for 20 minutes then the tendercrisp feature for 25 minutes.

The result was a juicy and tender chicken with the perfect amount of texture on the outside. If the Foodi only had the pressure cooking setting, the chicken would be missing out on some valuable texture. 

This 5-lb chicken fits easily into the tendercrisp basket. It could definitely fit a little bit bigger of a chicken in there if you need, too.

Having these two separate features also allows you to use your Foodi as an air fryer. We've made a few classic fried foods using this setting. So far, it has turned out tasty jalapeño poppers, fried okra, and home fries. 

Check out this recipe that we used to make this delicious fried okra! We got our okra from our local farmers market, making the snack even better.

For more tips on air frying, head over to this post: 7 Best Oils For An Air Fryer

Sleek, Modern Appearance

If you have the counter space or simply want to keep it out all the time, the Foodi has a sleek, modern appearance. It’s black with stainless steel accents, so it does look nice when it's out.

The appliance's design and aesthetics make it fairly versatile. In other words, the Foodi shouldn't be an eyesore should you decide to leave it out.

What Could Be Better About The Foodi

Bulky size and weight

There’s no denying the fact that this pressure cooker is on the heavier, bulkier side.

If you either a) don’t have much counter space or b) don’t have much kitchen storage (or don't want it to be visible when not in use), then it could be difficult to store it.

It measures 14 inches tall (with the lid closed). On top of that height, you’ll need storage space for the pressure lid and any other accessories as well. 

But to be fair, this drawback of the Foodi is inherently unavoidable with an appliance that is so feature-packed. Thus, it's simply a tradeoff between capability (number of features) and size.

The Ninja Foodi weighs an astonishing 24 to 25 pounds! We checked it ourselves, too. The weight depends on what lids and accessories you have in your Foodi.

Depending on your physical capabilities, this product might not be practical for you.

Venting Knob

The venting knob, while supposed to be loose-fitting, can be a bit finicky at times. You'll have to make sure it's in the right position so it can seal properly in the pressure cooking setting.

We've had a few experiences where the knob was slightly out of position, so it couldn't properly build pressure. Steam slowly seeped out. However, the Foodi does beep and alert you when an error such as this occurs.

We added more water, adjusted the knob, then started the process over again. You may need to monitor the Foodi for a few moments to make sure the pressure-building process occurs without a hitch.

Additional Accessories 

While the accessories that come with the product are helpful and practical, to absolutely maximize its capabilities, you’ll need to purchase additional accessories. These accessories include the dehydrator rack, roasting rack insert, and deluxe baking kit. 

If you’re big on dehydrating, you’ll definitely want to purchase the dehydrating rack. We dehydrated some apples using the deluxe reversible rack, and it did an excellent job.

However, you couldn’t fit that many apple slices onto the rack. Since the dehydrating process can take up to 8 hours, chances are you’ll want to make as much as you can in one go.

So, if you like to dehydrate a lot of fruit (or jerky!), we suggest purchasing the additional dehydrator rack.

You can check out the dehydrator rack on Amazon here.

Where To Buy The Ninja Foodi Deluxe

We got this one off Amazon. With Prime, shipping was fast (2 days) and free.

See the Ninja Foodi on Amazon here.

However, you can also find the Foodi and other amazing Ninja products at other in-store and online retailers. You can find it at Walmart, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does The Ninja Foodi Deluxe Come With A Ninja Cookbook?

The appliance comes with a small cookbook that contains 45 recipes. But to really make the most of the Foodi, we recommend purchasing an additional cookbook with a more comprehensive set of recipes. There are plenty that you can choose from on Amazon.

Check out this cookbook on Amazon.

Does The Ninja Foodi Deluxe Produce Smoke?

The Ninja Foodi should not produce smoke. It will, however, let out a bunch of steam when you vent it after pressure cooking something.

Can I Use Metal Utensils In The Ninja Foodi?

To avoid scratching the coating, we recommend using nylon, wooden, or silicone utensils. This will prolong the life of all your Foodi inserts and accessories. If you do opt to use metal utensils, be very very careful not to scratch the surface. Try not to even make contact with it.

Read more on cooking utensils here: What Is Better: Nylon Or Silicone Utensils?

Check out this Foodi-safe utensil set on Amazon.

Can I Control The Temperature of The Ninja Foodi For Slow Cooking?

Yes! You can easily control the temperature while slow cooking.

Can You Store The Ninja Foodi Deluxe In A Non-Air Conditioned Environment?

Yes, you can store the Ninja Foodi in a non-air conditioned environment. You should, however, make sure that it's protected from any harsh elements or pests. Keep the lid shut as well.

How Durable Is The Ceramic Coating On The Inside Of The Ninja Foodi Pot?

The ceramic coating is quite durable and easy to clean after each use. But as mentioned above, it's recommended to avoid using metal utensils to prevent the coating from being scratched.

Does The Ninja Foodi Deluxe Have Bluetooth Capabilities?

This device is not Bluetooth capable.

Can You Use The Ninja Foodi To Reheat Food?

Yes, you absolutely can use it to reheat food!

How Long Is The Ninja Foodi Deluxe's Cord?

The cord is approximately 34 inches long.

Can You Purchase An Extended Warranty For The Ninja Foodi?

Yes, you can purchase an extended warranty. You can add a warranty to the product in the checkout process on Amazon.

Is The Ninja Foodi Deluxe An Air Fryer?

Yes, the Foodi is also an air fryer! Ninja calls it the "air crisp" function, but the terms are essentially interchangeable.

Does The Ninja Foodi Need To Be Turned Over When Air Frying?

The fan blows air around during the air frying process, providing the ultimate cooking process. Turning the food over isn't necessary, but it will help result in the best air fried food.

Can The Ninja Foodi Deluxe Do Canning?

The Ninja Foodi Deluxe is not designed for canning. The appliance cannot reach and maintain the required pressure and temperature for successful, safe canning per USDA recommendations.

Final Thoughts

All in all, we are really enjoying the Ninja Foodi! Whether you need to make a meal in a pinch or have plenty of time to plan ahead, the Foodi makes the whole cooking process very simple. The vast number of features make it a very practical appliance.

Want to know more about other Ninja products? Check out these posts:

How To Cook Hamburgers In A Ninja Foodi Grill

Ninja Blender Not Working – What To Do?

Have you used this Ninja Foodi before? If so, let us know in the comment section below what you love most about it!