Ninja or Instant Pot Air Fry?
Discussion
Anyone got one?
I started off wanting simple pressure cooker, but now these things have my interest, but they are a bit cumbersome looking.
Not sure which one I prefer.
Ninja Foodi Max has a permanently fitted Air Fry lid, that has to remain lifted upright when using pressure cooker lid, which I'm not sure I like.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp has a removable Air Fry lid, but then thats just something else to have to store.
They seem to need plenty of room if under a wall cupboard.
What are real life experiences like? Do they just turn into dust collectors?
I started off wanting simple pressure cooker, but now these things have my interest, but they are a bit cumbersome looking.
Not sure which one I prefer.
Ninja Foodi Max has a permanently fitted Air Fry lid, that has to remain lifted upright when using pressure cooker lid, which I'm not sure I like.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp has a removable Air Fry lid, but then thats just something else to have to store.
They seem to need plenty of room if under a wall cupboard.
What are real life experiences like? Do they just turn into dust collectors?
I don’t have the air fryer option as I just wouldn’t use it but I bought the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus on Prime day and love it very much and use it about once a week which is good as three nights I am on my own for dinner.
I couldn’t decide between this and the Ninja and in the end the Instant pot was on offer so went with that.
Favourite recipes are risotto or curries. The meat is so tender.
I couldn’t decide between this and the Ninja and in the end the Instant pot was on offer so went with that.
Favourite recipes are risotto or curries. The meat is so tender.
Not sure how much I'd use the air fryer to be honest, but if spending the money on one, id rather pay a bit more and have the ability to air fry, though I guess the air fry lid on the IP would be bulky to store when not in use, whereas the same lid on the Ninja is permanently fixed and would make the whole machine bulky?
An update on the Ninja.
Very pleased with it, although a bit big. We went for the 9 function 6.5L unit.
So far cooked a few things.
Whole chicken. Pressure cooked for 20 min then air crisp for 20 min. Turned out decent. For the time taken very impressive.
Chips, frozen. Air crisp for 10-12 min. Turned out really good, they were french fries FWIW.
Lamb biriyani. Pressure cooked for 10 min lamb (after frying the onions and spices) and then 4 min for rice. Turned out perfect. Would adjust flavours a smidge as the pressure cooking seemed to change it slightly but for a first go well impressed and done in 30 min total. Normally would take me a couple of hours as lamb takes ages to get tender. The saute mode is much better than I was expecting, nice and hot and very even.
Shrimp. Defrosted and coated with garlic, ginger and cashmiri red chilli then air crisp for 10 mins, turning half way through. Went into a curry already had base gravy left. They cooked up really well and gave a nice texture.
Tomorrow are are doing a chilli.
Wife was not really happy with it on xmas day - apparently she wanted the tefal actifry one. Anyway, after trying it a couple of times I think she is pretty happy with it now especially as it pressure cooks which I dont think she realised.
Very pleased with it, although a bit big. We went for the 9 function 6.5L unit.
So far cooked a few things.
Whole chicken. Pressure cooked for 20 min then air crisp for 20 min. Turned out decent. For the time taken very impressive.
Chips, frozen. Air crisp for 10-12 min. Turned out really good, they were french fries FWIW.
Lamb biriyani. Pressure cooked for 10 min lamb (after frying the onions and spices) and then 4 min for rice. Turned out perfect. Would adjust flavours a smidge as the pressure cooking seemed to change it slightly but for a first go well impressed and done in 30 min total. Normally would take me a couple of hours as lamb takes ages to get tender. The saute mode is much better than I was expecting, nice and hot and very even.
Shrimp. Defrosted and coated with garlic, ginger and cashmiri red chilli then air crisp for 10 mins, turning half way through. Went into a curry already had base gravy left. They cooked up really well and gave a nice texture.
Tomorrow are are doing a chilli.
Wife was not really happy with it on xmas day - apparently she wanted the tefal actifry one. Anyway, after trying it a couple of times I think she is pretty happy with it now especially as it pressure cooks which I dont think she realised.
Its just about ok. Our hob is quite big so we sit it on one side of the hob so we can run the extractor fan if needed but still have a couple of burners we can use if needed.
Chilli tonight was excellent. Fried off the meat and onions on sear mode, added the spices, green pepper, beans and tomato. Lid on, no water added just the juice from the tomato, 15 min pressure cook and 10 min standing with the lid on and it was spot on. From walking into the kitchen to sitting down to eat was exactly an hour. Normally the same chilli takes a couple of hours, so half the time.
The main downside I have found so far is the cord is very short, luckily it will just reach a socket when its on our hob but it we wanted to put it in another spot say on the breakfast bar it would need an extension which is no good IMHO.
Chilli tonight was excellent. Fried off the meat and onions on sear mode, added the spices, green pepper, beans and tomato. Lid on, no water added just the juice from the tomato, 15 min pressure cook and 10 min standing with the lid on and it was spot on. From walking into the kitchen to sitting down to eat was exactly an hour. Normally the same chilli takes a couple of hours, so half the time.
The main downside I have found so far is the cord is very short, luckily it will just reach a socket when its on our hob but it we wanted to put it in another spot say on the breakfast bar it would need an extension which is no good IMHO.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Not the same as such but we have the Ninja Dual Zone (https://ninjakitchen.co.uk/product/ninja-foodi-dual-zone-air-fryer-af300uk-zidAF300UK) - it can't pressure cook but does have bake, roast, reheat, air fry, max crisp and so on. It won't replace our slow cooker but compliments it well and being able to cook two things at once means the oven hasn't been used as often as for example we can do chicken wings on one side and fries on the other.
A downside to being divided into two drawers, its not big enough to do a whole chicken or large joint of pork but in our case if we're cooking something like that there's also roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, etc so its worth putting the oven on and doing the whole lot in there.
Personally if you have the space then keep the slow cooker and get something like the Ninja you linked to go / work with it, I think the biggest issue with trying to replace a few things with one is not really being able to cook more than one thing at once - for example we have done a Chinese curry in the slow cooker and used the air fryer for the spring rolls and other sides.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Still use my ninja a few times a week. Just used it tonight for steak. Friday night did a curry in the pressure cooker mode.The 7-1 is basically the same as the 9-1 but does not have the dehydrate or yoghurt mode (I have never used either anyway).
The only thing I would say is watch out for offers as I only paid about £150 for my 9-1 on Amazon in December.
Just bought a ninja foodie 7in1 this week. Seems a decent machine, cooked spaghetti bolognese last night in it using pressure cooker mode and a bit of winging it and it wasn’t bad. at all.
I make quite a lot of currys so going to try and knock up a base sauce in it this week and see how it fairs up.
I make quite a lot of currys so going to try and knock up a base sauce in it this week and see how it fairs up.
Lamb curry is where its at - can have a curry that used to take me at least 2 probably closer to 3 hours to make done in 60 mins.
Sauté mode to fry onions and spices. 10 min
Add liquids and veg and meat. 2 min
Pressure cook for 15 mins then natural release another 12-15 min.
Then back onto sauté mode to to reduce gravy and add final spices and herbs. 15 min
Done. Lamb perfectly tender, the gravy perfect thickness.
Its also really easy to make a much larger quantity. IMHO.
Sauté mode to fry onions and spices. 10 min
Add liquids and veg and meat. 2 min
Pressure cook for 15 mins then natural release another 12-15 min.
Then back onto sauté mode to to reduce gravy and add final spices and herbs. 15 min
Done. Lamb perfectly tender, the gravy perfect thickness.
Its also really easy to make a much larger quantity. IMHO.
I use my Ninja Foodie for all of the recipes mentioned. Did a delicious spag bol a couple of days ago.
I've also done great risottos. Saute onions etc initially, add rice and liquid then pressure cook for 8 mins.
https://cookingcircle.com/recipe/mushroom-risotto/
The texture of the rice is perfect.
I've also done great risottos. Saute onions etc initially, add rice and liquid then pressure cook for 8 mins.
https://cookingcircle.com/recipe/mushroom-risotto/
The texture of the rice is perfect.
Edited by Composer62 on Saturday 1st May 12:32
Composer62 said:
I use my Ninja Foodie for all of the recipes mentioned. Did a delicious spag bol a couple of days ago.
I've also done great risottos. Saute onions etc initially, add rice and liquid then pressure cook for 8 mins.
https://cookingcircle.com/recipe/mushroom-risotto/
The texture of the rice is perfect.
Cheers ive found a few good recipes I want to try on there I've also done great risottos. Saute onions etc initially, add rice and liquid then pressure cook for 8 mins.
https://cookingcircle.com/recipe/mushroom-risotto/
The texture of the rice is perfect.
Edited by Composer62 on Saturday 1st May 12:32
Reviving this thread as the Instant Pot is in the Amazon Black Friday sale for today only (in theory) for another 9 hours - down from £180 to £100. Tempted myself to replace my original Instant Pot.
Gluggy said:
Not the same as such but we have the Ninja Dual Zone (https://ninjakitchen.co.uk/product/ninja-foodi-dual-zone-air-fryer-af300uk-zidAF300UK) - it can't pressure cook but does have bake, roast, reheat, air fry, max crisp and so on.
It won't replace our slow cooker but compliments it well and being able to cook two things at once means the oven hasn't been used as often as for example we can do chicken wings on one side and fries on the other.
A downside to being divided into two drawers, its not big enough to do a whole chicken or large joint of pork but in our case if we're cooking something like that there's also roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, etc so its worth putting the oven on and doing the whole lot in there.
Personally if you have the space then keep the slow cooker and get something like the Ninja you linked to go / work with it, I think the biggest issue with trying to replace a few things with one is not really being able to cook more than one thing at once - for example we have done a Chinese curry in the slow cooker and used the air fryer for the spring rolls and other sides.
I’ve just bought the Ninja Dual Drawer MAX AF400UK version.It won't replace our slow cooker but compliments it well and being able to cook two things at once means the oven hasn't been used as often as for example we can do chicken wings on one side and fries on the other.
A downside to being divided into two drawers, its not big enough to do a whole chicken or large joint of pork but in our case if we're cooking something like that there's also roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, etc so its worth putting the oven on and doing the whole lot in there.
Personally if you have the space then keep the slow cooker and get something like the Ninja you linked to go / work with it, I think the biggest issue with trying to replace a few things with one is not really being able to cook more than one thing at once - for example we have done a Chinese curry in the slow cooker and used the air fryer for the spring rolls and other sides.
https://ninjakitchen.co.uk/product/ninja-foodi-max...
It has 2 drawers and is bigger than the original version, so can fit and cook a whole chicken in 50 mins.
If you wanted you could cook 2 whole chickens at once, one in each drawer ready in the same time.
Although it is bigger that the original the actual footprint isn’t much different, so I would opt for the larger one regardless.
So far I’ve been really impressed with it. Cooked the ususl suspects of Chicken drumsticks, sausages, chips etc. All come out perfect and in a ridiculously short time. Would thoroughly recommend.
dapprman said:
Reviving this thread as the Instant Pot is in the Amazon Black Friday sale for today only (in theory) for another 9 hours - down from £180 to £100. Tempted myself to replace my original Instant Pot.
Shame that's only for the smaller size. I've been tracking their prices for the last week or so, I'm wanting the new Instant Pot Pro Crisp 8L which has been £199 on Amazon for a while, the other day they put the price up to £249 which is where it's still at. I've a 10 discount code for Instant Brands website, but they wont accept it for the Pro Crisp!!LeadFarmer said:
dapprman said:
Reviving this thread as the Instant Pot is in the Amazon Black Friday sale for today only (in theory) for another 9 hours - down from £180 to £100. Tempted myself to replace my original Instant Pot.
Shame that's only for the smaller size. I've been tracking their prices for the last week or so, I'm wanting the new Instant Pot Pro Crisp 8L which has been £199 on Amazon for a while, the other day they put the price up to £249 which is where it's still at. I've a 10 discount code for Instant Brands website, but they wont accept it for the Pro Crisp!!Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff