I love to cook many dishes but hate using many different appliances, so the Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi all-in-one cooking pots are fantastic. I did not know which one was better or the differences between the two, so I decided to get to the bottom of it and see which one was the champion of the kitchen.
Both the Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are all-in-one multi-function cooking appliances. They both have many of the same features and functions, including steaming, pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, and more.
The main differences are that the Ninja Foodi comes with an air fryer lid built onto the appliance, and the air fryer lid is sold separately for the Instant Pot.Â
This article will look at all the features and functions of both the Ninja Foodi & Instant Pot. Then we will detail the similarities and differences between the two, including their price ranges, and in conclusion, we will pick a winner.
Ninja Foodi Vs. Instant Pot
While they both may seem similar, they are actually very different from one another. The ability to slow cook, pressure cook, and air fry allow each appliance to meet the present-day needs of modern cooking.
They both are similar as they are multi-cookers, having all the features of 5+ appliances that you probably have taking up space in your cabinet.
Let’s examine more of the epic appliance war between the Ninja Foodi Vs. Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Features
Instant Pot is a kitchen appliance brand that makes an all-in-one cooking appliance pot. The Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, sous vide, sauté pan, steamer, sterilizer, and warmer.
Let’s quickly look at these features and functions and then give a detailed overview of the Instant Pot.
Furthermore, the Ninja Foodi is similar to the Instant Pot. We will compare the two after our little breakdown in the following sections.
Pressure cooker
Pressure cookers are designed to cook dishes quickly, typically taking substantial time to cook otherwise. A pressure cooker brings the contents to boiling point and seals in the steam, creating extreme heat and pressure.
They are very economical regarding the amount of power they use and softening and making otherwise tough meat and vegetables soft. Reducing cooking times by up to 50% and still retaining nutrients also makes them a healthier option as a cooking method.
Slow cooker
A slow cooker is an electrical appliance that sits on your kitchen countertop. It stimulates the contents at a lower temperature than other cooking methods, such as baking, boiling, and frying. As you will notice, a slow cooker is the opposite of a pressure cooker.
A slow cooker’s internal workings are made up of a ceramic crock inside, and it sits over a gentle element.
It is similar to a pressure cooker in the way you would prep food and then places it inside the Pot; however, depending on the meat you use and the setting, a slow cooker can be set to prepare food for an evening meal in the morning or even the night before.
Food steamer
A food steamer is relatively simple. All you do is add some water to the Pot (usually it will go at the bottom), then you will either have a rack or basket that you place within the steamer, and that apparatus will sit above the water.
You then place your contents (vegetables, meat, etc.) onto the basket or rack and cover it up with the lid. As the water boils in the Pot, the steam will cook the contents. The overall cooking time will vary based on the contents you are cooking.
Other Features
The Instant Pot also is a rice cooker, yogurt maker, sous vide, sauté pan, sterilizer, and warmer.
The other features and functions of an Instant Pot are pretty spectacular. It can function as a regular rice cooker and a variation of a pan where you can make sauces, and then you also sterilize baby bottles and keep food warm.
Additional Functions Of The Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is powered by a sophisticated microprocessor that monitors and adjusts pressure, temperature, time, and heat to cook up to 70% faster than other methods.
The smart lid on the Instant Pot seals automatically for your peace of mind, and the steam release is as easy as breathing with its fast, safe to push quick releases button. It comes in various sizes, so you can get the exact size for your needs no matter what your needs are.
The Instant Pot is excellent, with over ten safety features and a UL certification that lets you “set and forget it.” It is robust and made with stainless steel, is dishwasher-safe, and has no chemical coatings at all
Another great feature is its beautifully designed blue LCD screen that intuitively indicates all the multicooker processes.
The device has a simple one-touch control with 13 pre-programmed functions, and it can also be customized to remember your settings and how you like to cook your various meals.
Check The Price Of The Instant Pot Here
The list goes on and on with the Instant Pots features. Some models come with Bluetooth and WiFI, and you can download the free Instant Pot recipes app on iOS and Android, which contains over 1000 recipes to get you on your way to creating the most memorable dishes.
Furthermore, you can join the many online communities of Instant Pot users who like to guide, support, and share their knowledge and the joy of cooking.
The Air Fryer Lid
This air frying lid is where the Instant Pot gets very close compared to the Ninja Foodi. The Ninja Foodie comes with an air fryer lid, while the Instant Pot does not, and you will have to purchase it separately.
The air fryer lid does not have pressure cooker functionality and is not compatible with a few Instant Pot models such as Smart Wi-Fi 60, Smart Bluetooth, Duo Evo Plus 6, Duo Evo Plus 60, Duo SV 60, or Max 60.
The Ninja Foodi models, on the other hand, are all built with an air fryer lid, and one model has a dehydration option as well, which we will look at.
The air fryer lid on the Instant Pot allows you with one quick switch to unlock a brand-new array of cooking techniques. The lid is detachable and offers safety features such as overheating protection and automatic shutoff. The great thing is that it is a detachable lid and can be stored and cleaned very easily.
The air fryer accessories include a multi-level air fryer basket with a dehydrating and broiling tray. Looking at the health benefits, the air fryer allows you to use up to 95% less oil than deep frying.
Ninja Foodi Features
The Ninja Foodi also makes an all-in-one cooking appliance pot, almost the same as the Instant Pot. There are slight differences in the design and functionality, however.
The Ninja Foodi is also a pressure cooker, slow cooker, sous vide, sauté pan, and steamer. However, it does not have a rice cooker or multi-grain cooker option, and unlike the Instant Pot, it also has the capability of baking/roasting and air frying/air crisping with its crispy lid.
You have to purchase the air fryer lid separately for the Instant Pot to get these features. The Ninja Foodi has the air fryer lid (crispy lid) built onto the device and the pressure-cooking lid separate.
The main differences between the Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are these features and designs. However, you can manually set and cook with the inner pot on the Ninja Foodi making rice and multi-grain dishes without the one-touch options.
The Ninja Foodi also comes in a stylish design (black or stainless steel) with one-touch functionality and an LCD screen. It has all the Instant Pot’s features, functions, and safety features.
The one thing to note about the Ninja Foodi is that because the crispy lid is built onto the multi-cooker appliance, it needs room when the lid is lifted, and you are using the pressure cooker or just the Pot.
Watch Vivian Tries do a review on the Ninja Foodi.
Which One Is Better?
If you’re looking to purchase either the Ninja Foodi or the Instant Pot, there are a few things you should consider.
The Instant Pot comes standard with rice and multi-grain cooker options. The Ninja Foodi does not have these options, so if you’re looking to cook rice, the Instant Pot is a better option for you.
On the other hand, Ninja Foodi comes standard with an air fryer lid. This is a separate attachment for the basic Instant Pot itself. So if you’re someone who wants to air fry food and doesn’t care much for rice, we recommend the Ninja Foodi.
Price comparison
These products range between $100 and $250 depending on what options you choose and what model. All in all, both these appliances are pretty much neck in neck, and it will boil down to preference and what you like to cook the most.
Conclusion
Both of these appliances are almost identical in features and functionality. The Ninja Foodi has the air fry lid built into the appliance, while you will have to purchase the air fryer lid separately for the Instant Pot.
The Ninja Foodi also has all the other features and functions that the Instant Pot has, like steaming, slow cooking, pressure cooking, sautéing, rice multi-grain, and one-touch porridge options.
However, you can manually set and create your own saveable pre-sets on each appliance, so each appliance’s one-touch options can be manually created with a bit of effort.
They are virtually the same price, so I would say that if you love to bake and fry your food, then perhaps the Ninja Foodie is your best bet as a starter. If your kitchen is a little tied up for space and you like to create dishes with the main focus on pressure cooking and boiling, then go with the Instant Pot.
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