Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 multicooker OP350UK review

How easy is it to use the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 multicooker?

We were struck by its user-friendly credentials. There are two sturdy handles for moving it plus silicone non-slip feet to keep it stable.

On initial set-up, it's intuitive to select the function you want and start it. With an additional lid for pressure cooking and separate components, the 'what's in the box' guide and 'using your Foodi instructions' offer clear diagrams showing which attachment is required for each setting. There's also a recipe booklet and cooking cheat sheet included.

Its main body has heft, and unsurprisingly, quite a large footprint. But, with every function we found that the outer body only ever got warm to the touch. This is a nice safety credential, as we've found that the bodies of the best slow cookers often get very hot.

The removable components, including the 6-litre removable cooking pot and air-crisp basket are ceramic-coated, non-stick and dishwasher-safe.

During various functions (but most notably when air-crisping) the vent at the back expels very hot air, so the cooker ideally needs to be brought forward and out from underneath low cupboards. This is a downside of its large footprint.

Results of the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 multicooker

Stand-out functions of this Ninja Foodi model are the slow cooking, air-crisping and dehydrating options.

Thanks to the sear and sauté functions, we can prepare every element of our slow cooker beef stew in one, including browning the meat. Or, you can cook the 5-a-day tagine for a full eight hours overnight. No liquid escapes, so the resulting dishes are moist and need a bit of thickening. We recommend reducing the liquid quantities of recipes when making them in the Ninja Foodi, but all ingredients are tender without being over-cooked, and rich in flavour.

After the allotted cooking time, the cooker automatically switches to 'keep warm' mode and starts counting up from zero – handy for when you want to have a lie-in. Thanks to the ceramic-coated non-stick surface, the pot is easy to wash by hand (the slow cooker lid is not dishwasher-safe). Remove the silicone seal from around the slow cooker lid's internal rim to make sure you've got any splashes.

For those looking for a healthier way to cook, the air-crisp function requires no oil at all. It has a 500g maximum capacity, around two portions of chips. It's recommended that you shuffle them halfway through cooking, which simply requires lifting the lid (this automatically pauses cooking). Although the result isn't crispy, the chips are softly cooked, individually sealed and have great flavour.

The dehydrator creates tasty slices of soft, dried apple, actually intensifying the flavour. Leaves of basil also crisp up well.

Conclusion

This is a convenient, all-in-one kitchen solution for everyday cooking that offers great credentials for healthier eating with its zero-oil air-crisping.

Footprint size could be a drawback, plus the additional attachments need to be stored somewhere. But, the multi-functionality does make it a space saver, negating any need for buying multiple appliances. This is excellent value for money and performs well across the board.

Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 multicooker OP350UK specifications
Type: multicooker
Capacity: 6-litre
Wattage: 1460W
Size: 43 x 32 x 36cm
Functions: pressure cooking, steam, slow cook, sear/sauté, air-crisp, bake/roast/grill, dehydrate, yogurt
Pot: ceramic-coated non-stick 6-litre pot
Lid: one hinged, one pressure cooker
Extras: 3.6-litre cook and crisp basket, pressure lid, reversible rack
Guarantee: one year
Dishwasher: 5-litre pot and crisper basket
Oven- and hob-friendly: no
Instruction manual: yes
Recipes: yes

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This review was last updated in March 2021. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.