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You might have known Ninja Foodi as the main rival of Instant Pot. However, its product offering has outgrown the Pressure Cooker/Multi-Cooker market.
The Ninja Foodi Collection has expanded to indoor grills, air fryers, convection ovens and cookware.
Though there are only 13 official products in the entire Ninja Foodi catalog, the brand assigns multiple model numbers for each kitchen appliance. Doing a quick math will give us over 50 product variations.
Don’t you worry, as we’ve already summed up all your options in this ultimate buying guide. It will only take you 3-5 minutes to skim through the entire article. And if you have time to spare, you can also read the full review of each Foodie kitchen appliance.
So without further delay, let me present you the Best Ninja Foodi Multi-Cookers of 2021!
- Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 Steam Fryer & Pressure Cooker with Smart Lid
- Ninja IG651 7-in-1 Smart XL Pro Grill, Griddle, and Air Fryer
- Ninja DZ201 6-in-1 8-qt Double Basket Air Fryer with Dual Zone Technology
- Ninja DT251 Smart XL Pro 10-in-1 Air Oven
- Ninja SS351 Power Pitcher System (Blender & Smoothie Maker)
- Ninja Neverstick Cookware Set
- The Ninja Cold Press Juicer
That’s the short version of this buying guide. Feel free to read the full review of each Foodi Ninja by clicking the links above, otherwise let’s continue exploring all your options down below.
Top 7 Ninja Foodi Multi-Cookers
#1 Ninja Foodi Steam Fryer – The Best Pressure Cooker
We’ll start this roundup with the best Ninja pressure cooker—the new Ninja Steam Fryer.
The brand released a new set of pressure cookers featuring a 3-in-1 smart lid design just in time for the holiday season. Instead of having two separate lids for air frying and pressure cooking, the Ninja Steam Cooker has one lid to rule them all.
Yes, you heard it right. The new steam fryer line from Ninja Kitchen has a solitary lid for pressure cooking, steaming, and air frying. No need to switch lids when you’re making use of any of those functions.
It’s also the brand’s multicooker with the most capabilities offering 14 cooking functions—Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Air Fry, Steam & Crisp, Steam & Bake, Steam, Sous Vide, Yogurt, Sear/Sauté, Bake/Roast, Broil, Dehydrate, Keep Warm, Proofing.
In many facets, the Ninja Steam Fryer easily beats the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL by a wide margin.
You can read the full review of Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer here.
#2 Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill – Best Indoor Grill
Now, if you want your chicken or any protein to be crispier, we need to talk about the Best Ninja Indoor Grill—the Ninja IG651 Pro Smart XL.
Among all the Foodi multi-cookers that double as an air fryer, this product produces the best result in giving your dish a golden brown finish.
With its heating element positioned closer to the food combined with direct heating from the grill or griddle, it achieves the highest cooking temperature. It’s more efficient at broiling.
Here’s more:
If you love grilling, guess what? You don’t need to wait for summer ever again to taste that beautifully charred steak or perhaps enjoy a Korean-inspired grilling night.
Additionally, the integrated thermometer will further simplify your cooking experience. By having so, you can effortlessly achieve perfectly cooked meat with your desired doneness. All that with the press of a button (and inserting the probe).
If you want a cheaper option, you might want to check the original Indoor Ninja Foodi Grill.
You can read the full review of Ninja Foodi Pro Grill and Griddle here.
#3 Ninja Foodi 2-Basket Air Fryer – Best Air Fryer
Except for the last two items, most of the products in this list have an air frying feature. However, if you’re looking for a proper Ninja air fryer, nothing comes close to the Ninja DZ201.
It’s also known as the Ninja Double Air Fryer, Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer, or simply the 2-Basket air fryer.
In simple terms, it comes with two drawers which gives you a generous cooking real estate. With a total of 8-qt capacity, it can take on four pounds of fries or chicken wings when using both zones.
The beauty of it though, lies in its smart features—Smart Finish Technology and the Match Cook function.
If you’re cooking the same thing, you can copy all the settings into the other zone by pressing the Match Cook button. On the other hand, the smart finish function will allow you to synchronize the cooking time of different dishes.
Currently, only Ninja Kitchen offers this functionality. Other brands have yet to develop their own double basket air fryer with convenient features like those I just mentioned.
In the world of air fryers, the Ninja DZ201 is certainly the one to beat.
You may also want to check their single-basket air fryers: Ninja Air Fryer Max XL and the more compact Ninja AF101 4-Quart Basket Air Fryer. Just so you know, these are cheaper options than the dual-zone model.
You can read the full review of Ninja Foodi DZ201 Dual Zone Air Fryer here.
#4 Ninja DT251 – Best Air Fryer Oven
Another Air Fryer on this is the most capable of them all, with a total of 10 cooking functions. It’s a Ninja Air Fryer Oven that can also perform the following functions—whole roast, air roast, bake, dehydrate, pizza, broil, toast, bagel, reheat leftovers—The Ninja Foodi DT251 Smart XL Pro Air Oven.
It can replace your good old pop-up toaster, your microwave, and to some degree, it can rival a full-sized oven. With a faster preheat time, you can bake or roast faster with this countertop convection oven.
The “smart part” of this product is the integrated thermometer. With this tool, you can achieve perfect doneness for any protein. Let’s say you want a medium-rare finish for your prime rib. Set the temperature to 130°F, and the oven will automatically stop and beep upon reaching that temperature.
Ohh, by the way, this oven has a 12-lbs capacity. You can fit a whole chicken, a large portion of beef, and a medium-sized turkey in it. If you like a cheaper model with the same capacity, you might want to go for its less smart sibling, the original Ninja XL Pro Air Oven.
Or, if you want a space-friendly countertop oven, the Ninja Digital Flip-Away Air Fry Oven is a great option. Not only it’s compact, but it’s also the cheapest among the Ninja Air Fry Ovens.
You can read the full review of Ninja Foodi DT251 Smart XL Pro Air Oven here.
#5 Ninja Foodi Power Blender
I’ve initially known Ninja Kitchen through its range of triple-stack-blade blending machines, which do look like a Ninja. If there’s a product that truly represents their brand, it’s their line of countertop blenders.
They have hundreds of blenders, which I already covered comprehensively in my other blog. You might want to check it out if you’re looking for a good-quality blender.
Alright, let’s focus on the Ninja Foodi SS351 Power Blender System.
What I like about this machine is you can use it in three different ways. It comes with a full-size multifunctional 72 oz pitcher, 24 oz personal smoothie cup, and their proprietary 14 oz container that can handle thick blends like an acai bowl.
Apart from making your favorite smoothies, it’s also excellent at crushing ice and pureeing dips, sauces, and salad dressings.
On a different note, Ninja also sells a blender that can sauté: Ninja Foodi Hot & Cold Blender.
You can read the full review of Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher System (SS351) here.
#6 Ninja Foodi Neverstick Cookware
To complete the Ninja Foodi collection, the brand also sells a Never Stick Cookware Set. You can get a single pan or get the entire package if you need to replace your good old cookware.
You can check all your options here (amazon link).
I’m not a fan of Teflon-coated cookware. I would only use it sparingly, like making scrambled eggs, sunny-side ups, and frying up bacon.
For the record, this product doesn’t contain PFOS or PFOA, which was the major toxic compound used in manufacturing Teflon before. Those compounds were phased out back in 2002 and 2015, respectively. Cooking with Teflon has been a little bit safer since banning those two chemicals.
Anyhow, if you’re still interested in the Never Stick Cookware Set, let’s talk about its features.
Here are its best parts:
- It’s compatible with metal utensils
- 5-year product guarantee
- It works with gas, electric, glass-ceramic, and induction stoves
- Free of PFOA, cadmium, and lead
- Some models are oven-safe up to 500°F
- Dishwasher safe
Here’s the link to the single pan, and here’s the entire collection.
#7 BONUS: Ninja Juicer
This is the bonus round of this top 7 list. Technically, it’s not part of the Foodi collection, but it’s still worth mentioning. If you love juicing and you love the Ninja brand, you might want to give this masticating juicer a try.
They call it the Cold Press Juicer with Total Pulp Control. It’s the second-best masticating juicer on my list.
What’s unique about this product are the auger and interchangeable pulp filters. The drill has a stainless steel tip for extra durability, and you’ll get a total of three pulp filters. You can introduce more fibers into your drink by using a filter with bigger holes.
Indeed, you have complete control over your juice’s pulp content.
I will not go into detail on why slow juicers are better than centrifugal juicers. You can find more about it here.
You can read the full review of Ninja Cold Press Juicer here.
The Ninja Foodi Family Comparison Charts
Now that you know the best of the best products from the Ninja Foodi Collection let’s further break it down by making a side-by-side comparison. We made this table as simple as possible and easier to read on smart phones.
Let’s start with the pressure cookers.
Pressure Cookers
 Get at Amazon → | NEW! Ninja Foodi OL701 14-in-1 Steam Fryer with Smart Lid (full review) ✔ The Best Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker of 2021 ✔ 3 cooking modes including the NEW Steam Fry ✔ 14 cooking programs ✔ 3-in-1 Smart Lid, so no need to switch covers and easier to clean! ✔ Touchscreen interface ✔ Includes smart thermometer for perfect doneness all the time ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✔ Can air fry ✔ Can sous vide ✔ Available in 8 or 6.5 quarts (the latter don’t include smart thermometer) ✔ Hands-free pressure release |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi FD401 Deluxe XL 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer (full review) ✔ 9 main cooking programs ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✔ Can air fry ✔ Can sous vide ✘ 8 quart capacity only ✘ Manual pressure release |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja FD302 Foodi Pro 11-in-1 Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer (full review) ✔ The Best Budget Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker of 2021 ✔ 11 main cooking programs ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✔ Can air fry ✔ Can sous vide ✘ 6.5 quart capacity only ✘ Manual pressure release |
Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi OP101 Compact 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer (full review) ✔ The Best Small Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker of 2021 ✔ 7 cooking programs ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✔ Can air fry ✘ Can’t sous vide ✘ 5 quart capacity only ✘ Manual pressure release |
Bottom Line
Getting Ninja’s new flagship electric pressure cooker would be a great idea if you have the budget. It’s the best multi-cooker there is, perhaps even better than Instapot. You don’t have to switch between the air fryer and pressure lid as the brand integrated both accessories into a single, smart attachment.
On the other hand, if you’re tight on budget, your options would be the Foodi Pro or the Foodi Compact. Both offer generous cooking capacity at almost half the price of the Ninja Foodi Steam Fryer.
Quick tip: When choosing a multi-cooker, pick the one with the most cooking programs, so you can use the most out of the appliance. Here’s our in-depth guide on Ninja Foodi Pressure Cookers.
Indoor Grills
 Get at Amazon → | NEW! Ninja Foodi XL Pro Indoor Grill, Griddle & Air Fryer (full review) ✔ The Best Ninja Foodi Grill of 2021 ✔ Smokeless Grill ✔ 7 cooking programs ✔ Includes smart thermometer for perfect doneness all the time ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✔ Can air fry ✔ Can fit 6 steaks simultaneously ✔ Direct heating for better cooking experience ✔ Traditional stripe grill marks |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi FG551 Smart XL Smokeless Indoor Grill & Air Fryer (full review) ✔ Smokeless Grill ✔ 6 cooking programs ✔ Includes smart thermometer for perfect doneness all the time ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✔ Can air fry ✔ Can fit 6 steaks simultaneously ✘ Indirect heating ✘ Curve grill marks |
 Get at Amazon → | “The Original” Ninja Foodi AG301 Smokeless Indoor Grill & Air Fryer (full review) ✔ The Best Budget Ninja Foodi Grill of 2021 ✔ Smokeless Grill ✔ 5 cooking programs ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✔ Can air fry ✔ Direct heating for better cooking experience ✘ No smart thermometer ✘ Can only fit 4 steaks simultaneously ✘ Curve grill marks |
Bottom Line
Ninja’s newest indoor grill (Ninja Foodi Pro Grill) now has a full-pledged griddle. They finally added heating elements beneath the grill instead of relying upon the indirect heat coming from the air-fryer lid. Faster cook time and the authentic grilling experience are its ultimate selling points.
Quick tip: When selecting an indoor grill, go for the one with a smart thermometer for a more straightforward grilling experience. Here’s our in-depth guide on Ninja Grills.
Air Fryers
If you noticed, most of Ninja Kitchen’s multi-cookers have an air frying function. The pressure cooker has an air frying lid; their grills are originally air fryers with a pseudo griddle; they also have a range of toaster ovens that doubles as an air fryer.
This comparison table is all about their authentic drawer-type air fryers. If you just need an air fryer, you should be looking at this chart.
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi DZ201 2-Basket Air Fryer (full review) ✔ The Best Ninja Air Fryer of 2021 ✔ 6 core cooking functions ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✔ DualZone Technology with Smart Finish and Match Cook ✔ Biggest capacity with two baskets (total of 8-quarts) ✔ Rectangular basket shape to fit more food |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja AF161 Air Fryer Max XL (full review) ✔ 7 core cooking functions ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✔ 5.5 quarts capacity ✘ Rounded basket shape |
 Get at Amazon → | Original Ninja AF101 Air Fryer (full review) ✔ Cheapest Ninja Air Fryer of 2021 ✔ 4 core cooking functions ✔ Non-stick ceramic coating accessories for straightforward cleaning ✘ 4-quart capacity ✘ Rounded basket shape |
Bottom Line
If you love air frying, generous cooking capacity should be on top of your list. That’s what the Ninja Foodi DZ201 exactly offers. Period.
Quick tip: For an air fryer, choose the one with a rectangular basket shape since it’ll fit more food. Here’s our in-depth guide on Ninja Air Fryers.
Countertop Ovens
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi DT251 Smart XL Pro Air Oven (full review) ✔ 10-in-1 cooking functions ✔ Excellent heat distribution (convection type) ✔ Large capacity, can fit a whole chicken and medium-sized turkey ✔ Includes an integrated meat thermometer for worry free cooking ✔ Can bake 12-inch pizza and air fry 4 lbs fries ✘ No flip-away feature ✘ No searing plate |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi SP301 Dual Heat Air Fry Oven (full review) ✔ 13-in-1 cooking functions ✔ Flip-away space-saving design ✔ Comes with a searing plate for grilling ✔ Can bake 13-inch pizza and air fry 4 lbs fries ✘ Not ideal for roasting whole chicken and 12-lbs turkey ✘ No smart thermometer |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi XL Pro Air Oven (full review) ✔ Budget friendly ✔ 10-in-1 cooking functions ✔ Excellent heat distribution (convection type) ✔ Large capacity, can fit a whole chicken and 12-lbs turkey ✔ Can bake 12-inch pizza and air fry 4 lbs fries ✘ No smart thermometer ✘ No searing plate ✘ No flip-away feature |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi SP201 Digital Air Fry Oven Pro ✔ Budget friendly ✔ 8-in-1 cooking functions ✔ Flip-away space-saving design ✔ Can bake 13-inch pizza and air fry 4 lbs fries ✘ Not ideal for roasting whole chicken and 12-lbs turkey ✘ No smart thermometer ✘ No searing plate |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven (full review) ✔ Budget friendly ✔ 8-in-1 cooking functions ✔ Flip-up space saving design ✔ Can bake 13-inch pizza and air fry 4 lbs fries ✘ Smallest capacity, not recommended for large portions of protein ✘ No smart thermometer ✘ No searing plate |
Bottom Line
Suppose you need a toaster oven with ample cooking capacity. In that case, your best choices are the Smart XL Pro Air Oven and the Flip Away Air Fryer Oven. The smart model comes with an integrated meat thermometer while the latter features a space-saving design.
Quick tip: Deciding the best toaster oven for you largely depends on your available space. Here’s our in-depth guide on Ninja Toast Ovens.
Blenders
The Ninja Foodi Catalog also offers a range of amazing blending machines.
 Get at Amazon → | NEW! Ninja Foodi SS401 (full review) ✔ The Best Ninja Blender of 2021 ✔ 7 automatic walkaway blend settings ✔ Dial-type control ✔ Variable 10-speed control ✔ 1600-watt motor with Anti-Stall Technology ✔ 4-in-1 appliance (countertop blender, dough maker, personal smoothie maker, food processor) ✔ Can handle thick blends ✔ Multiple accessories and capacities (72, 24, 18 oz) ✔ Food processor includes grating/slicing discs and the processor lid has a feed chute ✘ Not ideal for hot blends |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher (full review) ✔ 6 automatic walkaway blend settings ✔ Dial-type control ✔ Variable 10-speed control ✔ 1200-watt motor with Anti-Stall Technology ✔ 3-in-1 appliance (countertop blender, dough maker, personal smoothie maker) ✔ Can handle thick blends ✔ Multiple accessories and capacities (72, 24, 14 oz) ✘ Food processor doesn’t include grating/slicing discs ✘ Not ideal for hot blends |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Smoothie Blender (full review) ✔ The Best Smoothie Blender of 2021 ✔ 4 automatic walkaway blend settings ✔ 1200-watt motor with Anti-Stall Technology ✔ Can handle thick blends ✔ Multiple accessories and capacities (24, 14 oz) ✘ Not ideal for hot blends |
 Get at Amazon → | Ninja Foodi Hot and Cold Blender (full review) ✔ The Best Cheap Ninja Blender of 2021 ✔ 12 automatic walkaway blend settings ✔ Glass jar ✔ 1400-watt motor ✔ Can handle thick blends (with limitations) ✔ Perfect for hot blends (cooking blender) ✘ Only 3-speed control |
The brand has 100 more blending machines on top of what I mentioned above, and here are a few of them.
Quick tip: Go for the most powerful blender with the most accessories, so you can create numerous high-quality recipes. Here’s our in-depth guide on Ninja Blenders.
Over To You
Now that we’ve discussed everything about the Ninja Foodi collection, nothing is stopping you from getting a pressure cooker, air fryer, oven toaster, indoor grill, or at the very least a cookware set.
With that said, let me part with you with the best Foodi products.
- Best Pressure Cooker – Ninja FD401 Deluxe XL →
- Best Indoor Grill – Ninja FG551 Smart XL →
- Best Air Fryer – Ninja DZ201 Double Basket Air Fryer →
- Best Convection Oven – Ninja DT251 Smart XL Pro Air Oven →
