Once I hit 40, I became the person I always feared I'd become: that middle-aged dude who buys an air fryer and never shuts up about it.
I loved my first Ninja so much that I began writing reviews, air fryer recipes, and how-to guides about it. I wrote so much content that I became what I like to call an accidental air fryer expert.
I was in love.
However, it turns out I'm not a one-air-fryer kinda guy, as I've cheated on almost all of my air fryers.
But, when I laid eyes on the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1, it was love at first site. The 11-in-1 fought diligently by my side every day for years as the needs of my ever-expanding family grew. This appliance never let me down.
Unfortunately, even the almost perfect 11-in-1 Ninja Foodi wasn't enough to get me to commit to a long-term relationship. And when Ninja introduced their younger, sleeker model with more junk in the trunk, I knew my fidelity would be tested.
I couldn't resist trying out the new touchscreen, having my culinary way with that massive inner pot, and getting to grips with the exceptional accessories that come with this appliance.
So here's my Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 review cooker because I'm an air fryer bigamist who can not keep it in the kitchen.
Jump to:
Unboxing the Ninja Foodi Air Frying, Pressure Cooking Mistress
The Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker arrives in a sturdy, well-packed box with all the Ninja/Shark hallmark marketing blub that looks nice and is fairly informative but, most importantly, protects your cooker in transit.
When you've cracked open the box and have inhaled a sweet dose of that new air fryer smell, you'll find a beefy appliance and a host of practical accessories (all of which are dishwasher safe).
- An easy-to-read instruction booklet
- A Spanking, gleaming, shiny air fryer
- A Cavernous cooking pot
- A slick, non-stick crisp basket
- A Vital air fryer base
- A magical dual-layer reversible rack
- A Ninja Foodi cookbook/recipe book
The members of my tribe are all extreme advocates for sustainability (especially my partner, who has issued fines for putting the wrong materials in the wrong bin ... seriously), so it was fantastic to see that, aside from a couple of plastic wrappers for the cooker and reversible rack, all the packaging was recyclable.
Design and Build Quality
To the uninitiated, there are no overt differences between the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 air fryer and my ex. They're almost identical.
But why fix what clearly isn't broken, right?
This new air fryer still has a sleek, modern design. Its black and stainless color scheme gives it a professional, high-end look.
The build quality is impressive (as I've come to expect from Ninja), and sturdy materials are used throughout. When I lifted it out of the box, I felt a heft and sturdiness that assured me Ninja hadn't cut any corners to save money like many other companies do when releasing revamped products.
All the accessories, crisp basket, and racks have a familiar feel that eases the anxiety of spending a ton of money on a new appliance.
After plugging in my new best friend (with the whole family gathered around), we were treated to the familiar Ninja beeps and boops, which again filled our kitchen with familiarity, and a zen-like calm swam through the house.
The differences between my ex and my new love became more apparent as this old air fryer expert began to get to grips with my new toy. The most obvious divergence from the 11-in-1 cooker is the size. This thing is enormous (and heavy!); you can stick your entire head in the inner pot and hear your voice echo.
The control panel is not too dissimilar, either. However, rather than a push-button panel, Ninja has included a partial touchscreen. The power button, start button, and selector dial are all still pretty buttony, but the temperature and timer selectors are touchscreen.
I'm going to shoot as straight as I can on this matter. I don't think I like the touchscreen. I understand why Ninja included it, but "pressing" the "buttons" doesn't give you any feedback and feels disconnected.
If Ninja added beeps for each press, it would give you some indication that you'd done something, but as it is, it just feels a little off.
Overall, the Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker's design and build quality are top-notch. This air frying, steam cooking, and slow cooking behemoth is everything I've come to expect from Ninja and reflects its premium positioning in the market.
Key Features and Functions
As you'd expect from an appliance called the 14-in-1, this Ninja Foodi air fryer is packed to the gills with features and cooking functions to make your life easier and your smile wider.
I've been using mine for a few months and have yet to use all of the functions.
Not even close.
It's like I've been playing the main storyline on Skyrim without even casting an eye towards the side quests.
There are three cooking styles (that you select with the chunky slider on the lid), each with its own subset of cooking features.
Here's what you'll get:
Pressure Cook
The pressure cooking function lets you cook the most perfectly moist meats and most tender fresh vegetables exceedingly quickly. One of my cooking bugbears is the cooking time/eating ratio that always skews massively towards the time it takes to cook.
The pressure significantly reduces that gap while simultaneously making your food more delicious. Win/win.
The pressure cooking setting does not have three functions per se, but it does have three options for releasing the steam, which will vary the rates of steam expulsion depending on when you want your food to be ready or if you'd rather not explode your eardrums (hello quick release!).
- Natural Release
- Quick Release
- Delayed Release
The pressure cooker can be excellent for quickly cooking a whole chicken (that can be air fried afterward for perfectly crispy skin)
Air Fry & Hob
You'll find the most familiar options in the air frying and hob section. The normal everyday functions that will probably get the most use (until you get to grips with steam air frying!) and will have you preparing entire meals in one pot, combining the pressure cook, saute, and slow cook cooking functions.
Here's the list of helpful features and what they can cook.
- Air Fry - Chicken wings, French fries, Churros
- Bake - Lasagne, Cupcakes, Crusty Bread
- Grill - Sausages, Pork Chops, Bacon
- Dehydrate - Fruit Slices, Herbs, Beef Jerky
- Prove - Proof Dough
- Sear/Sauté - Steak, Onions & Garlic, Chicken Thighs
- Steam - Vegetables, Dumplings, Steamed Fish
- Slow Cook - Beef Stew, Pulled Pork, Chili
- Yogurt - Homemade yogurt
Steam Combo
I'm not going to lie; it took me a while to pluck up the courage to use these features to cook entire meals in one go. I was slightly overwhelmed by the idea of potatoes, vegetables, and meat all cooking simultaneously.
And by 'pluck up the courage', I mean 'I got told to stop being a wimp and just do it'. But once I got to grips with this cooking style, I never looked back.
- Steam Air Fry
- Steam Bake
- Steam Bread
- Steam Roast
- Steam Meals
Though I admit to seeing little difference between steam air fry and all the other functions, other than times and temperatures, I always use steam air fry no matter what I cook.
My Favourite Thing About The Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 Multicooker
There's so much to love about this incredibly versatile 'small' kitchen appliance that it's almost impossible to nail down my all-time, absolute, undisputed favorite thing about it.
Almost.
But once I'd mastered the finer points of steam air frying, it became my 'go-to' for almost everything that isn't chicken nuggets or reheated pizza.
You see, one of the inherent problems you'll encounter when starting your air fryer journey is that if you're cooking for more than two people, you'll still have to use your stovetop, oven, or range to cook the rest of your meal while your appliance handles the main event.
But the Ninha 14-in-1 can handle full courses without breaking a sweat (unless you're cooking with steam, heh!). The massive cooking pot, deluxe reversible rack, and combi-steam cooking modes significantly reduce cooking times while creating wonderfully tender yet crispy ingredients.
ALL AT THE SAME TIME!
How To Use The Combi-Steam Feature To Whip Up Your Breakfast
When I sat down to start writing this review, I made the mistake of doing so on an empty stomach.
After a couple of paragraphs, my stomach started to rumble, and the aftershocks caused my hands to shake, and a number of embarrassing typos and grammatical errors ensued (not a bad excuse if I missed some in editing, eh?).
Ninja to the rescue.
I used the steam air fry feature and deluxe reversible rack to whip up some delicious spicy chicken sausages and smoked back bacon to go alongside my sourdough toast and fried egg.
To use this feature and cooking rack couldn't be easier:
Step 1: Place the meat that requires the longest cooking time (in this case, sausages) on the reversible rack, arranging it as aesthetically or haphazardly as you'd like.
Step 2: Do the same for your secondary meat (bacon this time, mmmmm) on the smaller separate rack.
Step 3: Pour about 250ml of water into the inner pot. You can't really put too much water in, but make doubly sure you don't underfill it or you risk burning the pot.
Step 4: Put the rack into the cooking pot and close the air fryer lid. Shift the selector slider into the 'Combi-Steam' position (in the middle) and use the dial to select air fry.
Step 5: Choose your time (might take some trial and error as this machine cooks fast) and temperature (almost always 200°C for me, yes, I'm one of those) for the the meat that needs cooking longest, and press start.
Step 6: The Ninja Foodi multicooker will start to preheat, usually taking about five minutes. This period is not included in your cooking time, so don't worry about your brain exploding from complex cooking math.
Step 7: If you're cooking another meat or ingredient, wait until the time is right before opening the lid (the timer will pause on its own) and adding the second rack.
Be careful. The rack and pot inside the cooker are ridiculously hot, as my forearm can attest.
Step 8: Close the lid and let the timer run down. Until you've nailed down your cooking times, it's a good idea to keep checking your food throughout so you don't burn it.
Step 9: Nom.
As I sat down to eat my meal, it dawned on me that with 8 minutes to go, I could have added a couple of whole eggs to the bottom of the inner pot to effortlessly cook some soft-boiled eggs instead of dirtying my Ninja Possible Pan.
This speaks to the versatility of my Ninja Multicooker that you can always find new and different ways of making meal times more effortless, freeing up your time and reducing stress.
What I Love, What I'm Not Keen On, & Who It's For
No appliance is perfect, and anybody telling you so is trying to sell you something. Here's a list of who this appliance is for and my favorite and not-so-favorite things about the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 Multicooker.
Spoiler alert: The things I don't love are very superficial.
What I Love
It's Massive: I have a massive family. I cook massive meals. I need a massive cooker.
It's Efficient: This Ninja appliance is so efficient that it cooks food for my family in double-quick time AND saves me money on my bills.
It's Versatile: I can cook almost anything in this bad boy, from grilled cheese to chicken wings to slow-cooked stews. I can't remember the last time I used my oven.
It's Fantastic Value For Money: Make no mistake, this unit is pricey. But when you consider the quality and versatility you're getting for your money, it's peanuts in comparison.
It's So Pretty: Aestethical value offers nothing in terms of practicality, functionality, or versatility, but who wants an ugly monstrosity sitting on their countertops?
What I Don't Love
Sticky Stickers: Every Ninja Foodi appliance I've ever owned comes with giant bright orange warning stickers on the lid. And the residue they leave behind is impossible to remove. It bugs me.
Grimy Rack: The reversible rack is made from thin stainless steel that harbors grimy stowaways. Bits of food get stuck in there, and it's a challenge to get them out. I guess all brands have a similar issue, but I still don't like it.
Fingerprint Magnet: As I've already mentioned, the implementation of a touchscreen on this model comes at a price. And the price is a whole mess of smudges. Can you imagine the number of sweaty fingerprints I have to clean off my cooker when seven people live in our house, three of them teenagers?
Who It's For
It would be a copout to sit here and say that the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 Air Fryer is for everyone. I mean, nothing is stopping you from buying one, even if you don't fall into any of these categories.
Thinking logically, this beast's sizable pricepoint and even more sizable footprint suggest this appliance is perfect for large families, people who like to batch-cook, and folks with a bit of disposable income.
On the flip side of the coin, if you really need a new cooker or range but don't have hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on a new one, this Ninja Foodi Multicooker is an excellent alternative that can replace multiple appliances in one fell swoop.
If you're considering buying one, you'll need a decent amount of counter space because you'll need a permanent home for your new appliance. This bad boy is too big and cumbersome to keep putting it away and getting it out. And that's assuming you have cupboards like wardrobes to fit it in.
Most importantly, the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 Multicooker is for anyone looking for an easy-to-use appliance that cooks food (to perfection) more quickly than any other model AND reduces energy bills at the same time.
FAQs about the Ninja Foodi XL
I wouldn't recommend it, as you can damage the non-stick coating and reduce its effectiveness. Even plastic ladles can be damaged if you tap their metal stems on the side to get food off (see mine!).
Yes, it offers precise temperature control for sous-vide cooking. Simply set the desired time and temperature, and the cooker maintains the water bath's heat for perfectly tender, evenly cooked results. Simply follow the cooking instructions for perfect meals that will have you licking your fingers!
The sealed SmartLid minimizes the release of cooking odors, especially when using the pressure cooker or slow cooker. This keeps your kitchen smelling fresh, even when preparing strong-smelling foods like garlic or fish.
All the components (except the rack) are incredibly easy to clean as they're all dishwasher-safe. But even if you don't have a dishwasher, cleanup is a breeze.
Conclusion
I do hope you have enjoyed this Ninja foodi xl 14 in 1 review. The truth is you will fall in love with this appliance as I have. Either way, you can look forward to this like perfectly cooked chicken, delicious roasts, and plenty of meals that will have your neighbors begging you to spill the beans on your Master Chef techniques.
Maria
Thank you for this elaborate review, it was very helpful. I’m almost ready to hit the purchase button, but I have one question left.
On the website of Ninja itself, there are mainly 2 types of complaints in the reviews. The biggest one is that it stops functioning (plug in probe error) just after the warranty period expires ans apparently that happened quite some times.
The second complaint is about the lid that has a heating element attached. They say that it gets dirty (especially when using the high pressure mode) and it’s difficult to clean.
Is either of these complaints anything that you recognise? Thank you in advance for your response.
Kind regards,
Maria