The Ninja Foodi comes in several different models and sizes. The cooking pot sizes available are 5, 6.5, or 8 quarts. It’s a good idea to know your cooking needs and demands before buying your Ninja Foodi. Are you going to use the Ninja Foodi to feed your entire family? Are you planning to cook portions for more than one meal?
Several differences exist between the new Ninja Foodi Deluxe and the original Ninja Foodi. The new Deluxe is narrower than the original version and doesn’t use as much countertop space. Also, The new version is sleek, designed with stainless steel and matte black finishes.
Below I compare ninja foodi grill models side by side with a Ninja Foodi Comparison chart.
What Is The Difference Between the Ninja Foodi and The Ninja Foodi Deluxe?
The SharkNinja family released the new Ninja Foodi Deluxe 8-quart back in 2019. The Deluxe has a stainless-steel and matte black finish with an updated control panel; it now uses a center dial, has a larger LCD screen, and a larger cooking capacity with a new yogurt button.
Buy: Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe at Amazon
What’s The Difference Between Ninja Foodi OP401 and FD401?
The difference between the FD401 and the OP401 is that the FD401 9-in-1 Deluxe XL Cooker & Air Fryer-Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker have a Yogurt function.
Is The Ninja Foodi A Good Air Fryer?
I like the Ninja Foodi (see also ‘Is The Ninja Foodi Cheaper Than An Oven To Run?‘) air fryer because it performs exceptionally well as a pressure cooker, air fryer, or slow cooker. Also, it can steam, sauté, broil, bake, or dehydrate. The new control panel is simple to read, and the nonstick surface easily cleans the cooking pot and crisping basket.
Can You Deep Fry in The Ninja Foodi?
You can’t deep-fry with Ninja Foodi; you can only air-fry. You will need a pressure fryer to deep fry with a pressure cooker. The Ninja Foodi only allows you to air-fry chicken.
Is The Ninja Foodi Worth The Money?
The Ninja Foodi is more expensive than most pressure cookers. The value comes from the convenience of an all-in-one appliance. If you are going to air frying or dehydrate often, then it’s worth the price. Otherwise, you may be better off with a much less expensive Instant pot being a better value.
Ninja Foodi Model Comparison
 Ninja Foodi(OP101) | Ninja Foodi(OP401) |  Ninja Foodi(FD401) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functions | Pressure, Steam, Slow Cook, Sear/Sauté, Air Crisp, Bake/ Roast, Broil | Pressure, Steam, Slow Cook, Sear/Sauté, Air Crisp, Bake/ Roast, Broil, Dehydrate | Pressure, Steam, Slow Cook, Sear/Sauté, Air Crisp, Bake/ Roast, Broil, Dehydrate, Yogurt |
| TenderCrisp Technology | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nonstick Ceramic Coating | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Settings | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic Stay Warm | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Color | Black/gray | Black/gray | Stainless steel |
| Dishwasher-safe *parts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ceramic-coated crisping basket | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ceramic-coated cooking pot | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Buy: Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe at Amazon
Ninja Foodi Deluxe Features
Ninja Foodi has a pot with a nonstick ceramic coating that comes with two lids: one for pressure cooking and the other for crisping. The pressure cooking lid isn’t designed to go on top of the crisping lid, and trying to force it on will result in damage. When you’re looking to use the pressure lid, the crisper lid will be flipped up and remain that way throughout the cooking process. Once you’re ready to start crisping the food, the crisper lid will go down.
You screw down the pressure lid the same way you would with the Instant Pot. When you seal the release valve and press the ‘pressure’ button, the Ninja Foodi automatically gains high pressure and won’t need to be adjusted. The Foodi will start a countdown timer, and once it’s done, it will automatically switch off and revert to the ‘warm’ function.
On the underside of the pressure cooker lid is a valve cap that should always be removed for cleaning after every use. Please refer to the user manual you received with the appliance for a guide on cleaning and inspecting clogs.
Be aware that the valve is meant to be loose and to float when it’s on the seal. When you turn the valve to vent, it raises up slightly and sits on a little ledge. This is a safety precaution to prevent excess steam or pressure from being released during the pressure cooking.
The Ninja Foodi also comes with a crisping basket and a diffuser that can be detached; however, it should be used with the crisping basket. The air crisp lid will be used whenever you access the cooking modes: bake/roast, the air crisp, broil, and dehydrate.
When you want to check on your food using the crisper, flip the lid up, and the cooker will pause immediately, allowing you to check on your food. It has a fan and heating element that circulates the air like a conventional oven.
The pressure lid will be used with the following cooking modes: pressure cook, sear/sauté, slow cook, and steam. When it comes to pressure cooking, there are some functions that you should get familiar with, such as building and releasing pressure, as you will need to do this often when you make your meals.
You should perform a building and releasing pressure test using water beforehand. This is a test you would carry out on the Instant Pot.
The Ninja Foodi comes with an owner’s manual and a Foodi guide. The owner’s manual gives you an overview of Ninja Foodi’s functions, including how to maintain it and a troubleshooting guide. The Foodi guide is like a quick start manual that tells you what’s included in the box, a cheat sheet, and recipes.
It also includes information about the extra cooking rack that will simultaneously allow cooking on two levels. This will allow you to cook your vegetables and proteins simultaneously instead of waiting for one to be finished first.
Related:
How To Use Ninja Foodi (The Ultimate Guide)
Why Should You Buy The Ninja Foodi?
What Can You Cook in A Ninja Foodi?
What Is A Ninja Foodi? (What Does it do)
Is The Ninja Foodi Dangerous (Basic Safety)
How to Use Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker?
How to Cook Rice in Ninja Foodi? (Detail Guide)
Is The Ninja Foodi A Crock-Pot? (What’s the Difference)
