Instant Pots have taken the small kitchen appliance world by storm over the past few years. Since the debut of the Instant Pot, several competitors have attempted to share in some of the success. The Ninja Foodie is one of the competitor appliances that has held its own against the Instant Pot. Since both of these devices do many of the same things, you certainly don’t need to buy both. But which one is better? Which one should you buy? If you are still looking for an excellent gift for that foodie on your holiday gift list, search no more. We have compared the Instant Pot and the Ninja Foodie so you can make the right decision.
Instant Pot
Instant Pots gained fame in the U.S. a couple of years ago when more than 200,000 units were sold on Amazon Prime Day. Since then, cooks, college students, parents, and kitchen gadget lovers alike have been purchasing these small appliances in record numbers. The Instant Pot is a multitasker that will round out any kitchen. It is a one-size-fits-all kitchen gadget that can steam, sauté, warm, stew, and even make yogurt. Perfect hard-boiled eggs are just an added bonus of this appliance that saves space and time.
This Instant Pot is built with the latest technology. The device monitors pressure and temperature, keeps time, and adjusts the heat and cook time to cook to perfection every time. Combining seven appliances in one, this Instant Pot acts as a warmer, sauté pan, pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker, and yogurt maker and does all of these things 70% faster. The pot is easy to clean with dishwasher-safe components and fingerprint-proof stainless steel exterior and lid.
Instant Pots features one-touch Smart Programs that include settings for soup, beans, desserts, and more. There are also hundreds of recipes for all types of cuisines that are available through the app. The app also provides support and guidance from thousands of users in the Instant Pot online community.
The pot comes with accessories that include a stainless steel rack with handles, soup spoon, rice paddle, condensation collector, and measuring cup. The inner pot is stainless steel as well and is made with a three-ply bottom, so it is durable and dishwasher-safe. There are different sizes so you can buy one large enough to cook for six people or a smaller one for single people or small households.
The Instant Pot comes equipped with safety protections featuring overheat protection and a safety lock. With buttons such as delay start and keep warm, this pot makes cooking so convenient you will wonder how you survived without it.
Ninja Foodie
SharkNinja Operating, LLC has been turning out high-quality vacuums, coffee makers, blenders, and more for about two decades. SharkNinja prides itself on manufacturing inventive and easy to use products at a great value, so it is no wonder they got into the multi-function cooker game as soon as possible. The Ninja Foodie does everything that the Instant Pot does, and more. You can steam, sauté, warm, stew, and make yogurt just like the Instant Pot. The major advantage of the Ninja Foodie is that it is also an air fryer.
The Ninja Foodie is also made with cutting-edge technology. The digital control panel is easy to read and easy to use. You can adjust time and temperature, and there are buttons that are dedicated to each of its functions. The Ninja Foodie does not have preprogrammed settings for specific foods, which is a downside for some, but a welcome omission for others. Some people think that theses specific settings are useless and crowd the control panel while others like the convenience of these buttons. This is a matter of personal preference.
Since the Foodie also doubles as an air fryer, it includes two lids: One for pressure cooking and another for air frying, crisping, and dehydrating. The crisping lid is large and permanently attached to the device, which makes it a bit clunky and difficult to store in a cabinet. However, the TenderCrisp feature allows you to quickly cook ingredients and then utilize the Crisping Lid for a golden finish, which you cannot do in an Instant Pot.
The Ninja Foodie pressure cooks up to 70% faster than traditional cooking methods and air fries, with up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods. The 6.5-quart cooking pot is ceramic coated and nonstick, which makes it easy to clean. The four-quart cook and crisp basket is also ceramic-coated and nonstick. In addition to the two lids, cooking pot, and basket, the Foodie comes with a stainless steel reversible rack and a recipe book with more than 45 recipes.
The Ninja Foodie is nonstick, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean. The parts and attachments are dishwasher-safe, and the pot and basket are PTFE and PFOA free. There are 14 levels of safety for pressure cooking and air frying, including auto shut off and cancel buttons.
So, which should I buy?
Ultimately, the decision comes down to what exactly you want out of a multicooker. If you want to air fry, the Ninja is the clear winner. Since the price of the Ninja is less than what it would cost to buy an Instant Pot and an air fryer, buying the Ninja makes sense. This would also eliminate the clutter of having multiple small appliances. However, the Instant Pot is cheaper than the Ninja. So, if you don’t need to air fry and just want a device that can pressure cook, steam, sauté, warm, and stew, the Instant Pot is the way to go. Regardless of your decision, either of these small appliances will make a fantastic gift for that special someone on your holiday list.
