Ninja Foodi multi-cooker review

• bulky and requires two heavy lids

Star rating: 4.5/5

Read our buyer's guide to the best slow cookers

The Ninja multi-cooker was by far the largest and heaviest machine in our test of the best slow cookers. However, given what this beast of a machine can do, this can't come as a surprise.

It's not just a slow cooker; it's a pressure cooker, steamer and air fryer, plus it can sear, sauté and roast. With its hefty size, it's worth bearing in mind that it takes up a considerable amount of space and is heavy to lift.

As a slow cooker, it's a delight to use. The non-stick metal pot is large and roomy, and the sear and sauté function means everything can be done in the one pot.

We tested the sear function by making a slow-cooker beef stew. It heats up exceptionally quickly, and the meat and vegetables started to caramelise in no time.

The large, bright digital display was easy to use and divided into clearly marked sections for each function.

The slow cooker has a high and low setting and cooking times are in 15-minute intervals. When the meal is ready, the Ninja automatically switches to warm and the timer shows how long it's been kept at that temperature.

All the removable parts (except the pressure cooker lid) are ceramic-coated, non-stick and dishwasher-safe. The main unit and lids have awkward crevices that are hard to get into, making this part of the washing-up a bit tricky.

The slow cooker requires the pressure cooker lid, which was a little fiddly to attach. It looks quite bulky and took us several goes to get it on, but became easier the more we used it.

Our test recipes were excellent. The stew and chicken curry were cooked perfectly with well-reduced sauces and tender chunks of meat and vegetables. The colour of the curry was bright and the spices pungent.

We gave the pressure cooker and the air fryer a few tests and loved the results.

Specifications
Type: multi-cooker
Capacity: 6-litre
Size: 43cm x 36cm x 32cm
Settings: low, high, automatic keep warm
Functions: pressure cooking, steam, slow cook, sear/sauté, air crisp, bake/roast/grill
Pot: non-stick metal
Lid: one hinged, and a removable lid
Extras: 3.6 litre cook and crisp basket, reversible rack
Guarantee: 1 year
Dishwasher: pot and crisper basket
Oven and hob friendly: no
Instruction manual: yes
Recipes: yes

Read our buyer's guide to the best slow cookers

Slow cooker recipes

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This review was last updated in January 2020. 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.