Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker review (NINJA OP101) 5 Quart Multi-cooker

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The Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker or the Ninja Foodi OP101 is the entry-level Instant Pot contender of the brand. It’s succeeding the Ninja Foodi OP300 Series with a more compact profile.

So, if you have limited space in your kitchen, this 5-qt model might better fit your available real estate.

In terms of functionality, it’s equally capable as its bigger siblings. It’s a 7-in-1 multi-cooker that can pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, air fry, bake/roast and keep your food warm.

While I’m writing this review, I found out that Ninja already released an upgraded version of this product, The Ninja Foodi OS101. It has the same 5-quart capacity with an added broiling function.

I guess at this point, it would be a no-brainer to get the newer model. However, if you’re still into the 7-in-1 variant, let’s go over its pros and cons.

What can I make with the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker?

Ninja markets the Ninja Foodi OP101 as a 7-in-1 appliance, so surely, it can handle several recipes.

With that said, here are its main functions:

Just like the Ninja Foodi XL Pro Air Oven, one of the best things about this pressure cooker is the Air Crisp function. 

Here’s why that’s excellent:

Two different kitchen appliance usually accomplish recipes that call for pressure cooking and air frying (or broiling). With the Ninja Foodi Compact, however, you can do both in one machine. Therefore, you only need to cleanup one equipment, which is less of a hassle.

The saute/sear function plays a significant role too. Instead of sauteing the aromatics like onion and garlic in a different pan, you can do it in one pot! And again, your kitchen task will be a lot easier.

Here’s the catch:

Sadly, it doesn’t include the reversible rack. Nevertheless, you can still make great recipes with the pot and basket, so that shouldn’t be a big issue.

Pro tip: ONLY use silicone or plastic tongs and spatula when cooking. By doing so, you prevent any scratches to the ceramic coating, and your Ninja Foodi will live longer.

Is the Ninja 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker easy to use?

All multi-cookers have an understandable learning curve, including the 5-Quart Ninja Foodi. Luckily, it includes a recipe guide to get you started.

Better yet:

Ninja Foodi made it more manageable thanks to their intuitive controls. For instance, the button arrangement separates the pressure cook functions from the TenderCrisp modes. More importantly? You can adjust the temperature and duration accordingly.

Also, the machine tells you when something is incorrect. For example, when the water is too low, it prompts you to “ADD WTR.” If you’re a beginner, that will be a wholesome feature.

Here’s more:

The unit assembles effortlessly. You don’t need to line up the cooking pot and crisper basket, so that’s not a problem. The lid, however, needs to be aligned correctly. Luckily, there’s an indication of where to position it, so you’ll get used to it in no time.

On a different note:

Despite being dishwasher safe, you should wash the ceramic coated parts with a gentle sponge. Don’t worry; cleanup will be easy, thanks to the non-stick coating. 

On the other hand, the base unit (including the air crisp lid) should only be wiped with a damp cloth.

As for the pressure lid, here’s the correct way to clean it (from Scott):

*Some Product Images and Video Courtesy of Shark Ninja

Technical Specifications