Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Review (NINJA FD401) 8-Qt, 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer

Award: 3^rd Best Ninja Pressure Cooker

With the Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer‘s release, I’m unsure if there will be room for two 8-quart capacity multi-cookers. Let’s see how it turns out.

For now, let’s go ahead and discuss all of Ninja Foodi Deluxe’s impressive features.

PROS

• Sleek modern design with a turn dial
• Faster cooking than the traditional methods
• 12-in-1 cooking function: pressure cook, air fry/air crisp, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sear/sauté, bake/roast, broil, dehydrate, sous vide, reheat, keep warm
• Cook from frozen to crispy
• Large 8 quarts cooking capacity
• 5 quarts air frying capacity
• Easy to clean non-stick pot
• Comes with a 45+ recipe book
• TenderCrisp Technology
• Fantastic safety features
• Includes the reversible rack with 2 layers
• BPA-free
• Dishwasher safe
• 1-year warranty

CONS

• Excellent product with a premium price tag
• Ceramic coating in general doesn’t last that long
• It’s a huge kitchen appliance
• The steam release valve is right next to the vent
• Challenging at first
• The air frying lid sometimes get in the way
• According to some reviews, the slow cook function is not perfect

What can you make with the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL?

It’s general knowledge that multi-cookers have various functionalities for different recipes. And the best part? The Ninja Foodi 8-qt went one step further.

So, here are the cooking functions you can do with the Ninja FD401:

The combination of pressure cook and air fry in one device is undoubtedly mind-blowing. Think about it, pressure cooking deals with water, whereas air frying deals with oil. It’s literally an oil and water situation, and somehow, Ninja made it work.

Primarily, the pressure cooker produces juicy and tender protein while air fry attains crispy outer layer effortlessly. Hence, the name of the technology—TenderCrisp.

However, you can’t do pressure cook and air fry at the same time. The first order of business is to pressure cook your protein, then crisp it up with an air fryer.

Here’s more:

Considering it’s an XL version, you can cook substantial food at once in its large pot compared to the Ninja Foodi Compact. More than the size, the reversible rack with two layers is also noteworthy. Therefore, you can save so much time when you prepare sizable servings.

Tip: Only use silicone or plastic tongs/spatula with the Ninja Foodi. This prevents any damages to the ceramic coating and makes sure that your appliance will last longer.

Is the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker easy to use?

While the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 pressure cooker has a learning curve, it’s within a reasonable margin. To begin with, it comes with a 45+ recipe book for you to try. In other words, you’ll get used to it in no time.

Here’s the best part:

The controls look so much simpler (and more modern) turn dial and five buttons. More importantly, adjusting the temperature and cooking duration proves to be several times easier with a variable knob.

On that note, showing you would be better. Here’s a video from Shark Ninja:

Now, let’s talk about its maintenance.

As I have mentioned repeatedly, I don’t recommend washing any parts in the dishwasher. Sure, it makes things easier, but it can damage the coating over time.

Don’t worry; cleanup is still straightforward.

You don’t even need to soak the non-stick cooking pot and crisper basket for hours. Any food residue will likely wash off with a mild scrub from the trusty soft sponge.

Also, the base unit, along with the crisper lid, wipes off quickly with a damp cloth. 

The pressure lid, however, has a few different steps. Gently remove the silicone ring before you wash it. Then, scrub both the cover and ring with a soapy sponge. Remember not to submerge the lid underwater.

What accessories can I get with the Ninja 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker?

The Deluxe XL has the most accessories, both included and sold separately in the Ninja Foodi Collection.

Of all the available options you can buy, I recommend the dehydrator stand the most. Dehydrating food takes about 8-10 hours, so the ability to process several foods in one round is a significant win.

The deluxe bake kit is also a good accessory if you plan on utilizing the bake function of the Ninja Foodi 8 qt. Therefore, you can easily make loaves, cakes, and even pizzas.

*Product Images and Video Courtesy of Shark Ninja

Technical Specifications

Type	Pressure Cooker / Air Fryer / Multi-Cooker / Slow Cooker
Brand/Series	Ninja Air Fryer | Ninja Pressure Cooker → The Ninja Foodi Collection
Model #	FD401 / FD402
Price	$$$
Rating	4.6 out of 5
Wattage	1760-watt
Functions	Ninja FD401: Pressure Cook, Air Fry, Steam, Slow Cook, Yogurt, Sear/Sauté, Bake/Roast, Broil, Dehydrate (9-in-1 cooking functions) Ninja FD402: Pressure Cook, Air Fry/Air Crisp, Steam, Slow Cook, Yogurt, Sear/Sauté, Bake/Roast, Broil, Dehydrate, Sous Vide, Reheat, Keep Warm (12-in-1 cooking functions)
Pot	Non-stick ceramic coated
Capacity	8 quarts cooking pot, 5 quarts crisp basket
Dishwasher safe	Yes
BPA Free	Yes
Color	Stainless Steel/Black
Dimensions (LxWxH)	16.1 x 14.6 x 14.3 inches (40.9 x 37.1 x 36.3 cm)
Cord Length	2.6 ft. (79.2 cm)
Application	Personal Use
Warranty	1 Year
Related Products	Ninja Foodi Smart XL Steam Fryer, Ninja Foodi XL Steam Fryer, Ninja Foodi Compact Steam Fryer, Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 Pressure Cooker, Ninja 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker