In my quest to find the best air fryer, it's no surprise that the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL caught my attention. As air fryers have become a sought-after kitchen appliance and inspired numerous recipe books, Ninja took innovation to the next level by integrating the functionalities of both air fryers and electric pressure cookers into one countertop unit: the Foodi.
The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL is a remarkable countertop unit that offers the best of both worlds. Its ability to function as an air fryer and an electric pressure cooker provides a comprehensive solution for various cooking needs. Whether I wanted to achieve that perfect crispy texture or prepare flavorful meals in a fraction of the time, the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL had me covered.
Since its introduction in 2018, Ninja has updated the Foodi with the more spacious Deluxe XL, which has all of the same functions as the original along with the ability to double as a food dehydrator. I had the opportunity to test out the new model and was impressed with most of its functions.
Design and specs
The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL comes with a removable cooking pot, a crisping basket with a detachable base, and a rack with an optional second layer. It has nine functions that you can select from by using the dial in the center of the unit: pressure cook, air fry/crisp, sear/sauté, bake, broil, steam, slow cook, dehydrate, and yogurt.
The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL is a lot like the wildly-successful original Ninja Foodi, only it holds more ingredients: five quarts of food when air frying and eight quarts when pressure cooking, as opposed to its predecessor's four quarts when air frying and five quarts when pressure cooking.
As an air fryer, the unit is 16 inches wide by 15 inches deep by 15 inches high, and with the pressure cooker lid in place, the appliance is 20 inches tall, which is slightly too high to fit under standard cabinets.
The top temperature setting of the Deluxe XL is 400 degrees Fahrenheit for baking, air frying, and similar functions. The lowest temperature is just 80 degrees when dehydrating food, and it holds that temp for up to 12 hours.
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Setup process
To set up the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL, all I had to do was unpackage everything and plug in the device. I hand-washed the pot and crisping basket before my first use and took a look at the quick-start directions, but for the most part, the unit was ready to go right out of the box. Within five minutes, I had the Deluxe XL toasting bread.
As I mentioned earlier, the appliance has two lids. The "air crisping" lid, which you use when air frying, is attached by a hinge. When pressure cooking, you simply leave the air crisping lid open and lock the pressure-cooking lid in place.
Review of the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL
For my first Foodi Deluxe XL dish, I tried making the herb-crusted chicken featured in the recipe book that came with the device. I appreciate that the unit is large enough to hold a whole roaster chicken, but while the meal was delicious, it came out slightly overcooked. Also, the skin wasn't as crispy as I hoped it would be. I'd recommend adding more air fryer time and less pressure cooking.
I also made the recipe book's panko-crusted cod with quinoa and asparagus. I liked that the meal was healthy and featured a main course and two sides in one pot. Cooking time was about ten minutes longer than the directions suggested, and the cod was unlike any breaded fish I've had before — not as crispy — but it was still absolutely delicious.
The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL does a great job making dishes that require air frying and pressure cooking, but does it do as well when you only want to use one of these functions? To test the air frying capabilities, I turned to French fries. I made sweet potato and Yukon gold hand-cut and spiral fries from scratch. It took between 30 and 35 minutes for the fries to reach the crispiness I wanted, which isn't bad.
I also cooked two pounds of chicken breasts in the crisper. They took about 23 minutes to get to a safe internal temperature, and the results were juicy and flavorful.
Out of all the dishes I made with the pressure cooker, a braised chuck roast stood out as particularly great. First, I seared the roast in the pot and poured two cups of red wine into the pot, and added some vegetables. Then I set the pressure cooker for an hour. Once the time was up, I released the pressure and enjoyed a tender roast.
All of the elements are dishwasher safe, except for the main unit and lid where all of the electronic components are located. These can be wiped down with a moist cloth. For the most part, I washed the pot and basket by hand, but on days when I wasn't feeling motivated enough for a careful cleaning session, these pieces made it through the wash cycle unscathed.
Cons to consider
Slow cooking can be hit or miss. The heat is much lower than your typical slow cooker on its low setting. I ruined one meal because I didn't notice that the slow cooker wasn't getting hot enough until a few hours had gone by. I gave it another try a few weeks later, and the appliance continued to underheat whether it was on low or high. Surprisingly, when I tried it again several months later for our testing of electric pressure cookers, the Foodi did just fine slow cooking pulled pork. Not sure what accounts for the wild differences in cooking, but I wouldn't count on the Ninja Foodi if you do a lot of slow cooking.
The air fryer doesn't heat as evenly as I would have liked. I test how evenly air fryers heat by placing bread in the basket and observing the coloration of the toast. With the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL, the center of the toast was darker than the periphery. This is a good reason to shake up the basket's contents at least once during cooking.
What are your alternatives?
Since the release of the Foodi, Instant Pot and Crock-Pot have come out with similar appliances at lower price points. We've tested Instant Pot's version, the Duo Crisp and named it a top pick in not only our guide to the best electric pressure cookers, but also as a pick in our guides to the best air fryers and best sous vide machines. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is comparably sized to the Foodi, but has more functions and costs $20 less. We think the Instant Pot is the better choice for most folks. That said, if you find a particularly good deal on the Foodi, it's still a solid option.
The bottom line
Overall, I like the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL. I am kind of bummed that the slow cooker function doesn't work, but it does a good job with the two functions that are most important to me: air frying and pressure cooking. I'd recommend the Instant Pot Duo Crisp in its place, unless you can find a really good deal on the Foodi.
Pros: 9 different functions including air frying and pressure cooking, easy to clean, large enough to cook a main and sides in one pot, one-year warranty
Cons: Pricey, slow cooking function didn't work, the air fryer doesn't heat evenly
James Brains is a home and kitchen reporter and product expert with over seven years of experience in service journalism. He is passionate about providing helpful buying advice to readers based on extensive testing. ExperienceAs a Senior Reporter for Business Insider’s Reviews team, James focuses on testing home and kitchen products. He uses his hands-on experience to write in-depth reviews and buying guides, tackling everything from air fryers and toaster ovens to air conditioners and vacuums. Before joining Business Insider in 2021, James worked as a freelance writer and ran Brains Report, his personal product review site. In addition to home and kitchen products, James also has a background in writing about tech, health, and fitness. Why you can trust JamesJames uses his background in experimental psychology to develop objective tests and review methodologies for all the products he evaluates. He’s tested over 100 mattresses to write our guide to the best mattresses, even touring a mattress manufacturing facility to further enrich his expertise. Seeing how mattresses are constructed has provided key insights into what to look for and what materials and features are best for certain sleepers. James believes high-quality sleep is worth a premium, and he’s passionate about helping readers get a better night’s sleep — but he’ll always help you find a good deal on a mattress in the process. He is always on call to find the best mattress, bedding, and vaccum deals (among others) on any given day, but especially during big sale days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Expertise
Mattresses and sleep products
Kitchen appliances and cookware
Heating and cooling products
Vacuums
EducationJames holds a master's degree in psychology from the University of Oregon and a bachelor's degree from Michigan State. He lives in Lansing, Michigan, with his wife, two kids, and a kitty. When he’s not testing a new mattress or air fryer, James enjoys running the Facebook foodie group Lansing Foodies. The group has over 70,000 followers and puts on an annual Olive Burger Festival.
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