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Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Review

A great choice for those that want both air frying and pressure cooking capabilities in a single device
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Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Review
Credit: Ninja
Price:  $250 List
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Manufacturer:   Ninja
By Michelle Powell and Max Mutter  ⋅  Oct 12, 2022
80
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 5
  • User Friendliness - 35% 8.0
  • Cooking Performance - 30% 8.0
  • Ease of Cleaning - 25% 7.0
  • Cooking Features - 10% 10.0

Our Verdict

Adding air frying capabilities like those found in the top air fryers to a pressure cooker allows you to finish off recipes with a quick crisping cycle, adorning a crunchy outer layer to meats, veggies, or anything else you can dream up. If that sounds appealing, we can't recommend the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL enough. Not only does it offer great performance in both its pressure cooking and air frying functions, but it also provides an easily operable user interface that makes switching between those functions a breeze. Sure, the added accouterments that allow for this multifunctionality make the device significantly larger and can sometimes feel like they're in the way. However, we think the extra cooking options more than make up for those inconveniences, making this a kitchen appliance most chefs will love. To see how it rates next to the competition, see our full pressure cooker review.
REASONS TO BUY
Good pressure cooking performance
Can air fry and dehydrate
Intuitive interface
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Cripsing lid can get in the way and be hard to clean
Editor's Note: This cooker review was updated on February 4, 2022, with new sections to help you determine the right cooker for your needs.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Pressure Cooker
Editors' Choice Award
Runner Up Pressure Cooker
Top Pick Award
Best Versatility
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Price $250 List$150 List
$79.99 at Amazon
$300 List
$299.95 at Amazon
$350 List$102 List
$80.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
80
86
84
83
75
Star Rating
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Bottom Line An exceptional and effective pressure cooking and air frying multifunction deviceContinual product improvement and great results in the kitchen are why this model is still our favoriteThis is an exceptional product across the board, but it comes at a high costIt doesn't cook everything perfectly, but we applaud the effort and feel this product is worth buyingA good all-around pressure cooker that often sells for a bit less than most of the popular models on the market
Rating Categories Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Instant Pot Duo Plu... Breville Fast Slow Pro Ninja Foodi Smart XL Presto 02141
User Friendliness (35%)
8.0
10.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
Cooking Performance (30%)
8.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
Ease of Cleaning (25%)
7.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
7.0
Cooking Features (10%)
10.0
9.0
10.0
10.0
9.0
Specs Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Instant Pot Duo Plu... Breville Fast Slow Pro Ninja Foodi Smart XL Presto 02141
Pot Material Nonstick Stainless Steel Nonstick Nonstick Nonstick
Saute Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Capacity 8 quart 6 quart 6 quart 8 quart 6 quart

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


ninja foodi deluxe xl - the foodi deluxe is an excellent product if you wish to combine many...
The Foodi Deluxe is an excellent product if you wish to combine many great features and capabilities.
Credit: Laura Casner

User Friendliness


Despite offering many functions, we found the Foodi Deluxe XL to be easy to use and uncovered only a few minor annoyances along the way.


The best part about the Foodi Deluxe XL's user experience is its interface. Dedicated buttons let you select the time, temp, and function modes. There is a selector knob within each mode that allows for quick scrolling to find your desired temp, cook time, or cooking function. Then you simply press the knob to start cooking.

As the name implies, the Foodi Deluxe XL offers more cooking capacity than many competing models — eight quarts when in pressure cooking mode and five quarts in air frying mode. These capacities make it an excellent decision for larger families or those that like to cook in large batches and then eat leftovers.

ninja foodi deluxe xl - the permanently attached crisping lid can sometimes get in the way...
The permanently attached crisping lid can sometimes get in the way, but allows for some great air frying abilities.
Credit: Laura Casner

The most considerable annoyance we encountered when using this device was the permanently attached air frying lid. When in pressure cooking mode, this lid often gets in the way when stirring or serving. It also makes the unit quite tall enough to not fit underneath some kitchen cabinets. While this is less than ideal, we see it as a fair tradeoff for the multifunctionality the crisping lid adds.

Cooking Performance


We saw relatively little difference in pressure cooking performance amongst the tested models, and the Foodi Deluxe XL kept pace with the rest of the field. Bottom line, we don't think anyone will find its pressure cooking abilities lacking.


In our tests, the Foodi Deluxe XL could produce very tender, fall off the bone ribs. It also managed to get vegetables tender without drying them out. Rice came out tasting good, but more on the moist/sticky side of things rather than the fluffy side. Overall, we enjoyed every meal we made with this device. Importantly, it offers a saute function that we found to work well. This greatly increases the number of one-pot meals you can make.

ninja foodi deluxe xl - the foodi deluxe displayed good all-around cooking performance in...
The Foodi Deluxe displayed good all-around cooking performance in our tests.
Credit: Laura Casner

When it comes to air frying, we found the Foodi Deluxe XL's results to be on par with those of the dedicated air fryers that we've tested. The combination of pressure cooking and air frying is where this device shines the most. You can prep any meal quickly and easily with the pressure cooking function, then pop off the pressure cooking lid and shut the crisping lid, and finish that meal off with a crisping cycle to get a delightfully crunchy crust. We had great luck using this technique on chicken and brussel sprouts.

ninja foodi deluxe xl - sweet potato fries received a slightly better crisp from this air...
Sweet potato fries received a slightly better crisp from this air fryer than from others.
Credit: Laura Casner

Ease of Cleaning


The required cleaning of the Foodi Deluxe XL is generally on par with most other pressure cooking devices. If you put it into air frying mode, the crisping lid generally stays clean. However, if your recipe pops or splatters, the crisping lid can be a bit annoying to clean.


This device uses a nonstick pressure cooking pot, which we found easy to clean. Even after slightly burning veggies using the saute function, the pot was easy to scrub out. The pressure cooking lid is similarly easy to clean. Most of the time, the air crisping lid remained pretty clean when we used the air frying function, requiring no more than a quick wipe with a rag. However, if a recipe popped or splattered, the air frying lid did get quite dirty. Because it is permanently attached to the device, it then requires some awkward scrubbing and wiping down to get clean and dry.

ninja foodi deluxe xl - apart from the crisping lid, most of the components are easy to clean.
Apart from the crisping lid, most of the components are easy to clean.
Credit: Laura Casner

Cooking Features


Some pressure cookers offer specific presets for almost every imaginable cooking scenario. For example, some provide a preset for poultry, red meat, vegetables, and so forth. The Foodi Deluxe XL doesn't go this route, so it technically has fewer cooking features than its competitors. However, its crisping lid adds air frying and dehydrating capabilities into the mix, meaning it can accomplish more cooking tasks than almost any other model on the market.

A Full List of The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL's Cooking Functions


Pressure Cook, Steam, Slow Cook (similar to what you'd find in a top-ranked slow cooker), Saute, Air Crisp, Bake, Broil, and Dehydrate.

Should You Buy the Foodi Deluxe XL?


The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL is one of the best iterations we've seen of the recent pressure cooker/air fryer multi-purpose device trend. If you have any inclination that you'll want to have both options in the near future, we think it's worth the investment. Yes, this device is more expensive than more pressure cookers, but it is comparable in cost and takes up far less counter space than buying a separate air fryer and pressure cooker. For those seeking a device that can both pressure cook and air fry, or those that want a model that can add a crispy skin to their chicken, the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL is one of the best pressure cookers on the market. The Foodi Deluxe XL is significantly more expensive than the average cooker. However, it's around as expensive as purchasing a both a pressure cooker and an air fryer. Seeing as this takes up less counter space than two devices and that being able to pressure cook and air fry in the same chamber opens up many different cooking possibilities, this is a great value for those seeking both cooking functions. If you don't see yourself using the air fry mode that much, you can save a lot of money by purchasing a different model.

What Other Pressure Cooker Should You Consider?


If you aren't interested in a combination product or need to save some money on your pressure cooker decision, the highest-ranking option in this review is the Instant Pot Duo Plus V4. This cooker costs about half the price and is easier to use with similar cooking performance. These factors mean you won't be sacrificing cooking ability, only the ability to air fry.

Michelle Powell and Max Mutter