You've probably seen it. That massive, slightly intimidating black and silver machine sitting on a kitchen island in a TikTok video or taking up a huge chunk of the aisle at Costco. It’s the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker. Honestly, the first time I hauled one of these onto my counter, I felt like I was prepping a small spacecraft for launch rather than just trying to make some decent carnitas for Tuesday night dinner.
It’s big. It’s heavy.
✨ Don't miss: Mark 15:21–41 Explained: The Brutal Reality of the Crucifixion
But here’s the thing about the Ninja 11 in 1: it represents a weirdly specific turning point in how we actually cook at home. We went from having a drawer full of mismatched gadgets—a slow cooker that smelled like 1998, a noisy air fryer, and a pressure cooker that felt like a ticking time bomb—to this single, 14.6-pound behemoth. It’s basically trying to be your entire kitchen in one footprint.
What the Ninja 11 in 1 actually does when you stop reading the manual
Most people buy this because they want an air fryer and a pressure cooker but only have one outlet near their stove. That’s the core appeal. But the "11-in-1" branding is a bit of marketing flair. Let's break down what those functions actually feel like in practice. You’ve got Pressure, Steam & Crisp, Steam & Bake, Air Fry, Broil, Bake/Roast, Dehydrate, Yogurt, Sear/Sauté, Slow Cook, and Sous Vide.
That’s a lot.
Usually, you'll use three of them 90% of the time. The real magic, the "secret sauce" if you will, is the SmartLid. Older models required you to swap out lids—one for pressure cooking and a separate, bulky one for air frying. It was a nightmare to store. With the Ninja 11 in 1, you just slide a physical toggle. Left for pressure, middle for the "Steam-Crisp" magic, and right for air frying. It sounds like a small detail, but if you've ever had to find a spot for a hot, greasy pressure cooker lid while trying to crisp up chicken wings, you know it’s a massive quality-of-life upgrade.
The Steam-Crisp obsession
I need to talk about the Steam & Crisp function because it’s the only reason to choose this over a cheap standalone air fryer. Most air fryers dry out proteins. They just do. They blast hot air until the outside is crunchy and the inside is... well, sad.
The Ninja 11 in 1 uses steam to keep the inside of a chicken breast or a salmon fillet incredibly moist while the convection fan blasts the skin. It’s fast. Like, "oops I forgot to defrost dinner and now it’s 6:30 PM" fast. You can take a whole frozen chicken, pressure cook it for a bit, then flip the slider to Steam & Crisp, and you’ll have a bird that looks like it came off a professional rotisserie in under an hour.
✨ Don't miss: Are We Dating the Same Person Facebook Groups: The Messy Reality of Crowdsourced Dating Background Checks
The stuff they don't tell you in the glowing reviews
Every product has its quirks.
First, the fan. When this thing is in Air Fry mode, it sounds like a small jet taking off. If you have an open-concept living room and you’re trying to watch a movie while making fries, good luck. You're going to be turning the volume up.
Then there’s the "sear/sauté" function. It’s powerful. Maybe too powerful? On the high setting, it gets hot enough to scorch garlic in seconds. I always tell people to start on "Medium 3" and work their way up.
Also, the pot is ceramic-coated. This is great for cleaning—seriously, most burnt-on cheese just slides off with a bit of warm soapy water—but you cannot use metal tongs. One aggressive scrape with a stainless steel fork and you’ve ruined the coating. Stick to silicone or wood. Honestly, just buy a dedicated set of silicone-tipped tongs when you buy the machine; you’ll thank me later.
Capacity vs. Reality
It’s a 6.5-quart pot. On paper, that sounds huge. In reality, once you put the "Cook & Crisp" basket inside, the usable space shrinks. If you’re trying to cook for a family of six, you’re going to be doing batches. It’s perfect for a couple or a family of four, but don't expect to fit a 20-pound Thanksgiving turkey in there. It’s more of a "three-pound roast or a four-pound chicken" kind of vibe.
Why the technology actually matters for your health
We talk a lot about "healthy" cooking, which usually just means "less oil." The Ninja 11 in 1 actually delivers here, but not in the way you think. It's not just about the air frying.
The Sous Vide function is surprisingly stable for a multi-cooker. Typically, multi-cookers struggle with temperature fluctuations. If you're trying to cook a steak at exactly $131^\circ F$, a $2^\circ$ swing can ruin the texture. While it's not as pinpoint accurate as an immersion circulator like an Anova, the Ninja holds its own.
- Pressure Cooking: Retains more water-soluble vitamins than boiling.
- Air Frying: Uses roughly 75% less fat than deep frying, based on internal testing against hand-cut fries.
- Steam & Bake: Makes better gluten-free bread because the moisture helps the dough expand before the crust sets.
Is it actually a "Smart" device?
There’s no Wi-Fi. No Bluetooth. No "app" that tells your phone when the potatoes are done. And honestly? Thank god.
We have enough things in our houses that require firmware updates. The Ninja 11 in 1 uses a "SmartLid" which is just a series of physical sensors that tell the internal computer which heating elements are safe to turn on based on the slider position. It’s "smart" in a mechanical, reliable way. You don’t need to troubleshoot your router to make a pot roast.
Comparing the alternatives: Instant Pot vs. Ninja
The rivalry is real. Instant Pot loyalists will point out that their machines are often cheaper and have a stainless steel inner pot, which some people prefer over ceramic. They aren't wrong. If you only care about pressure cooking and making yogurt, an Instant Pot is a better value.
But the Ninja 11 in 1 wins on the "Crisp" side. The heating element in the lid of the Ninja is beefier and the airflow design is superior for getting that golden-brown texture. If you want one device to rule them all, Ninja owns the crown. If you just want a slow cooker that can occasionally pressure cook a bag of beans, save your money and get a basic 7-in-1 model from a competitor.
The cleaning situation: A reality check
You’re going to read that it’s "dishwasher safe."
Technically, the pot and the basket can go in the dishwasher. But they are bulky. They will take up the entire bottom rack. Most nights, I just hand-wash the pot. It takes 30 seconds because of the coating.
The real pain is the lid. Since the lid is attached (it hinges open to the side), you can't just dunk it in the sink. You have to wipe it down. Over time, grease can build up around the fan shroud. Pro tip: Every few weeks, put a cup of water and some lemon slices in the pot and run the "Steam" function for 10 minutes. It loosens the gunk on the lid and makes it way easier to wipe clean.
Actionable steps for your first week with a Ninja 11 in 1
If you just unboxed this thing, don't try to make a complicated 15-ingredient risotto. Start small.
- The Water Test: Run a 2-minute pressure test with just water. It sounds dumb, but it confirms the seal is working and helps you understand how the steam release valve hissed.
- Air Fry Frozen Snacks: Throw in some frozen tater tots or wings. It’s the easiest way to see how the fan speed affects browning compared to your oven.
- The One-Pot Pasta Trick: This is where the Ninja 11 in 1 shines. Throw in dry pasta, a jar of sauce, and a jar of water. Pressure cook for half the time listed on the pasta box. It’s a game changer for busy weeknights.
- Check your clearances: Make sure you aren't putting this directly under a low kitchen cabinet. When you release the pressure, the steam jet is intense. It will warp your cabinetry over time if you aren't careful. Pull it out toward the edge of the counter before you vent.
Ultimately, the Ninja 11 in 1 isn't a magic wand. It won't make you a Michelin-star chef overnight. But it does remove the friction of cooking. It makes the "I'm too tired to cook" nights turn into "I can just throw some salmon and asparagus in the Ninja" nights. That shift in habit is where the real value lives. Just make sure you have a spot in your pantry to hide it when you need your counter space back for a party.