Instant Pot vs the Ninja Foodi Review

In this post, I’ll compare two of the top pressure cooker brands: the Instant Pot vs the Ninja Foodi. How are they the same? Which is better at what function? If you’re in the market for a pressure cooker, this is your post!

The Instant Pot vs Ninja Foodi debate rages on! For those who are new to pressure cookers and all-in-one kitchen devices, the Instant Pot and the Ninja Foodi are two of the most popular brands.

(In fact, they may be the most popular brands.)

Today, I’ve decided to jump into the fray and compare the Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi for those looking to make a purchase soon. Which appliance is better for you? Let’s talk about it.

What Is The Difference Between The Instant Pot and the Ninja Foodi?

I’ll start our Instant Pot vs. Ninja Foodi discussion by comparing the two brands so you know exactly what I’m talking about!

Both share numerous traits.

In some regards, these two devices are more similar than you think. Both are advertised as a sort-of “single kitchen device” that allows you to cook and prepare food in lots of ways using only one appliance.

Most of them perform their culinary duties as pressure cookers, rice cookers, crockpots, air fryers, and more. No need to take up counter space with 30 gadgets – both the Ninja Foodi and the Instant Pot are convenient and efficient.

Additional shared traits include…

• Similar safety features, like overheat protection
• Many dishwasher-safe components/inserts (simple cleaning)
• Ease of use (both have a lot of pre-programmed settings, for instance)
• And great construction – they don’t break easily or leak chemicals into your food!

But what makes them different?

They run at slightly different price ranges.

Instant Pots tend to have lower price points than the Ninja Foodi. The cheapest Instant Pot, for instance, is the 7-in-1 model, which costs a little less than $100.

(Sometimes during Black Friday sales you can get it even cheaper…and if you don’t mind it refurbished, you can even find them for less than $50.)

On the other hand, the cheapest Ninja Foodi model, the Air Fryer Max XL, is generally no less than $150. 

Both, however, have their most costly model set at around $250. In the end, this means that I recommend looking at features over price point.

Don’t get the cheapest model just because it’s cheaper…it may not feed your whole family! Similarly, an expensive model is not “better made” when it comes to these brands: it may just have features you’ll never use.

The Ninja Foodi is better for those who like to air fry and excels at cooking meats.

While there are great Instant Pot models that air fry, the Ninja Foodi, on the whole, is better at it. And if you’re thinking “How can a Ninja Foodi fryer still be better than a good Instant Pot fryer?”, remember one thing: size.

Ninja Foodi models tend to have more space in the appliance itself to fry. This means less crowded food, multiple batches going at once, etc.

All in all, Ninja Foodi also has the market nailed on cooking meat! There’s nothing quite like a roast made in a Ninja Foodi, and that’s not bias or opinion talking.

The folks at Ninja have developed and perfected their TenderCrisp technology, which means meats are browned evenly and with a crispy finish. Delicious!

The Instant Pot tends to run smaller and has more models.

Don’t have a lot of space in your kitchen? Or maybe you’re only cooking for yourself and don’t need a 6-quart appliance meant for a family?

The Instant Pot brand is definitely for you, then: in addition to their standard models, they make itty-bitty models around a 3-quart size.

Generally, too, Instant Pots are more compact on the whole than the Ninja Foodi. They’re great if you don’t have a lot of storage or a kitchen counter room.

Instant Pots, too, have way more models to choose from than the Ninja Foodi. Too many to list here, in fact, though I can say they all have their own specialized features and price point, depending on what you need.

The brand is, in short, more versatile than the Ninja Foodi, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better.

Which Pressure Cooker Should You Buy?

As much as this may be unhelpful to say, it depends on what you need your device to do. Yes, knowing what you want out of your pressure cooker matters even far more than your price range!

To sum up this post, you may want to buy a Ninja Foodi if…

• You cook a lot of meat
• You plan on using it as an air fryer frequently
• You have more space in your kitchen
• You don’t mind spending a bit more 

On the other hand, you may want to buy an Instant Pot if…

• You don’t have a lot of space
• You want more versatility out of your device
• You want a few models to choose from
• You need to look at cheaper pressure cookers 

Which Are You Planning To Buy?

What brand suits you and your family (or roommates, or loved ones) the best?

Did you decide on a Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot, or did you go for another brand entirely?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Let me know down below about your experience with your pressure cooker.

Be sure to grab some Ninja Foodi Recipes too on this list, these can ALL be made in an Instant Pot too!