Check out my review of the new Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid! I received this product at no cost from Ninja Kitchen. but all of the opinions below are my own and not that of Ninja Kitchen.
Who else is super excited to see some new Ninja products coming out?! When Ninja reached out to me and asked me to test out their newest pressure cooking product, I was SO EXCITED!! Since I was a tester for the product, I’ve had several months to try it out and have made a ton of recipes in the new Ninja Foodi SmartLid! In fact, since the day that I got it, I have 100% moved to only using this new version of the pressure cooker!
Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid FAQs
The Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid is Ninja’s newest take on a multi-function pressure cooker. While it is similar to previous models, there are a couple of BIG changes! The most obvious change is that there is only one lid!! That’s right…only one lid! So, there is no longer a need to store the pressure cooking lid while using the air fryer lid. One lid works for ALL of the functions! The Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid has 14 functions (see chart below for a full list of functions). The way that the lid stays closed is different with the SmartLid. Instead of screwing on the pressure cooking lid, you simply lower the lid into place and slide the slider to the preferred cooking function. If the function includes pressure cooking, then the lid will AUTOMATICALLY create a seal and lock the lid until the pressure cooking process has been completed.
Currently, the new Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid is only available on Ninja’s website. As with other Ninja products, I would expect that it will also be available at Kohls, Walmart, Target, Costco, and Sams Club, among many other stores.
The Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid currently retails for $329.99 on Ninja’s website.
Currently, only an 8-quart model is available. I’m not sure if other sizes will be available or not.
Since the Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid has the same size pot as previous models, the same accessories will fit. Want more accessories? Check out some of our favorites here! The Tasty Travelers Amazon Store!
Technically, no. There are new features and it is super convenient to only have one lid. But, your current pressure cooker will probably do just fine. However, if you are in the market for a new pressure cooker, then I would recommend this model as it does have some pretty great new features.
Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid Specifications:
What’s in the box?
-Ninja Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid machine
-Silicone ring for the lid
-Condensation collector
-8-quart, ceramic coated, non-stick cooking pot
-5-quart, ceramic coated, non-stick cook and crisp basket with a detachable diffuser
-Deluxe, 2 level, reversible rack
-Recipe book
-Instruction manual
-QR code on the back of the unit to register with Ninja for warranty
-1-year limited warranty
Specifications:
Voltage-120V-, 60Hz
Power-1760 Watts
Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid Cooking Programs:
14 Cooking Programs:
Pressure Cook- A quick and easy way to cook food. About 1 cup of liquid is needed in the cooking pot in order to pressure cook. Best used to cook tough cuts of meat and can be used to quickly cook pasta, meat, soup, vegetables, and desserts.
Steam and Crisp-This function pressure cooks and then air-frys the food. Great for chicken wings, whole chickens, vegetables, and bread.
Steam and Bake-This function works great for homemade or boxed cakes, muffins, and breads- do not use for cookies or brownies.
Air Fry- Great for frozen foods, leftovers, vegetables or anything that you want to be a little crispy. While you can use no oil at all, to get things crispy you will need to use a little oil to coat the food before cooking
Broil- The top heating coil of the machine is used during this process. Great to brown cheese on a meal.
Bake/Roast- Similar to the bake or roast function on an oven. Good to use with meats, casseroles, and desserts. Convert a traditional recipe to the SmartLid by reducing the cooking temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dehydrate- This function slowly cooks the liquid out of foods like fruits and meats to make beef jerky and fruit snacks.
Proof-Used for bread, pizza, or any type of dough to rest and rise.
Sear/Saute- USes the bottom cooking element, without a lid, to quickly sear meat or saute vegetables and sauces. Similar to cooking on the stovetop.
Steam- Use to steam vegetables quickly.
Sous Vide- Use this function for cooking meat. The meat needs to be in a water-tight bag for this function. No additional sauces or ingredients should be in the pot other than water and sealed meat.
Slow Cook- This is not a crockpot. A crockpot slow cooks the meal from all sides at the same time. This function only cooks from the bottom of the pot and takes substantially longer than a crockpot. Use this function when you do not have a time restriction.
Yogurt- Make homemade yogurt in your Ninja Foodi! The Ninja will go through several stages of the yogurt-making process.
Keep Warm- The machine will automatically change to this function when the pressure cook, slow cook or steam function has been completed.
Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid Buttons:
Power- Use to turn the machine off and on.
Start/Stop Button- Use to start or stop a function.
SmartLid Slider- Close the lid, slide the slider to the desired location. The functions that are available for the option will light up. If the option you are looking for is not lit up, then you will need to move the slider to another location to use the desired function.
Dial-Turn the dial to select the cooking function that you would like to use.
Left Arrow- Used to adjust the cooking temperature.
Right Arrow- Used to adjust the cooking time.
Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid On-Screen Mesages:
OPN LID- This message will show when all pressure has been released from the unit and it is safe to open the lid.
NO-PRESSURE or PRESSURE FAIL-The seal is not on correctly, there is not enough liquid or the release valve is not moved to the seal position.
ADD LIQUID or ADD WATER– One of two things is happening. Either you need to stop the process and open the machine to add more liquid (at least 1 cup of thin liquid should be used for all pressure cooking recipes), or there are burnt on pieces of food stuck to the bottom of the cooking pot. This can happen if you have seared something and not deglazed the pan or if the cooking liquid is too thick and has started to burn to the bottom of the pot. Either way, release pressure, open pot, deglaze and add more liquid if necessary.
PRE- This is to show that the unit is pre-heating. Once the unit has reached pressure/temperature, the PRE will go away and the timer will start to count down. If a recipe calls for 10 minutes of cooking time, that time will not start until after the PRE message has left the screen and the timer starts to count down.
END- The cooking process has ended.
BOIL- This will appear during the yogurt function.
ADD STIR- This is used during the yogurt function.
FEr-This will appear during the yogurt function.
ERR- There is an error with the machine. You will need to contact Ninja directly to resolve the issue.
ADD POT- The cooking pot is not inserted correctly or is missing.
SHUT LID- The function that you are trying to use requires the lid to be closed. Close the lid.
SLIDE- The machine is telling you to move the slider to the correct position to continue.
LOCK LID- The machine is telling you to move the slider to the Pressure position.
Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid Tips and Tricks:
-The pressure valve is supposed to be loose. Don’t panic if it looks like it’s going to fall off. It won’t.
-Always add about 1 cup of THIN liquid to the cooking pot when pressure cooking.
-ALWAYS cook with the cooking pot inserted into the unit.
-It is normal for steam to come from the top of the unit or the valve when building pressure or steaming.
-It is not normal for a lot of steam to come from the place where the lid meets the pot when closed. If this is happening, the seal is probably inserted incorrectly. Open the lid, run your finger around the seal to make sure that it is tight and evenly attached to the lid.
-If the timer is counting up instead of down, it’s because the cooking process has been completed and the unit is now in the KEEP WARM mode.
-For safety reasons, the lid and slider will not move or open until ALL pressure has been released. DO NOT FORCE the slider to move.
-Unless a recipe specifically says to do so, DO NOT PRE-HEAT the liquid in the pot before cooking. Doing so will speed up the cooking process and the end result may not be as desired. Recipes are written with the pre-heating time taken into consideration.
-If the pot is VERY FULL or has a lot of liquid, it will take longer to reach temperature/pressure. This is normal.
-Be sure to check to see that the seal is securely attached to the inside of the lid every time before cooking.
-Double-check to make sure that the valve is closed before cooking.
-To quick release pressure, move the pressure release valve to the release option as soon as the timer has ended.
-To natural release pressure, do NOTHING when the timer has ended. The pressure will slowly, naturally release the pressure on its own. Depending on the recipe, this can take 5-30 minutes. Check to see if the pressure has been released by slowly moving the valve to the release option. If steam still comes out, close the valve and wait longer.
-To delay release pressure, allow the timer to count UP after the original cooking timer has ended. As the timer counts UP, this is the number of minutes that the unit has delayed pressure release. Once the desired amount of time has passed, (usually 50-20 minutes), move the valve to the release position and quick-release remaining pressure.
Basic Steps on How to Use the Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid:
1. Insert the cooking pot.
2. If recipe liquid requires liquid, add the liquid to the cooking pot.
3. Place food into the cooking pot either by adding it all to the cooking pot together or in layers using the reversible rack or cook and crisp basket.
4. Check to make sure the seal is properly inserted into the lid.
5. Close the SmartLid.
6. Check to make sure the valve is closed (may vary based on recipe or function).
7. Push the POWER button.
8. Slide the slider to the left until your desired function is visible on the screen.
9. Turn the dial until your desired function is lit up on the screen.
10. Using the arrow buttons, set the time and temperature for the recipe.
11. Push the START button.
12. Once the cooking process has completed, and all pressure has been released (may vary based on recipe or function), slide the slider all the way to the right and open the lid.
Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid Pros and Cons:
Pros:
-There is only one lid! So, you no longer need to worry about trying to store an extra lid when not in use.
-The machine is smart. Based on the cooking process that you choose, it will decide whether it needs to lock the lid or not.
-You can pressure cook and then air fry without manually having to release pressure and change functions yourself. When you use the Steam and Crisp function, the machine AUTOMATICALLY changes functions on its own! The lid will not allow you to open it until it has fully released all pressure.
-New steamcrisp functions allow you to get a juicy and crispy result all in one function.
-8-quart size is big enough to feed the entire family! In comparison to smaller pressure cookers, this version does not have a bigger footprint, instead, it is just taller to accommodate the bigger pot.
-The double-layer cooking rack makes it easy to cook three things at a time. One in the bottom of the pot, one on the bottom of the rack, and one on the top of the rack.
-The SmartLid has a little bit of a different design than previous models of Ninja pressure cookers which may make it easier to clean.
-New design of pressure release valve- makes it easier to move and keep closed or open.
-Extra stickers on the unit when it comes out of the box. While stickers might sound silly, they are really helpful. There is a sticker explaining how to use the slider feature, a sticker explaining how loose the pressure release valve should be, a sticker with the QR code to register the product right on the top of the machine, and a sticker explaining the pressure cooking process.
-Everything except the main unit is dishwasher safe.
-Sleek stainless steel design.
Cons:
-While the lid does have a new design, it still may be difficult to 100% clean the lid.
-There is no guard on the heating element on the lid. Be very careful not to burn yourself.
-The coating on the cooking pot is very similar to the coating on previous pots. In my experience, this coating chips rather easily.
-There is no option for a stainless steel pot. (other than outside vendors)
-The pressure valve is very wobbly and sometimes you think that it has been moved to seal, but it’s not all the way over in the seal position.
-There is no option to select how many minutes you want to delay releasing the pressure. You just have to keep checking back to look at the timer as it counts up.
-The cord is short, similar to other models. I wish it were 12-18 inches longer.
Pin for later!!
Leave a comment and rate this recipe!
Keep scrolling to see my newest recipes!
Ninja Creami Blueberry Coconut Frozen Yogurt
↓ Jump to RecipePrint Recipe I LOVE blueberry and coconut flavored things! They are each really good on their own, but together they are the perfect combination of flavors. My recipe for Ninja Creami blueberry coconut frozen yogurt is the perfect combination of flavors with just the right amount of blueberries and shredded coconut added in for texture. This is a super easy recipe to make, thanks to flavored yogurts! The number of yogurt flavors readily available at the grocery store has skyrocketed in the past few years. Blueberry and coconut flavored yogurts make this a super easy recipe to […]
Ninja Creami Cranberry Orange Sorbet-Low Calorie
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Did you know that you can make sorbet out of cranberry sauce in the Ninja Creami ice cream machine? Well, you can and it’s super easy to do and tastes amazing. I used canned cranberry sauce, but you could very easily use homemade cranberry sauce leftover from the holidays. This recipe comes in at 278 calories, 1 gram of protein, 56 grams of sugar, 120 carbs, 70 grams of net carbs and 0.2 grams fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. You can’t have Thanksgiving dinner without […]
Ninja Creami Maple Bacon Protein Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Bacon makes everything better! That goes for Ninja Creami ice cream too! If you love bacon as much as I do, you have to try my recipe for making Maple Bacon ice cream in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker! It’s sweet, it’s savory, it has a creamy texture, and it even has extra protein added in. This recipe comes in at 643 calories, 35 grams of protein, 61 grams of sugar, 21 grams of fat, 98 carbs, 88 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of […]
Ninja Creami Butterfinger Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe If you like Butterfingers, you’re going to love my recipe for making Butterfinger ice cream in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker. It’s super creamy with the perfect amount of crunch. The rich vanilla base goes really well with the peanut butter and chocolate flavored flaky, crunch, candy pieces. Why does everyone love Butterfinger candy bars so much? Yes, Butterfingers taste great. They combine the flavors of peanut butter and chocolate. You can’t go wrong with that flavor combination! But, I think the texture sets them apart from just about every other candy bar […]
Ninja Creami White Chocolate Peppermint Low Calorie Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe White chocolate peppermint ice cream makes me think of the colder winter months….but it can be eaten all year round! To add to the peppermint flavor and provide a bunch of little crunchy bits, I used starlight mints. But, if you want to make it a little more festive, use candy canes during the winter holidays. This recipe comes in at 285 calories, 9 grams of protein, 29 grams of sugar, 96 carbs, 46 grams of net carbs and 7 grams fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition […]
The BEST Ninja Creami LOW CALORIE Recipes
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Check out my favorite LOW CALORIE Ninja Creami Ice Cream Recipes! If you’re new to the Ninja Creami ice cream maker, or craving something new, I’ve got you covered! Eating low calorie doesn’t have to be hard. The good news is you can still have delicious, creamy, thick ice cream, while sticking to a low calorie diet. I’ve perfected some basic recipes like vanilla and chocolate low calorie ice cream but have also created more complex recipes like chocolate brownie, birthday cake, pumpkin pecan, peanut banana crunch, blueberry cheesecake frozen yogurt, and cherry almond […]
Ninja Creami Jamoca Almond Fudge Protein Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Jamoca Almond Fudge is a really popular ice cream from Baskin Robbins. It’s basically a coffee flavored ice cream with ribbons of fudge and pieces of almonds, mixed throughout. Even though you can’t really make fudge ribbons, you can make something pretty similar at home, using your Ninja Creami ice cream machine. This recipe comes in at 340 calories, 32 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar, 37 carbs, and 18 fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. Jamoca Almond Fudge ice cream is the perfect combination of […]
Ninja Creami Blueberries and Sweet Cream Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe I absolutely LOVE all things blueberry! I can’t get enough of them. I find myself coming up with new Ninja Creami ice cream maker blueberry recipes all the time! My Ninja Creami blueberries and sweet cream recipe is super easy to make, doesn’t have a bunch of ingredients, and is so delicious! Blueberry ice cream isn’t super popular at the grocery store, but you can make it at home using the Ninja Creami. The flavor is great, and the texture is so so smooth and creamy! I make blueberry ice cream all the time. […]
Ninja Creami Chocolate Sorbet-Low Calorie
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Have you ever had chocolate sorbet? It’s super thick, super creamy, and super chocolatey, dairy-free, sugar-free, and fantastic tasting! You can even make it in your Ninja Creami ice cream maker! With just 4 simple ingredients (plus water), you’ll be adding this recipe to your regular rotation in no time! This recipe comes in at 55 calories, 20 sugar, 117 carbs, and 17 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. While I’d like to say that I created the idea […]
Ninja Creami Rocky Road Protein Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe I absolutely love rocky road ice cream! But, the chocolate ice cream has to be super chocolatey! I made the perfect, super chocolatey, rocky road protein ice cream using my Ninja Creami ice cream maker. It’s soooo good! This recipe comes in at 342 calories, 30 grams of protein, 18 grams of sugar, 64 carbs, and 12 fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. Adding protein to Ninja Creami ice cream isn’t hard. You can use protein powder (in this case, I used unflavored Whey protein powder) […]
Ninja Creami Pumpkin Pecan Ice Cream-Low Calorie
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe If you love pumpkin spice flavored things, you’ve got to try my recipe for making a low calorie treat in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker! Since the recipe doesn’t actually use pumpkin pie, the ingredients are easy to find year round (not just during the Fall season), which means you can have pumpkin pecan ice cream anytime you want to! This recipe comes in at 265 calories, 12 protein, 20 sugar, 77 carbs, and 27 net carbs (total carbs-allulose). See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. […]
Ninja Creami Espresso Sorbet-Low Calorie
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Get ready to have the creamiest, smoothest, richest espresso sorbet with the best consistency ever! The Ninja Creami ice cream maker turns just 4 simple ingredients into a thick and creamy Espresso sorbet with only 2 calories in the ENTIRE pint! It’s even dairy-free! This recipe comes in at 2 calories, 67 carbs, and 0.0 net carbs (total carbs-allulose). See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. I made this recipe as an experiment and had low hopes that it would turn out anything but icy. Well, I […]
Ninja Creami Peaches and Cream Protein Frozen Yogurt
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Use fresh peaches to make protein packed frozen yogurt in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker. The Ninja Creami is a game changer and lets you take ingredients like peaches and turn them into a high protein frozen treat with a creamy texture and a whopping 39 grams of protein for the entire pint! This recipe comes in at 356 calories, 39 grams of protein, 29 grams of sugar, 11 WW points, 57 carbs, and 5 fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. To help make your […]
Ninja Creami Butter Pecan Protein Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Butter pecan ice cream is one of the most popular ice cream flavors found at an ice cream shop. It really is the perfect dessert! Traditionally, butter pecan ice cream is a bit higher in fat and calories than some would like. But, don’t worry about that! With the Ninja Creami machine you can turn just about anything into ice cream! To help reduce the calories and fat content, while increasing the protein, this recipe uses unflavored protein powder. This recipe comes in at 345 calories, 27 grams of protein, 8 grams of sugar, 9 […]
Ninja Creami Pistachio Protein Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Pistachio ice cream has become very popular over the last several years and it’s really easy to make it at home with the Ninja Creami ice cream maker. To make homemade pistachio ice cream I’ve used instant pudding mix and almond extract to achieve the pistachio flavor for the ice cream. This recipe comes in at 323 calories, 33 grams of protein, 6 grams of sugar, 8 WW points, 22 carbs, and 11 fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. Adding protein to your ice cream […]
Ninja Creami Peaches and Cream Oatmeal Frozen Yogurt
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Did you know that you can use the Ninja Creami machine to make breakfast? Well, you can! I’ll show you how to turn simple ingredients like oatmeal and yogurt into the best, creamy, delicious breakfast sweet treat using your Ninja Creami ice cream maker! Yes…you read that right…it’s ice cream made out of yogurt and oatmeal! Usually when you think of making traditional ice cream, you don’t think of making breakfast ice cream. But, why not? Using oatmeal and yogurt in the recipe is a healthier alternative to regular ice cream made with a […]
Ninja Creami Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Ninja Creami Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream combines all of the things that we love about cheesecake with creamy and delicious ice cream. I’ll show you how to make homemade ice cream that tastes like strawberry cheesecake using instant pudding powder and your Ninja Creami. The Ninja Creami ice cream maker does a great job of creating super smooth and creamy ice creams out of just about anything! There’s a couple of different ways you can create Ninja Creami cheesecake ice cream. One is by adding cottage cheese (don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like or […]
Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker Pro Spaghetti
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Making spaghetti in the Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker Pro couldn’t be easier! And…you can make everything all in one pot! I’ll show you how to make delicious, super easy to make, one pot spaghetti (or any long pasta) using the Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker Pro. It only uses 3 ingredients!! Making spaghetti isn’t hard. It’s even easier to make if you use jarred sauce. That’s right…I used jarred spaghetti sauce for this recipe. You can take the extra steps to make your own sauce if you would like. This is more of a guide […]
Ninja Creami Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Ice Cream
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Cookie dough ice cream is one of my favorite ice cream treats. There’s just something so satisfying about biting into a creamy ice cream that has chewy bits of cookie dough in it. I’ll show you how to make the perfect Ninja Creami Cookie Dough Protein ice cream using no bake cookies! You’ll never believe that a whole pint has 34 grams of protein and only 402 calories! This recipe comes in at 402 calories, 34 grams of protein, 21 grams of sugar, 13 WW points, 61 carbs, and 14 fat. See the recipe […]
Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker Pro Steamed Artichokes
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Artichokes are one of my all-time favorite foods. I eat them all the time and have come to crave them. I don’t know if it’s the artichoke or the butter that I like the most, but I have to have them at least a couple of times a month. I love artichokes so much that it’s even part of the blogs logo! In this post I’ll show you how to skip the large pot on the stovetop and to use the Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker Pro to steam artichokes. Making artichokes is not hard. […]
Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker Pro Steamed Crab Legs
↓ Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Making crab legs at home is so easy, and it’s a lot less expensive than ordering crab legs at a fancy restaurant. I’ll show you how to make super flavorful, great tasting crab legs using the steam function on your Ninja Foodi Possible Cooker in about 15 minutes. Crab legs are one of my all time favorite things to eat. I keep extra in the freezer so that I can make them anytime I want. Since I first started cooking crab legs at home several years ago, I don’t think I’ve ordered them at […]
Edith Wedgeworth says
I have 4 Ninja foodi products and I love using them. sometimes I don’t really know what I am doing. but food turns out okay. this new xl pressure smart lid i don’t know when to hit release vent. But I will get it. love my Ninja foodi products.