Ninja Foodi vs. Speedi: which multi-function air fryer reigns supreme?

Just searching Amazon for "air fryer" brings up more than 800 results from 29 brands. Air fryers have developed a cult following, and millions of searches for air fryer recipes are being made every month.

There's one name that reigns supreme in this category - Ninja. Read any top air fryer guide, and Ninja air fryers will pop up. There are 800+ air fryers on Amazon, and over 60 are Ninja, mostly the Ninja Foodi and Ninja Speedi.

There are some similarities and key differences between the Ninja Foodi, Speedi Rapid Cooker, and Air Fryer, especially the Ninja FD401 Foodi Deluxe. To help you decide which range is best for you, we will explain how they work, what features they offer, and how they meet different budgets, cooking needs, and kitchen needs.

Ninja Foodi vs Speedi: Price & value

• The Ninja Speedi offers excellent value with versatile cooking features at an accessible price.
• The Foodi Deluxe XL justifies its higher cost with advanced capabilities.

With the increased popularity of air fryers, more and more brands are keeping prices low to appeal to more buyers. When you compare the Ninja range to air fryers from brands such as Bella and Chefman, they look expensive. Almost unreasonably so. However, their versatility and performance make them much better value than they may first appear.

While the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL sits at the higher end of even Ninja's pricey spectrum, its price point is justified by its large capacity and advanced features. The 10-quart capacity is excellent for cooking large meals, perfect for families or if you host a lot of gatherings. Its DualZone tech is another standout feature, letting you cook two different foods simultaneously. This saves time and energy and adds versatility to your cooking.

The Foodi Deluxe XL also offers a range of cooking functions beyond air frying, including pressure cooking, steaming, and baking. This multi-functionality means you're effectively getting several appliances in one, which can be a cost-effective option if you're looking to maximize your kitchen's capabilities and space.

Similarly, the Ninja Speedi offers the benefits of multiple appliances in one relatively small, great-value form. It doesn't quite have the full range of functions of the Foodi Deluxe, but it does offer speed and efficiency. If you have a busy life, it's hard to put a price on saving precious time. It also doesn't skimp on functionality despite its lower cost. This makes it a valuable addition to any kitchen, especially if you want all the benefits of a multi-cooker without the higher price tag of more advanced models.

The Ninja Speedi stands out as the winner in terms of price. It offers an impressive combination of rapid cooking capabilities and versatility at a more accessible price point. Its affordability makes it a great entry point for anyone upgrading their basic air fryer to a more versatile appliance. That's not to say the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL isn't worth the money, and if pressure cooking is a dealbreaker, then you'll struggle to get such an advanced model with such a broad range of features. It just can't quite compete with Speedi's value for money.

Ninja Foodi vs Speedi: Features & functions

• The Ninja Speedi offers great speed and versatility for efficient cooking.
• For pressure cooking enthusiasts, the Foodi Deluxe XL is a more comprehensive option.

The $199.99 Ninja Speedi (Amazon) is a Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer in one. It has a 6qt capacity and offers 12 cooking settings across two modes. In Rapid Cooker mode, the functions are Speedi meals, steam and crisp, steam and bake, steam and proof. In Air Fryer mode, you can air fry, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate, sear and sauté, slow cook, and sous vide. As the name suggests, the beauty of the Ninja Speedi is the speed at which you can cook a complete, three-part meal in as little as 15 minutes in one pot.

The Speedi looks more like a pressure cooker than a regular air fryer, measures 14.1in x 13.8in x 12.4 inches, and weighs 16 lbs. It has physical buttons and an LED display on the front panel that lets you manually control the time and temperature and cycle through the modes and cooking settings. The cooker contains two separate, removable compartments: a nonstick pot and a crisper tray.

The most like-for-like appliance in the Foodi range, in terms of price, size, and features, is the Ninja FD401 Foodi Deluxe XL (Amazon). It's a pressure cooker and air fryer in one with an 8qt capacity, including a 5qt Cook & Crisp basket. Like the Speedi, the Foodi Deluxe offers 12 programmable cooking functions: pressure cook, air fry, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sear and sauté, bake, roast, air broil, dehydrate, sous vide, and keep warm. It costs $249.99, weighs 26 lbs, and measures 16.1in x 14.57in x 14.29in. Several touch controls exist, but most settings are controlled via a physical dial below a digital display.

There is also an upgraded Foodi Deluxe model called the Foodi SMART XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer (Amazon). It's $100 more expensive than the Deluxe, and while it offers the same capacity and many of the same cooking functions and features as the Deluxe, it also has a built-in smart thermometer. It also features Ninja's proprietary SmartLid that lets you switch from pressure cooking to air frying without opening the appliance.

Elsewhere in the Foodi range are multiple air fryers for different budgets, family needs, and kitchen sizes. They don't offer as much versatility as the Foodi Deluxe or Speedi, making them easier to use. There are two dual-basket, 10qt, 6-in-1 models – the standard Ninja DZ401 (reviewed by us) and the smart Ninja DZ550 (Amazon). The former costs $229.99, while the latter is $20 more expensive at $249.99 because it has a built-in smart thermometer.

The $179.99 Ninja Foodi FlexBasket (Amazon) is next in line. It has a 7qt capacity for larger birds and family dishes, or you can add the basket divider and cook multiple parts of a meal at once, even if they need different cooking times and temperatures. The Air Fryer Pro XL (Amazon) is the most petite Ninja air fryer. It costs $169.99 and has a single 6.5qt basket.

All of these Ninja air fryers offer six cooking functions and LED displays. The 10qt models and the FlexBasket air fryer have touch controls, while the Pro XL has physical buttons. Size-wise, the FlexBasket measures 18.19in x 11.81in x 11.26in and weighs 17.03 lbs. The Ninja DZ401 and Ninja DZ550 weigh 19.8 lbs and are 17.1in x 13.9in x 12.8 in size.

The Pro XL is the smallest in the range, weighing 11.4 lbs and measuring 14.9in L x 11.3in x 12in. While it's more expensive, you get slightly more bang for your buck with the Foodi Deluxe XL in terms of versatility. Its range of cooking functions is marginally broader and offers almost everything the Speedi does, with the bonus of being a pressure cooker. If you're a keen cook, have more space, and have a specific need for pressure cooking and yogurt features, then the Foodi Deluxe XL is your best bet.

However, if you want to save money, are more interested in speed and efficiency, and don't care about the pressure cooking function, then the Ninja Speedi is still a highly versatile, very worthwhile appliance.

Ninja Foodi vs Speedi: Performance

• The Ninja Speedi excels in quick, versatile cooking.
• The Foodi Deluxe XL shines with juicy, flavorful meats.

A pressure cooking and air frying feature, like that seen on the Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL, does more than just increase the number of cooking options - it gives you more control over how your food is cooked. Especially meat. This is because you can cook the meat inside fast and under pressure to keep all the juice and flavor in before switching to the air fryer mode to create a crispy finish. This is the closest you can get to the speed, juiciness, and finish of deep frying without the excess oil. It also helps you get the best roast meats too.

The large size of the Foodi Deluxe XL is excellent for families or when you have friends over. You can fit a lot of food in it – like a whole chicken or lots of veggies. It’s perfect for making big meals simultaneously, saving you time and hassle.

By comparison, the Ninja Speedi is all about making cooking fast and easy. Its Rapid Cooking mode creates meals in just 15 minutes to the same quality as if they'd been cooked for longer. Yet the key feature that boosts its performance is its instant pot design. It doesn't just let you switch from one mode to another or control different temperature zones; it enables you to cook using various methods simultaneously.

You can steam vegetables, pasta, or other foods in the lower layer of the pot while simultaneously air frying in the upper layer, combining steam and convection technology at the same time. The Speedi isn't quite as big as the Foodi Deluxe XL, but it’s perfect for everyday cooking.

The Ninja Speedi takes the crown for this category because of the quick and easy way to make complete meals in minutes. All while having the option to use the many other functions on the Speedi and Foodi Deluxe. The Foodi Deluxe does perform well, particularly when cooking meat and other meals where a juicy center and crispy coating are the priority; it just doesn't quite offer the performance of the Speedi.

Both the pot and basket inside the Ninja Foodi Deluxe have a nonstick coating meaning food and grease can be easily wiped off. The basket is also dishwasher safe, making cleaning it super convenient and saving time.

Cleaning around the outer rim at the top of the removable pot can be a challenge, as can cleaning the air crisp lid, but there aren’t too many small parts or hard-to-reach places where food can get stuck, so even cleaning these areas is relatively quick. Whether you’re just doing a quick rinse after making some fries or doing a deeper clean after a big cook, it won’t take up too much time.

The Ninja Speedi is also designed with easy cleaning in mind. Like the Foodi Deluxe XL, it has a nonstick pot and a crisper tray. After cooking, you can rinse them off or gently scrub them, and they're ready to go. The fact that the Speedi’s pot and crisper tray are dishwasher-safe is a big plus. This is especially helpful if you’ve cooked something greasy or sticky. Plus, not having to hand-wash these parts all the time can save you a lot of effort in the long run.

The design of the Ninja Speedi is quite simple, which is great for maintenance. It doesn’t have too many complicated parts, so there’s less to take apart and clean. You can use it daily without worrying about a big cleanup job afterward.

Moreover, the steam function on both models can be run independently to help clean the inside of the pots.

The Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL and the Ninja Speedi are winners in ease of cleaning and maintenance. They both have nonstick surfaces that make cleaning a breeze, and the fact many of their parts are dishwasher-safe is a bonus.

Ninja Foodi vs Speedi: which is better?

Both Foodi and Speedi models have advantages, making them an excellent choices for different types of users and needs.

The Foodi Deluxe XL is a powerhouse of versatility and capacity. It's perfect if you have a large family, like to experiment, and are big meat or roast eaters. Its range of cooking functions, including pressure cooking, air frying, steaming, slow cooking, and even yogurt making, provides almost endless possibilities. Yet, such versatility does come at a cost.

On the other hand, the Ninja Speedi shines in its ability to deliver complete meals quickly and efficiently. It's a great choice if you have a busy lifestyle or smaller kitchen spaces. The Speedi's rapid cooking system, capable of preparing a complete meal in just minutes, is a game-changer for busy weeknights or when you need a nutritious meal without spending hours in the kitchen. While it may not have the pressure cooking capability of the Foodi Deluxe XL, it covers a broad range of cooking options that will cater to most of your daily cooking needs.

All things considered, the Ninja Foodi would be our choice, but the Ninja Speedi is a strong contender. Its pressure cooker function and range of other options make it an adaptable appliance if you can spend the extra.