Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker review

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Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker: two-minute review

The Ninja Combi is simply a billed arsenic an all-in-one multi-cooker that tin beryllium utilized for illustration an oven, an aerial fryer, aliases moreover a stovetop (hob). In fact, it offers an intimidating scope of modes beyond those, but nan header present is that it has a steam function, which tin beryllium utilized connected its ain aliases arsenic portion of immoderate of 3 'Combi' settings, which harvester steaming (for moisture and tenderness) pinch different cooking mode. It's besides designed to beryllium capable to navigator complete meals – protein, carb, veggies – quickly, and each successful 1 go.

It's sized for illustration a gangly microwave, pinch a sideways-opening doorway and 2 soul trays. Inside nan cooking cavity, location are heating elements astatine nan apical and bottom, and a convection instrumentality astatine nan backmost to move nan basking air.

In practice, figuring retired sheer number of modes and which 1 to usage for what tin beryllium intimidating. There are 12 different options connected nan UK type I tested, and moreover much if you're successful nan US. I fishy that erstwhile you've spent a spot of clip utilizing nan Combi, it'll go clearer which mode suits what meal.

In my tests, nan standalone modes each worked efficiently, pinch expected results. I was particularly impressed pinch nan aerial fryer mode, which sewage my veggie sausages basking each nan measurement done and nicely browned successful double-quick time. It took a small much proceedings and correction to activity retired nan much different Combi Meals mode, particularly pinch regards to timings if you're straying distant from nan group menus successful nan provided repast booklet. The expertise to adhd steam is unusual, but it does thief support things moist – though nan Combi will emit a batch of steam successful these modes, truthful you'll request to put it successful a well-ventilated spot.

Aside from nan complications that travel pinch navigating each nan modes, nan Combi is very good designed and straightforward to use. The fastener controls require nary mentation (the elephantine move that you flip to displacement from modular modes to ones pinch steam is unnecessary but benignant of satisfying). The show offers up useful information, including letting you cognize erstwhile preheating is finished, and alerting you if you've forgotten to adhd nan h2o tray for steam cooking. There are besides immoderate genuinely adjuvant touches, for illustration really nan wrong ray will travel connected successful nan last infinitesimal of cooking successful immoderate modes.

At $229.99 / £279.99, it's up location pinch nan astir costly options successful our best aerial fryer guide, but this does a batch much than conscionable aerial fry. While it's not cheap, I really deliberation it's decent worth for money (in nan US astatine least), fixed nan wide scope of functions and precocious build quality. That's nan short version; publication connected for my afloat Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker review.

Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker review: value & availability

• List price: $229.99 / £279.99
• Launched: April 2024
• Available: US / UK

The Ninja Combi launched successful outpouring 2024, and is presently disposable successful nan US and nan UK. You tin bargain nonstop from SharkNinja, aliases via various 3rd statement retailers.

At clip of writing, successful nan US erstwhile you bargain nonstop from Ninja nan Combi comes bundled pinch accessories for illustration a compatible baking pan, Dutch oven and cooking utensils. The database value is $229.99. In nan UK, nan database value is £279.99, pinch nary accessories bundled in. That's noticeably much costly than nan US option.

Based connected TechRadar's value bands, we'd see thing complete $250 / £200 to beryllium a premium aerial fryer, but this is simply a somewhat different imaginable because it offers specified a wide action of functions connected apical of conscionable aerial frying.

In nan US I deliberation it's really very bully worth for money, but it's little truthful successful nan UK. I'd astir apt urge waiting for a discount if you're shopping successful nan UK – I've seen it driblet to £249.99 successful nan process of penning this review, and I dream much discounts will beryllium successful nan pipeline erstwhile this exemplary gets a small older (the Black Friday sales tin beryllium an particularly bully clip to shop for mini appliances).

• Value for money score: 4 retired of 5

Ninja Combi specs

Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker review: design

• Cool, curvy shape, opens sideways via a chunky handle
• Space for 2 soul trays
• Large, intuitive fastener power panel, positive SmartSwitch

The Ninja Combi looks for illustration benignant of for illustration a tiny, curvy oven pinch a power sheet stuck to nan front. The doorway opens sideways, and cooking trays slot into nan cavity. You tin fresh 2 of these successful astatine once. The cavity is, apparently, ample capable to fresh a 6lb chickenhearted aliases a 10-inch pizza.

With nan UK type I tested, location was a baking tray, crisper sheet (with cutouts) and deep, ceramic-coated 'Combi Pan' included. It's not terribly clear what's included pinch nan US type – nan 'What you'll get list' conscionable specifies a baking cookware and Dutch oven pinch solid lid, but I'd expect location to beryllium a crisper sheet included too, because really are gonna aerial fry without 1 of those? These plates and pans are dishwasher-safe.

The power sheet uses buttons alternatively than a touchscreen. There are abstracted up and down arrows for temperature, clip and cooking function. There's besides a wide connected switch, a start/stop button, and a lightbulb that enables you to illuminate nan wrong of nan Combi erstwhile you want to cheque connected progress. A small, illuminated LED show provides information.

Those are nan little breathtaking controls. The cool spot is nan SmartSwitch connected nan apical correct of nan Combi. If it's pointing upwards, nan appliance is successful Combi Cooker mode, and if it's pointing sideways, it's successful Air Fry / Hob mode. The position of nan move will find which of nan options connected nan main show sheet are disposable for selection. As such, it's successful nary measurement basal to nan usability of nan cooker, but it is satisfyingly chunky and very flickable.

The nonstop modes offered by nan Combi depends connected your territory, but you tin remainder assured that some nan US and UK versions person covered plentifulness of bases. Here's a run-down:

• 'Combi' modes: Combi Meals, Combi Crisp, Combi Bake, Steam, Rice/Pasta, Proof (Prove)
• 'Air fry' modes: Broil (Grill), Air Fry, Bake, Sear/Sauté, Slow Cook
• Extra US type modes: Toast, Pizza, and Sous Vide

If you usage immoderate of nan 'Combi' modes, you request to adhd h2o to nan heavy Combi Cooker pan. This will create steam successful nan cooking chamber. If you usage it successful Steam, Rice/Pasta aliases Proof (Prove) modes, it'll support nan nutrient moist and forestall it from drying out. On nan Ninja website, it besides states that this steaming usability tin besides beryllium utilized to safely and quickly thaw stiff nutrient – useful if your repast readying abilities, for illustration mine, time off thing to beryllium desired. However, there's nary dedicated Defrost mode.

If you usage nan Combi Multi-Cooker successful immoderate of nan modes prefaced by 'Combi', nan appliance will harvester nan steam usability pinch different cooking mode, for results that are moist yet crispy. That's my understanding, anyhow - it's amazingly difficult to make consciousness of.

The 'Air Fry' modes are much self-explanatory, though nan sanction itself is baffling, because Ninja is conscionable utilizing it to mean 'modes that don't see steam'.

My reappraisal exemplary came pinch a look booklet that helped demystify things somewhat – if I hadn't person had that, I'd person been lost. This booklet is besides downloadable online (via a QR codification connected a sticker connected nan Combi) on pinch videos and different information. Other appliances I've utilized adhd this benignant of point to an app, but I'm very happy not to person to download yet different point to my telephone to usage nan Combi.

On nan UK exemplary I tested, nan somesthesia officially ranges from 120C to a generous 230C. It'll really spell little for proving / proofing – it kicks successful astatine an automatic 35C successful that mode. You tin group cooking durations up to a hr and 15 minutes, though if you're cooking above 200C, you tin only navigator for 30 minutes.

• Design score: 4.5 retired of 5

Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker review: performance

• Combi modes require proceedings and error, but output bully results
• Air fry mode is excellent, and different 'standard' modes each activity well
• Emits a batch of steam, and condensation tray can't beryllium easy emptied

Let's commencement pinch a wide look astatine really usable nan Combi is. You tin fresh plentifulness of things inside, pinch nan stacked trays making nan astir of nan soul space. Ninja says it tin cater a repast for eight, and while that seems a touch optimistic, I'd beryllium assured cooking for 4 to six. It's not excessively noisy successful use, though nan bleeping did propulsion maine disconnected a bit. It'll sometimes emit what sounds to maine for illustration a 'you've done thing wrong' bleep, but is really an 'everything's fine' bleep.

The show is awesome for providing each nan basal accusation you need. So erstwhile it's preheating, it'll opportunity PRE, and erstwhile nan cooking is each done, it'll opportunity END. There's nary guessing arsenic to what's going connected and nary request to consult an app to cheque connected progress. When you move it off, it bids you BYE. It'll besides show you erstwhile it's clip to adhd food, and if you effort and motorboat a steam mode without nan Combi Pan successful its slot, it'll consciousness that and springiness you an correction message.

I for illustration nan truth there's a ray to spot wrong nan cooking chamber, though its positioning intends that if location are 2 trays successful there, you'll only beryllium capable to spot nan apical one. The ray will move connected automatically erstwhile nan doorway is open, and sometimes (I couldn't activity retired a pattern) for nan past infinitesimal of cooking, too.

The power sheet is self-explanatory and very easy to use. The astir challenging spot of figuring retired which mounting you need. I besides admit that you tin reset nan timer mid-cook, if you spot that things are going to return longer than you'd initially predicted. The Combi will travel up pinch suggested temperatures and times for each mode, and you tin set up aliases down from there.

In steam cooking modes, nan Combi takes a fewer minutes to get nan steam going earlier it starts cooking. During this time, dashes look connected nan display, and nan Combi emits a very quiet grumbling. Initially it tin look for illustration thing is happening, but aft a while condensation will commencement to look connected nan wrong of nan solid door. Once it's bully and steamy, nan existent cooking will footwear successful (noticeably noisier than heat-up, but not overly large successful general) and nan timer will start.

It's worthy flagging that successful immoderate of nan modes that see steaming (and a fewer of nan others, too) nan Combi emits a batch of steam from a vent connected nan correct of nan instrumentality - acold much than I get pinch my regular aerial fryer. You will want to make judge it's positioned location well-ventilated, aliases adjacent an extractor fan. Ninja is intelligibly alert of this because it's addressed successful nan troubleshooting conception of nan guideline booklet, wherever it makes it clear it's normal and expected.

The steam that doesn't flight condenses connected nan wrong of nan viewing window. Ninja has added a small transmission wherever h2o tin collect, truthful your worktop doesn't extremity up soaked. Unfortunately, there's nary easy measurement to quiet it. After each fewer uses, I'd person to dip a barren cloth in, fto it soak up immoderate liquid, cautiously wring it out, past repetition until dry. Not ideal.

Combi cooking modes

One of nan USPs present is nan expertise to 'combi' cook. There are 3 dedicated Combi modes, and it's not instantly clear what nan quality is betwixt them. These are nan 'best for' suggestions for each, arsenic per Ninja's accompanying look booklet:

• Combi Meals: cooking proteins, grains / pasta and vegetables astatine nan aforesaid time
• Combi Crisp: whole roasts, fresh/frozen proteins, vegetables, crusty breads
• Combi Bake: homemade batters, boxed mixes, soft-baked breads, delicate baked goods

I think nan Meals action is erstwhile you're cooking different elements astatine nan aforesaid time, nan Crisp is for things you want to move retired crispy, and nan Bake is for erstwhile you want things to move retired soft.

I started by testing nan Combi Meals mode. Broadly, nan process is: your carb (rice aliases pasta) goes successful nan Combi Pan pinch water, your macromolecule goes connected nan Bake Tray, which slots successful above. In nan last 6-7 minutes of cooking, you tin adhd immoderate veggies you want to steam into nan Combi Pan alongside nan carb.

In nan look booklet, location are suggestions for illustration salmon pinch brownish atom and steamed broccoli, aliases herb pasta pinch meatballs. I decided to make brownish rice, veggie meatballs, steamed courgette and leek, and roasted tomatoes.

I was astatine a spot of a nonaccomplishment arsenic to really agelong to navigator it for aliases astatine what temperature. There is simply a guideline successful nan look booklet, but I needed to set some nan quantities and atom type (they specify 'easy cook'; I only had regular). The booklet suggests mounting nan cooking clip based connected nan protein, that intelligibly wasn't going to activity here.

In nan end, nan balls and tomatoes ended up cooking measurement quicker than nan rice, and I had to return that tray retired and widen nan atom cooking time. I besides had to adhd much h2o arsenic nan atom had dried out.

All of this to say, figuring retired operation repast timings is tricky, and I fishy will return immoderate proceedings and error. It's much straightforward pinch thing for illustration nan Ninja Double Stack aerial fryer, wherever you tin group different temperatures and durations for each drawer, and time off nan appliance to fig retired erstwhile to move each 1 connected truthful they're done astatine nan aforesaid time. But that's a regular aerial fryer, truthful you'd beryllium sacrificing nan steaming possibilities.

Timing mishaps aside, I was beautiful impressed pinch nan results of nan Combi Meals setting. The veggie balls ended up evenly browned and crispy connected nan outside, and nan tomatoes roasted up nicely. The atom and veggies were tender and somewhat crispy connected top. I conjecture if you want to debar immoderate crispiness, you want to conscionable usage nan steam mode.

Other functions

During my reappraisal period, I besides tested retired nan Combi's different functions, and I didn't person immoderate issues pinch immoderate of them. I utilized nan cook usability for a scope of heating-up tasks, and it performed reliably well. I'd for illustration to springiness a typical shout-out to nan dedicated Air Fry mode, too. With different multi-cookers I've tested, this usability has been a let-down (leading maine to fishy that 'air fry' has conscionable been added to nan database because it's a buzz-word successful cooking correct now, alternatively than it being thing nan appliance has been designed for). That was not nan lawsuit pinch nan Combi.

It took my veggie sausages from stiff to cooked astatine slightest arsenic quickly arsenic my dedicated aerial fryer – contempt nan truth that nan cooking cavity present is larger. They were basking done and browned evenly connected nan outside. I'd person nary qualms recommending this exemplary to personification for whom aerial frying was a peculiar priority.

• Performance score: 4 retired of 5

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Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker review: besides consider

Not judge if nan Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker is correct for you? Here are a mates of alternatives to consider.

How I tested nan Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker

• I utilized it regularly for astir a week
• I tried retired nan various different cooking mode options
• I compared nan results to my dedicated aerial fryer and oven

I utilized nan Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker regularly for a week earlier penning up this review, testing it connected everything from bread, to ready-made pie, to veggie sausages. I assessed nan results successful position of texture, evenness of cooking, and browning (if relevant). I besides compared nan results and timings to what I'd expect utilizing my accustomed method of cooking, beryllium that a dedicated aerial fryer, oven, aliases stovetop.

To trial nan 'Combi' functions, I utilized nan Combi to navigator variations of nan kinds of meals suggested successful nan companion booklet – i.e. those that characteristic a rice/pasta, vegetable, and macromolecule component. I judged really good it cooked each of those individual elements, and if nan steam usability made a quality to nan texture of nan results.

I besides considered really straightforward and intuitive nan controls were, if location were immoderate features I felt were confusing aliases missing, arsenic good arsenic attraction aspects specified arsenic really easy it was to clean.

Read much astir how we test

First reviewed October 2024