New To Me - Air Pot & Ninja Air Fryer - What I'm Gonna Do?

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launderess

launderess

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Of late there has been another burst of people moving house in our neck of woods, you may have heard about it in the news.

So here one finds oneself with an Instant Pot "Duo" and Nijia "Foodi 6 in 1"

Need either or both like want pneumonia, but one doesn't like to be rude when people are giving "ahem" gifts.

Mind you already have two Magefesa pressure cookers, a vintage Cuisinart convection oven, two Maxim convection ovens and a Hamiliton Beach (or something, cannot recall) slow cooker (another gift from someone moving house three years ago), so am quite up to speed with "fast" cooking gadgets.

IIRC this Instant Pot is just an glorified pressure cooker that runs on electric. How well does it work compared to range top models. The thing is rather large as such occupies quite a bit of shelf or counter space. If it can't do anything better than the Magefesa pots, it will have to go.

From what one has read about these Ninja air fryers they make quite a bit of smoke, are not easy to clean, an in general aren't better than countertop convection ovens like Farberware of old. Again since have the Maxim and Cuisinart counter top convection ovens, is there really a difference worth bothering? [this post was last edited: 7/31/2022-14:10]
 
Congratulations on your new gifts. I know several people with the new Instant Pots and use them all the time. Of course they do have gas stoves so they appreciate the fact that they do not throw heat like a gas burner and the removable liner makes cleaning up after use simpler than washing a bulky pressure cooker. They like the automaticity of hard cooking eggs, for example, by just sealing them inside and setting a switch then returning to perfectly cooked eggs.

I cannot advise anything about the air fryers.

Enjoy.
 
I really like my Instant Pot. I bought a Shark (euro-pro) one many many many years ago before Instant Pot even existed but the coating on the pot was coming off so that's why I ended up with a then new 6qt Instant Pot with stainless interior. I then bought the 8 qt model but it was just too ginormous and I gave it to my niece with a family who really likes it.
My partner who has zero interest in gadgets was visiting a friend in Nova Scotia 2 years ago and raved out his "air fryer" and that we should get one which we did. He uses it at least 2 times a day but it broke a few months ago and I had to go out and get a replacement. I gave my T-fal stove top pressure cooker to my sister who probably doesn't use it but I've kept my old Avocado West Bend pc for sentimenta reason but never use it at all now.
 
Instant pot or Pressure King Pro as its known here....

I love mine it makes lovely rice pudding and all meats are perfectly done. I have used it a lot to save on electricity for making soups etc also as its able to fry you can sear meat and what have you before you start the pressure cooking which as we know is where a lot of the flavour for soups and stews is from the caramelised bits at the bottom and these do not go to waste.... I had a stove top pressure cooker years ago and the thing I hated was washing it as it was solid aluminium that went a horrible black colour in the dishwasher ... But with the instant pot it goes in the DW no problem, Once you have made soups and what have you in it you won't look back.
 
Just made hard boiled eggs in mine yesterday as a matter of fact. Put the trivet in and add 2 cups water. Place as many eggs right from the fridge on the trivet or whatever, keeping them out of the water.. Lock it up, pressure cook for 7 min. At the 7 minute mark don't release the pressure and let it sit for 7 more minutes.. release pressure and then into a cold water bath. Easy peasy. Some people swear by 5 minutes, 6 minutes etc. but I find 7 minutes works best for me. THen to shell them,, place an egg in a glass jar with lid, add just enough water to cover the egg about 1/2 way..and shake shake shake .In about 30 seconds the shell is off, pour it all into a colander and move on to the next egg.
 
air fryer vs convection oven and/or countertop convection oven. If it was just me I wouldn't bother with the stand alone air fryer because I can do basically the same thing using a 9x12 mesh basket on the top rack of our convection range as could you probably with your counter top models. Try the Instant Pot and see what you think. I prefer it to the stove top models now. Set it and forget it pretty much.
 
Insta pot hard  boiled eggs seem a bit overkill.  I put a rack in a 5qt, or large frying pan, add 2 c. or so of water, boil, add eggs on rack steam 12 minutes and I'm done.

I'm a long term user of a Mirro SS pressure cooker, can't see too much advantage to a big electric pot to to store. Timers might  be nice, but I have kitchen timers.  If gifted one I'd keep/use it otherwise saw no real benefit to spending $100+ for something I basically have.

 

Space permitting I would use a good quality air fryer, but from research I've done there is a wide difference between various brands, some are significantly better and easier to clean than others.  My cousin has a big one that supposedly does it all, air fry, insta pot and has a browning lid. She seems to cook everything in it and none come out with a flavor or texture I'd consider good in any way.  Terrible food.
 
Pretty much same comments as above. Instant Pots and similar have amax std. PSI of 12 vs. stove top pressure cookers of 15 psi. I like the convenience and safety of being sealed in a stable device. I use mine for hard boiled eggs, all sorts of beans, brown rice rather than stove top, and roasts that can be seared and woderfully cooked in the ssame pot.
 
I refused for years to have anything that cooked under pressure in my kitchen, but a 6-qt. Instant Pot Pro changed my mind. I use it several times a week for chuck roasts, pork shoulder roasts, boneless/skinless chicken breasts, no-bean chili, etc. It’s also fantastic for hard-cooked eggs using the 5-5-5 method (5 minutes of pressure cooking; 5 minutes of natural pressure release; 5 minutes in an ice bath). The shells practically fall off on their own.

There are thousands of recipes online and a couple of good Facebook Instant Pot recipe groups. You might just find you really like it, Launderess.
 
We have the Ninja Foodi "9-in-1", the low-profile one that flips up to save counter space, and love it. The thing that really sets it apart is that they just nailed the user interface. It's functionally equivalent in capabilities to every other toaster oven we've owned in the past (Krups x2, Black & Decker, etc)... but it's SO much more user-friendly and pleasant to use.
 
Thanks lads for responses.

Still am on fence about both items, so will maybe give each a go and see what there is...

Labor Day is next big family get together, so if neither make the cut will be packed up and given away to younger family members who are busy new moms.

Follow Pro Home Cooks on YT and he seems rather keen on air fryers.





 
Air Fryer OVENS yes because they are larger and easier to clean.

And if you can always air fry outside on the deck or patio because they give off a lot of heat, humidity, oil mist, odor, and even smoke.

Outside all that mess just floats away.

Choose a model that has the controls to the SIDE of the cabinet so the heat and grease from the oven doesn't rise up and damage the controls.

#12 I've seen this guy on YT and he's cute. lol

bradfordwhite-2022080318180301817_1.png
 

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