Foodi is an innovative multi-cooker that offers a variety of cooking modes to provide versatility in preparing meals. With 9 smart programs and 5 programmable cooking functions, Foodi allows home cooks to pressure cook, air fry, roast, broil, bake, steam, slow cook, sear/sauté, and dehydrate. Understanding the different modes helps you get the most out of this versatile appliance.
Pressure Cook
The pressure cook setting utilizes moist heat under pressure to quickly and efficiently cook foods. It cooks foods up to 70% faster than traditional cooking methods. You can pressure cook anything from soups, stews, grains, beans, meats, poultry, seafood, veggies, and more. Pressure cooking helps infuse foods with flavor as the tight seal locks in juices, nutrients, and aromas. It’s perfect for weeknight meals as you can get dinner on the table in a hurry. With high, medium, and low pressure options, you can customize to the recipe.
Tips for Pressure Cooking
- Use the trivet and liquid – Pressure cooking requires steam so make sure to add at least 1 cup of water or other liquid.
- Allow for headspace – Don’t overfill the inner pot. Leave space for food to expand.
- Lock the lid and set the pressure valve – Make sure the lid is securely in place and set the pressure release valve to seal.
- Use natural release – Allow the pressure to come down naturally before doing a quick release to prevent spattering.
- Adjust cook times – Start with minimum cook times and adjust up if needed.
Air Fry
The air fry mode works by rapidly circulating hot air around food to produce a crispy, golden outer texture without submerging food in oil. The top-down heat from the heating coil paired with the high-speed fan mimics deep frying. You can air fry foods like french fries, chicken wings and nuggets, fish, chips, onion rings, vegetables, and more. Air frying uses up to 75% less fat than traditional frying for healthier meals.
Tips for Air Frying
- Use little or no oil – A light coating is all you need for air frying.
- Cut food uniformly – Cut pieces to a similar size so they cook evenly.
- Flip halfway – Flip or shake foods halfway through cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd – Leave space between food for airflow.
- Adjust cook times – Check food a few minutes early and add time as needed.
Roast
The roast function utilizes the heating coil and fan to evenly circulate hot air throughout the interior. This allows you to roast vegetables, proteins, and more to perfection. Roasting produces tender and flavorful results thanks to the slow, steady heat. The forced hot air cooks food from the outside in while retaining moisture on the inside. Roasting brings out the natural flavors and caramelizes the exterior. You can roast whole chickens, meat roasts, pork loins, turkey breasts, leg of lamb, vegetables, and more.
Tips for Roasting
- Pat food dry – Remove excess moisture from meats and veggies.
- Coat with oil or rub – Rubbing oil or spices ensures even browning.
- Use lower oven rack – Place food lower in oven for optimal browning.
- Flip/rotate food – Turn food midway through roasting.
- Let rest before slicing – Allow roasts to rest before carving to retain juices.
Broil
The broil setting uses direct, intense heat from the upper heating coil to quickly brown and caramelize foods. It’s perfect for finishing proteins to give a nice char. You can broil steaks, chops, chicken, fish, vegetables, onion rings, and more. The high heat chars the exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy. Broiling brings out flavors as the oils and juices caramelize. It adds appealing textures and flavors to complete a dish.
Tips for Broiling
- Preheat broiler – Allow broiler to fully preheat before adding food.
- Keep food close to coil – Place food on higher racks to brown properly.
- Flip food over – Turn food over midway through broiling.
- Avoid overcooking – Monitor food closely to prevent burning.
- Add glaze/toppings at end – Apply glazes, toppings last 2-3 minutes.
Bake
The bake function uses dry heat from the top and bottom heating coils along with the convection fan to circulate air. This allows for even baking and browning on all sides. You can bake a variety of foods like baked goods, casseroles, roasted vegetables, fish, poultry, gratins, frittatas, and more. Baking brings out sweet and savory flavors. The forced air helps prevent hot and cold spots for consistent results.
Tips for Baking
- Preheat – Fully preheat oven before baking.
- Use parchment – Line pans with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Check halfway – Rotate pans and check food halfway through.
- Use oven racks – Place food properly on oven racks.
- Track cook times – Set a timer and check at minimum time.
Steam
The steam function allows you to gently cook foods using steam heat. Steam cooking retains moisture, nutrients, flavors, and colors better than other cooking methods. It’s ideal for cooking vegetables, seafood, eggs, dumplings, rice, and more. Steam provides very quick cooking times as the steam transfers heat rapidly. Steaming infuses dishes with flavor without added calories or fat that comes from other cooking methods.
Tips for Steaming
- Use the steamer basket – The basket keeps food above water.
- Preheat – Allow water to come to a boil before adding food.
- Keep checking – Check food frequently to avoid overcooking.
- Shock with cold water – Plunge vegetables in ice bath to stop cooking.
- Season after – Season foods after steaming to keep flavors.
Slow Cook
The slow cook function utilizes low heat and long cook times to tenderize foods. It’s perfect for cooking tough cuts of meat that get fall-apart tender when cooked low and slow. You can braise meats, make stews, cook beans, prepare bone broth, and more. Slow cooking breaks down collagen and connective tissues. It infuses rich flavor into dishes with minimal hands-on time. The Foodi slow cooks more quickly than a traditional slow cooker so you get dinner ready faster.
Tips for Slow Cooking
- Prep ingredients – Cut food to uniform sizes and brown meat.
- Layer ingredients – Place vegetables on bottom under meat.
- Use enough liquid – Include broth, water, or sauce to prevent scorching.
- Avoid lifting the lid – Don’t remove the lid during cooking.
- Let rest – Allow stews and braises to rest before serving.
Sear/Sauté
The sear/sauté function allows you to cook foods in the inner pot over direct heat like you would on the stovetop. It’s perfect for searing meats to caramelize the exterior before pressure cooking or slow cooking. You can also sauté aromatics like onions and garlic before adding other ingredients. Searing helps develop flavors and gives food appealing color and texture. Use a small amount of oil when searing to prevent sticking.
Tips for Searing and Sautéing
- Pat food dry – Remove moisture from food before searing.
- Use hot pot – Allow pot to fully preheat before adding food.
- Don’t overcrowd pot – Cook in batches if needed.
- Dry ingredients first – Cook vegetables and aromatics before searing.
- Deglaze the pot – Add liquid to dissolve browned bits after searing.
Dehydrate
The dehydrate function uses low, steady heat and air circulation to remove moisture from foods. It’s perfect for making homemade dried fruits, vegetables, jerky, fruit leather, and more. Dehydrating preserves foods by removing water that bacteria and molds need to grow. It intensifies natural flavors and provides healthy snacks. Using this mode requires the purchase of special accessories like non-stick mesh sheets and fruit roll trays.
Tips for Dehydrating
- Prepare food uniformly – Cut pieces evenly for consistent drying.
- Rotate trays – Move trays and rotate food midway through.
- Support soft foods – Use non-stick sheets for berries and sauces.
- Check for doneness – Food should be leathery with no moisture.
- Condition dried foods – Allow to cool 1-2 hours after drying.
Tips for Getting the Most from Your Foodi
Here are some top tips for maximizing the use of each function on the Foodi multi-cooker:
- Read the manual – Understand safety guidelines and operating instructions.
- Start with recipes – Follow recipe cook times and settings until familiar.
- Use the right accessories – Pot-in-pot, steamer basket, and more.
- Adjust liquid and cook times – Increase/decrease as needed.
- Experiment with functions – Try air frying, steaming, baking, etc.
- Don’t overload – Allow for food expansion and airflow.
- Observe visual cues – Look for color, texture changes.
- Get an appliance thermometer – Monitor actual temperature.
- Embrace the versatility – Use the right modes for the foods you like.
- Have fun – Get creative with new dishes and techniques!
Conclusion
With pressure cooking, air frying, steaming, and more, the Foodi offers incredible versatility. Understanding the modes helps you fully utilize the functions for faster, healthier, and more flavorful everyday meals. Experiment with the different smart programs and customize settings to suit your needs. With some practice, you’ll be able to whip up endless quick and delicious meals in your Foodi that your whole family will love.