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What’s the difference between Ninja air fryer and pressure cooker?

Air fryers and pressure cookers are both popular kitchen appliances that use different cooking methods to prepare meals quickly and conveniently. Though they share some similarities, there are important differences between how Ninja air fryers and pressure cookers work and the results they produce.

How Does a Ninja Air Fryer Work?

Air fryers circulate extremely hot air around food to produce a crispy, fried finish using little to no oil. Ninja air fryers use a rapid air circulation system to cook food using convection heat. A heating element and fan quickly circulate air up to 400°F around food inside the air fryer’s basket. This allows food to cook quickly and evenly, mimicking deep frying.

The convection heat produced by Ninja air fryers gives foods like french fries, chicken wings, and veggies a crispy, crunchy exterior using 70-80% less oil than traditional deep frying. The constant flow of hot air seals in moisture, resulting in food that’s crispy on the outside but tender on the inside.

Ninja air fryers are versatile small appliances that can be used to air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, and reheat foods. Models like the Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven and Ninja Air Fryer Max XL have large capacities and multiple functions beyond just air frying. Advanced features like a flip-up window, interior light, and removable nonstick basket make it easy to monitor cooking progress and transfer food in Ninja air fryers.

How Does a Pressure Cooker Work?

Pressure cookers use steam pressure to raise the boiling point of water above 100°C/212°F in order to cook food much faster than regular simmering or boiling. Ninja pressure cookers like the Foodi Pressure Cooker and Crisper utilize a tight sealing lid and internal regulator to build up steam pressure inside the pot.

As pressure increases, the boiling point of the liquid inside also rises, reaching temperatures up to 250°F. This high-pressure environment allows food to cook up to 70% faster than traditional cooking methods using moist heat. The pressurized environment also infuses flavors into and tenderizes meats and other foods.

Ninja pressure cookers include features like multiple pressure settings and a steam release valve to safely manage pressure levels. Models like the Ninja Foodi Deluxe Pressure Cooker have different programmable cook functions for pressure cooking, air frying, steaming, yogurt making, sautéing, and more, making them true multi-cookers.

Differences Between Air Fryers and Pressure Cookers

While air fryers and pressure cookers both provide fast cooking times, there are several important differences between these two types of appliances.

Cooking Method

The main difference lies in the cooking method. Air fryers use superheated air to crisp and cook foods. Pressure cookers use pressurized steam to quickly cook food through moist heat.

Results

An air fryer mimics deep frying, giving food a crispy texture and allowing you to cook items like french fries, chicken wings, and fish with little to no oil. Pressure cookers are better for braising meat, boiling potatoes, cooking rice, and other moist-heat cooking methods. The pressurized environment locks in steam and makes food very tender.

Speed

Both appliances cook food rapidly, but pressure cookers are generally faster. While air fryers often cut cooking times in half compared to a conventional oven, pressure cookers can cook dishes up to 70% faster than traditional stovetop or oven methods.

Safety Features

Air fryers operate at normal atmospheric pressure and have basic safety features like auto-off functions. Pressure cookers require special safety features like locks, regulators, and release valves so they can safely reach higher pressures without explosion risks.

Capacity

Most air fryers have smaller capacities of around 3-8 quarts suitable for cooking smaller batches. Pressure cookers often have larger capacities of 6 quarts or more to handle cooking larger quantities of food at once.

Functions

Air fryers primarily air fry, though some models include extra convection cooking functions. Many pressure cookers are true multi-cookers with pressure cooking plus sautéing, steaming, slow cooking, and yogurt making functions.

Price

Basic air fryers tend to be more budget-friendly in the $75-$150 range, while multi-functional pressure cookers cost more in the $150-$300 range depending on features.

Ninja Air Fryer Models

Ninja offers a wide variety of air fryer models to suit different cooking needs and budgets.

Ninja Air Fryer AF101

  • 4 quart capacity
  • 1700 watts of power
  • Temp range of 105°-400° F
  • Dishwasher-safe basket and crisper plate
  • Digital display with 4 presets
  • Timer and temperature control
  • Air fry, air roast, air broil, and dehydrate functions

Ninja Foodi 6.5qt Digital Air Fry Oven

  • 6.5 quart capacity
  • 1800 watts of power
  • Temp range of 105°-450° F
  • 60-minute timer and digital display
  • Interior oven light
  • Dishwasher-safe parts
  • 8 functions including air fry, air roast, bake, whole roast, broil, toast, dehydrate, and keep warm

Ninja Air Fryer Max XL

  • 5.5 quart square basket with large 5.2 qt round Cook & Crisp Basket
  • 1700 watts of power
  • Temp range of 105°-400° F
  • Digital display with 7 preset programs
  • Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat and Dehydrate functions
  • Pull-out liner releases food easily
  • Dishwasher-safe parts

Ninja Pressure Cooker Models

Ninja offers several sizes and models of Foodi multi-cookers with pressure cooking and air frying functions.

Ninja Foodi 6.5qt Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer

  • 6.5 quart ceramic coated pot
  • 1400 watt power
  • Up to 15 PSI of pressure
  • Steam, pressure cook, air fry, sauté, slow cook, yogurt, sear/sauté, and bake/roast functions
  • TenderCrisp technology lets you switch from pressure cooking to air frying
  • 6 preset programs

Ninja Foodi Deluxe Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer

  • 8 quart pot with 5 quart Cook & Crisp Basket
  • 1800 watts of power
  • Up to 15 PSI of pressure
  • 10 functions including pressure cook, air fry, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sauté, bake/roast, broil, dehydrate, and keep warm
  • Digital display and 14 preset programs

Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven

  • 10.5 quart XXL Cook & Crisp Basket
  • 1800 watts of power
  • Up to 15 PSI of pressure
  • 10 functions including air fry, air roast, air broil, bake, pressure cook, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sear/sauté, and dehydrate
  • Digital display with 2 independent lids
  • 20 preset programs

Comparing Ninja Air Fryer and Pressure Cooker

Ninja Air Fryer Ninja Pressure Cooker
Cooking Method Superheated air Pressurized steam
Ideal for… Frying and crisping with less oil Tenderizing meats, braising, boiling
Typical dishes Fries, chicken wings, roasted veggies Chili, stews, steamed rice
Temperature Up to 400°F Up to 250°F through pressure
Speed Up to 2x faster than oven Up to 70% faster than stove or oven
Capacity 3-8 quarts 6 quarts or larger
Functions Air fry, roast, broil, bake, dehydrate Pressure, slow cook, sauté, steam, yogurt
Price $75-$200 $150-$300

Which Is Better: Ninja Air Fryer vs Pressure Cooker?

So which type of appliance is better for you – the Ninja air fryer or pressure cooker? Here are some key points to help you decide:

  • If you mainly want to cook crispy fried foods like french fries, chicken wings, and breaded veggies with less oil, an air fryer is the better choice.
  • For flavorful braised meats, stews, boiled veggies, and rice, a pressure cooker will be more useful.
  • Air fryers work best for smaller batches and portion sizes. Get a pressure cooker for cooking large quantities.
  • Pressure cookers cook more quickly when preparing tough, dense foods or large portions.
  • Models with multiple functions like Ninja’s Foodi let you get the benefits of both pressure cooking and air frying.
  • Air fryers are simpler to use and safer, while pressure cookers have a slight learning curve.
  • Those short on space may prefer a small air fryer over larger pressure cooker models.
  • Air fryers tend to be more budget friendly than advanced pressure cooker multi-cookers.

Consider what and how you cook most often to decide which appliance best suits your needs. Air fryers and pressure cookers can actually be quite complementary – having one of each gives you the versatility to prepare all kinds of delicious dishes using fast, convenient methods.

Conclusion

While air fryers and pressure cookers utilize very different cooking technology, they both offer major advantages in terms of quickly and conveniently preparing delicious meals. Air fryers crisp up foods using convection heat rather than loads of oil, while pressure cookers use pressurized steam to drastically reduce cooking times for moist, flavorful dishes.

Ninja makes high-quality models in both categories. Their air fryers are perfect for crisping up wings, fries, and veggies with little to no oil. Ninja pressure cookers can whip up perfect stews, moist roasts, and beans in a fraction of the normal time. Models like the Foodi combine both cooking methods for ultimate versatility.

Choose an air fryer for crispy, oil-free versions of traditionally fried foods. Get a pressure cooker to cook large batches faster with tender, flavorful results. Or get the best of both worlds with a multi-cooker like the Ninja Foodi!