Multi cooker

Tink_04

Hi- I have been gifted a beautiful ninja 15 in 1 max cooker. It’s all singing, all dancing and I’m hoping perfect for helping the big oven off. 

Well it seems really complicated, I’m maybe just not up to speed with this new found machine, but I’m honestly quite overwhelmed as to what to make in it (you can make anything apparently). It’s the switching from pressure cooker to air fry to steam etc that confuses me. 

I have never had one before and usually manage with my SC and oven. 

Has anyone used one or have some good basic tips so that this doesn’t just become a gadget in my cupboard that never gets used.

thanks

Tink

CJRyder

I use the Rice, Manual Pressure and Slow Cook settings most of all. Pressure cooking to me is about speeding up the process and freeing up a space on the hob as well as "Set and Forget" cooking. For instance an hour long risotto takes me 20 minutes in the pressure cooker. Other functions (Yoghurt, Porridge and the like) are lost on me.

I have an Instant Pot so not sure about some of the features on your model.

newroadahead

Hi Tink

Sorry not really able to help but will look on with interest as I have been looking at a 9 in 1 as it would mean I could let go of an air fryer, slow cooker, and skillet if successful

I'm sure some of our lovely Msers will come along and help as they all knowledgeable and I think I have seen some posts from.people who use them

NRA 

Katiehound

If you Google 'how to use a Ninja multi cooker' a whole raft of videos on YouTube come up to help you. Might be worth watching a couple- I see one was for the 9-in1

I wouldn't let the SC go as that could be bubbling away in the background!

Effician

I would say invest plenty of time & be prepared for some ugly food before you find your feet with it.

A lot of the newish  gadgety type of cookers are all similar in operation & interface the problem is coming into them from basic cookers etc. there is quite a learning curve not only buttons & presets but in times & temps.

Tink_04

Thanks everyone - I have made chips using the air fryer thing and I’m putting jacket potatoes in tonight (playing it safe). It’s got loads of buttons and features I think it’s a bit much for me, I am determined to give it a good try tho as I really want to use to oven less over winter as it’s a big Chuck of electric to use.

Think I’ll give a whole chicken a try tomorrow and then keep trying simple things until I build my confidence up.

would love to do some of the fancy stuff people make on them at some point like bread and cakes.

goldfinches

I'd be really interested in hearing how you get on and what you think of the gadget once you've had a few weeks of trying it out. I'm beginning to wonder whether it might be worth starting a special thread for people to say whether or not gadgets they've tried are any good and if they've saved money, time, effort etc. What do you and others think?

shykins

Even if you only use it as an Air fryer its going to lessen your oven useage.   we considered buying one of these but settled for our big square Ninja air fryer which also has bake etc settings.   cant remember last time we turned the oven on 

timehastoldme

When we make jacket potato we pressure cook for 20 minutes then air fry for 12 and they're the nicest spuds I've ever made.

We've boiled eggs in the pressure cooker, and the steam fryer is great for cooking rice in the bottom and chicken/protein on the top grill. We started with the manual, but have been able to branch out a bit now. Pressure cooked macaroni in the bottom with cauliflower and broccoli on the grill insert for 5 minutes, then emptied and made cheese sauce with the saute function, dumped the macaroni and veg back in and stirred, mozzarella on top, grill function for four minutes. Perfect.

Tink_04

Sounds like some good things made! 

I did jacket potatoes yesterday- pressure cooked for 20 mins then air fry for 10 and they were a bit wet? It did take me ages to get the pressure cooker part right tho.

Brambling

I only have a basic air fryer but I tend to microwave my jacket potatoes for 5 minutes and then AF for 10 and to me they taste the same as oven cooked ones