Once the cook cycle has finished, open the pressure release valve, and wait a few minutes for the unit to depressurise and cool down. When pressure release is complete, the float valve will drop down and you will be able to open the lid. The slider on the lid has three positions, each one unlocking different functions, so it’s always correctly sealed for the cooking function you’re using, it couldn’t be simpler. You then will be able to move the SmartLid Slider™ to Combi-Steam or Air Fry/Hob position to unlock the lid. Create everything from golden chips, sweet potato fries and vegetable medleys to fish fingers, chicken wings and salmon fillets.

To open the lid, move the SmartLid Slider™ to either Combi-Steam (position 2) or Air Fry/Hob (position 3) and use the front handle above the SmartLid Slider to lift the lid. When the lid is down the convection programs will illuminate - Air Fry, Grill, Bake, Dehydrate plus Prove is on select models. Similarly, the baking and roasting functions are adequate but wouldn’t replace my oven when it comes to performance.Slow Cook meals for up to 12 hours to ensure your favourite risotto, casserole or tender pulled pork is ready when you get home.

If you simply haven’t got room for a separate air fryer, slow cooker, pressure cooker and steamer in your kitchen, and can’t bear the faff of packing appliances away after each use, the Ninja earns its place on the worktop. Granted, it all seemed a bit confusing at first, but I stuck to the manual and made good use of the accompanying tip sheet and soon got the hang of it.Finally, we had a go with the new steam air fry function which claims to crisp foods as well as steam to keep them moist and succulent. That said, the chicken browned well and it’s not too much of a problem if you keep moving and stirring your ingredients. Due to the slightly awkward design, it’s hard to make the most of the space in the pot when using it. Once the rest of the curry ingredients were in the pot, we set it to pressure cook on high for 20 minutes.

An Instant Pot is essentially a table-top multi-cooker that performs a variety of cooking methods from pressure cooking and steaming to sautéing and slow cooking. When the lid is down the programs that use the bottom heating element will illuminate - Sear/Saute, Steam, Slow Cook and Yogurt. Moreover, this Ninja Foodi is easier to use for beginners and has a wide range of customisability with timings and temperatures.Get started straight away with a Chef-Created Recipe Guide included in the box, packed with Ninja Foodi recipes and handy cooking charts. The chili thickened up significantly during cooking, giving us a rich and tasty dinner for very little effort. You can spend a lot less on a multi cooker and still enjoy many of the functions of the Ninja Foodi.