Introduction
In the world of kitchen appliances, two names often pop up in discussions about convenient cooking: Ninja Speedi and Instant Pot. Both promise to make your cooking process faster, easier, and more versatile. But which one is the best choice? To find out, we cooked 10 different meals in both appliances and compared their performance, ease of use, cooking speed, and more. Let’s dive into this head-to-head comparison of Ninja Speedi vs. Instant Pot.
What is the Ninja Speedi?
The Ninja Speedi is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to perform multiple cooking tasks. With the ability to air fry, steam, bake, and more, it’s essentially an all-in-one cooker that promises to save you time and energy in the kitchen. But how does it stack up against the well-established Instant Pot?
Design and Build Quality
The Ninja Speedi boasts a sleek, modern design. It’s compact and doesn’t take up too much counter space, making it ideal for smaller kitchens. The build quality is solid, with a non-stick inner pot that makes cleaning easier. The control panel is intuitive and user-friendly, with easy-to-read buttons and a digital display.
Features and Functionality
The Ninja Speedi comes with multiple functions, including air frying, baking, roasting, and steaming. This makes it highly versatile, capable of handling a variety of recipes. It also includes a fast cooking feature, allowing meals to be prepared quickly without sacrificing taste.
Performance
When it comes to performance, the Ninja Speedi lives up to its name. It cooks food evenly and quickly, with impressive results for everything from crispy chicken wings to perfectly steamed vegetables. However, some dishes require a little trial and error to master the settings, as different foods require different cooking times and temperatures.
What is the Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot is a popular multi-cooker known for its pressure cooking capabilities. It also offers functions like slow cooking, rice cooking, sautéing, and yogurt making. Instant Pot has become a kitchen staple in many households due to its speed and versatility.
Design and Build Quality
The Instant Pot has a more utilitarian design compared to the Ninja Speedi. It’s larger and bulkier, with a stainless steel exterior that is durable but takes up more space. The control panel is also digital and easy to navigate, with a variety of preset programs for different types of cooking.
Features and Functionality
The Instant Pot is a true multi-cooker, offering pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, steaming, and more. It’s incredibly versatile, and the pressure cooking feature can drastically reduce cooking times for foods like stews, soups, and beans.
Performance
The Instant Pot excels in cooking under pressure, which can reduce cooking times significantly. It also does an excellent job with dishes that benefit from slow cooking, such as stews and risottos. However, when it comes to air frying or baking, the Instant Pot falls short compared to the Ninja Speedi.
The Cooking Process: Our 10 Meal Challenge
To give you a clear picture of how each appliance performs, we cooked 10 different meals using both the Ninja Speedi and Instant Pot. Here’s a breakdown of each dish.
Meal #1: Roast Chicken
- Ninja Speedi: The chicken came out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The air fry feature really delivered on crispness.
- Instant Pot: The chicken was moist, but lacked the crispiness that the Ninja Speedi achieved.
Meal #2: Rice & Beans
- Ninja Speedi: The rice was perfectly cooked, and the beans were tender. The cooking time was fast, making it a great option for busy days.
- Instant Pot: The Instant Pot did an excellent job with both rice and beans, and the pressure cooking feature made everything cook quickly.
Meal #3: Beef Stew
- Ninja Speedi: The stew was hearty, but it took a bit longer to cook. However, the flavor was rich and the meat tender.
- Instant Pot: The pressure cooking function turned the stew into a comforting dish in record time. The meat was fall-apart tender.
Meal #4: Vegetable Stir-Fry
- Ninja Speedi: The stir-fry came out perfect with a slight crisp on the vegetables, thanks to the high heat.
- Instant Pot: The Instant Pot didn’t produce the same crispy texture. The veggies were cooked well but lacked that stir-fried crunch.
Meal #5: Mashed Potatoes
- Ninja Speedi: The potatoes cooked evenly, and the mash was smooth, although the process was a bit slower than expected.
- Instant Pot: The Instant Pot turned out a perfect batch of mashed potatoes in no time. The pressure cooking function was ideal for this dish.
Meal #6: Salmon
- Ninja Speedi: The salmon was cooked perfectly with a crispy exterior. The air fry function is excellent for fish.
- Instant Pot: The salmon was cooked well but lacked the crispiness that the Ninja Speedi provided.
Meal #7: Spaghetti
- Ninja Speedi: The noodles cooked well, but the sauce required some adjustments to avoid burning.
- Instant Pot: The Instant Pot made spaghetti incredibly easy, with perfectly cooked noodles and sauce.
Meal #8: Chili
- Ninja Speedi: The chili was hearty and flavorful, but cooking time was longer than expected.
- Instant Pot: The Instant Pot made quick work of the chili, with tender beans and perfectly blended flavors in no time.
Meal #9: Curry
- Ninja Speedi: The curry was well-cooked, but it took longer than expected.
- Instant Pot: The Instant Pot’s pressure cooking was ideal for a fast and flavorful curry, with tender meat and rich spices.
Meal #10: Cake
- Ninja Speedi: The cake baked beautifully, with a moist texture and even browning.
- Instant Pot: The Instant Pot did an okay job, but the texture was a bit denser than expected for a cake.
Key Differences Between Ninja Speedi and Instant Pot
Cooking Time
Both appliances are quick, but the Instant Pot often wins when it comes to dishes that require pressure cooking. For recipes that don’t require pressure cooking, the Ninja Speedi can offer faster results, especially with air frying and baking.
Versatility
The Ninja Speedi is more versatile overall, with air frying, baking, and roasting features that the Instant Pot doesn’t have. However, the Instant Pot shines in pressure cooking and slow cooking, making it ideal for stews, soups, and beans.
Ease of Use
Both appliances are easy to use, but the Instant Pot can be a bit more complicated with its pressure cooking features. The Ninja Speedi has a simpler interface with fewer settings to navigate.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Both are easy to clean, with non-stick inner pots. However, the Ninja Speedi is slightly easier to clean due to its fewer components and simpler design.
Which One Wins? Our Final Verdict
After testing both appliances with 10 meals, the Instant Pot shines in its ability to cook under pressure and create perfectly tender dishes in a fraction of the time. However, the Ninja Speedi wins when it comes to versatility, especially if you want to air fry or bake. The winner depends on your cooking needs: if you want speed and versatility, go for the Ninja Speedi; if you want pressure cooking and fast stews, the Instant Pot is the better choice.
FAQs
1. Can I bake with the Instant Pot? No, the Instant Pot is not designed for baking. The Ninja Speedi is better for baking.
2. Is the Ninja Speedi better than the Instant Pot? It depends on your needs. The Ninja Speedi is more versatile, but the Instant Pot excels in pressure cooking and slow cooking.
3. Which appliance cooks faster? The Instant Pot tends to cook faster due to its pressure cooking feature, but the Ninja Speedi can be quicker for certain tasks like air frying.
4. Is the Ninja Speedi easier to clean? Yes, the Ninja Speedi has fewer components, making it easier to clean.
5. Can I cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot? Yes, you can cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot, but it won’t be as crispy as in the Ninja Speedi.
