Ninja OL701 Foodi 14-in-1 SMART XL 8-Quart Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer

Yes, for the right buyer. The Ninja OL701 Foodi 14-in-1 SMART XL 8-Quart Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer ranks #7 in our Best Instant Pots and Electric Pressure Cookers list. Its biggest strength: the touchscreen with guided programs walks a true first-timer through settings more clearly than Instant Pot's dial-and-button interface. The main caveat: 8-quart-only sizing means beginners cooking for one or two people are working with more capacity than they need.

Based on our research it suits beginners and budgets under $100. It's ranked #7 of 12 in our Best Instant Pots and Electric Pressure Cookers list.

The main trade-offs owners and reviewers point to: 8-quart-only sizing means beginners cooking for one or two people are working with more capacity than they need; recipes must be time-adjusted from the Instant Pot-based recipes that dominate beginner content online; nonstick coating wears down over years of use and eventually requires pot replacement.

8-quart nonstick ceramic-coated pot, 14-in-1 functions including pressure cook, air fry, and steam fry, SMART XL touchscreen with guided cook programs, 6 sensors for smart cooking adjustments and TenderCrisp technology for pressure-then-crisp cooking.

Worth comparing: Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker 6-Quart, Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer and Electric Pressure Cooker 6-Quart and Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker 8-Quart. Each ranks near it in our research for a slightly different buyer.

It's sold on Amazon. Prices and stock change often, so check the current listing before you buy, our link takes you straight to it.

No, the core pressure cooking function requires three steps regardless of model: add ingredients and liquid, seal the lid (turn to lock position until the valve drops), and press Pressure Cook, set time, and press Start. The unit builds pressure over 10 to 15 minutes, cooks for the set time, then beeps. Release pressure via the quick release valve or wait for natural release. This sequence is the same across all Instant Pot models. The learning curve is primarily around pressure release timing (quick vs natural) and adjusting recipe cook times from conventional to pressure, which every standard pressure cooker recipe already specifies. Most beginners make one or two test batches before pressure cooking becomes intuitive.

Hard-boiled eggs: the most forgiving and most demonstrative first use. Place 1 cup of water in the insert, add eggs on the trivet, seal the lid, and pressure cook on High for 5 minutes followed by 5-minute natural release. The eggs peel easily and are consistently cooked, demonstrating the pressure cooker's advantage over stovetop boiling. Second recipe: dried lentil soup. Dried lentils, diced vegetables, broth, and spices, seal and pressure cook on High for 15 minutes, natural release 10 minutes. No pre-soaking, done in under 30 minutes total, and the result is proof that pressure cooking genuinely saves time compared to the 45-minute stovetop alternative.