We look at Ninja’s newest piece kitchen wizardry – here’s our Ninja Combi 14-in1 review!
You have to be careful about making promises about multi-tasking to a woman.
There is nothing more powerful, or more efficient, than a woman on a mission with a to-do list and an iron will (bonus points if she’s fuelled up on coffee, wine or hell, both).
So when it came time to test Ninja’s newest multicooker that promises a swathe of things in almost unbelievable timeframes, the scepticism was high because just LOOK at what it says on the box:
What IS the Ninja Combi 14-in-1 Multicooker?
The Ninja Combi is a countertop oven-meets-multicooker that uses what Ninja dubs ‘Combi Steam’ technology. In non-tech terms, it blends steam and superheated air to cook food quickly, while locking in moisture but also getting crispy finishes – and as anyone who has tried to cook crispy skin on fish knows, it’s damn-near impossible even for most MasterChef contestants (I don’t know why they keep trying, everyone always falls down on the crispy skin!).
There are 14 different cooking modes, including air fry, combi bake, combi crisp, slow cook, steam, sous vide, grill, proof, reheat, and more (there’s a ‘toast’ mode that literally, yup, makes the perfect slice of toast too. I don’t know why it makes me laugh, but it does). It comes with a deep nonstick ‘Combi Pan’ (think of it like a very chic roasting tray), a crisper plate and a bake tray, as well as a recipe book that tells you in very good detail what you can and can’t do in it, including cooking times and meal suggestions. Do not, I repeat, do not lose this book, whatever you do (I spent twice as long LOOKING for the book as I did on cooking dinner).
It preheats in 90 seconds which is a godsend for busy families or hungover 34-year-olds who desperately need nuggets after a night on the turps.
What can you cook in it?
Here’s where it gets INTERESTING. You can cook every element of your meal in it, at the same time.
Think about making a dish that involves chicken, rice and veges. That’s three pans, three different timings and a lot of mess for a very simple midweek meal and hey, I get it if it ends up in the too-hard basket and you end up just going for some toast.
But the Ninja Combi allows you to add your carbs, protein and veges all at once, push a button and walk away (you don’t even have to flip which I know is wild). I tested out the theory with Moroccan chicken, couscous and roast veges. The couscous, along with water, stock, oil, lemon zest and spices, went in the Combi Pan. The chicken thighs, also covered in spices, and chopped up kumara and carrots went onto the Bake Tray. I popped the Combi on ‘Combi Meal’ mode for 19 minutes.
Guys it was perfect. PERFECT. I rate myself as a cook but after this I might have to put away my apron and yield to the Combi because I’ve never managed to get chicken that good which honestly was a bit confronting but hell, the results speak for themselves.
The secret, I think, is in the steam – it prevents the food from drying out, which is what traditional air fryers are usually quite notorious for.
You can do almost endless combos of the protein-carb-vegse Power of Three – there’s heaps of recipes in the book and online and there are handy cooking guide times as well.
What else can you make in the Ninja Combi?
Honestly, pretty much anything. A selection of possibilities: Whole roasts (with veges). Cakes. Anything you can already chuck in an air fryer (chips, nugs, etc etc). You can steam dumplings, cook pizza, slow cook, sear and saute anything and you can even prove bread. (Oh, and also, don’t forget about the toast!).
As with most Ninja products (man they’re really on a roll at the moment) people have gone a bit nuts for it, and there are thousands of user-generated recipes online, too.
Why would you buy the Ninja Combi?
It’s literally a godsend for anyone who has next to no time during the week to cook a feed for the family. The Combi cooks things quicker, there’s no pre-heat time, and there’s no fuss about cooking single elements in multiple pots and pans (also the pans are dishwasher safe too, I checked).
It’s also great if you’re a larger family and you need more capacity than your traditional oven and stove can give you, or conversely if you’re a small household or a solo flat, this uses far less energy and allows you to keep your Carrie Bradshaw clothing storage solutions going strong.
Are there any drawbacks to the Ninja Combi?
You do need a little patience at the beginning as you figure out controls and temperatures and modes, and as someone with less patience than a hyped-up toddler who wants to watch a specific episode of Bluey, I needed a beat to have a tutu with the settings. I nailed my chicken the first time, but I didn’t prove my cinnamon bun dough long enough when I tried my best to recreate my favourite bakery staple (pretty sure that was user error there because, you know, aforementioned patience).
You also need to make sure there’s space for the steam that’s generated by the cooker to escape – no worries, but don’t chuck it right under a smoke detector – and it is on the larger side for an appliance BUT this is offset by the fact that you can get rid of your air fryer, slow cooker and toasted sandwich maker. I also really love the aesthetic of it too, and it looks smart on my bench.
Is the Ninja Combi worth it?
Oh for sure. It meets needs I didn’t know I had (how sexy) and also passes the busy woman multi-tasking test with ease. It’s low fuss and no mess and high on the execution (again, sexy) and it’s become my little BFF in my kitchen.