Ninja Combi Review: The 14-in-1 Multicooker That Cooks Full Meals in 15 Minutes

Weeknight dinner preparation is traditionally a chaotic juggling act: boiling rice on the stovetop, baking chicken breasts in the oven, and roasting vegetables in a noisy air fryer basket. By the time dinner hits the table, the kitchen sink is overflowing with dirty pots, pans, and spatulas.

The Ninja Combi 14-in-1 Multicooker (SFP701) was engineered to solve this dilemma once and for all. Using a front-loading oven chassis with simultaneous two-tier cooking, it merges superheated HyperSteam with cyclonic convection air frying. Priced at $179.95 (down from $229.99), we put it through a grueling week of cooking raw, frozen, and fresh family meals to test if the “15-minute complete meal” promise holds true.

1. How Combi Cooking Works: HyperSteam Meets Air Fry

Traditional combination ovens cost thousands of dollars and require dedicated plumbing. The Ninja Combi brings this restaurant culinary secret to your countertop through a dual-zone system:

• Lower Tier (The Combi Pan): Holds liquid, rice, quinoa, dry pasta, or sauce. As the heating element warms the base, it produces pressurized superheated steam that cooks starches to fluffy perfection in half the standard time.
• Upper Tier (The Crisper Tray): Sits directly beneath a high-velocity 450°F cyclonic convection fan. While steam billows upward to keep meat tender and juicy, top-down radiant heat browns, crisps, and caramelizes proteins and vegetables.
• The SmartSwitch Lever: Flipping between “Combi Cooker” and “Air Fry/Hob” instantly shifts internal airflow baffles, seamlessly converting the appliance from an oven to a tabletop grill or baker.

In our salmon, broccoli, and jasmine rice test: raw dry rice with water went into the bottom pan, and marinated salmon with broccoli florets went onto the top tray. In exactly 14 minutes, the rice was tender, the broccoli had crispy charred tips, and the salmon flaked delicately with a caramelized glaze.

2. 14 Functions: Beyond Standard Air Fryers

While most shoppers buy the Combi for speedy dinner entrees, its versatility spans all three meals of the day:

1. Frozen to Table in 20 Mins: Drop solid rock-hard frozen chicken tenders or meatballs onto the tray without thawing; the steam defrosts the interior while the air fryer crisps the exterior breading.
2. Artisan Bread Proofing & Baking: Use low-temperature steam proofing to let dough rise, then switch to Combi Bake for crackly European-style sourdough baguettes.
3. Sear & Sauté Hob Mode: Sauté onions, brown ground beef for chili, or simmer pasta sauces directly in the base pan with the front door open.

3. Cleanup & Kitchen Footprint

Cleaning multi-cookers can be a nightmare of burnt-on grease. Ninja solved this through thoughtful non-stick design:

• Two-Piece Cleanup: The Combi Pan and Crisper Tray slide out easily and wipe down with a sponge in 30 seconds, or go straight into the dishwasher.
• Front Viewing Window: Unlike top-lid air fryers that force you to pull out baskets and lose cooking heat, the illuminated interior light lets you observe cheese melting and skin crisping in real time.

4. Strengths & Limitations

Pros:

• Unbeatable Weeknight Speed: Turns raw chicken, vegetables, and uncooked pasta into dinner in 15 minutes.
• Juicy Interior, Crispy Exterior: Eliminates dry, rubbery overcooked chicken breasts forever.
• Large 4-6 Person Batch Size: Handles large meals without crowding or requiring multiple sequential batches.
• Easy Slide-In Door: No heavy lid to hoist or store; fits under most standard overhead cabinets.
• Dishwasher Safe Non-Stick: Superior food release that resists stubborn burned grease stains.

Cons:

• Steam Clearance Required: Do not place directly beneath sensitive wooden cupboards during heavy steaming.
• Heavy Unit (21.6 lbs): Best kept in a permanent countertop parking spot rather than hauling out of pantries.

Final Verdict: Is the Ninja Combi Worth Countertop Space?

The Ninja Combi SFP701 is hands-down one of the most innovative kitchen appliances of the decade. By delivering the tender juiciness of steam and the irresistible crunch of convection in one unified 15-minute workflow, it pays for itself in saved takeout expenses within weeks.