Ninja Foodi MAX 15‑in‑1 OL750UK Review: the bulky all‑rounder that can almost replace your oven

I’ve been using the Ninja Foodi MAX 15‑in‑1 SmartLid (OL750UK) for a while now, and I’ll be honest: I bought it thinking it might end up like half my other kitchen gadgets – used for two weeks then sent to the cupboard of shame. That didn’t happen. This thing basically parked itself on the counter and never left. It’s big, it’s heavy, but it gets used most days, which is more than I can say for my oven lately.

In my day-to-day use, it’s mostly doing three jobs: pressure cooking, air frying, and reheating leftovers. The other modes (steam, yoghurt, bread, etc.) are more occasional, but it’s nice they’re there. What pushed me to try it was rising energy bills and the idea of not firing up a full-size oven for a tray of chips or some chicken. In practice, it actually did cut down my oven and hob usage by a lot.

It’s not perfect. It’s noisy when air frying, the lid is heavy, and cleaning certain greasy corners can be a bit of a faff. You’re also not going to love it if you have a tiny kitchen or hate having something permanently on the counter. But compared to juggling a slow cooker, an air fryer, and pots on the hob, it’s just simpler and less mess overall.

If you’re expecting some miracle machine that cooks for you while you watch TV, that’s not what this is. You still need to prep food and learn how it behaves. But if you want one solid unit that can handle most everyday meals, from stews to roast chicken to chips, this is a pretty solid option. I’d say it’s closer to a compact replacement for an oven and a pressure cooker than just another fancy gadget.

On value for money, it’s not a cheap gadget, especially at full price. But when you break down what it replaces – an air fryer, a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, and in many cases a lot of oven use – it starts to look more reasonable. If you actually use it several times a week, it justifies its cost much more than a random gadget you only use at Christmas. The real question is whether you’ll commit to using it regularly or just now and then.

The energy saving angle is real but not magic. Ninja claims up to 60% energy savings versus a conventional oven for certain foods. I can’t verify the exact number, but I can say I use my main oven far less now. For small to medium meals, it makes no sense to heat a full oven when this can do it faster and with less power. Over a year, that should add up, especially if you were big on oven cooking before. If your oven is ancient and inefficient, the difference will probably feel bigger.

Where the value really shows is if you’re into batch cooking or feeding several people. The 7.5L capacity lets you do big pots of chilli, stew, pulled pork, etc., then portion and freeze. That saves both time and energy in the long run. For a single person who only cooks small meals occasionally, it might be overkill in both size and price. For a couple or family that cooks at home a lot, it starts to make more sense.

Overall, I’d say it’s good value if: you cook at home multiple times a week, you want to cut down oven/hob use, and you’ll actually explore at least a few of the 15 modes. If you only plan to use it as a fancy chip fryer, then yes, it’s expensive for what you’re using it for. Catch it on a discount, and it becomes a much easier purchase to justify.

Physically, this thing is not small. Dimensions are roughly 35D x 36W x 36H cm and it weighs about 15kg. In normal words: you’re not moving this in and out of a cupboard every day unless you enjoy back workouts. It’s basically a countertop appliance that lives there full-time. If you’ve got a tiny kitchen or very low wall cupboards, think about where the steam will go when you open the lid or release pressure – it can easily hit the underside of cabinets if you tuck it right under them.

The look is pretty standard Ninja: stainless steel and black plastic, quite chunky, not pretty but not ugly either. It looks like a serious bit of kit, not a toy. The control panel is digital with a central dial and touch buttons. Once you understand the layout, it’s straightforward: mode on the dial, time and temp with the buttons. The screen is clear enough to read from across the kitchen, which is handy when you’re doing other things.

The SmartLid is where the design is clever and slightly annoying at the same time. Clever because one lid does pressure cook, air fry, bake, etc. Annoying because it’s heavy, and you need a bit of vertical space to open it fully without hitting cupboards. The steam release on quick release is quite aggressive – proper whoosh of steam – so you need to angle it away from anything sensitive (like painted walls or wood cupboards). There is a slower release option, but I’d still be careful where you position the unit.

On the plus side, the accessories (pot, basket, rack) fit well inside and stack neatly. No weird loose plastic bits. Everything feels pretty solid – no flimsy hinges or rattly latches. It’s mostly plastic on the outside, but it doesn’t feel cheap. I’d rate the design as practical rather than pretty: it’s clearly made to work hard, not to look fancy on Instagram.

In terms of everyday comfort, there’s definitely a learning curve, but it’s not painful. The first few days I had the manual out constantly, mainly to figure out which mode to pick for what and how the SmartLid positions worked. After a week, I was mainly reusing the same settings and just tweaking time and temperature. If you’ve never used a pressure cooker or air fryer before, expect a few trial-and-error meals, but nothing dramatic. There are loads of YouTube videos and Facebook groups with timings, which helps.

The weight and size are the main comfort downside. At just over 15kg, you don’t really want to move it once it’s in place. Opening the lid is fine, but you do feel the heft. If you have mobility or strength issues, that’s something to think about. Also, when you’re doing pressure cook + crisp (like cooking a whole chicken then air crisping the skin), you’ll be opening and closing the heavy lid a couple of times to check browning, which can get a bit annoying if it’s not at a good height.

Cleaning is mixed. The main pot and crisp basket are dishwasher safe and clean up pretty easily. The issue is the less obvious areas: the underside of the lid, the silicone seal, and the little crevices where grease can collect. If you cook a lot of fatty foods, you really do need to wipe those down regularly, otherwise you’ll get smells and maybe a bit of smoke next time on high heat. It’s not horrendous, but it’s not a quick wipe and done either. I’d say it’s middle of the road: easier than scrubbing multiple pans and an oven tray, but more involved than cleaning a single frying pan.

Noise-wise, air frying and pressure cooking are not silent. The fan hum is noticeable, and the pressure release can be loud, especially on quick release. It’s not unbearable, but if your kitchen is right next to your living room and you’re watching TV, you’ll hear it. Overall, comfort is decent once you accept it’s a big machine that needs a fixed spot and a bit of regular cleaning effort. It’s not plug-and-forget, but it’s manageable.

Build-wise, the Ninja Foodi MAX OL750UK feels fairly robust. The body is mostly plastic with some stainless steel, but nothing feels wobbly. The hinges, handle, and locking mechanism on the lid feel secure. You don’t get the feeling it’s going to fall apart if you use it daily. Mine has been used several times a week, and it still feels tight and solid when you open and close the lid. No weird squeaks or loose parts so far.

That said, there are some wear points to be aware of. The non-stick coating on the main pot can show signs of wear if you’re not careful. I’ve stuck to silicone/wood utensils and non-abrasive cleaning, and it’s holding up, but I’ve seen other users mention the base starting to show marks after a few months. It doesn’t instantly ruin the pot, but it does make you a bit cautious. Replacement pots are available, but they’re not cheap, so it’s worth treating it gently.

The silicone seal around the lid is another part that takes some abuse. It can retain smells if you cook a lot of strong-flavoured dishes (curries, stews, etc.). Regular cleaning and airing it out helps, but don’t expect it to stay perfectly neutral forever. This is pretty standard for pressure cookers, though, not unique to Ninja. The metal rack and basket have held up fine so far, no bending or flaking, just the usual baked-on bits if you don’t soak them.

In terms of electronics, the digital display and buttons have behaved fine. No flickering, no unresponsive buttons, and the temperature probe still reads accurately as far as I can tell. With Ninja offering up to 2 years guarantee on registration (though the generic spec here says 1 year), you’re somewhat covered, but I’d still treat it as a daily workhorse that needs basic care: no slamming the lid, no scratching the pot, and regular cleaning. Overall, durability feels good, but not indestructible. If you abuse it, you’ll see it. If you look after it, I can see it lasting several years of regular use.

In terms of performance, this is where the OL750UK earns its place. Pressure cooking is genuinely fast. Things like stews that would take 2–3 hours on the hob can be done in under an hour including heat-up and pressure release. Dried beans and tougher cuts of meat come out tender without babysitting a pot. For weekday dinners, that time saving alone is pretty handy. I’ve done 3kg joints and big batches of stew without it struggling.

The air fry mode is the other main workhorse. Frozen chips, chicken wings, breaded fish, and roasted veg all cook faster than in my oven and usually come out crisper. I rarely bother preheating; it gets up to temp quickly anyway. Compared to my old cheap standalone air fryer, the Ninja gives more even results and can handle larger amounts, but it is noisier – the fan sound is noticeable, especially in a small kitchen. Not jet engine level, but you’ll hear it.

The Smart Cook probe has been reliable for me so far. I’ve used it mainly on chicken (whole and pieces), pork, and beef joints. You pick the doneness level, and it stops when the target internal temperature is reached. The meat has generally been juicy, not dry. It doesn’t turn you into a chef overnight, but it does reduce the chance of ruining a good piece of meat. For someone who isn’t obsessed with thermometers and timing charts, it’s just less hassle.

On the downside, steam release in pressure mode can be a bit intense. The quick release vents a powerful jet of steam, which can fog up cabinets or walls if you’re too close. The noise from the release can also be a bit startling the first few times. Also, when doing greasy foods (bacon, fatty meats), some areas like the underside of the lid and around the seal collect splatters that need a proper clean, otherwise you’ll get smells next time. Overall, though, for speed and consistency, I’d say performance is pretty solid, especially if you actually use more than just one or two modes.

On paper, the OL750UK has 15 functions: Pressure Cook, Air Fry, Grill, Bake, Dehydrate, Prove, Sear/Sauté, Steam, Slow Cook, Yoghurt, Steam Meals, Steam Air Fry, Steam Bake, Steam Bread, Steam Roast. In reality, I’d say you’ll probably use 5–7 of those regularly and the rest occasionally, if at all. For me, the core ones are Pressure Cook, Air Fry, Sear/Sauté, Slow Cook, and Steam Air Fry. That covers most weeknight meals.

The SmartLid system means there’s one lid for everything, which is nice compared to older Foodi models that had a separate air-fry lid. You switch modes with a dial and the machine handles the venting and lid logic for you. At first it looks a bit intimidating – lots of buttons, options, and icons – but after a few days of use, you tend to stick to your favourite settings and it becomes routine. The included recipe booklet is small but useful to get a feel for timings.

The digital probe is the thing I didn’t think I’d care about but ended up using a lot for chicken breasts, whole chickens, and joints of meat. You plug it in, stick it in the thickest part of the meat, choose your doneness, and it tells you when it’s done. It’s not magic, but it does remove a lot of the guessing and constant checking. I’ve had fewer dry chicken disasters since using it, which is already a win.

The box also includes a 7.5L cooking pot, a 4.7L Cook & Crisp basket, and a 2-tier rack. The rack is handy for doing a full meal – like chicken on top and veg/potatoes underneath. Once you get used to stacking, you can do proper one-pot meals instead of dirtying multiple trays and pans. Overall, the feature list sounds like overkill, but in practice, you end up using more of it than you’d expect, especially if you cook from scratch a few times a week.