Kitchen · Kitchen Appliance
Ninja Foodi Max SmartLid review: the critics' verdict
"Best multi-cooker with air-fryer" — BBC Good Food
No single aggregate score — here's what the reviewers agree on, below.
The short version
Reviewers agree that the Ninja Foodi Max SmartLid is unusually versatile and capable. Its single lid handles pressure cooking, steam frying and air frying, while the integrated probe removes much of the guesswork from cooking meat. Good Housekeeping praised its air-fried wings, roast potatoes and slow-cooked brisket, and BBC Good Food rated it 4.5 out of 5. The catch is straightforward: it is expensive, heavy and demanding of counter space.
What reviewers loved
- One SmartLid handles pressure cooking, steam frying and air frying, so there is no second lid to store or swap.
- The integrated meat probe monitors temperature and can cook meat to a selected level of doneness without relying on a timer.
- Air frying impressed Good Housekeeping with chicken wings that were crisp outside and moist inside, plus evenly cooked roast potatoes.
- Slow cooking produced moist, tender beef brisket in Good Housekeeping's testing.
- Combi-steam cooking can prepare different elements of a meal together while retaining moisture and crisping the exterior.
What held it back
- It is expensive: TechRadar called it the most expensive multicooker it had reviewed at the time.
- The large, tall and heavy body requires substantial counter space and is not easy to store.
- There are no food presets, despite the wide range of cooking functions.
- Good Housekeeping found that the buttons needed a firm press, the exterior marked easily and baked food lacked an oven-like golden finish.
Buy it if you want one large appliance to pressure cook, air fry, steam, slow cook and monitor meat doneness without changing lids.
Skip it if counter space, easy storage or a lower purchase price matters more than having the widest possible range of cooking modes.
What the reviewers say
TechRadar called the Foodi Max SmartLid an advanced and innovative multicooker, highlighting its large capacity, built-in thermometer and broad selection of cooking methods. BBC Good Food reached a similar conclusion, naming it the best multi-cooker with an air fryer and praising its single lid, clear controls and useful mid-cook notifications.
The performance reports are strong. Good Housekeeping scored it 84 out of 100 after praising its air-fried chicken wings, roast potatoes, slow-cooked brisket, rice and combi-steam system. TechGearLab scored the equivalent Foodi Smart XL 83 overall, including 10 out of 10 for cooking features and 9 out of 10 for user friendliness. Across the reviews, the same compromise keeps appearing: exceptional versatility comes with a high price, a heavy body and a large countertop footprint.
⚙ Best settings — dial it in
The supplied reviews do not publish verified time-and-temperature calibration settings. These are reviewer-backed mode choices, not invented recipes or cooking times. For fully calibrated values, see Good Housekeeping.
| Chicken wings and roast potatoes | Use the air-fry function; Good Housekeeping reported crisp, moist wings and well-cooked roast potatoes. |
|---|---|
| Beef brisket | Use the slow-cook function; Good Housekeeping reported moist, tender results. |
| Meat doneness | Use the integrated smart probe to monitor temperature and finish at the preferred doneness without setting a separate timer. |
| Complete meals | Use combi-steam when cooking several meal elements together; the mode is designed to retain moisture while crisping the exterior. |
| Cupcakes | Use the baking function, but expect less golden colouring than a conventional oven. |
The competition
Instant Pot Pro 5.7L Multi-Cooker
BBC Good Food named this its best multi-cooker overall, while reserving the best-with-air-fryer award for the Ninja.
Instant Pot Duo Plus V4
TechGearLab ranked it as its best overall pressure cooker, making it the alternative for shoppers who prioritise pressure-cooking performance over the Ninja's broader feature set.
Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker
TechRadar identified this as a smaller, less expensive option, though it lacks some of the Foodi Max model's features.
Should you buy it?
Yes, if its many functions will genuinely replace several appliances in your kitchen. Critics consistently praise the single-lid design, integrated meat probe, strong air-frying results and sheer versatility. But this is not the sensible choice for a small kitchen or an occasional multicooker user. It costs a lot, occupies considerable space and lacks food presets. RightWei summarizes independent reviewers' hands-on tests and does not test units itself.
Sources
RightWei aggregates and summarizes independent reviews — we link to the original hands-on tests so you can go deeper. We don't test units ourselves.