7 Best Multi Cookers with Air Fryer 2026

The Instant Pot Pro Crisp isn’t just another multi cooker—it’s a full kitchen overhaul in one sleek 8-quart unit. With 11 cooking functions, including pressure cooking, air frying, dehydrating, and sous vide, it tackles everything from weeknight stews to crispy wings with 95% less oil than deep frying. The dual-lid system is a game-changer: swap between pressure cooking and air frying seamlessly, eliminating the need for multiple appliances and countertop clutter. For families and meal preppers, this level of flexibility solves the daily dinner dilemma with pro-level results and beginner-friendly simplicity.

In real-world use, the Pro Crisp delivers consistent, high-heat air frying thanks to its EvenCrisp technology, producing golden, crunchy textures that rival standalone air fryers. The 1500-watt power output ensures rapid heating, cutting cooking times by up to 70% compared to conventional methods, while the 8-quart stainless steel pot handles large roasts or full chickens with ease. Whether you’re pressure cooking beans in 25 minutes or dehydrating fruit chips over four hours, the status lights keep you informed at every stage. However, the air fryer basket can feel cramped when cooking larger batches, and achieving even crispiness on dense foods like thick chicken thighs may require mid-cycle shaking.

Compared to the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, the Pro Crisp offers a more premium build, refined interface, and enhanced safety features, making it a clear step up for serious home cooks. While it lacks the ultra-fast “Speedi Meals” of the Ninja models, it excels in precision, consistency, and app-integrated guidance with over 800 recipes. Ideal for families, batch cooks, and health-conscious users who want one appliance to do it all, the Pro Crisp strikes a rare balance between versatility and reliability. It’s pricier than some rivals, but the build quality, dual-lid innovation, and cooking range justify the investment over budget models.

The Nuwave Duet isn’t just versatile—it’s a precision powerhouse engineered for cooks who want total control. With 540 preset combinations, including 300 one-touch programs and 240 memory slots, it’s one of the most customizable multi cookers on the market. The Dynamic Pressure Control Technology adjusts pressure up to 200 times per second, maintaining a continuous boil that locks in moisture and amplifies flavor by up to 20%, a standout for taste-focused users. The Combo Cook function is its crown jewel: pressure cooking first to tenderize, then air frying to crisp—delivering fall-off-the-bone ribs with a caramelized crust in a single cycle.

During testing, the Duet proved exceptional at layered cooking tasks, like searing a roast, pressure cooking it to perfection, then air frying the surface for a restaurant-quality finish. The 6-quart 18/10 stainless steel pot is triple-thick and non-coated, making it bone-friendly and incredibly durable—ideal for frequent use and heavy-duty meals. The 24-hour delay timer lets you prep meals in advance, while the 3-lid system (pressure, air fry, and slow cook) offers unmatched flexibility. However, the sheer number of presets can overwhelm beginners, and the air fry function doesn’t reach the same peak temperatures as top-tier Ninja models, resulting in slightly less crispness on fries or chicken skin.

When compared to the Instant Pot Pro Crisp, the Nuwave Duet trades some peak air frying performance for superior pressure control and material durability. It’s not the fastest, but it’s the best choice for precision cooking and long-term use, especially for those who value stainless steel construction and flavor optimization. While the Instant Pot leans into convenience, the Nuwave caters to intermediate to advanced users who want restaurant-grade results at home. It delivers more cooking intelligence and sturdier build than similarly priced models, making it a smart pick for those who cook complex meals regularly.

Don’t let the price fool you—the 6QT Air Fryer & Multi-Cooker Combo is a budget-savvy kitchen dynamo that punches far above its weight. Packing 12 cooking functions into a single unit, it handles air frying, boiling, steaming, sautéing, and even hot pot cooking—making it a true all-in-one solution for small kitchens or tight budgets. The 1800W motor delivers strong performance for its class, crisping wings and fries with 85% less oil, while the detachable soup pot and air fry basket let you switch from congee to crispy snacks in seconds. For students, singles, or couples, this is the ultimate space-saving workhorse.

In real-world testing, the cooker shines in simplicity and speed. The intuitive touch panel with presets like “Fries,” “Hot Pot,” and “Congee” eliminates guesswork, and the 6L nonstick pot handles family-sized meals with ease—fitting a whole chicken or a pot of noodles. It’s especially effective for Asian-style meals, where boiling and frying are part of the same dish. However, the air frying results are decent but not exceptional—foods lack the deep browning of higher-end models, and the crispiness fades quickly if not served immediately. The build feels lightweight, and the plastic components don’t inspire long-term confidence.

Against the Instant Pot or Ninja models, this unit clearly sacrifices premium features for affordability. It lacks pressure cooking, sous vide, and dual-lid tech, but for users who need basic air frying and boiling in one pot, it’s a no-brainer. It’s not built for gourmet experimentation, but for budget-conscious families or first-time multi cooker users, it delivers solid performance without clutter. While it doesn’t match the culinary range or durability of pricier models, it offers surprising versatility at a fraction of the cost, making it the go-to for practical, everyday cooking.

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is the smart middle ground between power and price, delivering 90% of the Pro Crisp’s performance at a much friendlier cost. With the same 11 cooking functions, including pressure cooking, air frying, dehydrating, and slow cooking, it handles everything from weeknight chili to crispy salmon skin. The EvenCrisp technology ensures deep, even browning with 95% less oil, while the 8-quart tri-ply stainless steel pot is oven-safe and built to last, perfect for searing, sautéing, and batch cooking. For users who want premium features without the premium tag, this is the sweet spot.

In daily use, the Duo Crisp proves remarkably consistent, especially in pressure cooking mode, where it cuts bean-cooking time from 90 minutes to under 30. The air fry lid delivers solid crispiness, though slightly less intense than the Ninja Foodi’s cyclonic airflow. The customizable temperature range from 70°F to 450°F allows for delicate dehydrating or high-heat roasting, and the app integration with over 800 recipes adds real value for meal planners. However, the lid storage can be awkward, and the interface feels slightly dated compared to newer touchscreens—small trade-offs for the savings.

Compared to the Pro Crisp, the Duo Crisp drops a few luxury touches—like advanced status indicators and a refined finish—but keeps the core dual-lid functionality and safety systems intact. It outperforms budget models by offering true pressure cooking and air frying in one, and while the Ninja SF301 offers faster Speedi Meals, the Instant Pot wins on capacity and rice cooking precision. Ideal for families and meal preppers who want reliability and versatility, it’s the best value in the premium segment, balancing cost, performance, and brand trust better than any other model.

If speed is your top priority, the Ninja SF301 Speedi is a game-changing kitchen rocket. Its Speedi Meals function delivers complete one-pot meals in as little as 15 minutes, combining proteins, veggies, and grains with steam and air fry technology to cook everything evenly and fast. With 12-in-1 functionality, it handles everything from sous vide salmon to crispy roasted potatoes, all while using up to 75% less fat than deep frying. The 6-quart nonstick pot is perfect for small families or meal-prepping singles, and the SmartSwitch system lets you toggle between Rapid Cooker and Air Fry modes mid-recipe—unlocking restaurant-quality results at home in record time.

In real-world testing, the Speedi consistently delivered juicy interiors and crispy exteriors, thanks to its Rapid Cooking System that steams and crisps simultaneously. It excels at frozen-to-table meals, turning frozen chicken and veggies into a full dinner in under 25 minutes. The Thousand Speedi Meals app integration is a standout, offering customizable recipes based on what’s in your fridge. However, the 6-quart size limits large-batch cooking, and the non-stainless pot isn’t oven-safe, reducing its versatility compared to the Instant Pot. The air fry results are excellent but not quite as crisp as dedicated air fryers.

Against the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, the SF301 trades larger capacity and stainless steel build for blazing speed and smarter meal automation. It’s not ideal for big families, but for busy professionals or parents needing fast, healthy meals, it’s unmatched. While the Instant Pot wins on long-term durability, the Ninja dominates in time-to-table performance. It’s the best choice for speed-focused cooking, offering faster results and smarter automation than any other multi cooker in its class.

The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 is a versatility champion, blending pressure cooking, air frying, baking, and dehydrating into a compact, powerful unit that feels like a mini oven and pressure cooker had a baby. Its 6.5-quart stainless steel pot strikes the perfect balance between family-sized meals and countertop space, handling everything from holiday roasts to crispy french fries. The smart temperature and pressure sensors auto-adjust during cooking, ensuring consistent results every time, while the nonstick, PFOA-free interior makes cleanup a breeze. For users who want one appliance to replace six, this is a top contender.

In testing, the Foodi proved exceptionally reliable across all 10 functions. Pressure cooking a pot roast took just 45 minutes, followed by air frying for 12 minutes to achieve a deep, caramelized crust—a feat few rivals match. The dehydrate function works well for jerky and fruit chips, and the sous vide mode holds temperature within 1°F, rivaling standalone precision cookers. However, the air fryer lid doesn’t rotate, leading to uneven browning on large items, and the crisper tray is not dishwasher-safe, a surprising omission. The build is sturdy but noisier than competitors during air frying.

Compared to the Instant Pot Pro Crisp, the Ninja Foodi offers similar versatility but in a slightly smaller, more streamlined design. It lacks the dual-lid convenience but compensates with better integration of functions in one lid. It’s not as app-heavy as Instant Pot, but it’s more intuitive for hands-on cooks. Ideal for home chefs who want pro results without complexity, it delivers broader cooking styles in a compact form. While the Instant Pot offers larger capacity, the Ninja Foodi wins on balanced performance and space efficiency, making it the best all-rounder for versatile cooking.

The Ninja Combi isn’t just a multi cooker—it’s a countertop oven, air fryer, and rapid cooker rolled into one, engineered for large families and entertainers. With 14-in-1 functions, including Combi Meals, Combi Crisp, and Pizza modes, it cooks proteins, grains, and veggies simultaneously in as little as 15 minutes, cutting dinner prep time in half. The HyperSteam and Air Fry combo locks in juices while crisping exteriors, delivering whole roasted chickens, 10-inch pizzas, and full pasta dishes with ease. Its family-sized 8-quart capacity fits 1.5 boxes of pasta or a 6-lb chicken, making it the most spacious model in the lineup.

In real-world use, the Combi excelled at frozen-to-table cooking, thawing and cooking frozen chicken breasts in under 25 minutes with no loss of moisture. The Combi Bake and Combi Crisp modes are revolutionary—imagine baking a casserole while crisping the top, all in one pot. The included Combi Cooker Pan doubles as a serving dish, reducing cleanup. However, the learning curve is steep, and the interface can be confusing for first-time users. The air fry results are good but not as crispy as standalone units, and the accessories take up significant storage space.

Compared to the Ninja SF301, the Combi offers larger capacity and more cooking modes, but sacrifices some speed and simplicity. It’s overkill for singles but perfect for families of 5+ or frequent hosts. While the SF301 wins for individual speed, the Combi dominates in scale and meal complexity. It delivers more cooking power and space than any other model, making it the best choice for large households who want fast, full meals without multiple appliances.