Swap snow for sand but keep the holiday magic at these hotels in Sunny Florida this Christmas

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In this Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP350UK review we put the brand’s classic cooker to the test, making chicken, chips, and charred corn. Along with Instant Pot, Ninja is one of the most popular multicooker brands. And if you’re in the market for a versatile countertop cooker, Ninja is definitely a brand worth considering. With plenty of models to choose from, Ninja’s range of multicookers come in a variety of sizes that all offer slightly different functions.

The Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 OP350UK has a six litre capacity which is plenty big enough for 4-6 person recipes. It’s double the price of some multicookers, but the crisping lid means it’s much more versatile too, functioning as one of the best air fryers, as well as grilling and roasting. It’s simple to use with but it’s a chunky beast that’s not for small kitchens.

Ideal Home rated: 4 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy:

•   Uncomplicated controls
•   Includes lots of cooking charts for guidance
•   Cooking pot has a non-stick coating
•   Dishwasher safe accessories
•   Lots of recipes available online
•   Keep warm function

Reasons to avoid:

•   No pre-set food programs
•   When pressure cooking the hinged crisping lid can’t be removed
•   Bigger footprint than other multicookers
•   Noisy when using the crisping lid
•   Cooking pot doesn’t have a flat base

 Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP350UK

Specs

•   Power: 1460W
•   Capacity: 6 L
•   Pre-sets: None
•   Cooking functions: Pressure, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sear/ sauté, air crisp, grill, bake/ roast, dehydrate
•   Weight: 9 kg
•   Size: 32 x 43 x 36cm
•   Included:  Reversible rack, Cook & Crisp basket with detachable diffuser, cooking pot, pressure lid

Unboxing

The Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 comes in a big heavy box that meant it was easier to unpack on the floor. Thankfully it’s got two big easy-to-grip handles on either side, so getting it out of the box and moving it to the kitchen counter was easy enough. Having said that, it’s worth noting that at 9kg (not including the pressure lid and rack) it’s a weighty cooker. In the box there were some plastic bags to protect each of the parts, but otherwise it was free of any chunky plastic or polystyrene packaging.

The Ninja is a substantial multicooker, it takes up more space on the counter than most others I’ve reviewed. Plus, there’s an additional pressure cooking lid and a reversible rack that need to be stored separately. So even if you plan to keep it on the counter, these extras will need a home.

The main crisping lid is hinged, so when you want to pressure cook or slow cook, you just leave it open and attach the other lid. This might be tricky if you’ve got low wall cabinets because it’s quite tall with the crisping lid open. Nevertheless, the pressure lid slots easily into place.

The pressure release valve is quite traditional and when you turn it to vent, your hands are very near the steam outlet so it’s a good idea to wear oven gloves or use tongs. All the cooking functions are clearly laid out on the control panel and there’s a big dial to switch between cooking modes and adjust the time and temperature.

Cooking in the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker

When you first switch on the Foodi it remembers the last cooking method you used, but if you want to do something else, turning the dial allows you to select a different cooking method. The cooking methods to choose from are pressure, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sear/ sauté, air crisp, grill, bake/ roast and dehydrate.

After you choose your cooking method, pressing either the time or temperature button and turning the dial again will adjust these settings before you press the dial to start cooking. I found it really easy to operate and barely had to consult the manual for this part.

The Foodi doesn’t have any pre-set cooking programs for different foods or recipes. However, I was pleased to see that it comes with a recipe book and cooking charts included in the box. Lots of other multicookers that I’ve reviewed fail to provide cooking charts, so you end up having to guess and experiment a lot. But with the Foodi, the charts provide a good starting point for lots of common foods. Even if you do have to adjust times to suit your taste, it’s helpful to have a starting point.

Baking a cake in the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker

For my first attempt at cooking in the Ninja OP350UK I picked an orange almond cake recipe from the Ninja cooking circle website. I made up the cake batter as directed and then filled a lined cake tin. The recipe tells you to put the cake tin on the low rack. I baked it as per the recipe, on 140oC for a total time of one hour, stopping after 35 minutes to sprinkle almonds on top.

There was no preheat required, the timer started its countdown from the minute I pressed start. My first impression was that it was noisier than I expected. I’d say the volume was about the same as my kettle when it comes to a boil. The cake filled the house with a lovely orange aroma and was easy to lift out with the handles on the rack.

The flaked almonds didn’t stick to the top of the cake, so they fell off when I turned it out of the tin. But other than this very small complaint, I was really happy with the cake. It may have taken longer than it would in my main oven, but it was a beautifully soft and fluffy cake that I’d happily serve to guests.

Roasting a chicken in the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker

To figure out the cook time for a whole chicken I used the cooking cheat sheet that came in the box. First I pressure cooked it on high for 15 minutes in the basket, with 125ml water in the pot. After preheating for about 10-15 minutes, the Ninja prompted me to add more water and when I opened it up, it was clear it had boiled dry before reaching pressure. So I added more water and restarted it for 15 minutes. This time it reached pressure very quickly and started counting down the 15 minutes.

At the end of the pressure cooking program, I flicked the steam release valve to vent, it took just 45 seconds to release all of the pressure so that I could open the lid.

I brushed the chicken with oil, seasoned with salt and pepper and closed the crisping lid. This was when I realised that my chicken was a tad too big and I had to squash it down to get the lid to close. I set the Ninja to Air Crisp at 200oC for 20 minutes.  But when I checked it, it wasn’t thoroughly cooked, so I added a further 10 minutes.

The finished chicken wasn’t perfect. The top had been touching the crisping lid and that part of the breast was overcooked and tough as were the tops of the legs. The meat underneath was tender and moist though. Even though my chicken was 2.2kg which was within the range on the cooking cheat sheet, I think I’d get much better results with a smaller chicken and perhaps a longer pressure cook time and shorter browning time.

Making wedges in the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 OP350UK Multi-Cooker

The recipe book that came in the box had a recipe for potato wedges that I thought would go nicely with the roast chicken. As directed, I pressure cooked the wedges for three minutes. The preheat took 10 minutes and the quick pressure release was a further minute and a half, which meant this stage took around 15 minutes in total. Then I poured oil over the wedges and set to Air Crisp for 30 minutes.

I turned the wedges a few times to ensure even crisping and browning and I was really pleased with the golden colour and crisp texture once the program ended. As per the recipe I made a dressing which I poured onto the wedges at the end of cooking, it did make them a bit soggy but added loads of flavour.

Steaming corn on the cob in the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker

Next, I followed the time given in the steam chart for corn on the cob. I popped the corn on the reversible rack, added 500ml of water and set to steam for six minutes with the steam vent open. After preheating for seven minutes it started counting down.

It’s worth noting that lots of steam was released during cooking so it’s best to keep the Ninja close to your extractor fan to avoid a really steamy kitchen. Other than this, it worked well and the corn was perfectly tender and cooked when the timer finished.

To make the corn a little more interesting I decided to switch on the sauté function, added a little oil and paprika, then the cooked corn cobs. I wanted a fried, slightly charred texture on the outside. The sauté function did work well, my only issue is that the base of the cooking pot isn’t completely flat. So the oil sat around the outside edge of the pot and I had to move the corn to the edges otherwise it wasn’t frying in the oil.

Cleaning

Not only is the Ninja Foodi easy to use, but virtually all the removable accessories are dishwasher safe, so it’s also super easy to clean. Even the pressure lid can go in the dishwasher. The pressure release valve and anti-clog cap have to be washed by hand but given that everything else can go in the dishwasher, I think that’s forgivable.

If you don’t have a dishwasher, the cooking pot has a non-stick coating, so it cleans easily. The Cook & Crisp basket and detachable diffuser can be a bit trickier to clean. After air frying the whole chicken there was a lot of baked on greasy residue, so I just filled the cooking pot with warm soapy water and left the basket in that to soak overnight. Everything wiped away easily in the morning.

Should you buy the Ninja Foodi OP350UK Multi-Cooker? 

The Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 is a versatile multicooker that’s got enough functions to make it a useful addition to your kitchen. It’s easy to use and easy to clean with lots of information on cook times and settings, making it a great option if you’re unsure of multicookers and want advice on how to cook various foods.

It is big, maybe too big for smaller kitchens. Having said that, it doubles as an air fryer, so it saves space in comparison to having a multicooker and a separate air fryer. It also has a large capacity so is great for bigger families and for batch cooking.

I enjoyed how simple it is to use and although my roast chicken didn’t cook quite as I’d hoped, I was pleased with everything else I made. If you’re nervous of pressure cooking and venting the steam, there are multicookers with safer and easier steam release mechanisms. But all things considered, I like the Ninja and I do think it’s a useful bit of kit.

About the reviewer

Helen McCue is a freelance contributor who trained as a Home Economist. After starting her career in the food industry, she moved into home appliance reviews, utilising her cooking skills and experience to put all kinds of products to the test, and over the years has reviewed hundreds of home and kitchen appliances for a variety of publications.

Having completely renovated her current house, Helen reviews kitchen appliances from her open plan kitchen at home in a beautiful Berkshire village. When she’s not working, Helen can be found enjoying the local countryside or dreaming about her next house renovation project.

The post Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP350UK review appeared first on Ideal Home.

The new Magimix trade-in scheme could save you £300 on the brands latest food processor, and the process is shockingly simple.

If you’re looking to invest in one of the best food processors the trade-in scheme aims to help you responsibly dispose of your old model first. The scheme requires you to hand your old Magimix food processer to friends or family in exchange for a £300 discount on the new Cook Expert.

Image credit: Magimix

Magimix Trade-in scheme

To take part in Magimix’s Trade-in, all you have to do is pass on your current processor (old or new) to a friend, family or local charity.

You will need to register your trade-in on the Magimix website. Once you have registered, you will be sent a voucher code.

Image credit: Magimix

When you go to checkout to buy a new Magimix Cook Expert simply enter the promo code from the emailed voucher to get the £300 discount.

It can be tricky knowing when to know when to trade in your old kitchen appliance. In reality, most appliances you might have picked up on a whim in a Black Friday kitchen sale could last for years and years to come.

Image credit: Magimix

In fact, Magimix gives most of its products a 30-year guarantee. However, the sad reality is that most households will only hold onto a gadget like this for a fraction of that lifespan.

However, just because you’re hankering after the latest technology, there could be someone else who could benefit from your old machine. The new perks of the new scheme are multi-fold, not only will it help prevent appliances from ending up in landfills before they reach the end of their life, but it will also give someone the opportunity to own their own Magimix without the expense.

This scheme really is good needs all round. If you are a self-proclaimed kitchen gadget nerd who loves trying out the latest model, this scheme is one for you.

The post You could save £300 on a new food processor with Magimix’s latest scheme appeared first on Ideal Home.

A house valuation is an important part of the house selling and property buying process. To ensure your home sells for the right price and, within a reasonable time frame, you need to set a fair asking price.

This will involve lots of independent research, as well as gathering a number of estimations from your local estate agents.

House valuations explained

In this article, we explain all the factors involved in the house valuation process whether you’re buying or selling – from how to choose the right estate agent valuation quote and preparing your home for an inspection, to the best online tools available.

Image credit: Future Plc

If you’re buying a house, a property valuation will need to be undertaken by an experienced and Chartered RICs surveyor who will visit the home you’re intending to buy and provide a report detailing the findings from their inspection.

‘You want to ensure that the property you’re planning to buy is worth what you are planning to spend,’ says Vadim Toader, CEO and Founder of Proportunity. What’s more, most mortgage providers will insist upon one, too.

What is a house valuation based on?

A house valuation is based on the size, age, location and condition of the property. The local area – what it’s like and what it has to offer – also comes into play, too, taking into account factors such as local schools, public transport, noise and crime levels.

‘What is worth remembering is that ultimately, a property is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay,’ says Dave Sayce, Founder and Director at Compare My Move.

Image credit: Future Plc

How do I find out the value of a house?

The first step is to do some research of your own into similar properties in the area. If you intend to sell your home, it will give you a good starting point to valuing and setting a sale price for your own property. If buying, it will help you work out what you can afford to get in the area you want to buy in.

‘Start by researching local house prices, reviewing how much similar properties have sold for in your area,’ says Dave. ‘House prices fluctuate often, so the more recent the sale has been, the more accurate the estimate will be.’

If selling, you’ll need to arrange three estate agents’ valuations. Don’t automatically choose the agent who gives you the highest valuation as, if they’ve overvalued it, you’ll struggle to sell. A good rule of thumb is to go with the middle value or calculate an average.

What is a house valuation report?

When buying a house you’ll need a valuation report carried out by a registered Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ surveyor (RICS). A mortgage lender will require it to ensure you’re paying a fair price for the property you intend to buy.

‘It’s not as detailed as other survey types available, usually only being two to three pages long, as it’s simply providing you with an overall valuation of the property and any obvious defects that could affect the price,’ says Dave.

What does a surveyor look for in a house valuation?

A valuation will be based on the surveyor’s knowledge of the area, as well as the quality of the house for sale.

‘The main indicators the surveyor may look for include a brief inspection of the property’s overall condition, if the building has been modernised or refurbished, whether the number of rooms declared is accurate and how it compares to other houses in the area,’ says Dave.

One thing to note is that, unlike other house surveys, you will not be advised on any maintenance and repair work needed, but these factors will be considered when the surveyor writes his/her report.

Image credit: Future PLC

What is HPI house valuation?

The House Price Index, otherwise known as HPI, is a national statistic that shows changes in values of properties in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The data is available at national, as well as regional levels, as well as counties, local authorities and London Boroughs. ‘It only benchmarks the property prices based on the previous purchase price and the movement in the market in the region since the purchase,’ says Vadim. ‘It’s a basic valuation and usually less accurate compared with more advanced valuations.’

What brings down a property value?

The main reason for a low valuation is a property in poor condition, such as leaking roofs, damage to the property exterior and noticeable damp. However there are some renovations and home improvements which, although may have benefitted the seller at the time, can actually devalue a home.

‘Knocking down a bedroom wall to create one spacious bedroom rather than having two mid-size rooms may be desirable to you, but can significantly bring down your home’s worth,’ says Dave. Similarly, getting rid of a bath in favour of a shower can also be a bad idea. ‘Many people like the option of having a bath and parents prefer bathing their children than showering them,’ says Dave.

How do I prepare my house for valuation?

Although most of the factors used to assess a property’s value are out of your control, there are some steps you can take to ensure a smooth valuation by a Chartered RICs property surveyor when selling your home. ‘Ensure the house is clean and well-presented, with as little clutter on display as possible. Open any windows to let in lots of natural light, too, as this will really help present your home in the best possible way,’ says Vadim. ‘Also, make sure there are no off-putting strong smells, like animals or bins,’ he says.

Image credit: Future PLC/ Robert Sanderson

Dave also suggests making sure access is available for the whole property, such as keys for windows, outdoor sheds, garages and the loft. ‘Any restricted areas can be marked down and shown to the buyer, encouraging doubt,’ says Dave.

He also advises compiling a file with all the necessary paperwork and certification for the property. ‘Having documents like planning permission or an energy performance certificate can instil confidence in the history of the property,’ says Dave.

Best online tools to use?

If you want to find out a guide value of a house from the comfort of your own home, Vadim suggests the following useful websites: Proportunity, Zoopla, Rightmove and Purple Bricks.

Image credit: David Merewether

‘These tools typically ask you to enter your postcode, after which they will provide you with an estimated value of similar properties in your area, which can serve as a good indication of a property’s value,’ says Vadim.

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