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I tried Ninja's new Speedi airfryer and it's a midweek meal game changer

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Is the Ninja Speedi worthy of counter top space in the kitchen? Writer Narin Flanders put it to the test (Image: Narin Flanders)
Is the Ninja Speedi worthy of counter top space in the kitchen? Writer Narin Flanders put it to the test (Image: Narin Flanders)

They've been increasing in popularity over recent years, but ever since energy prices began sky rocketing the air fryer has become the essential kitchen gadget.

But with so many well-reviewed energy efficient airfryers already available and most homes already having one taking up valuable space - in my case my trusty family-friendly Acti-Fry Genius XL - does the market (or more importantly my counter top) need another one?

The gadget geniuses at SharkNinja seem to think so...

The Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker not only has the functions of many of the brand's other popular air fryer and grill models, acting as a steamer, grill, air fryer, roaster, dehydrator, saute pan and slow cooker, but it also has a new function that gives the gadget its name and which allows you cook a full meal in around 15 minutes.

Based out of a huge office and testing facility in the top of the former Battersea Power Station in London, a team of more than 130 design engineers have spent two years designing, testing and tweaking an air fryer with a difference.

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As a shopping and tech writer I was one of the first people in the UK to get a glimpse of the viral sensation, which sold out within minutes of first being launched on the Ninja website, in action.

Seeing QVC's Ninja brand ambassador Gail Samways whip up a chicken and pasta dish in front of us like a magician in an apron was admittedly pretty impressive, but I did have a sneaky suspicion that ordinary folk wouldn't have that level of success with the multi-function gadget straight out of the box.

Little did I know.

What I have learned after a week of using it is that the Ninja Speedi is basically the kitchen gadget for people who don't have the time or inclination to regularly use kitchen gadgets.

You know what it's like. Whether you're wrangling children or dashing in from work, weeknight meals always seem a bit of a pain.

With two children in the house, ours dinners tend to either be ready meals or several shades of beige.

Despite my best intentions when I do the weekly shop, weeknight meals regularly feature chicken strips, sausages or fish fingers, usually paired with oven chips, pasta or hash browns and some sweetcorn, peas or other frozen veg so I can vaguely reassure myself that they're getting at least a few vitamins.

And it's all cooked quickly while working from home, meaning that my first job of the night once I've turned off my aptop is washing up various baking trays and pans and trying to make the kitchen look less of a bomb site.

The thing that surprised me most the first time I used the Speedi was that I was able to whip up chicken, pasta and vegetables in a creamy sauce despite never having used it before and without constantly having to go back and check it.

The cooker took a few minutes to pre-heat to the right temperature but, once it had, it then simultaneously steamed the pasta and veg in the bottom of my pot and air fried and baked the chicken, which I'd liberally coated in Nandos lemon and herb rub to keep my children happy.

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Just 18 minutes after I pressed start I dished up the meal and not only was it minimal faff - no remembering to get up after ten minutes to turn things over or chuck vegetables in the microwave - but every element was perfectly cooked.

The pasta still had the right amount of bite to it, while the chicken was both pleasingly crispy but also notably much more moist than when I cook it in the oven.

The children both ate the lot, while I rejoiced at the fact the cooking pot and trivet used for cooking could go straight into the dishwasher once they'd cooled.

I tried Ninja's new Speedi airfryer and it's a midweek meal game changerMy first meal was Nandos rub coated chicken with creamy pasta with green beans and broccoli (Narin Flanders)

I was able to throw together new combinations every night that followed and all of them were simple to do, cooked perfectly and the kind of family crowd pleasers I usually only have time to cook at the weekend.

I did a breaded chicken with rice and green beans where I cheated at the end and drizzled some microwaved katsu sauce over the meat. One of their favourite meals, this favourite is usually a fakeaway eaten watching The Masked Singer because of the time it takes to prep and wash up.

As I put the plates down with a flourish my daughter looked up, pleased but also confused: "It's not Saturday!"

Meanwhile, pork belly topped with Five Spice in the top and rice with sweetcorn, green beans and peas in the bottom was a 14-minute Chinese feast which got my son so giddy he gave me 'four thumbs up' once he'd finished - which involves sitting on the floor to waggle his toes in the air with glee.

I tried Ninja's new Speedi airfryer and it's a midweek meal game changerChinese pork and vegetable rice is usually weekends-only in our house. But not anymore. The only thing I wasn't brave enough to do was to put an egg in it at the last minute with the pot on saute setting - but that's my plan for next time (Narin Flanders)

I was even able to adapt a Jamie Oliver one-pot Cajun chicken traybake meal which we've been cooking regularly since it popped up on his latest Channel 4 series to slim down the faff and the cooking time even further.

Everything I've cooked so far has followed the format of protein in the top (salmon was a favourite with the grown ups and done in just 8 minutes, a new record and no smell of fish afterwards) and then a carbohydrate like pasta, rice or bulgur wheat in the bottom but as my confidence has built I'm looking to branch out.

I've joined a couple of Facebook groups where people show off pictures of their creations and I've already got one eye on making both chicken and chorizo paella and a cheese and herb foccacia in the Speedi at the weekend.

Devotees also bake cakes and roast joints of meat in it and, while I'm not there yet, I've found this the least intimidating and most versatile kitchen gadget I've ever owned - and you don't have to be a Masterchef to get great results with it.

What's more, despite having made space for it in a cupboard the Speedi hasn't actually been put away since it arrived.

I've not switched my oven on in over a week saving a significant chunk in gas usage, we're all eating much more healthily and my husband and I spending considerably less time in the evening having to clean the kitchen.

In the Flanders house it's a definitely four thumbs up all round, with Ninja moving air fryer technology into a revolutionary new direction.

The Ninja Speedi is out now at retailers including John Lewis, Argos, Lakeland, Very and other retailers as well as directly from the Ninja website, with all sites currently offering it at the recommended retail price of £249.

Narin Flanders

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