Updated 3 Nov 2026
Is the Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker worth it?
Yes, for big families — but keep the receipt.
It does everything the 11-in-1 does in a bigger 7.5-litre pot that takes a whole chicken, and adds a built-in meat probe that stops cooking at the doneness you pick, an automatic steam release and a Steam Meals mode that cooks fish, vegetables and pasta together on two racks. Pressure cooking is excellent and fast. It's huge and almost 12 kg, it costs a lot, and its air frying is no better than a good oven. The bigger catch is reliability: dozens of owners report it stopping with a 'Plug In', 'Add Pot' or lid error, often soon after the warranty, which they put down to the wiring in the lid hinge. Register it with Ninja and keep the receipt. The US version, the 14-in-1 8-quart OL701, swaps a few steam modes for sous vide.
92%of 1,451 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Built-in meat probe
- 7.5 L pot takes a whole chicken
- Steam Meals: three foods at once
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What owners say
Owners love how fast and versatile it is. The main complaint, by far, is that it stopped working or showed a lid, probe, 'Plug In' or 'Add Pot' error, often after about two years; others find it big and heavy.
Good to know
- Many owners report a 'Plug In', 'Add Pot' or lid error that stops it working, often after about two years; they blame the wiring in the lid hinge.
- It's almost 12 kg and very big, so it won't move off the worktop.
- Air frying is only about as good as a decent oven, and slower than a dedicated air fryer.
- The two-tier rack doesn't fit with the air-fry basket.
- The non-stick pot can scratch or lose its shape over time.
From 1,451 buyer ratings at Currys, every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Cooks fast and saves timeMentioned a lot
- Does the job of several appliancesMentioned a lot
- Easy to useMentioned often
- Tasty resultsAlso mentioned
What they complain about
- Stopped working, or a lid, probe, 'Plug In' or 'Add Pot' error, often after about two yearsOccasional
- Big and heavyVery rare
Get it if…
- You cook for five or more, or batch cook.
- You want a probe to cook meat to the right doneness.
- You'll use the steam and pressure modes more than the air fryer.
Skip it if…
- You cook for one to four: the 11-in-1 does nearly the same for less.
- You mostly air fry: a dual-drawer air fryer does that better.
- You want something you can count on for many years.
More on the Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1
How we reached this verdict
TechRadar calls it the most advanced multi-cooker it has tested: easy to use, with cooking charts and the probe, and excellent across its tests, though big and heavy. Expert Reviews rates it Ninja's most versatile yet, with excellent pressure cooking and a useful Steam Meals mode, but found the air frying disappointing. Woman & Home's home economist found its performance top-notch and the price the only catch. Owners at Currys, AO and Ninja's own store mostly love it, but more than half of the unhappy ones describe the same fault after a couple of years, which is why this one comes with a caution.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Expert Reviews, Woman & Home, Ninja (specs), TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Homes & Gardens, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 3 Nov 2026How we decide