Ninja FD401 Vs OP401 Comparison 2023 - Unbiased Reviews, Comparisons & Buying Guides!

The Ninja foodi cooker is a sleek and powerful appliance that will make your life easier. It’s the best pressure cooker air fryer in its class, so be sure to check out our complete comparison about Ninja FD401 Vs OP401.

When it comes to cooking appliances, two things are of the utmost importance; cooking performance and ease of use. As more and more brands started providing these two utilities at the highest order, another thing came into the mix as well; versatility. Consumers wanted cooking appliances that could prepare their favorite foods, all within a single unit.

With the latest technologies and lots of innovation, it became possible, and Ninja was the brand that was at the forefront of this innovation. With the first-ever 2-in-1 pressure cooker and air fryer, Ninja rose to fame instantly, and then they kept making multi-purpose cookers. So, now when you buy a Ninja cooking appliance, you get the best cooking appliance, ease of use, and versatility.

But with the ever-increasing number of multi-cookers from Ninja, choosing one got a bit too difficult. No matter how much you narrow down your needs, there are still three to four options with those features. That is where the internet comes to your help, and more specifically, we come for your help with articles like these.

In this article, we will be comparing two very good versatile pressure cookers from Ninja; the Ninja FD401 Vs OP401. The Ninja Foodi FD401 is overall one of the best multi-purpose cookers from Ninja, but it all started with Ninja Foodi OP401. When looking at both these Ninja Foodi cookers, they have similar cooking features, but there are some differences between the two.

First, we will compare the technical details and specs of Ninja FD401 vs OP401, and then we will move towards their separate reviews.

Table of Contents

Ninja FD401 Vs OP401 Comparison and Buying Guide

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From the table, it is evident that the Ninja Foodi FD401 has more power and a wider temperature range which means that the cooking performance of the Ninja Foodi FD401 will be a bit better than that of Ninja Foodi OP401. The only reason the Ninja Foodi OP401 has less power is that it is an older model. You can say that the Ninja OP401 is the previous version of the Ninja FD401.

Apart from that, you can see that majority of the specs are quite similar. Comparing the Ninja FD401 vs OP401, both have the same number of cooking functions, similar types of controls, and have a similar size too. So, you can rule kitchen space and versatility out of the deciding criteria. So, how will you make the decision. Just read our separate reviews of both the Ninja FD401 and the Ninja OP401, and you will know everything you need to know to make the decision.

Ninja Foodi FD401 Review

Right now, Ninja Foodi FD401 is one of the best pressure cooker and air fryer combo available in the market, especially at this price. The features, the ease of use, and most importantly, the cooking performance is absolutely top-notch. We can’t describe how good the food cooked with Ninja FD401 looks and tastes, so we aren’t going to try. Just know that it is delicious, no matter what cooking function you use.

Instead, our review will focus on what the Ninja FD401 brings to your kitchen. So, let’s get into it:

Design and Features

Just by looking at the cooker, you can tell that a lot of thought went into the design. The FD401 has stainless steel and plastic build with a black and silver color finish. It looks very sleek and elegant sitting on your kitchen countertop, and thanks to the stainless steel body, it is quite durable too. There are plenty of plastic components in the body, so being a bit careful while moving it around or storing it away isn’t too bad an idea.

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One aspect of the design that we think could have been a bit better is the air frying lid. The air frying lid stays fix on the cooker. To attach the pressure lid, you have to open the frying lid, which just stands on the side. The problem is that it stays there and looks quite weird. It becomes an obstacle in your way and can cause some spills or accidents.

Maybe if it went all the way down, it wouldn’t look so bad, but it definitely should have had a better ending position. It might be that designers at Ninja did their best, but it’s not as practical or as elegant as the overall design of FD401.

Aside from this, the design of FD401 is very good. You get a digital control panel on the front that is easy to access. There are plastic handles on either side, so you can move the cooker around easily. On the bottom, there are solid anti-slip grips that make sure there aren’t any dangerous accidents in the kitchen.

The NINE cooking features you get are possible because of the two different lids you get with the FD401. The frying lid lets you air fry, roast, bake and broil your favorite food items. For pressure cooking, steaming, sear/saute, slow cook, and dehydrating, you have to use the removable pressure lid.

Another very useful feature is the Keep Warm function which you can use to keep your food warm and fresh for hours after cooking. It saves you the trouble of having to reheat the food for someone who is running late. Similarly, if you suddenly have to go somewhere while preparing food, you can switch on the Keep Warm feature to keep the food fresh until you get back.

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Controls

The controls of the Ninja Foodi FD401 are very easy to learn and use. The digital control panel, with the help of illuminating labels and an LED screen, makes cooking with the FD401 very easy. However, in the beginning, you will have to go through a small learning curve.

Instead of separate buttons for every feature, you have to use a dial to navigate through the cooking functions and set the cooking time and temperature. The dial also works as the start/stop button, so you only have to learn about controlling the dial, and you will become an expert in cooking with the FD401. The user manual and the 45 recipes cookbook are a great help to get you going at the start.

Cleaning

Cleanup of Ninja Foodi FD401 is very easy because of two things; the non-stick interior and accessories and the fact that both the cooking pots are dishwasher safe. Both the 5-quarts frying pot and the 8-quarts pressure cooking pot have a ceramic coating to keep them non-stick and easy to clean up.

You also get a stainless steel rack for steaming and broiling, which is also dishwasher safe. One thing is for sure you won’t have to spend an hour in the kitchen cleaning the Ninja Foodi FD401 multi-cooker right after eating. After all, no one likes scrubbing pots after a delicious dinner with the family.

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Ninja Foodi OP401 Review

The Ninja Foodi OP401 Multi-Cooker is quite similar to the Ninja Foodi FD401 in terms of features, controls, and overall build. Just like the FD401, the OP401 is also a 9-in-1 multi-cooker with two lids and various accessories to help you cook various types of foods. However, there are some aspects in which the OP401 betters the FD401, and other aspects where it lags behind the FD401.

In this review, we will discuss all the features and functions of the Ninja Foodi OP401 cooker so you can decide whether it’s a better choice than the FD401 or not.

Design and Features

When it comes to the design and features of the Ninja Foodi OP401, the features are quite similar, the durability is the same, and the overall size of the Ninja Foodi FD401 and OP401 is quite similar too. But, there are some differences to the outlook of the Ninja Foodi OP401.

The Ninja OP401 uses stainless steel, plastic, and rubber in construction. The rubber is used on the handles of the cooker and in the lid opener as well. Even though it is something different, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a better aspect. The rubber handles can be a problem when you decide to pressure cook or slow cook at high temperatures for a long time. Maybe that’s the reason Ninja removed the rubber from the Ninja Foodi FD401.

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As for the footprint of the Ninja Foodi OP401, it is quite similar to that of the Ninja Foodi FD401. So, if you were thinking that maybe one of them will be more compact, so it fits in a smaller kitchen too, that’s not going to happen. In fact, the Ninja Foodi OP401 is a little bigger than the Ninja FD401.

The design issue we talked about in the review of Ninja FD401 is prevalent in the Ninja OP401, or maybe we should say that the design issue of OP401 is still there in the newer FD401 cooker. The fixed frying lid gets in your way sometimes. We can understand the limitations at the time of OP401’s release, but with the Ninja Foodi FD401, Ninja should have addressed this issue.

As for features, the Ninja Foodi OP401 has the same features as the Ninja Foodi FD401. The two lids of the OP401 bring the same NINE cooking functions and the Keep Warm feature too. However, there is a slight decrease in the performance of the Ninja Foodi OP401 because of the smaller cooking range and a little less power.

The 1700 watts heating element of the Ninja Foodi OP401 can generate 200F to 400F cooking temperatures. If you need to cook at lower temperatures, you can’t because the OP401 can’t go lower than 200F. The Ninja Foodi FD401, on the other hand, can go as low as 100F. So, it’s best that you have a clear idea of your needs before you make the final decision.

Controls

The controls of Ninja Foodi OP401 are quite easy to use as that of the Ninja Foodi FD401, but there is a very obvious difference between the two, which makes using the Ninja Foodi OP401 a bit easier than the Ninja Foodi FD401. As you know, while using the Ninja Foodi FD401, you have to use a dial to navigate through the controls and set the cooking instructions.

With the Ninja Foodi OP401, you get a start/stop button, but there is no dial in the center. Instead, every function and cooking instruction button has a separate button. So you want to bake or broil or slow cook, just press the button, set the cooking time and temperature, and you are good to go. Even setting the cooking time and temperature becomes easier.

So, comparing the controls of Ninja Foodi FD401 vs OP401, it is easier to learn and use the controls of the Ninja Foodi OP401 than it is to use the Ninja Foodi FD401.

Cleaning

Just like the Ninja FD401, cleanup of Ninja OP401 is very easy and simple too. The Ninja OP401 also has the same coating of non-stick on the cooking and frying pot. It also comes with a stainless steel rack, and it also has a non-stick interior that you can wipe clean easily. All the accessories are dishwasher safe, so clean-up becomes a breeze.

Easy cleanup is not only common between these two Ninja multi-cookers. In fact, whichever Ninja kitchen appliance you buy they are easy to clean. Some accessories like their coffee makers even have self-cleaning functions to save you the trouble. The Ninja OP401 won’t clean itself, but it still cleans up quickly and without too much trouble.

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Conclusion

Considering the table and the reviews we have put forth in this article, you can see that there isn’t a winner of the Ninja Foodi FD401 Vs OP401 comparison. Both have the same features, same cooking capacity, and both are pretty easy to use and maintain. So, our verdict is very simple; buy any one of these multi-cookers, and it will serve the purpose very well. However, given the acceptance and praises earned by Ninja Foodi FD401, it will be a better and wise pick!

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