Is a multicooker with an air fryer worth it?

A multicooker with air frying earns its counter space when you regularly use both cooking methods. Otherwise, the extra parts and modes may not be worth it. That sounds obvious, but the category includes at least two very different designs: a pressure cooker with built-in air frying, such as the non-Smart Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid 6.5QT, and a steam/air-fry oven, such as Ninja Combi SFP701, that is not pressure-capable. Decide whether you need pressure cooking or an oven-style steam appliance first, then ask whether built-in crisping saves a step in your usual meals.

Quick answer

Choose a pressure-plus-air-fry hybrid when you regularly pressure cook and then need a crisp finish. Choose a steam/air-fry oven when you want oven-style meals and steam support but have no requirement for pressure. Keep a conventional pressure cooker plus a separate air fryer when each device already works well and replacing both would add expense or compromise a workflow you value.

Do not choose a hybrid merely because the manufacturer's function count is high. A feature is useful when it changes the meals you make and how you manage kitchen space. A headline about replacing multiple appliances is not independent evidence that one machine performs every task equally well.

Decide whether pressure is essential

The Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid, exact non-Smart US model 140-0068-01, has manufacturer-confirmed pressure cooking and air frying in a 6.5-quart one-lid design. That architecture can be meaningful if sealed pressure cooking is a real part of your meal preparation and you repeatedly want a crisped surface afterward.

Ninja Combi SFP701 offers a steam-and-air-fry oven-style system without certified pressure cooking. It should not be described as a pressure cooker. If your recipes depend on pressure, Combi cannot satisfy that requirement. If you primarily want an oven-like cavity with steam and air frying, Duo Crisp may be the more complicated direction for your needs.

The shared air-fry feature is only part of the story. Food arrangement, cooking vessel and component handling differ across the two architectures. The information available for the models doesn't establish a direct measured winner for crispness, time, cleaning or reliability.

When integrated crisping makes sense

You already cook in two stages

A shopper who regularly pressure cooks an ingredient and then moves it to an oven or separate air fryer for finishing may benefit from a hybrid that supports both methods. The potential advantage is consolidating equipment and workflow, not a guaranteed faster result. The model's exact instructions still govern mode transitions and food handling.

It is useful to think about how often this two-stage process happens. If it is central to the meals you make, integrated crisping earns consideration. If it occurs once a month, the extra hybrid features may not be worth the operating complexity.

You want fewer large appliances on the counter

Space can support a hybrid purchase when you otherwise need both a pressure cooker and an air fryer. But do not assume one hybrid automatically takes less usable space than two smaller machines without comparing actual dimensions and clearance. You may also need space to handle accessories during cooking and cleaning.

In the information available for the models, exact measured footprint and storage requirements for every relevant model were not independently reconciled. Those are purchase-stage checks, especially for tight kitchens.

You are comfortable with the lid workflow

The Duo Crisp's Ultimate Lid concept avoids treating two separately stored lids as a given, but its hybrid mechanism and compatible components differ from a conventional six-quart Duo. The researched 6.5QT Ultimate Lid inner pot and lid should not be considered interchangeable with standard six-quart Duo hardware without exact manufacturer support.

Follow the exact product manual for operating, cleaning and reassembling parts. Do not transfer safety or cleaning advice from another Ultimate Lid generation or assume a Smart variant is identical to the non-Smart one.

When a separate air fryer is a better option

If you already have an air fryer you like, a basic pressure cooker may be all you need. The RIO 6QT offers a conventional pressure system without buying into another hybrid lid. This can preserve an efficient cooking pattern when two people prepare different parts of a meal simultaneously.

Separate devices may also be easier to replace or upgrade individually, although no measured ownership-cost comparison is established in the source pack. The right choice depends on actual kitchen space, how often you use both systems and verified current retail pricing.

Avoid assuming a high advertised function count creates a better investment. A basic pressure cooker plus a suitable air fryer may be more useful for some households even if the overall appliance count is higher.

What the exact US model tells us

The non-Smart Duo Crisp 6.5QT researched here is SKU 140-0068-01. A different Smart Ultimate Lid SKU, 140-0060-01, exists. A product-family name or URL containing “smart” should not override the actual model number. This matters for app functionality, accessories and replacement-part compatibility.

The information available for the models also records that an exact Best Buy listing for the non-Smart SKU was no longer available new when checked. Other current sellers and checkout status were not verified. A recommendation for this architecture does not prove you can buy that exact SKU new today.

For Ninja Combi, research model SFP701, confirm the exact oven-style configuration, included accessories and available countertop clearance. Different Ninja products with similar marketing words do not necessarily share cooking methods.

Common mistakes

The first mistake is confusing steam and pressure. Steam used in an oven-like appliance is not the same as sealed pressure cooking. The second is treating manufacturer “functions” as independently tested outcomes. The third is ignoring maintenance and accessory compatibility across generations.

Another mistake is forcing a universal winner from retailer ratings. The information available for the US models did not individually analyze and qualify enough exact-owner reviews to establish a reliable theme consensus. It also didn't establish current comparable US checkout offers, so “best value” claims are not justified.

PIQSY conclusion

A multicooker with an air fryer is worth it when integrated crisping eliminates a repeated cooking step without compromising your required primary method. Choose Duo Crisp for pressure plus air frying; choose Ninja Combi for steam-and-air-fry oven-style cooking without pressure; keep separate devices when that workflow better fits your kitchen.

Before purchase, confirm exact SKUs, current availability, component compatibility and the manufacturer's operating instructions. The right appliance solves a real meal-preparation problem rather than merely promising more modes.

Official sources: Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid(https://instantpot.com/collections/multi-cookers/products/instant-pot-duo-crisp-6-5qt-ultimate-lid-smart-multi-cooker-and-air-fryer) and Ninja Combi SFP701(https://www.sharkninja.com/ninja-combi-all-in-one-multicooker-oven-and-air-fryer/SFP701.html).