The Ultimate Guide To The Ninja Foodi Steam Meals Function
Welcome back to another of our ultimate guides for the Ninja Foodi. This week are talking all about Ninja Foodi Steam Meals. A popular function of the Ninja Foodi 15 in 1 and one we feature in our Ninja Foodi cookbook.
Ninja Foodi Steam Meals
If you scroll down our Ninja Foodi Functions Guide & Chart you will notice that the Ninja Foodi brand introduced the steam meals setting to the Ninja Foodi 14 in 1, it also appears in the Ninja Foodi 15 in 1 and also has an equivalent in the Ninja Speedi called SPEEDI MEALS.
It sells the cooking dream, doesn’t it?
The idea that you can in fact stack your main parts of your dinner, to create an all-in-one dinner, in just a few short minutes.
On average a steam meal is cooked (after preheating first of course) in JUST 10 minutes.
The idea of 10 minute meals on busy weeknights sounds amazing. Especially for us as working parents. We have the kids at after school clubs two nights a week.
So, the idea that you can do:
- The protein
- The vegetables
- The carbs
All at the same time sounds amazing, doesn’t it? But is it too good to be true? Let me explain to you all about Ninja Foodi Steam Meals or Speedi Meals for our readers that have the Ninja Speedi….
What Is The Ninja Foodi Steam Meals Function?
The function of the steam meals was originally introduced to the Ninja Foodi family with the Ninja Foodi 14 in 1 model. It was also added to the Ninja Speedi 10 in 1 and both of the upgraded versions. The idea was that you could make an all-in-one meal that was fast but easy to create layers at the same time.
Because of which is the slowest and fastest cooking, its often done with the carbs at the bottom (rice, potatoes, pasta etc), then the vegetables and then topped with the protein.
As the Ninja Foodi Steam Meal function is just a preset you can also get the same results from steam air fry. So, if you have the Ninja Foodi 11 in 1 it’s easy to switch it up for it to work for you.
READ MORE >>> Ninja Foodi 11 in 1 + How To Convert The 15 in 1 Ninja Recipes
How We Recommend You Start With Steam Meals
So, the most requested help I have had as far as the Ninja Foodi is concerned is steam meals. Everything from asking how to put the steam meal racks together to cooking times to temperatures to what meals can be included.
Because there was lots of beginner ninja foodi questions, I decided to break it up.
Concentrate on each of those 3 elements before you bring it together as one.
We did a 30 day challenge for both the Ninja Foodi and the Ninja Speedi. We broke down the Steam meals like this, and you can follow along the recipes and the videos below so that you can get each element.
The Steam Meals Videos:
The Steam Meal Recipes
Then after you have learnt about how they work you can then bring it all together. As what we then did was the individual parts we mentioned above, then became the ingredients for a steam meal.
We then made a steam meal of chicken breast, baby potatoes and a trio of vegetables.
It was so delicious and by taking those baby steps you can bring it altogether into one delicious steam meal.
What The Best Temperature For Ninja Steam Meals?
When I first looked into steam meals I tried a few that were on YouTube and they recommended 200c/400f. What I found was this was too hot and the food was too dry.
The sweet spot for Ninja Steam Meals and for Ninja Speedi Meals is 180c/360f.
How To Build A Steam Meal
Then following our Ninja 15 in 1 steam meals method, you can rinse and repeat and just remember to follow the same system to build a steam meal.
The Carbs – add the carbs to the bottom of the cooking pot with enough liquid so that it can preheat and generate steam as it starts cooking. This can be potatoes, quinoa, pasta, rice, or another favourite carb. This is also known as its base layer.
The Vegetables – This is when you add your veg. You either do this on a layer of foil or wrapped in foil. You don’t want it dropping into the carbs. You can also wrap the veg in foil if they are quick cooking as it will slow them down. This is often known as the middle layer of your steam meal.
The Protein – This is then placed on the top part of the rack, and this can be a mix of protein depending on what you like. It can be fish fillets, chicken, pork steaks, lamb etc.
You then add the lid on your Ninja, set it to STEAM MEALS and then set the time and temperature. On average it will be 180c/360f for 10 minutes. But it can vary depending on what you are cooking.
You can then lift up the lid and dish up the protein, then unpack and add the veg and finish with your carbs.
Of course, if you are not feeling the vegetables (no judgement lol) you can do a bottom layer of say potatoes and a top layer of chicken. Or you can use this system for some tasty chicken and rice.
I am sure you will agree this is easy and really does show that you can do 10-minute meals.
Ninja Steam Meals Recipes
On page 180 of The Complete Multicooker Cookbook we start our all-in-one dinners chapter. It is all about steam meals/speedi meals. I have designed it in a way so that you have a good mix of the components so it can give you ideas of how you can mix up the principle of carbs, veg and protein.
We feature the following recipes:
Vietnamese Steak Noodle Bowls – The broth is the bottom layer, the veg in the middle layer, the steak is the top layer.
Chicken Katsu Curry With Sushi Rice – The rice is the bottom layer, the veg is the middle layer and the breaded chicken is the top layer.
Moroccan Spiced Lamb Steaks – This one is a little different and a brilliant starting point with steam meals. We made a casserole style base in the cooking pot as the bottom layer, then we cook the lamb steaks on the rack. You then have a delicious lamb casserole. Though because we have used lamb steaks, we have cooked it fast.
Maple Ginger Salmon Packets – I am so in love with this recipe. Marinated salmon and rice I mean what is not to love. Its also a brilliant 3 tier system. Rice cooks on the bottom layer, then we have broccolini (tender stem broccoli to us Brits) and then marinated salmon fillets cooks up top.
Caribbean Summer Veg With Rice & Peas – This is another great and here we do the rice at the bottom, then we have a full layer of summer vegetables on top. We then toss them in jerk barbecue sauce and you have your jerk meal vegetarian style. Stir in kidney beans to the rice and you have completed your meal.
We love this cookbook we created for you and you can get it here. The steam meals inside this book are all about showing you a bit of imagination of what you can do. You don’t need to just steam fish and veg with no flavour as there is a lot of great possibilities. You can swap potatoes for rice; you can do different protein and of course you can match the vegetables to what you are cooking.
WATCH CHRISTINA DISH UP >>> Behind The Scenes Dishing Up The Salmon Packets At The Photoshoot!
Ninja Speedi Meals
You can also rinse and repeat with Ninja Speedi Meals too. We tested these steam meals using both the Ninja Foodi 15 in1, and the Ninja Speedi 10 in 1. We also tested them on steam air fry (perfect for those with the ninja foodi 11 in 1) and they worked perfect in there too.
Here are a few more steam meals you can cook both in the ninja speedi or the ninja foodi:
- Ninja Foodi Chicken Thighs, Sweet Potato & Veg
- Ninja Speedi Chicken Breasts, Potatoes and Carrots
- Ninja Speedi Lamb Chops With Baby Potatoes
Ninja Steam Meals Racks
The number of times people say to us that are new to steam meals, you put those racks together so quick and I end up having a temper with it for half an hour, is unbelievable.
I get it though.
It’s attaching the two layers of racks to make that steam meal.
I used to dump the job on Chef Dom and then he showed me the hack for quickly doing it.
They go in the opposite direction like this and it looks like noughts and crosses:
The annoying problem solved!
Watch The Short Videos
I am sure after watching the videos, you’re not going to struggle again adding the racks. Then you just need to decide what you are going to add to make your steam meal.
FURTHER READING >> The Ultimate Guide To Steam Air Frying
FURTHER READING >> The Ultimate Guide To Steam Roast
FURTHER READING >> The Ultimate Guide To The Ninja Probe
Thanks for reading and we have more resources for you below.
Your Next Step: Get Your Copy Of The Complete Multicooker Cookbook
What people say about our cookbooks is how easy they are for the beginner and how we explain in great detail. The fact that we always have a Plan B in mind and hack to go with a recipe. The Independent says our air fryer cookery book is the best for beginners.
Get The Complete Multicooker Cookbook Here.
Also grab our time and temp chart. It can sit on your fridge thanks to its magnetic strip and has the time and temps to a lot of multicooker foods. You will love the steam and the steam air fry sections the most (they are my favourite!)
Get The Complete Multicooker Cooking Guide.
Choose Your Dream Multicooker
We have mentioned a few of the different multicookers we recommend and here is them and some more so you can go shopping and choose the right one for you!
- The Instant Pot Duo (best for pressure cooking)
- The Instant Pot & Air Fryer (similar to the Ninja Foodi 9 in 1)
- The Ninja Foodi 9 in 1 (everything that the 11 in 1 does minus the steam air frying and steam bake)
- The Ninja Foodi 11 in 1 (best air fryer pressure cooker)
- The Ninja Foodi 15 in 1 Max (NOT for sale anymore)
- The Ninja Speedi (best multicooker and air fryer in one)
Don’t Miss A Thing!
Complete The Ninja Foodi Challenge: We did 30 days dedicated to the Ninja Foodi with a recipe each day. It’s a great way to learn the Ninja Foodi and then you can set yourself the goal of a new recipe each day. You can get the ebook here or follow it on YouTube here.
Join Kitchen Gadgets Club – We have a Ninja Speedi recipes category and also have many other gadgets too. As a Ninja Speedi owner you can enjoy our air fryer, slow cooker, steam air fry and more.
Follow Us On Socials – We would love to hear more about you. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or join our Facebook Group.
The Weekly Newsletter – We have a weekly newsletter that shares more about kitchen gadget cookery and also features the latest recipes, gossip from us, what we are up to and much more.
Watch Our YouTube Videos – We have lots of YouTube videos including several for the Ninja Speedi. You can also subscribe to our channel and learn lots about kitchen gadgets.
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