Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster | |||||
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Awards | Best for Bagels | Best for Most People | Best Bang for the Buck | Best for Toast and Long Slot | |
Price | $130 List $119.99 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | $25 List $24.99 at Amazon | $70 List $34.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | A good solution in-between a traditional toaster and a toaster oven for limited spaces | Overall this toaster brings to the table a strong performance, is compact, and budget-friendly | At the lower end of quality, but a budget-friendly option that works | An aesthetically interesting option but only provides an average level of performance | Impressive performance at a low prices makes this a compelling 4-slice model |
Rating Categories | Ninja ST100 Foodi 2... | Cuisinart CPT-122 | Black+Decker 2-Slic... | Bella 2 Slice Auto... | Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 |
Bread Toasting Quality (35%) | |||||
Ease of Use (35%) | |||||
Bagel Toasting Quality (15%) | |||||
Frozen Food (15%) | |||||
Specs | Ninja ST100 Foodi 2... | Cuisinart CPT-122 | Black+Decker 2-Slic... | Bella 2 Slice Auto... | Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 |
Functions | Bagel Defrost Cancel Bake Broil Reheat |
Bagel Defrost Reheat Cancel |
Bagel Frozen Cancel |
Bagel Frozen Cancel Gluten Free Reheat |
Defrost Reheat Cancel |
Measured Slot Dimensions | 10.2 x 6" | 5.4 x 4.25" | 5.4 x 4.75" | 5 x 4.25" | 9.8 x 4" |
Measured Dimensions | 16.2" x 6.4" x 8.5" | 6.5" x 11" x 7.2" | 7.3" x 12" x 8" | 9.8" x 5.8 x 7" | 14.7" x 7.1" x 7.7" |
Measured Weight | 8.6 lbs | 2.6 Ibs | 2.6 Ibs | 2.1 lbs | 4.3 lbs |
Measured External Surface Temperature During Toasting | 104.7 F | 84.9 F | 101.2 F | 86.5 F | 96.8 F |
Measured Product Footprint | 103.7 | 71.5 | 87.6 | 56.8 | 104.4 |
Measured Watts | 1440 W | 935 W | 885 W | 865 W | 1339 W |
End of Cycle Indicator | Beep | None | None | None | None |
Exterior Housing Material | Stainless Steel | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Stainless Steel |
Color/Finish Options | Stainless Steel | White, Red, Black | Black | Aqua, Black, Blue, Red, Sage, White | Black Plastic/Stainless |
Standard/Long Slot | Long | Standard | Standard | Standard | Long |
Available with Long Slot? | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Available in 4 slot? | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Model Number | ST100 | CPT-122 | T2569B | BOB137 | ECT-3100 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
This unique option has a toaster oven and traditional toaster options. While it makes excellent bagels, it is less than impressive with most other toasting tasks. The stainless steel appliance looks sleek in most kitchens but quickly shows fingerprints.
Performance Comparison
Bread Toasting Quality
The Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster exhibited consistent performance across two tests, even when toasting breads of varying thicknesses. On the low setting, it produced an overall light golden color with a crisp texture, though one side appeared slightly lighter with some pale areas on the edges. At the medium setting, the toast was a bit darker than expected and also uneven. However, on the highest setting, the toast was burnt, emitting smoke and even shooting a slice out of the toaster, resulting in very blackened slices.
Regardless of the setting, there was a tendency for some areas to remain untoasted at the bottom of each slice. It's worth noting that the highest setting should be avoided unless intentionally seeking burnt toast. The exterior of this toaster averaged around 105 degrees F, so we would recommend keeping this out of reach of any children.
Ease of Use
The Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster is a traditional style toaster, with one of the most versatile design features that allows it to function like a toaster oven when laid onto its side.
As a compact oven, the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster can fit two slices of thick bread, two regular-sized pizza bagels, or about an eight-inch open-faced sandwich. If you are single, in a dorm, or work in the field and have a smaller temporary living accommodation but require the versatility of a toaster oven and simply do not have the space, then the Nijna ST100 may become your go-to kitchenette tool. However, if you wish to stash the toaster between uses, this hefty model will take up a lot of space in the cupboard. Buttons are located on top of the toaster, while a lever is on the face, but it is easy enough to use and the design makes practical sense for the versatility of the toaster. What didn't make sense to our team, was the crumb tray that can not be completely removed for cleaning.
Bagel Toasting Quality
If you are all about bagels, then you'll love the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster for its ability to produce delectable bagels that are nearly perfect in color and texture to satisfy any bagel toasting aficionado's preference.
Our first of two bagel toasting tests resulted in even coverage and a perfect texture. The outermost portions of the bagel developed an enjoyable crispness, while the bagel remained soft and chewy throughout. Our second round of testing produced nearly identical results, with a slightly darker bottom coloration, but again creating a near-perfect texture.
Frozen Food
Unfortunately, as a conventional toaster, the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster doesn't excel at preparing frozen foods. In general, frozen waffles were still a bit pale and never achieved that iconic golden color and light crispiness. More positively, frozen bread tests resulted in a better golden brown coloration and crispy texture, but were far from the best results we've seen.
Where the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster let us down was in its ability to toast frozen strudels. Toasting produced uneven browning, with edges that were nearly burnt. Fortunately, fillings were adequately warmed, but our team had hoped for a little more from this model.
Should You Buy The Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster?
The Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster is a unique toaster with a design that allows it to be used as a small toaster oven, when oriented on its side, in addition to being a sufficient toaster overall. While the design complexity adds versatility it also complicates things like the crumb tray access and location of buttons. We can't recommend it over top-performing traditional toasters due to its rather average overall performance, and it isn't a complete replacement for a full-sized toaster oven, but it is certainly an interesting multi-role toaster that may fit a niche or need for you and your family and may still be worth your consideration.
What Other Toaster Should You Consider?
While the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster is a great toaster for bagel lovers, its performance overall wasn't quite up to earning a recommendation from our team. At a more expensive price-point, the Smeg 2-Slice stands out as a better recommendation for its all-around better performance. However, if budget is a concern, then the more budget-friendly Cuisinart CPT-122 with a good balance of performance and ease of use should be on your short list of options.