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Best Ninja Air Fryer - Our Top 3 Expert Picks In 2024

Written By Susan
Updated On January 16, 2023

Contents

The Best Ninja Air Fryers - Reviews & Buying Guide

Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker 7.5L [OL750UK] Smart Cook System, Digital Cooking Probe, Electric Pressure Cooker, Air Fryer
Our Favorite
  • 15 cooking functions including Pressure Cook, Air Fry and 5 innovative Combi-Steam functions
  • Combi-Steam Mode - Juicy, speedy & crispy results. Cook a complete family meal in under 30 minutes.
  • No guesswork with Smart Cook System - Digital Cooking Probe precisely monitors your food’s temperature as it cooks
  • Pressure Cook up to 70% faster than traditional cooking methods*; Auto-Steam Release completes cooking process. (*Compared with slow cooking, simmering or braising.)
  • 7.5L capacity, perfect for up to 6 people; Easy to use with SmartLid Slider. Includes non-stick dishwasher safe 7.5L Cooking Pot, 4.7L Cook & Crisp Basket, 2-Tier Rack, Recipe Guide.
Ninja Air Fryer MAX [AF160UK] 5.2 Litres, 6 Cooking Functions, Grey & Black
  • Save up to 55% on your energy bill* (*testing and calculations based on recommended cook time for sausages, using air fry function versus conventional ovens)
  • Guilt-free fried food using little to no oil. Cooks up to 50% faster than fan ovens* (*Tested against fish fingers and sausages.)
  • 6 cooking functions: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat & Dehydrate - Max Crisp Technology cooks from frozen to crispy in minutes
  • "Air Fry: Up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods** (**Tested against hand-cut deep fried French fries) "
  • Easy to clean with dishwasher-safe parts. Includes family-sized 5.2L non-stick basket, crisper plate & recipe guide

If you've been looking into making healthier meals at home, you might have been considering investing in an air fryer, these cooking devices allow you to cook food with hot air, rather than oil.

There are many different kinds of air fryers on the market, with different sizes and temperatures, but what about Ninja air fryers, are they any good?

We've put together a list below of the best top three Ninja air fryers and compared them below to help make your decision, as well as a buying guide to give you all the information you need.

Our Favourite Ninja Air Fryer - The Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker 7.5L

The Ninja Foodi MAX multi-cooker air fryer is one of the best air fryer options on our list thanks to its versatility and larger size. 

Main features of the Ninja air fryer are its healthy meals modes such as; five different steam options, pressure cook and air fry.

It is also fitted with a smart cooker option which allows you to stop guessing cooking times since the digital cooking probe tells you when to stop cooking according to the temperature.

Design-wise, it is a 7.5L capacity air fryer and is fitted with a smart cooking lid, allowing you to change between cooking modes easily. The Ninja steam fryer is also easy to clean since it is dishwasher friendly. 

Downfalls of this Ninja Foodi MAX are the silicone seal which is difficult to fit on the air fryer, and the fan during cooking tasks can also be noisy.

Pros 

  • Lots of cooking functions. 
  • Easy to clean. 
  • Smart cooking for best results. 
  • 7.5L capacity air fryer.
  • Faster cooking when pressure steaming.

Cons 

  • Silicone is hard to fit.
  • Noisy fan. 

Ninja Air Fryer MAX 5.2 Litre 6 Cooking Functions

As a second pick, we recommend the Ninja Air Fryer MAX 5.2 litre, which is a great choice if you are looking for a medium air fryer max for a smaller serving size.

This Ninja air fryer can cook up to 50% faster than your standard fan oven and comes with six different cooking functions includes, including whether you want a fryer for chips, roasting, baking, or even dehydrating.

For the design, the basket air fryer's size is 5.2 litres but also comes in a 3.8-litre model, it has a digital display so you can switch between modes easily plus comes with air fryer recipes for cooking inspiration.

Negatives of this air fryer review are its design which can make it hard to clean especially behind the heating coil. The tray inside can also be hard to remove.

Pros 

  • Medium and small sizes are available. 
  • Six different cooking functions. 
  • Faster cooking than a standard fan oven. 
  • Digital display for easy use. 
  • Comes with recipes.

Cons 

  • The tray inside is hard to remove. 
  • Difficult to clean.

Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer

This Ninja DZ201 Foodi air fryer features a two-basket design, making it one of our ideal top picks if you are looking to cook complete meals all in your air fryer. 

Like other Ninja air fryers, this model has six different cooking functions to pick from according to the type of meal you want to cook, some of these include; roasting, broiling, air frying and baking. 

It's also fitted with dual-zone technology which allows you to smart cook so both foods finish cooking at the same time or match cook, so they cook the same way. 

The air fryer has an 8-quart size since it has XL baskets for cooking including their cooking heaters. Ninja has also made the air fryer easy to clean since it is dishwasher friendly.

Drawbacks of this Ninja air fryer are its cooking baskets which are said to be very small, and the device itself is also quite large, meaning it consumes a lot of counter space.

Pros 

  • Two basket designs for dual cooking. 
  • Six different cooking modes.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Smart cooking. 
  • Match cooking.

Cons 

  • The baskets are small. 
  • The device takes up room.

Which Is The Best Ninja Air Fryer For Healthy Cooking?

To conclude our top three Ninja air fryer reviews, the top Ninja air fryer pick is the Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 air fryer model. This air fryer has fifteen different functions making it an excellent multi-cooker in comparison to the other two which only have six cooking functions. 

The air fryer is also very large, making it a good choice for families or cooking dinner parties.

As an alternative, we also suggest the Ninja Air Fryer Max if you are on a budget and don't mind fewer functions, although the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 has the upper hand when it comes to space with two cooking baskets.

What To Look For In The Best Ninja Air Fryer (Our Buying Guide)

Now we've found the best Ninja air fryers on the market, let's move on to our buying guide, which will help you determine the best air fryer for you depending on your budget and needs. 

Our extensive buying guide below will take you through how air fryers work, the types, which size you need, what you can cook and important features to look for in your model. 

We will also discuss how air fryers compare to ovens and some tips for using one as a beginner.

Let's get into it!

How Do Air Fryers Work? 

To begin with, let's discuss how air fryers work. Air fryers work by blowing hot air around the food inside of the basket, raising the temperature to cook it and brown it, giving a crispy effect similar to frying food, but without the need for oil. 

An air fryer does this by the heating element at the top, then a fan which circulates the air. Depending on the kind of air fryer you have, you will need to shake drawer-type air fryers so that they can cook evenly, but some are self-rotating or have a stirrer inside, which means you leave it to do its job!

Air fryers are growing more popular since people want to avoid the extra calories when cooking with oil but still have that deep-fat fryer crispiness to foods like chicken wings or french fries.

Benefits Of Using An Air Fryer

Lots of people aren't sure if air fryers are worth the investment in comparison to cooking in the oven or on the hob. 

We've listed some benefits of using an air fryer to cook with below. 

  • Easy to use - Air fryers are very simple to use, simply choose your programme and temperature then walk away!
  • Healthier - Since air fryers use hot air for cooking, you don't need oil to cook foods, which reduces the calorie content, making it a great tool if you're on a health kick.
  • Fast - Air fryers cook very fast, much faster than the standard fan oven, so are great when you need a quick weeknight meal. 
  • Cleaning - Compared to other cooking devices, air fryers are very easy to clean, with removable baskets and no oil to clean up.
  • Versatile - Modern air cooking programs, whether you want to roast food, fry it or dehydrate it, mimicking nearly everything you can do in an oven and more!

What Different Types Of Air Fryers Are There? 

When looking for an air fryer, you will find lots of different types of air fryers on the market with different air fryer accessories. 

We've listed the main four types below to help you decide which type suits your cooking needs best. 

  • Paddle cooking air fryer - Paddle air fryers are much more convenient than your standard basket air fryer since they turn the food over to you, ensuring even cooking without the interference needed. The paddle inside of these fryers can also be removed for extra cooking space.
  • Oven air fryer - These types of air fryers have the same set-up as basket models except they contain oven racks inside. In terms of multi-functions, these air fryers are normally the best choice but can take up a lot of room due to their racks.
  • Basket air fryer - This is the most popular type of air fryer which has a pull-out basket, it also has the quickest pre-heating time. The biggest limitation to these air fryers is that they often come in a small size so aren't suitable for cooking large portions, they will also normally come with a single portion. 

Which Size Air Fryer Do I Need? 

When looking for an air fryer, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is choosing the wrong size. Too big, then your counter space will be consumed, and too small you might not end up cooking your food properly.

To help you in choosing the right-sized air fryer for your needs, we've listed some standard size guidelines below. 

  • 1-2 people - Around 3 litres. 
  • A small family (3-4 people) - 4-5 litres. 
  • 5-6 people - 7-8 litres.
  • 7-8 people - 8 litres and above.

What Can I Cook With An Air Fryer? 

Now we know all about how air fryers work, and the types and sizes, let's move on to what these fryers can cook, to see if there a worthy addition to your kitchen tech.

  • Frozen foods - Frozen foods can be cooked in an air fryer straight from the freezer without the hassle of defrosting for a quick side.
  • Chicken - Chicken is by far the best food to cook in an air fryer, you can achieve moist chicken breasts in this device, and crispy chicken wings or thighs without the need for lots of oil.
  • Vegetables - All kinds of veggies can be cooked inside of an air fryer, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes and carrots. They also give a nice crispy edge in comparison to steaming or boiling.
  • Cakes - Believe it or not, you can bake in an air fryer depending on the kind of model you have, you can also make single-serve biscuits or cakes if you fancy a solo sweet treat.
  • Chips - Chips are by far the easiest thing to make in an air fryer and make healthy alternatives to standard oven chips or fried chips since they contain much less oil. Just make sure to shake them halfway through for even cooking. 
  • Eggs - Not fried eggs, but boiled eggs! Simply preheat your air fryer then place it inside the fryer for around 6 minutes for a soft runny boiled egg or 8 minutes for a hard-boiled egg.

Features To Consider In A Ninja Air Fryer

Nowadays, air fryers can come with lots of high-tech features and cooking functions, which can make finding the right fryer overwhelming.

To help you out, we've listed the most important features to consider in your model below.

  • The capacity and size - As we mentioned earlier on in our buying guide, the capacity of the air fryer is very important, make sure it's the right size for your household. Also, consider the actual size of the air fryer, this will show you how much space it will take up in your kitchen.
  • Cooking modes - Air fryers can come with a large range of oven-air fryer options, from roasting, air frying, broiling, steaming and dehydrating. You can also find grill air fryer options. Consider what's most essential to you.
  • Energy consumption - Air fryers are great power-saving devices and don't consume a lot of electricity, but that being said, they still will affect your electricity bill, so make sure to take the consumption into account and the wattage of power when purchasing.
  • Temperature settings - The temperature settings your air fryer ovens come with determine the kinds of foods that you can cook. Cheaper fryers will have more limited ranges. Expect a good range of between 100-200 degrees to be able to cook a variety of foods from chips to meat.
  • Warranty - Always make sure your air fryer has a one-three year warranty, some air fryers are known to cut out due to electrical problems, ensuring you have a warranty can help in getting a replacement.
  • Accessories - Depending on the air fryer you choose you can buy lots of accessories for them, more oven racks or even rotisserie functions, keep this in mind when choosing your model so if you want to expand the cooking functions you can.

Air Fryers Vs Convection Ovens - Which Is Better? 

Many people prefer to use air fryers to standard convection ovens nowadays, however, some people argue air fryers can't cook food the same way a convection oven does. 

If you're on the edge about investing in an air fryer, we've compared the two kinds of cooking devices below to see if modern air fryers are worth the hype. 

Air Fryers 

Thanks to air fryers small size they cook foods very fast in comparison to convection ovens and don't take up as much counter space, making them ideal if you are cooking for one to two people. 

However, since they are smaller, they can't accommodate as much food as a convection oven can, so aren't ideal for larger families. They are also harder to clean since you have to clean the fryer as well as the basket, unlike just a pan in a convection oven. 

Pros 

  • Cook food fast. 
  • Great for small portions.

Cons

  • More expensive. 
  • Hard to clean. 
  • Nosier.

Convection Ovens 

Convection ovens blow hot air just like an air fryer does, however, they are much larger, making them great if you are cooking for a crowd, their size also allows you lay to food evenly for better cooking than an air fryer, where you normally end up stacking food on top of each other to fit in the basket.

It's worth noting that convection ovens typically have glass windows too which allows you to keep an eye on your food, and air fryers require you to pull out the basket.

Pros 

  • Cook more evenly. 
  • Glass windows. 
  • Large space.

Cons 

  • Takes up a lot of counter space.

Which Type Of Cooking Is Better?

Overall, convection ovens and air fryers are very similar, the main decision point between the two will be the amount of food you will be cooking. 

For proper meals for large crowds, convection ovens will be the better choice, but air fryers are excellent for 1-2 people.

Tips For Using An Air Fryer 

If it's your first time using an air fryer, don't worry, these countertop appliances are super easy to use, there are some worth-knowing tips however to get the most our of your fryer.

  • Avoid overcrowding the basket - The number one rule when using genuine air fryers is don't overcrowd the basket, this will prevent even cooking since it prevents proper hot air circulation.
  • Always preheat the fryer - Preheating your air fryer is very important, just like preheating an oven, this will make sure your food cooks properly and gets crispy.
  • Remember to check - One of the best advantages of air fryers, is that you can check on your food anytime you want without interrupting the cooking process.
  • Use spray oil - Using a little spray oil on your food half way through cooking can help get the food extra brown and crispy, especially if you are using your fryer for chips.
  • Use it to reheat foods - Forget the microwave! On low heat, air fryers are an excellent way to quickly reheat foods.
  • Shake the basket - If you have a classic design air fryer with a single basket make sure to shake it throughout cooking so that the food can cook evenly.
  • Remember foods cook fast - Due to their compact design, air fryers cook food very fast, therefore make sure to check it often and use a slightly lower temperature than recommended till you get used to how your air fryer cooks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ninja Air Fryers 

Is a 2.5-litre air fryer good for a family? 

A 2.5-litre air fryer is best for 1-2 people, it will be on the small side for a family, a better choice would be a 3-4 litre.

What can you not put in a Ninja air fryer?

Although ninja air fryers come with lots of extra cooking capabilities, there are some foods you cannot cook with these devices such as; fresh greens, battered foods, grains and cheese.

Can you put raw meat in a Ninja air fryer?

Thanks to the cooking surface in a ninja air fryer, they are fine for cooking raw meat, just make sure to preheat the air fryer first and use the appropriate cooking presets.

Are dual air fryers worth it? 

Dual air fryers do everything a single-basket air fryer can do but times two, making them great for cooking an entire meal out of the oven.

What is the best method of cooking chips in an air fryer?

To cook chips in an air fryer, we recommend cutting them an even size, par boiling first for a few minutes, coating them in spray oil and spices then cooking at 200 degrees for twenty minutes, shaking once half way. 

Is air-fried chicken healthy?

Air fried chicken is much healthier than traditional chicken nuggets or cooked chickens which are deep fried in oil, you can make great crispy chicken wings in grill-air fryer models without the fat.

Our #1 Ninja Air Fryer For Healthier Cooking At Home

Our number one Ninja air fryer is the Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 air fryer model, this air fryer has 15 different functions making it very versatile and also has a capacity of 5.7 litres, making it great for family use.

Growing up with parents owning a fish & chips shop, I have always loved fried food. Granted, not healthy for you, but it tastes oh sooo good! Discovering air fryers and halogen fryers has been a God-send. The healthy way to eat fried foods.

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