There is no denying that air fryers make cooking easier and more convenient. They deliver hot, crispy, delicious meals that are still healthy when using very little cooking oil. One of the most popular air fryer brands today is Ninja.
To verify whether the Ninja Air Fryer is really as good as advertised, our team directly tested the brand’s 5 best-selling air fryer models. Through actual use with a variety of recipes, from frying chicken, frying potatoes, baking pizza to making bread and steaming vegetables, we thoroughly evaluated the products based on criteria such as design, technology, performance, cooking time and cleaning ability.
The results of the testing process will be summarized and shared in detail in this article, helping you have a comprehensive view of Ninja air fryer products.
Top best Ninja air fryer products
- Best Single Compartment Air Fryer: Ninja Air Fryer 4-in-1Grey AF101
- Best Double Compartment Air Fryer: Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Quart 6-in-1 DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer
- Best Ninja Air Oven with ClearCook Door: Ninja SP101 Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven with 8-in-1 Functionality
Ninja Air Fryer Review
Design and appearance
The first impression of the Ninja air fryer is the design. The product has a modern design, the outer shell is made of glossy black plastic, the shiny metal details create a luxurious feeling.
The size of the pot is also quite compact, does not take up too much space in the kitchen, very suitable for families with small areas or apartments.
The removable basket design with a capacity of 3.8L, we find this pot is completely enough to prepare meals for 3-4 people, very suitable for small families or people living alone.
Another plus point is that the outer shell is made of high-quality, glossy black plastic, easy to clean. In particular, the touch control panel and LED screen make it convenient to operate, children can also use it easily.
The Ninja air fryer has a simple and easy-to-use setup. You just need to plug it in, put food in the basket and customize the settings. In particular, there is no need to preheat before use, so it does not take too much time for the meal.
Technology and features
The biggest highlight of the Ninja Air Fryer is the Air Crisp technology, also known as oil-free crispy frying. This technology uses 360-degree circulating hot air to cook and crisp food from all sides, helping you use very little cooking oil. This not only helps you cut down on fat but also brings delicious crispy dishes like deep frying.
We tried frying potatoes and chicken wings using this mode. After about 15 minutes, the potatoes were crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside, not inferior to deep frying.
Another feature that impressed us in the Ninja Air Fryer is Max Crisp, which allows you to cook at a high temperature of about 240 degrees Celsius. With this feature, dishes are cooked faster, still crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. We often use this feature to prepare dishes such as beef balls, chicken thighs, lamb chops.
In addition to the baking and frying functions, you can try the drying function of the product, which is also great, completely replacing the oven. We tried drying apples, bananas and mangoes.
The result is a slightly brown fruit, slightly crispy on the outside, sweet on the inside. The drying time will be longer than the oven, with the same type of apple, the oven only needs 3-4 hours of continuous drying at 80 degrees Celsius, while the air fryer needs 6-8 hours.
One thing we really like about the Ninja Air Fryer is the food reheating mode. Instead of using the microwave, which makes the food dry and lose its crispiness, just put it in the air fryer, the dish will be crispy on the outside like it was just cooked.
I tried reheating pizza and fried chicken wings, it only took 3-4 minutes to have a hot, crispy dish.
Cleanability
The Ninja’s frying basket is made of stainless steel, coated with a high-quality non-stick coating, and can be removed without touching the bottom of the basket. This design makes cleaning easier.
The outside is made of plastic, which you can wipe with a damp cloth. The frying baskets must be washed by hand or put in the dishwasher. For greasy dishes such as chicken, you can soak them in water for a few minutes, then wipe them clean with a sponge.
Performance and cooking ability
During our testing, the Ninja Air Fryer cooked several delicious dishes. The fries had a nice golden brown crust, a crispy crust, and a soft, moist, and smooth interior. Similarly, the donuts had a soft, chewy texture, slightly crispy on the outside and soft and smooth on the inside.
We took the cooking challenge up a notch by frying sweet potatoes. No other air fryer can make sweet potatoes as crispy as deep-fried. However, the Ninja’s sweet potato fries were still quite crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside, scoring about an eight compared to deep-fried. So, this could be the perfect alternative for a healthier meal.
Pros and Cons of Ninja air fryer
After more than 1 month of experience, we have a more comprehensive view of Ninja’s oil-free fryer.
Pros
- The biggest highlight of the Ninja Air Fryer is the ability to fry without or with very little oil. This helps reduce up to 75% of fat compared to traditional frying methods. Crispy fried foods such as potatoes, chicken, and fish retain their delicious crispiness without being soaked in oil, making eating healthier.
- Instead of using many devices, I can quickly grill meat, reheat pizza, or even dry fruit without buying an additional oven or food dryer. The Reheat function reheats food while retaining its crispness without drying it out like a microwave.
- The touch control panel and LED screen display. The cooking functions are pre-set; you just need to touch them to select the mode and start cooking. Time and temperature can be flexibly adjusted, allowing customization according to your needs.
- The Ninja Air Fryer’s frying basket and baking tray are coated with a high-quality, non-stick layer that is easy to remove and clean. You can wash them by hand or put them in the dishwasher without worrying about damage or scratches.
- It is cheaper than other brands on the market, suitable for low and middle-income households.
Cons
- During operation, the Ninja Air Fryer makes an apparent wind noise when the fan blows hot air.
- Although there are many options for capacity, some large dishes such as pizza, whole chicken, and whole lamb cannot fit in the frying basket. This causes us to divide the food into many parts and cook more times, causing the cooking process to be interrupted, and the food cannot be kept hot.
Compare with other types of air fryers
After using all three popular air fryers on the market: Ninja, Philips, and Cosori. Each has its advantages and disadvantages; however, in the low-cost segment, the Ninja Air Fryer stands out:
- Compared to Philips: Both are reputable brands, but Ninja scores points with me thanks to its highly convenient drying feature, especially when you want to dry nuts or small foods. Besides, Ninja’s compact design is also more suitable for my limited kitchen space.
- Compared to Cosori: Although Cosori has a larger capacity and is suitable for large families, I prioritize neatness and ease of use. Ninja perfectly meets this criterion with its sophisticated design and intuitive controls.
- Regarding performance, Ninja and Cosori deliver crispy and delicious dishes. However, the unique drying feature has made Ninja my top choice.
User Reviews
To get a more objective view of Ninja’s oil-free fryer products, below are some user reviews that we have compiled on Amazon.
Some frequently asked questions
How should you use the Ninja air fryer?
Using the Ninja air fryer, you can cook many different dishes. Such as oil-free frying, baking, reheating, baking, and drying fruit. Just select the mode, set the time and temperature, and you will have a delicious dish within 15-20 minutes.
For better cooking, you should not put too much food in the frying basket at the same time. Instead, arrange them in a horizontal layer, for better heat distribution, the food will cook evenly on all sides.
During the frying process, do not forget to flip or shake the food to get a golden brown color on both sides. If you cook dishes that require precise temperature, you should prepare an additional thermometer.
What are the health benefits of using an air fryer?
Air fryers are considered healthier than deep frying. Instead of immersing food in hot oil, air fryers use hot air to cook food, which reduces the amount of fat entering the body. This will help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes.
In addition, when frying food in hot oil at high temperatures, it can produce toxic substances such as acrylamide, but air fryers can minimize the production of this substance.
Should I put aluminum foil in the air fryer?
The answer is yes. Using aluminum foil in an air fryer is a little trick to make cooking more convenient. Because it uses hot air to cook food, the air fryer does not react with aluminum foil, which is not harmful to the body. Aluminum foil will help food cook evenly, reduce the possibility of burning, and make cleaning the pot easier.
In short, the Ninja air fryer is a product worth buying in the air fryer segment. Its ability to fry food without oil gives users a healthy eating experience. Other features such as baking, drying, and reheating also help you prepare many different dishes quickly and conveniently.
