A quick guide to picking the right Ninja air fryer for you
Air fryers are sweeping the nation as a healthier alternative to deep-frying foods. The fryer basket allows hot air to circulate around foods, creating a crisp texture without depending on oils. As air fryers increase in popularity, finding one has certainly become easier, but finding the right one for you can be tricky or tedious. The Ninja brand has a wide variety of air fryers with a surprising array of capabilities.
Read on for a breakdown of the best Ninja air fryer products available.
Air fryer tips and tricks
Preheat your air fryer. While air fryers are a faster cooking method than ovens, they still have to be preheated. Most air fryers come with a preheat function, but for those that don’t, you can simply set your air fryer to the desired temperature and let it run for 3-5 minutes before putting your food in it.
Use oil for crispiness. While air fryers are designed to keep you away from the oils of the deep fryer, some oil is still important to get the crispiness that makes fried foods so yummy. Using a little oil on your fries or vegetables before they go in the air fryer goes a long way.
Grease your air fryer basket. A little butter or oil on the basket before frying will prevent foods from sticking, protecting both your food and your fryer. Avoid using aerosol greasing sprays, as these can damage your air fryer over time.
Soak up the grease. For greasy foods, putting water or even a piece of bread in the bottom drawer of your fryer will cause the grease to drip down and be soaked up instead of filling your kitchen with greasy smoke.
Shake things up. Shaking the basket a couple of times throughout the cooking cycle helps ensure that your food is cooking evenly and nothing is getting stuck.
Cook sweet and savory foods. Though we think of fried foods as being savory, most air fryers bake excellently as well. Cake, brownies and of course, doughnuts are great foods to air fry. You can also roast nuts and make hard-boiled eggs in your air fryer.
Mix your seasonings with oil. Since air fryers work by blowing air around, light foods and seasonings can be blown around, missing your food. If you mix your seasonings with oil before placing them on your food, the oil will keep the seasonings stuck onto your food when the fryer begins to blow.
Be wary of overcrowding. Big batches make cooking for a lot of people much faster, but if you crowd or overfill your air fryer basket, your food will cook unevenly and improperly, leading to an unpleasant and possibly unsafe meal.
Use the air fryer to dry itself. After washing the drawer and the basket (which you should do after every use), simply place them back in the fryer for 2-3 minutes to dry them.
Best Ninja air fryers
Best overall Ninja air fryer
Ninja AF161 5.5-Quart Air Fryer Max XL: available at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy’s and Home Depot
There’s nothing like the classics, and this straightforward air fryer from Ninja demonstrates that. A powerful device that consistently creates deliciously crispy food, the XL model has an increased 5.5-quart capacity which can easily cook 3 pounds of french fries using little to no oil.
Best budget Ninja air fryer
Ninja AF101 4-Quart Air Fryer: available at Amazon, Kohl’s, Home Depot and Macy’s
The original Ninja air fryer crisps, fries and dehydrates food and produces the same quality as other models for a wallet-friendly price. Its 4-quart capacity may not host your family reunion but is more than sufficient for average household use. With a smaller footprint on both your countertop and your bank account, this model is an excellent choice for students and small families who want all the benefits of an air fryer while minimizing the cost.
Best Ninja air fryer + toaster oven
Ninja SP101 Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer Oven: available from Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s and Macy’s
With all the functions of an air fryer and a toaster oven combined in a space large enough to fit a pizza, this product is the ultimate choice for reheating leftovers. Built on a pivot, the oven section folds upward for a clean line and plenty of countertop space. The extra width also allows for a larger quantity of food to be kept in a single layer, ensuring an even cook on foods like chicken.
Best Ninja fryer + grill
Ninja Foodi AG301 5-in-1 Indoor Grill: available at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s and Home Depot
For that grilled taste without charcoal, this air fryer and grill allows you to grill indoors with an even cook with classic grill marks. Combined with all the traditional air fryer functions, this product is a standout among air fryers.
Best multifunction air fryer
Ninja FD401 Foodi 8-Quart Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer: available at Amazon, Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s and Wayfair
An air fryer, pressure cooker, slow cooker and more, this device is a one-stop shop for nearly any cooking need. Fitted with an 8-quart capacity and a 5-quart crisp basket, cooking big family meals is no problem with this innovative model.
Bottom line
Air fryers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with features from slow cookers to toaster ovens. Most fall between $100-$300, with more multifaceted fryers being higher in price than basic models. These nifty products can be a healthier way to fry foods, a better way to reheat leftovers and a several-in-one kitchen appliance to save on counter space. If you go Ninja for your air fryer, finding the right one for your home will be a breeze.
Collette Bliss is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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