Looking for the best Ninja Air Fryer? Well here are our best picks from the best overall Ninja Air Fryer to budget ones to large capacity ones!
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Best Oven Air Fryer
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Best Air Fryer with Large Capacity
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Best Mini Air-Fryer For One Person
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Best Overall Air Fryer
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Best Budget
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Choosing the best Ninja air fryer is a daunting task for beginners, especially if you don’t have an intimate knowledge of how an air fryer works and which model is better for your cooking habit.
There are dozens of Ninja air fryers out there. Each model catered to a specific need with different functions and technology.
In this ultimate review, I’ll walk you through the 5 best Ninja air fryers you can buy on Amazon at different price points.
At the end of the article, you’ll know how to choose the best air fryer for one person, the best one for large capacity, the best oven style, and the best budget-friendly model.
On top of that, I’ll also include an insightful buyer guide that answers all of your related questions before you settle on the best buy.
1. Ninja SF301 Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer
Best Overall Air Fryer
This Speedi SF301 is one of the best sellers from Ninja’s Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer collection. This is the top call for those looking for a seamless cooking experience without paying an arm and leg.
The reason why it is the best overall air fryer comes from the 12 cooking functions that handle everything from air frying and baking to broiling and searing.
All the main happenings take place inside a 6-quart cooking pot. This air fryer–pressure cooker combo also comes with a 15-meal hallmark that prepares any food you have in mind within 15 minutes. Thanks to this speedy function, I highly recommend this model for all busy bees and time-strapped families out there.
If you’ve owned an air fryer–pressure cooker before, you know the lid is a game changer. You need to change the lid accordingly every time to switch the function from pressure cooking to air frying.
With this Speedi SF301, you don’t need to do anything. One single lid requires no changing at all. Keep the lid in place and all you need to do is press the smart switch to swab between air frying and pressure cooking.
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2. Ninja AF150AMZ Air Fryer XL
Best Budget Ninja Air Fryer
You don’t want a rock-bottom cheap air fryer that’s too small to handle basic cooking tasks or realize it stops working in less than a year. For that reason, I highly recommend this Ninja AF150AMZ. It has a decent price and works like a charm.
There are no bells and whistles that add up to the cost. 5 standard cooking functions including Air Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate provides you a hassle-free cooking experience any time.
This budget air fryer is a great introduction for those new to air fryers. You can use it to make breaded chicken tenders as well as defrost some steaks and frozen fish filets. It also fries raw chicken wings to golden perfection. However, make sure you check on the food and remember to turn it over so both sides are beautifully cooked.
This one is a typical basket air fryer with a 5.5-quart capacity. It comes with a set of nonstick baskets and crisper plates. Those non-stick accessories are completely dishwasher-safe.
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3. Ninja AF080 Mini Air Fryer
Best Mini Air-Fryer For One Person
How big of a meal are you looking for? Is it a small serving of baked potatoes, 5 slices of bacon, or a small cheesy pizza? If that’s all you need, a 2-quart air fryer will do the trick.
Since this model is designed for those living alone with minimal cooking effort, all you can find on the control panel is the cooking timer you can set by turning the dial knob.
The temperature is always anchored at 400°F. This simple design is straightforward for some who don’t cook a lot but will be a pain for those seeking a certain temperature their recipe requires.
On the flip side, the fixed temperature coordinates with the time pretty well. So no matter what you’re cooking, the food comes out perfectly compared to conventional methods of cooking. If you’re unsure which timer works for each certain food, give it the first few tests and adjust as you go.
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4. Ninja DT201 Foodi 10-In-1 XL Pro
Best Air Fryer with Large Capacity
Speaking of capacity, this DT201 air fryer mimics a toaster oven but is larger in size. Most air fryers out there serve somewhere between 2 to 6 quarts of capacity. However, this massive Ninka DT201 comes with 13.75 x 8 x 11.375 inches of capacity, around 21.7 quarts.
The moment I opened the box, the outstanding quality completely stunned me. The thickness of the stainless-steel body, the glass, and the rubber seals feel solid on the hands. On top of that, the LED display on the top panel is perfectly organized with decent visuals.
The see-through window lets you see what’s happening on the two racks inside. You can also adjust the rack position to fit the dishes you’re cooking. If you wanna roast a 5lb chicken underneath while grilling some veggies on top, it still fits the bill and requires no rotating at all.
Even better, this unit is a great help if you need to prep some food for the week ahead.
Since it’s large in size, the whole unit may eat up some space on your countertop. However, its timeless and modern design still gives your kitchen a charming feel wherever you put it.
Another highlight that sets this piece apart from other average models is the ability to memorize the heat setting. Let’s say you’re toasting some bagels at 375°F for 5 minutes and then switching to roasting, the old toasting temperature is still there when you switch it back.
Speaking of disadvantages, there’s a little confusion between the stated and the actual preheat time. The 90-second preheat time can only heat up to about 130 degrees. For a proper preheat, add 5 minutes on top of that and you’re good to go.
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5. Ninja SP301 Dual Heat Air Fry Countertop 13-in-1 Oven
Best Oven Air Fryer
An oven air fryer surpasses a stand-alone air fryer with its versatility to handle more cooking tasks rather than just oil-less cooking. If you’re looking for a handy oven air fryer that’s not crazy expensive, portable, and multifunctional, check out this Ninja SP301.
The best thing about this unit boils down to one thing: you can use it for almost any cooking. 13 functions let you air fry, bake, defrost pizzas, toast a bagel, and even roast a small juicy chicken within minutes.
Speaking of preheating, it takes about 2 minutes to get things going. This is a fair amount of time compared to a regular toaster oven.
The Air Bake function works like a charm. It bakes evenly on both sides. I even tried it once with a small cheesecake and was so happy with the result.
Unlike most other air fryers with a fan on top, this one has a fan on the side of the oven. Ironically, this cutting-edge design comes in handy as the air blow position heats and bakes food more evenly. You don’t have to keep turning your food over like you’re supposed to do with a regular air fryer.
The biggest downside to this unit is the depth. Even though it’s marketed to cook family-sized meals, the capacity doesn’t accommodate a whole big turkey unless it’s a small bird.
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Ninja Air Fryers Buying Guide
Type of Air Fryer
The two most common types of air fryers are basket-style and oven-style. The first one is the original, typical design that works for simple cooking tasks in less capacity. It’s easy to use but also requires constant check-ups and flipping to make sure the food is evenly cooked on both sides. The basket-style air fryer usually has a fan installed underneath the lid.
The second style is designed to accommodate more complicated cooking tasks that a basket-style air fryer cannot handle such as baking, roasting, and broiling. This model usually comes with see-through glass that lets you see what’s going on inside. The fan is usually installed on the side of the interior so you don’t have to keep turning the food over. However, the oven air fryer also takes longer to cook food than the basket style.
Size
If you live alone, there’s no point buying a bulky air fryer that eats up a large space of your countertop, especially if you live in an RV or dorm. Most basket styles are smaller than oven styles.
Some of the best mini versions I would recommend are the 2-quart Ninja AF080 Mini basket Air fryer and the Ninja SP301 oven air fryer for a small family.
Meanwhile, large capacity air fryers perform better when you need to cook for the whole family. The capacity of these units ranges anywhere between 6 quarts to over 20 quarts.
Budget
A reasonable and decent air fryer is usually priced at around $100 more or less. Sometimes you can buy it at a discount and it’s a pretty good deal. Those models around this price range are often smaller in capacity and have fewer functions.
On the higher end of the price spectrum, a Ninja SF301 Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer is around $200 while a Ninja DT201 Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry is priced over $270. They tackle more than 10 different cooking tasks with advanced technology and are larger in size.
Features
Which features do you look for in an air fryer? If you simply want fat-free and oil-less food, a simple basket air fryer should fit the bill. However, if you have lots of cooking ideas to deal with from your recipes, opt for a higher-end model.
An oven air fryer can do more than just air frying. It lets you bake, steam, defrost, air broil, sous vide, and more. If your budget agrees, you can pay more for cutting-edge functions such as a smart switch, speedy cooking, one touch – one pot meals, a digital display handle, and powerful convection.
FAQs about Ninja Air Fryers
Which Model Of Ninja Air Fryer Is Best?
Ninja Speedi SF301 air fryer and pressure cooker combo and the Ninja DT201 Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro are some of the best models from the brand. They offer excellent versatility with at least 10 cooking functions in one. Plus, they have smart designs and a large capacity to cook for the whole family.
Is It Worth Buying A Ninja Air Fryer?
Built with robust design and cutting-edge technology, Ninja has developed a wide range of air fryers catered to all cooking needs. From a mini model for one person to a versatile one-pot rapid cooker and air fryer combo, you have plenty of options at various price points to choose from.
Why Are Ninja Air Fryers So Popular?
The brand itself has won the Finder Retail Awards 2022 in the small kitchen appliance category, and its reputation is attested by loyal customers with the rising demand for healthy, less fat cooking. Ninja makes cooking a friendly experience by adding versatile programs that do all the timing and thinking for you. The accessories are also easy to clean and stand the test of time.
Is There A Downside To Air Fryers?
Depending on which models you have, some of the downsides to air fryers are limited cooking capacity, noisy fans during the event, cooking times and temperatures are not always accurate, and the food is likely to burn if you don’t keep an eye on it.
If you’re still on the hunt for stellar appliances to make an inspiring kitchen, check out my list of the 5 best convection ovens worth buying on Amazon for more ideas.