Ninja air fryer review: I banned all other appliances to test this air fryer — now I barely use my oven

I’VE wanted to do a Ninja air fryer review for ages.

With a busy house full of grown-up kids and their hungry mates popping in to empty the fridge, a partner working shifts, and my hectic work schedule, it’s safe to say I need all the cooking help I could get.

Can this dual-drawer air fryer be twice as easy to cook compared to a normal oven, and have dinner on the table in half the time?

• Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer, £229.99 from Ninja -

Ninja air fryer review: quick summary

Air fryers are a no-brainer these days, when electricity bills are high and waistbands are expanding. Using less fat to cook in less time just makes sense, doesn’t it?

Why should I preheat the oven and leave it running, making that electricity meter spin, when I was assured this countertop gadget could do it all much more economically and with brilliant results?

Using electric elements and fans to force hot air around ingredients in its two ‘drawers’, the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer has lots of useful functions to play around with.

Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate and Max Crisp will get your preferred dish just the way you like it, and thanks to the enclosed cooking time and method guide it will be easy to pin down the method that’s just right.

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Ninja air fryer review: full review

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I decided to ban the use of other cooking appliances and gadgets in the family kitchen to see how we got on with just the Ninja for the week. 

I thought of the Ninja as a two-chamber mini fan oven, the elements and fans working together to force hot air all around the food inside. And it wasn’t long before I realised it had been days since I’d turned on either one of the ovens in my range cooker.

I didn't need to until child number one came home from Costco with a giant pizza that was more than a match for the Dual Foodi’s capacity.  

This is Ninja’s best-selling air fryer, and I can see why. It’s such a versatile help in the kitchen. Working from breakfast toasties to teatime quiche to post-pub chip butties, there was always a job for it to do and we didn’t once miss the gadgets that had been stashed away. 

Top tip

If you can't splash out on a full-price air fryer, it's worth checking out some of the options at Aldi. The discount retailer regularly has cheaper options available.

• Aldi air fryer, £49.99 -

I could make fairy cakes and strudel, using silicone bakeware. The kids reheated takeaways and leftovers rather than chucking more waste in the bin – another saving.

Using the two completely separate baskets at the same time meant I could cook something for veggies and meat eaters separately, but at the same time.

I’d say this is also a Godsend for parents with fussy kids who want different things at the same time. Cook a frozen lasagne in one basket and fish fingers and chips in the other; the Ninja will even get different meals ready at exactly the same moment with a push of its ‘Sync’ button.

The non-stick, pull-out drawers and their inner trays were all robust and looked like they’d withstand some heavy use. I also found them easy to clean, which I did after each use as, after all, fat was draining from dishes every time.

• Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer, £229.99 from Ninja -

How much does the Ninja air fryer cost?

Get your Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer direct from at £229.99. I’ve spotted this model in other stores such as and too, but it’s hard to find any price differential, so keep your eyes peeled for couple and cashback deals.

Ninja air fryer review: the verdict

So, will I turn off my main oven for good? Well, I will hold onto the old faithful, but only for Christmas day cooking for the masses or those times only a giant pizza will do.

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Gorgeous, crispy fries, juicy chicken and steaks, no-fuss bakes… and all this without heating up the room during the hottest summer on record or sending my utility bills skyrocketing? Yes, please.

• Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer, £229.99 from Ninja -