The main reason why air fryers are hotter is that they are healthier, which is why no family can cook without them. However, there are more categories of air fryers on the market, and many people are at a loss as to what kind of air fryer to choose, so in this review, we find you the air fryer that best meets your cooking needs.
Our Top Picks for Ninja Air Fryers in 2025
When it comes to air fryers, Ninja consistently stands out for its innovative designs, reliable performance, and user-friendly features. After researching and comparing the latest models, we’ve narrowed down the six best Ninja air fryers for you’re cooking for one, a family, or hosting a gathering, these models offer something for every kitchen. Each pick is based on performance, capacity, versatility, and real user feedback from trusted platforms.
Crispi Portable Air Fryer – Best Overall
The Ninja Crispi is a game-changer in the air fryer world, thanks to its unique glass cooking containers and compact, portable design. Unlike traditional air fryers with nonstick baskets, this model uses a 4-quart and a 6-cup glass container, both dishwasher-safe and free of nonstick coating concerns. It’s perfect for small kitchens, office lunches, or even camping trips. With four cooking modes—Air Fry, Bake, Recrisp, and Max Crisp—it delivers crispy results without the hassle of deep frying.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 4-quart and 6-cup glass containers
- Power: 1500 watts
- Cooking Modes: Air Fry, Bake, Recrisp, Max Crisp
- Dimensions: 6 x 8 x 8 inches
Why We Love It: The glass containers let you watch your food cook, and the Recrisp setting revives leftovers like pizza or fries to restaurant-quality crispiness. Its portability makes it ideal for small spaces or on-the-go cooking. However, the glass gets hot during use, so handle with care, especially around kids.
User Review (Amazon): “This is so easy to use and clean, and I love that I can see the food cooking. The Recrisp function is a lifesaver for leftovers—my pizza tasted like it was fresh from the oven!” – Amazon Customer
Shop the Ninja Crispi on Amazon
Foodi 6-in-1 Smart 10-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer (DZ550) – Best for Families
For larger households or entertaining, the Ninja Foodi DZ550 is a powerhouse. Its dual 5-quart baskets let you cook two different foods at different settings, finishing at the same time with the Smart Finish feature. A built-in temperature probe ensures perfectly cooked meats, making it a favorite for busy home cooks. With six cooking modes, including Air Fry, Roast, and Dehydrate, it’s versatile enough for everything from wings to dried fruit.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 10 quarts (two 5-quart baskets)
- Power: 1690 watts
- Cooking Modes: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Bake, Roast, Dehydrate, Reheat
- Dimensions: x x inches
Why We Love It: The dual baskets are a time-saver for preparing complete meals, and the temperature probe takes the guesswork out of roasting. It’s a bit bulky, so ensure you have enough counter space.
User Review (Best Buy): “I’ve cooked tons of fries, chicken fingers, franks, burgers, a pork roast and even a small chicken and they all came out great. The directions are easy to follow and are accurate.” – Best Buy Customer
Shop the Ninja Foodi DZ550 on Amazon
Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 (AF141) – Best for Small Households
The Ninja Air Fryer Pro AF141 is a compact yet powerful option for couples or solo cooks. Its 5-quart basket can handle up to 4 pounds of food, and its four cooking modes—Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate—make it versatile for everyday meals. It heats up in under two minutes, delivering crispy results fast.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 5 quarts
- Power: 1750 watts
- Cooking Modes: Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate
- Dimensions: 11 x 14 x inches
Why We Love It: Its simple interface with manual buttons is easy to use, even with greasy fingers. It’s loud during operation, but the quick cooking times make up for it.
User Review (Amazon): “This air fryer is so easy to use and cooks food perfectly. Fries come out crispy, and chicken is juicy. It’s small enough for my apartment but still fits enough for two.” – Amazon Customer
Shop the Ninja Air Fryer Pro AF141 on Amazon
Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer (7-qt) – Best for Versatility
The Ninja Foodi FlexBasket offers a unique twist: a 7-quart basket that can be divided into two zones or used as a single “MegaZone” for larger items like a 4-pound roast. With seven cooking modes, including Bake and Prove, it’s great for everything from weeknight dinners to homemade bread.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 7 quarts (dividable)
- Power: 1690 watts
- Cooking Modes: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate, Prove
- Dimensions: x x inches
Why We Love It: The MegaZone is perfect for big meals, while the dual-zone option suits smaller portions. The Prove mode is a bonus for bakers. It’s pricier than single-basket models, though.
User Review (Amazon): “I love the flexibility of this air fryer. I can cook a whole chicken in the MegaZone or split it for fries and wings. It’s become my go-to appliance!” – Amazon Customer
Shop the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket on Amazon
Max XL Air Fryer (AF161) – Best for Crispy Results
The Ninja Max XL is a tried-and-true favorite for those who prioritize crispy, golden food. Its basket is ideal for small to medium families, and the Max Crisp mode reaches 450°F for extra crunch. It’s been a top performer in tests for years, excelling at chicken wings and fries.
Key Features:
- Capacity: quarts
- Power: 1750 watts
- Cooking Modes: Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate, Max Crisp
- Dimensions: 11 x 14 x inches
Why We Love It: It consistently delivers the crispiest results in the shortest time. The ceramic nonstick basket is durable, but the tray can slip out when emptying food.
User Review (Amazon): “This air fryer makes the best wings I’ve ever had at home. It’s super fast and easy to clean. I use it almost every day!” – Amazon Customer
Shop the Ninja Max XL on Amazon
Foodi 6-in-1 8-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer (DZ201) – Best Budget Dual-Basket
If you want a dual-basket air fryer without breaking the bank, the Ninja Foodi DZ201 is a solid choice. Its 8-quart capacity (two 4-quart baskets) is slightly smaller than the DZ550 but still handles family-sized meals. It lacks a temperature probe but offers the same Smart Finish and Match Cook features.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 8 quarts (two 4-quart baskets)
- Power: 1690 watts
- Cooking Modes: Air Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate
- Dimensions: x x inches
Why We Love It: It’s a more affordable dual-basket option with reliable performance. It doesn’t cook as evenly as the DZ550, but it’s great for the price.
User Review (Best Buy): “We love ours! Good quality and does the job well. With 8 in our family, we sometimes have to do double batches, but it’s totally worth the wait!” – Best Buy Customer
Shop the Ninja Foodi DZ201 on Amazon
How did we test air fryers?
In order to find the best air fryer, our team of 8 people conducted real tests on different price points, sizes, brands, performance, intelligence and practicality. We bought air fryers from all major platforms, including the official ones, and tested them in our lab for 3 weeks, while our team also tested and evaluated them in our own homes.
We cooked different ingredients to evaluate the crispiness, cooking uniformity and overall texture. We also evaluated how much food each air fryer can handle to see if it is suitable for a large family. In addition to our own evaluation of these air fryers, we also referred to third-party authoritative platforms, the data of their tests, and made comparisons against the data of our tests, and finally selected the above high-quality air fryers.
You can also use the selection tool we built to help you recommend the air fryer that’s right for you:
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Ninja Air Fryer
With so many Ninja air fryers to choose from, finding the right one for your kitchen can feel overwhelming. Here’s a detailed guide to help you make an informed decision based on your needs, budget, and cooking habits.
Your Household Size and Capacity Needs
Ninja air fryers come in various sizes, from the compact 4-quart Ninja Crispi to the family-sized 10-quart Foodi DZ550. As a rule of thumb:
- 1-2 people: Opt for a 4-5 quart model like the Ninja Crispi or Air Fryer Pro AF141.
- 3-4 people: A quart model, such as the Ninja Max XL or Foodi FlexBasket, works well.
- 5+ people or entertaining: Choose an 8-10 quart dual-basket model like the Foodi DZ550 or DZ201.
Think about what you will cook most often. For example, a 4-quart basket can fit a 4-pound chicken, while a 10-quart dual-basket model can handle 8 pounds of wings.
Cooking Modes and Versatility
Ninja air fryers offer multiple cooking modes, but not all models have the same options. Common modes include:
- Air Fry: For crispy, low-oil cooking.
- Roast: Ideal for meats and vegetables.
- Bake: Great for cakes and cookies.
- Dehydrate: Perfect for making jerky or dried fruit.
- Max Crisp: High-heat setting for frozen foods.
- Prove: Found on the FlexBasket, for rising dough.
If you want a do-it-all appliance, look for models like the Foodi FlexBasket or DZ550 with six or seven modes. For simpler needs, the Air Fryer Pro AF141’s four modes are sufficient.
vs. Dual Basket: What’s Best for You?
Single-basket models like the Ninja Max XL are straightforward and great for one-dish meals. Dual-basket models, like the Foodi DZ550, shine for cooking multiple foods at once. Features like Smart Finish (syncing cook times) and Match Cook (copying settings across baskets) make dual-basket models a time-saver for busy cooks. If you often cook large or varied meals, a dual-basket or FlexBasket model is worth the investment.
Size and Counter Space
Air fryers can take up significant counter space, so measure your kitchen before buying. Compact models like the Ninja Crispi (6 x 8 x 8 inches) are ideal for small apartments, while larger models like the DZ550 ( x x inches) need more room. If storage is an issue, the Crispi’s portable design makes it easy to tuck away.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
Ninja air fryers are known for intuitive controls, but some models, like the Air Fryer Pro AF141, use simple manual buttons, while others, like the DZ550, have digital displays. For cleaning, look for dishwasher-safe baskets and crisper plates. The Ninja Crispi’s glass containers are a standout for easy, worry-free cleaning without nonstick coating concerns.
Considerations
Ninja air fryers range from around $100 to $ options like the Foodi DZ201 offer great value for dual-basket cooking, while premium models like the Crispi or DZ550 justify their price with unique features like glass containers or temperature probes. Check for sales on sites like Amazon or Ninja’s official website for discounts, especially around Black Friday.
and Durability
Most Ninja air fryers have ceramic nonstick coatings, which are durable but can chip if mishandled. The Crispi’s glass containers eliminate this concern. Features like stay-cool handles and heat-resistant feet enhance safety. For peace of mind, Ninja offers a one-year limited warranty on most models when purchased through authorized retailers.
For more tips on air fryer safety, check out Consumer Reports’ guide.
🔌 Air Fryer Electricity Cost Calculator
Summarize:
Choosing the right air fryer for your family is important, you need to know your kitchen space, budget, family size, and whether the smart features work well. The air fryers we have reviewed above have been evaluated by our team after 3 weeks of real-life use for different family sizes, features, and types, and you can be assured of their performance and quality. If you have any questions, you can contact us in the comment section.
