Ninja - Air Fryer Pro XL 6-in-1 with 6.5 QT Capacity Gray AF181

Some personal feedback on this as I spent the last week picking an air fryer. Size of the fryer was a big factor in our search. First I bought the Ninja Pro XL 6 in 1. I liked that it would get to 450 degrees. We ended up returning it because it was so loud it sounded like a plane taking off. Second we got the Instant Pot, due to the positive online and Americas Test Kitchen reviews from a few years ago. We got the updated version with the window. That one got returned because one, it smelled absolutely awful when heated. Second, the bottom plate would pop up and sit at an angle as soon as it started to warm up. This is a safety issue because it would fly out when trying to dump out hot food. After looking back at the "positive" reviews, I realized they are almost all incentivized. Third and final one we got is the Ninja Foodi 8qt two basket fryer. So far so good. It's still kind of noisy, but it's tolerable. The dual basket is a nice option. Also even though it's dual, the dimensions are still surprisingly compact. It's slightly wider than a single basket model, but it wasn't any deeper. We also considered a Midea because Sam's has some, but they are huge.

Get a 2 draw it just gives you way more options and there's no downside. I've got a ninja XXL and love it, I saw they just released a new model where the draws are stacked instead of side by side so it takes up less space, could be a good option.

My sister got me a ninja max crisp for Christmas and it's friggin' excellent. 

I have a Ninja that's got Super-Crisp (450F) technology.

If yours is the type of family that uses gadgets like the air fryer, then go for a Philips HD9252/90 I’m saying this because a lot of us just buy gadgets and then they start to be kept aside. I found that basting your non veg items with a little oil really makes a world of difference. If you want to splurge, the Ninja Pro is a wonderful fryer. Ceramic and all that.

I shake in this one too. It's a little on the smaller side so I only do about 8 wings at a time. I usually flip about half way through and do some shaking towards the end.

I imagine “best” is a matter of trade offs and perspective, just like most things. Our Ninja XL has completely replaced our full-size oven, we love it and use it almost every day. There’s a really cheap air fryer in my office’s break room, I realize sometimes budget is the most important thing for some people, but I would never buy something like that one that rarely works, cooks uneven, and looking at the melting plastic parts it looks like it’s going to cause an emergency someday.

I have the Ninja XL and love it, however, you might want to consider just buying one you like with an extended warranty. Normally I avoid those like the plague but they make sense for something like this. Get a 4 year warranty on a $150 AF, knowing with high usage you will cash in.

I love my ninja XL or whatever it is.

I have a Cosori toaster oven style air fryer (some of my kids are all bougie and have Breville and the other a Ninja). All are terrific because they can all make a frozen pizza to perfection. Yes, longer pre-heat compared to a basket...by maybe a minute. My kid with the Ninja XL can make a full dinner with sides all at once for her and her husband, so that versatility is off the charts. I find with the mesh basket tray on my Cosori that I don't have to flip foods and they're much easier to space out to allow the circulation that is the science behind why an air fryer works.