Ninja - Max XL Air Fryer (AF161)

So I have two air fryers. Both are ninjas. One is single and one is dual. I do agree the single is better. It's really convenient to have three air fryers when making something like air fryer chicken, roasted veggies & fresh french fries. I can make all three at the same time and eat at the same time. Super convenient. Also if making wontons and spring rolls. I have a pretty busy job, a young child & a husband who doesn't cook. So for me worth it to have all. I also have enough space in my kitchen.

 Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is my go-to for crispy, even cooking. It’s super easy to use with intuitive buttons and a nonstick basket that’s a breeze to clean. Perfect size for 2-4 people, but if you’re cooking for a crowd, it might feel a bit small. It’s a solid performer, especially for things like chicken wings and fries.

This is my current go-to, and it’s been amazing. I have been using Ninja air fryer MAX XL for few months. It’s super easy to use, heats up fast, and consistently makes the crispiest wings and fries I’ve ever had. The ceramic nonstick basket is a breeze to clean (dishwasher-safe too), and it’s perfect for 2-4 people. The “Max Crisp” setting is a game-changer if you want that extra crunch.

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.

Any air fryer is a “convection cooker.” The “air fryer” name is a sales gimmick. Just like the “instant pot” label is a gimmick for a pressure cooker. I have owned a Breville Smart Oven for several years and would buy another one. I also have a Ninja upright in my second home. I like the Breville better, but the Ninja is fine. I cook a lot. I have a high end stove with a convection oven. If it were me, I would keep it. The Breville does everything that your toaster oven does, but better and faster. It also can roast and bake without having to use your regular convection oven. Of all the countertop “convection” ovens, it is probably the best. This was a very thoughtful gift from your relatives. As far as cooking with it, we love chicken wings. The Breville cooks the best chicken wings fairly fast and better than a regular convection oven and roasts vegetables beautifully. (Probably because of the smaller cubic area.) Also reheating on the Air Fryer mode is a game changer, much better than your microwave. To use it well, you do need to familiarize yourself on how it works. Watch some YouTube videos where the Breville is used. Read the instructions so you can learn how to use the various modes. Familiarize yourself with it before making a decision to return it and by all means, go ahead and treat yourself to a carbon steel wok as well. It is not an either or proposition. You deserve both!

I have the Ninja mega drawer and use it for baking. Get the bigger one though as the compact one isn’t deep enough (I had both).

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.