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.

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 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.

I have a 5.5 qt basket-style Ninja and it's a nice air fryer for a single like me. I wouldn't recommend going much smaller.

I am happy with my Ninja Max XL. More important than the nominal quarts is that the heating is some space away from the food so it doesn't get nasty fast. The 5.5 quarts seem to be fine for me as a single so far. In the end, more stuff means more moisture to extract. So if not wanting to cook items with larger dimensions, then going for a second device is probably better than to go for a larger one.

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.

Great wings come out of my Ninja XL. I like being able to shake the basket.

Ninja is great, I have it! The main things I make in it are air fried potatoes (halved, diced, sliced, fries style). I don’t think I’ve done chicken, but I’ve done pork shoulder, salmon, and other meat. I’m sure chicken is feasible though! (:

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.

I just tried ours for the first time and I'm getting the same issue. Our previous, single-zone Ninja made food much crispier and in significantly shorter time. 

Yup I did a post on mine several months ago. Definitely takes more time when cooking with both sides and it can be hard to figure out timing. I wish I stuck with my single one.

I just mean in the sense that it cooks a lot slower using both sides vs one so have to figure out timing for stuff to be done. It isn't the usual times I would set when using just one side. Apparently this is an issue in the US due to voltage from what I was told numerous times on my last post. Just wish I knew before I got it. If you're in the US and this one takes just as long when you use both sides, you're lucky I guess. 🤷‍♀️ i have much longer cook times using both sides than I do with one, or with my one basket ninja I used to have.

Yes I have the ninja counter top one and love it. I am looking to cook food fast and was curious how well the wall version did compared to the counter top one.

I have this exact model. When I run just one side, it's fine. When I run both sides, with identical contents, same temperature and time as before, the food is clearly not cooked the same amount as just one side on it's own.

This model has completely separate heating elements and circulation for each basket, it is not like the Flexbasket as far as I know. I can run one side normally while the other basket is in the dishwasher, with no air leakage.

I have. The model. In. The photo.

Got a clamshell ninja foodi Max something or other and it cooks chicken including breaded chicken perfectly. If you want a tip, it's worth getting a small grill thing that stands off from the floor so the whole thing gets heat evenly. When it comes to meat, I can usually toss anything in and it's done within 14 - 16 minutes. Doesn't matter what it is. Chicken is typically lightly browned on the outside and perfect inside. Not chewy, greasy, dry. Don't use any extra oil, there is enough in the meat already. Same with potato fries, they come out nice on their own. Now all I use is my air fryer, microwave for frozen veggies and rice cooker. If I'm having rice, I use that for veggies too. I like everything to be as simple as possible, so set it and forget it. Haven't used my stove top or oven since I got the ninja in 2022. If you have more than 2 -3 people it might not be big enough. I don't like the pull out drawer ones. https://preview.redd.it/90u3bmpq9wye1.jpeg?width=3600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2983c5b6b0d4daf757196223e3e8c673f54b4073

Ninja Max. Best purchase ever, it’s used at least once a day. Would love the double drawer one though!