Our writers test and research products independently. When you buy through a link on our site we may earn a commission, but we’ll only ever publish an honest review. Find out more.
Which is the best Ninja air fryer for your home? Here are Mumsnet users' favourites
When it comes to air fryers, Ninja is certainly the brand to beat, but which model is right for your kitchen? Here are the best Ninja air fryers you can buy today, as recommended by Mumsnet users.
By Lucy Cotterill With contributions from Natasha Gregson | Last updated Oct 7, 2025
The market leader for kitchen gadgets, Ninja has a well-deserved top spot on most best air fryer lists. Despite their premium price point, Mumsnet users agree, highly rating their innovative air fryers for their overall performance, functionality and ease of use.
With so many Ninja models to choose from, however, finding the right choice for you and your family can be overwhelming. Do you have space for a large Ninja air fryer that’s big enough to feed the entire family, or would you prefer a more compact model that caters for couples and small households? Then there's versatility to consider too: do you want a feature-rich air fryer or a more pocket-friendly option?
To help you find the best Ninja air fryer for your needs, we've tapped into the tried-and-tested views of Mumsnet users, learning more about the Ninja air fryers they’ve used in their own homes and would happily recommend to others. After combining these Mumsnetter recommendations with authentic consumer reviews, the opinions of food industry experts, and the verdicts of trusted consumer champions, we’re able to bring you the best Ninjas for every household and budget.
Looking for more Mumsnet user-approved kitchen gadgets? We also have guides to the best kettles, best microwaves and best slow cookers.
Best Ninja air fryer UK: at a glance
Best overall: Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer AF400UK, £159
Best budget: Ninja Air Fryer MAX PRO AF180UK, £130
Best for cooking meat: Ninja Foodi MAX Health Grill & Air Fryer AG551UK, £199
Best for families: Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer AF500UK, £217
Best for two people: Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK, £99
Best compact dual-zone: Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L, £270
Best for versatility: Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 Multi-Cooker, £320
Best Ninja air fryer overall
Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer AF400UK
Two large capacity (4.75 litre) drawers
Mix and match or sync cooking programmes, temperatures and times
Six cooking modes
Cooks up to 75% faster than fan ovens
Dishwasher-safe parts
No viewing windows
Short power cable
Key specs
Price on writing: £143 | Style: Dual | Capacity: 9.5 litre | Cooking modes: 6 | Dimensions: H32.5 x W41.5 x D27cm | Wattage: 2470 watts | Dishwasher safe parts: Yes | Accessories included: Two non-stick crisper plates and recipe guide
What Mumsnet users say
Reviewed by Mumsnet editor Rebecca Roberts: Read our full Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK review
For busy families that are often preparing multiple dishes simultaneously, a dual air fryer can certainly take the stress out of mealtimes. The Ninja Dual Zone AF400UK is hugely popular with Mumsnet users - and after testing it, I can see why. Unlike single air fryers, it has two spacious 4.75-litre drawers, which means I can cook separate dishes at the same time without compromising on timing. Better still, you can sync them to finish together even if they’re set to different temperatures and cooking functions, so we all sit down to eat at once - a game-changer for family meals.
Ninja claims it cooks up to 75% faster than a traditional oven, and with six functions to choose from - including air fry, max crisp, roast and bake - I’ve streamlined everything from chicken schnitzel (from scratch in just 12 minutes!) to crispy homemade chips that my kids inhale. I’ve even used it to prep veg for salads, reheat leftovers and cook jacket potatoes, which used to take much longer in our oven.
Cleaning is refreshingly easy, too. Both drawers and the removable grids are non-stick and can go straight in the dishwasher - an upgrade compared to my oven trays, which I dread scrubbing. The only small downside? Lightweight foods, like kale crisps, have a tendency to fly around inside the drawer, even getting caught near the heating element during testing.
Related: The best bread makers for fresh, homemade loaves
Best budget Ninja air fryer
Medium capacity
Adjustable crisper plate
Affordable price tag
Dishwasher-safe basket
No presets
No viewing window
The power cable is short
Key specs
Price on writing: £129 | Style: Single | Capacity: 6.2 litres | Cooking modes: 6 | Dimensions: H30.5 x W30.5 x D36cm | Wattage: 2000 watts | Dishwasher safe parts: Yes | Accessories included: Crisper plate
What Mumsnet users say
It may not be the cheapest Ninja air fryer you can buy - however, when weighing up the cost versus capacity, we feel the Ninja Air Fryer Max Pro offers the best overall value for money. Despite its relatively affordable price tag, it comes with a generous 6.2-litre capacity, which is ample for most small to medium families. It’s also simple and easy to use, with an intuitive design that is well suited to those new to the world of air frying.
Unlike Ninja’s more costly models, you won’t find any presets on this budget air fryer, but Ninja does claim that it can cook family favourites such as fish fingers and sausages up to 50% faster than a conventional fan oven. We love that the crisper plate is height adjustable, allowing you to achieve the perfect crispy finish on your french fries and chicken wings. We do wish there was a viewing window, however, allowing you to visually check on the cooking progress without opening the drawer.
With a non-stick removable basket that can be popped in the dishwasher for convenience, the Ninja Max Pro Air Fryer makes a great mid-capacity choice for families. The downside? The power cord is short, so you’ll need to position it close to your sockets to avoid frustration. For larger families who need to cook two different meals independently, you may find a dual drawer, such as the Ninja AF400UK (featured above), makes a more practical alternative.
Best Ninja air fryer for cooking meat
Large capacity grill with integrated meat probe
Six cooking functions
Smart Cook System lets you know when meat is cooked just the way you like it
Takes up significant countertop space
Reviewers found that the inside can be tricky to clean
Key specs
Price on writing: £199 | Style: Single air fryer grill | Capacity: 3.8 litres | Cooking modes: 6 | Dimensions: H42.0 x W39.8 x D28.1cm | Wattage: 1760 watts | Dishwasher safe parts: Yes | Accessories included: 5.7L cooking pot, 3.8L crisper basket, grill plate, probe, cleaning brush, recipe guide
What Mumsnet users say
Reviewed by Mumsnet writer Lucy Cotterill: Read our full Ninja Foodi Max AG551UK Health Grill & Air Fryer review
The Ninja Foodi MAX Health Grill & Air Fryer 5.7L AG551UK is a serious bit of kit, both in size and capability. It takes up a fair amount of counter space, so you’ll need to factor that in, but if you love perfectly cooked steak or crispy air-fried favourites, it’s well worth it.
This model combines a versatile air fryer with a powerful health grill, offering six cooking functions and a SmartCook probe that monitors the internal temperature of your food, automatically switching off once it reaches your chosen doneness - ideal for meat lovers who want restaurant-quality results at home.
I found the SmartCook function a real game-changer, making it easy to cook everything from medium-rare steak to chargrilled chicken with confidence. The intuitive touchscreen and visual progress bar were also big pluses, giving a clear idea of how long was left before dinner was ready. That said, I did occasionally wish for the flexibility of a dual-zone air fryer - with only one cooking compartment, I couldn’t cook different foods separately at the same time.
Cleaning up was surprisingly straightforward, thanks to the ceramic-coated, dishwasher-safe grill, pan, and crisper basket, though I did need to put some effort in to tackle stubborn residue inside the grill after greasy food. All in all though, If you have the space for it, this air fryer-grill hybrid is a fantastic investment, especially for those who want that smoky, chargrilled flavour all year round without needing an outdoor BBQ.
Related: The best food processor for easy meal prep
Best Ninja air fryer for families
Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Air Fryer AF500UK
FlexDrawer can convert between a high-capacity single and dual air fryer
Capacity for up to eight portions
Sync or match programmes and timings
No viewing window
Divider makes it a little trickier to decant the contents
Key specs
Price on writing: £217 | Style: Single or dual | Capacity: 10.4 litres | Cooking modes: 7 | Dimensions: H32.7 x W49.6 x D31.6cm | Wattage: 2470 watts | Dishwasher safe parts: Yes | Accessories included: Divider, two non-stick crisper plates
What Mumsnet users say
Want the best of both worlds? Thanks to an innovative FlexDrawer, this Ninja Foodi Air Fryer can feed up to eight people with an extra large 10.4-litre single drawer ‘MegaZone’, or alternatively it can be split to create two individual 5-litre drawers using a central divider.
While the high-capacity drawer is ideal for large family meals, Sunday roasts and gatherings, the dual zones are a practical choice for everyday family dining, providing the flexibility to cook two different meals independently and sync them to finish at the same time. Due to the central divider, you do need to be a little cautious when decanting the contents, however, especially if serving sauce-based dishes in one half and dry, crispy food in the other.
A popular choice for avid home bakers, the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer not only has a baking mode for perfectly risen cupcakes and gooey-centered chocolate chip cookies, but it even has a prove programme - ideal for prepping for family pizza nights and baking fresh bread.
Best Ninja air fryer for two people
Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK
Small capacity suitable for couples or solo diners
Compact footprint takes up little space
Affordable price tag
Easy and intuitive to use
May quickly wish you’d bought a bigger appliance
Capacity likely to be too small for families
Key specs
Price on writing: £99 | Style: Single | Capacity: 3.8 litres | Cooking modes: 4 | Dimensions: H32 x W36 x D25cm | Wattage: 1550 watts | Dishwasher safe parts: Yes | Accessories included: Crisper plate
The smallest and most affordable air fryer in the Ninja range, the 3.8-litre capacity Ninja AF100UK is well suited to couples and solo diners, with a stylish and compact design that will take up minimal space on your countertop.
While it's not quite as cheap as similar-sized air fryers from other brands, the budget-friendly Ninja AF100 comes with the features and functionality you’d expect from this premium brand, and it's highly rated for performance and value for money.
With four cooking modes including air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate, it’s cheaper and more efficient than your oven for reheating pasta for your lunch or preparing the perfect portion of crispy french fries. Handy for beginners, the clear temperature and timer controls are intuitive and simple to use – however, you may find yourself craving more capacity as your confidence grows.
Best Ninja dual air fryer for small kitchens
Ninja Double Stack XL Air Fryer 9.5L
30% slimmer than the AF400 dual Ninja
9.5-litre capacity
Four cooking levels
Six cooking functions
Dishwasher-safe parts
Costly
Some report uneven cooking (though it wasn't an issue for us during testing)
Key specs
Price on writing: £188 | Style: Dual | Capacity: 9.5 litres | Cooking modes: 6 | Dimensions: H38.5 x W28 x D47cm | Wattage: 2470 watts | Dishwasher safe parts: Yes | Accessories included: 2 x non-stick crisper plates and 2 x racks
What Mumsnet users say
Reviewed by Mumsnet home and kitchen editor Natasha Gregson: Read our full Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer review
When it comes to dual air fryers, they’re usually a dream for busy families, but let’s be honest, they can be absolute beasts on the worktop. If you’re tight on kitchen space, the Ninja Double Stack XL is ideal. Instead of the usual side-by-side drawers, Ninja has stacked them vertically, making it 30% slimmer than their AF400UK model while still offering an impressive 9.5-litre capacity - plenty big enough to feed a family of four to six.
I’ll admit, I’ve become that person who won’t shut up about their air fryer since getting my hands on this one. It looks sleek, is easy to use, and the results are consistently great. Chicken and salmon came out perfectly crispy on the outside while staying juicy inside, and I loved the ability to mix and match different foods with separate timers. Some reviews mention uneven cooking, but I found that giving things a quick shake or flip halfway through sorted that out.
The only real downside? The price - it’s definitely at the higher end of the scale. But with its space-saving design and versatility, I think it’s worth it. If you’ve got room for a wider model, the AF400UK remains a top choice among Mumsnetters. But if you, like me, are forever juggling limited counter space, the Double Stack XL is a fantastic alternative.
Related: The best sous vide machines for adventurous cooks
Best versatile Ninja Air Fryer
15 cooking functions including air fry, steam, slow cook, grill and bake
Can layer a main and two sides at the same time
Capacity for up to six portions (7.5 litres)
Heavy
Quite complicated to learn all the functionality
Pricey
Key specs
Price on writing: £319 | Style: Multi-cooker | Capacity: 7.5 litres | Cooking modes: 15 | Dimensions: 36 x 35 x 36 cm | Wattage: 1000 watts | Dishwasher safe parts: Yes | Accessories included: Cook and crisp basket, digital cooking probe, cooking pot, two-tier reversible rack
If air frying is just the tip of the iceberg, the versatile Ninja Foodi MAX 15-in-1 Multi-Cooker is certainly worth considering, offering 15 cooking programmes in one impressive appliance.
From air frying to baking, steaming to slow cooking to name but a few, this 7.5-litre Ninja Multi-Cooker has capacity to serve up to six portions of family favourites - including chillis, casseroles, roast chickens and french fries. And thanks to the two layer rack, you can even cook a main and two side dishes simultaneously.
We love the integrated digital probe, which helps provide peace of mind and take the guesswork out of cooking by continuously monitoring the internal temperature of your meats.
While it definitely doesn’t come cheap, this multi-cooker reduces the need to invest in various appliances that will clog up your kitchen cupboards. At over 11.5kg, however, it’s a fairy weighty piece of kit, so you may want to find a permanent spot on your countertop.
Are Ninja air fryers worth it?
While you’re unlikely to get change from £100 for even the smallest of Ninja air fryers, most Mumsnet users agree that the brand offers excellent value for money, with their air fryers having quickly become one of the most used items in their kitchen.
As well as intuitive controls, several cooking modes, high-quality dishwasher-safe parts and impressive cooking performance, most Ninjas cost around 50-65% less to run than your average conventional oven, making them a simple and energy-efficient way to cook meals at home.
Our only complaint - we’d love to see some viewing windows added to their designs, which would provide additional peace of mind that cooking is progressing as planned.
How to choose the best Ninja air fryer for your family
Here are some things to consider when choosing the best Ninja air fryer for you and your family:
Capacity - How many people will you be cooking for? Consider whether you are cooking for a couple or an entire family and weigh this up against the overall capacity of the air fryer. While smaller air fryers will be more affordable, you may find you seek a larger model as your confidence grows. Many Mumsnetters chose to size up with capacity to ensure their Ninja remained fit for purpose.
Single or dual - Do you need to be able to cook multiple meals simultaneously? While a single-drawer air fryer can accommodate multiple servings, a dual air fryer offers more flexibility for picky eaters, food preferences or dietary requirements.
Number of cooking programmes - Ninja air fryers can vary between four and 15 programmes depending on the model, so it’s important to consider which features are important to you. For meat eaters, the Ninja Foodi Max Health Grill AG551UK has the additional benefit of a meat probe and grill, whereas the 15-in-1 Multicooker can be a versatile choice for families who also enjoy steaming and slow cooking.
Dimensions - Some Ninja air fryers can be quite heavy and bulky, taking up significant space on your countertop. If you’re more limited on space, you may want to consider a smaller air fryer or stacking design such as the Ninja Double Stack XL.
Cost - Budget also plays a big part in choosing the right Ninja for your family. It’s important to weigh up cost against the capacity and functionality when assessing the overall value for money.
What’s the biggest Ninja air fryer?
For big families, large portions or entertaining, the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer offers the biggest capacity in the Ninja range, with a 10.4-litre MegaZone capable of cooking meals for up to eight people.
How to clean a Ninja air fryer
It's important that you clean your air fryer regularly to prolong its life and keep it working at its best. After use, ensure your air fryer has cooled down completely, before following these simple steps below.
Use the dishwasher - Most Ninja air fryers come with dishwasher-safe parts, which offers a quick and stress-free way to wash up after use. Remove the trays, racks and baskets before loading them onto the top shelf of your freestanding or integrated dishwasher, choosing a gentle cycle to protect the non-stick coatings. If your baskets are covered in heavy food residue or dried-on sauces, you may want to pre wash or leave them to soak for a short period of time before loading.
Dry them thoroughly - Before you pop them back in the air fryer, dry each part thoroughly using a tea towel to ensure no moisture remains.
Clean the inside - Often the most challenging part, you should then wipe down the interior of the air fryer with a damp cloth, using a soft brush to gently wipe away any dried-on residue.
Reload the air fryer - Once dry, return the baskets and trays to the main unit before wiping down the exterior.
What’s a good alternative to a Ninja air fryer?
If you’re looking for an air fryer but simply can’t justify the premium price tag of a Ninja – fear not – you don’t have to miss out on the fun. Check out our round-up of the best budget air fryers that make a good alternative.
While they both come highly rated by Mumsnetters, the Cosori 5.5 litre is a great budget choice for couples and smaller households, and Lakeland’s Dual Basket Air Fryer is a good larger capacity dual-drawer option for families.
How we chose the best Ninja air fryer
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
Having grown in popularity significantly in recent years, there are many discussions on the Mumsnet forums about air frying, whether that’s the best meals to make, tips, tricks and hacks, and the best air fryers for the job.
First up, we sought out the trusted opinions of discerning Mumsnet users to get their feedback on the Ninja air fryers that they rate, recommend and use in their own homes.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace, including those recommended by food experts, chefs and consumer champions.
Authentic consumer reviews
Then, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Lakeland, and Argos to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
In-depth testing
Finally, MNHQ editors Natasha Gregson and Rebecca Roberts plus writer Lucy Cotterill put selected products from our shortlist through their paces, testing them out extensively in their own kitchens to make a range of meals. They carefully evaluated the Ninja Foodi AF400UK, AG551UK Health Grill and Double Stack XL Air Fryer, scoring them on their performance, ease of use, design, and overall value for money.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising expert guidance and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
First introduced to air fryers during lockdown, Lucy is also prone to rustling up some quick midweek meals in her Ninja, with some major successes and a few unsuccessful trials along the way. She’s also written numerous Mumsnet Swears By guides on air fryers, including the best air fryers overall, best dual air fryers, and best budget air fryers, along with many other kitchen gadget articles.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.
Read next: The best mandoline slicers