The Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK: Our first-hand evaluate

With air fryers persevering with to develop in reputation, we needed to get our fingers on the fashionable Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK. Like different air fryers, it guarantees to re-create your favorite deep-fried meals — however in a more healthy kind.

Greatest Buys Editor, Ava, has by no means owned an air fryer and determined to present it a spin. As somebody who likes to attempt the most recent meals traits, she was past excited to get her fingers on the gadget.

In a simply few weeks’ time, Ava’s cooked up a few of her favorite snacks and meals. The truth is, placing this equipment to make use of has turn into a day by day ritual. Right here, she provides an sincere first-person evaluate of the AF100UK, explains the professionals and cons and shares a number of the foodie creations she’s cooked up.

Learn extra: The 5 finest air fryers to look out for in 2022

Picture: Ava Patel

Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK

You save
£30.99 (23.84 %)

£99
£129.99

Specs

• 3.8-litre capability basket
• 4 cooking presets: Air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate
• Digital timer
• Coolwall expertise
• Dishwasher secure basket and crisper tray

Upsides and Downsides

• Simple to make use of

• Helpful guide included

• Cooks meals shortly

• Meals tastes deep fried

• Makes use of little to no oil

• Noisy

• Tray fits smaller parts

• Basket isn’t clear

• The meals basket doesn’t sit flush to the machine

Design

After I initially unboxed the Ninja AF100UK, I used to be impressed by its design. The machine itself is massive and has fairly a big footprint. In my small kitchen, we’ve got to retailer it on high of the fridge as a result of we don’t have the everlasting counter area for it. It’s a sturdy machine however I don’t have an excessive amount of hassle shifting it concerning the kitchen.

Whereas the Ninja AF100UK has bought an elegant form and sturdy design, it’s a little inconvenient that the perimeters of the detachable meals basket don’t sit flush towards the remainder of the machine. That mentioned, this flaw doesn’t have an effect on the air fryer’s total efficiency, solely its aesthetic.

Is a 3.8 litre air fryer sufficiently big?

Personally, I have never struggled to cook dinner two parts within the 3.8-litre air fryer. The truth is, I’ve managed to air fry mini pizzas, garlic bread and a sizeable portion of chips. That mentioned, the meals basket might be a bit larger — particularly in case you are cooking for greater than two individuals. In case you are serving an enormous household, I might suggest going for the Ninja Foodi Twin Zone 7.6L Air Fryer.

Options

One in every of my favorite issues concerning the air fryer is the helpful AF100UK guide that comes with it. The guide breaks down every of the air fryer’s presets and comes with useful directions on the right way to cook dinner various kinds of meals.

I’ve used the air fry preset essentially the most to date. It robotically units the temperature to 200° and the digital timer to twenty minutes. Nonetheless, each will be adjusted relying on what you’re cooking. I’ve additionally used the reheat preset a couple of instances on issues like hen wings and spring rolls. I hardly ever use any additional oil when cooking except I’m air frying uncooked meats or greens. And even then, I am going to solely use a couple of squirts of an olive oil spray.

The crisper tray and the basket’s inside are each fully non-stick and are simple to scrub as soon as completed cooking. I discovered that each cool shortly and are available out glowing when put by means of the dishwasher.

Efficiency

I discovered utilizing the air fryer a easy, simple expertise. Setting the time and temperature is simple to do utilizing the up and down arrow buttons as is choosing a preset.

After utilizing it a couple of instances to cook dinner issues, resembling hen wings, spring rolls and chips, it grew to become obvious that the air fryer cooks meals surprisingly shortly (from uncooked or frozen). My meals appeared to be prepared in half the time prompt by the guide — which was good however a bit of irritating to find after burning my wings on the primary few trial runs. Because of this, I might recommend checking your meals periodically the primary few instances utilizing it!

General, within the brief period of time it takes to cook dinner meals, the Ninja AF100UK typically does a unbelievable job.

What are you able to cook dinner in a Ninja air fryer?

Just about something that may go in an oven will be cooked in an air fryer. Issues like bacon and breaded or battered bits will crisp up properly, tasting precisely like they’ve been deep-fried — when after all, minimal to no oil has been used within the cooking course of.

Whereas the air fryer can primarily cook dinner something, not every thing comes out cooked completely. I had a go at cooking an egg on toast, however the ultimate outcome did not evaluate to a fried egg cooked in a pan. Moreover, I discovered that air fried halloumi wasn’t as tasty as it’s when pan-fried; it appeared to dry out a bit of, even once I added additional olive oil to it earlier than air frying.

Surprisingly, my favorite factor to air fry to date has been a banana. I chopped the ends off a ripe banana and sliced it vertically however not going throughout the fruit. I added a bit of Nutella and popped it within the air fryer for six minutes. Contained in the peel, which did flip a darkish color in the course of the cooking course of, was a scrumptious, heat, caramelised banana cut up that really did not even want the additional chocolate.

Learn extra: 11 stunning issues you may make in an air fryer

Ava’s verdict

To be sincere, I’m a bit of in love with my Ninja air fryer. At first, I used to be a bit of sceptical of this stylish kitchen gadget. I knew that it was able to cooking meals shortly, however I assumed it wouldn’t actually enhance the style of meals by a lot. However I’m completely satisfied to report that I used to be unsuitable. Meals crisps in an air fryer in a approach it by no means does in an oven. Something breaded, battered or pastry-like develops a crunchy golden crumb in a matter of minutes.

Nonetheless, whereas I’m delighted with the velocity, effectiveness and effectivity of the AF100UK, the air fryer shouldn’t be all excellent. There have been a few key options the air fryer was lacking, resembling a preheat operate, a flip reminder, an elevated smaller tray that might relaxation atop the underside crisper so you would cook dinner extra meals without delay and a small pair of tongs included within the field would have been a pleasant contact contemplating the air fryer prices over £100.

£99 at Amazon

£99.99 at Currys

£99.99 at Ninja Kitchen

Is a Ninja air fryer price it?

For my part, sure. The Ninja air fryer is price it if you’d like tasty meals and also you need it shortly. Nonetheless, when you have a big household or cook dinner massive portions of meals at a time I’d extremely suggest investing within the Ninja Max and even the Massive Twin Zone air fryer. I reckon that having an even bigger basket measurement could be a recreation changer with regards to cooking advanced meals.

Costs up to date on 01/06/2022. We’re not liable for any adjustments on the costs talked about above.