Ninja Max XL Air Fryer, 5.5 Quart, Grey

We just received our Ninja Air Fryer (AF) today. Woot!! After researching, watching YouTubes on AF’s & combo AF’s & toaster ovens we decided to go with a straight Air Fryer. So glad we did!
Smell: Many of the reviews commented on the smell when first running. We put ours on the patio & ran it about 1-1/2 hours going thru the different settings. It did have a smell which my husband related to a new car engine smell. Smile! It smells like plastic.
Bird: We have a pet ring neck dove, Buddy, so we wanted a safe AF without Teflon. We were assured the basket & plate are ceramic. The plate does come out of the basket.
Cleaning: It does clean up nice & quick. We hand washed to protect the ceramic coating.
Testing/Cooking: Hubby did fish sticks & he was so happy! Crisper than the oven!! He followed the directions on the Trident fish stick bag. These are from Costco. In sale now.
So… I eat low carb but had to try a bite of that crispy fish & it was truly crispy & tasty!
Without a recipe I jumped right in & used the AF button to air fry a bell pepper seeded & cut in half. I added cut up turkey & turkey bacon & tomato & did the AF button for a few minutes. I believe that defaults to 390 degrees. Don’t quote me. 😱 Did that for 2-3 minutes. All the while checking to make sure not burning. NOTE: When you pull out the basket it continues to run unless you pause & then hit start again. Also, it doesn’t beep half way thru for you to shake or stir. Next I added fresh Parmesan cheese. Yummo. The exciting thing is I just threw a good amount in there & it spilled onto the basket along with the tomato. Cooked on AF & it browned!! Yay, nothing stuck & it cleaned up beautifully. I just didn’t want to baby it, you know.
Time & Temp: These can be adjusted while it’s running. No need to pause it. I adjusted the time or temp & with a small delay it changed over & kept going without a hiccup.
Heat: The top is not not but the back has some heat. The handle is fine to touch. The sides & front are a bit warm. I would move fresh veggies off the counter when using this as the area does get a bit warm but not like the stove! I believe this will be great to use in the summer PLUS you can make meals fresh daily at a moments notice.
Basket: I believe this is around 8-1/4”. Not huge but not small either. It is round. We would have liked it to be square but this is great.
ENJOY shopping & learning about this Ninja. I hope this review helps.
We would recommend this addition to your family. Smile!
Blessings. 🌸🥑🌸🥑🌸

Bought this product along with an electronic 2 ring convection hob, we love both products so much we are getting rid of our gas cooker, why keep it?
The air fryer cooks beef, lamb, steaks, chicken in a third of the time the meat succulent and juicy, melts in your mouth.
Our gas oven takes much longer, saving money on gas bills, we have got rid of our deep fat fryer as well…win/win.
Highly recommend this product!!
I have written a review on Amazon about the hob hope my reviews are helpful to others who may be considering to purchase either product?

Easy to clean and cooks fast

 I had the 4 quart years ago before changing to a brand that has a removable heating element for easy cleaning. That brand sold its patent and now they are off the market, so I’m back to Ninja. The 5.5 quarter has a taller basket and because the food sits so low (father away from the heating element), there is little to no splatter on the heating element and it remains clean. I cooked a steak at the recommended 390 for 20 min. It was a thick cut Ribeye and it took a very long time for well done – 35 min or so. At 20 minutes, it was tender and juicy, but pink on the inside. By 35 min, it was pretty dry. Next time, I’ll do 250 at 30 min and I think it will be perfection. The basket isn’t very wide, so the ribeye fit snug with no room to spare on each end.

Update:
Today, I made chicken wings and they were so good. I was able to fit 8 or 9 Buffalo wings. I shook them about ever 7 minutes and they were just as good as I remember with my 4 qt. Ninja.

I like the taller basket in the 5.5 qt more. It may not fit as much food, but the splatter in the 4 qt builds up, is impossible to clean, and begins to smell after a couple of weeks because it never gets completely clean.

Update: Today, I cooked a Ribeye – well done at 360 degrees for 14 minutes. It was perfect and juicy. The cut wasn’t as thick as the first one I tried. It was maybe 0.75 inch thick and the other was 1.5 inches. For a thicker cut, I still recommend going with a lower temperature for longer.

Update: I made buffalo wings, but this time I used Air Roast instead of Air Fry and ommmmmgggg, they were soooooo good. I will definitely be using Air Roast majority of the time going forward. The chicken was more moist and tender. Air Roast is also great for when you want to toss the wings in sauce.

Update: I made a NY Strip steak and it was perfect. I used Air Fry at 360 degrees for 16 minutes and it was perfectly well done. I’ll use Air Roast next time to see how that does.

It has completely transformed the way I cook. With its ability to cook, crisp, roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate, this air fryer truly lives up to its name as a cooking powerhouse. The 5.5-quart capacity is perfect for preparing meals for the whole family, and the high gloss finish in grey adds a sleek touch to my countertop. What I love most about this air fryer is its versatility – from crispy fries to tender roasts, it delivers consistent and delicious results every time. Plus, the easy-to-use controls and pre-programmed settings make it a breeze to whip up a variety of dishes with just the touch of a button. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen, the Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer is sure to become your go-to appliance for quick and healthy meals.