In the constantly evolving landscape of kitchen appliances, the Ninja Max XL Air Fryer has firmly established itself as a prominent contender. Whether you are new to the air fryer world or in the market for an upgrade, chances are you'll encounter the Ninja Max XL as you explore your options. This highly rated air fryer is beloved by many, and it's for valid reasons too.
In this post below, we will provide you with all the essential information you need to know about this air fryer. Our objective is to equip you with all the essential information, spanning from its design and features to a comparative analysis with other models available in the market. Through this exploration, we aim to assist you in making an informed decision, helping you determine whether the Ninja Max XL model aligns with your culinary needs and preferences.
How does the Ninja Max XL Look and Feel?
At first glance, the Ninja Max XL Air Fryer looks exactly what you expect a traditional basket-style air fryer would look like. Its glossy, black, pod-shaped appliance exudes a sense of robustness combined with modern aesthetics.
The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL boasts a more slender footprint than most mid-size air fryers. The shiny silver handle pulls the air fryer basket out effortlessly and offers a commendable depth. Its diameter is approximately nine inches; it provides ample space to accommodate 3 lbs of French fries or chicken wings.
What can the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL do?
The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is designed to rapidly and precisely cook a wide range of foods, from chicken wings and French fries for that coveted crispy texture to roasting vegetables and baking delightful desserts. Thanks to its MaxCrisp Technology, this appliance unleashes a scorching 450-degree superheated air. It can cook foods up to 30% faster than the Ninja AF100 model and with up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods. This results in hotter, crispier dishes without excessive oil, making you enjoy your favorite fried treats guilt-free.
With its ample 5.5-quart ceramic-coated nonstick basket, which can accommodate up to 3 pounds of food, the air fryer provides user-friendly controls and a wide array of cooking functions. These functions include Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. The ceramic-coated basket is nonstick and dishwasher-safe, simplifying the cleanup process. Operating within a temperature range from 105 to 450 degrees, it offers versatility for various dishes. A user-friendly digital display and a powerful 1750-watt motor for efficient cooking complement all of this.
Ninja Air Fryer Max XL At Glance
What We Like
Fast and Easy Cooking: The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL offers a fast and easy way to prepare various dishes, from air frying chicken wings to roasting vegetables and baking desserts.
Large Capacity: It comes with a family-sized 5.5-qt basket that can cook and crisp up to 3 lbs of French fries or chicken wings, making it suitable for serving multiple people.
Versatile Cooking Functions: It provides various functions, such as Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate, offering various cooking options.
Easy to Clean: Both the 5.5-quart ceramic-coated nonstick basket and the crisper plate are dishwasher safe, guaranteeing effortless cleaning after use.
Wide Temperature Range: The air fryer operates within a temperature range of 105–450 degrees, offering flexibility in cooking various dishes.
Max Crisp Technology: With this innovative technology, the appliance can generate a scorching 450-degree superheated air, leading to a remarkable 30% faster cooking time when compared to the Ninja AF100 model. The outcome is hotter and crispier results without the need for excessive oil, providing guilt-free indulgence in your favorite foods.
Roasting and Baking: Apart from frying, it can roast vegetables and bake desserts.
Rapid Air Frying: It can quickly air fry foods like French fries, ensuring crispy results are just like deep-fried French fries.
Non-toxic material: The air fryer basket is coated with ceramic, making it nonstick and dishwasher safe.
Easy to use: The control panel offers remarkable user-friendliness. A clear digital screen prominently displays the available functions, eliminating any guesswork during cooking. You can effortlessly choose your desired function and then easily adjust time and temperature settings manually.
Little to no smoke: There is little to no smoke, depending on what you are cooking. This means it won't fill your living space with unwanted smoke.
Minimal nose: You can hear some faint noise, but not very loud.
What We Don't Like
Too powerful: The hot air can be too strong, which may not be ideal for delicate items like sandwiches or homemade pizza with light topping unless you secure the top bread with a minimum of three toothpicks.
Round Shape Basket: While this air fryer does have a 5.5 qt capacity, you may find that square baskets have more usable area and can feel small.
No Food-Specific Presets: This air fryer model doesn't have presets for specific foods like steak, Fish, chicken, etc.
Nonstick worn off over time: The nonstick ceramic coating on the air fryer basket may gradually wear down with use. To prolong the lifespan of the coating, we suggest hand washing. Eventually, replacement may become necessary.
Plastic Material: The house of the air fryer is made from plastic, which may not be as durable as stainless steel models. In addition, when exposed to high heat, the plastic parts can emit chemicals.
Plastic Smell: While not all users experience this, some have reported a plastic odor during the initial use of the appliance.
Ninja Air Fryer Max XL Review
Overall Score: 4.7/5
Design & Build (4.8/5)
The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL showcases a modern design with a sleek grey finish, making it a stylish addition to any kitchen. Its sturdy construction suggests durability, ensuring longevity for regular use. With 14 in L x 11 in W x 14.75 in H and a 5.5-quart capacity, you can fit three pounds of fries and wings while keeping a small amount of footprint on your counter space.
Performance (4.8/5)
This particular air fryer model performs consistently, delivering flawless results across all seven available functions. Furthermore, it seamlessly handles multiple tasks within a single user-friendly machine. Its generous 5.5-quart capacity accommodates family-sized meals. Utilizing rapid air circulation technology, it achieves uniform cooking and attains delightful crispiness without the need for excessive oil, promoting a healthier approach to cooking and dining.
Capacity (4.7/5)
The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is designed to meet the demands of family-sized meal preparation. Its substantial 5.5-quart ceramic-coated nonstick basket provides ample space, effortlessly holding up to 3 lbs of food, all while conserving valuable countertop real estate. This roomy capacity streamlines the cooking process, minimizing the necessity for multiple cooking sessions.
Nonetheless, it's worth noting that the round shape of the air fryer basket may give the impression of limited space. Some users have found square-shaped air fryer baskets to offer a more generous and practical cooking area.
Ease of Use (4.7/5)
Despite its multifunctionality, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL offers a straightforward design, featuring an intuitive and user-friendly control panel. Engineered with user convenience in mind, it ensures accessibility, even for those new to air frying, thanks to its preset functions.
However, it's important to note that it lacks specific food presets, such as dedicated settings for cooking chicken or steak. Nevertheless, the air fryer basket effortlessly slides in and out with a simple pull, aided by its ceramic-coated nonstick surface that prevents food from sticking. This feature makes it easier to remove food and simplifies the cleaning process since the basket and crisper plate can be placed in the dishwasher for convenience.
Material (4.5/5)
The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is constructed with a combination of plastic and features a ceramic-coated nonstick basket and crisper plate. It's important to note that air fryers with plastic components may emit chemicals when subjected to high temperatures, potentially resulting in odors and the possibility of these substances leaching into your food during cooking.
On a positive note, the ceramic coating on the basket offers a nonstick surface, simplifying the cooking process by minimizing the need for excessive oil. This promotes a healthier cooking method by reducing fat consumption. However, it's worth noting that the ceramic coating may wear down over time, necessitating replacement to maintain optimal performance and nonstick properties.
Durability (4.5/5)
Ninja has built a reputation for crafting robust and long-lasting kitchen appliances, and their air fryer model is no exception. It exudes a sense of sturdiness and durability that is characteristic of the brand. When treated with proper care and regular maintenance, this model can serve you with guilt-free fried favorites for many years to come.
Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer vs. Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
The Ninja AF101 Air Fryer and the Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer are both popular models from Ninja and while they share many similarities, there are a few key differences between them.
Function
While the Ninja AF101 provides four versatile cooking programs, including Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, the Ninja AF161 takes functionality a step further with seven cooking programs: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. In terms of functions, the Ninja AF161 offers a more comprehensive range of options.
Capacity
The Ninja AF101 has a 4-quart capacity to cook up to 2 pounds of French fries. In contrast, the Ninja AF161 is a larger 5.5-quart model, accommodating up to 4 pounds of French fries and chicken wings. This makes AF101 better for individuals or a couple, while AF161 is better for family or large batch cooking.
Design And Control
In terms of design and control, both models are very similar. The major difference is Ninja AF161 features additional pre-programmed buttons. Ninja AF161 can also deliver 450 degrees of superheat, while AF101 delivers 400 degrees.
Material
Both models are made from plastic with ceramic-coated nonstick baskets and crisper plates.
Weight
The Ninja AF101 weighs 10.58 pounds, while the Ninja AF161 is slightly heavier at 11 pounds. The weight difference is not significant.
Final Thoughts
The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to make cooking healthier and more convenient. With a generous 5.5-quart capacity, it can handle family-sized meals, and its 1750-watt motor ensures efficient cooking. The digital control panel provides seven cooking functions, including Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate, offering a broad spectrum of culinary possibilities. Its ceramic-coated nonstick basket promotes even cooking and easy cleaning. While this appliance may have it all, a few drawbacks include the plastic material and round-shaped air fryer basket design. But overall, the Ninja AF161 is a powerful and feature-rich air fryer suitable for various cooking needs.
