TL;DR
The new Ninja Airfryer Pro promises faster cooking, less fat, and more versatility. It boasts a premium design and four useful modes: Air Fry for crispy results with minimal oil, Roast for smaller oven-style dishes, Reheat for leftovers (though not significantly faster than a microwave for many items), and Dehydrate for making dried fruits and herbs. While it's user-friendly and easy to clean, its energy savings aren't as dramatic as advertised and it takes up considerable counter space. Overall, it's a capable, versatile appliance that delivers satisfying cooking results, moving beyond just basic frying. Want to know if it's the right fit for your kitchen? Read the full review to find out.
Air fryers have undoubtedly become a staple in modern kitchens, with Ninja consistently demonstrating leadership in both design and functionality. The new Ninja Airfryer Pro arrives with significant promises: accelerated cooking, reduced fat usage, and expanded culinary possibilities. The crucial question is, how effectively does it meet these expectations? Senses has conducted an extensive review, and here are our findings.
Design
Ninja consistently excels in product design, a strength evident in the Airfryer Pro. Its matte black finish, contrasted with the high-gloss control panel, imparts a premium aesthetic. The 4.7-liter drawer glides smoothly into the main unit, and the control panel offers intuitive operation with its four distinct modes. However, it is important to note that the appliance maintains a relatively substantial footprint, requiring ample counter space. It may not be an ideal candidate for permanent display in kitchens where space is at a premium.
Features
As previously indicated, the Ninja Airfryer Pro offers four distinct cooking modes: Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate.
The Air Fry function efficiently circulates hot air within the cooking basket, enabling the use of minimal or no oil. This significantly reduces fat content, aiming to deliver restaurant-quality crispiness for items such as fries, fish & chips, or chicken wings, with a fraction of the fat compared to traditional deep-frying methods. This mode is ideally suited for dishes where a crisp texture is paramount.
The Roast function operates similarly to a conventional oven. It is particularly effective for preparing smaller portions, such as meals for one or two individuals. This mode facilitates oven-style cooking for a variety of ingredients, including root vegetables, greens, or even a whole chicken.
The Reheat function, as its name implies, is designed to warm up previously cooked food, such as leftovers. Our testing revealed that while functional, this mode did not offer a significant advantage over a microwave oven, which typically performs the task more rapidly. A notable benefit, however, is its ability to reheat pizza, restoring a texture closer to its original state rather than the often “soggy” outcome from a microwave. Otherwise, this function may be considered supplementary, unless the intention is to fully replace a microwave with the air fryer.
The Dehydrate function proved to be particularly intriguing. For households with young children, it presents a practical advantage for preparing homemade snacks, such as dried fruit. This process requires attentiveness, as different fruits have varying drying times; therefore, processing a single type of fruit at a time is advisable. Unexpectedly, the dehydrate function also effectively dries herbs like basil or dill, offering a convenient method for preserving fresh produce for future culinary use. This capability is highly advantageous, especially for those who frequently find fresh herbs spoiling before full utilization. While this feature is not exclusive to this specific model, being available on other Ninja devices like the Ninja Double Stack XL (also reviewed by Senses), its performance here was impressive.
Usage
From a usability standpoint, the Ninja Airfryer Pro is remarkably straightforward. It features four dedicated buttons for cooking modes, along with separate dials for time and temperature adjustments. The unit includes a concise recipe book containing approximately 25 recipes and a cooking chart detailing ideal preparation parameters for various ingredients. Beyond initial setup, user interaction primarily involves monitoring the cooking process and occasionally pausing to flip or shake contents for uniform results.
A point of consideration is that the energy savings do not entirely align with stated claims. The air fryer operates at 2000 watts, a power consumption comparable to an average convection oven, which typically ranges from 2000 to 2500 watts. Consequently, the energy differential is marginal. Similarly, time savings are not significantly pronounced; while preheating time is reduced, this advantage is not substantially impactful in daily use or on electricity expenditures. However, cleaning stands out as a significant positive. The non-stick coating on the drawer and crisping plate ensures effortless cleaning, whether by hand or in a dishwasher.
Taste Results
In terms of culinary outcomes, the appliance performs commendably. Chicken emerged thoroughly cooked and consistently juicy, while roasted vegetables developed excellent flavor and a desirable crispness without drying out. Fries achieved a golden-brown, crispy exterior – albeit slightly drier than those prepared by traditional deep-frying, yet entirely satisfactory. Attempts to prepare hot sandwiches yielded moderate results, producing a crispy exterior but a somewhat soft base.
Summary
In conclusion, the Ninja Airfryer Pro offers a comprehensive suite of functionalities, encompassing traditional air frying, oven-like roasting, reheating, and dehydrating. Its versatility extends beyond a simple “fryer replacement,” capably handling a diverse range of cooking tasks. The design is contemporary and thoughtfully executed, with the matte black finish and glossy control panel imparting a sophisticated appearance suitable for most kitchen aesthetics. However, its considerable size necessitates ample counter space for convenient placement.
From a functional perspective, the Airfryer Pro excels in user-friendliness, consistent results, and ease of cleaning. Nonetheless, its energy efficiency does not fully align with expectations, and certain functions, such as Reheat, may be considered more supplemental than frequently utilized features.
For consumers seeking a versatile air fryer capable of more than just basic frying, the Ninja Airfryer Pro represents a compelling choice. It offers intuitive operation, simple maintenance, and consistently delivers satisfactory cooking outcomes.
Ninja sent review units for this test. The sender of the material has no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with our readers and consumers in focus.
