The best Ninja air fryers 2025: tested by chefs and home cooks

If you’re searching for the best air fryer, you’ll quickly notice that Ninja dominates the top lists – and for good reason. The brand has become almost synonymous with air frying, offering everything from compact models to ultra-large, dual-zone, and multifunctional options. They’re sleek, fast, and stylish, and Ninja continues to push the envelope with bigger and better designs.

After testing countless of the best air fryers, Ninja is the only brand I keep in my own kitchen. The DoubleStack is my personal favorite – it saves space yet still manages to air fry an entire meal – and I’m also a fan of the Ninja Pro, one of the best non-toxic air fryers with a ceramic coating.

That said, not every Ninja model has passed my rigorous tests with flying colors. As a trained cook, I have high standards – even for basics like fries and nuggets – because the right air fryer makes all the difference in achieving effortless, perfectly crispy results. After hours of hands-on testing, I’ve put together a definitive guide to the best Ninja air fryers. Here’s my expert breakdown of which ones are worth your investment.

The Hot List

If you're looking for the headlines, here's a quick list of the best Ninja air fryers on the market. You'll find more details on the pros, cons, and how to choose the right model for you further down the page.

The best Ninja air fryers of 2025

Best air fryer overall

Image 1 of 5

The Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 is the best air fryer I’ve ever tested. It’s one of the more basic models in Ninja’s lineup, but don’t let that fool you – it’s thoughtfully designed, incredibly easy to use, and delivers crispy, delicious results fast. The best part? It does all that without breaking the bank.

First, let's talk design. It’s cute and compact (not much taller than my kettle), so it won’t hog counter space. But inside, there's a surprisingly spacious 5-quart basket that can handle up to 4 lbs of food. That's perfect for couples or small families, but if you have more mouths to feed, Ninja also makes an XL 6-quart version (which comes with Bake and Max Crisp functions).

The smaller model has four everyday cooking modes (Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate). I loved the large digital timer, which is clear enough to read from across the kitchen. Even better, it's a non-toxic air fryer with a ceramic-coated crisper plate. That's a huge win for health-conscious cooks like me, ensuring safe cooking and effortless cleaning.

Now, the real test: the food. The Ninja Air Fryer Pro passed with flying colors, turning out perfectly golden, crispy fries, and juicy, well-cooked chicken in record time. And cleanup was a total breeze. The food residue rinses right off with hot, soapy water, and the plate is even dishwasher-safe (though I always hand-wash for longevity). Sure, it doesn’t have high-end features like steak-searing or baking, but for everyday air frying, it’s an absolute steal.

Read my full Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 review for more details.

• Back to the top ⤴

Best air fryer for families

Image 1 of 6

Ninja’s Double Stack air fryer is remarkably sleek and slender, but it can feed a crowd. That's because each basket contains two cooking levels, allowing you to cook up to four different ingredients simultaneously. On my first test, I cooked French fries, chicken thighs, courgettes, and green beans all at once. With minimal involvement and no preheating required, dinner was ready in 20 minutes. Truly a game-changer for busy families, tired individuals, and anyone with a limited kitchen.

You can sync the two drawers, so every element of your meal will finish together. Afterwards, you can place both drawers and the crisper plates into the dishwasher, for effortless cleanup.

The only downside was some instances of uneven cooking on the top rack. My courgettes at the front of the drawer got a lot crisper than the ones at the back. However, this can be prevented by shuffling your ingredients around the rack and flipping two or three times, until everything is evenly golden.

I also knocked some points off for the high price tag. The chunkier, horizontal version called the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 (featured below) is practically identical in terms of functions – however, the quick, delicious results and easy cleanup still make this my top choice for families. I can forgive its small flaws - I begged to keep this air fryer after testing, and now I use it every single day.

My Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer review covers all the details.

• Back to the top ⤴

Best multifunctional air fryer

Image 1 of 9

In my time as a kitchen appliances tester, I've seen it all. I've tested the steamers, slow cookers, air fryers, toaster ovens, and countertop ovens. The Ninja Combi Multicooker condenses all these functions (and more) into one, simple appliance.

The Ninja Combi offers enormous capacity and twelve different cooking functions – from roasting to air frying. It heats up quickly and consistently produces perfectly crisped foods, from homemade fries to roasted vegetables. Our expert tester, Laura, used it to bake cakes and bread, too. She said: 'I loved the glass window, which lets you keep an eye on your food as it cooks, reducing the risk of burnt or overcooked food.'

That said, Ninja’s presets may require a little tweaking to avoid overcooking in the first place. We also found that it got pretty hot underneath, which was a tad concerning. It's also enormous, so again, if you're just looking to air fryer have a look at smaller contenders on this list.

Finally, we have to give extra points for the fact that the Ninja Combi is a non-toxic air fryer. The baskets and trays are made from aluminum and coated in non-stick enamel and ceramic (considered safer, non-toxic alternatives to non-stick coatings like Teflon). For anyone looking for a non-toxic air fryer to minimize exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, options like this are ideal.

You can read more in our full review of the Ninja Combi Multicooker.

• Back to the top ⤴

Best value

Image 1 of 6

If you've got space for a horizontal, dual-zone model in your kitchen – this is a brilliant choice. This is the air fryer we kept in our team test kitchen, and when our experts are off-duty, this is the machine we all reach for. It's essentially a wider version of the DoubleStack above, but it's priced under $200. If you want to keep your bank balance in check, this is a good option.

Our lead tester, Millie, has tried all five functions – broil, roast, reheat, dehydrate, and bake. This super smart model can air fry in one drawer, whilst baking or roasting in the others. If you're making a meal like fajitas, which requires fried chicken and roasted vegetables, you'll wonder what you ever did without this.

We were most impressed by the 450°F temperature limit, which is incredibly high. When we cooked frozen chicken and bacon, they were ready in minutes. We particularly liked the crisper plates which ensure that every crumb was crisped up and cooked right through. It's super speedy and can cook two different foods at the same time, just like the latest DoubleStack.

When it came to clean up, these drawers are both dishwasher safe, minimizing how messy your post-meal clean up will get. Where the 6-in-1 falls down is on it's chunky size – it takes up so much space.

Read more in my Ninja Foodi DZ401 6-in-1 XL 2-Basket Air Fryer review.

• Back to the top ⤴

Best portable

The Ninja Crispi has just hit the market, and our product tester, Camryn, is putting it through its paces in her Rhode Island homestead. While we’re still compiling a full review, we already have plenty of positive things to say about this innovative air fryer. As the first of its kind, it absolutely deserves a spot in our guide to the best Ninja air fryers.

One of our favorite features is the glass bowl, which allows you to watch your food crisp up in real-time. This mirrors the impressive technology I loved when I tested the Fritaire glass bowl air fryer, but unlike the Fritaire – where the air frying function fell short – the Ninja Crispi excels at delivering crispy, golden perfection.

With minimal oil, you can whip up crispy French fries, chicken wings, and salmon wherever you go – from the office (though we wouldn’t recommend frying fish there, unless you want fewer friends) or at a family gathering. We love the stackable and interchangeable cooking bowls, a first for any air fryer we've tested. You can swap between different sizes to suit your meal – whether it’s a single portion of lunch or a family-sized batch of fries. This thoughtful design borrows elements from Ninja’s best blenders and food processors, ensuring home-cook-friendly flexibility. There are easy-grip handles and lids for portability.

However, we’d say it’s still a bit hefty for tossing into a backpack. At almost 16 lbs, it's equivalent to carrying a bowling ball or a large pack of dog food around. In terms of measurements, it’s actually not much smaller than the Ninja Air Fryer Pro, which tops our list. If portability or a glass cooking window isn’t a priority for you, the cheaper Ninja Air Fryer Pro might be a better option. However, if you love watching your food crisp up in real time and need an on-the-go air fryer, the Ninja Crispi is a game-changer.

Our full Ninja Crispi review is coming soon.

• Back to the top ⤴

Quickest

Image 1 of 6

The Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker is the ultimate solution for quick, well-balanced meals. Combining the popular, time-saving technology of the best pressure cookers and air fryers, this powerful 1760W machine lets you whip up complete, nutritious dishes in minutes – without the hassle of juggling multiple pots and pans. With 10 pre-set cooking modes, it effortlessly steams, sautés, bakes, and air-fries, making weeknight meals faster and easier than ever.

Despite its compact 14-inch-tall, 12-inch-wide frame, the Ninja Speedi is surprisingly spacious. You can roast a whole chicken or bake a family-sized casserole with ease. But where it really shines is the Speedi Meal function, which lets you cook a full one-pot meal in no time while minimizing cleanup.

Our expert tester, Emilia, tested this with a salmon teriyaki rice bowl – a meal that typically requires multiple steps. She simply added uncooked rice and vegetables to the bottom of the pot, then placed the crisper plate on top to air-fry the salmon. Once preheated, the entire meal cooked in under 10 minutes. Emilia raved about the 'Perfectly steamed, fluffy rice infused with flavor and succulent, lightly crisped salmon.' Our test kitchen team agreed – it was one of the best, easiest meals we've eaten in the test kitchen.

The only drawback? It takes 8–9 minutes to preheat, unlike other Ninja air fryers that heat up instantly (such as the Ninja DoubleStack or Foodi Dual Zone). But if you’re looking for a balanced, healthy meal in record time, the Ninja Speedi makes it effortless – without resorting to an entire plate of air-fried food.

Read more in our Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker review.

• Back to the top ⤴

Ninja Air Fryer Alternatives

However, don't think that this page is just an advert for Ninja. We like their products, but they're far from the only game in town. In fact, Ninja comes in at number 4 in our guide to the best air fryers. There are plenty of other air fryers well worth considering:

How to choose the best Ninja air fryer for you:

There are a few different types of Ninja air fryers to choose from, but all of them work in a similar way. Here's my breakdown of the different options and who they suit:

Small single-basket Ninja air fryers: Ranging from four to five quarts, this size will suit most individuals, couples, or small families, who want make fries or snacks without taking up much counter space. They are also easy to hide away in cupboards when not in use. We always recommend square-shaped basket air fryers, since they maximize on cooking space.

Large single-basket Ninja air fryers: The next size up will cover 6 to 7 quarts. This allows you to cook bigger portions for around 4-5 people, so it's a good choice for families. They tend to come with more functions (like grilling or baking) and they naturally take up more countertop space.

Dual basket Ninja air fryers: If you want to make a full meal in the air fryer, you need two baskets. This design allows you to cook two different dishes at once and keep the flavors separate. They can usually contain up to 10 quarts, which suits busy families, couples, or hungry individuals.

Multifunctional Ninja air fryers: If your kitchen is cluttered with multiple appliances, you could replace them with a combi fryer. Ninja has an array of toaster ovens and slow-cooker combos, but our favorite is the Ninja Combi Multicooker. We don't really rate the others. We also love the Woodfire Grill, which can sizzle burgers or kebabs, bake bread, and air-fry vegetables outdoors – but it will cost you a pretty penny for all those functions.

If you're looking for a multifunctional appliance to save space and money, we talk about this in detail in our guide to air fryers vs toaster ovens.

How we tested these Ninja air fryers

To test the best air fryers on the market, we focus on exceptional cooking performance. As a team of trained cooks, product testers and appliance experts, we rigorously test each model by air-frying frozen fries, chicken wings, and roasted vegetables. During our taste tests, we seek food that’s perfectly crispy on the outside and tender within. Having tested the market leaders, we’re familiar with the industry benchmarks.

Ease of use is key, so our tests evaluate the intuitiveness of controls, basket design, instruction booklet, and the accuracy of recipe presets. We also explore special features, like grilling and dehydrating, to assess versatility. While cooking, we make notes on capacity – essential for those looking for family-sized air fryers.

Since cleaning can be a hassle, we check if the removable parts are easy to wash, whether by hand or in the dishwasher. We also examine materials for non-toxicity and durability. After testing, we scour the web for the best and worst customer reviews to assess the air fryer's reliability and overall customer satisfaction.

Finally, when you're making a kitchen investment, price really matters, so we weigh up the features and performance to see if it offers good value for money. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure you choose an air fryer that looks stylish in your kitchen, as well as being reliable, efficient, and a joy to use.

• Back to the top ⤴

Ninja air fryer FAQs