AIR FRYERS have taken kitchens by storm in the last few years – so if you're thinking of making a new purchase, don't miss our Ninja Air Fryer Max review.
There's no denying that these handy appliances have revolutionized home cooking, with the Ninja Air Fryer Max emerging as a standout contender.
Promising crispy, guilt-free indulgence, it combines the convenience of air frying (up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods) with innovative features such as Max Crisp Technology.
Marketing itself as a 'family-size air fryer', the Max features a 5.2L basket that promises to fit a 2kg chicken or 1.4kg of French fries.
I tried it out myself to see if it was worth the hype, rating it on its performance, features and overall value.
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Ninja Air Fryer Max, £169.99 £129
Pros:
- Large capacity, perfect for families
- Six cooking functions including roast and bake
- Easy to use
- Uses up to 75% less fat
Cons:
- Large in size so you'll need the counter space for it
- No designated warm-up button (you'll have to remember to press the function)
- Extra functions are great but might not get used as often
Rating: 3.5/5
Ninja Air Fryer Max review: quick summary
The Ninja Air Max promises to give you crispy results with just a splash of oil, thanks to clever air frying technology.
Long gone are at-home fryers of the past, dunking potatoes in gallons of oil or bubbling fat in a saucepan for tasty (but uber-unhealthy) triple-cooked chips.
I've been keen to give an Air Fryer a whirl, so I decided to give the Ninja Air Fryer Max a go to see if I can create a yummy fakeaway at home.
With an extra 5.2L capacity, the Ninja Air Fryer Max is perfect for feeding the whole family and claims to use up to 75 per cent less fat than traditional frying methods, while being up to 50 per cent faster than fan ovens.
It also boasts six cooking functions – Air Fry, Max Crisp, Bake, Roast, Reheat and Dehydrate – so any home cook will be spoilt for choice.
Ninja Air Fryer Max review: first impressions
First things first: it's big.
For two people, I may have been better with a smaller model so I’d argue that the Max is better suited for large families or groups, thanks to the larger fry basket.
This would be perfect for feeding a larger brood, but you’ll want to make sure you have the space (36cm x25cm x 32cm) to store it first.
Setting up the Air Fryer Max was pretty painless: you simply take it out and plug it in.
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There’s no assembly to speak of other than just taking the plastic off.
Ninja says to let it warm up for three minutes each time, which you do by pressing the function button and letting it go.
I would have personally preferred a warm-up button, but it does the job.
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Cooking results
My partner, who helped me with the testing, was over the moon with the Max, even declaring we 'never need to buy chips again'.
That’s partly true, but for those super lazy days, there's a separate 'Max Crisp' function for frozen chips if you wish.
It made light work turning potatoes into wedges and fries: all at-home chefs need to do is chop them up, chuck them in the drawer, and lightly drizzle them with oil.
Ninja Air Fryer Max, £169.99 £129
During cooking, we would open the tray and shake them a few times which was helpful to stop them sticking and make sure they cooked evenly.
When we first did this, we assumed you need to pause and then continue, but this restarts the clock – all you need to do is simply pull them out and the air fryer will continue once you pop the tray back in again.
After a twenty-minute wait, we found we had posh pub-quality fat chips. We were pleasantly surprised with the time, as at first, we thought this might not be long enough.
The result had all the tastiness, crunch and satisfying quality of chips - no empty feeling of healthy substitutes but it was satisfying to know we hadn’t just dunked them in oil.
We've made these multiple times since first giving it a whirl, and I found the bigger chips performed better as there was more space for the air to circulate.
Extra features
There are also a number of extra functions that are perfect for cooks.
Frozen food can be cooked with the Air Max function, so think perfectly cooked nuggets and frozen chips, all with a super crunchy skin, and soft middle.
Bakers can even bake cakes in there, but make sure you check the instructions first – you don't want mix going through the basket holes. Not to mention there's also roast and dehydrate if you fancy something a bit different.
However, whilst these extra functions are great, the chance of you using them as often is small - therefore I did wonder when cooking for two whether I would be better off with fewer features and a smaller machine.
Ninja Air Fryer Max review: final verdict
For those looking for an easy, quick and tasty solution for at-home frying, the Ninja Air Fryer is worth checking out.
In hindsight, I would have gone with a smaller model, but any home cook will be pleased with the range on offer.
At its usual retail price of £169.99, it isn’t super cheap, but if you use it regularly it’s worth the cash.
Whether you’re a couple, or feeding a larger household it produced some of the best home-cooked chips I’ve tried in a long time.
For fakeaway fans, this is one for you.
Where can I buy the Ninja Air Fryer Max?
You can purchase the Ninja Air Fryer Max from various online retailers, including Ninja itself, but please note it currently seems to be sold out on the Ninja website.
Luckily though, it's still available from plenty of other stockists. Here are some options:
- Amazon
- Currys
- Argos
- Very
Is there an alternative to the Ninja Air Fryer Max?
The short answer is: yes! There are loads of alternatives to the Ninja Air Fryer Max, all offering various features and price points.
One option is the Philips Airfryer XXL, renowned for its even larger capacity (7.2L) and rapid air technology, providing crispy results with less fat.
Another alternative is the Cosori Air Fryer, which is praised for its sleek design, user-friendly interface, and wide temperature range.
For those seeking budget-friendly options, Argos's Instant 3.8L Air Fryer priced at just £30 is worth considering, offering a 3.8-litre capacity for four portions of fries or 1.1kg of chicken.
Ultimately, the choice depends on your preferences for capacity, features and budget, so shop around and you're guaranteed to find the perfect one for you.
