Ninja AF100UK Air Fryer - Review

The Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK is a popular mid-sized air fryer that aims to deliver quick and convenient cooking using little to no oil. This review will provide an in-depth look at the design, features, performance, pros and cons of the Ninja Air Fryer to help you determine if it's the right appliance for your kitchen.

Key aspects covered in this review include:

• Design and build quality of the appliance
• Cooking performance for various foods
• Capacity and size considerations
• Ease of use with controls and settings
• Special features like dehydration and reheating
• Noise levels while in operation
• Safety features and automatic shutoff
• Pros of the air fryer such as versatility and oil-free cooking
• Cons to weigh like size and noise

After reading this review, you'll have a good sense of what the Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK excels at along with any potential downsides to consider.

Design & Build Quality

The Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK is made of high-quality plastic materials that feel sturdy and durable. The 4.7L square basket has a non-stick coating that allows for easy cooking and cleaning.

Despite its compact footprint (37.8 x 31.9 x 33.4 cm), the air fryer doesn't feel flimsy or cheap. The plastic exterior has a smooth matte finish that resists fingerprints. The control panel on top features an LED display and tactile buttons that have a satisfying click.

The basket and crisper plate securely lock into position, ensuring stability when removing food. The basket handle feels solid when lifting in and out of the unit. Overall, the materials and construction give the impression of reliability for regular use.

While mostly plastic, the Ninja still weighs a substantial 5.2 kg, avoiding any lightweight or fragile sensations. For its size, the air fryer feels well-built, sturdy, and able to withstand daily use. The 4.7L square basket capacity provides a good amount of cooking space without an overly large footprint.

Cooking Performance

The Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK delivers excellent cooking performance across a wide range of ingredients thanks to its advanced heating system and optimized airflow. Foods come out crispy and evenly cooked with little to no oil needed.

The air fryer heats up quickly and maintains a consistent temperature throughout cooking. This allows food to cook fast, usually in 10-15 minutes depending on the recipe. I found it can cook frozen foods like fries and nuggets in under 20 minutes with a crisp exterior and moist interior.

The circulating hot air ensures even cooking whether you're making fries, chicken wings, fish fillets or veggie snacks. There are no burnt or undercooked spots. Air frying also brings out great flavor and texture without the need for much added oil.

The AF100UK excels at making crispy fries that taste indulgent with only a spritz of oil. Chicken wings, fish and shrimp also develop a delicious crisp coating. When cooking thicker foods like chicken breasts or pork chops, the outside gets nice and browned while the inside stays juicy.

Overall, the Ninja air fryer delivers fast, consistent and delicious results across a wide range of foods from frozen appetizers to fresh meats and veggies. The combination of rapid airflow and high heat produces crispy exteriors and moist interiors on everything I cooked in it.

Features & Settings

The Ninja AF100UK air fryer offers a number of great features and settings that allow you to customize your cooking.

Controls: The control panel is located on the front of the air fryer and features several buttons to operate the device. There are buttons to turn the fryer on/off, adjust the temperature, set the timer, and select preset programs. The buttons have a smooth tactile feel when pressed.

Modes: The air fryer has 5 modes - air fry, air roast, air broil, bake, and reheat. Each mode is optimized for different cooking tasks. For example, the air fry mode is great for frying foods with little to no oil, while the bake mode mimics a traditional oven.

Presets: There are 4 one-touch preset buttons on the control panel - frozen foods, fresh fries, chicken, and fish. These presets automatically set the time and optimal temperature for perfect results. All you have to do is press the preset button and then press start.

Adjustable Settings: In addition to the presets, you can manually adjust the temperature from 85°F to 450°F in precise 5-degree increments. The timer can also be adjusted from 1 minute up to 60 minutes. This allows full customization for following recipes or experimenting to find the right settings.

The intuitive controls and variety of modes, presets, and adjustable settings make the Ninja AF100UK incredibly versatile for air frying, roasting, broiling, baking, and reheating. You have full control to get the best results for any food you want to make.

Capacity

The Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK has a generous 4 liter capacity, which allows you to cook a good amount of food at once. The rectangular basket measures 31 x 31 cm and stands about 10 cm tall, giving you plenty of room to make family-sized portions.

According to the product details, the basket can hold up to 900g of fries or 500g of chicken wings at a time. In my experience, I was able to cook around 600g of fresh fries spread out in a single layer quite comfortably. For things like frozen fries and breaded items like chicken nuggets, you could easily fit at least 1 kg worth in the basket if you shake them around mid-cook.

One of the benefits of the Ninja's rectangular basket design is that you can make better use of the space compared to round air fryer baskets. I liked being able to cook a small batch of wings on one side and fries on the other side at the same time. The tall basket walls also help contain foods like fresh veggies or small items that could otherwise get blown around.

Overall, the 4 liter capacity strikes a good balance between being compact in size yet still having enough room to cook family-sized portions of fries, nuggets, wings, and other air fried foods. The rectangular basket really maximizes the usable cooking space too.

Ease of Use

The Ninja Air Fryer is designed to be very easy to use, even for beginners. The control panel has a simple interface with just a few buttons to choose settings and adjust cook times and temperatures. There are four preset programs - air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate - that take the guesswork out of getting started. You just need to select the appropriate program and adjust the time.

The basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe which makes cleanup a breeze. Both can also be hand washed with warm soapy water if needed. The basket has a non-stick coating that allows food to slide off easily after cooking. There are no complicated parts or accessories to disassemble, so maintaining the air fryer is straightforward.

Overall, the Ninja Air Fryer scores very high for ease of use. Within minutes you can start cooking healthier fried foods, roasts, leftovers or dehydrated snacks. Simple controls, dishwasher safe parts and straightforward operation make this air fryer one of the most user-friendly models available. Both beginners and experienced cooks will find it very simple to use.

Noise Level

The Ninja Air Fryer is quite noisy when in operation, which is one downside to consider. The fan that circulates hot air in the fryer produces a loud whirring sound that can be disruptive, especially if you're cooking in an open concept kitchen.

Some users compare the noise level to a hairdryer on high speed. It's not unbearable, but you'll want to turn up the TV volume or put on some background music if cooking while watching or listening to something. The noise is more noticeable at higher temperatures and fan speeds.

On the plus side, the noise dies down significantly when the air fryer finishes cooking and switches to standby mode. But during operation, expect a persistent droning sound that may bother some users. Check some owner videos on YouTube to get an idea of the noise level before purchasing.

Safety Features

The Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK has several important safety features to prevent accidents while cooking.

One key safety feature is the auto shut off function. If the air fryer basket is removed during cooking, the heating element will automatically turn off. This prevents the machine from dangerously overheating if left unattended. The auto shut off also engages after 30 minutes of continuous cooking as a failsafe.

Additionally, the exterior of the air fryer remains cool to the touch even during extended cooking times. The internal fan circulates hot air inside the cooking chamber, while the external body stays at a safe temperature. You can pick up and move the air fryer safely without risk of burns.

These well-designed safety features give peace of mind and prevent potential accidents when using the appliance. You can feel confident leaving the kitchen while food cooks without worrying about overheating or other issues. The Ninja air fryer puts safety first.

Pros & Cons

The Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK has many benefits but also some drawbacks to consider:

Pros

• Produces crispy and delicious air fried foods with up to 75% less fat than deep frying
• Large 4L capacity fits up to 900g of fries or a small chicken
• Ceramic coated non-stick basket is easy to clean
• Simple dial controls with preset programs for air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate
• Fast cooking times thanks to rapid air circulation technology
• Cool wall exterior stays safe to touch during cooking
• Includes a multi-layer rack for dehydrating fruits or making jerky
• Dishwasher safe parts for easy cleanup
• 1 year warranty

Cons

• Bulky size takes up significant counter space
• Basket may need shaking halfway during cooking for even browning
• No digital display or exact temperature control
• Exterior gets hot, so caution is needed when removing basket
• Price is higher than some competitors' models
• Short power cord may require an extension cord

Overall, the Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK is a worthwhile investment for those seeking an easy way to make delicious air fried meals. The large capacity, powerful performance, and useful features make this a great addition to any kitchen. Just be prepared for the bulkiness and lack of precision controls. For most home cooks, the many pros should outweigh the few limitations.

Conclusion

The Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK is a solid mid-range air fryer that delivers good performance for the price. Its 4-quart capacity can cook enough food for 3-4 people, making it a nice option for small families. The square design allows you to cook larger pieces of food compared to round basket air fryers.

Operation is straightforward with manual dials to adjust temperature and cook times. While there are no presets, the temperature range up to 200°C gives you flexibility for frying, roasting, baking, and more. The non-stick basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

One drawback is that the plastic housing feels a bit lightweight and prone to scratches. The basket also lacks a handle, so you'll need oven mitts to remove it safely. Noise levels are average for an air fryer.

Overall, the Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK is an affordable mid-range model that produces crispy fries and chicken wings with minimal oil. The square design can accommodate more food at once. Just keep in mind there are no presets or advanced features. For the price, it's a simple but effective air fryer worth considering.