Ninja AF400UK Air Fryer - Review

Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthier alternative to deep frying. The Ninja Air Fryer AF400UK is a compact countertop appliance that uses rapid air circulation technology to "fry" food with little to no oil.

Air fryers work by circulating hot air around food at high speeds to produce a crispy, fried finish using at least 75% less fat than traditional deep frying. This makes them an excellent option for cooking crispy favorites like fries, chicken, and more, but with a fraction of the calories. The rapid air circulation system also often cooks food faster than conventional ovens.

Key benefits of air fryers like the Ninja AF400UK include:

• Healthier cooking - Uses little to no oil for crispy, fried results
• Versatile - Can be used to air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate a variety of foods
• Faster cooking times than oven
• Even cooking results
• Easy to use and clean

The Ninja Air Fryer aims to deliver these benefits in a user-friendly package, so let’s look at how it performs.

Design

The Ninja Air Fryer AF400 has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It has a rounded square shape with a black plastic exterior and stainless steel front panel.

The air fryer measures approximately 13.6 x 11 x 14.1 inches (WxDxH) and weighs around 5.2 kg. So it has a decent footprint but is still compact enough to store away easily when not in use.

The AF400 is available in black only. The materials consist mostly of plastic but seem durable enough for regular use. The touchscreen display and control knobs give it a high-end look and feel.

Overall, the design is attractive yet functional. The smooth surfaces and lack of sharp edges also make it easy to clean.

The Ninja Air Fryer AF400 features a modern, minimalist aesthetic that will blend in seamlessly with most kitchen decors. It has an angular shape with rounded corners and a black plastic finish. The control panel consists of a simple LED touchscreen and two dial knobs for adjusting time and temperature.

In contrast to the all-black exterior, the basket has a stainless steel finish that gives it a sleek, high-end look. The basket is removable which makes transferring food in and out simple. There is also a cool touch handle so you won't burn your fingers.

With dimensions of 11 x 13.6 x 14.1 inches, the AF400 has a medium footprint. So it shouldn't take up too much precious counter space. At just 12.7 pounds, it's also fairly lightweight and easy to move around.

The COSORI CAF-LI401S air fryer has a similar modern design but with slightly more flair. It features an oblong shape with a glossy finish and angled display. The touchscreen has a vibrant LED display and responsive buttons.

The basket on the COSORI model has a nonstick coating and a cool touch handle. The exterior comes in both black and white color options. So you have some choice to match your kitchen decor.

With a larger 5.8 quart basket capacity, the COSORI CAF-LI401S does have a bigger footprint at 12.6 x 12.6 x 12.2 inches. But it still shouldn't dominate your counter space.

Both air fryer models have an attractive, contemporary appearance. The Ninja AF400 is more understated while the COSORI has some extra design flairs. But they will both look great displayed in your modern kitchen.

Features

The Ninja AF400UK Air Fryer has a number of great features that make it a versatile kitchen appliance.

Capacity: This air fryer has a generous 5.7L capacity which Ninja states is suitable for up to 6 portions. So you can cook meals for the whole family in one go. The square shape means you can fit in more food than round air fryers.

Temperature Range: You can set temperatures from 40°C up to 200°C, giving you a wide range of cooking options. The minimum temp of 40°C is good for gentle dehydrating, while the max temp allows the air fryer to get hot enough to crisp up food.

Modes: There are 4 preset modes to choose from:

• Air Fry: The main cooking mode, operating the heating element and fan to circulate hot air and create a crispy finish akin to deep frying but using little to no oil.

• Roast: This mode cooks at a high temp to roast meat and veggies to perfection.

• Reheat: For gently warming up leftover food.

• Dehydrate: Lower temperature setting for drying out fruits, vegetables, meats to make homemade jerky or dried snacks.

This range of presets in addition to manual temperature control gives you flexibility to cook a variety of dishes. The Ninja air fryer's features allow you to make everything from crispy fries and chicken wings to roasted vegetables and reheated leftovers. With its large capacity, you can cook family-sized portions all at once. The Tower T17088 is another popular air fryer with similar capabilities. It has a slightly smaller 4.3L capacity but still enough for cooking for multiple people simultaneously. The Tower air fryer has many of the same presets like Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate. One extra preset it includes is Bake, reaching up to 200°C for baking cakes, muffins, and more. Overall, the Tower T17088 provides comparable performance and versatility to the Ninja AF400UK.

Performance

The Ninja Air Fryer AF400UK performs very well at air frying, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating foods.

Air Frying

The air fryer circulates hot air around food to create a crispy texture similar to deep frying, but using little to no oil. Foods come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The 4 quart capacity allows you to cook around 1.5 pounds of fries or wings at a time. Air frying produces delicious results with foods like french fries, chicken wings, chicken nuggets, and more.

Roasting

The AF400UK can roast small chickens, vegetables, and more by surrounding food with hot air to cook and brown the exterior. The roasting function is great for making juicy roasted chicken, crispy roasted potatoes, and roasted veggies like cauliflower or brussels sprouts.

Reheating

Leftovers can be quickly reheated in the air fryer. The hot air circulation warms up leftovers without drying them out. You can reheat foods like pizza, fried chicken, fries, nuggets, and more to restore crispiness.

Dehydrating

The AF400UK includes a dehydrating function to remove moisture from foods to create tasty dried snacks. You can make dried fruit, beef jerky, fruit leather, and vegetable chips. The see-through window lets you monitor the dehydration progress.

Ease of Use

The Ninja Air Fryer AF400UK is designed to be very easy to use and operate. The controls consist of a simple dial and buttons on the front of the unit that allow you to select cooking functions like air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate. There is also a temperature dial that goes up to 400°F/200°C to adjust cooking temp.

The LED display is bright and clearly shows the selected cooking function, time and temperature settings. It makes it effortless to see what settings you have chosen. The display also shows preheat status so you know when the unit is fully preheated and ready for cooking.

Cleaning the Air Fryer is simple with the non-stick coated basket and tray being removable and dishwasher safe. The basket has a release button that allows you to easily remove it from the unit for cleaning. The outer body can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Overall, the intuitive controls, clear display and dishwasher safe parts make this an very easy to use and maintain air fryer.

Noise Level

The Air Fryer Ninja AF400UK operates at a relatively quiet noise level compared to other air fryers. During operation, it produces an average of around 65-70 decibels depending on the cooking setting. This is quieter than a standard oven fan and about the same volume as a normal conversation.

Some user reviews mention the fan noise is audible but not intrusively loud. The majority find the noise level unobtrusive and easy to tune out. It likely won't disturb conversation or TV viewing in the same room.

The fan noise may be slightly more noticeable at max power settings but remains within a reasonable range. Overall, the noise output is discreet and shouldn't be an issue for most users. While not silent, the AF400UK keeps operational volume to an acceptable level.

Accessories

The Ninja AF400UK air fryer comes with a few handy accessories to help you get the most out of this appliance.

• The air fryer basket has a 4.7 qt capacity and is made of a durable, PTFE/PFOA-free non-stick material. The basket is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

• A multi-layer rack helps maximize cooking capacity. You can cook multiple foods at once using the rack to separate foods.

• A cooking tray is included. The tray sits on top of the basket so you can cook foods with sauces or oils without making a mess.

• The air fryer includes a 100+ recipe cookbook featuring recipes optimized for the Ninja air fryer. The recipes range from appetizers to mains to desserts.

• An integrated digital control panel makes operation seamless. There are preset programs for commonly cooked foods like fries, vegetables, poultry and more.

Pros

The Ninja Air Fryer AF400UK has several notable benefits that make it a great choice:

• Large capacity: With a 4 quart basket, this air fryer can cook up to 900g of fries or a whole 4lb chicken. The generous size makes it easy to cook meals for the whole family.

• Multiple functions: In addition to air frying, this model can roast, reheat, and dehydrate. The ability to dehydrate fruits, veggies, and meats opens up even more cooking possibilities.

• User-friendly design: The control panel is straightforward with preset programs and manual options. The non-stick basket and crisping plate are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. An auto-shutoff function adds safety.

• Versatile cooking: The AF400UK allows you to air fry everything from frozen foods to fresh vegetables with crispy, delicious results. You can cook french fries with just 1 tbsp oil for healthier meals. The wide temperature range (85-205°C) provides flexibility.

Cons

The Ninja Air Fryer AF400UK has a few drawbacks to consider:

• The basket has a non-stick coating which can scratch and peel over time. Heavy scrubbing can damage the coating so care needs to be taken when cleaning.

• It's relatively loud when in use. The fan that circulates hot air can produce noise up to 65-75 decibels, which is similar to a vacuum cleaner. This makes it hard to have a conversation nearby when cooking.

• The touchscreen interface can be finicky and unresponsive at times. It may require several presses to register input. This can be frustrating when trying to adjust settings or start cooking.

• Basket capacity is on the smaller side at 5.7 liters. This limits how much food you can cook at once, especially for larger households. You may need to cook in batches for some recipes.

Verdict

The Ninja Air Fryer AF400UK is an excellent air fryer that delivers delicious results with little to no oil. It's a great option for health-conscious home cooks looking to reduce their oil and fat intake without sacrificing flavor.

With a 4 liter capacity, it can cook up to 5 portions at a time, making it suitable for families and couples. The non-stick ceramic coated basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

The digital control panel is intuitive and includes preset programs for fries, meat, fish, chicken, and vegetables. You can also manually set the temperature up to 200°C. The timer can be set up to 60 minutes, after which the air fryer will automatically switch off.

We found the AF400UK delivered crispy fries, wings, and veggies with impressive results. The circulating hot air cooks food evenly from all sides for that delicious crunchy exterior while keeping the interior moist.

Considering the performance, features, and quality, the Ninja Air Fryer AF400UK is highly recommended for healthy everyday cooking. It's a worthwhile investment for those looking to transition to oil-free cooking.