Ninja AF451UK Air Fryer - Review

The Ninja Air Fryer AF451UK is a unique multi-drawer air fryer that allows you to cook multiple foods at once with little to no oil. This 4.5L air fryer features dual cooking drawers with independent temperature controls, so you can cook two different foods perfectly using air frying, air roasting, baking, reheating, or dehydrating.

Key features of the Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer include:

• Two 4.5L cooking drawers with separate temperature dials (max temperature 205°C)
• 6 customizable cooking functions including air fry, air roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate
• Up to 8 portions of fries cooked at once
• Dishwasher safe parts including cooking drawers and crisper plates
• Digital display shows cooking function, time and temperature
• Includes a cooking chart with recommended settings

With its dual zone cooking and generous capacity, the Ninja AF451UK air fryer allows you to cook multiple foods simultaneously so meals are ready faster. The adjustable temperatures give you precise control over each drawer.

Design and Build Quality

The Ninja Air Fryer AF451UK has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It features a durable stainless steel and plastic construction that seems very sturdy and well-made.

The stainless steel front panel and control dials give it a premium look and feel. The plastic components, like the pull-out air fry baskets, also feel solid and robust. The baskets smoothly slide in and out of the chamber on rails.

While mostly made of plastic, the Ninja still has a reassuring heft to it and doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. The unit seems like it could withstand frequent use without any issues.

Aesthetically, the rounded corners and black and stainless steel color scheme give it an attractive look. The digital display and backlit icons also add to the modern style.

Overall, the Ninja Air Fryer AF451UK features a very sturdy and sleek design that should hold up well over time. The quality of materials and construction seems excellent. Another popular air fryer model to consider is the Tefal EY245840. It has a similar premium design with stainless steel and black plastic construction. The Tefal air fryer stands out for its extra large capacity, able to cook up to 1.2kg of food at once. This makes it a great choice for larger households that need to cook bigger batches. It also has a cool touch handle and viewing window so you can safely check on food during cooking without opening the basket. The Tefal EY245840 features digital controls with preset programs and adjustable temperature up to 200°C. So it provides a lot of versatility for air frying, roasting, baking and more. While a bit pricier than the Ninja, the Tefal offers excellent performance and extra capacity that may be worth the investment for some buyers.

When it comes to design and build quality, both the Ninja AF451UK and Tefal EY245840 represent top choices in the air fryer market. The Ninja stands out for its modern style and sturdy construction at a reasonable price point. While the Tefal costs more but justifies it with an extra large basket, versatile presets, and useful design features like the cool touch handle. So depending on your priorities for capacity, budget, and functionality - either model makes an excellent addition to your kitchen.

Cooking Performance

The Ninja Air Fryer AF451UK delivers excellent cooking performance across a wide range of functions. Its air frying capabilities produce crispy and evenly cooked foods like french fries, chicken wings, and vegetables using little to no oil. The 4-quart capacity allows you to cook decent sized portions.

Air frying temperatures range from 85°C to 205°C, enabling everything from dehydrating fruits to roasting chicken breasts. The unit preheats quickly, reaching air frying temperature in just 3 minutes. An integrated air fryer basket evenly circulates hot air for consistent cooking on all sides. The non-stick basket coating also makes food easy to flip and remove after cooking.

In addition to air frying, the Ninja can bake, roast, reheat, and dehydrate. Baking performance is quite good for items like cakes, muffins, and cookies. The convection heating browns exteriors nicely while keeping interiors moist. Roasting vegetables and meats at higher temperatures helps develop caramelization and crispy outer layers. You can also use lower temperatures to slowly roast meat or dehydrate fruit, vegetables, and meat into jerky.

Overall, the Ninja Air Fryer AF451UK delivers very good cooking performance across its multiple functions, especially air frying. The 4-quart basket size provides enough room for cooking single servings or small batches. And the adjustable temperature range lets you fine tune cooking based on the recipe.

If you're looking for an alternative air fryer with similar performance, the Devology DEV_2 is worth considering. This 5.5-quart air fryer also cooks with rapid air circulation for quick, crispy, and evenly browned results. It offers a wide temperature range from 80°C to 200°C for air frying, baking, roasting, reheating leftovers, and dehydrating. The square-shaped fryer basket provides plenty of cooking capacity while taking up less counter space.

The Devology DEV_2 air fryer comes equipped with 7 pre-set smart programs for commonly cooked foods like fries, chicken, steak, shrimp, cake, fish, and pizza. Each program automatically sets the ideal time and temperature. An intuitive LED control panel makes selecting and adjusting settings very easy. The cooking basket and crisping tray are coated in premium non-stick for effortless food release and fast clean-up. And the cool touch housing and handle protect fingers from burns.

In terms of performance, this Devology air fryer can achieve deliciously crispy fried foods with up to 95% less fat than deep frying. The super convection fan and heating elements rapidly circulate hot air around food for quick, even cooking. Performance for baking, roasting, and reheating leftovers is also excellent. Users praise the DEV_2 for making fast, healthy meals with minimal oil and easy cleanup afterwards. It rivals more expensive brands when it comes to value and cooking ability.

So if you want an alternative to the Ninja AF451UK, be sure to check out the Devology DEV_2 air fryer. It delivers very similar high performance air frying, baking, roasting, and dehydrating in a slightly larger 5.5 quart capacity. And the preset smart programs make cooking your favorite foods even easier.

Ease of Use

The Ninja Air Fryer has simple and intuitive controls that make it easy to use. It has a digital display with touch buttons to control temperature, time, and functions. There are four preset modes - air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate - that have pre-programmed temperatures and times to take the guesswork out of cooking.

The basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe which makes cleaning a breeze. The basket has a non-stick coating which helps prevent food from sticking. To clean, simply wipe down the interior and exterior with a damp cloth. The air fryer filters can also be removed and cleaned periodically to keep the machine running efficiently.

Overall, the Ninja air fryer scores high marks for ease of use. The controls are straightforward, it's easy to program cooking settings, and clean-up is simple since key components are dishwasher safe. The intuitive interface and presets allow you to start cooking right away without a complicated learning curve.

Size and Capacity

The Ninja Air Fryer AF451UK is a mid-sized air fryer with generous cooking capacity. It measures 35.3 x 32 x 36.5 cm, so it has a fairly compact footprint that shouldn't take up too much counter space.

Despite its medium size, it can hold up to 5.2 liters in the main cooking pot. This is enough room to cook meals for a family of 3-4 people. You can make up to 900g of fries or roast an entire 1.4kg chicken in one go. The divided cooking compartments are also great for cooking multiple foods at once without flavors mixing.

The two independent 4-quart drawers give you flexibility. You can cook two different foods at the same time, using different temperatures and cook times. Or you can cook one large batch by syncing both drawers. This size and capacity makes the Ninja a versatile air fryer for everyday family meals.

Noise Level

The Ninja Air Fryer AF451UK operates at a noise level of around 65 decibels, which is comparable to a typical conversation. The fan and heating elements produce a low hum and whir during operation, but this is not overly loud or distracting.

Some user reviews mention the AF451UK is quieter than expected while running. However, a few owners note the fan does seem to get louder and noisier over time with regular use. This may be attributed to normal wear or dust buildup affecting the fan motor.

Overall, the noise output is reasonable for an air fryer of this size and power. It's not whisper quiet, but also shouldn't be disruptive if used in an open concept kitchen or living area. The sound level allows you to run the AF451UK without drowning out TV or conversations. Just don't expect it to be silent.

Accessories

The Ninja Air Fryer AF451UK comes with a few handy accessories for cooking.

It includes a multi-layer rack which provides extra cooking space. You can cook multiple foods at once using the rack to separate layers. It's useful for cooking things like fries, wings, and vegetables.

There are two 4.7 qt non-stick fry baskets. These allow you to easily remove and shake foods during air frying. The non-stick coating helps prevent food from sticking. The baskets give you flexibility to cook larger batches or divide ingredients.

For baking, a 5.2 qt non-stick crisper plate is included. The flat crisper plate maximizes contact with hot air to create a crispy outside on foods like chicken wings, fries, and veggies.

To toast, reheat, and dehydrate, there are two mesh racks. The open design allows for full air circulation. The racks are great for items like fruit leathers, jerky, toast, and more.

You also get a multi-purpose pan which can be used for roasting, baking, and reheating leftovers. The pan is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup after cooking your favorite foods.

Overall, the accessories provide plenty of options for maximizing the versatility of the Ninja air fryer oven.

Warranty and Customer Support

The Ninja Air Fryer comes with a 1 year warranty to cover any manufacturing defects. Based on customer reviews, Ninja's customer service team is generally responsive and helpful when issues arise.

Many customers have reported positive experiences getting support for problems like damaged or faulty parts. Ninja is good about quickly sending replacement parts or authorizing returns and exchanges. Their customer service agents are friendly and knowledgeable.

One downside noted by some buyers is long hold times when calling support. Ninja's customer service line can get backed up during peak hours. However, most issues can be resolved through email as well, which receives prompt replies.

Overall, Ninja provides decent warranty coverage and customer support for their air fryers. The 1 year warranty is fairly standard for the category. And while phone wait times can be long, Ninja's reps offer satisfactory assistance for troubleshooting and parts replacement.

Price and Value

The Ninja AF451UK Air Fryer comes with a price tag of around £150, which positions it in the mid-range for air fryers. At this price, it offers very good value for money given its generous 4.7 litre capacity, dual cooking drawers, and wide range of functions including air frying, roasting, baking, dehydrating, and reheating.

The dual drawer design allows you to cook two different foods at once using different settings, which adds a lot of versatility and allows you to get more value from the appliance. It can comfortably cook meals for a family of 4-5 people.

While £150 is not cheap, most customers seem to think it is justified for the performance, large capacity, and range of functions. The build quality and durability also make it a worthwhile investment that should provide many years of service.

Compared to other air fryers of similar size and capacity, the Ninja represents very good value. It is considerably less expensive than equivalent models from more premium brands like Philips, yet performs on par or better according to reviews.

Overall, while not the cheapest air fryer on the market, the Ninja AF451UK provides excellent value at its price point of around £150. For most households, it hits the sweet spot between price and performance.

Pros and Cons

The Ninja Air Fryer AF451UK has several notable pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Large 6L capacity with 4 cooking functions (air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate)
• Twin basket drawers for cooking different foods
• Even and efficient circulation of hot air for crispy results
• Digital control panel is easy to use and program
• Comes with a multi-layer rack and crisper basket accessories
• Reasonable price point under £150

Cons

• Bulky size takes up substantial counter space
• Noisy when operating compared to other air fryers
• Short warranty period of only 1 year
• Exterior can get hot to the touch while cooking
• Accessories like extra racks need to be purchased separately

Overall, the Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer provides a versatile cooking appliance with generous capacity, but the size, noise, and short warranty should be considered. It offers quality performance for the price.