Ninja AF500UKCP Air Fryer - Review

The Ninja AF500UKCP Air Fryer is an innovative kitchen appliance that allows you to cook your favorite fried foods with little to no oil. This 5.2L air fryer uses rapid air circulation technology to perfectly crisp and "fry" foods using 75% less fat than traditional deep frying.

Ninja claims this air fryer can cook a wide variety of foods including fries, chicken, fish, vegetables and more. It features a FlexDrawer with two levels for cooking two foods at once. The ceramic-coated crisper basket is PFOA-free and dishwasher safe. There are 4 customizable cooking functions (air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate) with multiple cooking presets.

With its sleek design and generous capacity, the Ninja AF500UKCP aims to be a versatile, user-friendly air frying appliance. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the features and performance to see if it delivers on its promises.

Design & Features

The Ninja Air Fryer AF500UKCP stands out with its sleek and modern design. It has a rounded rectangular shape and comes in either black stainless steel or gunmetal grey to suit different kitchen aesthetics.

This is a mid-sized air fryer, measuring approximately 41 x 28 x 31 cm. It has a fairly compact footprint, so it shouldn't take up too much counter space. The total unit weight is around 5.2 kg.

One of the highlights of the design is the pull-out basket drawer. This provides easy access for checking on or removing food during cooking. The basket itself has a 4.7 liter capacity, which can accommodate up to 900g of fries or a small chicken.

The fryer basket and cooking pot have a non-stick coating for convenient cleaning. Additionally, all the accessories are dishwasher safe.

Overall, the stylish yet functional design makes this air fryer a great addition to any modern kitchen. The compact size and pull-out drawer offer convenience, while the color options allow buyers to choose the look that best fits their space.

Another excellent option to consider is the Tower T17024, which features a versatile cooking capacity with its 4.3 liters, allowing you to prepare larger meals for family gatherings. It includes a temperature control feature, enabling you to fry, bake, and even roast your favorite dishes to perfection. Its sleek digital touchscreen interface offers ease of use, while the modern design complements any kitchen décor. The Tower T17024 is designed for efficient cooking and is also equipped with a detachable frying basket for easy cleaning.

Cooking Performance

The Ninja Air Fryer AF500UKCP has excellent cooking performance for an air fryer of its size. Its generous 5.2L cooking capacity can handle up to 1kg of fries or 4 medium chicken breasts, making it suitable for cooking meals for 3-4 people.

The temperature range of 40°C to 200°C allows for air frying, roasting, baking, reheating and dehydrating. There are 4 versatile cooking functions - air fry, roast, bake and reheat. The air fry function produces crispy results using little to no oil, while the roast function is great for cooking chicken, beef and pork with an evenly browned exterior. Baking in the Ninja air fryer is possible for items like cakes, muffins and cookies. Lastly, the reheat function gently brings leftover food back up to temperature.

Overall, the Ninja air fryer can handle a wide variety of ingredients and dishes with excellent cooking performance. The combination of large capacity, wide temperature range and multiple functions make it a very capable countertop cooking appliance.

In comparison, the Belaco ‎BEL-AF-02 offers a compact design that is perfect for smaller kitchens, with a cooking capacity of 3.5L. It features a simple control panel with temperature settings up to 200°C, allowing for effective air frying and reheating. This model is designed with easy-to-clean components and is ideal for quick meal preparations for 1-2 people. Its lightweight build makes it easy to move around, providing convenience without sacrificing cooking quality.

Ease of Use

The Air Fryer Ninja AF500UKCP has an easy-to-use control panel with a large screen and touch controls. It has several presets for common foods like fries, chicken, steak, fish, and vegetables that take the guesswork out of air frying. You simply select the preset, input the weight of the food, and the air fryer will automatically set the temperature and cook time.

The touch controls are responsive and the settings are adjustable anytime during cooking. You can increase or decrease temperature, adjust cook time, or toggle between cooking functions. The display shows the cooking progress, temperature, and time remaining clearly.

Cleaning up after air frying is simple since the basket and crisper plates are dishwasher safe. The basket has a non-stick coating that prevents food from sticking. To clean, remove any excess food debris, then wash, rinse, and dry thoroughly. The body can be wiped clean with a damp cloth to remove any oil or splatter. Emptying the grease from the basket after each use prevents buildup.

Overall, the intuitive controls, presets, dishwasher-safe parts, and non-stick basket make the Air Fryer Ninja extremely easy to use and clean.

Accessories

The Ninja AF500UKCP comes with a good range of accessories to get you started with air frying, allowing you to cook different foods.

In the box you get:

• 2 x Cooking Trays - These non-stick trays are great for cooking things like fries, chicken pieces or roasted veggies. They allow the hot air to circulate while catching any drips.

• Cookie Sheet - The perforated cookie sheet is ideal for baking cookies, scones and other baked goods. It allows air flow from below for even cooking.

• 5.7L Cook & Crisp Plate - This is a large plate with a crisping lid that lets you pressure cook, sear, sauté, steam and air crisp all in one pot.

• Roasting Sling - The roasting sling is useful for cooking larger joints of meat or whole chickens. You can easily lift out the food when cooked.

• Multi-Layer Rack - This provides two levels for cooking different foods at once. The lower rack is closer to the heating element so can be used for items needing more crispiness.

• Removable Cook Pot - The non-stick 5.7L pot is great for pressure cooking or one-pot meals. It's dishwasher safe and easy to clean.

Overall the accessories included cover most cooking tasks, allowing you to make full use of the Air Fryer functions. The trays and racks are good quality and made to last.

Noise Level

The Ninja Air Fryer AF500UKCP operates at a reasonable noise level, especially considering its powerful 1800W motor and fan. When cooking, it produces a consistent hum that reviewers often compare to a kitchen fan or convection oven on medium speed. The noise isn't overly intrusive but is audible. You'll hear the fan circulating air and the timer beeping when finished.

Some users note the noise is quieter than expected and doesn't disrupt conversations. However, sensitive sleepers may want to avoid running it at night. The fan and beeps are most noticeable in quieter environments. But in a typical kitchen setting with ambient noise, the Air Fryer blends into the background nicely.

Overall, most find the noise level acceptable and not bothersome. The Air Fryer won't wake the house when running a batch of fries. But it isn't silent either. If very sensitive to noise, consider placement in a garage or basement. For most kitchens, it provides strong cooking performance without excessive noise.

Energy Efficiency

The Ninja AF500UKCP Air Fryer has excellent energy efficiency thanks to its advanced heating system and well-insulated body.

It has a power rating of 1550 watts, which is typical for a medium to large capacity air fryer. During operation, it draws between 1300-1550 watts depending on the set temperature. This level of power consumption allows it to heat up rapidly and maintain even heat distribution inside the cooking chamber.

The Air Fryer has an A+ energy rating. This means it meets the highest energy efficiency standards, using around 20% less electricity than other comparable models. So you can enjoy crispy air fried food while keeping your energy bills in check.

The unit features thick insulation around the cooking chamber to retain heat and minimize energy loss. This helps optimize power usage so less electricity is required to achieve and maintain target temperatures.

Overall, the energy efficiency design of the Ninja Air Fryer AF500UKCP makes it an economical appliance to run on a day-to-day basis. You get excellent cooking performance without excessive energy consumption.

Price

The Ninja AF500UKCP Air Fryer has an MSRP of £199.99 in the UK. However, it can often be found on sale from various retailers.

At the time of writing, Amazon has it on sale for £179.99, a discount of £20 or 10% off the list price. John Lewis also has it on sale for £179, matching Amazon's current deal price.

Currys offers an additional £10 off for newsletter signups, bringing the price down to £169.99. This represents a 15% savings compared to the MSRP.

The Ninja air fryer routinely goes on sale, so it pays to keep an eye out for promotions if you don't need it right away. The best deals tend to coincide with seasonal sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the January sales.

Signing up for price alerts and comparing prices across retailers can help find the lowest available price. But even at full price, the Ninja AF500UKCP is competitively priced compared to other air fryers with similar features and capacity.

Pros & Cons

The Ninja Air Fryer AF500UK has several notable pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Large 5.2L cooking capacity, suitable for families and batch cooking
• Digital display with preset programs for air frying, roasting, reheating, dehydrating, and more
• Dual cooking zones allow you to cook two foods at different temps simultaneously
• Dishwasher safe removable parts for easy cleanup
• 60 minute timer with auto-shutoff for safety
• Cool touch exterior stays safe to touch during cooking
• Compact, space-saving design with retractable cord storage

Cons

• High price point compared to other air fryers
• Bulky size may not fit under some cabinets
• No interior oven light to monitor cooking progress
• Max temperature of 210°C, lower than some competing models
• Accessories like additional trays sold separately
• Fan noise while cooking may be distracting for some

Conclusion

The Ninja Air Fryer AF500UK is an excellent addition to any kitchen that allows you to cook your favorite fried foods in a much healthier way. With its 4.7L capacity, it's a great size for families and couples, and the dual cooking drawers give you flexibility.

I'm impressed with the cooking performance of the Ninja. It crisps up food nicely and cooks evenly, producing some of the best air fried results I've tried. The removable crisper plates and dishwasher-safe parts also make cleanup a breeze.

The digital control panel is intuitive, and having preset programs takes the guesswork out of air frying. While it doesn't have quite as many presets as some models, the core ones are there. The unit isn't as quiet as some air fryers, but the fan noise is manageable.

At around £200, the Ninja Air Fryer is reasonably priced for the performance and features offered. If you're looking for an easy-to-use air fryer that can handle family-sized portions, the Ninja AF500UK is a great choice and would be an excellent addition to your kitchen.