Ninja Air Fryer Max XL Review – Ninja AF161 5.5-qt Basket Air Fryer

Let’s make a quick comparison.

The Ninja Max XL Air Fryer has seven functions in comparison to AF101’s four settings. There’s the max crisp function for frying frozen food. It also comes with a broil setting and as well as the ability to bake desserts.

If you like the official Ninja Foodi Air Fryer, you might want to check Ninja Double Air Fryer.

What I love about it is it automatically pauses the cooking time when you take out the air frying basket. With the previous model, you must manually pause and start the cooking time when you flip or shake your recipe to achieve even results.

With a little more investment, you’ll get more bang for your buck with the Ninja 5.5-qt Air Fryer Max XL.

Now, let’s dive deeper into the new updates, starting with the pros and cons.

PROS

• Modern design
• Budget-friendly
• 3-minutes preheat, quicker than traditional ovens
• Automatically pauses the cooking time when you take the basket out
• 5.5 quarts capacity
• Basket air fryer design is easier to use than a pressure cooker air fryer
• Wide temperature range, maximum 450℉
• 7-in-1: Max Crisp, Air fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Dehydrate, Reheat
• It includes multi-layer rack
• Programmable cooking functions
• Dishwasher safe parts
• BPA-free
• 1-year warranty

CONS

• Square basket design would have been better
• Non-stick are usually not long lasting

What can you cook with Ninja Air Fryer Max XL?

The Ninja 5.5-qt Air Fryer Max XL is more than just a piece of frying equipment. It can also roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate.

Here’s a deeper look into its seven functions.

Pro Tip: Only use plastic or silicone tongs (or spatula). Metal utensils might damage the non-stick coating.

Max Crisp

The max crisp is one of the new technologies of the Max XL version. Essentially, it’s an air fry feature with a hotter temperature, perfect for frozen pizzas or chicken nuggets.

Air Fry

Air frying is the standard function of the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL.

Air frying uses less oil than traditional frying methods. And less oil means you’ll consume fewer fats and calories. This is especially nice considering you’ll likely use the air fryer to cook a lot of fries or chicken wings.

Compared to the Max Crisp function, Air Frying uses a lower temperature. It is excellent for fresh recipes like chicken wings, pork chops, or sausages.

Pro Tip: You can use the broil rack for more capacity with even layering. If there’s any overlapping food, it’s important to shake it midway.

Air Roast

The Ninja AF161 can also roast your favorite veggies or small portions of protein. It’s the ideal function for caramelizing carrots or Brussel sprouts as a side for your main dish.

Air Broil

If you want to finish up your main dish with a golden-brown crust, that’s what the Air Broil is for. It’s the best setting for cooking steaks and fish for a crispy finish.

Pro Tip: Since the heat will only come from the top, it would be ideal to use the broil rack.

Bake

The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL can do more than mains and side dishes, as it can also make desserts. It can handle a few cupcakes, cookies, or brownies.

Dehydrate

While dehydrating is a nice feature to have, you won’t make the most of it with the Ninja Max XL. It doesn’t have enough space for processing a decent amount of fruits, let alone beef jerky. Think of this as a bonus feature.

Reheat

If you were to use the microwave to reheat crispy food, it might result in a soggy outer layer which is not at all tasty. That’s where the reheat function of Ninja AF161 saves the day. Your day-old chicken or fries will remain crunchy and appetizing using this setting.

Is the Ninja Max XL Air Fryer Easy to use?

Air frying is like a miniature version of your wall oven. It works the same way. You have to pick a cooking method, say roast, bake or broil. Then you need to set the time and temperature.

See what I mean?

In fact, if you already have a convection oven, you don’t need an air fryer. But the benefits of getting the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL are:

• It consumes less electricity
• It preheats faster
• It cooks faster and more evenly.
• It’s also an excellent alternative for microwave ovens.

To make things a little easier on your end, the brand included a quick start guide. It’s your cheat sheet for setting the ideal temperature and cooking time for any type of food.

What I like about the Ninja AF161, which isn’t offered by the Ninja Foodi AF101, is it pauses the cooking time whenever you take the basket out.

This feature ensures your cooking time is perfect, no matter how many times you’ve flipped your recipe.

How to clean the Ninja 5.5 qt Air Fryer Max XL?

The Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer’s basket and crisper plate have a non-stick coating. This makes your life a little easier during cleanup time. Not to mention, these parts are dishwasher safe.

Here’s the deal:

Even if you don’t use the dishwasher, it’s still straightforward to clean. Just make sure to use a soft sponge when scrubbing the ceramic-coated items. This helps prevent damaging them.

As for the main unit, you only need to wipe it with a damp cloth, and you’re done.

Here’s how easy it is to clean:

*Product Images and Videos Courtesy of Shark Ninja

Technical Specifications

Type	Basket Air Fryer / Drawer Type Air Fryer
Brand/Series	Ninja Air Fryer → The Ninja Foodi Collection
Model #	Ninja AF161, Ninja AF160
Price	$$
Rating	4.4 out of 5
Wattage	1750 Watts
Functions	7-in-1: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate
Basket Shape	Round
Basket Material	Ceramic non-stick coated
Capacity	5.5 Quarts, fit 3 lbs. of fries
Dishwasher safe	Yes
BPA Free	Yes
Colors	Grey
Dimensions	14 x 11 x 14.8 inches (35.6 x 27.9 x 37.6 cm)
Cord Length	2.6 ft. (79.2 cm)
Application	Personal Use
Warranty	1 Year
Related Products	Ninja Dual Air Fryer, Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 Air Fryer, Ninja AF101

Is Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer worth it?