At a look
Professional’s Score
Execs
- Intuitive operation for hassle-free cooking
- Tremendous straightforward to wash
- Versatile: filled with options
- Modern Digital Cooking Probe
Cons
- Construct high quality might be higher
- Cumbersome: takes up numerous counter house
- Expensive
Our Verdict
The Foodi MAX Twin Zone Air Fryer must be one of the crucial intelligent air fryers on the market, boasting six cooking strategies, a dual-cook function for simultaneous cooking and a Digital Cooking Probe for completely cooked meat with out fixed supervision. Construct high quality is likely to be missing a bit, and it’s definitely not low cost, nevertheless it’s a standout selection for these searching for an air fryer with prime efficiency and comfort.
Worth When Reviewed
$249.99
Greatest Costs Immediately: Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 Sensible 10-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer DZ550
$248.96
Air fryers are a kind of devices that, lately, have develop into essential for nearly anybody with a kitchen.
Whether or not it’s their ease of use, environment friendly and time-saving cooking capabilities, or lowered power consumption over conventional ovens (which is definitely a blessing for a lot of throughout this cost-of-living disaster), air fryers have taken the world by storm.
One of many greatest manufacturers main this cost is US kitchen equipment model Ninja. So it’s solely becoming to assessment Ninja’s newest and best creation, which we’ve been testing extensively over the previous few months. It’s referred to as the Foodi 6-in-1 Sensible 10-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer (DZ550) within the US and the Foodi MAX Twin Zone Air Fryer (AF451UK) within the UK.
And simply to be clear, though Ninja advertises the machine’s sensible cooking talents, that’s a reference to its cooking probe and different superior options – and to not any linked capabilities.
Design and construct
- Plastic construct
- Digital show
- Included digital cooking probe
If you happen to’re already aware of Ninja air fryers, you would possibly discover that this mannequin appears similar to its predecessor, the DZ401/ AF400UK. So, earlier than I dive into the assessment, let’s shortly focus on what units these two fashions aside.
Ninja has given the management panel a little bit of a makeover, swapping out the previous central dial for some sleeker digital buttons. The largest distinction, nonetheless, is the addition of the Digital Cooking Probe. This nifty gadget first made an look on Ninja’s Foodi MAX Well being Grill, which was launched a couple of years again. It was clearly a success with customers.
For these unfamiliar, the probe is a removable steel prong that retains a detailed eye in your meals’s temperature whereas it’s cooking. It stows away within the aspect of the machine and is plugged in when wanted (for cooking steaks and roast joints, for instance).
Lee Bell / Foundry
What makes it intelligent, although, is that it enables you to select from a bunch of preset cooking choices utilizing the air fryer’s show panel, from uncommon to well-done (relying on the meat). You simply depart the probe in there whereas the meat does its factor and the air fryer will provide you with a heads-up when it’s able to be devoured.
Its wealthy function set definitely helps right here because it caters to a variety of cooking eventualities due to its six cooking modes: air fry, max crisp air fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, and reheat
So, what about appears? To be sincere, I wasn’t blown away when unboxing it. That’s in all probability as a result of I’ve been utilizing Ninja’s tremendous sturdy Foodi MAX Well being Grill for the perfect a part of two years, which is constructed from some fairly high-grade supplies.
However this air fryer doesn’t provide the identical construct high quality. The chrome accents are literally plastic and so look a bit low cost and the drawers really feel a bit too flimsy – like they’d crack simply if dropped. The entire thing doesn’t precisely scream high quality.
Don’t get me fallacious, it’s nonetheless very aesthetically pleasing, with a glossy design that can look the half in any kitchen.
Efficiency and options
- Two drawers
- Sync function
- Six cooking strategies
Okay, let’s speak efficiency.
As you’d anticipate from a Ninja equipment, this air fryer works persistently properly, delivering glorious outcomes throughout the board.
Its wealthy function set definitely helps right here because it caters to a variety of cooking eventualities due to its six cooking modes: air fry, max crisp air fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, and reheat. The one technique lacking is grilling, however I assume Ninja needs you to purchase one in all its well being grills individually for that.
I’ve put each one in all these modes by way of rigorous testing, even getting experimental with dehydrating oranges for my Negronis. Belief me, they work completely.
Lee Bell / Foundry
My first check was cooking a complete 4.4lb/ 2kg rooster in one of many drawers. Because of the probe, it got here out completely cooked after about 40 minutes. And the perfect half? I may go off and watch my favorite present with out stressing about checking on it each quarter-hour. The probe labored like a attraction.
The actual magic of this air fryer, nonetheless, is its capacity to cook dinner a complete meal directly. Whereas the rooster roasts within the left drawer, I’m capable of toss in some diced potatoes within the different and easily set it to fry for 20 minutes earlier than activating the Sync function. When the timer ends, you’ve obtained completely timed rooster and wedges, able to go.
It’s versatile, syncs like a professional, and operates easily, making it a kitchen must-have
There’s additionally a Match button for while you’re cooking the identical factor in each drawers. This works properly for doing a household portion of chips, for instance. All you have to do is ready the cooking technique for one drawer, hit Match, and the settings shall be duplicated to the opposite.
Lee Bell / Foundry
As for house, this air fryer matches a shocking quantity of meals in every drawer. Every drawer has a 5QT/ 4.75L capability, or about 3.3lbs/ 1.5kg of potatoes if carbs are your factor, like me. This makes it superb for cooking for 2-3 individuals, in my expertise. Ninja says it feeds 4, however that absolutely will depend on how a lot you eat, or how hungry you might be.
The very best factor about it’s the velocity at which it cooks. Ninja claims it’s 75% sooner than common ovens. Whereas it quickens cooking and cuts power use, I’m not so certain that it achieves the identical ends in 1 / 4 of the time. Roast potatoes, for instance, take about 20-25 minutes, whereas my common oven takes 60-70 minutes – a 3rd of the time.
As for cleansing, Ninja has made it tremendous straightforward. The air fryer’s grill plates come out and might be slung straight into the dishwasher together with the remainder of the drawer, making mealtime cleanup a breeze.
In a nutshell, it delivers a constant top-notch efficiency. It’s versatile, syncs like a professional, and operates easily, making it a kitchen must-have.
Worth and availability
Within the US, the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 Sensible 10-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer (DZ550) has an MSRP of $249.99 and is offered from Ninja and Amazon. It’s in inventory at Walmart as properly however on the time of writing, it’s costlier there.
Within the UK, the Foodi MAX Twin Zone Air Fryer (AF451UK) has an RRP of £269.99. There are many shopping for choices at this worth, together with direct from Ninja, from Currys, John Lewis and Argos. However on the time of writing, Amazon has the perfect worth.
But it surely’s not nearly what it prices to purchase, however what it prices to run. Within the US, it’s a cost-effective 1,690W. However the UK mannequin is a 2,470W equipment, which implies it makes use of numerous energy.
Utilizing my UK power tariff for example, if you happen to used each drawers at full capability for an hour, it could price you 77p to cook dinner your dinner. Though that appears expensive, it’s nonetheless way more cost-effective than cooking the identical dinner within the oven. And, until you’re cooking a full roast, you’ll typically be working it for a a lot shorter interval.
Verdict
If you happen to’re after an all-in-one air fryer that really nails it, the Ninja Foodi MAX Twin Zone Air Fryer is the place it’s at. Not solely does it provide six cooking strategies, together with air fry, roast, bake, and even dehydrate, however the twin cook dinner function for simultaneous cooking, and Digital Cooking Probe are whole recreation changers in terms of time for supper, particularly if you happen to’re into cooking meat.
It virtually makes cooking (and the cleanup afterwards) a stroll within the park. That’s why, amongst a bunch of different causes, I contemplate it the most effective air fryers you should purchase proper now.
Certain, construct high quality is likely to be missing in elements, and it’s definitely not low cost, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly a standout selection for these searching for an air fryer with sensible options, prime efficiency, and comfort.
If this isn’t the right air fryer for you, take a look at our round-up of the perfect air fryers we’ve examined, with pricing, at-a-glance professionals and cons, and hyperlinks to full evaluations.
Specs
- Wattage: US: 1,690W; UK: 2,470W
- Capability: 10QT/ 9.5L
- Dimensions: 17.1 in L x 13.9 in W x 12.8 in H/ H:32.5 x W:41.5 x D:27 cm
- 6 cooking modes: Air fry, Max crisp air fry, Bake, Roast, Dehydrate, Reheat