I'm a Food Editor: Here's What I Think About the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer

I got my first air fryer for the same reason most people do, for its promise of perfectly crisp foods that require less fat or oil, allowing me to cook fries and buffalo cauliflower wings in a healthier way. I’ve had a small model for years, and it worked...fine. It was handy for reheating leftovers and crisping up a side of Brussels sprouts. However, its capacity was limited, and the rack-style interior made it difficult to clean—the grooves that held the racks were excellent at trapping grease, and cleaning the interior with a cotton swab (yes, really) honestly made me avoid using it. Plus, my house was built in 1950, a time of many things but definitely not of spaceous kitchens. If I use an appliance, it must be either worth keeping on my countertop or the hassle of hauling it up and down the stairs from its storage rack.

Then, I was given the opportunity to test the Ninja Foodi 10-Quart air fryer. Its sheer size promised something my current air fryer simply couldn't deliver: The ability to make a full meal. The basket-style air frying system looked easier to clean and it had multiple settings that my other model did not. It is also huge. But, if the adage is to “go big or go home,” I decided to go big with the Ninja. Here's what I learned.

Ninja DZ401 Foodi 10 Quart 6-in-1 DualZone XL 2 Basket Air Fryer

• What we like: This machine has multiple settings, and the dual baskets have a generous capacity. You can cook two different items using different methods at the same time, and the Smart Finish setting ensures they’re ready simultaneously.
• What to know: It takes up a lot of counter space, and the basket-style setup is better for foods that don't require a single layer for even cooking.

Dimensions: 13.9” D x 17.1” W x 12.8” H | Wattage: 1690 watts | Functions: Air-fry, air-broil, bake, roast, reheat and dehydrate

How It Works

When the Ninja Foodi arrived, it was immediately apparent that this was not the relatively petite air fryer I was accustomed to. It’s about the size of your average microwave and comes with a booklet that includes instructions, cooking times for common food items and a handful of recipes. The unit has two removable baskets, and you can control the cooking method (your choice is between air-fry, air-broil, bake, roast, reheat and dehydrate) via a dial at the center. A button above each basket lets you adjust your cooking method, time and temperature for each. 

The Foodi requires minimal setup, and the instructions are fairly simple. You plug the device in, select your basket, and then fine-tune the settings. To begin, you choose which basket you’ll be using, then use the center dial to select the cooking method, followed by the time and temperature. There are no indications for preheating this device before use, so I skipped this step and experienced no issues.

Cooking With the Ninja Foodi 

My original smaller air fryer could maybe handle two servings of most foods, tops. By contrast, each basket of the Ninja Foodi has a 5-quart capacity. The dual baskets expanded my repertoire considerably. While my original air fryer was handy for reheating leftovers and perhaps air-frying potatoes or vegetables, I could actually cook a meal with the Ninja Foodi as opposed to just side dishes. 

One of my first experiments was with a whole, 5-pound chicken. I prepared it with a slight drizzle of olive oil and rubbed it with salt and pepper before selecting the “roast” setting. I knew I’d be testing this air-fryer’s capacity limits since Ninja indicates the Foodi can handle a bird weighing up to 6 pounds, but found I could drop it into the basket with just enough room to spare. I also used this as an opportunity to test the Smart Cook feature and load the other basket with baby potatoes, setting it to air-fry. Based on the Foodi’s instruction manual, I set the chicken for an hour and the potatoes for 20 minutes. 

The first time I tried this, the chicken wasn’t quite cooked, requiring an additional 10 minutes. This was a rookie mistake: For subsequent recipes, I used a meat thermometer (I use this one from Meater) with more success. It’s also worth noting that you’ll have better results if you toss or flip your food halfway through its cooking cycle; I failed to do this with my first roast chicken, which was likely part of the issue. 

To further test this unit, I also roasted broccoli, made green bean fries and prepared batches of chicken nuggets for my picky nieces. Provided I kept an eye on cooking times (food tends to cook more quickly in an air fryer) and remembered to toss the contents of the air fryer baskets halfway through, my food came out cooked to perfection, even when I used minimal or no cooking fat. 

However, the two-basket design does have its limitations. This style is great for volume cooking, but the design makes experimenting with air fryer items that require a single layer, like these oatmeal-raisin tahini cookies or mini pizzas, difficult. In my opinion, using a traditional oven or an air fryer with wire racks would be a much better option for recipes like these.

Smart Cook vs. Match Cook Settings

The difference between these two settings was a little confusing to me at first, but each serves a distinct purpose. The Smart Cook setting lets you cook different foods in each basket, using different temperatures, times, and even cooking methods (you can set one basket to roast and the other to bake, for example). The machine will ensure both foods complete their cooking cycles at the same time, which is useful for making both a main and a side at the same time.

By contrast, the Match Cook feature evenly matches your chosen settings across both baskets, keeping your food at the same cooking time and temperature throughout. This setting is for situations where you want to cook big batches of the same item (such as Brussels sprouts or chicken wings). 

Cleaning the Ninja Foodi

The Foodi’s air fryer baskets are removable, and each has a crisper plate nestled in its base so your food is not in direct contact with the bottom of the basket. This design makes cleaning an easier proposition; there are few nooks and crannies to hide grease and food debris (this was a huge relief). The exterior is easy to wipe down with a damp cloth. The baskets must be hand-washed, though Ninja indicates the crisper plates are dishwasher-safe. I did place them on the top rack of my dishwasher, and the nonstick coating did not seem affected. However, since the baskets and crisper plates are nonstick, I would personally opt to wash them by hand to help extend their lifespan. Even with items that produced a fair amount of grease, like the chicken, a soak followed by wipe-down with a non-abrasive sponge made this a fairly painless process.

The Bottom Line: The Ninja Foodi is Worth It, With One Caveat 

So, is the Ninja Foodi worth the money? For me, yes. I like cooking a main and a side simultaneously or preparing a whole batch of sweet potato fries or green beans if I have company coming over. While it doesn't earn a permanent spot on my countertop, I will haul it out for nights when I want to cook a meal with a minimum of fuss (and without preheating an oven and warming my entire kitchen).

I'm not the only EatingWell editor who loves the Ninja Foodi. Former senior news and lifestyle editor Jaime Milan previously reviewed this model. She and her husband found that the Foodi's size was a plus for their household, allowing them to quickly prepare healthy, substantial meals. In fact, the Foodi earned a permanent spot on their countertop as a result.

However, if you're also limited on space and primarily want an air fryer for preparing snacks or reheating leftovers, a machine this size may be overkill. If so, you may want to consider the Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven (at Ninja) instead. We love its compact profile, and its ability to flip up and sit flush against your backsplash makes it a good option for cooks who don’t have the real estate for an appliance the size of the 10-quart version. 

Common Questions

How do you use the Ninja Foodi 10-Quart air fryer?

This air fryer has multiple functions, including air-fry, broil, bake, roast and more, so you must first choose one of those. To get the best results, do not overcrowd the two baskets and place the food in a single, even layer if possible. To help it crisp up more evenly, toss the food using silicone-tipped tongs or shake it halfway through the cooking process. Also, make sure to add cooking oil when making potatoes and fresh veggies. An instant-read thermometer is a helpful tool for checking meat cooked in the air fryer to ensure it reaches the proper temperature.

What are the health benefits of using an air fryer?

There are a handful of health benefits to using an air fryer, especially compared to traditional frying methods. Air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food (similar to a convection oven), so you need little to no oil. Less oil can also mean a decreased intake of saturated fat, which has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, though more recent studies have challenged this assertion. 

Regardless of these benefits, air-frying food doesn’t automatically make it healthier. However, if it helps you to use less oil (and perhaps even consume more vegetables), it can be a great addition to your kitchen.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

In short, yes, you can put aluminum foil in an air fryer. An air fryer relies on circulating hot air to cook food, which does not react to metal like microwaves. In fact, you can use aluminum foil in an air fryer like in a traditional oven to keep certain items from browning too quickly. 

Our Trusted Expertise

This article was written by Katie Tuttle, a commerce editor and contributor to publications such as Food & Wine and The Spruce Eats. She frequently tests kitchen appliances and tools for EatingWell to see which ones deserve a spot in her cramped 1950s kitchen.

Jaime Milan, a former senior news and lifestyle editor for EatingWell , previously reviewed the Ninja Foodi 10-Quart air fryer. This article was edited and reviewed by Brierley Horton, M.S., RD, senior commerce editor, who has 15 years of experience reporting, writing and editing nutrition and health content.