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How I Ended Up Testing This for Three Months
My oven broke down in September, two days before the school year started. With four kids to feed and no time to wait for a repair, I grabbed the Ninja AF101 on the way home from school pickup. I was sceptical — another appliance taking up counter space. Three months and 67 cooked meals later, it’s still on my counter even though the oven works fine again.
Ninja AF101 Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 4 quarts |
| Wattage | 1,550 W |
| Functions | Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate |
| Max temperature | 400°F / 205°C |
| Dimensions | 20 cm W × 29 cm D × 32 cm H |
| Weight | 2.5 kg |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (basket and crisper plate) |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Price | ~£70 |
How I Tested It
September through November 2025, cooking for five people — two adults and three children aged 5, 8, and 12. 67 total uses tracked. Meals included bone-in chicken thighs (14 times), frozen children’s favourites like nuggets and potato waffles (22 times), salmon fillets, pork chops, roasted vegetables, reheated pizza, and homemade chips. I washed the basket after every single use to track non-stick durability over time.
What Works
Preheats in under 3 minutes
My oven takes 15 minutes to preheat. The AF101 is ready in 2–3 minutes. On school nights with 25 minutes between pickup and dinner needing to be on the table, that difference is significant. Chicken thighs go from fridge to table in 22 minutes.
The basket genuinely cleans in 90 seconds
Both the basket and the crisper plate come out and wash in under two minutes by hand, or go straight into the dishwasher. After three months and 67 uses, the non-stick showed zero peeling or scratch damage — even after repeated dishwasher cycles.
Chicken skin is actually crispy
I spent years failing to get crispy chicken skin in the oven without a dedicated grill step at the end. The AF101 does it consistently at 200°C — the circulating hot air renders fat out of the skin and crisps it in a way the oven simply can’t match. This is the feature that converted me.
Fits under low kitchen cupboards
At 32 cm tall, it fits under my 36 cm cupboard clearance — barely, but it fits. I leave it out permanently because an appliance that lives in a cupboard gets used twice a month. One that’s always on the counter gets used daily.
Quiet for something that runs this hot
My dishwasher is louder. The AF101 hums but doesn’t roar — I can have a normal conversation across the kitchen while it’s running.
What Doesn’t Work
4 quarts is genuinely too small for five people
This nearly made me return it in week one. I tried cooking chicken thighs for all five of us in one batch — five thighs crowded the basket so they steamed against each other rather than crisping on all sides. I had to cook in two batches, which added 15 minutes and partly defeated the quick-dinner purpose. For families of five or more, this is the AF101’s deal-breaking limitation. The Cosori Pro II 5.8-quart solves this for about £20 more.
Only four cooking functions
Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate. No Bake, no Grill, no dedicated presets for fish or steak. Compared to the Cosori Pro II’s 12 preset functions, this feels basic. It doesn’t stop you cooking what you want — Air Fry handles most things — but you’ll be manually adjusting temperatures more often.
The included cook time guide is inaccurate
The instruction booklet’s suggested times were consistently 5–7 minutes longer than actually needed. You’ll use your phone to look up cook times for the first few weeks regardless.
Who Should Skip It
- Families of five or more — batch cooking is almost unavoidable; go with the Cosori Pro II or Instant Vortex Plus 6-quart
- Households that want a multi-cooker — this air fryer only; look at the Ninja Foodi if you also want pressure cooking
- Anyone who bakes regularly — no bake preset and the limited basket size restrict what’s possible
Comparison with Key Alternatives
| Model | Capacity | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja AF101 | 4 qt | ~£70 | Families of 2–4, first air fryer |
| Cosori Pro II | 5.8 qt | ~£90 | Families of 4–5, daily use |
| Instant Vortex Plus | 6 qt | ~£80 | Families of 4–6, bigger batches |
| Philips Airfryer XXL | 7 qt | ~£200 | Families of 5+, premium results |
Final Verdict
For a family of 2–4, the Ninja AF101 is an excellent buy at around £70. It’s fast, easy to clean, durable, and produces genuinely good food. The 4-quart basket is its only real limitation — and it’s a meaningful one if you’re consistently cooking for five or more people.
Buy it if: Family of 2–4, budget-conscious, limited counter space, new to air frying.
Skip it if: Family of five or more, want multi-cooker functions, or need to batch-cook every night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ninja AF101 big enough for a family of four?
For boneless items like wings, nuggets, or chips, yes. For bone-in pieces like chicken thighs for four people, you’ll often need two batches. Families of four who use the air fryer every night will find the Cosori Pro II 5.8-quart considerably more comfortable.
Can you cook a whole chicken in the Ninja AF101?
No. The 4-quart basket is too small. The maximum is a small Cornish hen at around 700g. For whole chickens, you need a 6-quart model minimum, or the Philips Airfryer XXL.
How long does the Ninja AF101 take to cook chicken thighs?
Bone-in thighs: 22–26 minutes at 190°C, turning halfway at the 12-minute mark. Boneless thighs: 18–20 minutes at 200°C. Always check with a meat thermometer — chicken is done at 74°C internal temperature.
Is the basket dishwasher safe?
Yes — both the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe. Place on the top rack to preserve the non-stick coating.
Does it need preheating?
No dedicated preheat function, but I run it empty at cooking temperature for 2–3 minutes before adding food. Noticeably crispier results, especially for chips and anything breaded.
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