We tested the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL to see if it truly crisps food to perfection

For those who crave a deep-fried crunch without all the oil and calories, the compact Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is one to pay attention to. According to the manufacturer, you can take food straight from the freezer and give it the quick-and-crispy treatment by simply hitting the Max Crisp function. They also claim it offers an extra-large capacity to fit in more of your favorite foods.  

The BestReviews Testing Lab cooked a variety of proteins and vegetables, both frozen and refrigerated, in different cooking modes to learn if this machine could deliver. We also tested the capacity to find out if it really could cook as much as Ninja claims. We found it was exceptional for crisping up large amounts of basket foods, such as an entire two-pound bag of french fries, but could only cook small amounts of food (just one burger) on the crisper plate.

What is the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL?

Testing Team sets up Ninja Air Fryer Max XL for performance testing.

Product specifications

Type: Basket air fryer | Capacity: 5.5 qt | Dimensions: 14” L x 11” W x 14.75” H | Weight: 11.7 lb | Material: Plastic | Control Type: Push button | Number of Functions: 7 | Temperature Range: 105 to 450 degrees

The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is an air fryer that offers a compact design, so it doesn’t take up much counter space with its 14-by-11-inch footprint. However, it also features a deep basket that let us pack in more food than we expected — over 2 pounds of french fries. There were seven cooking functions, ranging from Max Crisp to Reheat, which we accessed quickly via the intuitive control panel. 

The standout feature that separates this model from the other air fryers that Ninja offers is the Max Crisp. This mode only operates at 450 degrees to give foods, such as french fries and chicken nuggets, a crispy exterior in a little less time than lower temperature settings. It also helped when cooking items directly from the freezer.

Pros

• Surprisingly large in some respects: While the cylindrical design offers a fairly compact footprint, we were surprised to learn we could fit an entire 2-pound bag of fries in the basket.
• Crisps quickly: Because the air fryer can cook at 450 degrees, we found it could shorten the cooking time, especially with foods coming straight from the freezer to the fryer.
• Intuitive design: Even though there were 13 buttons on the control panel, we had no trouble finding them or understanding what they did because of the intuitive design.
• Versatile functions: We could use a quick cook, just 13 minutes at Max Crisp, to heat french fries directly from the freezer, or slowly dehydrate mint at 105 degrees for three hours.
• Quiet operation: This was the quietest Ninja we tested. It wasn't whisper silent, but the fan was easy enough to talk over without raising our voice. 
• Recipes included: We appreciated the quick-start guide that was full of recipes and common cook times. This gave us the confidence to try all the features because we had some guidance.

Cons

• Not all parts were included: While all parts needed to cook most foods were included, there are two racks we needed for certain recipes and functions, such as broiling, which must be purchased separately.
• Deep well: The capacity in this compact machine comes from depth, which means while we could cook a bag of fries, we could only fit one burger without overlapping. The depth also made it a little harder to empty and clean than other designs.
• Need for adjusted cooking times: Ultimately, this is a good thing. However, when we were first getting used to this air fryer, we burned a lot of food because it cooks faster than other models. For instance, the Brussels sprouts were nearly inedible when we cooked them for 12 minutes at 375 degrees.
• Can dry out food: Another side effect that we noticed from the quick cooking time was that it was easy to dry out our food. We needed to tweak recipes slightly to get the best results.
• No automatic pause: When we removed the basket to check on cooking, we had to pause the process manually, which was also the case when we tested the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket. While not a deal-breaker, it did take a little getting used to. 
• Popped the circuit breaker: While it rarely happened, this model did occasionally pop our circuit breaker.
• Slightly difficult to handle when cleaning: This was also a minor issue. We had no trouble cleaning the basket and crisper — the food easily washed away. However, the basket was a little more awkward to handle than the smaller baskets in the FlexBasket model. But again, it was not hard to clean.

Who is it for?

While this model didn't fit a lot of protein — just one burger or two chicken wings — when it came to certain comfort foods, it provided more than plenty of space; for instance, we could pour a whole 2-pound bag of french fries in and feed several hungry snackers. In short, when we used recipes that called for single-layer cooking, there was only an 8-inch circle of cooking space, making it best for one or two people. For snacking (or foods that did not need to be cooked in a single layer), however, this is a versatile machine that could easily accommodate a family of four.

How we tested

Testers cook various food items in Ninja Air Fryer Max XL to determine how it performs against similar models.

We used the same recipes and the same products for every air fryer that we tested. For example, to obtain measurable data, we cooked the same brand of hot dogs at 400 degrees for six minutes in every air fryer using the regular Air Fry setting. We cooked five foods: french fries, chicken wings, hot dogs in a roll, Brussels sprouts and bacon. After getting a baseline, we then tested the other features of each air fryer to learn why and how it was different.

French fries

We filled the basket with french fries and cooked them at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, shaking halfway through. We did not use any oil or seasonings.

Chicken wings

To give the chicken wings a little flavor, we used a recipe that called for preparing the chicken with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. We set the air fryer to 400 degrees and cooked the wings for a full 18 minutes. 

Hot dogs in a roll

For the hot dogs, we cut slits across them and used the air fryer to cook them at 400 degrees. After six minutes, we added buttered buns and continued cooking for two more minutes.

Brussels sprouts

Before dumping 2 cups of Brussels sprouts into the basket, we trimmed and soaked them for about 15 minutes. After drying, just like every other test-cook of Brussels sprouts, we added olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic and cooked them at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.

Bacon

We laid four strips of bacon across the bottom of the crisping tray (which was two less than most other tests) and cooked it for nine minutes at 350 degrees. We carefully flipped the bacon halfway through to allow for even heating.

Reheat

When testing the Reheat function on all the models of air fryers we evaluated, we waited until the next day and reheated any french fries that were left over from day one.

Unique features

To make sure we understood how features that were unique to a particular air fryer worked, we tested them independently to learn what they did and how well they did it. For example, with the Max XL, we evaluated the Max Crisp feature, which defaults to an intense 450 degrees so you can take food straight from the freezer to the air fryer. 

Price and where to buy

The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is available for $169.99 on the Ninja website and Amazon.

Cooking performance

When shopping for a kitchen appliance, the most important aspect is knowing how well it actually performs its intended task. When it comes to an air fryer, we wanted to be certain that each function cooked the food thoroughly, and as expected. We took a deep dive into the various cooking modes of the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL to see if they held up to our expectations. 

Max Crisp

According to the manufacturer, the Max Crisp feature is really designed for those foods you take out of the freezer and want to eat as fast as possible. Basically, this feature cooks your food 50 degrees hotter than the typical maximum temperature. While it did the job well, it really only saved us a minute or two of cooking. However, we like our food crispy, and while this setting has the potential to dry out your food, the crisp factor was worth it (for us anyway).

Air Fry

The Air Fry function was our go-to. Like all the other cooking modes, it had a three-minute preheat. It was easy to use and performed as expected. We put a full bag of fries in (2 pounds), and they were done in 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Some people might have even preferred them cooked a little less, but we were satisfied with the results. More delicate food, however, such as Brussels sprouts, can burn quickly, so you must monitor it until you get a feel for how the appliance works.

Air Roast

We aren't the biggest fan of crunchy vegetables. There's a huge difference between the crisp snap of a fresh vegetable and the crunch of air-fried foods. For us, the Air Roast offered a gentler solution. Best used without the crisper plate, it took us roughly the same time to roast the Brussels sprouts, but the texture was not quite as crispy, and the flavor was more to our liking — a little more sweet than bitter — than when we used a crisper tray and the Air Fry mode.

Bake

While baking can be used for a variety of foods, we wanted to test it out on desserts — specifically cookies. We didn't make anything from scratch for this test, we just used a pack of break-and-bake cookies. To give the cookies breathing space, we only put four on the crisper plate and cooked at 325 degrees for 10 minutes. While the cookies were chewy on the inside, the outside was a little crisp for our liking. However, if you like crisp cookies, this air fryer would do a suitable job.

Reheat

We experimented with the Reheat function a little and found you could gradually bring french fries back up to hot when you reheated them for three to five minutes on a low setting, such as 300 degrees. This let us make the food hot without significantly cooking it much longer, but it didn't offer the crispiest solution. For crunchier leftover french fries, we preferred turning the heat up to at least 375. However, this method also made the fries browner than they were before.

Dehydrate

We tested the Dehydrate feature to verify its functionality. We set it at the lowest setting, 105 degrees, and covered the crisper plate with a layer of mint leaves. While the instructions stated this can take up to four hours, we were satisfied with our results after just three hours.

Features

The Testing Team evaluates Ninja Air Fryer Max XL's programmable functions.

This air fryer has seven programmable functions as well as a few other features that add some versatility and make it easy to use. This makes it an ideal entry-level air fryer.

Seven programmable functions

• Max Crisp: When we wanted to make frozen foods crispy in the shortest amount of time, the high temperature of the Max Crisp did the trick. It cooked a bag of french fries in just about 13 minutes.
• Air Fry: We used this all-around feature the most because of its versatility. It gives food a crispy texture with little-to-no oil.
• Air Roast: The Air Roast feature is best for keeping meats and vegetables tender.
• Air Broil: Since we didn't get the rack to test the air broil, we were unable to verify if it caramelized and browns food as the manufacturer claims.
• Bake: We used the bake feature to make cookies, and it worked pretty well. The outside of the cookie was a little crispy, but the inside was perfectly chewy.
• Reheat: We warmed up french fries using this feature, and it worked as expected — it heated the food up without significantly cooking it any more.
• Dehydrate: While the process can take up to eight hours, it is very simple. The food cooks at a very low temperature — often 135 degrees is recommended — for several hours to remove moisture.

Control panel

The smart design of the control panel made it immediately understandable. We didn't even need to look at the directions to know what would happen when we pressed each button. However, we did read the directions thoroughly before turning the unit on for the first time for safety reasons. Admittedly, the buttons were easier and more satisfying to press on the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker, but the experience wasn't negative on this model. The display was crisp and clear, and it showed us everything we needed to know at a glance.

Different racks

One feature that adds effortless versatility to this air fryer is the multiple racks. We tried the nonstick crisper plate, and it worked phenomenally well. It raised the food just enough to let air circulate around it so it could cook evenly. The air fryer also accepts a broil rack and a mid-level rack. Unfortunately, since these did not come with the Max XL (and they were both out of stock when we checked) we could not test them to see how they affected the cooking process.

Easy to clean

The Max XL has a rather large 5.5-quart cooking chamber. What makes this interior space so appealing is the materials that were used in its construction. Both the cooking basket and the crisper plate are made with ceramic-coated nonstick materials that are dishwasher-safe. However, the manufacturer recommends hand-washing to extend their life. Cleaning simply requires warm dishwater and a nonabrasive sponge. Even when something appeared to be very cooked on, we found that this method of hand-washing removed all food particles with very little effort.

How it compares to the other models we tested

Testers compare Ninja Air Fryer Max XL's performance to other air fryers by assessing cooking time, capacity, features and more.

Regarding heat and speed, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is comparable to other air fryers that we tested — even higher-priced models, such as the Ninja FlexBasket and the Ninja Speedi. In fact, in some areas, it outperformed these larger models. For instance, food such as french fries and Brussels sprouts cooked up to three minutes faster in this air fryer.

While it is a quality appliance, there are areas where it definitely falls short when compared to more expensive units. For example, the hot burst of 450-degree air on the Max Crisp setting made it harder to keep foods juicy. The hot dogs and chicken that we cooked were decidedly drier in the Max XL. Additionally, some flexibility is lost with a one-basket cooking system.

Oddly, the capacity was at once more and less than other air fryers. The Max XL had very little room for any food that must be cooked in one layer, such as burgers — we could only fit one patty. However, it could easily handle 2 pounds (or more) of food, such as french fries, that could fill the deep basket when cooking.

FAQ

When using the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL, there were two questions that came up often. These questions were important enough to single out so we could provide a definitive answer from our hands-on experience. These questions involved size and safety.  

How big Is The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL?

We could say the diameter of the basket is 8 inches, but that doesn't really explain how much food it can cook. For proteins that shouldn't touch or overlap, this air fryer doesn't hold much. We fit four pieces of bacon (laid flat) or four hot dogs and three chicken wings, but only one burger patty. However, when cooking food that can be dumped in the basket and shaken while cooking, this basket easily held 2 pounds of french fries.

Is the Ninja Max XL safe?

This is a tricky question. The easy answer is, of course, it is safe; otherwise, it would have been recalled. We had complete confidence when cooking with it. The heat was dispersed out the back and there was nothing short of an earthquake that could have knocked this appliance over — it was extremely sturdy. Care must be taken, however, when removing the basket. It gets hot, and it is deep. Any food must be dumped out or removed with silicone-tipped utensils. It is not safe to reach into the hot basket with your hand. Use common sense when removing food to remain burn-free.

Ninja Air Fryer Max XL Review: Should you get one?

The Testing Team considers pros and cons of using the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL .

The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is a quality air fryer. It has a solid build and feels sturdy when used. If this is your first time trying out an air fryer, this model may be perfect for you. It’s very simple to use, and the controls are intuitive. It’s also fairly easy to get consistent results. Whether it’s making a couple pounds of french fries, a few s'mores or some chicken tenders, this machine can get the job done. It’s fast and gets hot — just be careful about getting burned by the basket.

If, however, you have done a bit of air-frying before and are looking for something versatile that does more than quickly crisp one food at a time, stepping up to a higher-end model with more features that can cook two foods at once might be the best option. For example, the Ninja FlexBasket or Ninja Speedi are probably better options to consider for this purpose.