Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer Review

The Ninja Max XL is a popular and powerful air fryer that stands out due to its ease of use.

It is a newer and better version of the Ninja AF101 air fryer.

The air fryer has 7 main functions allowing you to prepare a variety of meals in different ways.

It has a capacity of 5.5 quarts, adequate for an individual or small family.

Ninja Max XL Air Fryer Specifications

The key specifications of the Ninja AF161 Max XL air fryer are as follows:

Type	Basket air fryer
Dimensions	14 by 11 by 14.8 inches
Weight	11 pounds
Capacity	5.5 Quarts
Material	Plastic & Metal with Ceramic coating
Color	Grey
Max Temperature	450 °F
Wattage	1750 watts
Cord Length	2.6 ft
Related Products	Ninja AF080 Mini, Ninja AF101 & Ninja DZ201 Foodi.

Pros

• 7-in-1 cooking functions
• Higher maximum temperature range of 450 °F
• 5.5 quarts capacity
• Easy to clean
• The air fryer basket is nonstick and BPA free

Cons

• Limiting air fryer basket design
• Low energy efficiency

Features of the Ninja AF161 Air Fryer

Design

The Ninja AF161 has a basic and functional design.

Its dimensions allow it to fit small spaces; however, you need to consider the height of about 15 inches.

Control Panel

The air fryer control panel is clear and simple to use. It features time and temperature navigation controls.

You can quickly choose the temperature and time while checking on the display.

The control panel also has buttons that represent the various cooking functions.

They include air fry, max crisp, air roast, air broil, reheat, bake and dehydrate.

Finally, you have the start/stop and power button.

Air Fryer Basket

The Ninja Max is a basket type of air fryer, featuring a round basket.

The basket capacity is 5.5 quarts. This can fit 3 pounds of wings or fries.

This Ninja AF161 air fryer basket is made using metallic material coated with ceramic.

The ceramic coating makes the basket non-stick and dishwasher-safe.

Food doesn’t stick to the basket. This makes it easy to clean.

All the material that comes in contact with food is also BPA free.

Cooking Functions

· Air Fry

This is the normal function of the Ninja Max XL.

It is responsible for preparing food with little to no oil. Air frying gives the food a crunchy taste and feel.

You utilize the crisper plate that comes with this air fryer to air fry.

When you press this button, a default temperature setting displays. You can easily adjust to set the desired time and temperature.

It is recommended to preheat the Ninja AF161 Max for about 3 minutes before adding food to the air fryer basket.

· Max Crisp

The Max Crisp function is an upgraded version of air frying.

It works great for frozen food. You give the food extra crunch and crispiness.

Similar to air frying, you can use little to no oil. You also use the crisper plate in the air fryer basket.

Once you press the Max Crisp button, a default temperature setting displays.

Unlike air frying, the default temperature CAN NOT be adjusted. You can only adjust the cooking time.

· Air Roast

The Air roast enables the Ninja AF161 Max to operate as an oven.

This function allows you to roast food such as vegetables, tender meats, and other treats.

It operates similarly to the air fryer. You utilize the crisper plate and you can adjust the time and temperature to suit the food.

· Air Broil

Air Broil gives your food a perfect final brown finish. This function browns and caramelizes food. It works best for meat and potato dishes.  

To brown food, it’s recommended to use both the crisper plate and broil rack.

The heat from the appliance to broil originates from the top. You’ll get better results if you don’t layer food on or below the broil rack.

Once you set the Air broil function, you can adjust the default temperature and time to cook.

· Reheat

Works like a microwave to warm and bring leftover food back to life.

· Bake

The bake function allows you to create baked goods and desserts.

Depending on what you need to bake, you can use a baking dish or baking cups.

Using the crisper plate is optional. You can adjust the temperature and baking time when the default displays.

If using an oven recipe to bake with the Ninja Max XL, reduce the cooking temperature by 25°F.  

· Dehydrate

You can remove liquid from food such as fruits, meats, and vegetables to make snacks.

When dehydrating, you can make more batches by layering.

To do this, layer the first batch at the bottom of the air fryer basket. Next, add the crisper basket and add another layer of food.

If you have more, utilize a rack. This way you dehydrate in one go.  

Ninja Max XL vs Ninja AF101 Air Fryer

The Ninja Max XL is an upgraded version of the Ninja AF101 air fryer.

There are major differences between the two appliances.

The differences include the size, temperatures they operate, and cooking functions.

Another operating difference is that the Ninja AF161 automatically pauses the cooking time when you take out the air frying basket.

With the Ninja AF101, you need to press the pause button to stop the cooking time.

Here’s a table showing these differences.

	Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer	Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
Capacity	5.5 Quarts	4 Quarts
Size	11 D x 14 W x 14.75 H Inches	8.5 D x 12.1 W x 11 H Inches
Number of functions	7	4
Functions	Air fry, max crisp, air roast, air broil, reheat, bake and dehydrate	Air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate
Maximum temperature	450 °F	400 °F

Is the Ninja AF161 Max XL worth it?

The Ninja Max XL is a handy kitchen appliance to have. It gives you 7 functions to prepare food.

This air fryer operates with minimal noise, is efficient, and is convenient to have around.

It’s a great choice for individuals with a small family to prepare meals and side dishes.

You get 5.5 quarts of capacity with a cooing temperature of up to 450 °F.

For people with large families, this model might not be the best option. The other downside is the somewhat higher cost to buy and run.

Consider the Ninja Foodie Dual Zone with two baskets, thus more space to cook.

For an individual, there are small air fryer options.

Read this detailed article about how much an air fryer costs and the Ninja air fryer problems.