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Ninja AF101 Air Fryer: A 2025 Take on this 4‑Qt Air Fryer

John Carter Doe

October 17. 2025

9.2

Very Good

What We Learned After Testing the Ninja AF101

The quick take

Look, here's the short version: The Ninja AF101 is still one of the absolute best bets you can make under $100 in 2025. Especially if you're cooking for one or two, or just don't have a ton of counter space. It gets hot fast, crisps up food pretty evenly for its size, and cleanup is a breeze. Now, the capacity is genuinely for one to two servings—think two chicken breasts or a pound of wings, not a family-sized batch. The controls are super simple (Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate), the temp range is great (105–400°F), and its ceramic-coated basket holds up well if you just avoid metal utensils. It's not fancy, I'll give you that. No window, no shake reminder, no app. But it’s reliable, compact, and just plain consistent.

What We Learned After Testing the Ninja AF101

A few things you should know

When it comes to how the food actually tastes? Fries and veggies get a nice, even browning and a solid crunch. Proteins cook through without drying out, but here's the key: you really have to preheat it for about 3 minutes and, whatever you do, don't overcrowd the basket. At 1550 watts, it recovers its heat well for a 4-quart unit, but you'll still want to do two rounds for anything over a couple of pounds. The noise level? It’s just a soft fan hum you can easily talk over. Odor control is just average—so yeah, use your range hood for bacon or fish. The dead-simple controls are a gift on a busy weeknight. Believe it or not, the dehydrate mode actually works for herbs and thin fruit slices, though it's much slower than a real dehydrator. Cleaning is another win; the basket and crisper plate are nonstick and top-rack dishwasher-safe. A little pro tip from us: hand-washing with a soft sponge really helps preserve that coating.

So, who should skip this one? It's pretty simple: if you regularly cook for four or more people, or if you absolutely need a window, a shake reminder, or app controls, this isn't your machine. For more capacity with that same Ninja feel, I'd point you toward the Ninja Max XL (5.5-qt) or the two-basket Ninja Foodi Dual Zone (8-qt). If you want that viewing window and better odor control, check out the Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook. But honestly? If you're a minimalist cooking for one or two, the Ninja AF101's combination of size, speed, and price is just really tough to beat.