How to Use Ninja Foodi Air Fryer: A Step-by-Step Guide for Perfectly Fried Foods

The Ninja Foodi Air Fryer range is more than just a set of kitchen gadgets.

These powerful, multi-purpose tools aim to redefine the way you cook.

Given their simplicity, combined with advanced features, they've quickly become household favorites.

In this guide, we'll explore using the single-basket Ninja Foodi Air Fryer, its dual counterpart, and the impressive air fryer oven hybrid.

Let's dive into the world of the Ninja Foodi Air Fryers, understand their functions, and discover some fantastic recipes to try!

Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Basics

If you're new to the world of air frying, Ninja Foodi is a great place to start.

Below, we've covered the basics of Ninja Foodi Air Fryers, including their functions, control panel display, and operating buttons.

Functions

The Ninja Foodi Air Fryer range combines multiple cooking functions, including air frying, roasting, broiling, baking, and toasting.

It uses hot air circulation, ensuring your food is cooked evenly with a crispy exterior and juicy interior.

Control Panel Display And Operating Buttons

The Ninja Foodi Air Fryers boasts user-friendly control panels.

These models display the cooking time, temperature, and the selected function.

The buttons include power, time, temperature settings, start/pause, and specific function selections like air fry, roast, etc.

You can refer to your user manual to see which buttons are available in your specific model.

Continue reading: What Are The Different Models Of Ninja Foodi?

What To Do For First-Time Use?

Congratulations on your new Ninja Foodi Air Fryer!

Before you start cooking your favorite meals, there are a few things you need to do for first-time use.

Follow these simple steps to ensure your air fryer is ready to use:

Remove All Packaging Material

The first thing to do is unpack your air fryer and remove all the packaging material.

Make sure to take out any packing from inside your air fryer — including any stickers, plastic, or cardboard that may be inside or outside the fryer.

Doing so will prevent unwanted materials from getting into your food and ensure your air fryer is clean and ready to use.

Check The Manual

After you have unpacked your air fryer, it's essential to check the manual. This will help you understand how to use the fryer and avoid mistakes.

The manual will provide you with all the information you need, from how to assemble your air fryer to how to cook different types of food.

Make sure to read the manual carefully before using your air fryer for the first time.

Clean The Air Fryer Components

Before you use the air fryer for the first time, make sure to clean it.

For the standard air fryer, wash the ceramic-coated pan, crisper plate, and other accessories.

If you own a dual-air fryer, you'll only need to clean the drawers and crisper plates, as these are the only parts safe for dishwasher use.

If you have a fryer oven, wash the basket, pan, rack, and tray with warm soapy water.

You can also opt to run the machine empty for about 20 minutes at 350°F. to eliminate to remove any manufacturing residues left.

After washing, dry them well. Remember, don't put the central unit of the air fryer in the dishwasher.

Related content: How Often To Clean An Air Fryer? [Do You Have To Wash It After Every Use?]

How To Air Fry In Single-Basket Ninja Foodi Air Fryer

Using a Single-Basket Ninja Foodi Air Fryer is straightforward and effective. Follow the steps below.

1. Start by ensuring the crisper plate is positioned correctly inside the pan.
2. Activate the air frying mode by pressing the "AIR FRY" button.
3. The current temperature will be displayed, but you can easily adjust this using the "TEMP" arrow buttons to match your desired setting.
4. Similarly, use the "'TIME" arrow buttons to determine how long you want to cook your food.
5. To achieve the best outcome, it's beneficial to let the fryer preheat for about 3 minutes before introducing your ingredients.
6. Once preheated, place your ingredients into the pan and insert the pan into the fryer.
7. Press the "START/STOP" button to initiate the cooking process.
8. As your food reaches its crispy perfection, the unit signals completion with a beep.
9. The word "End" will then be displayed, letting you know it's time to serve up.
10. To serve, gently tip out the contents or use oven gloves or silicone-tipped tools to transfer your crispy delights to a plate.

📌 Tip: During frying, you can remove and shake the pan; the fryer safely pauses and resumes once the pan is replaced.

You might also like: How To Dehydrate Fruit In The Ninja Foodi

How To Air Fry In Dual Ninja Foodi Air Fryer

Follow these steps to achieve perfectly air-fried delights with your Dual Ninja Foodi Air Fryer.

1. Install the crisper plate in the drawer and add ingredients, then insert the drawer into the unit.
2. By default, the fryer uses zone 1; for zone 2, select it and then choose "AIR FRY".
3. Adjust to your preferred temperature with the "TEMP" arrows.
4. Set your cooking duration using the "TIME" arrows, which allow adjustments up to an hour.
5. Start the cooking by pressing the "START/STOP" button.
6. Once done, the fryer signals with a beep, and "End" shows on the display.
7. Empty the contents either by tipping them out or with silicone-tipped tools.

How To Air Fry In Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Oven

The Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven has been making waves and is known for its efficiency in making healthier dishes without compromising taste.

If you've just added this unit to your kitchen arsenal, you've made an excellent decision. Here's how to make the most of your new oven:

1. Begin by turning the dial on the appliance until the "AIR FRY" option illuminates.
2. Upon doing this, you'll notice the screen's default time and temperature settings.
3. Set your cooking duration by pressing the "TIME/SLICE" button and adjust using the dial to your preferred time.
4. Once you've chosen the desired time, confirm it by pressing the "TIME/SLICE" button again.
5. Next, press the "TEMP/DARKNESS" button. Turn the dial to pick up the cooking heat.
6. You can choose any heat between 250˚F and 450˚F. Once you've picked it, press the "TEMP/DARKNESS" button again.
7. The air fryer will begin preheating by pressing the "START/PAUSE" button.
8. For dry ingredients, use the air fry basket. Place the basket atop the sheet pan for fatty or marinated items so it doesn’t make a mess.
9. When the air fryer beeps, it's ready. Slide the basket into the top part of the oven. If you're using a pan, put it under the basket.
10. To get the best results, halfway through cooking, mix the food or turn the basket. This helps make sure everything cooks evenly.
11. When the air fryer beeps again, it's done. Take out your food, and enjoy!

Safety Measures When Using Your Ninja Foodi Air Fryer

When using your Ninja Foodi Air Fryer, it's essential to take some safety measures to avoid accidents. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Always read the user manual before using your Ninja Foodi Air Fryer.
• Never operate the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer with wet hands or standing on a damp surface.
• Keep the device away from children and pets. The Ninja Foodi Air Fryer gets hot during operation, and touching it can cause burns.
• Never immerse the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer in water or any other liquid. This can cause electric shock or damage to the device.
• Always use the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer on a stable, level surface. This prevents it from tipping over, causing injury or damage.
• Don't use the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer near flammable materials like curtains, paper, or gasoline.
• Never leave the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer unattended during operation. Always keep an eye on it to prevent accidents.

Be sure to read: My Air Fryer Keeps Saying ‘Open’ – Why? What To Do?

Some Nice Recipes You Should Try!

Now that you have learned how to use your Ninja Foodi air fryer, it's time to put your skills to the test with some delicious recipes.

Here are a few of our favorites that you must try:

1. Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Who doesn't love a plate of crispy chicken wings?

With your Ninja Foodi air fryer, you can make them in just a few minutes.

Simply season your wings with your favorite spices, place them in the air fryer basket, and cook for 20-25 minutes.

You'll have juicy, crispy wings that are perfect for game day or any day!

2. Air Fryer French Fries

Simply slice your potatoes into thin strips, season them with salt and pepper, and air fry for 15-20 minutes.

You'll have delicious fries that are healthier and tastier than anything you can get at a drive-thru.

3. Air Fryer Salmon

Try air fryer salmon if you're looking for a healthy and delicious dinner option.

Season your salmon fillet with garlic, lemon, and herbs, and air fry for 10-12 minutes.

You'll have perfectly cooked salmon that's moist and flavorful. Serve with a side of roasted vegetables for a complete meal.

4. Air Fryer Donuts

Yes, you read that right. You can make donuts in your Ninja Foodi air fryer!

Simply mix together your donut batter, pipe it into the air fryer basket, and cook for 5-7 minutes.

You'll have fluffy, delicious donuts that are perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Related article: Can You Cook Microwave Popcorn In An Air Fryer? [Here’s What You Need To Know]

What Should You Not Put In Your Ninja Foodi Air Fryer?

While the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer is a versatile kitchen appliance, there are some things that you should avoid putting in it. Here are some examples of what not to put in your Ninja Foodi Air Fryer:

• Wet batter: Avoid putting wet batter in the air fryer as it can drip and cause a mess. Instead, opt for dry breading or coating.
• Liquids: Do not put liquids in the air fryer as they can cause a lot of steam, which can damage the appliance.
• Greasy foods: Do not cook extremely greasy foods in it. The excess grease can cause smoke and even fire hazards.
• Large cuts of meat: Avoid putting large cuts of meat in the air fryer as they may not cook evenly.
• Foods with sticky sauces: Avoid putting foods with sticky sauces in the air fryer as they can cause a mess and be difficult to clean.

Also worth the read: Ninja Foodi Won’t Turn On – What To Do?

Are Ninja Air Fryers Easy To Use?

Yes! Overall, customers are happy using their Ninja air fryers, mainly because of its easy-to-use interface.

As we shared above, the Ninja air fryer offers various features, depending on your model.

Another major benefit of buying Ninja products is that they always have a clear, easy-to-understand user guide.

This includes operating your fryer, temperatures for certain foods, and even troubleshooting when something goes wrong.

You can also register your purchase by following the mobile QR code or visiting registeryourninja.com.

By doing this, you can see your product's warranty, and if anything happens within the covered timeframe, Ninja has you covered.

What Are The Cooking Settings On A Ninja Air Fryer?

You can expect these features on most systems: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Dehydrate, Roast, Bake, and Reheat.

Again, some lower-tier models may only offer air frying, dehydrating, reheating, and roasting, so keep that in mind.

To find this out, look at your Ninja air fryer's buttons.

You will see the various settings for whatever your system is capable of.

On top of that, your user manual should also list all the cooking settings that come with your air fryer.

Final Thoughts

You've made it to the end of this step-by-step guide on how to use your Ninja Foodi Air Fryer.

By now, you should have a good understanding of how to use this versatile appliance to cook your favorite meals.

Remember to always read the manual before using the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. This will ensure that you are using the appliance correctly and safely.

Additionally, don't be afraid to experiment with different recipes and cooking techniques. Have fun cooking!