How To Use Ninja Air Fryer [Complete Guide]

Purchasing a new kitchen appliance can be very exciting. However, things can get tricky if you aren't sure how to use your new gadget. For example, do you have a new Ninja air fryer but have no clue how to operate it? Well, we've done plenty of research and have a guide for you!

Using a Ninja air fryer should be similar to using air fryers from most other brands. First, we recommend checking which air fryer model you own, as it will have unique parts and capabilities.

However, to use any Ninja air fryer, you can:

1. Preheat your air fryer (press the power button and adjust the temperature).
2. Allow your air fryer to preheat for around five minutes.
3. Once the countdown is done, your Ninja will stop heating and power off.
4. Grab the food basket from your air fryer and spray it with a non-stick product.
5. Place your food into the removable rack/basket you just sprayed.
6. Tap the power button and set your temperature/timer.
7. After the timer goes off, remove the basket and check your food.
8. Remove the food from your air fryer and turn it completely off/unplug it.
9. Wipe the inside with a warm, damp cloth when your air fryer cools off.
10. Store your air fryer in a safe place, and you're done!

As we start this article, we will cover everything using a Ninja air fryer and show you how to clean and store it. Whether you're new to Ninja products, haven't air fried before, or have other questions, we're here to help. With that said, let's dive right in!

How Do You Use A Ninja Air Fryer?

If you recently bought a Ninja air fryer and want to use it, this will be pretty easy. First, make sure to remove all packaging from your fryer as well as any factory stickers.

Once you have your Ninja air fryer out of the box, we recommend reviewing the cooking/user manual, which will list every piece of your product and how to use it.

Although most Ninja air fryers are similar, yours may have a feature that another one doesn't have. When you understand how your product operates and goes together, assemble the air fryer.

Next, find a safe, heat-resistant location (the counter or stovetop will be fine) and plug in your air fryer. Using an air fryer on a flat, heat-resistant/safe surface is essential, or you could start a fire.

After that, you want to follow these steps for cooking:

1. Preheat your air fryer

The first thing to do when using your air fryer is to preheat it. You will press the power button and adjust the temperature to do this.

Generally, you can set the temperature on your air fryer to around 350 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep that number in mind. Furthermore, you shouldn't need to preheat the air fryer too high, as it works quickly to cook food once turned on.

2. Allow your air fryer to preheat for five minutes

Once you get your Ninja air fryer on and set the temperature and time for preheating, wait around five minutes. Again, you may need to adjust the timer and give your air fryer more time to heat if the temperature exceeds 350 degrees.

Luckily, Ninja air fryers get hot fast, so you shouldn't need to preheat for more than 10 minutes max.

3. Once the countdown finishes, wait for your Ninja to power off

After the preheating cycle ends, your Ninja air fryer will power off. The inside basket is still preheated, but hot air will not be circulating through your appliance.

You can grab the handle and remove the cooking chamber from your fryer.

4. Grab the food basket from your air fryer and spray it

After your Ninja stops heating, you can grab the food chamber/basket and remove it from the air fryer. We recommend using a non-stick spray and applying a layer to the bottom of the rack.

Doing this ensures your food doesn't stick or get burned at the bottom of the air fryer. It's worth noting that Ninja air fryers will have a non-stick coating inside where you cook, but that doesn't always mean it works.

5. Place your food into the basket/chamber you just sprayed

After spraying a non-stick product into your air fryer cooking basket, you can dump your food inside. Ideally, you want to keep your food equally distributed along the bottom of the cooker to prevent uneven temperatures.

Additionally, it may be better to cook multiple batches of food if your Ninja's capacity is too small. Place your basket back into the air fryer and ensure it's secure. Your Ninja won't work if the cooking piece is not fully inserted.

6. Press the power button on your Ninja air fryer and set the time/temp

When you've put your food into the Ninja air fryer, you can press the power button and select the time and temperature. This will differ for everyone, so follow the recipe as it is written.

Ninja also has a helpful cooking guide which may be useful for certain foods inside your air fryer.

7. Once the timer ends, remove your food basket

After the timer on your Ninja air fryer goes off (it will beep), you can remove the food basket. Ninja air fryers should have a handle for this, so avoid touching the inside or exterior of the cooking chamber.

Depending on your recipe, the inside of your air fryer can be well over 400 degrees. You can also wear an oven mitt if that makes you more comfortable.

Luckily, there isn't much oil or grease to avoid touching, so as long as you grab your food by the handle, you will not get burned.

8. Remove the food from the air fryer basket and let your device cool

When it's time to eat, you can remove the food from the air fryer and turn off your device. Generally, if your Ninja is still lit up, you want to press the power button and unplug it shortly after.

Ninja air fryers tend to cool down quickly once turned off, so we'd recommend giving yours about 15-20 minutes.

Keep young children and animals away from your air fryer while it's on and cooling down to prevent serious injury.

9. Once your Ninja air fryer cools down, wipe it with a damp rag

After your Ninja appliance cools down and it is unplugged, you can go in and wipe it. We recommend using a warm, damp rag and wiping the interior cooking chamber.

You don't want to use a harsh scrub brush or brillo pad, as this can remove the non-stick coating. Even soap can strip the cooking chamber of its non-stick properties, so stick to water only if possible.

10. Store your air fryer in a dry safe place

The final step to using a Ninja air fryer is storing it. Ideally, you want to keep your air fryer somewhere dry and protected. Since it is a potentially dangerous kitchen appliance, avoid keeping it within easy reach of children and pets.

Storing one in a cabinet is more than fine between uses.

Here is a helpful video tutorial showing you the above steps:

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.

Therefore, one person may have a piece that the other doesn't, making the user manual your new best friend. Regardless of the Ninja air frying product you purchase, it will be easy to operate.

According to Good Housekeeping, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL was the top performer in their air fryer test, scoring highly for being easy to read and use.

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.

Some items that your user manual covers include:

• Cleaning your Ninja air fryer
• Important safeguards
• Function buttons
• Operating buttons
• Air frying, roasting, dehydrating, and reheating
• Replacement parts
• Warranty information

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?

Although not every Ninja air fryer will have the same cooking features, you can expect these 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.

According to experts, regardless of the cooking setting in a Ninja air fryer, set the temperature to 25 degrees less than you would in an oven.

Your air fryer, although small, is incredibly powerful.

To Wrap Up

Whether you recently purchased a Ninja air fryer or want to, it's always good to know how it works. We found that using your air fryer should be as easy as preheating, setting the timer and temperature, placing your food into the removable basket/chamber, and waiting for the cooking process to finish.

Luckily, Ninja air fryers also have a detailed user manual listing your device's cooking settings. In this manual, you can also find details regarding warranties, troubleshooting, and cooking temperatures for certain foods.

Remember to avoid touching the inside of your air fryer until it is unplugged and cooled, and use a warm, damp rag to clean it. Good luck!

Here are some other kitchen articles you may want to read:

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

My Air Fryer Keeps Saying ‘Open’ – Why? What To Do?

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