Are Ninja foodies (or similar) worth it?

Can anyone recommend a good recipe book for the models with the sliding lid, please?

I've looked on Amazon, and whereas there are a lot of books, many of them are for different models (there are so many!) and the reviews are variable. I would like a beginners one that doesn't assume that you know how to operate the machine, so that I can start with the basics and learn what it will do.

I've got so used to my Ninja that I am missing it a lot while I'm away from home for a week ? I have to make do with the (extremely dirty ?) oven in the cottage , waiting for it to heat up.

I ordered mine direct from Ninja yesterday, supposedly with next day delivery, but as I didn't get a dispatch email, or a tracking number from the courier I assume that it will be Tuesday at the earliest. They have taken the money though. It's annoying, as I have people coming round tomorrow, and was going to try it out on them - I could have ordered it from Amazon and got it today, but try to avoid them when possible.

And a big thank you from me for all the encouraging advice !

I've thought of buying one for ages now I think that I shall .

GrauntyHelen each air fryer is different and mine has to have a teaspoonful of oil for most but not all food as per the manufacturer's instructions.

The two inner sections are machine washable.

I use my air fryer daily my double ovens are redundant Much cheaper to run cook quicker easy to clean I use NO oil

I love cooking.
For me this makes it fun.. seeing all the different kinds of things it can do.
Bread is fabulous

I have a Salter oven air fryer and use it all the time. I now don't have an oven! I cook for 2 and instead of cakes I make cupcakes.

I bought the Ninja 9L double drawer air fryer last month and love it. A whole chicken easily fits in one drawer and chips in the other. There is a sync button which allows both items to be ready at the same time. Brilliant machine.

Apart from saving electricity - and time - I just love the way my Ninja air fryer gets food lovely and crispy or toasted, in a way that took ages with the main oven.

kittylester I was never a fan of cooking- possibly because I was never taught properly. I have never baked a thing in my life but I am even thinking of doing something simple. I joined Pinterest and even I can follow some of the simple tasty recipes.

I actually look forward to playing with my toy each evening and I have ordered a new accessory from Amazon so that I can cook stir fries in my newish modest toy.

I've only had my Tower air fryer (4.3 litre) for three or four weeks, and am using it a lot.

Apart from the obvious things like chips, I have used it for fruit crumbles, pasties, shepherd's pie, roasted vegetables and bean burgers, amongst other things.
When I did the bean burgers, I first cooked a few chips, then put them back in with the burgers towards the end of cooking time to reheat them, and put in the bread buns too to lightly toast them.

I've only used my proper oven once since I got the air fryer, and that was to cook a big roast and all the trimmings for the family.

I am glad I didn't go for a smaller machine . For just the two of us, this 4.3 litres one is just right.

Well, I've just ordered one. I've been thinking about it for a while, and the fact that fuel costs are going to rise so steeply makes it easier to justify. I went for the 14 in 1 Ninja. The main difference between that and the 15 in 1 seemed to be the thermal probe, and as I rarely cook meat that would probably be unnecessary.

Can I ask - did those of you who find it useful, enjoy cooking previously? Does it take away your enjoyment of cooking?

I wasn't thinking about it before, but after all these glowing reports - it could be on my to buy list!

I have a Tower Air Fryer and use it for lots of things. Basically, anything (that's not as big as a whole chicken or turkey) that can be cooked in the oven, can be cooked in the air fryer.
As we are only two people, I cook burgers, sausages, chips, and even roast potatoes in mine. It's possible to increase/decrease the temperature and/or cooking time. The only downside is that it doesn't take anything larger than an 8 inch dia. tray or tin.
I also have a multi function microwave that grills etc. so don't always use the fan oven.

I have very recently bought a 7ltr air fryer so finding my way with it. Bought primarily to save on the electricity from using the full size oven. Pros so far: cooks quickly, nice crispy chips and fish in breadcrumbs,, crispy bacon in shorter time than the conventional grill, less lingering food smells, very little pre-heating, easy to clean (no getting on hands and knees to the cooker innards!), has various pre-settings but these can be adjusted or can use it totally manually, and must be saving on electricity overall.
Cons: if having to cook in batches or foods on different sets of temperature - how to keep food hot while the next bit is cooked? It does need its own bit of worktop not too near other things because it gets pretty hot - I've got it pushed back out of the way when not in use, but pull it out into an open space when I'm using it.
I have tried some baking in it as well as it has a bake setting - made some rather nice fudgy brownies. The size of the drawer meant a small 6/7" square tin the largest which would fit. This meant only a smaller amount of brownies could be made - I suppose whether this is a positive or negative depends on whether you are supposed to be eating that sort of thing! After all, it's supposed to be a more healthy way to cook....
I do have a Multi-chef, which gave the option for 7 ways of cooking, (slow cooking, pre-browning then stewing, deep frying etc) but tbh I'd only used a couple of the options and as it has stopped working properly and I have a separate slow cooker I thought I'd give the air fryer a go.

I have a Ninja 15 in 1 and I love it.
I use it most days. I bake bread in it. Omelettes. Whole chicken. Lasagne is amazing in it.
Love it!

This is a really good review site:

www.expertreviews.co.uk/home-appliances/1406046/best-air-fryers

Thanks for all the information, a friend has an airfryer and so I was coming round to thinking it may be worth having as I live alone and it sounds as though the ninja one is worth the extra cash. I shall look up more about it but think it is likely I shall get one so thanks for all the info

We use our air fryer everyday and are looking into buying a 30L one very soon.
Wouldn`t be without one,also have one in our static.

effalump

Charleygirl15, I have often wondered about buying one of these since all the energy prices are going up but I'm glad you mentioned that the appliance shouldn't be near a wall or under cupboards. Unfortunately my kitchen is roughly 9x9ft so the only space I could put it is on the sink drainer, but then it would be very near the curtains. Looks like I'll have to stick to only using the oven when I have several items to cook at once. Even my toaster has to be pulled right to the edge of the worktop away from the cupboards.

my toaster and my slow cooker both sit under cupboards with no sign of burning. The slow cooke sometimes deposits water on the underside of the cupboard but I just mop it off

Another option is a multi use microwave? Mine is an oven as well as a microwave and I use it just about every day instead of my big oven. I have got a slow cooker too and between the two I only really need the hob and no oven at all when I am on my own.

Charleygirl15, I have often wondered about buying one of these since all the energy prices are going up but I'm glad you mentioned that the appliance shouldn't be near a wall or under cupboards. Unfortunately my kitchen is roughly 9x9ft so the only space I could put it is on the sink drainer, but then it would be very near the curtains. Looks like I'll have to stick to only using the oven when I have several items to cook at once. Even my toaster has to be pulled right to the edge of the worktop away from the cupboards.

I bought my ninja foodi because I’m on my own and don’t see point for having a oven. I cook everything in mine for myself or family from chips to yorkie to roast joints. I love it that much I also bought a soup maker too. Much cheaper to use as it uses less electric. I love my ninjas that much I bought them also for my two sons and family for Christmas. One of my daughter inlaws got a cheaper one before I got mine and it didn’t do anything as near has mine does so when I bought for my son and her she threw out other one and she just got her mum one for Mother’s Day. She said she loves it too. I’d say buy cheap buy twice