Ninja · AF161
Ninja Air Fryer Max XL AF161 5.5 qt
- 5.5 qt
- 1750 W
- 105–450 °F
- 7 programs · digital, buttons panel
- 11.7 lb · 11.3 x 14.9 in of counter
- 1-year warranty
Verdict
The best-selling single-basket Ninja: powerful and bulletproof. Families of 3-4 who want a powerful, no-fuss single-basket Ninja backed by thousands of reviews.
Editor ratingScores from 0 to 10 computed from the catalog specs. These are not manufacturer data.
- Capacity5/10
- Power10/10
- Versatility9/10
- Ease of use7/10
- Compact size6/10
- Value for money7/10
Full spec sheetMissing data appears as «—». We never fill a cell with an invented value.
| Format | Single basket |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.5 qt (5.2 L approx.) |
| Number of baskets | 1 |
| Fits a whole chicken | Yes |
| Power | 1750 W |
|---|---|
| Power supply | 120 V / 60 Hz |
| Temperature range | 105 – 450 °F |
| Preset functions | 7 |
|---|---|
| Programs | Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate |
| Panel type | Digital, buttons |
| Window to see the food | No |
|---|---|
| Interior light | No |
| Recipe app | No |
| Wi-Fi / remote control | No |
| Basket material | Nonstick ceramic basket + crisper plate, dishwasher safe |
|---|---|
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Included accessories |
|
| Weight | 11.7 lb |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 11.3 W x 14.9 D x 12 H |
| Counter footprint | 11.3 x 14.9 |
| Manufacturer warranty | 1 year(s) |
|---|
Other manufacturer data
| Max Crisp | Funcion de 450 F de aire sobrecalentado para dorar mas rapido |
|---|---|
| Potencia | 1750 W, de las mas altas del grupo |
Analysis
The Ninja Max XL AF161 has spent years among Amazon's best-selling air fryers and is still Amazon's Choice, with 4.7 stars across more than 20,000 reviews on this listing (and tens of thousands more spread across variants). It is the natural evolution of the AF101: same simple philosophy, but with 5.5 quarts instead of 4 (a medium chicken or 3 lb of fries now fits) and 1750 watts, among the most powerful in the group.
The addition over the AF101 is the Max Crisp function: a 450 F superheated-air mode built for frozen foods and for oven-style browning in less time. It also adds broiling (Air Broil) and dehydrating. The panel is still buttons with a dial, no touchscreen and no app.
There is no window, no light and no connectivity, and at 12 inches tall it takes up its share of counter. But as a workhorse for a family of 3-4 that wants a reliable, powerful, no-frills air fryer, it is a safe bet.
Pros
- Long-running bestseller and Amazon's Choice (4.7 across 20,000+)
- 1750 W: among the most powerful, preheats fast
- 450 F Max Crisp for frozen foods and oven-style browning
- 5.5 qt: fits a medium chicken
- Ceramic basket and plate are dishwasher safe
Cons
- Button panel: no touchscreen or app
- No window or interior light
- Fairly tall (12 in): takes up counter space
Ideal for: Families of 3-4 who want a powerful, no-fuss single-basket Ninja backed by thousands of reviews.
What buyers say
A 4.7 across more than 20,000 reviews. People describe it as "a game changer" for how fast and crispy it is, very intuitive (pick temperature and time and go) and easy to clean in one step. Some skeptics of the format admit the 5.5 qt capacity changed their minds.
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Amazon CustomerVerified purchaseCalificado en Estados Unidos el 18 de enero de 2025
My mom is notoriously difficult to shop for presents for. Like nearly impossible. She never asks for anything, never wants anything and rarely uses the things I do get her, even if she likes them. But I'd been thinking about how great an air fryer would be for her since she wouldn't have to take all of the pans out of the oven to cook, pre-heat the oven, wait for it to cool down before putting the pans back in while also using extra grease and oil to cook with. My husband I got her this, half expecting her to never use it, but she finally opened it up (we were starting to get a little worried she wouldn't even try it) and was immediately hooked! She finds it very easy to use (she's not tech-savvy at all, but it really is VERY easy and straightforward), versatile (you can make so many things in it including bread!) and easy to clean and put away. It doesn't take up a lot of countertop footprint space, but it can easily cook meals for the whole family (even one thing after another since we have differing tastes in our household) within minutes. It's completely changed the cooking experience for her for the better. She's not hot and sweaty from the oven and doesn't have to haul around pots and pans or add extra calories and fats to the food she's cooking. Since she got it, she's bought herself three air-fryer cookbooks and has made dinner in it at least 3-4 times a week! She's never shown this much interest or excitement out of using something I've given her. It was worth ever penny and more, both because it's an amazing piece of kitchen equipment but also to see her smile when she realized how much it helped her. We still have uses to discover with it since it does so many things, but literally nothing she's tried in it has turned out badly so I'm sure anything else that gets made is going to be amazing, too!
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LeslieVerified purchaseCalificado en Estados Unidos el 12 de octubre de 2023
We just received our Ninja Air Fryer (AF) today. Woot!! After researching, watching YouTubes on AF’s & combo AF’s & toaster ovens we decided to go with a straight Air Fryer. So glad we did! Smell: Many of the reviews commented on the smell when first running. We put ours on the patio & ran it about 1-1/2 hours going thru the different settings. It did have a smell which my husband related to a new car engine smell. Smile! It smells like plastic. Bird: We have a pet ring neck dove, Buddy, so we wanted a safe AF without Teflon. We were assured the basket & plate are ceramic. The plate does come out of the basket. Cleaning: It does clean up nice & quick. We hand washed to protect the ceramic coating. Testing/Cooking: Hubby did fish sticks & he was so happy! Crisper than the oven!! He followed the directions on the Trident fish stick bag. These are from Costco. In sale now. So… I eat low carb but had to try a bite of that crispy fish & it was truly crispy & tasty! Without a recipe I jumped right in & used the AF button to air fry a bell pepper seeded & cut in half. I added cut up turkey & turkey bacon & tomato & did the AF button for a few minutes. I believe that defaults to 390 degrees. Don’t quote me. 😱 Did that for 2-3 minutes. All the while checking to make sure not burning. NOTE: When you pull out the basket it continues to run unless you pause & then hit start again. Also, it doesn’t beep half way thru for you to shake or stir. Next I added fresh Parmesan cheese. Yummo. The exciting thing is I just threw a good amount in there & it spilled onto the basket along with the tomato. Cooked on AF & it browned!! Yay, nothing stuck & it cleaned up beautifully. I just didn’t want to baby it, you know. Time & Temp: These can be adjusted while it’s running. No need to pause it. I adjusted the time or temp & with a small delay it changed over & kept going without a hiccup. Heat: The top is not not but the back has some heat. The handle is fine to touch. The sides & front are a bit warm. I would move fresh veggies off the counter when using this as the area does get a bit warm but not like the stove! I believe this will be great to use in the summer PLUS you can make meals fresh daily at a moments notice. Basket: I believe this is around 8-1/4”. Not huge but not small either. It is round. We would have liked it to be square but this is great. ENJOY shopping & learning about this Ninja. I hope this review helps. We would recommend this addition to your family. Smile! Blessings. 🌸🥑🌸🥑🌸 Update: this Air Fryer is amazing. We use this a lot. I just had to do another post. We would buy this again & would recommend to anyone. We also got silicone liner baskets for cooking something not solid. These work great but the ones we got are no longer available. This cleans easy, too! Enjoy!! 🤗 One year anniversary update. We love this Air Fryer. It’s truly amazing. While it doesn’t hold a lot it is doable. We made thick ground beef patties 14oz. Shaped them with thumb print in the middle so they don’t puff up. Cooked 5 minutes on Air Fry & flipped. Cooked 5 more minutes & checked temperature. 145 was perfect. No link in the middle. Could cook maybe 9 minutes! We are very happy with this! Just had to share update!!!! 😉 We also have a pet Dove and the AF is no issue as it’s PFOE & more free!!
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JengoVerified purchaseCalificado en Estados Unidos el 12 de julio de 2026
Cooks perfectly and cleans SO easily. Just wipe off with a small amount of dish soap, rinse, dry and use!
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Jared B.Verified purchaseCalificado en Estados Unidos el 8 de abril de 2025
I’ve been using the Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer for about a month, and it’s hands down the best air fryer I’ve owned. It’s super intuitive to use—just pick your temp, set the time, and go. The digital display is clear and easy to read, a big upgrade from my old fryer with unreliable dials. It preheats in just 2-3 minutes and cooks evenly every time. The Max Crisp setting is great for achieving a perfectly crispy texture, especially on foods like chicken, potatoes, and mozzarella sticks. The basket is deep enough to layer food, and with a quick shake, everything cooks evenly and crisps up perfectly. Cleaning is a breeze; the basket is dishwasher-safe and quick to hand wash, plus it’s one solid piece—no tricky parts. It’s quieter than my previous air fryer, with just a mild hum. This air fryer’s roomy 5.5-quart capacity is ideal for cooking for 2-4 people, and I’ve been able to make everything from meats and veggies to cookies with great results. It’s been reliable so far, and knowing Ninja’s history with durable products, I expect this one to last too. For the price, it’s an absolute steal, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fast, reliable air fryer that consistently delivers.
Reviews as shown on the product's Amazon page at the time of consultation. We do not alter their content.
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