Keep reading to learn more about the Ninja Air Fryer and why it’s useful, what types of accessories you can use with it and how to use these accessories to make perfectly crunchy veggies, meats, apps, snacks and more. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
What Is a Ninja Air Fryer?
First, a lesson on air frying: “This method of cooking is essentially convection cooking, using a fan to help circulate the hot air around the food, so it cooks more evenly versus baking, which cooks from the bottom up or broiling, which cooks from the top down,” explains GiGi Ashworth, allergen-friendly chef, nutritionist and author. You can essentially cook anything and everything in an air fryer (including cake!), says Ashworth. “That being said, the best foods, in my opinion, to cook in the air fryer would be salmon and chicken wings,” she adds. Ninja is one of the many brands of air fryers you can find in stores and online. “It’s been highly regarded as one of the best air fryers on the market because they’re insanely reliable and have a plethora of models to suit everyone’s needs,” says Ashworth. Ninja offers up a few different sizes of air fryers, including a 5.5-quart air fryer that can also bake, dehydrate and reheat food, says Ashworth. They also sell a 10-quart dual air fryer (part of the Ninja Foodi line) that can air fry two chickens at once as it boasts two buckets, says Ashworth. “The coolest part about their two-bucket model, though, is one of the buckets could be set to air fry while the other could be set to roast or bake,” she adds. The bottom line: “Because Ninja offers so many varieties of air fryers, they truly are top of the line when it comes to wanting to cook a lot of delicious foods quickly and for a lot of people,” says Ashworth.
What to Know About Ninja Air Fryer Accessories
Want to know what Ninja Air Fryer accessories are for and what the most popular Ninja Air Fryer accessories are? We’ve got answers to your most commonly asked questions so you can shop with ease.
Do you need accessories for the Ninja Air Fryer?
No, you don’t technically need Ninja Air Fryer accessories. “You can use it completely on its own,” says Samantha Lynn, owner of Everyday Family Cooking. However, certain accessories can make cleaning up post-cooking easier. For example, “I love using just the basket with my air fryer but do highly recommend parchment liners if you need something inexpensive to help with cleaning,” says Lynn. Ashworth adds that while accessories aren’t necessary to achieve perfectly fried foods, they can also be nice to have on hand to prevent burning yourself or to further enhance the taste and texture of the food you’re air frying. Plus, “using an accessory allows you to be more creative with the air fryer,” says Lynn. “You allow yourself to start baking in it by using a cake pan or using silicone muffin liners.”
What are some accessories for an air fryer?
There are so many accessories you can use with the Ninja Air Fryer. “You can use everything from glass dishes to cake pans to silicone liners and more,” says Lynn. “Basically, if you can use it in an oven, it’s safe for use in an air fryer.” Lynn says she’s used silicone and parchment liners, silicone baskets, wired racks, cake pans, glass dishes and more in her air fryer.
What’s the multi-layer rack used on the Ninja Air Fryer?
Ever wondered what that multi-layer rack accessory is for the Ninja Air Fryer? Allow Lynn to explain: “When you cook in an air fryer, most foods need to be cooked in a single layer,” she says. “The multi-layer rack allows you to have two layers.” Lynn notes that it’s very important to swap the placement of the food halfway through cooking for evenly cooked food if you’re using a multi-layer rack. “It’s also good to note that the food on the top rack may brown more quickly than the food on the bottom rack as it is closer to the heating coil and fan,” she adds.
How do you use Ninja Air Fryer accessories?
How you use Ninja Air Fryer accessories really depends on which accessory you’re using, says Thomas Seres, air fryer expert at Fryer Consumer. “But the number one rule is: don’t preheat an air fryer with only the parchment paper in it,” he explains. “It can move around, touching the heating element, and burn down your air fryer.”
15 Best Ninja Air Fryer Accessories
Ready to stock up on the best Ninja Air Fryer accessories? Here are 15 awesome options for various Ninja Air Fryer models, including the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL and Ninja Foodi Air Fryer.
12. Digital Meat Thermometer, $10.08
Sources
GiGi Ashworth, allergen-friendly chef, nutritionist and authorSamantha Lynn, owner of Everyday Family CookingThomas Seres, air fryer expert at Fryer Consumer
