When air fryers first hit the scene, we all thought they’d go the way of Google Glass or NFTs – a huge hyper cycle followed by deep, deep embarrassment at your bank account. Now, they’re so commonplace the Office for National Statistics uses them as a gauge for inflation. That is to say, if you haven’t yet hopped on the air frying train, you’re missing out on a one-way ticket to Flavourville.
Particularly now that the best air fryer I’ve encountered – the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer – is currently available at its lowest ever price for Black Friday – a price match of its Amazon Prime Day cost. Normally retailing at £269.99, this special copper and black model has dropped to just £199.99.
That’s £30 more than the sale price I got it for in May – and I have zero regrets about my purchase. On Ninja’s website, the black and silver version is priced at £268.98, so if you prefer the classic design (and the one I own), it might be worth splashing out. Though with Black Friday around the corner, the price is likely to drop.
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Before moving into my shiny new flat, I shared a kitchen with two other people, and the competition for space was about as fierce as trying to rent a flat for under £1000. I opted for the Tiastar Air Fryer 5.5L (sadly been discontinued), which nestled perfectly into a corner of our cramped kitchen.
It served its purpose well: meat came out juicier, Tesco’s beige tapas elevated to gourmet status, and it rendered the microwave so obsolete if this was a Dreamworks film it’d be plotting the air fryer’s murder. However, upon moving into my own flat – free from the spatial constraints of your typical shoebox – I knew an upgrade was in order.
Despite the allure of a brand-new oven, only the power of a Ninja air fryer could truly make me feel at home. Enter the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer, one of the largest models in the renowned brand’s range.
The beast boasts a huge 10.4l space inside, with a divider to split it into two separate 5.2l, separately controlled options. Much like with its baby brother, the Tiastar, my oven barely gets a look in – except for cooking pizza, which I do not recommend doing from frozen, or grilling meat.
But what makes it so special? Read my full review to find out.
Specifications and functions
The Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer offers the option to divide the drawer in half, allowing you to cook two different foods in two different ways. If you need the full 10.4 litres, simply remove the divider and voila, it works. From my experience, the divider works perfectly and I’ve never had heat spill over. This is due to the separate fans that can be easily programmed using the on-screen display.
One of the main drawbacks is its size. However, this is like saying a tank’s drawback is its thick impenetrable armour: it’s meant to be big, it’s an oven. Measuring H:32.7 x W:49.6 x D:31.6 cm, ensure you have enough counter space. I managed to squeeze mine between my hobs and the wall.
This device boasts seven functions – Max Crisp, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate, Prove. Like most air fryers, the other functions outside the first two are very use-specific.
I’m not much of a baker, but the Reheat function renders the microwave sitting on my kitchen side as equally pointless as the oven. The max temperature is 220C but pretty much everything can be cooked at the Air Fry level of 200C. Use the Max Crisp only when you want it crispy – it really is hot.
As for energy usage, normal ovens use between 2,000 to 3,500 watts, depending on the brand. But like its sister product the Ninja Foodi MAX (9.5l, on sale for £189.99), the FlexDrawer boasts a power output of 2,470 watts. This works out to 61p per hour, according to energy calculator sust-it. However, you will be saving money on your energy bill with this air fryer. Most importantly, it heats up so quickly there is no need to pre-heat, so you end up cooking things for a significantly shorter period of time.
Cooking the food
But a piece of kit can have all the high-tech specifications it wants – if it’s not cooking the food properly, it’s just a futuristic tub for the tip. Luckily, then, it does its job very well. If you are a meat eater, then this changes the game completely.
You will never be able to get an oven to cook your meat as beautiful as this: lamb, chicken, beef, everything is moist and tender and calls for you to bite into it. Even turkey is a delight. Thanks to the spacious drawer, you can easily fit a medium-sized roast joint in there: all beef, nearly all pork and a leg of turkey.
I’ve also managed to fit a medium-sized chicken in there and, even without oil, the skin turns out crispy. It’s also excellent for cooking picky bits like tempura prawns, prawn toast, sausage rolls. You know, British tapas. It’s less effective with leafy greens – frozen veg, perfect, but it has the potential to scorch fresh veg like broccoli and asparagus.
Cleaning
I detest cleaning more than I despise climate change or that bloke who sings about sausage rolls every Christmas. So, you do need to use a few tricks to make it as stress-free as possible. The grates will gather all the fat at the bottom, which means it will require regular soaking to prevent it from becoming smoky (like you would with a standard oven tray). The tray and divider are dishwasher safe.
The best purchase I’ve ever made, other than the FlexDrawer, are these silicone air fryer liners from Amazon. Currently £7.19 in the sale, they are a bit smaller than the drawers but make cleaning a breeze. They can be a bit fiddly to clean properly – though not to the degree a whole air fryer drawer is – but are also, thankfully, dishwasher-safe too.
I would advise caution if placing the FlexDrawer underneath cabinets without protection, as the vents can cause discolouration.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current air fryer or are in the market for your first one, the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer is a top choice. It’s incredibly user-friendly and excels at its primary function – cooking your food quickly and efficiently.
A few minor cleaning issues and its slight aversion to fresh vegetables are minor drawbacks compared to overall performance. And with its current price tag, this beast is hard to resist.
If you’re after something less powerful and smaller, Dunelm’s manual 4 litre air fryer is currently on sale for £21, down from £30. While it has received favourable reviews with a rating of 4.7, it’s more of a basic, ‘does the job’ kind of appliance – but that’s reflected in the price.
Or for a similar size-to-good review ration, the cookwise brand on Amazon has a 9l air fryer for just £99.99. They boast a 4.6 out of 2,780 ratings.