Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK review: "We use it instead of the oven most times"

Price on writing: £180 | Buy now from Amazon

Our verdict

• Performance: 14/15

• Quality and durability: 13/15

• Ease of use: 14/15

• Value for money: 12/15

• Cooking results: 10/10

• Cooking functions/features: 9/10

• Capacity and size: 8/10

• Ease of cleaning: 7/10

• Overall score: 87/100

The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK is a game-changer for those looking to cook faster, healthier meals with minimal fuss. With a 7.6-litre capacity, it's a smaller version of our best air fryer pick (the 9-litre Ninja AF400UK), but it still has the same functions, including a handy match and sync setting to coordinate cooking times in both baskets. Granted, if you have a large family, this is not the choice for you, but for smaller households it's ideal—it even took the top dual-basket award on our best air fryers for two people round-up.

Performance-wise, the AF300UK delivers excellent results. From crispy chicken escalopes to golden homemade chips, food cooks evenly and with far less oil than deep-fried methods. Roasting vegetables takes a fraction of the time compared to the oven, and the air fryer even excels at cooking fish while keeping odours contained. Cleaning is hassle-free, thanks to removable grill plates, and while the plastic-heavy design isn’t the most stylish, it’s a small trade-off for such a practical appliance. Given its speed, efficiency, and ease of use, this air fryer is a worthwhile investment—especially when bought on sale.

Cooking in the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK: how easy was it to use?

Initially, I was skeptical about purchasing an air fryer. My wife and I are both enthusiastic cooks who enjoy hosting and socialising around food. To be healthy, we rarely deep fry, and we have a small kitchen with limited space. Despite this, positive reviews on Mumsnet convinced us to try the Ninja AF300UK Air Fryer, and we are thrilled with our decision!

This Ninja air fryer is incredibly user-friendly, requiring only a few button presses to select the desired cooking function and adjust the time and temperature. It's so simple that I only needed to consult the manual for recommended cooking times. Overall, using the air fryer is as easy as plugging it in, pressing a button, and letting it do its job.

So far we’ve used the air fry, reheat, and max crisp settings. I've not tried to bake in it as each tray is quite small (approx 20x15cm), but I'm confident it would be good after the results I have seen from the other settings.

It does generate some sound, but it’s not as loud as an overhead fan on a cooker.

Related: The best slow cookers, tried and tested

Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK performance: how were the results?

I decided to try cooking chicken escalopes in the air fryer instead of my usual frying pan, and they turned out fantastic! All they needed was a light brush of oil, and they were perfectly crispy and light without being greasy. They were also much faster than pan-frying, taking only about 13 minutes for a 200g chicken breast from the butcher. The air fryer cooked them evenly, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, unlike the oven, which dried them out and took much longer.

I also made fresh chips in the air fryer, and they turned out great. They weren't quite as good as deep-fried chips from the chippy, but they were crispy and well-coloured, and I didn't have to deal with a pan full of oil. I just tossed the chips in a teaspoon of oil and a little salt, then spread them in the air fryer basket, being careful not to overload it. I set the air fryer to 200°C for 20 minutes and shook the tray every five minutes to ensure the chips crisped evenly.

A word of warning: remember to preheat the baskets if you want crispy skin on your fish, otherwise it will stick—though this the same as cooking in a pan. I found the air fryer was great for cooking fish as it keeps the smell contained, and you don't even need to use oil to get crispy skin.

The AF300UK Air Fryer roasted vegetables much faster than in the oven. For example, carrots, parsnips and Brussels sprouts all took around 10 minutes and came out perfectly. I haven't tried roast potatoes in the air fryer though, as I’ve mastered that art in the oven, and we usually only do them if we have a big joint so the oven is already on.

We now use the air fryer instead of the oven most times (we opt for the oven for anything that doesn’t fit in the baskets) and found it actually cooks food quicker. I also love that there's no need to preheat if you don’t want to. We don’t usually eat a lot of frozen food so I can’t say for sure, but I'd hazard a guess that most things out of the freezer also take less time in the air fryer compared to the oven.

Related: The best microwaves for family kitchens

Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK: design and style

The appliance's aesthetic could be improved. The excessive use of plastic gives it a cheap look; it appears stuck between modern and classic styles. It's also quite bulky.

While the 7.6L capacity suits two people well, larger families should consider a bigger size. The very similar AF400UK is one of our best air fryers for a family of four—it's essentially the same model with a bigger 9.5L capacity.

Is the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK easy to clean?

Cleaning is straightforward due to the removable grill plates. We simply scrape out the oil that accumulates under them and wash them in the sink. Although some grease builds up over time, it hasn't been a significant issue in the two years we've been using the air fryer. While additional trays can be purchased to maintain internal cleanliness, we haven't found them necessary. The exterior only requires a quick wipe down.

I usually soak the grills then wash them thoroughly if anything gets stuck to them. We haven't tried cleaning them in the dishwasher because it's old and small, and it can barely wash the dishes!

Related: The best food processors, according to Mumsnetters

Price: is the Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK worth it?

For the price we paid when the air fryer was on sale, it was 100% worth it. As everything is quicker to cook, it saves time and money—win-win!

In general, I think air fryers are a must-have for everyone, regardless of their cooking skills or kitchen size. They are incredibly versatile and user-friendly, which is why I always recommend them to my loved ones.

How we tested

MNHQ tester Ajoy has owned and used the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer AF300UK for over two years. A household of two, Ajoy and his wife typically use the air fryer around four times a week.

• Used regularly to cook a range of food

• Used for over two years to test longevity

• Used a range of modes on the AF300UK

About the author

Ajoy Nath joined Mumsnet last year to lead the commercial programmatic offering. Originally from Nottingham, his love for football took him to Manchester for university, where he spent half his life before eventually settling in London.

A true foodie at heart, Ajoy grew up socialising around the dinner table, which sparked his passion for cooking and entertaining. He’s always excited to try new recipes and experiment in the kitchen.

Outside the world of advertising, Ajoy is a lifelong sports enthusiast, having played football for many years in local leagues. He’s an avid outdoorsman who enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, as well as exploring the open road on his motorbike

About the editor

Natasha Gregson is a Senior Content Editor at Mumsnet, with an expertise in home and kitchen product reviews and round-ups. With numerous years of editorial experience under her belt, her work has also been featured in prestigious national publications like The i Paper and Stylist Magazine, and she's written on a wide range of topics.

A keen foodie, Natasha oversees all kitchen and food content on Mumsnet, and has edited guides on the best budget air fryers, best air fryer microwave combos, and the best air fryer cookbooks, to name just a few.

When she’s not busy seeking out the best air fryers for Mumsnetters, you can find her searching for the next best restaurant, watching live music, curling up with a good book, cross-stitching, or enjoying a good hike or run.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after extensive research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

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