I love fried food a whole lot. But deep frying is a huge mess in the kitchen. Oil splatters all over the clean stove top. The heavy fried smell stays in the house for days. I hated cleaning up that sticky grease. It took hours of hard scrubbing. I used to bake my food in a big oven instead. But a big oven takes too long to heat up. It makes the whole house very hot in the summer.
The air fryer fixes all of these big problems. It uses less power. It cooks food in half the time. That is exactly why I bought one. I wanted crisp food without the oily mess. I tried two top models to see which is best. I cooked with them every single day. Here is what I learned from my long tests.
Ninja AF101 Review
The AF101 is a classic kitchen gadget. It holds four quarts of food inside its basket. It is quite small and very easy to store. I was very excited to unbox this one on a rainy Tuesday. I needed a quick snack to cheer me up. It comes in a neat box. Setup takes only two minutes.
Pros and Cons
Here is a quick look at the good and bad points. I noticed these right away during my first few cooks.
| Pros | Cons |
| Cooks food very fast | Small basket size |
| Super easy to clean | Few heat options |
| Fits small spaces | Loud fan noise |
Living With The Small Fryer
I have used this fryer for two full months now. It sits right on my counter every single day. I make crispy fries for lunch on busy work days. I also use it to warm up cold pizza. It makes the crust so crunchy and nice. I also cook frozen fish sticks for dinner.
They taste like they came from a restaurant. My kids love them. The basket is very light and super easy to shake. Sometimes, I burn my thumb on the hot edge if I am not careful. You learn to watch out for that very quickly.
The dark grey plastic looks very nice in my bright kitchen. It heats up fast. You do not wait long for a hot meal. But the white numbers on the buttons rubbed off just a little bit. It still works great, though. It feels like a reliable old friend now. The cord is a good length.
I can plug it in almost anywhere. I love the simple timer. I hear the loud beep from the other room. It tells me my hot food is ready to eat. I eat more veggies now because they taste so good.
Recommendation
This model is perfect for single folks. It works very well for college dorm rooms, too. It makes a great gift for young adults. They will use it all the time. If you cook for a big family, this is not for you at all. You will have to cook in way too many batches. That takes up too much time and makes you wait.
Ninja AF150 Review
The AF150 is the big brother of the group. It holds five and a half quarts of food. It has a much wider basket shape. I bought this when I started making larger meals for my friends. I wanted to see if the extra space was worth the higher cost. It looks very professional on the counter. The dark grey color matches my fridge.
Pros and Cons
Let us look at what works well and what falls short. These facts stood out during my heavy daily tests.
| Pros | Cons |
| Big food capacity | Takes up space |
| Wide basket shape | Heavy to move |
| More cook settings | Costs more money |
My Daily Life With The Big Fryer
After a few months, this became my main cooking tool. I baked a whole chicken in it last Sunday afternoon. It came out very juicy with a nice crispy skin. The wide pan lets you spread out all the food. Fries do not sit on top of each other at all. This means they cook much more evenly.
The hot air hits every single side of the food. I also roast big batches of carrots and broccoli. I even baked a small pie in it once. The crust was perfectly brown on top.
I truly love the extra room inside. But it is a bit bulky and heavy. It takes up a large chunk of valuable counter space. I had to move my toaster away to make it fit. The sound it makes is a deep, loud hum. It is loud but not too annoying while you cook.
The handle feels very strong when you pull it out. It is built very tough and handles heavy food well. I clean it every night after supper. It never smells like old grease.
Recommendation
This unit is great for couples or a small family. It is perfect if you like to meal prep on Sundays. It is a heavy duty machine. It will last a very long time. Do not buy this if you have a very tiny kitchen. It will just get in the way and annoy you. It needs a big home to be truly useful.
Detail Comparison for Ninja Af101 Vs Af150
Choosing between these two is very tough. They both do a great job in the kitchen. But they fit very different needs and spaces. Let us break down the main points so you can choose wisely.
Capacity & Size: Ninja Af101 Vs Af150
The AF101 holds four quarts of food. The AF150 holds over five quarts. The smaller one fits in tight corners on the counter. The big one needs much more room to breathe. I like the small one for quick daily snacks. I need the big one for real family dinners.
You must think about your counter size first. Measure your space before you buy one. If you have a small flat, get the small one. It is light and easy to put in a cupboard.
| Feature | Ninja AF101 | Ninja AF150 |
| Quarts | 4.0 Quarts | 5.5 Quarts |
| Footprint | Small Size | Large Size |
| Best For | 1-2 People | 3-4 People |
Rating for Ninja AF101: 8/10
Rating for Ninja AF150: 9/10
Cooking Performance: Ninja Af101 Vs Af150
Both machines make very crispy food every single time. The AF150 cooks a bit more evenly. This is because the basket is much wider. Food gets more hot air around it. I tested both with plain frozen fries. Both gave me the exact same great crunch.
The small unit cooks thicker foods a bit slower. I noticed this when I made thick pork chops. The big one cooks a steak just right. Both give you a great crunch without deep frying in bad oil.
| Feature | Ninja AF101 | Ninja AF150 |
| Crispness | Very High | Very High |
| Even Heat | Good | Great |
| Air Flow | Strong | Very Strong |
Rating for Ninja AF101: 8/10
Rating for Ninja AF150: 9/10
Temperature Range & Controls: Ninja Af101 Vs Af150
Both models reach four hundred degrees easily. They both have a nice dehydrate feature, too. The front buttons are clearly marked and easy to press. The big model has an extra bake button. I use that bake button for making soft cookies.
I like simple buttons that do not confuse me. Both models pass the test for easy use. Both screens are very bright and easy to read. You can change the time and heat while it cooks. It is very simple to understand.
| Feature | Ninja AF101 | Ninja AF150 |
| Max Heat | 400 Degrees | 400 Degrees |
| Buttons | Clear Text | Clear Text |
| Bake Mode | No | Yes |
Rating for Ninja AF101: 8/10
Rating for Ninja AF150: 9/10
Cleaning & Maintenance: Ninja Af101 Vs Af150
Both baskets have a slick non-stick coat inside. Food slides right off with just soap and warm water. The base crisper plates pop out fast for quick washing. They are both a breeze to wash by hand. Do not use rough metal scrubbers on the basket.
You will scratch the smooth surface. I never put them in my loud dishwasher. Hand washing keeps the dark coat nice and fresh. A soft sponge is all you need to clean them up. Grease wipes away fast.
| Feature | Ninja AF101 | Ninja AF150 |
| Non-stick | Yes | Yes |
| Wash Easy | Very Easy | Very Easy |
| Plate Out | Fast | Fast |
Rating for Ninja AF101: 9/10
Rating for Ninja AF150: 9/10
Cooking Noise & Smell: Ninja Af101 Vs Af150
Air fryers are basically mini hot ovens. They have loud fans to move the hot air around. The smaller unit has a high pitch fan noise. The large unit has a lower, deeper hum. You can easily watch TV while the small one runs. The big one might make you turn up the sound.
Neither smell bad if you wash them very well. My first use had a slight plastic smell, though. It went away fast after one single hot wash. Now they just smell like tasty food.
| Feature | Ninja AF101 | Ninja AF150 |
| Fan Sound | High Pitch | Deep Hum |
| Loudness | Medium | High |
| New Smell | Slight | Slight |
Rating for Ninja AF101: 7/10
Rating for Ninja AF150: 8/10
Conclusion
Both fryers are truly great tools for any smart kitchen. The AF101 wins for small spaces and fast daily snacks. The AF150 is the absolute best for bigger meals. Pick the one that fits your exact space and family size. You will not be sorry with either smart choice. They both make cooking fun and easy. I am glad I bought an air fryer. It changed how I eat every single day.