Ninja Air Fryer XL with MaxCrisp, 6.5 Qt, 6-in-1, Grey, AF181

Why it's worth it

One 6.5-quart basket, six functions, and a Max Crisp setting that pushes air up to 450°F. Ninja rates the basket for about 5 pounds of fries or 9 pounds of wings, which is plenty for a family of four on a weeknight.

Most of what people actually want from an air fryer is frozen food that gets crispy fast. That's exactly what Max Crisp does: superheated air up to 450°F, no thawing, no oil beyond a light spray. CNET found that budget Ninja models crisp about as well as the pricier dual-zone units, which lines up with what owners say — this one gets used daily and rarely disappoints.

For one or two people, the single basket is the smarter buy. You skip a second zone you'd rarely use, and there's one basket and one crisper plate to wash, both dishwasher-safe. It's also the lightest machine here at around 11 pounds, so actually lifting it into a cabinet is realistic.

From our review of 7 ninja kitchen appliances

What we like

• +Most of what people actually want from an air fryer is frozen food that gets crispy fast
• +For one or two people, the single basket is the smarter buy
• +You do give up dual-zone cooking, which matters if you regularly want fries and fish done at different temperatures at the same…

What to know

• –It's named after a stealthy assassin, and yet — it's loud
• –The nonstick won't last forever