The air fryer to buy first if you cook for one or two. Dishwasher-safe basket and plate, simple dials, no presets to learn.
- Best for
- One or two people who want crisp food and easy cleaning
- Key highlight
- Basket and crisper plate are both dishwasher safe
- Cooking4.7
- Ease of use4.8
- Cleaning4.8
- Noise3.6
- Value4.8
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The AF101 has been near the top of the air fryer charts for years, and the reason is boring: it does the one job properly, it is easy to clean, and it costs less than the machines that surround it on the shelf.
Size and what fits
Four quarts sounds small until you use it. It handles about two pounds of fries, chicken thighs for two people, a batch of wings, or roasted vegetables as a side. It will not cook a family roast and it will not do a whole chicken comfortably. If you cook for four or more regularly, step up to a six-quart model; if you cook for one or two, this is the right size and it takes up noticeably less counter space.
How it cooks
1550 watts and a temperature range from 105°F to 400°F. The low end is the interesting part — it is there for the dehydrate function, which works better than you would expect for apple slices and jerky. At the top end it crisps properly. Frozen food comes out well without any thought. Fresh food wants a light coat of oil and a shake halfway through, which the machine does not remind you to do.
Four functions: air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate. There are no presets for specific foods, just time and temperature dials, and after a week you will prefer it that way.
Cleaning
The basket and the crisper plate both go in the dishwasher, and the nonstick holds up if you keep metal away from it. The plate lifts out so you can get under it, which is where the grease collects. This is the part that decides whether an air fryer stays on the counter or ends up in a cupboard, and Ninja got it right.
The annoyances
It is loud — a constant fan roar for the whole cook. The basket has no window, so checking means pulling it out, which pauses the cook. And the footprint is tall rather than wide, so measure your cupboard clearance before buying.
Should you buy it?
Buy the AF101 if you cook for one or two, want something that cleans easily, and do not need a machine that also grills and pressure cooks. Skip it if you are feeding a family of four, if noise in an open-plan kitchen bothers you, or if you want a basket you can see into.
Key features
4-in-1 cooking
Air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate from one basket.
1550-watt element
Reaches 400°F quickly enough that preheating is optional.
105-400°F range
The low end exists for the dehydrate programme.
Dishwasher-safe parts
Basket and crisper plate both go in the machine.
Removable crisper plate
Lifts out so grease underneath can be cleaned properly.
Compact body
Takes less counter space than most four-quart machines.
Pros & cons
What we like
- Dishwasher-safe basket and crisper plate
- Wide 105-400°F range covers dehydrating
- Simple time and temperature dials, no presets to learn
- Crisps frozen food with no thought required
- Compact footprint for a 4 qt machine
- Costs less than most rivals
What could be better
- Loud fan for the whole cook
- No window, so checking pauses cooking
- Too small for a family of four
Specifications
Frequently asked questions
Comfortably one or two. It handles about two pounds of fries or wings for two. For four people you want a six-quart machine or a dual-basket model.
Yes. Both the basket and the crisper plate are dishwasher safe, which is the main reason this model stays on people's counters.
Yes. The fan runs constantly and it is noticeably louder than an oven. In an open-plan kitchen you will hear it over a conversation.
Not usually. It reaches temperature fast enough that most recipes work from cold, though a three-minute preheat helps with thin cuts of meat.
Frozen food does not. Fresh food crisps much better with a light spray, roughly a teaspoon for a full basket.
Final verdict
The air fryer to buy first if you cook for one or two. Dishwasher-safe basket and plate, simple dials, no presets to learn.
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