Okay, I’ll be honest – I never thought I’d become that person who’s obsessed with air fryers. But here we are, and my kitchen counter now looks like an air fryer showroom.
After my old toaster oven finally gave up (RIP), I decided to jump on the air fryer bandwagon. But instead of just buying one, I went a little overboard and tested three different models for two months straight. My family thinks I’ve lost it, but hey, at least we’ve been eating really well!
So here’s my completely honest take on the Ninja AF101, the tiny Chefman 2-quart, and the big Chefman 6-quart with the fancy touchscreen. Spoiler alert: they’re all good, but for totally different reasons.
Quick Stats :
| What I Tested | Ninja AF101 | Little Chefman | Big Chefman Touchscreen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 4 quarts | 2 quarts | 6 quarts |
| Power | 1550W | 1000W | 1700W |
| My Rating | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Best For | Most people | Tiny spaces | Big families |
| Annoying Factor | Low | Very low | Medium |
The Ninja AF101: My Unexpected Favorite
I’ll admit it – I bought this one because it had good reviews and wasn’t crazy expensive. Turns out, sometimes the internet is right.
What I Actually Liked
This thing just works. Like, every single time. I’ve made everything from frozen chicken nuggets (don’t judge) to homemade sweet potato fries, and it’s been consistently good. The temperature stays where you set it, which apparently isn’t a given with all air fryers.
The 4-quart size is perfect for my family of three, plus it fits nicely on my already-crowded counter. I can make enough food for dinner without having to do multiple batches, but it’s not so huge that it takes over my entire kitchen.
The Real Talk
What’s actually good:
- Never burns my food (unlike my old oven)
- Heats up super fast – like 2 minutes and you’re good to go
- Easy to clean – I just toss the basket in the dishwasher
- Comes with this little rack thing that’s actually useful
- The buttons make sense (revolutionary, I know)
What drives me nuts:
- Sometimes the coating on the basket gets a little sticky after a while
- The beeping is pretty loud – scared my cat the first few times
- You can’t really fit a whole chicken in there (learned that the hard way)
Who Should Get This One?
If you’re a normal person with a normal-sized family and you want something that just works without any drama, this is it. I’ve been using mine almost daily for two months and it’s still going strong.
- LESS FAT: Now enjoy guilt-free food. Air fry with up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods. Tested against han…
- WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGE: 105°F-400°F allows you to gently remove moisture from foods or quickly cook and crisp foods with…
- FAMILY-SIZED CAPACITY: 4-quart ceramic-coated nonstick basket and crisper plate fit 2 lbs of French fries.
- 4-IN-1 VERSATILITY: Includes 4 versatile cooking programs: Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate.
- DEHYDRATE: Create flat, chip-like dehydrated foods for fun, homemade snacks. The combination of low fan speed and low te…
- EASY-TO-CLEAN: Dishwasher safe parts including the basket, and crisper plate. Wipe to clean machine exterior.
The Chefman Mini: Tiny But Mighty (Seriously)
I got this little guy for my daughter’s dorm room, but ended up keeping it on my counter because it’s just so convenient for quick stuff.
Size Doesn’t Always Matter
This thing is small – like, really small. But don’t let that fool you. I’ve made single servings of everything in this little beast. Perfect for when I want a quick snack or when I’m cooking something different just for myself.
The coolest part? You don’t have to wait for it to preheat. Just throw your food in, set the time, and go. My teenager has actually figured out how to use it, which is saying something.
My Honest Experience
What I love:
- Takes up almost no space (fits under my cabinets)
- Super simple – even my husband can use it
- No preheating nonsense
- Cheap enough that I don’t panic when my kid uses it
- Actually makes decent food despite being so small
What’s not so great:
- Obviously can’t cook much at once
- Takes longer than the bigger ones for some things
- The basket is tiny – good luck fitting anything substantial
- Gets pretty hot on the outside
Perfect For…
Anyone with limited space, college students, or if you want a second air fryer for quick stuff. I actually use this more than I expected because it’s so easy and fast.
- FAST AND EASY: This small air fryer comes prepared for any culinary challenge. The capacitive touch screen display can c…
- HEALTHY COOKING: Say goodbye to excess oil and fat, and hello to healthy cooking. This mini air fryer uses little-to-no …
- SUPREME SPACE-SAVER: The square basket maximizes its 2-quart capacity. Housed in a sleek, narrow design to keep its coun…
- SHAKE NOTIFICATIONS: Halfway through cooking, the TurboFry Air Fryer automatically notifies you with an audible alarm th…
- COMPACT STORAGE: This 2-quart air fryer is perfectly sized for healthy meals for 1-2 people. It fits in perfectly as a m…
- SIMPLE CLEAN-UP: The nonstick 2-quart basket and rack are both dishwasher safe to keep clean-up fast and simple.
The Chefman 6-Quart Touchscreen: The Overachiever
This one’s the showoff of the bunch. Big, powerful, and has a touchscreen that makes me feel like I’m living in the future.
The Good, The Bad, and The Touchscreen
First off, this thing is huge. Like, I had to rearrange my entire counter to fit it. But if you’re cooking for a bigger family or you meal prep like crazy, the size is actually perfect.
The touchscreen is pretty cool, not gonna lie. My kids love messing with it, and it’s definitely easier to clean than regular buttons. Plus, it looks fancy when people come over.
Real Performance
What impressed me:
- Cooks everything super fast (that 1700W power is no joke)
- The touchscreen is actually responsive and easy to use
- Fits a ridiculous amount of food
- Makes things really crispy – better than the other two
- Feels like a quality appliance
What annoyed me:
- Takes up half my counter space
- More expensive than the others
- The touchscreen can be a bit much for simple tasks
- Gets hot and stays hot for a while
- My kids keep trying to “help” because it looks like a tablet
Who Needs This Much Air Fryer?
If you’re cooking for 4+ people regularly, this is your guy. Also great if you do a lot of meal prep or just want the fanciest air fryer on the block. Just make sure you have the counter space for it.
- FAST AND EASY: This compact air fryer handles any culinary challenge. Customize cooking time and temperature with the di…
- 450°F HI-FRY TECHNOLOGY: Achieve the perfect finishing crunch on your air-fried favorites. Increase the heat to 450°F du…
- STYLISH AND COMPACT: The sleek, narrow design of this air fryers maximizes its 6-quart capacity while minimizing its cou…
- HEALTHY COOKING: Enjoy delicious meals with little-to-no oil. This Chefman large air fryer lets you cook healthier, low-…
- LED SHAKE NOTIFICATIONS: Get notified with an audible alarm halfway through cooking, reminding you to shake your food fo…
- SIMPLE CLEAN-UP: The 6-quart nonstick basket and rack are both dishwasher safe, making clean-up quick and easy. The styl…
So Which One Should You Actually Buy?
After living with all three for two months, here’s my honest recommendation:
Get the Ninja AF101 if…
- You’re a normal human with normal needs
- You want something reliable that won’t break the bank
- You’re cooking for 2-4 people most of the time
- You want to test the air fryer waters without going crazy
Get the tiny Chefman if…
- You have zero counter space
- You live alone or just want quick snacks
- You’re on a tight budget
- You want a backup air fryer (yes, that’s a thing now)
Get the big Chefman if…
- You’ve got a big family or entertain a lot
- Counter space isn’t an issue
- You want the latest and greatest
- You’re willing to pay more for faster cooking
The Stuff Nobody Tells You
After two months of testing, here are the things I wish someone had told me:
They all get pretty hot on the outside – learned this when I accidentally touched the Ninja after making fries. Not fun.
The smell thing is real – for the first few uses, they all had a slight plastic smell. Goes away, but just know it’s coming.
Cleanup is easier than I expected – as long as you don’t let stuff burn on, they’re pretty easy to clean.
You will use it more than you think – I went from using my oven daily to using it maybe twice a week.
The presets are just suggestions – don’t be afraid to adjust time and temperature based on what you’re actually cooking.
My Final Thoughts (For Real This Time)
Look, I never thought I’d be the person writing a 2,000-word essay about air fryers, but here we are. The truth is, they’re all pretty good at what they do. The Ninja is solid and reliable, the mini Chefman is perfect for small spaces, and the big Chefman is great if you need the extra capacity.
If I had to pick just one (and my spouse is making me get rid of two of them), I’d probably keep the Ninja. It’s just the right size for most situations, works consistently, and doesn’t cost a fortune.
But honestly? If you’re on the fence about air fryers in general, just pick one and try it. Even the “worst” air fryer is probably better than whatever you’re using now. And your french fries will never be the same.
Questions I Keep Getting Asked
Q: Do you really need to preheat these things? A: The Chefman ones say no, but I usually give them a minute or two anyway. The Ninja definitely works better with a quick preheat.
Q: What’s the deal with cleaning? A: Way easier than I expected. The baskets go in the dishwasher, and if something gets stuck, a little warm soapy water usually does the trick.
Q: Can you actually cook a whole meal in these? A: Sort of. You can definitely make a main dish, but you’ll probably need to use your stove or oven for sides. The big Chefman comes close to being a full meal solution.
Q: Are they actually healthier? A: I mean, they use less oil than deep frying, so yeah, probably? But I’m not a nutritionist. I just know my food tastes good and I feel less guilty about eating it.
Q: How loud are they? A: About as loud as a microwave. The beeping when they’re done is pretty loud though – fair warning.
Alright, that’s my honest take on these three air fryers. If you’re ready to join the air fryer cult (trust me, it’s a thing), click on any of the links bellow to check current prices. Happy cooking!