If you’re the proud owner of a Ninja air fryer, you may be wondering what all the different settings mean. With options like air fry, roast, and dehydrate, it can be confusing to know which one to choose for your specific dish. Fortunately, understanding the different settings on your Ninja air fryer is easy once you know what each one does.
The air fry setting on your Ninja air fryer is the default setting and is perfect for cooking foods like chicken wings, french fries, and onion rings.
This setting uses a high temperature and a rapid fan speed to cook your food quickly and evenly. The roast setting, on the other hand, uses a slower fan speed and a lower temperature to cook larger cuts of meat like beef roasts and pork tenderloins. This setting allows the meat to cook evenly and develop a crispy exterior.
Different Settings on a Ninja Air Fryer
Air Fry Setting
This setting is the default setting for the Ninja Air Fryer. It cooks food by circulating hot air around it. This is a healthier alternative to deep-frying because it uses little to no oil. You can cook a variety of foods like chicken wings, steak, shrimp, and even doughnuts with this setting.
Roast Setting
The Roast setting is great for cooking meat like beef, pork, or chicken. It uses a lower temperature than the Air Fry setting and has a slower fan speed, which allows the meat to cook evenly. This setting is perfect for achieving a crispy exterior and juicy interior.
Dehydrate Setting
The Dehydrate setting is perfect for making healthy snacks like dried fruit, beef jerky, or kale chips. This setting removes the moisture from the food, leaving it crispy and delicious.
Reheat Setting
The Reheat setting is perfect for reheating leftover food. It uses a low temperature to warm up the food without overcooking it. This setting is great for foods like pizza or french fries.
Bake Setting
The Bake setting is great for baking foods like potatoes, vegetables, or even doughnuts. It uses a lower temperature than the Air Fry setting, which allows the food to cook evenly.
Overall, the Ninja Air Fryer has a variety of settings that allow you to cook a wide range of foods. Each setting has a unique temperature and time that is perfect for achieving the desired doneness of your food.
Air Fry Setting
The Air Fry setting on your Ninja Air Fryer is likely the one you’ll use the most. It’s great for cooking up crispy chicken wings, steak, shrimp, doughnuts, potatoes, and more without the need for a lot of oil. Here’s what you need to know:
First, select the Air Fry setting on your Ninja Air Fryer. Then, set the temperature and time. The Air Fry setting heats up the air inside the fryer to cook your food, so you don’t need to preheat it like you would with a traditional oven.
When it comes to oil, you don’t need much. In fact, you can cook most foods without any oil at all. But if you want a little extra crispiness or flavor, you can add a small amount of oil to your food before cooking.
For vegetables, you’ll want to chop them into small, bite-sized pieces and toss them with a little bit of oil before placing them in the fryer. Cook them at around 375°F for 10-15 minutes, or until they’re tender and crisp.
When cooking meats like chicken wings or steak, you’ll want to make sure they’re fully cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and make sure it’s at a safe level. For chicken wings, cook them at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through. For steak, cook it at 400°F for 6-8 minutes per side, depending on your desired level of doneness.
Overall, the Air Fry setting is a versatile and easy way to cook up your favorite foods with less fat and oil. Experiment with different temperatures and cooking times to find the perfect settings for your meals.
Roast Setting
If you’re looking to roast meat or vegetables in your Ninja Air Fryer, the Roast setting is the perfect option. This setting uses dry heat to cook your food evenly and give it a crispy exterior.
When using the Roast setting, the default temperature range is usually between 375 ℉ and 400 ℉. However, you can adjust the temperature as needed depending on the type of food you’re cooking.
For example, if you’re roasting chicken wings, you may want to set the temperature to 400 ℉ and cook them for about 15-20 minutes. If you’re roasting a steak, you may want to set the temperature to 375 ℉ and cook it for about 10-15 minutes per side.
It’s important to note that you don’t need to add any oil when using the Roast setting. The dry heat will cook the food and give it a crispy exterior without the need for added fat.
Additionally, the Roast setting is great for cooking vegetables like potatoes or shrimp. Simply place the vegetables in the air fryer basket, set the temperature to 375-400 ℉, and cook for about 10-15 minutes or until they reach your desired level of doneness.
Dehydrate Setting
The dehydrate setting on your Ninja Air Fryer is a great way to make healthy snacks from fruits and vegetables. It works by circulating hot air around the food, drawing out moisture and leaving behind a crispy, crunchy texture.
To use the dehydrate setting, first set the temperature to 150°F and the time to 6 hours. You can adjust the time and temperature to fit the food you are dehydrating. For example, thicker or juicier foods may require a longer time or higher temperature.
When using the dehydrate setting, it is important to space out the food on the racks to allow for proper air circulation. You can use multiple racks to dehydrate more food at once.
The dehydrate setting is also a great way to reduce the fat content in your food. By dehydrating fruits and vegetables, you can create a healthy snack that is low in fat and high in nutrients.
Reheat Setting
The Reheat setting on your Ninja Air Fryer is a convenient feature that allows you to quickly and easily reheat leftovers, pizza, or any other food that needs to be warmed up.
To use the Reheat setting, simply place the food inside the air fryer basket, press the Reheat button, and set the timer for a few minutes depending on how much food you are reheating. The Reheat feature is great for ensuring that food is served hot, crispy, and delicious anytime.
It’s important to note that the Reheat setting is not the same as the Air Fry setting. The Reheat setting uses a lower temperature and a longer time to gently warm up the food without overcooking it or making it soggy. This is different from the Air Fry setting, which uses high heat and rapid air circulation to cook food quickly and make it crispy.
Bake Setting
The Bake setting on your Ninja Air Fryer is perfect for baking a variety of foods. Whether you’re in the mood for doughnuts, potatoes, or sandwiches, this setting will help you achieve delicious results every time. Here are a few things you need to know about the Bake setting:
Manual Mode
If you prefer to set your own temperature and time, Manual Mode is the way to go. Simply select the Bake setting and then adjust the temperature and time to your liking. This is great for recipes that require specific temperatures and times, such as bread or cake recipes.
4-qt Air Fryer Mode
If you’re using the 4-qt Air Fryer Mode, the Bake setting is preset to 350°F for 20 minutes. This is a great starting point for most baked goods, but you can adjust the time and temperature if needed. For example, if you’re making a larger cake, you may need to increase the temperature to ensure it cooks evenly.
When using the Bake setting, it’s important to keep a few things in mind:
- Always preheat your air fryer before baking.
- Use the included baking pan or a similar oven-safe dish.
- Place your food in the center of the pan to ensure even cooking.
- Check your food periodically to make sure it’s not overcooking.
Manual Mode
If you prefer to have more control over your cooking, the Ninja Air Fryer also has a Manual Mode that allows you to set the temperature and time according to your preference. This mode is perfect for when you want to experiment with different recipes or cooking techniques.
To use the Manual Mode, simply select the Manual button on the control panel. You can then adjust the temperature and time settings using the up and down arrow buttons. The temperature can be set between 105°F and 400°F, and the time can be set for up to 60 minutes.
With the Manual Mode, you can cook a variety of foods, such as baked potatoes, doughnuts, and sandwiches. For example, to make baked potatoes, preheat the air fryer to 400°F and cook for 35-40 minutes. For doughnuts, preheat the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 5-7 minutes. And for sandwiches, preheat the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side.
Remember to adjust the temperature and time settings based on the recipe and the quantity of food you are cooking. You can also use the Manual Mode in conjunction with other cooking functions, such as Air Fry or Roast, to achieve different cooking results.
4-qt Air Fryer Mode
The 4-qt Air Fryer mode is the main mode on the Ninja Air Fryer, and it allows you to fry foods with little to no oil. This mode is perfect for cooking crispy and delicious foods such as chicken wings, French fries, and doughnuts.
The temperature and time settings can be adjusted to suit the specific food you are cooking. For example, if you are cooking potatoes, you might set the temperature to 400°F and the time to 20 minutes. If you are cooking a sandwich, you might set the temperature to 350°F and the time to 10 minutes.
The 4-qt Air Fryer mode also has several preset settings that make it easy to cook certain foods. The presets include Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate. The Air Fry setting is perfect for cooking foods that you would normally fry, such as chicken wings or French fries. The Roast setting is great for cooking meats and vegetables, while the Reheat setting is perfect for reheating leftovers. The Dehydrate setting can be used to dry fruits or vegetables.
When cooking in the 4-qt Air Fryer mode, it is important to preheat the fryer for a few minutes before adding your food. This will ensure that the food cooks evenly and comes out crispy. Additionally, it is important to shake the basket every few minutes to ensure that the food cooks evenly on all sides.
