This isn’t my first air fryer, but it’s the first one that feels like it could replace half my oven. The Ninja XXXL FlexDrawer is massive. It takes up so much bench space that it could probably apply for its own postcode. Moving it is a two-hand job, and once it’s on the counter, that’s where it lives. But here’s the thing: the size actually makes sense when you start cooking with it.
Chicken Wings That Don’t Need Babysitting
First up, wings. I threw in a pile and waited to see if it would do what all the smaller fryers failed at: even browning without constant shaking. And it delivered. The wide drawer lets you spread them out, which means every piece gets crisp without having to open the drawer five times like you’re auditioning for “Air Fryer’s Got Talent.” They came out pub-worthy: crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside.
Nuggets for the Win
Nuggets are my low-effort dinner hack, and this thing does them better than the oven. Dump in a family-sized bag, spread them out, press start, walk away. They come out golden and crisp, not soggy in the middle like they sometimes do when you overload a smaller basket. Same goes for frozen chips. I don’t even bother flipping them. It’s almost insulting how easy it makes snack food.
The Frozen Steak Hack
Here’s the wild part. Steak. Everyone says “don’t cook steak in an air fryer.” Well, I did, and the trick is to throw it in frozen. Straight from the freezer to the fryer. What you get is an insane crust on the outside with a pink, tender middle. It’s basically culinary cheating. Does it beat a cast iron pan? No. But does it beat me standing in front of the stove dodging oil splatter on a weeknight? Absolutely.
Roast Pork That Actually Crackles
The big test for me was roast pork. I left the drawer as one big “megazone,” scored the skin, and let it run. The crackling came out perfect. I mean, proper blistered, crunchy crackling that would make your oven jealous. The meat stayed juicy, and the whole roast fit in one drawer. I’ve also done two small whole chickens side by side, and they both came out evenly cooked without me having to swap them around like a sad rotisserie knock-off.
Leftovers and Random Experiments
This fryer has quietly become my go-to for reheating. Leftover pizza comes back with a crispy base instead of the floppy microwave version. I’ve roasted veggies on one side while cooking nuggets on the other, thanks to the divider and Sync mode. I’ve even baked frozen pies and pastries, and the air circulation gives them that bakery-style flake.
Cleaning: The Good and the Annoying
The ceramic plates are the unsung heroes here. They pop out, wipe down, and still look new after months of use. I wish I could say the same about the drawer. It’s wide, it’s heavy, and trying to wash it in a normal sink feels like giving a bath to a baby elephant. It’s doable, just awkward.
What Annoys Me
- No viewing window, so if you’re a food peeker, you’ll be yanking the drawer open.
- The drawer is big, so if you have a small sink, you’re going to struggle to clean it because of how wide it is.
- It’s heavy. You don’t “move” this air fryer. It has a permanent address.
- The handle looks slick but doesn’t give you much grip when the drawer’s full.
- No “popcorn button” style presets. You’ve got to know your times and temps.
The Ninja XXXL FlexDrawer is not a cute little countertop toy. It’s a serious piece of kitchen gear. It hogs space, it’s not light, and cleaning the drawer is a minor workout. But when it comes to cooking, its been outstanding.
Wings, nuggets, chips, frozen steak, pork roast, whole chickens, reheated pizza. Everything I’ve thrown at it has come out better than expected. For family meals, entertaining, or just wanting an appliance that can handle jobs your oven normally would, it’s worth the bulk.
I’d call it the SUV of air fryers. Big, a bit over the top, but once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you lived without it. And if nothing else, the frozen steak hack alone makes it worth owning.