Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400UK

The Ninja That Does Double Duty

The Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK tackles the biggest frustration with air fryers: cooking different foods that need different temperatures and timings. With two independent 4.75L zones totalling 9.5L capacity, this £199.99 machine promises to cook a full roast dinner simultaneously. After weeks of testing everything from Sunday roasts to midnight snacks, I can confirm it largely delivers on that promise – though not without some caveats.

Design and Build Quality

At 42 x 32 x 31.5cm, this air fryer commands serious worktop real estate. The 8.2kg weight feels substantial without being unwieldy, and the matte black finish resists fingerprints better than glossy alternatives. The dual digital displays are clear and responsive, though the button layout takes some getting used to – I found myself accidentally adjusting the wrong zone during the first week.

The two independent baskets slide in and out smoothly, with satisfying clicks when properly seated. Both baskets and crisper plates are genuinely dishwasher-safe (I've tested this extensively), which puts it ahead of some competitors where "dishwasher-safe" seems more aspirational than factual.

One design niggle: the baskets are quite deep, making it tricky to check food progress without fully removing them. The Tower Vortx's shallower design actually wins here for visibility.

Performance That Justifies the Dual Zone Hype

This is where the AF400UK truly shines. The 2470W power output means both zones heat up rapidly – hitting 200°C in under 3 minutes consistently. I've tested the "75% faster than fan ovens" claim extensively: roast chicken takes 35 minutes versus 50 minutes in my conventional oven, chips are perfect in 18 minutes, and frozen fish fingers crisp beautifully in 8 minutes.

The Max Crisp function genuinely delivers crispier results than standard air frying. Comparing directly with the Cosori TurboBlaze (which lacks this feature), the Ninja produced noticeably crunchier chicken skin and better-textured roast potatoes. The temperature range of 40-240°C is wider than most competitors – the Philips Essential tops out at 200°C.

Noise levels hover around conversation-level during operation – quieter than the Tower Vortx but louder than the whisper-quiet Philips models.

SYNC and MATCH: The Party Tricks That Actually Work

The SYNC function coordinates different cooking times so both zones finish simultaneously – brilliant for serving hot food together. MATCH copies settings between zones for cooking larger quantities. Both functions work flawlessly, though setup can be fiddly initially.

I regularly use SYNC for Sunday roasts: chicken thighs at 200°C for 25 minutes in zone one, while roast vegetables go in zone two at 180°C for 30 minutes, both finishing together. This coordination is genuinely useful, not just marketing fluff.

The six cooking functions (Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate) cover most needs. The dehydrate function (40-80°C) works brilliantly for fruit leather and vegetable crisps – something you won't find on cheaper alternatives like the Tower Vortx.

Value Versus the Competition

At £199.99, the AF400UK sits in premium territory. The Cosori TurboBlaze at £89.99 offers excellent single-zone performance for half the price, while the Philips Essential (£109.99) provides reliable cooking with superior build quality.

The closest competitor is Ninja's own FlexDrawer AF500UK (£229.99, 10.4L), which offers a single large drawer that can divide into two zones. Having tested both, I prefer the AF400UK's permanently separate zones – less fiddly, more intuitive.

For families regularly cooking multiple dishes, the dual-zone convenience justifies the premium over single-zone alternatives. For occasional use or smaller households, the Cosori or Philips options offer better value.

The Fat Reduction Claims

Ninja claims "up to 75% less fat than traditional frying" – and testing confirms this. Chips made with one tablespoon of oil versus deep-fat frying show dramatic fat reduction. However, every air fryer achieves similar results; this isn't unique to the AF400UK.

Minor Irritations

The 60-minute maximum timer occasionally proves limiting for slow-roasted items. The beeping alerts are quite insistent – fine during cooking, annoying if you're not immediately available when cooking finishes.

Cleaning between the heating elements requires careful attention, and the instruction manual could be clearer about maintenance schedules.

Verdict

The Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK succeeds where many kitchen gadgets fail – it solves a real problem elegantly. The dual-zone design with SYNC functionality transforms meal preparation for families, while performance across all cooking functions impresses consistently.

Yes, £199.99 is serious money for an air fryer, but the time-saving convenience and cooking results justify the investment if you regularly prepare meals for multiple people. Single-person households might find better value elsewhere, but for families tired of cooking in batches or juggling multiple appliances, this Ninja earns its premium pricing.

The combination of practical dual-zone design, strong performance across all functions, and genuinely useful smart features makes this my top recommendation for premium air fryers – just ensure your worktop and budget can accommodate it.