Welcome to our Ninja sp101 review. The Ninja SP101 Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven brings convenient countertop cooking to your fingertips. It delivers full dishes fast, doing the work of multiple appliances. You can toast, roast, bake, dehydrate, air fry, and so much more. But more than that, it gives you an opportunity to enjoy guilt-free fried foods.
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Table of Contents
Ninja SP101 Review Summary
Since its inception, Ninja has been known for making some of the best air fryers and toaster ovens on the market today. So it’s no surprise that the Ninja SP101 Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven is the best of both worlds.
It features an air fryer function as well as toasting and several other cooking modes. The great thing about this specific kitchen appliance is that it doesn’t take up much counter space, unlike other air fry ovens within the same range. This is due to the unique folding feature when not in use. This is probably one of the most significant selling points of this Ninja toaster oven.
Another great feature that we noticed is that the bottom completely opens so you can easily deeply clean it. In terms of accessories, the Ninja doesn’t disappoint. It comes with several valuable and sturdy accessories that will make your cooking experience much more manageable.
Introduction
Generally, air fryers serve one purpose. Most of them take up a considerable amount of counter space, so they are not ideal for small kitchens or homes. Nevertheless, they seem to be the hottest kitchen commodity on the market right now, generating over 15,000 user reviews on online marketplaces.
Due to this rise in popularity, many manufacturers have started producing products that combine traditional appliances with the latest air fry technology. Ninja seems to be leading the pack. So we’ve created this NinjaSP101 Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven review to review whether this appliance lives up to the hype.
Brand Profile
But first, let’s look at what this brand is all about. Established in 1994 as Euro-Pro Operating LLC, the brand responsible for the Ninja kitchen appliances changed its name to SharkNinja in 2015.
SharkNinja is based near Boston in Needham, Massachusetts, and manufactures kitchen appliances and other home devices. As of 2020, SharkNinja has offices in ten countries and produces over 150 products.
The company has two divisions; the Shark department mainly produces vacuum cleaners, steam irons, steam mops, air purifiers, etc. The ninja department manufactures kitchen appliances such as blenders, multicookers, air fryers, coffee makers, food processors, and toaster ovens.
Specifications
The following are the specifications of the model:
- Dimensions: 19.72 x 7.56 x 14.96 inches.
- Colors: Stainless Steel and Black.
- Material: Stainless Steel.
- Weight: 18.56 Pounds.
- Wattage: 1800 Watts.
- Volts:120 Volts.
- Temperature: 450 °F.
- Warranty: 1 Year Limited Product Warranty.
Features
Digital crisp control technology
This Ninja air fryer toaster has unique cooking technology that promotes speed and even cooking. The precision-controlled temperature gives you optimum cooking performance due to the controlled heat source and airflow.
Generally, this machine cooks 60% faster than traditional air fryers and toaster ovens. Additionally, it comes with a 60-second preheat function. So if you’re on the go or don’t have time, rest assured that this Ninja digital air fry oven will have your meals ready within 20 minutes.
8 cooking functions
More is always better, and we love the 8 cooking functions that come with this device. As the name implies, the primary function of this kitchen appliance is to air fry, but SharkNinja has also added toasting functions. So you can:
- Air fry
- Air roast
- Air broil
- Bake
- Toast
- Bagel
- Dehydrate
- Keep warm
On top of that, they’ve added a neat feature where you can select how well done you want your toast to be. So you can adjust the way you wish your toast or bagel done according to your preferences. The appliance will only heat from one direction above and below on the bagel mode, like the toast mode. This ensures that the edges of the bagel remain soft.
The temperature and timer can be adjusted using a simple dial. All you need to do is press down on the dial to start or pause the appliance. Additionally, you can light up the inside of the machine using a button on the control panel. This makes it easier for you to watch your food as it cooks.
Another feature that’s worth a mention is the dehydration mode. It works well for small amounts of food. Generally, this mode is best for the initial dehydration process. If you need more advanced dehydration or you want to dry large batches of food, you’d be better off buying a dehydrator.
Lastly, SharkNinja encourages using the large sheet pan to make sheet pan dinners. The appliance comes with a recipe book for sheet pan dinners.
Capacity
This Ninja air fryer has a 45% larger usable pan cooking area compared to other traditional toaster ovens. It can fit 13″ pizzas, at least 9 slices of toast, and about 6 chicken breasts. And while it doesn’t come with a muffin tray, you can easily purchase one from the Ninja site.
The biggest drawback though in terms of capacity is that it can’t cook big meals like full-sized cakes, bread or a whole chicken. So you’re limited to smaller portions such as chicken wings, breasts, cookies, muffins, etc.
Foldable Function
No space? No worries. This toaster oven comes with a foldable function that you can make use of when the air fryer oven is not in use. This means you can reclaim some much-needed counter space by simply flipping the oven up and storing it against the wall. Just make sure that the oven is entirely cooled before you fold it.
Easy Cleaning
The Ninja SP101 Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven has an accessible back panel that offers easy access to the appliance’s interior for deeper cleaning. It also comes equipped with a removable crumb tray so you can keep the mess to a minimum.
The drip tray, sheet pan, and air fry basket are all dishwasher safe which is great news for those greasy stains that can be hard to get off.
The machine comes with a user-friendly and thorough owner’s manual which advises that owners use soap and water to clean.
Design
This is a high-quality product made out of brushed stainless steel. It is beautifully finished with rounded corners and features a digital control pad. It’s pretty wide but generally shorter than most toaster ovens.
Instead of a tower bar handle in the front, this digital air fry oven has one on the side of the machine. While it is pretty unusual, it functions perfectly and makes this appliance more space-efficient.
It also features a digital control panel that is easy to use and accurately shows you the temperature, time, etc. During use, most owners love how quiet it is.
Pros
Quick heating
The preheat function is relatively fast and efficient. Within 60-seconds, the air fryer will be ready to use. This cuts down a lot of cooking time.
Easy and Practical to Use
While it has many functions and modes, this appliance is relatively easy to use once you get the hang of it.
Cons
Limited Cooking Capacity
The biggest problem we found in this Ninja sp101 review is that the appliance doesn’t allow for the cooking of bigger meals. So if you plan on using this as your main oven, you’re going to struggle with bigger dishes. It’s definitely too short of roasting whole chickens, baking bread, or cakes.
Cleaning Is Necessary After Every Use
Some owners found that it was necessary to clean the oven after every use to avoid dealing with huge amounts of dirt and grease when you eventually clean it.
How does it compare with similar products?
A good quality air fryer can be pricey, so if you’re going to invest in one, it’s crucial that you buy one that will suit your lifestyle. So if you have a big family or cook a whole chicken or bake whole cakes frequently, this might not be the best option for you.
You’ll want to make sure that the product you buy can handle the tasks you want it to. So, we’ve found some alternatives for you within a similar price range.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
This smart oven air fryer pro from Breville is quite large. It has enormous cooking capacity making it a more versatile machine than the Ninja, although slightly more expensive. You could easily roast a whole chicken in the Breville, while the Ninja is simply not big enough. It also comes with many features, so it’s good value for money.
Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven
This stainless steel and relatively compact Cuisinart Deluxe Convection Toaster Oven is also a great alternative. It can roast, toast, broil and bake in a short time. It comes with multiple convection fan settings and can be programmed to dual cook. This means you can cook a dish at one temperature and then switch to another to finish cooking it through.
KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry
This is also a great alternative if you don’t have much room to spare. It serves as a toaster, air fryer, and countertop oven in one. While it’s not as small as the Ninja SP101 Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven, it’s not as large as the other air fryer toaster ovens on the market. The great news is that it has excellent temperature consistency, and it can comfortably fit two whole chickens simultaneously.
| Product | Ninja sp101 | Breville Bov900bss | Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven | KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven |
| Outer Dimensions | 19.72″ x 7.56″ x 14.96″ | 17.2″ x 21.4″ x 12.8″ | 20.87″ x 16.93″ x 11.42″ | 17″ x 18″ x 11.5″ |
| Maximum Pizza Diameter | 13″ | 13″ | 13″ | 12″ |
| Power Consumption (W) | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 |
| Accessories | Air Fry Basket, Sheet Pan, Wire Rack & Removable Crumb Tray. | 13″ Pizza Pan, Oven Racks x2, 9″x13″ Broil Rack, Enamel Roasting Pan, Mesh basket rack | 2 Oven Racks, Baking/ Drip Pan. Broiling Pan, Removable Crumb Tray, 13 “Pizza Stone, Recipe Booklet | Air fry basket, baking pan with grill rack, Removable metal drip, and crumb tray, Removable metal rack |
Conclusion
The Ninja Foodi Oven gives you more features than regular air fryers. It has excellent cooking modes with several multifunction capabilities. This is a perfect option for those who don’t have the luxury of time and are looking for a toaster oven and air fryer for small meals.
Suppose you need something with a larger capacity. In that case, you might want to pick any of the alternatives we’ve listed in this Ninja sp101 review.
I have had my Ninja SP101 for a short time and in this period I have to say that I absolutely LOVE it!!! Now yes it is stout and limitations are quite transparent , it seems to be very efficient and does the job very well and quickly. The pre heating is most of all one of my favorites …less than a minute for a basket full of wings and easy clean up! Price is to be expected for this awesome airfryer/toaster/convectional oven/dehydrator ..and the list goes on! I have a Cosori air fryer and have had it for a couple years and I still love it. but this Ninja Foodi really outplays it by a long shot! Given fair play, I have to say that it is like comparing Apples and oranges! By the way, love the fold up feature… Buen Appetit!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the SP101 John! As you might have gathered, we agree with your sentiments and it’s an oven that we recommend quite often. Happy cooking to you! ☺