Viral TikTok reveals secret gadget built into Ninja air fryer

(Image credit: Amazon/Ninja)

Ninja makes some of the best air fryers you can buy and there's always a flurry of interest in what the brand is up to. That extends to the some of the best coffee makers or blenders it also makes.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise when a recent TikTok post about a little-known feature available on some Ninja air fryers went viral.

Ninja fan and TikTok user @bowesy5 has sparked something of a frenzy by revealing the "secret" meat probe that's tucked into the side of some Ninja air fryer models.

"Secret" accessory

@bowesy5
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Tucked into the side of some Ninja air fryers is a hidden compartment, which reveals a meat probe when the cover is removed. It’s a super handy device, so you don’t need to use a separate meat thermometer to check that your protein has reached the perfect internal temperature.

What’s more, as it’s attached to the appliance, you won’t be rummaging around your kitchen drawers to find your meat thermometer hidden beneath a mound of kitchen clutter — instead, it’s safely stowed away in your air fryer.

As discussed, this feature is far from universal on Ninja machines and I could only confirm two such models have a meat probe included.

These are:

Ninja Smart XL 2-Basket Air Fryer (DZ550) — available at Amazon for $249 but currently reduced to $209
Ninja DoubleStack 2 Basket 10 QT Air Fryer With Smart Thermometer — available at Ninja for $269 but currently reduced to $239.

But, if you discover that your Ninja air fryer doesn’t include a meat probe, you can buy the Ninja Foodi Smart Thermometer ($22 at Ninja Kitchen), which is compatible with the Ninja Foodi Smart XL 2-Basket Air Fryer.

Alternatively, there are plenty of other meat thermometers on the market, including Chef iQ’s Smart Sense Thermometer, which I highly rate, ($74 at Amazon).

Of course, if you do own a Ninja air fryer with a hidden meat probe that isn't on the above list — please let us know in the comments and we can update this article accordingly.

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Camilla Sharman has worked in publishing and marketing for over 30 years and has covered a wide range of sectors within the business and consumer industries both as a feature, content, and freelance writer.

As a business journalist, Camilla has researched articles for many different sectors from the jewellery industry to finance and tech, charities, and the arts. Whatever she’s covered, she enjoys delving deep and learning the ins and out of different topics, then conveying her research within engaging content that informs the reader. In her spare time, when she’s not in her kitchen experimenting with a new recipe, you’ll find her keeping fit at the gym. In the pool, stretching at a yoga class, or on a spin bike, exercise is her escape time. She also loves the great outdoors and if she’s not pottering about in her garden, she’ll be jumping on her bike for a gentle cycle ride.