How to use the Ninja Foodi Max Dual air fryer — 5 tips the manual doesn't tell you

1. Don't overfill the baskets

I quickly learned not to overfill the baskets, a mistake I made on day one when I crammed both sides with food. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around your food, and when the baskets are too full, that circulation gets blocked.

My first batch came out unevenly cooked—some pieces were burnt while others remained soggy. Now I fill the baskets only halfway to two-thirds full, even if it means cooking in batches.

For smaller items like fries or vegetables, I stick to the halfway mark. For larger items, I leave at least an inch of space around each piece. Yes, it sometimes means cooking twice, but the results are so much better that I don't mind the extra time.

2. It's not a replacement frying pan

I fell into the trap that many new air fryer owners do — being convinced by viral TikTok videos that I could easily cook runny eggs, pancakes, and other liquid-based foods in my Ninja Foodi Max Dual. The reality was far messier.

The powerful fans that make air fryers effective for crispy foods also create problems for liquids and batters.

When I attempted to make fried eggs, the powerful circulation blew the whites around before they could set, creating an uneven, weirdly textured result. Pancake batter similarly suffered, with the tops drying out before the batter could properly rise.

After several disappointing experiments, I've accepted that some foods are simply better suited to traditional cooking methods. Anything with a runny consistency—eggs, most batters, thin sauces—generally doesn't work well in an air fryer.

The Ninja Foodi Max Dual excels at foods that benefit from circulating hot air, not those that need the gentle, consistent heat of a frying pan or griddle.

3. Lower the temperature for better results

Next up, the temperature settings. It's easy to hear something like Max Crisp and think, yes, give me all the crunch. But in practice, cranking the heat to the max can actually do more harm than good.

I learned quickly that high temps can burn the outside of your food while leaving the inside undercooked. A better approach is to dial it back a little. It gives you more control, especially with foods that need a bit more finesse—like anything thicker that benefits from a slower cook.

Once I adjusted, everything started turning out more evenly cooked and consistently delicious. Packaged foods are usually designed for conventional ovens, so lowering the temperature slightly in your air fryer can often provide better results.

Frozen snacks come out crisp without being overdone, fresh vegetables caramelize nicely, and proteins get that golden finish without drying out.

4. Use the correct accessories

One limitation I quickly discovered was the basket space, even with two zones. Fortunately, there are simple ways to dramatically increase what you can cook in a single session.

Slicone, metal or disposable liners allow you to cook multiple layers of food in the same basket.

Aluminum foil has also become my air fryer ally. Folding it to create dividers lets me cook different foods in the same basket without flavors mixing. For messier foods like marinated items, a foil "boat" contains the liquids while still allowing air circulation around the top of the food.

I've also found that small oven-safe ramekins and dishes work perfectly in the baskets for foods that would otherwise fall through the grates or create a mess. These are perfect for mini gratins, dips, or small portions of foods with sauces.

While there are countless air fryer accessories on the market, these simple household items have made my Ninja Foodi Max Dual significantly more versatile without requiring specialized purchases.

5. Don't just rely on the timer

Perhaps my biggest mistake was blindly trusting the timer. I'd set it according to the recipe or packaging, walk away, and return to food that was either overcooked or not quite done.

The preset cooking times don't account for variables like the starting temperature of your food, its exact size, or how full the basket is. Now I set the timer for 2-3 minutes less than I think I'll need and use the pause function to check progress, especially for new recipes.

For foods I cook regularly, I've developed a check-in routine. For frozen items, I check halfway through the recommended cooking time and for items that need turning, I flip them around the 40% mark of the total time.

If I'm cooking smaller items, I find they typically need a shake about a third of the way through cooking. The Foodi recovers heat quickly after opening, so these check-ins don't significantly extend the cooking time.