A smart design feature allows you to get right inside the Ninja oven and give it a good cleaning, something you'll likely need to do regularly because of its compact hull. David Watsky/CNET Both Air Fryer also has a handle with a digital display screen, where you can program them to cook your food by entering manual settings or using pre-programmed settings for different types of foods. Both the Calphalon and Ninja made very pretty toast that matched their medium presets, but the Ninja (pictured) did it in half the time. David Watsky/CNET Offering an air frying function is one of the best perks of Ninja DT251 Foodi Smart Oven. Some people buy this oven solely for this air frying option. Yes, traditional air fryers are great but they don’t give you amazing versatility or capacity like this air fryer oven does.

Ninja Foodi DT201 Vs DT251 Vs DT200 - Which One Is Better? Ninja Foodi DT201 Vs DT251 Vs DT200 - Which One Is Better?

The air fryer freezes the settings when you open the door; you cannot accidentally change the settings. I’m a big fan of Breville and always recommend their machines, but would also recommend this machine without reservation. Especially if you need the extra size.

Ninja DT251 has a pretty straightforward design and it comes with an easy-to-operate control panel. As it comes with multiple buttons, the control panel may seem a bit crowded at first. Apart from that, it is very clear and concise so after a couple of use, you may find it pretty simple. Cuisinart makes an affordable countertop oven with one of the fiercest air fryer functions of any I tested. Cuisinart Air fryer french fries are very popular in my home. All the ovens did pretty well in this test, but the Ninja and Breville cooked them to a golden brown the fastest without burning. David Watsky/CNET

Ninja DT251 Foodi 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fry Oven Review Ninja DT251 Foodi 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fry Oven Review

In addition, the internal light with a large viewing window lets you observe the food while it cooks. Overall, this air fryer is much easier to use than a full-sized convection oven. Cleaning And Maintenance Of Ninja Foodi DT 251 In real life, I probably would have given this another minute under the broiler, but the Breville (pictured here) and Ninja were the only ovens that imparted any sort of crust after four minutes. David Watsky/CNET Although both systems cook food with hot air breeze, the true convection system is a little bit different from the convection system. True convection means hot air gets evenly distributed inside the oven leaving no cold spots. This way you get evenly roasted food without having to turn it or rotate it in the middle of the cooking process.

If you don’t habitually clean your air fryer after every use, you will probably be unable to keep it new-like. So make sure to wipe off the oil and food residue and wash accessories after every use. Furthermore, you can adjust the convection fan speed. It allows you to attain perfect settings for making a particular recipe—for instance, high speed for air frying wings and low for convection baking. Assortment Of Useful Accessories Always use the roast tray and sheet pan together when cooking oily food to prevent food drippings from accumulating grease on the crumb tray. The DT201 model has the added benefit of a dehydrate function and a wider cooking temperature range. This means you can enjoy a greater variety of recipes, and have more control over the temperature of the food you’re cooking. These are the key differences between these models. What’s the key difference between DT201 and DT251?

NINJA DT251 Foodi 10-in-1 Smart Air Fry Digital Countertop NINJA DT251 Foodi 10-in-1 Smart Air Fry Digital Countertop

Accessories with this kitchen appliance can elevate your cooking experience by making the unit more versatile. When unboxing, I was pretty impressed with this unit’s huge selection of accessories. The accessories coming with this unit are the following: It has functions for the whole roasting, air frying, air roasting, baking, broiling, dehydrating, reheating, toast settings for bread and bagels, as well as making pizza. So basically if you own this oven you get to try every type of cooking method. It's a two-way tie -- Breville and Ninja -- in the cookie contest. Both ovens hit the set temp and held it consistently throughout the 10 minutes. David Watsky/CNET Another thing to love about the Ninja DT251 is its true surround convection function. It means you don’t have to rotate or turn food items to get that perfect crispier, and juicier result. While the Ninja Foodi took the top spot in a majority of tests, the Breville nabbed a few wins, too, including the best broiled salmon and a dead tie in the cookie competition. It is the one model on this list that could come close to replacing your big oven altogether. It also keeps an accurate and consistent heat throughout cooking and has an impressive air fryer function.True Surround Convection®: Up to 10X the convection power vs. a traditional full-size convection oven for faster, crispier, and juicy results

Ninja DT251 Foodi 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fry Oven, Bake, Broil Ninja DT251 Foodi 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fry Oven, Bake, Broil

The parts are easy to clean, and I hand wash them with a little bit dishwashing liquid and a toothbrush.These three heating sources ensure that your food cooks evenly from all sides without constantly removing trays or swapping their position, reducing your overall cooking time. Its heating design is the reason that air fryer’s dehydrating function is so commendable. I like that the designers of the Ninja DT251 have put some thought into making it an innovative-looking air fryer, primarily through its display. The manufacturer has placed the control panel on the handle instead of the front body of the air fryer. This design offers several benefits: If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to high-end air fryers, but don’t want to sacrifice on quality, then Ninja Foodi is one of your best options. The two main models – DT201 and DT251 – might look very similar at first glance, but there are a few differences. Capacity & Power Consumption: Both Model Cooks 30 Times Faster Than Convection Oven