Ninja has got quite the hold on the air fryer world, dominating the space (and our best air fryers guide) with the Pro 4-in-1 and Foodi DualZone. When the Ninja Crispi air fryer was released in 2025, it even prompted our expert tester to say, "It made me rethink everything I knew about air fryers."

The Ninja Crispi is a glass air fryer that cooks everything from pasta to green beans and a whole lot in between. It reinvents the traditional air fryer whilst looking incredibly smart and almost futuristic for an everyday kitchen appliance. So, how can you possibly evolve the Ninja Crispi even further?

Well, Ninja has just launched the Ninja Crispi DualZone – the first glass air fryer to cook in two independent zones. You're telling me I can cook my salmon at the same time as my vegetables, and they'll both be cooked to perfection, ready to be plated at the same time? This is the feature I've been desperately hoping for!

Meet the Ninja Crispi DualZone

The Ninja Crispi DualZone isn't the brand's first evolution of the Crispi; the Crispi Pro launched earlier this year. But, it is the first time it's used its patented DualZone technology on the innovative glass air fryer.

And it's the two independent cooking zones that are the real shining star of the new Crispi. Each zone is made up of a CleanCrisp glassware container that is designed for non-toxic cooking and speedy storage, but there's more technology at play here that's worth talking about.

Smart Finish, for example, is Ninja's answer to no-stress mealtimes. With this technology, the Ninja Crispi DualZone intelligently syncs both zones to finish at the same time. Pair this up with Match Cook that mirrors what settings you've got running across your zones, and you can use it for double-batch cooking, too.

No longer will you have to cook your food back-to-back with the Crispi or bring in other kitchen appliances to make sure your meal comes together at once – and for me, that sounds like the dream. And if you're keen to cook up using different functions, there are six customizable options onboard with Air Fry, Bake, Dehydrate, Max, Crisp, Roast and Recrisp all available,

Why I can't wait to try it

I've loved the look of the Ninja Crispi since it launched, but I've already got the Ninja Foodi DualZone that allows me to cook on two sides at the same time. It's hard to compete with that until now. I finally feel like I could replace the Foodi with the Crispi, but there's more to it than that.

I've also recently moved over from plastic food storage containers to glass, and I've definitely noticed a difference when it comes to taste. If the same can be said for the Ninja Crispi DualZone, then I'm super intrigued. With no PFAS and PTFE, it also feels like a smart choice for chemical-free cuisine.

I'm really keen to grab a Ninja Crispi DualZone now that it's got the feature I've been desperately waiting for, and it doesn't hurt that it looks incredibly stylish, too. I'll reserve full judgment until we get it in for a full review. Now, I just need them to make a Ninja Crispi Pro DualZone, and I can fit food in for the whole family.

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja Crispi Pro review: A meal prep marvel
• Ninja just released an air fryer so portable you can take it to the office
• 7 dangerous mistakes to avoid when cooking in an air fryer

We're down to the final full week of EOFY sales, and boy, has it been a wild ride this June. With discounts across the latest tech, NBN plans, home appliances, activewear, beauty, and so much more, there's a plethora of good deals out in the ether right now.

As a kitchen appliance reviewer and hobbyist chef (in the making at least), I've found some stellar deals across kitchen must-haves this EOFY on Amazon. From coffee machines and air fryers to fun novelty accessories and heavy-duty cookware, I've gathered 12 of my top-rated kitchen deals for your perusal below.

Notably, some of these deals are products I already own and use every day — namely the Ninja Luxe Cafe coffee machine, now 41% off, and the Inkbird meat thermometer, now 25% off — but some are new products I've just added to my kitchen's arsenal to upgrade my cooking skills (or drink making, in the Teanagoo's 7-piece Matcha set's case).

Don't just take my word for it, though — all these products come with 4+ star ratings, including those of my colleagues at Tom's Guide. I'll stop with the waffling now; here are the best EOFY kitchen deals I've found on Amazon this week.

The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is a curious automatic espresso machine. It can make a huge variety of drinks, including espresso, drip coffee, cold brew, and both hot and cold milk. So is this enough to make it one of the best espresso machines?

Hm… not really. The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is an ambitious machine, but I think it’s got its fingers in too many pies. It can’t decide what it wants to be. Does it want to be a drip machine or an espresso machine? Or a rapid cold brew machine? (The cold brew comes out warm…)

Even so, I gave this machine 3 stars for a reason — it’s unbelievably easy to use, perfect for the home barista who wants to click a button and get fresh coffee instantly, and is relatively cheaper than other automatic machines. Want to find out more? Keep reading this Ninja AutoBarista Pro review.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Specs

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Price & availability

The Ninja AutoBarista Pro is $949 from Best Buy and £899 direct from SharkNinja. I hate that I’m writing this, but $950 isn’t actually that expensive for a fully automatic espresso machine.

I’ve also tested the $1,499 De’Longhi Rivelia, the $2,699 Jura E8, the coffee-only (yes, no milk) $999 Jura ENA 4, and the $1,999 KitchenAid KF8.

So, in comparison, the Ninja AutoBarista Pro is pretty well-priced. Although it doesn’t have totally hands-free milk — you still have to pour the milk into the jug and then pour it into your espresso — it does froth the milk for you.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Design

I was surprised when I unboxed the AutoBarista Pro — it’s not as visually appealing as I’d expected. Ninja seems to always hit design out of the park, especially with the Crispi and the Creami, and even the Luxe Cafe.

But not the AutoBarista Pro. I’m not sure what about it rubs me the wrong way. Perhaps the sharp lines, the somewhat dim screen? The chrome buttons? It just looks like something that would have come out about ten years ago, not now.

The machine is almost entirely plastic, too: the water tank is relatively flimsy, the exterior is a shiny plastic, and the drip tray is mostly plastic. This is a shame, but, then again, you can’t expect perfection from a (relatively) affordable automatic machine.

The screen is nowhere near as clear as the Breville Oracle Dual Boiler ($3,000), but is, thankfully, easy to use and perfect for beginners. There are little graphics of all the different types of coffee, and then you can adjust details like coffee intensity, milk texture, heat, as much as you like. I suppose, though, it’s unfair to compare a $950 machine and a $3K machine — you would expect the quality to be different.

One thing I love is the steam wand. It looks almost identical to the Oracle Dual Boiler — it’s wider than most at-home steam wands, and has a single powerful spout rather than holes — and is incredibly powerful. I’ll talk about it more below, but this is one of my favorite aspects of the Ninja.

Don’t get me wrong, the AutoBarista Pro isn’t hideous or a plastic hunk of garbage — not at all. It just doesn’t look as premium as I would like. Even though it’s cheaper than other automatic machines, almost $1,000 is still a huge amount of money. As a result, I’d like it to look a little more premium.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Espresso

In terms of ease of use, the AutoBarista Pro wins all the awards. It’s supremely easy to control. You don’t have to do any prep at all. You do have to wait, though — each drink took at least a minute to make. This was noticeably longer than the De’Longhi Rivelia and De’Longhi Magnifica Evo ($899).

When I first installed the hopper and poured in my beans, I used GrindIQ to adjust the grind. This took about six minutes and used a decent amount of coffee, so I’d only recommend using this if you tend to use the same beans over and over. I would hate to waste that much coffee for every 200g bag of specialty beans, for example.

Thankfully, like the De’Longhi Rivelia, you get two bean hoppers, so you don’t have to empty out the hopper if you want to switch beans.

But after the machine calibrated itself, it was beyond easy to use. I simply adjusted the intensity using the screen, adjusted the ratio (you can do anything from 1:2 to 1:6), and pressed go.

On medium intensity, the espresso is really weak, so I found I had to use the strongest level to get a normal-tasting espresso. Even the most intense mode isn’t as flavorful as a manual espresso machine — so I wouldn’t recommend this machine if you’re an espresso evangelist. I think most of these issues lie within the grinder, which you can't manually control.

Here’s a photo of an espresso made using Ninja’s default settings (so 1:2, medium intensity, double shot).

As you can see, the color is quite light. This was using artisan beans with notes of almond, fudge, and cherry.

The shot tasted a little juicy, a little nutty, but didn’t have the rich mouthfeel you might expect from a manual espresso machine. Again, this is a fine trade-off if you seriously value ease of use and can’t be bothered with grinding, tamping, and dosing at 7am, but coffee nerds might want to look elsewhere.

My colleagues reported that the coffee generally tasted quite weak, but was still drinkable, even on the most intense setting.

I would also advise against using this machine for cold brew. Take a look at this...

This tasted incredibly weak (if you couldn't guess that from the photo) — there was maybe a whisper of flavor. I honestly had to throw this away. I was impressed to see the machine automatically adjusted the grind for cold brew (it needs coarser than espresso), but the result was still poor and it didn't taste good.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Milk

Even though the espresso functionality left me longing for more, I do really like the steam wand function on the AutoBarista Pro. It’s not as hands-off as other automatic machines like the Jura E8 or the KitchenAid KF8. You have to pour the milk into the pitcher and then pour it into your mug. You also have to clean and purge the steam wand as you would on a manual espresso machine.

As a barista who loves the ritual of making coffee and getting her hands dirty, this is much more my style than the fully automatic machines I’ve tested in the past.

You don’t get any control over the actual steaming, though, which is perfect for hands-off baristas who want consistently technically perfect coffees, but not ideal for someone like me.

You can adjust the milk texture settings from wet, to melted ice cream flat white texture, to cappuccino texture. You can even cold foam milk, which was super fun. Here’s a photo of a standard flat white using all of Ninja’s default settings.

As you can see, the texture is pretty good, but it’s not as soft or velvety as a human barista. Even so, my colleagues reported that the milk texture was “yummy” (direct quote), with a soft mouthfeel and a nice creaminess.

You can also toggle the “dairy milk” and “plant-based milk” setting. I’m not sure what difference this actually makes, as I forgot to turn it to plant-based milk when I was frothing oat milk and it turned out the same.

However, I would not recommend this for cold foam.

As you can see, the texture is a bit strange. It’s much too bubbly, not really stiff peaks like you’d expect from cold foam. And if you swipe to the second picture, you’ll see how it looked after a few seconds. Yep… that’s basically just an iced latte.

So, the long and short of it is: hot drinks, yes, cold drinks… no.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Storage & maintenance

As you might expect from an automatic espresso machine, the Ninja AutoBarista Pro is pretty large. It’s 17.8 x 10.7 x 15.8, and took up a decent amount of space in my kitchen. Not a con, just something to be mindful of!

Now, a con: you will be refilling the water tank after about four drinks. And if you’re making cold brew, one drink.

No, that’s not an exaggeration, and yes, I’m quite sure. I had to refill the AutoBarista Pro after four drinks, every single time. I’m not sure where all the water goes, but it goes somewhere. It’s thirstier than an AI data center.

Alright, so now you know what to expect, we can move on. Cleaning the AutoBarista Pro is straightforward: Ninja provides you with a few months’ worth of cleaning tablets and a water filter (mandatory if you live in a hard water area). Running a cleaning cycle is as easy as following the instructions on the machine itself. Replacement cleaning products are around $14 from Amazon.

Ninja offers a 2-year warranty, which is the same as Fellow, De’Longhi, and Breville.

Ninja AutoBarista Pro review: Verdict

If you prioritize ease of use over anything else, you’ll be happy with the Ninja AutoBarista Pro. This is one of the easiest coffee machines I’ve ever tested. You literally just have to press a button, and the machine does the hard work for you, in the same way the De’Longhi Rivelia takes all the guesswork out of coffee-making.

However, I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. It’s considerably bulkier than I expected, and the screen is nowhere near as bright as the aforementioned De’Longhi Rivelia. The coffee tends to be weak, even when extracted on the maximum intensity setting — and I wouldn’t recommend it for cold brew or cold foam at all.

All that being said, if you want a (relatively) affordable espresso machine and you’re the kind of person who drinks flavored lattes away — or you simply want a cold foam maker and you want it right now — then the Ninja AutoBarista Pro will do the job. It’s one of the most “brain off” espresso machines I’ve ever reviewed. I just wish it hit more of its marks.

As a home appliance reviewer, I'll be super honest here — I'm a big fan of all things Ninja. During my tenure at Tom's Guide AU, I've gotten to spend some serious hands-on time with Ninja's novelty kitchen appliances — and it's safe to say that I'm pretty obsessed.

However, my biggest gripe is pricing. While the brand always impresses me, its pricing can be a sore spot for those with tighter purse strings. And I get it — thanks to the current cost of living and inflation, everything feels super expensive right now.

Thankfully, Ninja (and sister brand Shark) has come to the rescue with some seriously tempting deals during its EOFY sale on its website and Amazon storefront. From now until July 1, 2026, you can save up to AU$200 off across Ninja's kitchen range — from grills, to blenders, novelty appliances, like the Slushi or Creami, and even my favourite Ninja Crispi air fryer, now just AU$220.

I've gathered my top-rated EOFY deals from Ninja for your perusal below. You'll need to act fast to nab these deals, though, as they will expire as soon as July 1, 2026, rolls around.

Best Ninja Kitchen EOFY deals

In 2024, Ninja launched a frozen drink maker that turns any drink into a slushy. The aptly-named Ninja Slushi was, and has continued to be, a huge success. So much so, the Ninja Slushi Max launched after it, providing you with even bigger, smarter and faster frosty beverages.

It shouldn't be all that surprising then that Ninja has introduced its next twist on the viral original. Twist being the operative word. What is surprising is that it did it so quietly.

All of a sudden, the Ninja Slushi Twist, able to mix two flavors in one go, is now available to buy for $399 at SharkNinja.com. Or, it would be, if it wasn't already completely sold out. A viral success like its predecessors, a quiet launch clearly didn't go under everyone's radar.

But, if you're patient enough to wait, you'll be able to grab one when they're back in stock — just in time for some summer hosting.

Meet the Slushi Twist

The Ninja Slushi Twist takes the unique design of the OG model and combines it with the increased capacity of the Slushi Max (just 6oz less). But, what makes it really different is that it allows you to mix two separate flavors together, if you want to.

With purely automatic programming, at just the touch of a button you can slush two drinks together creating endless exciting combos, or keep them entirely separate. And what's really clever about the Slushi Twist is that it uses Dual SlushAssist Technology to sense the ingredients in each vessel to auto-adjust temperatures to suit.

So, if you're hosting in the summer months, whether it's for a BBQ or World Cup viewing, you've got the perfect slushy, every time. Plus, the Slushi Twist is capable of producing 10 separate servings at a time for all your guests. Even better? You don't need any ice whatsoever. Pour, press, and slush.

Ninja is calling it "the first of its kind," creating an ultimate solution if you're after multiple slushies without having to buy multiple Ninja Slushi machines.

Why I can't wait to try it

I think I'm amongst friends when I say that when I'm picking my frozen slushy at the movie theater, I'm combining flavors. But, I've never been able to recreate this at home.

And then Ninja is suggesting I could whip up a kid-friendly slushy in one side and a more adult-friendly drink in the other (I'm thinking frozen margs) and now, I'm incredibly intrigued to try it out. As long as I'm labelling each side appropriately!

But, while the Slushi Twist images I've been seeing online show off perfectly twisted drinks in vibrant colors, I'm a little worried I won't be able to recreate this myself. I know there's an art to it and fortunately, Ninja knows that too. In fact, it has even made a YouTube tutorial on 'Mastering the Twist' that makes it look a little simpler.

Whether I've got the skills or not, I'm certainly excited by the prospect of twisted frozen drinks on tap. I'll just have to wait until I get my hands on one for a review.

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja Slushi review: Should you buy or skip it?
• I've been crafting drinks in the Ninja Slushi for a month — here are my hot tips for the ultimate frozen drink
• Forget the Ninja Slushi — how to make a slushie in a blender in 3 easy steps

Straight off the back of the recent Slushi Max launch down under, Ninja has welcomed another viral portable into its Aussie arsenal.

Introducing the Ninja BlendBoss — the brand's first-ever tumbler blender that you can take on the go. You can crush and blend your favourite ingredients, detach the base and sip with the matching lid for the ultimate portability. With more people prioritising wellness and self-care, it's the perfect product for leading a healthy lifestyle and all-around convenience.

Better yet, it comes in some seriously delicious-sounding colourways, and an equally attractive price tag. Available at Ninja direct, and retailers like Amazon and The Good Guys, the Blendboss retails at AU$199.99, and comes with a powerful 1,100W motor base, 760ml large tumbler, a specialised crush blade and a chug & straw lid.

Now, I can see what you're thinking — yes, AU$199.99 is a bit much for any blender, let alone a portable one and in most cases, I'd agree, but in the case of the BlendBoss, IMHO, its RRP is a bargain. In terms of functionality, the BlendBoss combines the need for a cup post-blender (or tumbler, in this instance) with a powerful base that can mix almost any ingredient.

In our Ninja BlendBoss review, our Homes editor, Millie, gave it 4.5 stars, attributing it to the pitcher's portability. In her words, "it's hard to fault performance" as it aced every performance test she put it through. Not to mention, the BlendBoss is very cute and easy on the eyes, making it a surefire hit for those with colourful appliances or thousands of emotional support drink bottles (myself included). Plus, it fits in most cup holders, so it's ideal for carting to the gym, work, sporting games or anywhere in between if you (or your kids) are reguarly in the car.

Speaking of cute colours, it would be remiss of me not to mention the fabulously fruity names that Ninja has crafted for the BlendBoss.. The colours include: Cyberspace, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon Bubble Gum, Lavender Lemonade and Stone Mint. My personal pick would be Blue Raspberry, which has a blue motor and a green tumbler base, and is somewhat reminiscent of blue spirulina smoothies I used to make during my short-lived 2021 fitness kick.

Oh, and if you're worried about clean up, fret not — all of the BlendBoss' parts are dishwasher safe, so you can chuck it on the top shelf once you've finished your blended beverage.

When it comes to viral Ninja products like the BlendBoss, bear in mind you’ll need to get in quick — these bad boys are sure to fly off shelves.

The Moccamaster is revered in the coffee world, and for good reason. It's one of the few SCA-certified (Specialty Coffee Association) drip brewers, it has a lifetime repair promise, and is so good that it's remained mostly unchanged since the '60s. But it's also $369... yes, $369. This price is simply unattainable for most of us.

If you're looking for a drip brewer for less, let me introduce the Ninja 12-Cup Coffee Brewer. This little workhorse is just $89 — but often discounted to $69 — and is a fantastic budget option. We've got this in our New York office and it's a crowd pleaser (and then some).

So, no, you don't have to spend $400 to get one of the best coffee makers. Let me tell you exactly what the Ninja 12-Cup Coffee Maker is capable of. Spoiler alert: it's an absolute steal if you can snag it for $70.

Choose your brew

Just like the Technivorm Moccamaster KGBV Select, the Ninja 12-Cup puts you in the driver's seat. You can choose to brew either a full batch or a small batch (1-4 cups vs 12 cups), so you never waste coffee. And when you have guests around, everyone gets a cup of hot coffee at the same time.

If that's not enough, there are also two brewing modes: Classic and Rich. Classic makes that smooth and full-bodied cup, whereas Rich is more intense. Of course, you can still adjust this flavor based on how much coffee you put in the filter basket — you're in control, after all.

Wake up to a fresh pot every day

Now, this is something my Moccamaster actually can't do. With the Ninja 12-Cup, like the Smeg Retro Coffee Maker, you can program a delayed brew start. Essentially, you can set your coffee maker up before bed, then it will come on before you wake up so you get a fresh pot of coffee as your alarm clock.

Honestly, how cool is that? I want to wake up every day to the smell of coffee. Maybe it'd make that early-morning alarm more palatable.

But there are some sacrifices for the $90 price tag

Of course, you're not going to get the same performance in a $90 coffee maker as you would in a $370 coffee maker. The Ninja doesn't have SCA certification, and it doesn't have a 5-year warranty or lifetime repairs.

Ninja only offers a 1-year warranty, which obviously pales in comparison to Technivorm's. If you want an SCA-approved machine, you'll unfortunately have to fork out a bit more for something like the Moccamaster, the super-speedy Breville Luxe Brewer, or the gorgeous Fellow Aiden.

One of the cheapest SCA-certified models I've seen is the $149 Bonavita 5-Cup. Of course, though, this is only a 5-cup brewer — the Ninja does double that!

You're always going to have to weigh up pros and cons when choosing a new coffee maker — but the Ninja excels in the price department. You get a surprising range of features for your $90, which is why the Ninja 12-Cup is my go-to for a great drip machine that won't break the bank.

Have you tried the Ninja 12-Cup, or would you try it? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to check back next Friday for more from The Coffee Lab. I post new videos on Tom's Guide's TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube every single week.

More from Tom's Guide

• AeroPress is so much easier to use than you think — here's why it's my favorite manual coffee maker
• You don't have to spend $1k on espresso — my pro setup is under $650 (trust me, I'm an ex-barista)
• Nespresso gets a bad rap in the coffee world — but here's why I think it's perfect for some people (from a coffee snob)

I love a good family-style meal. Whether it's hosting a dinner party for my parents or enjoying a cake picnic with my closest circle of friends, I love plating up exquisite dishes and trying new recipes. But this hasn't always been the case. I was a notoriously bad chef, and I would often groan at the thought of any meal taking longer than 20 minutes to prepare.

Fortunately, that’s where the world of kitchen appliances comes into its own, with the sole purpose of making cooking easier and more efficient. I’ve been fortunate enough to try out a variety of kitchen gadgets and gizmos, and I can honestly say they've improved my cooking skills. These appliances have helped me bid farewell to the days of burnt toast, undercooked chicken, and soggy fries — all without adding any extra fuss to meal prep.

From effortlessly creating complex cakes with my KitchenAid stand mixer to brewing up caffeine delights with my Ninja Luxe Cafe, the gadgets listed below are my most-used, most-loved and most-rated in the kitchen. And the best part? They're now discounted at select retailers, including Amazon, KitchenAid and The Good Guys.

You'll need to act fast to nab a solid discount, though, as these prices won't stick around long.

5 Top-rated kitchen appliances

More from Tom's Guide

• I use this iconic KitchenAid stand mixer nearly every day — and these 5 indispensable accessories have seriously levelled up my creations
• As a pet owner with hardwood floors, mopping was misery until this wet-dry vacuum changed my life
• These are the 3 best bread machines we've tested to make delicious loaves at home

Air fryers are highly sought-after kitchen appliances, and for good reason. They offer the pleasure of crispy, fried dishes while drastically reducing the oil, fat, and strong odors associated with traditional deep-frying. But with so many air fryers to choose from, how can you pick the best one?

The Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer also functions as a convection oven and toaster, and certainly looks the part. And with a 5-quart capacity, it was plenty big enough for my family of four. However, you’ll want to measure your countertops before buying this appliance, as it will take up a good amount of space.

I tested the Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer to see how it compared with other popular choices. My verdict? I’d put it up there as one of the best air fryers for a medium-sized family who enjoys pizza, fries, bagels, and more. Here’s how the Ninja performed during my testing.

Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer: Price and availability

The Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer is available on Amazon for $181. You can also purchase the air fryer on SharkNinja’s website or at major retailers like Target, Kohl’s, Best Buy, and Walmart. Currently, it’s not available in the U.K.

In addition, there’s only one color option: stainless steel with black accents. However, this classic design should look at home in most kitchens, regardless of color scheme.

Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer review: Design

The Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer is a sizeable appliance that arrived in a large box, and at 16 x 15 x 13 inches, it will take up quite a bit of room on your countertop. It’s well-designed, however, and pairs well with other appliances. But if you’re short on space, you’ll need to make sure you have a place to store it when not in use.

It comes with several accessories: an air fry basket, a wire rack, a sheet pan, a broil rack, and a crumb tray. Each component is easy to clean with warm, soapy water; Ninja does not recommend putting any of them in the dishwasher. After washing and rinsing, pat the accessory dry and replace it in the air fryer to store until next use.

Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer review: Performance

I tested the Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer for two weeks. I looked for a mix of recipes and meal ideas that would let me test several functions. Here’s how the appliance performed in my kitchen.

Air-Fried Sweet Potatoes

To test the air fry setting, I peeled and chopped a sweet potato into cubes rather than into fry shapes. Per the instruction booklet, I soaked them in cold water for 30 minutes, then patted them dry. I tossed the sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon of oil, then threw them into the air fry basket and set the Ninja to “Air Fry” at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 18 minutes.

About halfway through, I took the sheet pan out and shook the sweet potatoes to ensure even crisping. I liked that the timer paused when I opened the doors, so I didn’t have to worry about losing time or ending up with undercooked veggies. After about 15 minutes total, the sweet potatoes looked done, so I removed them. The resulting sweet potatoes were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside — just as I like them.

Sausages and Peppers

To see how the air fryer handles protein, I followed a recipe from the guide that came in the box: Sheet pan sausage and peppers. The recipe uses the air roast function and the sheet pan. I sliced the bell peppers and onions and tossed them with oil as directed. Then I placed them on one side of the sheet pan and added the sausages to the other.

The recipe says to set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the time to 25 minutes, flipping the sausages and tossing the peppers after 10 minutes. The sausages needed to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to be done.

After 20 minutes in total, everything looked very crispy, so I tested the sausages and found they were done. I served them on buns with the peppers on top, and they were delicious.

Bagels

The Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer has both a bagel and a toast setting. I decided to test the former while making breakfast. Both settings let you choose the number of bread and bagel slices (1–6) and the shade level (1–7). I set the appliance to toast two bagel slices with a shade level of 4.

Using these settings, the air fryer was automatically set to 5 minutes. However, after 4 minutes, I noticed that the bagel looked a little browner than I like, so I took it out. It was definitely overdone and chewy when I ate it. I’d stick to choosing lighter shades or keeping a closer eye on the appliance when making toast or bagels in the future.

Pizza

My family loves homemade pizza, so I was excited to test the Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer’s pizza setting. I’ve made pizzas in a toaster oven before and liked the way they turned out, so I wanted to see how the Ninja would measure up.

I set the temperature at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and the time for 45 minutes. In my full-size oven, it would easily take that long to make four pizzas (one at a time) for my family. The air fryer preheated within 90 seconds. I added the first pizza and kept a close eye on it until it turned golden, about 8 minutes. In total, I had all four pizzas ready in less than 30 minutes — much faster than my usual method.

The pizzas were perfectly cooked, and my entire family devoured them. My favorite part was that the fresh mushrooms I added to my pizza didn’t make the dough soggy, as they usually do in my oven. I will definitely use the Ninja for future family pizza nights.

Noise

As with any kitchen appliance, noise is a concern—especially in my open-plan kitchen, where it travels to the living room. I noted that the Ninja French Door Premier was much quieter than I expected.

While traditional air fryers vary in noise level depending on the fan setting, the Ninja French Door Premier’s noise range was similar across all settings. I measured a maximum of 64 decibels during preheating and periodically during cooking — that’s similar to the quiet drone of a business office.

Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer review: Ease of use and cleaning

I found the Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer extremely easy to use, and all my questions were answered in the owner’s guide or quick-start guide. The first couple of times I used it, I got a little confused by the settings — for example, I kept hitting “start” in the middle of the dial when trying to toggle between modes, temperatures, and cook times. But after a couple of uses, this wasn’t a problem anymore.

Similarly, cleaning the appliance is easy. After each use, simply remove the sheet pan or rack and wash it with warm, soapy water. There’s also a crumb tray at the bottom that you can remove after each use and wash or wipe clean to remove crumbs and other residue.

Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer review: Competition

Since the Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer also functions as a convection oven, it’s hard to compare it to a typical air fryer. This appliance is designed to be a jack-of-all-trades, whereas our best-rated air fryer, the Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1, only has four functions (air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate). The Pro 4-in-1 performs these functions extremely well, but it can’t toast, bake, or make pizza like the French Door Premier can.

Another option to consider is the Cosori Turboblaze, which has bake and grill settings comparable to those of the Ninja French Door Premier. The Cosori also has a higher maximum temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit (the Ninja tops out at 400 degrees) and is smaller than the Ninja, which might make it a better fit (literally) if you have a small kitchen or limited counter space.

Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer review: Verdict

After testing the Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer in my kitchen for two weeks, I can highly recommend it — as long as you have the space. Its large size could be off-putting if you have a smaller kitchen.

But if you have the space to store it, it’s worth the money. It will certainly become a mainstay in my kitchen, if only for its ability to make perfect pizzas and fast weeknight meals.

Ninja changed the air fryer game when it released the Crispi in 2025, but can the new Crispi Pro do the same? A larger, more permanent addition to your countertops, this modular glass cooking system can accommodate food for up to 10 people.

The new Crispi Pro also resolves one of my main gripes with the original Crispi and offers precise temperature controls instead of a range of preset cooking modes. This air fryer can cook from 80 to 450°F, which is pretty versatile, and the timer can run up to one hour.

After using the Crispi Pro to make everything from a roast chicken to frozen french fries, my only real gripe is the price tag. $279 is hard to justify, even for the very best air fryers.

If you're happy to pay, though, the Ninja Crispi Pro is a worthy addition to any kitchen countertop. I was impressed by its build quality, which felt sturdy and expensive, and its cooking performance is hard to fault. Here's what you need to know.

Ninja Crispi Pro review: Price and availability

The Ninja Crispi Pro is astoundingly expensive, and once you've invested, you'll pay handsomely to upgrade your cooking system further. At $279, you could buy two of my top-rated Ninja Pro air fryers, and have a little pocket money to spare.

What's more, you only get two cooking containers included with your Crispi Pro: the 2.5 quart and 6 quart containers. Want to try the 4-quart container? You'll need to spend an extra $50 at SharkNinja to get your hands on it.

It does look fantastic on a kitchen countertop, and I enjoy the range of colors to choose from. I tried it in the shade Cyberspace, but if I were buying it for my home, I'd definitely opt for Rose Quartz. Mark my words: one of these days, I'll get my hands on a pink air fryer.

Ninja Crispi: Design

Both glass containers included with the Crispi Pro have a removable nonstick plate insert and a lid that can be used to store leftovers or meal prep directly inside the containers.

They also come on plastic bases, which allow you to lift your hot cooking container and place it straight on your dining table for serving up family-style meals.

To cook with the different sized containers you'll need to move your stand up or down to accommodate. The middle setting is effectively defunct until you buy a 4-quart container, so you'll be using the top height for your 2.5-quart container and the base for your 6-quart container.

The settings are clearly marked on the display of the Crispi Pro: there's Air Fry, Max Crisp, ReCrisp, Roast, Bake/Proof and Dehydrate. That's two more than the original Crispi, which just had Max Crisp, Bake, Air Fry, and Recrisp.

You're also able to toggle the temperature and timer using a dial on the front of the display. It feels great to use, with a tactile clicking sensation as you twist it and a button finish to start and stop cooking.

I found that the Crispi Pro automatically paused cooking when I took out the cooking container, meaning you can stir or shake food mid-cook, just like you would with a regular air fryer.

Ninja Crispi review: Performance

Air frying frozen food

I can't remember the last time I cooked frozen food in the oven. That's my air fryer's job! When I tested the original Crispi, I found that it was a worthy competitor to most traditional air fryers, and the Crispi Pro is no different. It cooked some tasty gochujang chicken wings from frozen to juicy and sizzling in just 18 minutes, which was 7 minutes less time than the packaging instructions.

Halfway through cooking I added some frozen french fries in with my chicken wings, and they came out golden and crunchy — perhaps a little overcooked!

This is largely down to the fact I was cooking in the smaller 2.5-quart container, which meant my frozen food was very close to the heating element. Because of this, the pre-heat time needed was minimal, and the crisper plate allowed air to circulate both above and underneath the food, resulting in an even finish without having to flip my food.

Roasting chicken and potatoes

Ninja boasts that the Crispi Pro can cook an entire chicken, but considering I was just cooking dinner for two, I decided to test this theory with half a chicken sat atop some potato wedges.

I first cut some potatoes into thick wedges and tossed them in oil and seasoning before sitting my criper plate and my peri-peri half chicken on top. You'd struggle to fit a large chicken on a crisper plate, but if you removed it, there's no reason why you couldn't cook an entire bird in the Crispi Pro.

The results were impressive. Yes, the seasoning on top of the chicken skin browned a little faster than I'd have liked on the Roast setting, but it was sat very close to the heating element. I didn't flip the chicken midway like I usually would, but the finished meat was still very juicy and well-cooked, and after 40 minutes it was ready to serve.

What wasn't ready were my potato wedges. In the oven, these would typically take 45 minutes, but because they were sat under the crisper plate and removed from the heating element, they were almost-cooked and not very crisp after the chicken was removed. I removed them from the glass container and slotted them on top of the crisper plate, where it only took an extra 10 minutes to take them from pale and soft to brown and crispy.

Reheating mac and cheese

One of my favorite uses of the Ninja Crispi is to reheat or add a crispy top layer to sauce-based dishes. Because the crisper plate is removable, it means you can cook directly on the glass base, just like a typical baking dish. To test this in the Crispi Pro, I reheated some mac and cheese and topped it with panko and parmesan to give it a new lease of life.

I was surprised at just how much mac and cheese fit into the 2.5-quart container. It was easily enough to feed two as a main, or four as a side dish. Using the Max Crisp setting, I was left with a browned and bubbling pasta dish in just 8 minutes.

How does the Ninja Crispi Pro compare?

While they're both part of the same line, the Crispi and Crispi Pro are very different air fryers. You'll have to make the Crispi Pro a permanent feature on your kitchen counters, whereas the original Crispi is compact and ideal for storing in kitchen cupboards when not in use. For usability and versatility, I'd opt for the Pro over the original every time, but if you're short on space, the Crispi is a great choice.

At half the price of the Crispi Pro, you might enjoy the Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 if you want a countertop fryer. It's not got the glass aesthetics or modular design, but it's a fantastic drawer-style air fryer that aced every test I put it through, and currently sits at the top of our best air fryer guide.

Should you buy the Ninja Crispi Pro?

If money were no object, I'd be giving the Crispi Pro five stars. But it's so hard to recommend a $279 air fryer that doesn't outperform the cheaper options I've tested. If all you want is a great air fryer and you don't mind about nonstick interiors or the lack of modular storage, you could save yourself a lot of money by picking up another one of Ninja's excellent fryers.

That's not to say that the Crispi Pro is bad, because it's not. This is a fantastic air fryer — it did a brilliant job of cooking my chicken evenly, left me with a bubbling, crisp mac and cheese and would also be a fantastic option if you love to meal prep. I also love how it looks, and can't fault the user experience. If you can stomach the price tag, you'll enjoy everything else about the Crispi Pro.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to use the Ninja Foodi Max Dual air fryer
• Air fryer dos and don'ts — 7 safety tips I recommend for everyday use
• How to clean your air fryer's heating element

I know what you're thinking — Ninja saw the viral Stanley Cup tumblers and said "hold my smoothie." But there's a lot more than an on-trend aesthetic to like about the Ninja BlendBoss: it's stupidly powerful for a single-serve blender, blasting through ice, frozen fruit, and even dips with ease. In fact, the eye-catching design might be the least impressive thing about this single-serve blender.

First released in the U.S. in 2025, and now available to buy in the U.K., the BlendBoss is part of a new drive from Ninja to make kitchen gadgets that you not only need, but also want to have in your home. And if you ask me, the BlendBoss is an excellent example of how fun can meet functional.

I put the BlendBoss through its paces in the Tom's Guide test kitchen to see how it compares to the best blenders, and there's what happened.

Ninja BlendBoss: Specs

Ninja BlendBoss: First impressions

I was sent the BlendBoss in Lavender Lemonade, which combines a purple base with a purple and yellow pitcher. The pitcher is tinted, meaning all my drinks looked a little purple until I poured them out.

Each blender comes with one tumbler, so you'll need to buy extras if you want the whole family to take their blended drinks on the go. Except, there's a catch — they're currently all sold out at the SharkNinja website, and they retail for $39, which isn't cheap. With the likes of NutriBullet blenders, you'll usually get a minimum of two cups and a number of lids for sipping or simply covering in the fridge, so the BlendBoss is less versatile in this regard.

What it lacks in add-ons, the BlendBoss makes up for in features. It has three settings: Smoothie, Ice Crush and Blend, and an AutoIQ setting which will automatically tailor your blend cycle to the ingredients you add to your cup.

Its 1100-watt motor is well above what I'd expect for such a compact blender. It does make the base very weighty, but given its low profile it's still easily portable and will sit just about anywhere in your kitchen.

As for its Stanley Cup-esque design, the likeness doesn't end with the shape and handle. It also comes with a pop-up lid and a straw that can be inserted so it pops up when you open the cup. If, like me, you're so committed to drinking out of a silly little straw that the idea of using a normal cup does not appeal, this is a feature you'll enjoy using.

Ninja BlendBoss: Performance

If you were wondering if the BlendBoss is style over substance, I'll jump to the chase and say that it aced every single test I gave it. I was not only impressed, but also incredibly surprised. This is easily the most powerful single-serve blender I've tested —and I've tested a lot!

Smoothies

First up, I made a smoothie from frozen berries, oats, milk and honey. This is a classic in my house, and a good test of any blender's ice crush mode. Frozen cherries are a challenge for any blender, and if left un-blended oats and berry seeds can make the texture of the smoothie quite gritty.

I added the ingredients to my cup, screwed on the blending lid and switched to Ice Crush mode.

The BlendBoss is noisier than I was expecting. On my SoundMeter app it hit 92dB when crushing my frozen ingredients, which is as loud as the Vitamix Ascent X2 which currently sits in the top spot of my blender buying guide.

However, like the Vitamix, the end result is worth a bit of grief from your neighbors. My smoothie was thick and ice-cold, with no lumps or un-incorporated ingredients. The only thing that stopped it from hitting Vitamix-level creamy (and for reference, the Vitamix is six times the price) was some seeds and a little bit of oat grittiness, which is absolutely to be expected with a smaller blender.

Protein shakes

My partner makes a protein shake for breakfast every morning, so in my house, it's the number one reason for having a blender. Sure, you could use a shaker, but a blender will leave your drink well-mixed and lump-free.

I added a scoop of chocolate protein, some ice and some milk to my cup and turned the blender to Smoothie mode. The blender took just shy of a minute to finish blending, and the result was incredibly creamy.

This is the sort of drink I could feasibly throw straight in my bag and take into the office or to the gym, so I added my straw and popped on the to-go lid. The lid opens when you press a discrete button on the front of the lid, and there is a risk of something pressing against this button in your bag and flipping the lid clean open.

We ran some slightly unscientific tests in the kitchen to see if this could feasibly happen. Fortunately we found that unless you directly press against the button, there's no spill risk.

Brushing against it won't cause it to pop open as the button isn't overly sensitive, and when I shook the bottle upside-down nothing spilled from the sides or top. Still, I think it'd be good if Ninja added a lock feature to this lid, which is a feature you'll find on bottles from Owala and the like, to make sure there's no chance of accidental spills.

Hummus

I doubt Ninja made this blender with the expectation of people using it to make hummus, but it's one of the standard tests we do when testing blenders, and I wanted to give the BlendBoss a proper challenge.

To my cup I added a tin of drained chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, garlic, seasoning and a couple of ice cubes (which I'm told give a smooth and creamy result) and twisted the cup into place.

This seemed like the perfect test for the IQ setting, which detects the strength and timings needed and adjusts accordingly.

When I've made hummus in personal blenders before, I've needed to take my cup off and give the contents a stir to make sure they're all blended evenly, so it was a real surprise when the BlendBoss automatically pulsed to evenly mix in my drier mix and the hummus started to swirl around inside the blending cup, no assistance needed.

Texturally, the finished result was easily as good as the hummus I've eaten at my favorite Lebanese restaurant. With some fine-tuning, I could happily never buy a tub in the supermarket again! It was incredibly creamy with no lumps or grittiness, the dip scooped easily out of the cup and into my serving bowl.

Ninja BlendBoss: Cleaning

Blenders are some of the most annoying appliances to clean, but fortunately the BlendBoss cup, lid and straw can all go in the dishwasher. Hooray! If you're cleaning by hand, this is also easy enough. I used a scrubbing brush to get the caked-on patches of protein powder away from the base of the cup, and due to the relative lack of grooves compared to something like the Beast blender, there weren't any fiddly areas I struggled to clean.

Should you buy the Ninja BlendBoss?

I'd buy this blender, and I'd recommend you do too. It's hard to fault its performance, and I also think it's very competitively priced for such a powerful option. While I'd never score it bonus points just for looking cute, let's be honest, it's easy on the eyes and that's never a bad thing!

The only real reasons not to buy the BlendBoss are if you want to use more than one blending cup, given the (at time of writing) lack of extras available at the SharkNinja website, and if the 24oz capacity would be too small for you. But if you're in the market for a super cute and capable personal blender, this is the one I'd recommend.

I love a versatile kitchen appliance. If it can do more than one cooking mode or preset, consider me sold. Air fryers are perhaps the pinnacle of versatile kitchen appliances, and I’m happy to report that this is especially true for my kitchen’s latest addition, the Ninja Crispi.

Ninja's newest air frying device launched in Australia late last year to near universal praise, flying off shelves in an instant. What's even better is that right now, the Ninja Crispi is discounted by 29% on Amazon.

Sure, there's also a nice 17% discount directly at Ninja, but this AU$211.65 Amazon price is the second-cheapest it's been since the Crispi's Aussie debut in November. (If you were quick, it was just AU$196 on Christmas Day.) And better yet, this discount is across all three colourways: Cyberspace, Sage and Stone.

Note that this discount is exclusive to Amazon Prime members – and you'll likely need to act fast, as Amazon has flagged that this is a ‘limited’ promotion.

In our Ninja Crispi review, we gave it a massive 4.5 stars, as it was super quiet and delivered surprisingly crispy results. Our reviewer was pleasantly surprised by the device, and found the gadget "reinvented the traditional air fryers" they've used in the past.

I've really appreciated the simplicity and convenience that come with the Crispi. It's become an integral part of my daily routine — from frying up chicken tenders to roasting salmon perfectly, I've enjoyed every meal and side I've made with my Ninja Crispi. But something I've appreciated even more than the tasty results is the fact that I can pop a lid on my leftovers and chuck them in the fridge almost immediately, saving me the painstaking task of finding a plastic container and matching lid in my endless pit of a Tupperware drawer.

Unlike traditional air fryers, the Crispi doesn’t use traditional temperature adjustments and houses just four settings: Roast, Recrisp, Air Fry and Keep Warm. While the presets don't specify an exact figure on the device, the handbook says that temperatures start at 70°C on the lowest setting and go up to 200°C, which is a comparable range for most air fryers.

The timer on the Crispi can be adjusted in minute increments, and you can also add or reduce your cooking time. And to turn off the device, you'll need to hold down the 'Start' button, as it doesn't have a labelled off switch.

It has some quirks, then, but they haven’t stopped me from loving the result I’ve achieved with my Ninja Crispi.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the Ninja Crispi for a week and it made me rethink everything I knew about air fryers
• This Ninja Crispi dupe was so close to being life-changing — but it has one fatal flaw

It's National Pizza Day, and while wood-fired will always give you a more authentic result, electric pizza ovens are popular for a reason. They're incredibly easy to use while still offering great-tasting results, and they often kick up a lot less smoke than many of the best pizza ovens.

But, it's cold outside, so you might be looking at an electric pizza oven to use indoors. . Two of the top options are the Ninja Artisan and the Ooni Volt. Both offer 12-inches of cooking space and a range of settings for different types of pie. And fortunately for you, I've tried them both head-to-head.

So what's better, the Ooni Volt or the Ninja Artisan? Keep reading for my full verdict.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: What's the difference?

On the surface, the Ooni Volt and Ninja Artisan look like very similar pizza ovens, but there's one very major difference which could help you decide on a winner. The Volt is designed to be an indoor-only oven. Its predecessor (now discontinued) was engineered to work both indoors and outdoors, but the latest iteration (the Volt 2) can't technically be used outdoors.

Now, my outdoor space sits below a balcony and therefore isn't at risk of getting wet, so would I break the rules a little and put it on my patio table for some al fresco cooking? Absolutely, and I have. But technically, you're not meant to.

The inverse is true for the Ninja Artisan. Despite its safety legs which elevate the base of the oven, and its electric design, it's actually engineered to be an outdoor-only pizza oven. Again, I can't recommend you use it indoors because Ninja doesn't, but I personally tested mine indoors during a rainy week in the fall, and it didn't cause any issues for my kitchen countertop, or kick up too much spoke.

If you've got a specific space in mind for your oven and you're less rebellious than me, that could be your decision made.

If you want to use your oven indoors, opt for the Ooni Volt. If you'd prefer to use it in the garden, the Ninja Artisan is going to be your best bet.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: Price

Ooni's Volt 2 pizza oven retails for $699 / £499, whereas the Ninja Artisan costs $299 / £299. In the U.S., the Volt 2 will cost you twice as much as the Ninja oven, whereas in the U.K., where I (and Ooni) come from, the price is a little closer, but still significant.

With that price difference, you get Ooni's pizza pedigree and a machine that feels more slick and premium. We gave the Volt 2 a 4.5-star rating in our review, whereas the Ninja Artisan got 3.5 stars when we tested it last year. So on paper, while the Volt costs more, it's the better oven.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: Features

With five settings (Neapolitan, Thin Crust, Pan, New York, and Custom) to the Ooni's three, you might think that the Ninja Artisan is the more versatile choice. However, these five settings are really just different pre-determined temperature settings within the oven, as opposed to the Ooni's 'Pizza Intelligence' system, which adjusts the heat input from both the top and bottom of the oven to cook different types of pizza in different ways.

The Artisan's temperature range is also smaller: 90-700°F compared to the Ooni's 68-850°F. This means you can cook your pizza in record times using the Ooni, and its top temperature is more than capable of giving your Neapolitan pie that iconic leopard-spotted look.

Included with the Ninja is an air fry basket and a roasting tin which allow you to use it as an outdoor oven, as well as for pizzas. The Volt 2 comes with a shelf, but you can also buy a pan for Detroit-style pizzas, as well as a sheet pan and rack. For the price, it would've been nice if these came included.

While you pay for it, the Ooni is the more versatile choice. However, due to its pre-sets, the Ninja is incredibly easy to use.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: Performance

While the Volt hits the higher temperatures, that's not to say you can't get an authentic pizza from the Ninja Artisan. Below is a photo of a pizza I made at its hottest setting, the Neapolitan setting, and it did manage to brown and crisp around the edges before my toppings became too scorched.

When setting both ovens up, I noticed that each of them took around 15 minutes to hit their top temperatures. However, I found that the Ninja took much more time to re-acclimatize between pies, meaning I wasn't able to batch-cook as effectively. If you want to host pizza parties or have family pizza nights, the Ooni will definitely cook your pizza faster and hit those target temperatures at a greater speed.

While both my neopolitan pizzas came out with a great rise on the crust and a crisp base, I found that the Ooni had far more of the signature leopard-spotting. If, like me, you can be a bit over-zealous with your toppings, you can also switch on a 'Boost' function to kick the top heating element into high gear, which is a setting you won't find with the Ninja.

When it comes to user experience, I appreciated that both ovens offer a viewing window to allow you to watch your pizza as it cooks. The Ooni's is larger and more brightly illuminated, but for the price, I think it's pretty good that Ninja included one at all. Its Woodfire series doesn't feature a viewing window, making this a much smarter option for budding pizzaiolos.

Ooni Volt vs Ninja Artisan: which pizza oven should you buy?

Buy the Ooni Volt 2 if:

You're passionate about pizza: Simply put, it's the better pizza oven. Its Pizza Intelligence feature gives it a lot more versatility than its three pre-sets suggest

You want to cook indoors: The ability to make perfect pies while sheltered from the element is pretty awesome, and it's ideal for those without the ideal outdoor space

You love an authentic neapolitan slice: With its higher top temperature, it'll churn out piping-hot thin-crust pizzas in minutes

Buy the Ninja Artisan if:

You're conscious of costs: For significantly less money, this is a pretty good alternative to the Ooni Volt 2

You'd prefer to cook outdoors: Ninja designed the Artisan to be an outdoor oven, meaning it's best suited to those with space to store and use it in the yard

You want to cook more than pizza: With an air fry basket included, there's no reason to stop at pizza with this oven

More from Tom's Guide

• The best pizza ovens, tested and rated
• The Koda 2 Max is the pizza oven of my dreams — and it's available for pre-order now
• Ooni's founder on pizza ovens, mixers, and his favorite toppings

We've all heard about the viral Ninja Creami, right? For those who haven't, it's Ninja's beloved ice cream maker. People rave about it, and it has often sold out online with so many people wanting a taste of this appliance. We reviewed the Ninja Creami and loved it, having rated it 4 stars out of 5, mostly for the fact that it's so convenient and easy to clean. But it makes customizing ice cream flavors so simple.

Well, that's what we thought — it turns out that people are using this machine for making more than ice cream. One TikToker, in particular, has divided the internet with a video of them making hummus in their Ninja Creami. And we have so many thoughts.

Is it actually chickpea ice cream? Does it melt when it reaches room temperature? Does the missing tahini make a difference? Here's what we think — and what the 150+ commenters had to say about this bold move.

Chickpea ice cream or hummus?

You're going to want to scroll through the comments on this video, mostly for a laugh. It turns out that hummus made in the Ninja Creami is a divisive situation — some people love the idea, and think it's total genius. Others think it's crazy and nothing other than chickpea ice cream.

"That’s because the Ninja Creami is a glorified blender," writes one commenter. And while this is true to some extent, our review can vouch for the fact that creating anything other than basic vanilla ice cream in a blender or food processor tends to end up a "chalky or sandy" consistency.

"Why would you want ice cold hummus?" adds a commenter. And they speak the truth: no one wants ice-cold hummus. Refrigerated hummus is as cold as I'll personally go. Yes, you could leave it out at room temperature before serving, but then that begs the question: would it melt?

One viewer commented, "Yeah, and then it’s liquid at room temp and is ice cream consistency when cold". While others also asked the creator the same question — what is the hummus like when it's not ice cold?

So, is it worth the risk to find out for yourself?

Where's the tahini?

There's lots of disagreement about the missing ingredient in this frozen hummus recipe. And that's tahini. Arguably, this is normally the star of the show for any hummus recipe. "I'm from the Middle East and I don't approve of this "hummus" without tahini" claims one commenter.

The creator of this recipe insists, though, that it doesn't need the tahini — this is music to the ears of people who track their macros. Apparently, you can't even taste that this key ingredient is missing.

Others rave about it...

There are people in the comments section who saw this hack as genius. "I have a sesame allergy, so this is perfect!" writes one commenter.

And, as it turns out, while people won't do this with their own machine, they love seeing others take risks. "This is the kind of mad experimentation I love seeing people do with this machine," adds another comment.

Ninja's advice

In the Ninja Creami instruction manual, it says that you should never blend dry ingredients — hence the use of the chickpea water in this recipe. The manual clearly states, in bold writing "This is NOT a blender". It goes on to add that you should never process a solid block of ice, or ice cubes. The same goes for a smoothie or processing hard, loose ingredients. It says that fruit must be crushed ahead of processing.

In the video, creator @fitnessproductfinder does say that this recipe freezes exceptionally hard, so you might have to spin it a good few times. He also runs the frozen tub under the faucet for a few seconds, after removing it from the freezer, before placing it in the outer bowl.

In the video, the Scoop and Lite Ice Cream settings are both used. The Lite Ice Cream setting is designed for, according to the manual, "health-conscious consumers to make ice creams that are low in sugar or fat or use sugar substitutes. Choose when processing keto or paleo recipes". It's definitely the smartest setting to use in the case of this hummus recipe.

Will you be trying this recipe with your Ninja Creami?

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja is knocking up to 50% off appliances ahead of the Super Bowl — 15 deals for game-day snacks
• Ninja Creami do's and don'ts — try these tips for better ice cream
• Cuisinart's new ice cream maker fixes my least favorite thing about the Ninja Creami, and costs half as much

Weekday mornings are a struggle in my household. Not only do I have to get myself up and moving, but I have to gather enough energy to motivate my two kids out of bed to get ready for school. My morning routine is just about impossible without a nice, hot cup of coffee to energize me. But my previous coffee maker wasn’t programmable, so I had to stumble into the kitchen each morning and manually make a pot of coffee. Who has the time or energy for that at 6 a.m.?

Enter the Ninja Fresh Brew 14-cup programmable coffee maker. I was thrilled to get my hands on this machine, if only for the fact that I could set it up the night before so it would automatically begin brewing before my alarm went off. Plus, with a huge 70-ounce capacity, I could brew enough coffee for me and my husband to both have seconds.

I tested the Ninja Fresh Brew over two weeks and was pleasantly surprised by the rich flavor of the resulting coffee. I brewed full carafes, small batches, and everything in between to see how the Ninja measured up. By the end of my testing period, I honestly couldn’t imagine going back to a non-programmable machine. Read my Ninja Fresh Brew review to see why I’m a total Ninja convert and why I think it’s one of the best coffee makers for the price.

Ninja Fresh Brew Review: Price and Availability

The Ninja Fresh Brew 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is available on Amazon in the U.S. for $119.99, and is not available in the U.K. at this time. You can also buy the coffee machine directly from Ninja’s website, as well as from big box stores like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.

Ninja Fresh Brew Review: Design

The Ninja Fresh Brew is sleek and stylish, featuring a stainless steel finish, a glass carafe, and a removable water reservoir. It matched nicely with the other appliances in my kitchen, and its medium size was the perfect fit on my countertop.

The machine comes with a reusable filter, but you can also use disposable filters if you prefer. I stuck with the reusable one, mainly because the paper filters I had wouldn’t fit in the basket. If you prefer paper filters, you’ll need to buy #4 cone-shaped filters rather than the typical basket filters.

The removable water reservoir is huge — 70 ounces — so you can easily make enough coffee for a large family or for you and your guests. But the Fresh Brew also has a Small Batch setting that lets you brew up to 4 cups without compromising on taste. No matter how much you brew, the glass carafe pours smoothly with no drips, minimizing mess. And the warming plate is adjustable, so you can keep your coffee hot for up to four hours across three temperature settings.

Ninja Fresh Brew Review: Performance

The Ninja Fresh Brew is easy to use and comes with a well-written instruction booklet to help you brew your first carafe with ease. The machine has several settings to familiarize yourself with — Classic, Rich, and Small Batch — and I tested out each one to see how they measured up.

Classic and Rich settings

Brewing a Classic or Rich pot of coffee is quick and easy. Simply fill the reservoir to your desired level (up to 14 cups or 70 ounces), scoop ground coffee into the filter using the Ninja Smart Scoop (Ninja recommends one scoop per two cups), select Classic or Rich, and hit the Brew button.

The Classic setting brews coffee with a smooth, well-balanced flavor, while the Rich setting has a more intense flavor. I preferred the Classic setting — it brewed a richer coffee than I was used to, so I decreased the amount of coffee grounds accordingly.

I measured a maximum noise level of 65 decibels and an average of 47 dB. This is comparable to the hum of a refrigerator or the buzz of a quiet office.

The variable warming plate is programmed to keep a partial carafe of coffee warm for 2 hours, though you can still taste the difference when drinking a cup brewed several hours ago. A fresh cup was full-bodied and flavorful, while a two-hour-old cup tasted a bit stale. My previous coffee machine had a stainless steel thermal carafe, which helped the coffee retain its freshness for longer, and the difference in taste after switching to a glass carafe machine with a warming plate was definitely noticeable.

You can adjust the warming plate's timing to keep a carafe warm for up to four hours, though I wouldn’t recommend it unless you enjoy the taste of stewed coffee.

Small Batch setting

The Small Batch setting is intended for brewing one to four cups. I used it several times when I needed a quick coffee fix but didn’t want to brew an entire pot. The setting is optimized for the best flavor in smaller drinks, and I thought the taste was comparable to the Classic setting for a larger pot.

A four-cup carafe took just over five minutes to brew using the Small Batch setting, which seemed a bit long.

Delay Brew setting

I hate getting out of bed in the morning, but knowing there’s a freshly brewed pot of coffee waiting for me makes the process less painful. I used the delay setting every weekday, setting it to 6 a.m. and waking up to the glorious smell of brewing coffee.

Setting the time for your brew is simple. First, you’ll need to set the current time by pressing the hour and minute buttons beneath the time display. Then, press the Delay Brew button. The time display will flash, and you’ll set the time for your desired brew the same way you did to set the current time. Your coffee will begin brewing at the set time, simplifying your morning routine.

Coming from the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker, which doesn’t have a delay brew setting, this was one of my favorite features of the Ninja Fresh Brew. I do love my OXO, but I’ve always wished I could set it to brew coffee automatically each morning. This setting was an absolute game-changer for my mornings.

Ninja Fresh Brew Review: Storage and Maintenance

The Ninja Fresh Brew is about the same size as any drip coffee maker and fits nicely on my counter without taking up too much real estate. After each use, I washed out the carafe and reusable filter with hot, soapy water. Both the carafe and filter are also dishwasher-safe. The carafe’s lid comes off completely, and it’s easy to rinse without leftover bubbles lingering inside.

The machine also has a cleaning function that Ninja recommends running if a full carafe classic brew cycle takes more than 25 minutes or a rich brew cycle takes more than 30 minutes. To clean, simply add a descaling solution or 16 ounces of white vinegar to the reservoir and fill with water. Then, press the “clean” button. The cycle takes about 75 minutes, so don’t run it if you need to brew coffee anytime soon. Once the cycle has finished, run a classic brew cycle with water only to flush out any remaining cleaning solution from the machine.

How Does the Ninja Fresh Brew 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker Compare?

The Ninja Fresh Brew has a much lower price than our top coffee maker, the Fellow Aiden, making it a better option if you’re on a budget. Although the Ninja’s glass carafe and warming plate don’t quite measure up to the Fellow Aiden’s double-walled thermal carafe, they do the job nicely. If you’re a coffee snob, you might prefer the flavor of the Aiden’s brew, but for the average coffee drinker (like me), the Ninja Fresh Brew is ideal.

Another top pick, the Breville Luxe Brewer, has a much sleeker design than the Ninja Fresh Brew, but that design comes with a hefty price tag. Both machines have removable water tanks for easy filling, though the Breville comes with a choice between a glass and metal carafe, while the Ninja only has a glass option. The Ninja also has a larger capacity than the Breville, so you can brew coffee for a larger group.

Should You Buy the Ninja Fresh Brew 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker?

At just shy of $120, the Ninja Fresh Brew is a solid option if you want a large coffee maker that can brew a decent cup of Joe. Its 14-cup capacity is ideal for large families, while the small batch option lets you make smaller amounts without sacrificing flavor. Although there are fancier machines out there that can brew barista-worthy coffee, you can’t beat the Ninja Fresh Brew at its price point. If you’re looking for a reliable machine that you can pre-program to brew a fresh carafe for you every morning, you can’t go wrong with the Ninja Fresh Brew.

If you're a fan of novel kitchen appliances (like me), you've probably heard of Ninja Kitchen, an appliance maker whose products have a penchant for going viral. From coffee machines to air fryers, ice cream makersand everything in between, if it's a small cooking appliance, Ninja basically has it.

I am the proud owner of the Ninja Slushi, the slushy machine that racked up a 50K-strong waitlist before releasing in Australia, and sold out within minutes. Globally, the Slushi was a hit too, becoming a viral product all over social media.

If you've wanted to see what the fuss is about for yourself, right now, during the final stretch of Cyber Monday sales, the Ninja Slushi has dropped to an all-time low of just AU$334.99 on Amazon. When compared to the RRP, you'll save a massive 33% on the coveted machine — and nab it with plenty of time to prepare your finest frozen cocktail recipes for the hotter months on the Australian horizon.

You'll need to act fast to grab this viral machine — we saw this deal go out-of-stock last week, so we're expecting it will do so again, and in any case, this deal expires at 11:59pm AEDT tonight on December 1, 2025, when Amazon's Black Friday sale officially comes to an end.

Earlier this year, I was able to get my hands on the Ninja Slushi when it became available in Australia, and I had plenty of fun testing it and churning out concoctions in the vessel.

The machine has different temperature and texture controls that creates beverages in up to 60 minutes at max capacity, with five preset settings — Slush, Spiked Slush, Frappé, Milkshake and Frozen Juice.

After owning the machine for almost a year, my favourite types to make are a frozen cola and, if I am in the mood for something spiked, a Pina Colada. Now that I've perfected my Slushi settings, every beverage is the perfect icy consistency; they're perfect on a hot summer's day.

It's worth pointing out that most recipes will call for some tweaking of the presets on the machine. Whether that's changing the freezing temperature or using a different setting entirely, you might need to play around to find the right settings for your chosen frozen bevvy.

After the trial and error that comes with almost any new kitchen appliance, I'm sure frozen drink fanatics will get a kick out of this machine.

Just when I thought I'd finally shut up about how much I love my Ninja Luxe Café coffee machine, Black Friday deals on the viral espresso maker have come a-knockin', dropping it down to its lowest price yet.

Right now, on Amazon, the newly released Ninja Luxe Café is just AU$619 in the Stainless Steel colourway. This is down AU$30 from its discounted price of AU$999, which I clocked during Amazon’s October Prime Day sale a couple of weeks ago (itself just over a month on from its official Aussie release date).

As a fan of all things Ninja Kitchen, I couldn't recommend this machine more if I tried. And I reckon you'll need to act fast to nab this hot Black Friday deal — the machine came and went within 24 hours when it was discounted during Prime Big Deal Days last month, and I don't think it's going to last that long this Cyber Weekend.

Typically, when I'm deal hunting for major sales events like Black Friday, I'm up at the crack of dawn, and the only thing getting me out of bed is my own perfected recipe — a shaken brown sugar espresso iced coffee.

The Ninja machine has been an absolute timesaver in the mornings for me, as I can pull my double shot and make my cold foam for my latte simultaneously at the touch of two buttons. While it doesn't have dual boilers, it can act like a machine that does, pulling an espresso shot and frothing milk at the same time.

Sure, I still have to hand tamp the grinds into the filter, but Ninja has thought of everything and provides a tamp funnel so the grounds all stay within the filter (and don’t end up all over the kitchen countertop!).

The Luxe Café also comes with three filter baskets in a range of shot sizes — single, double and quad — so you can make multiple espresso coffees at once, if you're entertaining a crowd. You can also adjust your preferred drink size on the machine, too, and it'll recommend the filter basket to use. For my morning iced coffees, I typically use the double filter with the espresso setting, though I have also used the cold-pressed setting, and the results were equally delicious.

In just under a month of owning one, I can confidently say that I love the Ninja Luxe Café — and with this even deep Black Friday discount, I'm sure you will too.

Air fryers have become kitchen essentials, promising crispy food without the oil and hassle of deep frying. When I bought my first air fryer, I thought it would be straightforward — plug it in, throw food in the basket, and enjoy perfectly crispy results every time. Turns out, there's a lot more to air frying than the marketing materials let on.

From dealing with stubborn grease buildup to discovering that silicone accessories can trigger your smoke alarm, I learned several lessons the hard way. Some of these discoveries improved my cooking, while others just saved me from ruining dinner or setting off alarms at midnight.

If you're considering one of the best air fryers, here are seven things I wish someone had told me before I started cooking.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to use your new air fryer — 7 essential tips for beginners
• Air fryer dos and don'ts — 7 safety tips for everyday use
• Do you really need to preheat an air fryer? We asked 3 experts

If there's one thing I love more than my Ninja Slushi, it's a frozen margarita. And thanks to Ninja's new Slushi Pack, all my wishes just came true.

Available at a discount for Black Friday, the Ninja Slushi Party Pack costs $269 (down from $349) at SharkNinja right now. What's included, I hear you ask? Well, there's the original Slushi machine in its 88-oz variation, as well as a carry case, so you can bring the fun with you to every festivity this season.

Best of all, your purchase will come with four brand-new Ninja margarita cups, insulated to maintain the frosty finish on your frozen cocktails. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Ninja will release these cups separately, but right now they're only available to buy as part of this new pack.

Get the look

If, like me, you're tempted by the idea of a custom frozen drink cup to accompany your Slushi but can't justify buying the entire party pack to buy them, I have a canny solution.

The Reduce Saltini 16 oz Cocktail Tumbler is a fan favorite among Ninja Slushi lovers and comes in a range of colors. At just $24 at Amazon, it's the ideal gift for a cocktail-lover, or for yourself!

The Saltini 16 oz Cocktail Tumbler comes in a huge selection of colors, and you could even pick up a range of hues to help guests identify their glass at a festive gathering! They're also dishwasher-safe, and come with a splash-proof rim.

I'll be anxiously refreshing the SharkNinja homepage to see if it releases its new cocktail glasses for individual purchase, and I'll be sure to update readers when it does!

Shop today's best Black Friday deals

• Amazon: 50% off Ring, Ninja, Under Armour and more
• REI: half-off Arc'teryx, Patagonia and more
• Walmart: holiday gifts from $15
• Dell: monitors from $69, laptops from $249
• Nectar: 50% off mattresses + 66% off bundles
• Best Buy: laptops from $149
• Lenovo: doorbuster laptop deals from $319
• Wayfair: up to 80% off home decor
• Nike: apparel/sneakers from $7
• Lululemon: top picks from $9
• Birkenstock: deals from $20 @ Nordstrom
• Saatva: luxury mattresses from $1,099

I love entertaining in my backyard, but even grilling can get a little boring. That’s why I picked up a wood pellet pizza oven a couple years ago — something fun and a bit different. And then I realized how much babysitting it required. Between feeding the fire and constantly turning the pizza, it started to feel more like a chore than a treat.

Enter the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven. It’s basically a sleek countertop oven that happens to live outside, and that’s kind of the beauty of it. No flame, no fuss. Not even a propane tank to attach and refill. Just plug it in, preheat and crank out crisp, bubbly 12-inch pizzas in mere minutes.

The Ninja Artisan delivers a wood-fired look though not the smoky, wood-fired flavor. But if you want a pizza oven that’s simple, fast and consistently delivers solid results, it’s a no-brainer. Among the best pizza ovens, it’s a solid choice for those who don’t want to spend too much - or think too hard - when you have guests over.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven cheat sheet

What is the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven?

An electric-powered outdoor pizza oven with a 12” cooking cavity that also bakes, broils, warms, and proofs dough.

How much is Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven?

It costs $279.99.

Is the Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven portable?

It’s fairly heavy at around 40 pounds and designed to stay in one spot near an outdoor outlet.

Does it require propane or wood?

No, it uses electric heat with precise temperature control from 90°F to 700°F.

Price and availability

The Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven is available now for $279.99 from Ninja.com, Amazon, Lowe’s, and Best Buy. That price includes a 12x12" pizza stone, a baking tray and a quick start guide with recipes.

What it doesn’t include: a pizza peel or protective cover, which are sold separately by Ninja. The company sent me one of each for this review, and the $25 cover at least is a must-have. I didn’t really need the $34 peel as I already owned a couple of them.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven review: Design

At first glance, the Ninja Artisan looks more like a high-end toaster oven than a classic backyard pizza oven. But don’t let the aesthetic fool you; it’s a tough, hardy appliance.

The stainless steel body is weather-resistant, the door seals tightly and the double-paned “Chef’s View Window” adds both style and function. That said, it’s not exactly grab-and-go. At about 40 pounds, it’s hefty enough that once you set it up, you’re probably not moving it around much. Pick a good spot near an outlet (or within reach of an extension cord) and plan to keep it there.

The 12"x12" interior is roomy enough for a full-size pizza stone or baking tray (both included), and it can handle way more than just pizza — everything from roast chicken to baked potatoes to sourdough loaves. It’s more like a conventional oven that’s placed outdoors than a one-trick pizza oven.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven: Performance

I’ve spent plenty of time wrestling with my wood pellet pizza oven, which can be a real handful: constant monitoring, managing the fire, turning pizzas every few seconds so that nothing sticks or burns. In contrast, the Ninja Artisan is a breeze. It takes about 18 to 20 minutes to preheat to its full 700°F, which is slower than a gas oven but still faster than a typical kitchen oven. And once it’s hot, it stays steady.

Cooking is basically hands-off: slide your pizza in, close the door, pick your crust setting (Neapolitan, New York, Pan, Thin Crust, or Custom), and walk away. No need to turn or tweak the temperature. The crusts come out evenly baked with nice wood-fire-like marks and perfectly melted cheese.

That said, cleanup can get a bit tricky. Cheese or toppings that fall onto the stone will smoke up the oven quickly—especially if you’re on your third or fourth pie during a pizza party. The glass door fogs up fast, and after a few uses, the stone turns completely black. But unlike the unpredictable smoke and flames of a wood-fired oven, the smoke here mostly stays contained, and you don’t have to worry about managing an open flame.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven review: Features

What really sets the Ninja apart are the presets and extra functions. Like I said, it’s not just a pizza oven — you can bake, broil, warm and even proof dough, which is a game-changer if you’re into sourdough but don’t want to heat up your kitchen in the summer.

The five pizza settings make picking your crust type simple. For example, the Thin Crust setting whipped up crispy, golden pies in under three minutes, while the Pan setting took a bit longer to cook a thicker crust but kept the cheese nice and melty.

One thing I didn’t expect to appreciate as much as I did was the Chef’s View Window. It’s a small touch, but I liked being able to watch the crust rise and the cheese bubble without opening the door.

Ninja Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven review: Verdict

If you’re looking for that classic wood-fired flavor and flickering flames, this pizza oven isn’t going to deliver. But if you want fast, reliable pizzas without standing over the oven turning pies every few seconds, the Ninja Artisan is tough to beat.

If you’re looking for something a little more versatile but equally affordable, the Ninja Woodfire has a taller interior space, but it doesn’t get as hot as the Ninja Artisan.

The price is reasonable considering the many cooking options it offers. Sure, it’s a bit on the heavy side and you’ll need to plug it into an outlet (and it’d be nice if the protective cover was included), but those are small complaints for something that takes the stress out of outdoor pizza nights. Your next pie party will be so much more chill.

It comes as no surprise to anyone here at Tom's Guide, but I'm a pretty big fan of Ninja Kitchen appliances. I've had some serious hands-on time at home (and at work) with Ninja's novelty gadgets, including its newest Aussie launches, the Luxe Café coffee machine and the Stealth IQ Kitchen System. While I've been rather impressed with Ninja's appliances, there's a tiny issue I just can't get past — and that's pricing.

That said, Ninja has come to the rescue with some hot deals during its Black Friday sale, slicing up to 50% off select kitchen gadgets and gizmos on its website and Amazon storefront. What's more, and equally as impressive, is that sister brand Shark has deep discounts too, with up to 53% off its home appliances and beauty range.

I've gathered my favourite Black Friday deals from Ninja and Shark for your perusal below. You'll need to act fast to nab these deals, though, as they will expire in the late hours of December 1, 2025 — a.k.a. Cyber Monday.

Best Ninja Black Friday deals

Best Shark Black Friday deals

Ninja's new air fryer toaster oven features a brand-new design: French doors. Brands such as Gourmia and Midea have sold French door air fryers for years, but according to Ninja, its new French Door Premier Air Fryer, $279 at SharkNinja, is the largest on the market. And it sounds like it could replace my entire oven.

Ninja's new French Door Premier can pre-heat in just 90-seconds, which is significantly speedier than many of the best air fryers on the market. It also claims to deliver up to 60% faster results than conventional ovens, and its internal coating is made without PFAS.

Another major claim is that this toaster oven has a larger air frying capacity than any french door model on the market. Its 5-quart air fry basket can fit up to 5 pounds of french fries, which is ideal for game days and easy entertaining.

Here's what's new

French door air fryers have been around for a little while, but this is the first version that Ninja has released. The term 'French door' refers to its design, which (like a French door refrigerator) has two vertical doors which open to the side, as opposed to a traditional toaster oven, which has a door that pulls towards you and down.

The outward-opening doors are attractive, but also create more space inside your oven. And according to Ninja, its new French Door Premier Air Fryer has the largest air frying capacity of any french door toaster oven on the market.

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja's Creami ice cream maker just got a limited-edition update
• Ninja Slushi review: Should you buy or skip it?
• Ninja just launched its first ever firepit — meet the Ninja Fireside360

I never thought I'd regret taking advantage of a good deal... until that deal got even better.

During Amazon’s October Prime Day sale a couple of weeks ago, one of the highlights was an epic deal on the newly released Ninja Luxe Café, which brought it down to just AU$799. As a fan of all things Ninja Kitchen, I snatched one up, thinking the price surely couldn't get any better on a freshly launched coffee machine.

Turns out I was gravely mistaken, because the e-retailer has beaten that Prime Day price, with the stainless steel model now down to just AU$649 — that's a massive AU$350 saving off the RRP. However, there's more. If you're looking for a pop of colour, fret not — this discount is also available in the Cyberspace blue colourway.

I reckon you'll need to act fast to score this cracking deal, though, as it came and went within 24 hours when it was discounted earlier this month.

After upgrading my ageing Sunbeam Barista Max to the Ninja Luxe Café, the machine has totally transformed my mornings. Typically, I'm up at the crack of dawn, and the only thing getting me out of bed promptly is a deliciously sweet iced coffee.

Before, the process of making my beloved bean beverage consisted of eyeballing the filter with the right amount of grinds, manual (yet messy) hand tampering and waiting ever so patiently for the steam wand to heat up. But now, waiting for my morning brew is a thing of the past, thanks to how quick and automated the Luxe Café is.

Its ‘Barista Assist Technology’ isn’t just marketing hot air: with this Ninja-branded tech, the machine offers me recommendations every time I grind my beans, automatically adjusting the settings based on how quickly the espresso extracts. While it doesn't have dual boilers, it can act like a machine that does, pulling an espresso shot and frothing milk at the same time.

This has been an absolute timesaver for me, as I can pull my double shot and make my cold foam for my latte simultaneously at the touch of two buttons. Sure, I still have to hand tamp the grinds into the filter, but Ninja has thought of everything and provides a tamp funnel so the grounds all stay within the filter (and don’t end up all over the kitchen countertop!).

The Luxe Café also comes with three filter baskets in a range of shot sizes — single, double and quad — so you can make multiple espresso coffees at once (or give yourself a mega caffeine injection in one drink.) You can adjust your preferred drink size on the machine, too, and it'll recommend the matching filter basket to use. For my morning iced coffees, I typically use the double filter with the espresso setting, though I have also used the cold-pressed setting, and the results were equally scrumptious.

Whatever your coffee preference, the Ninja Luxe Café basically does it all and makes it easy. That’s not just my opinion either – in our Ninja Luxe Café Premier review, our tester also found the espresso machine to be very intuitive and beginner-friendly. After two weeks of owning one, I can confidently say that I love the Ninja Luxe Café — and with this even deeper discount, I'm sure you will too.

Ninja brings out some top-tier appliances, but those kitchen counters can only hold so much. And trust me, as someone who tests kitchen gadgets for a living, I know a thing or two about having more appliances than counter space.

Fortunately, I've also got my ear to the ground when it comes to all things Ninja. There is a huge community of Slushi lovers online, and if you've got a Slushi but nowhere to store it, they've got you covered.

Right now, Slushi lovers are raving about the Asgolion Slim Storage Cart, currently 23% off at Amazon, down to $32. It's the perfect size and dimensions to store your Slushi, and because it's on wheels, you can easily ferry it around your home. You can even make the most of the lower shelf levels to keep syrups and glasses ready at a moment's notice.

The perfect small space storage solution

I've got a similar storage solution to this in my kitchen. I use a rolling cart to store my food processor, blender, and rice cooker when not in use. And when I need it, I simply pull it into the kitchen from my pantry.

However, the Asgolion storage cart is ideally suited to the Ninja Slushi due to its design and dimensions. For a start, the top level has barriers to prevent it from falling when not in use. There are also three lower levels, also with barriers, which can be used to store soda, straws, glasses, and anything else you like to keep on-hand when using your Slushi.

According to Amazon reviews, "This cart is lightweight yet sturdy, providing a great storage solution for small spaces." It also comes in three color options: Black, White, and Wood, meaning it can fit into any kitchen design.

More from Tom's Guide

• I finally tried the Ninja Swirl ice cream maker — here's what I love (and don't)
• Ninja's iconic Slushi machine just got a limited-edition summer upgrade
• Cuisinart's new ice cream maker fixes my least favorite thing about the Ninja Creami, and costs half as much

I test a lot of the best air fryers, and I like to think I have a close connection with the distinguished kitchen appliance. I know what to look for when I'm reviewing them: even cooking, straightforward cleaning, fast heating time, and reliability.

But even if an air fryer ticks all those boxes, there's still one major factor that is, arguably, the most important of all. Price.

If an air fryer performs all its cooking roles admirably, then it should be at least a 4-star product, right? Wrong. Value is one of the most important parts of product evaluation, and if something isn't good value, then I struggle to recommend it. The Kismile Roasti is one of those.

What is the Ninja Crispi?

The Ninja Crispi is a glass air fryer. It's the first of its kind: a completely transparent air frying bowl. Yes, you can watch every crevice of your chicken or fries or tater tots crisp up in real time.

As someone who's very guilty of sitting in front of the oven while watching baked goods rise (yes, I'm lame), this is like hitting the motherlode. You're telling me I can park up and watch my food cook like a hawk watches a mouse? Yes, please.

We gave the Ninja Crispi 4.5 stars in our review. Our Homes Editor Millie reviewed the product and wrote, "This gadget re-invents the traditional air fryers I've tested in the past, but can rival them all in terms of cooking quality and ease of use."

Millie even made a pasta bake in the Ninja Crispi. I've made pasta bakes and brownies in my Philips 2000 Series air fryer, but Millie made a pasta bake in the Ninja Crispi. As in, in the air fryer basket. No separate baking dish required.

This feature is so unique, and definitely one of the main reasons why I was desperate to test out the Kismile Roasti. When I first found about about it, I couldn't wait to get testing the Roasti. I had really, really high hopes.

As the Ninja Crispi is quite expensive — $179, eek — I was excited to get my hands on a more affordable alternative.

Unfortunately, the Kismile Roasti is not a more affordable alternative.

The Roasti is a pricing blunder

I suppose one could argue that the Kismile Roasti isn't a Ninja Crispi dupe — it's its own product, capable of being discussed without the big-name version rearing its ugly head.

In my opinion, however, that would be wrong. The Roasti is the Crispi. The two products are intimately bound, now and forever. Everything from the design, to the functions, to the controls, to the name is the same. Come on — Crispi/Roasti. It's the same product.

I feel like that Office meme with Pam saying "They're the same picture."

The picture above is the Roasti, not the Crispi, by the way. As I said — identical.

Now what you're all here for: the Roasti's fatal flaw. I spoke about this briefly above, but I'll go into detail now.

The Ninja Crispi is available for $179 on Amazon. The Kismile Roasti is available for $179 on Amazon.

No, that's not a typo. Both of these products have the same MSRP. I don't know about you, but to me, that's just baffling.

If I'm spending almost $200 on an air fryer — which is expensive already, by the way, my air fryer is $99 and works just as well if not better than the Crispi — then I'm going to put my faith in the bigger-name brand.

I don't think I'm alone in this, either. If there are two near-identical products at the exact same price, what would you do? Would you buy the big-name brand, safe in the knowledge that this brand has an established reputation for quality, or would you take the risk with the smaller-name product?

I would always go for the Ninja. Not because it performs better, but because Ninja has established itself as a high-quality manufacturer. Why would I risk it with something no one has ever heard of? In this economy, I simply don't have money to burn.

If Kismile had priced the the Roasti a bit lower — a max of $149, for example — then I would be more inclined to praise it. I would confidently say it's a cheaper version of the Crispi, perfect if you're on a tighter budget.

But, alas, that is not the case, and I cannot wholeheartedly recommend it as a fantastic Crispi dupe.

The Crispi is a better air fryer than the Roasti, so, as a result, I'd still recommend the big dog here.

Help! What do I do?

If you really want a glass air fryer, I think you have to go for the Ninja Crispi. Seeing as it's the same MSRP as the Kismile Roasti, it's a no brainer.

Even though it's discounted to $159 right now, the Ninja Crispi still doesn't come cheap. Those who know me in real life know that I'm really stingy, so I want to spend as little money as possible.

Unless you're dead set on getting a glass air fryer, I would always recommend the best-value product. In that case, my best-value air fryer is the near-perfect Philips 2000 Series, which is the air fryer I use at home. And the best part? It's got a window, so you can still sit and watch your food cook.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested Samsung's Bespoke AI 4-Door French Door refrigerator for 3 months — here's my honest verdict
• My mom cleaned my kitchen and it's never looked better — here's 3 tips she taught me
• IKEA’s holiday collection is probably the best I’ve seen so far — here's what I’ll be shopping for my home

Ninja dubbed its Crispi air fryer a "portable cooking system" when it was released last year. Released today, the Ninja Crispi Pro keeps the glass, modular appeal, but adds an XL cooking capacity that can cater to up to 10 people.

According to Ninja, the Crispi Pro can cook an entire eight-pound chicken, with vegetables, for 10 people. It's now got an XL eight-quart capacity, but still works with the 2.5 and four-quart containers included with the original, meaning it's able to expand on your existing modular setup. So while it loses the portability claim of its predecessor, it now offers an excellent meal prep setup for larger households.

But that's not all. The Crispi Pro also offers precise temperature controls, making it a serious contender against the best air fryers on the market. It retails for $279 at SharkNinja, which is $100 more than the original.

Here's what's new

The Crispi is one of the most interesting air fryers I've ever seen, but one of my biggest complaints about the original was its lack of precise temperature controls. Users can choose between Max Crisp, Bake, Air Fry and Recrisp settings, but there's no onboard indication of what temperature your food is cooking at.

The Crispi Pro addresses this, introducing two additional settings (Roast and Dehydrate) along with precision digital temperature control. Its display is also front-facing, with a real-time monitor of the cooking temperature that should give a bit of extra precision.

Instead of featuring a removable lid, the Crispi Pro appears to have an adjustable stand that lets you lift your glass container up to the heating element. This makes the whole thing feel a bit more permanent, giving your lid a permanent home on your countertops.

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja's Creami ice cream maker just got a limited-edition update
• Ninja Slushi review: Should you buy or skip it?
• Ninja just launched its first ever firepit — meet the Ninja Fireside360

Ninja changed the game when it released its Slushi frozen drink maker last year, and ahead of peak hosting season in 2025, the Slushi has had an upgrade. Ninja just released the Slushi Max frozen drink maker, which is designed to turn almost any drink into a frozen beverage faster and smarter than before. Its 150oz capacity can make up to 12 drinks in one go, which is five servings more than the original's 88oz capacity.

The original Slushi is so simple to use, with five one-touch settings that create everything from a milkshake to spiked slush. But Ninja has added an even easier way to get the perfect drink with no effort in its new Slushi Max. Now with SlushAssist Technology (yep, that's what it's called), this machine will customize its own settings depending on the volume and ingredients you're using.

There's some bad news, though. The Slushi Max is an eye-watering $499 at SharkNinja.com, which is more than I like to spend on, well, anything.

Here's what's new

The Slushi Max claims to solve two of the most common complaints I see people making about the original. Firstly, because it can brew colder than before, it can handle higher-alcohol drinks. That's a big win for hosting season. I've been overcoming this problem by putting the base of my frozen cocktail in the Slushi and simply topping it up with liquor, but this is a much easier way of getting the party started.

Secondly, because it can serve up to 12 people in a single round, the Slushi Max will ensure your guests aren't left wanting more. My Slushi struggled to keep up with demand when I had company this summer, so that's the sort of upgrade I was hoping to see from Ninja's latest version.

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja's Creami ice cream maker just got a limited-edition update
• Ninja Slushi review: Should you buy or skip it?
• Ninja just launched its first ever firepit — meet the Ninja Fireside360

Just when I thought the deals couldn't get any better during the mammoth Prime Big Deal Days sale, Ninja has proved me wrong.

Launched in Australia just over a week ago, the Ninja Luxe Café Premier has already garnered quite a bit of attention. After launching globally last year as the brand's first-ever espresso maker, the Luxe Café was an instant smash, selling out like many other viral Ninja sensations (e.g. the Ninja Swirl). As a fan of Ninja Kitchen appliances, I put this at the very top of my Amazon wishlist for October Prime Day, hoping it would be blessed with a mighty fine discount, and thankfully, my prayers have been answered.

Ninja graciously dropped the RRP from a staggering AU$999 to an easier-to-bite AU$799, but it hasn't stopped there. The brand has now doubled down on the discounts, bringing the machine to just AU$679 on Amazon. That's AU$120 off RRP!

The only catch? You'll need to be a Prime member to access the exclusively nice price. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to access all the best bargains and score fun perks like free same-day delivery.

You'll likely need to act fast to nab a Ninja Luxe Café, though, as this discounted rate will only be available until the end of Prime Week, on Monday, October 13.

Ninja is famous for making some of the best blenders on the market, but it's just released a new product that's unlike anything it's created before.

The BlendBoss is the first-ever tumbler blender, meaning you can blend, sip and go. It's as easy as that. With people prioritising wellness and self-care, it's the perfect product to make sure you can get everything you need whilst maintaining a busy, active lifestyle.

And not only is it a genius idea, but it comes in some pretty stunning colorways, also totally new to Ninja. So, you can drink your smoothie and look good doing it.

It's got everything it needs to become the next big viral hit on social media and must-have for trend-conscious shoppers. Because what's better than a trendy drinkware? Trendy drinkware that'll slot into your day-to-day life, no matter how hectic.

About the BlendBoss

If you ask me, it's about time Ninja introduced more splashes of color to its products. And while the Ninja Creami summer makeover was a great start, the BlendBoss design is so un-Ninja that it looks more like you married a Stanley cup to a blender base – and I love it.

Plus, the trendy colors have equally trendy names – Cyberspace, Blue Raspberry, Lavender Lemonade, and Watermelon Bubblegum. I almost feel like I could eat them, but my personal favorite has to be Watermelon Bubblegum because it reminds of one of my favorite drinks, a strawberry matcha.

Yes, I love my Ninja blender already, but pouring the mix into the single-serve cup is a lot of extra stress (and extra dishes). Having the option to detach the 26 oz. tumbler straight from the blender with a 100% leakproof design is genius. And the easy-carry handle makes it even easier to cart around with you.

Design aside, its packed with helpful features including a 1200-watt motor, three intelligent programs: Smoothie, Ice Crush, and Blend, and Auto iQ presets combining your pulsing, blending, and pausing patterns to do the work for you.

And for $139.99, it's a little more expensive than Ninja's other blenders like the portable Ninja Blast Max, but it's also so much more convenient, as well as having an eye-catching design that's unrivalled within its own products.

How does it compare?

But the Ninja BlendBoss isn't just competing with its own brand alternatives. When it comes to trendy blenders, there's some big competition.

Take the Beast Mighty 850 Plus blender as one shining five-star example. It's a compact blender that's also committed to getting you your smoothies on-the-go. And it also sports six different colorways including Terra, Sand and Mist. But, it'll cost you $149.

Or, there's the Nutribullet Pro 900W, an option we've called "the reigning champ of affordable blenders" coming in at just $109.99. For a slightly more affordable option, it's great. But, it doesn't support the same blender that's also a bottle design.

All things considered, the Ninja BlendBoss is a seriously competitive drinkware product boasting a super trendy design, as well as still possessing all the things we know and love about a Ninja blender – minus the additional cleanup.

We'll be putting it to the test in the weeks to come, so watch this space. We may have a viral sensation on our hands and a tasty one at that.

• This is the best blender in the world, and two trusty, cheaper alternatives
• I made smoothies, shakes and pancake batter in Ninja's most powerful portable blender — here's my verdict
• I threw out my Nutribullet blender after testing this Beast personal blender — here's why

What happens when the love of coffee and a fun novelty kitchen brand join forces? Meet the Ninja Luxe Café Premier coffee machine.

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier launched last year in global markets as the first-ever espresso machine created by the kitchen appliance maker. Much like other Ninja products (i.e. the Ninja Swirl), the Luxe Café was an instant hit, selling out quicker than you can chug a fresh cup o' joe.

Loved by both Ninja fans and professional reviewers, the viral machine has finally made its way Down Under — a.k.a the land of the coffee snobs. Launching today (September 23) at Ninja Kitchen direct, the espresso machine has a listed price of AU$999 and comes in four knockout colourways: Stainless Steel, Midnight Black, Cyberspace and Gunmetal.

You'll likely need to act fast to nab one, though, as we expect these espresso makers will fly off shelves.

If you’ve unboxed a new hair tool or countertop oven recently and found a chunky plug with Test and Reset buttons staring back at you, you’re not imagining it.

Over the past year, we’ve tested products like the Ninja Artisan pizza oven, the Dyson Airstrait, and the Dyson Supersonic, and several arrived with oversized plugs that asked us to “test” before they’d even switch on. It’s a small friction point, but readers keep asking: Why are brands doing this now, and should you avoid products with these giant plugs?

Short answer: It’s about safety and compliance, especially around water and high heat.

Longer answer: Different categories are converging on similar protective technologies, and the plugs have to house them.

I’ve pulled together what these devices do, why you’re seeing them more often, and the practical trade-offs to consider before you buy.

What that Test/Reset brick actually does

That “giant plug” is almost always an appliance-level safety device that cuts power if it detects a leakage current, exactly the kind of fault that can happen if a product gets wet, a cord is damaged, or a component fails.

You’ll see a few names for it:

• ALCI (Appliance Leakage Current Interrupter): Common on hair dryers and hair tools in the U.S.
• GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter): Often used for outdoor or damp-area appliances in the U.S.
• RCD/PRCD (Residual Current Device/Portable RCD): The UK/EU equivalent concept.

Functionally, they all do the same thing: constantly monitor the current flowing out and back. If the device senses an imbalance, say, current “leaking” through water, it trips and shuts off power in milliseconds. The electronics and relay that make this possible are why the plug is, well, big.

Leyland Clowsley, managing director at Apex Manufacturing, says: “Those oversized plugs you see on modern devices are doing more than taking up space; they are mini power management systems… often housing surge protection, voltage regulation, and even embedded transformers that previously sat inside the device itself.”

Note: Not every big plug is doing the same job. On hair tools and high-heat appliances, the “brick” typically provides ground-fault protection (ALCI/GFCI/RCD). On many low-voltage electronics (laptops, routers), the brick is an external power supply that steps wall AC down to safe DC and adds regulation and filtering.

“The plugs themselves tend to contain an entire power supply system… to accept 120V or 240V AC and step it down to a much lower and safer DC output,” explains Jacob Kalvo, founder & CEO at Live Proxie.

Why you’re seeing them more now

Mandated safety for hair tools near water

In the U.S., hair dryers and many hair tools have included ALCI protection since the early 1990s as part of safety standards. Newer devices, such as the Dyson Airstrait and Supersonic, are powerful, used in bathrooms, and sold across regions with varying building codes. Including the safety device in the plug helps brands meet or exceed requirements regardless of where you use them.

“Compliance with strict international safety standards also requires bigger plugs", says Lynden Singh, eCommerce director at Laptop Station. "That’s why we now see widespread adoption across brands.”

Verdict: Worth the bulk. For anything you’ll use near a sink, this is non-negotiable protection.

Countertop “outdoor-adjacent” cooking is booming

Appliances like pizza ovens and grills blend indoor convenience with outdoor-style heat and wattage. In the U.S., kitchens and outdoor areas are supposed to be on GFCI-protected circuits, but older homes and extension setups don’t always comply. Building ground-fault protection into the plug ensures protection even if your outlet isn’t up to modern code.

“As devices have gotten smaller and more powerful, the need for external plug‑based protection has increased" says Clay Hamilton, engineer and founder of Patriot Dirt. "Companies will take to larger plugs to decrease failure rates, comply with regulations, and relocate certain components from inside the casing.”

Verdict: A smart belt-and-braces approach for high-heat gear, especially if you’ll use it outside or in garages and patios.

One global product, many electrical realities

A single model may be sold into homes with different wiring ages and safety protections. By integrating intelligence into the plug, brands can standardise safety performance across markets, even when consumer unit or outlet protection varies.

“Two key factors prompted the shift,” Crosley told me. “First, thermal management. Moving these components outside the central unit helps prevent internal overheating. Second, standardisation and cost. It was cheaper and more modular to produce universal power bricks and offload the complexity from the product to the plug.”

Verdict: Sensible for consistency, and fewer region-specific parts help with manufacturing and recalls.

Self-test is becoming a standard practice

Some devices won’t power on until you press Test and then Reset. That’s not just brand theatrics, as it verifies the safety circuit is functioning before you use a high-heat or water-adjacent product. Manuals typically recommend repeating this monthly.

Verdict: Mildly annoying at first, but reassuring thereafter.

Legal and warranty realities

Adding appliance-level protection lowers risk for everyone. It can help prevent injuries and reduce the risk of costly recalls when products are used in non-ideal conditions (older outlets, damp spaces, extension cords).

As Singh puts it, “The increased scrutiny provided by social media has led companies to become more safety‑conscious today than ever before.”

Verdict: You may never notice it working, and that’s the point.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Safety anywhere: Protection travels with the appliance, not just the outlet.
• Fast fault detection: Trips in milliseconds if something’s wrong.
• Clear diagnostics: If the device won’t reset, you know not to use it and to contact support.

Cons:

• Bulk and blockage: They can hog neighbouring outlets on crowded strips.
• Weight and fit: The plug can feel heavy in loose or older sockets.
• Replacement complexity: If the safety plug fails, you can’t swap it for a basic one, as it’s part of the certified safety system.
• Smart plug conflicts: High-wattage devices and safety plugs often don’t play nicely with compact smart plugs, and many brands advise against using them anyway.

How to live with them (safely)

Do the test: Press Test, confirm the device powers off, then press Reset before first use and monthly thereafter. If it won’t reset, stop using it and contact the manufacturer.

Don’t defeat the safety: Avoid adapters that remove grounding or bypass the safety plug. That defeats the entire system.

Mind the outlet: If your plug blocks adjacent sockets, a short, heavy-duty, grounded “outlet saver” extension can help, provided it’s rated for the appliance’s wattage. Many manufacturers discourage extension cords entirely, so check your manual first.

Check your circuit: For U.S. readers, kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor outlets should be on GFCI-protected circuits. If yours aren’t, an electrician can update them, which is beneficial for every appliance you own, not just this one.

Not every giant plug is the same

Safety interrupters (ALCI/GFCI/RCD), common on hair tools and damp‑area appliances, monitor leakage current and cut power instantly during faults.

External power supplies (“power bricks”), common on laptops, routers, and some smart‑home gear, meanwhile, convert high‑voltage AC to low‑voltage DC and add regulation and surge suppression.

“Delicate electronics can’t tolerate variations, so these adapters incorporate filtering of electrical noise and voltage regulation,” says Kalvo.

Singh adds that today’s larger connectors “offer better power‑management systems” and “contain surge protection, voltage regulation to safeguard sensitive electronics against electric spikes”.

Why some bricks are big, and why some are shrinking

Efficiency and regulation: Global rules like U.S. DOE Level VI and the EU Eco‑design directive pushed adapters to waste less energy as heat, idle less, and convert more efficiently, one driver of bigger, more capable plugs, according to Kalvo.

Thermal and reliability: Shifting heat‑generating components out of slim devices improves longevity and reduces failure rates, notes Clowsley.

The GaN shift: “GaN transistors are far more efficient… you can now buy a GaN charger that’s smaller than a pack of cards and delivers 100W of power,” says Kalvo, evidence that newer materials are shrinking bricks again without sacrificing protection.

Is the giant plug worth the hassle?

For hair tools: Yes. The safety benefit outweighs the bulk, and in many regions it’s a requirement. If you’re buying something like the Dyson Airstrait or Supersonic, factor in the larger plug as part of the package.

For high-heat countertop ovens and grills: Also yes. Especially if you’ll use them outdoors or in older kitchens. The plug-level protection is a safety net you want.

For tight spaces or smart-home setups: Plan ahead. These plugs can block neighbouring outlets and may not be compatible with compact smart plugs. If automation is essential, consider manufacturer-approved solutions or appliances that feature built-in scheduling and controls.

Bottom line

Those oversized plugs with Test and Reset are here because our appliances are getting hotter, more powerful, and more portable, while our homes are a patchwork of old and new wiring. The electronics that can detect a dangerous fault in milliseconds need a bit of room, and that’s the brick you’re seeing.

As Singh puts it, “compliance with strict international safety standards” and a stronger safety culture are pushing brands to build more protection into the plug itself.

And as Kalvo notes, materials like GaN are already helping shrink some bricks again, without compromising safety or efficiency.

Yes, the bulk can be inconvenient. But the trade-off is meaningful: consistent, portable protection that works regardless of where you plug in. For most people, that’s a smart, safety-first evolution, worth the extra inch of plastic on the end of the cord.

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Ninja Kitchen is back at it again with a welcome upgrade to an already beloved and viral gadget.

The internet went wild when the Ninja Swirl launched in the U.S. in January and the U.K. in July, as eagle-eyed fans waited with bated breath for Ninja’s follow-up to the Creami. The soft-serve ice cream maker sold out in seconds, with thousands of customers waiting for restocks. Following the highly anticipated Ninja Slushi launch in February, it was only a matter of time before we secured the machine Down Under — and now, it's finally here.

Stocked at retailers like Ninja, Amazon, The Good Guys and JB Hi-Fi, the Swirl has officially debuted today (August 18), nationwide. You'll need to act fast to nab one, though, as we expect these fun dessert makers will fly off shelves.

As a Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances, I have my ear to the ground when it comes to the trending products in the NinjaKitchen community. The brand has thousands of fans and countless Facebook groups all sharing their top tips and tricks for how to get the most out of your gadgets, or bring your setup to another level.

And if it wasn't for my superfan status, I wouldn't have discovered this insulated cocktail tumbler that Ninja Slushi users are currently obsessing over.

The Reduce Saltini 16 oz Cocktail Tumbler is $24 at Amazon and comes in a huge range of vibrant colors. What makes it so popular is its insulated design, which will prevent freshly-made frozen margaritas or frappés from melting the second they hit your boring, non-insulated glasses. It's also got a "salt and sip" lid that's ideal for garnishing your drink. I'm going to need one in every color.

Slushi fans are obsessed

I've been seeing this cocktail cup everywhere, and after what felt like the hundredth rave review, I've decided I need one for myself.

It's ideal for the Ninja Slushi because it allows you to dispense directly into your cup, and your frosted drink will be insulated for hours without melting.

According to Amazon reviewers, they even float in water, meaning you can bring them to a poolside cocktail party. Reviewers also comment that these cups are great for keeping ice cream fresh, meaning they could be a good companion for the Ninja Creami or Swirl machine, too.

Best of all, they're infinitely reusable and dishwasher-safe. I think they'd be the ideal gift for people who've recently given into the Slushi hype.

The Ninja Slushi now comes in a range of four limited-edition summer shades, and if you were to pair your jazzy new machine with one of these cups, you'd be in for an explosion of kitchen color.

As someone who tests countless kitchen appliances, I for one am glad we're moving away from the gray and stainless steel colorways and toward something more fun. Why not make your kitchen feel like you're at a pool party every day?

More from Tom's Guide

• I finally tried the Ninja Swirl ice cream maker — here's what I love (and don't)
• Ninja's iconic Slushi machine just got a limited-edition summer upgrade
• Cuisinart's new ice cream maker fixes my least favorite thing about the Ninja Creami, and costs half as much

The internet went crazy when Ninja teased its soft-serve ice cream maker in January, and after impatiently waiting to try the Creami Swirl for myself, I don't know how I managed without it.

I've tried every iteration of Ninja's Creami line, from the very first model to the Deluxe, but I've only recently unlocked the full potential of this ice cream maker by taking store-bought protein shakes and making delicious high-protein, low-fat treats.

And what's better than a bowl of homemade ice cream? Ice cream in a cone. I took the Swirl for a spin ahead of my full review, and here's what I thought.

It's loud and hefty

The Swirl takes up some major counter-space. It's 15 inches wide, 10 inches deep and 17 inches tall, meaning it doesn't quite fit under my kitchen cabinets. It also weighs in at 20 pounds, making it quite the unit to lift on and off from your kitchen counters. Luckily, thanks to all my protein ice creams, I was well prepared for the task.

Included with the machine is two pint containers. These are exclusive to the swirl, and they come with a locking base that twists to act as a soft-serve dispenser once slotted into the left hand side of the machine.

The worst thing about the Swirl, or any Creami machine, is the 24-hour wait for your ice cream mix to freeze. I poured two vanilla protein shakes into my container (taking it right to the top of the Max Fill line) and returned to them after dinner the next day.

No re-spins needed

I used the 'Lite Soft Serve' setting to turn my low-fat mixture into a super smooth pint. I often have to re-spin my mixture after the first try because it comes out crumbly, but the ice cream came out ideal on the first try with the Swirl.

If you're wondering if this machine is as loud as its predecessors, the answer is a resounding "Yes". If anything, it's louder. I measured 84dB, and the setting took over four minutes, which is longer than my usual setting on the Creami Deluxe. That's probably because the machine needs to hit an extra-soft texture to make it suitable for soft-serve.

Hard to pour, easy to eat

To dispense, you simply pull down the lever on the side of the machine. Achieving a perfectly swirled soft-serve is actually incredibly hard. I was left with a random trail of ice cream snaking around my bowl, but if you do happen to spill, the machine comes with a drip tray to spare any sticky messes.

Flavor-wise, I had zero complaints with my soft-serve. It was ultra-smooth and creamy, and you'd have no idea you were eating a frozen protein shake instead of full-fat ice cream. It did start to melt fast though, so I had to race against the clock to finish my dessert.

My full review is still in the works, but if you're someone who loves dessert and still tries to hit a daily protein goal, the Swirl could be a game-changer.

More from Tom's Guide

• Ninja's iconic Slushi machine just got a limited-edition summer upgrade
• Cuisinart's new ice cream maker fixes my least favorite thing about the Ninja Creami, and costs half as much
• Ninja Slushi review: Should you buy or skip it?

Ninja is turning up the heat this summer. First, it released its ice cream parlor-inspired Ninja Creami colors, and now it's released a vibrant upgrade to its sellout Ninja Slushi drink machine.

The new limited-edition shades are called Frosé — a pastel pink, Margarita — an on-trend green, Blueberry Tea — a vibrant purple, and Orange Mango. And I can't decide which I love most.

If you've been holding out on buying the slushi, now is the ideal time to act. The lineup is now available for $369 at NinjaKitchen.com, but I expect it'll sell out fast.

Slushi obsession

The Slushi sold out immediately when it was released last year, and it's especially popular on social media. But while it's capable of making some mind-blowingly tasty drinks from scratch, it also takes up a serious wedge of counter-space.

So if it's going to take up a full-time residence in your kitchen, it may as well feature a design that you love to look at. Which is why I think this new summer collection is such a hit.

Each color is inspired by one of the countless flavors you can make in your Slushi machine, but I think my personal favorite is the pastel pink Frosé shade.

Ninja teased this shade on its socials earlier this week, and commenters were rushing to find out where and when they could buy the limited-edition shade from.

One viewer commented, "I want it in pink or I don’t want it at all", and another said "Wait a minute! It actually comes in pink?!'

If this hype is anything to go by, I don't think this summer collection will be available for long.

What other Ninja products would you like to see in fun new colors? I for one would love to see the brand's Luxe espresso machine in a fun shade.

More from Tom's Guide

• I've been crafting drinks in the Ninja Slushi for a month — here are my hot tips for the ultimate frozen drink
• Cuisinart's new ice cream maker fixes my least favorite thing about the Ninja Creami, and costs half as much
• Ninja Slushi review: Should you buy or skip it?

Ninja just dropped its limited edition summer collection, and it's oh so sweet.

Coffee cream, Strawberry, Orange Mango and Blueberry Mint. No, these aren't menu items from an upscale ice cream parlor, it's the names of Ninja's new limited-edition Creami colors.

Ninja has tapped into a colorful kitchen trend, recently releasing the viral Crispi air fryer in a range of fun colorways, and the Creami is next in line. Better yet, this limited-edition range is in stock for $219 when you shop directly at NinjaKitchen.

There's a catch, though. This limited-edition color upgrade is only available on Ninja's original-line 7-in-1 Creami, not the Deluxe or the Swirl.

You can buy all four colors, now live on Ninja's site. And as of August 8th, you can also pick up four limited-edition shades in the Ninja Slushi. But act fast, because I don't expect stock to last long!

A scoop of summer

The Ninja Creami comes with seven modes: Ice Cream, Lite, Sorbet, Gelato, Milkshake, Smoothie Bowl, and Mix-in. It also features 16-oz tubs, as opposed to the 24-oz tubs of the Creami Deluxe, which could be better for single-servings.

Because I'm a Ninja nerd (and I'm based in the U.K.) I spotted this limited-edition line a week ago, when it dropped for U.K. audiences. You can buy the line on Ninja's UK site right now, where it's also down £30 to £169.

But because I'm all over Ninja's site and socials, I also spotted a sign of more limited-edition colors to come...

And that's not all

At the time of initial writing, you could also buy the Ninja Slushi in limited-edition, drink-inspired colors in the U.K., and I speculated that this release could be imminent in the U.S., too.

And as it happens, I was right! The range is now available to buy on NinjaKitchen.com as a limited-edition summer collection.

The shades are called Frosé Pink, Margarita Tea Green, Blueberry Tea Magenta, and Strawberry Mango Orange, and first became available on August 8th.

More from Tom's Guide

• I've been crafting drinks in the Ninja Slushi for a month — here are my hot tips for the ultimate frozen drink
• Cuisinart's new ice cream maker fixes my least favorite thing about the Ninja Creami, and costs half as much
• Ninja Slushi review: Should you buy or skip it?

As a 90s baby, I was born too late for affordable housing, and too early for the eve of the air fryer. But now, as a Home Editor for Tom's Guide, I have my pick of appliances to test and use in my kitchen. So at least I can now crisp up french fries and chicken wings in minutes from the comfort of my cozy apartment.

Air-fried goodness is a far cry from the limp frozen food I'd nuke in the oven when I was a student, and significantly tastier than the slightly questionable microwave meals I used to turn to after a long night of studying, or more likely, partying. And if I were a student today, there's one appliance I'd be putting on my college wish-list: the Ninja Crispi.

The Crispi is one of the smartest kitchen innovations I've come across in the last 12 months. It's ideal for batch cooking, meal prepping, or single-serve meals. In other words, it's a dream for students. Here's why.

Why the Ninja Crispi is a student essential

1. It can be used anywhere

When Ninja first announced the Crispi, it claimed the air fryer was so compact you could even take it to the office to heat up your lunch.

While I've not thrown it in my rucksack quite yet, it is true that this air fryer can slot in some pretty neat spaces, and once you've plugged it in it simply sits on top of the glass containers to heat your food from above.

It comes with a 4-Qt and 6-cup glass container, each with its own clip-on lid for fridge storage, and you can buy add-ons if you want to do some serious meal prep with your new gadget.

So, while you should check the rules of your specific space, I'm pretty confident you could do everything from reheating last night's leftovers to roasting some chicken and vegetables for a hearty homemade meal in this air fryer, without even needing to leave your room.

2. It has settings for a range of uses

This varies based on region. I tested the Crispi in the U.K., where there's a setting for Roast, Recrisp, Keep Warm, and Air Fry. In the U.S., those modes are slightly different: Max Crisp, Bake, Air Fry, and Recrisp.

That means you can use this air fryer in the place of a microwave to reheat food, and it will also deliver the high-heat cooking required to create crispy french fries or chicken wings.

One thing that took some adjusting is that the air fryer doesn't show you the temperature, but there's a guide on this in the handbook. Temperatures start at 158°F / 70°F on the lowest setting and go up to 350°F or 180°C, although it does claim that it will give the results of a 400°F oven (possibly due to the small dimensions), which is broadly in line with most of the best air fryers.

You can't adjust the temperature, but you can adjust the time. There's a button to increase or decrease this, and a simple Start button that will get things going. Even for those who are a total beginner to cooking, this air fryer is newbie-proof.

3. It's ideal for solo cooking

The Crispi comes with a removable nonstick insert. I used this to add some veggies to the bottom of the glass container, topping with the insert, and then creating a second layer to cook some chicken.

There are so many versions of this meal that could work for single servings. Whether it's breakfast potatoes and bacon or some noodles topped with salmon, you can make infinite combinations of full solo dinners without needing to break out a frying pan or turn to a different cooking appliance to create a balanced meal.

And as someone who was famously bad at doing this dishes at college, I'd have been super grateful for the reduced mess you'll get with only cooking and eating from one container.

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Cuisinart just dropped a new ice cream maker which performs a lot like the Ninja Creami, and costs half as much.

The Fast Freeze, known as the Freeze Wand in the U.K., allows you to choose from five pre-set ice cream modes and then press down to churn your pre-frozen bases.

Think of it like an Aeropress, but for ice cream.

Best of all, at $119 / £99, this ice cream maker costs half as much as its Creami counterparts, and it's significantly more storage-friendly, too.

Get churning

The Fast Freeze comes with three reusable half-pint containers. For context, that's half the size of the containers you'll get with the Ninja Creami XL, meaning they're well-suited to single servings.

It also has five pre-set churning modes: ice cream, slushie, milkshake, sorbet, and mix-ins. Unlike the Creami, which does the churning hands-free, you'll need to press down on this ice cream maker's wand to break through your frozen base and create some ice cream. Some might not like idea of that, but for such an affordable option, I don't mind getting hands-on.

The gadget is also super storage-friendly. It looks to be about the size of an immersion blender, which is a lot kinder on your kitchen cabinets!

Not just a fad

I don't know if you've noticed, but it is hot right now, so it's no wonder that people are looking for ways to make tasty frozen treats from home.

Ninja's Creami ice cream maker changed the game when it first came out in 2021. Followed by the sell-out Swirl machine, which was released last year, it's clear that the homemade ice cream game is far from a fad.

As the proud owner of a Creami myself, there are two major downsides of these machines. The first is how much space they take up on a kitchen counter. As an appliance you might only use occasionally, it's not very storage-friendly. The second is that the containers are best-suited to making servings of two or more, so if you want to make a solo serving of ice cream, you might have to re-freeze after you've churned.

So I'm excited to see if the new Cuisinart Fast Freeze / Freeze Wand can rival my current go-to. I'll be testing in the weeks to come, so stay tuned for my full review.

More from Tom's Guide

• Just got the Ninja Creami? Follow these 3 tips for perfect results every time
• I was excited to try this viral Ninja Creami recipe, until Ninja warned users against it — here's why
• Ninja Creami do's and don'ts — try these tips for better ice cream

The Ninja Luxe Café shook up the coffee maker market when it launched in 2024, but Ninja catches on fast, and it's already released a new and improved version of its flagship espresso machine: the Ninja Luxe Café Pro.

The Pro may look similar, but there are some vital differences that you should consider before you make your purchase. For a start, it's $150 more expensive than the original model, which could offer pause for thought if you're hoping to spend less than $600 on a coffee maker.

For that extra $150, you'll get a savvy in-built tamping arm that will keep your brewing process mess-free, and there's also the addition of a hot water dispenser, which will satisfy Americano-lovers.

We tested (and loved) both in our Ninja Luxe Café review and the Ninja Luxe Café Pro review, but the right one for you will depend on your coffee preferences and your budget. Here's what happened when we pitted two of the best espresso machines head-to-head.

Ninja Luxe Café vs Ninja Luxe Café Pro: Specs compared

What's the difference?

There are some subtle design differences here, but they're barely visible. Here are the main differences you should know about before you buy.

Size

For a start, the Pro is marginally larger and heavier than the original Ninja Luxe Café. But unless you're working with a very specific space, I don't think that will be a deciding factor for you.

Grinding

Tamping arm

The most significant difference here is probably in the tamping arm. This will make a massive difference to your workflow. The original machine included assisted taming in the form of a screw-on funnel to make sure you don't spill grounds on your counters, and a hidden compartment to store your tamper when not in use.

With the Ninja Luxe Café Pro, there's no need to even take your portafilter out. Simply press the arm down and it will evenly compress your puck for a perfect extraction.

Because the grinder is weight-based, you won't ever need to trim your grounds or top up your filter with either machine, but it's still a great convenience factor that makes a huge difference to the user experience.

To be honest, I was surprised Ninja didn't include a tamping arm in the original machine.

Brewing

A new single filter

The original Ninja Luxe Café made the rogue choice of including a double and quad basket, but no single filter. That's pretty odd for an espresso machine, even if, I confess, I never brew a single shot for my morning drink.

If you're watching your caffiene intake, the Ninja Luxe Café Pro could be better for you. It includes a single filter, allowing you to make shorter drinks.

Bonus brewing settings

The original Ninja Luxe Café can make espresso, drip coffee, and cold brew. With the Ninja Luxe Café Pro, you can also make use of a hot water dispenser and added hot water button. This will allow you to make tea or matcha, and top up espresso to make Americanos.

The dispenser sits right next to the group head, meaning it tops up your coffee automatically after brewing certain drinks, which I particularly enjoyed.

The Pro will also make ristretto and lungo, which in essence is a different pre-set ratio of water to coffee. A ristretto is a short, strong shot, and a lungo is a longer and more watered-down coffee.

Milk steaming

Milk jug

Another design difference to consider is the increased milk jug capacity you'll get with the Pro.

The original Ninja Luxe Café comes with an 8-oz jug, whereas the Pro's jug is 12.5-oz. This allows you to make milk for two drinks at once. But be warned, it's seriously huge, and makes hand-steaming a little fiddly.

Steaming wand

The steam wand with the Ninja Luxe Café Pro is thicker than the original machine. It doesn't make too much of a difference in use, but the thicker wand stays marginally cooler after use.

Bonus milk settings

The Ninja Luxe Café Pro has an added milk setting for "extra-stiff" foam. Think the sort of rigid, dry milk you'd get on a hot cappuccino, and it's that sort of texture.

This is more of a nice-to-have than a must-have, because the original has a cappuccino setting that's perfectly capable of creating stiff foam.

Winner: Ninja Luxe Café Pro

Ninja Luxe Café vs Ninja Luxe Café Pro: Price & availability

Probably the most significant factor separating the Ninja Luxe Café Pro and the original model is that all-important price tag. And it looks like Ninja has bumped up the price of the Pro since it first launched at $699 in May.

Right now, the Pro is retailing for $750 at NinjaKitchen, which makes the latest release a whole lot more expensive than the original Ninja Luxe Café, which retails for $599. Does it offer an extra $150 worth of features? In my opinion, no.

It's a really bizarre price increase, because it takes what was a competitively-priced machine, adds a few useful features, and thrusts it straight into the premium coffee maker market.

It's not that the Ninja Luxe Café Pro can't compete with the likes of $750 Breville or De'Longhi machines, but at $599, the Ninja Luxe Café offered much better value for money.

Winner: Ninja Luxe Café

Ninja Luxe Café vs Ninja Luxe Café Pro: Verdict

Pound for pound, the Pro is a better machine than its predecessor. Its tamping arm is a game-changer for your brewing experience, and the addition of a single basket, ristretto and lungo settings, and a hot water dispenser makes it notably more capable.

But is it worth the extra money? That's for you to decide. If you're someone who bought the original and is considering upgrading, I highly doubt you'll find the added functions of the Pro worth the $750 price, but for an extra $150, it's worth considering how much you'd use the hot water dispenser, XL milk jug, or single basket. Aside from the tamping mechanism, these machines are built very similarly, so you'll be able to get a great coffee from both.

If you want the best machine: You should buy the Ninja Luxe Café Pro. It's the better machine for features, design, and user experience.

If you want the best value: The Ninja Luxe Café isn't as capable as the Pro, but at $150 less, it might be a more realistic option for you. It still makes fantastic drinks, but you won't get the same variety thanks to the omission of a hot water dispenser and single basket. But that could be a trade-off you're willing to make, especially if there's a good deal available on the older model.

More from Tom's Guide

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• I'm in caffeine overload after pitting OXO's Rapid Brewer vs AeroPress — here's what happened
• I'm an ex barista and I tested a $150 De'Longhi espresso machine and a $500 Breville — here's what I learned

Not only is the Ninja Creami on sale for just $169, it's also a Walmart exclusive version. Yes, this exact Creami is only available at Walmart, so you can't get this deal anywhere else. The only difference? The Walmart version doesn't have a "smoothie bowl" setting (but you're also saving $, as the Amazon version is $229).

The Ninja Creami comes with 2 pint containers so you can prepare servings in advance. What's more, is the Creami works with milk, non-dairy milk, and even fruit juice to make sorbets. You can add whatever ingredients you want — so in theory you could make Oreo-soymilk-chocolate protein ice cream. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

In our 4-star review of the Ninja Creami, we loved how it made ice cream regardless of dietary restrictions. Vegans, those with lactose intolerance, or simply those who would rather skip the cow won't miss out on summer treats.

As I mentioned earlier, the Ninja Creami comes with two pint containers so you'll be able to prep desserts ahead of time. Also, you can buy extra containers for $24 on Walmart.

My mouth is watering just thinking about all the treats I want to make in the Creami. Pineapple sorbet, key lime cheesecake ice cream... heck, even super-healthy soymilk protein froyo.

Because the Ninja Creami can make loads of different types of dessert, anyone will be catered for, regardless of dietary restrictions. Ninja designed the Creami to suit a variety of diets: Keto, vegan, even fruitarians!

In his review, our reviewer Hunter mentioned how easy the Creami was to use. While you have to pre-freeze your base for 24 hours, the Creami streamlined the usually laborious process of making homemade ice cream. He loved the Mix-in function and "felt like [he was] working at Dairy Queen".

But where the Creami really excelled was making ice cream with powders, like protein powder or flavoring powder (think instant coffee, matcha, or chai latte powder). The Creami mixed all these inclusions in without resulting in a chalky or bitty texture, which is where other blenders and ice cream makers fall short. There are loads of no-prep recipes out there, too.

So if you're gearing up for summer and you want to make the most of the heat, now is the perfect time to indulge in a little treat-yo-self with the $169 Ninja Creami. If you get the Creami, make sure to read our do's and don'ts of making perfect ice cream in the Ninja Creami. Be mindful to follow Ninja's advice on what you shouldn't ice cream-ify, too!

If you've been shopping for the best kitchen appliances, chances are you've heard of Ninja Kitchen. From practical kitchen necessities, like blenders and air fryers, to novelty appliances, like the infamous Creami, Ninja has it all.

I'll be honest here and say that I'm a bit of a fan when it comes to Ninja Kitchen products. From owning a Ninja bullet blender a decade ago to nabbing the Ninja Creami during the previous Amazon Prime Day, I am easily intrigued by the brand and its kitchen gizmos.

The one appliance that actually caught my eye many years ago, and that I am now the proud owner of, is the Ninja Slushi. Dubbed "the professional frozen drink maker", this slushy machine racked up a 50k waitlist before releasing in Australia in February this year, and proceeded to sell out within minutes. Globally, the Slushi was a hit too, becoming a viral product seen in social media videos.

Right now, for the EOFY sales, the Ninja Slushi has dropped to a new low, just months after its release. Now down to just AU$399 on Amazon, you'll save a massive 33% off the coveted machine — and nab it with plenty of time to prepare your finest frozen cocktail recipes for hotter months to reappear.

You'll need to act fast if I were you — stocks are strictly available while supplies last.

I was able to get my hands on the Ninja Slushi when it became available in Australia earlier this year. Without a doubt, I had plenty of fun testing and churning concoctions in the vessel.

The machine has different temperature and texture controls that churn beverages in up to 60 minutes at max capacity, with five preset settings — Slush, Spiked Slush, Frappé, Milkshake, and Frozen Juice.

Hands down, my favourite recipe I've made in my time with the Ninja Slushi would be a frozen Pina Colada. The slush wasn't too icy and was perfectly delicious on a warm day. As with my testing, I found that every recipe I tried called for a different level of customisation.

What I mean by this is that the presets on the device need to be adjusted per recipe. While most frozen drink mixes will slush properly with the preferred preset, some beverages may need temperature settings to be a little higher for the drink to slushify completely or in the case of too much iciness, it will need to freeze less. If you're happy to play around with the Slushi (like I did) and find the best temperature, you'll be whipping up the perfect frozen bevvy every time.

After some trial and error that comes with having a new kitchen appliance, if you're a frozen drink aficionado, you're sure to get a kick out of this slushy machine.

Wednesday June 18th is International picnic day. So legally, you are obligated to get out in the sun and enjoy a sandwich and a few cold drinks with your friends and family.

To do that you’ll need one of the best coolers to make sure your food and drinks stay crisp and fresh. Lucky for you I have tested the best one: the Ninja FrostVault.

This thing is so impressive, and looks so sleek that when I was testing it outside, someone came up to me and asked to take pictures of it for reference.

During my testing process, it kept ice frozen for five whole days, and actually kept everything cool for eight days. Honestly, it could have done nine days but we had finished all of the drinks stored there by then.

Load up on ice

The first thing I did was pack the cooler full to the brim with ice. I just used bags of ice cubes from the grocery store but you could use reusable ice packs if you have them. But one of the perks of using bags from the grocery store is that you’ll already have ice for your drinks.

By adding ice around the edges of the box, the insulated walls will cool faster and keep everything cooler for longer.

Pre-chilling

Like I said, this cooler is capable of keeping your cans cool for up to eight days, but you can prolong this even further. You have two options here, chilling the cooler itself or the food you’re putting in… but I recommend doing both for the best results.

You can pack the cooler with ice first until the insulated walls are cold to the touch. With the Ninja FrostVault cooler this will also chill the drawer at the bottom which you don’t need to put ice in. This drawer stays dry but still conducts the cold through the insulated walls.

I also recommend pre-chilling whatever you’re putting in the cooler if you have time, but if you don’t it’s still not that big of an issue since the cooler works so fast anyway. I put the cans I was adding to the cooler in the fridge until they were cool, which meant that they didn’t add any heat to the cooler and the air that was in there stayed cool as it circulated.

Open the lid as little as possible

This probably seems obvious, but opening the lid will let the cool air out and the warm air in. This one takes a little team work with whoever you’re with. Just ask them if they need anything out of the cooler to save everyone opening it multiple times.

Also, putting things back in the cooler as long as they are still pretty cold after using them to keep it full will keep the temperature down.

Jam packed

You’ll be glad to hear that the best way to keep your food and drink cool is by taking as much of it as possible. Yep that’s right, by cramming the cooler to the brim with food or cans of soda you eliminate any air which circulates and slowly, but inevitably, warms up the contents.

So in short, take as much food as possible, cool it before popping in into the cooler, and most importantly enjoy the picnic!

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If you've been on the internet for the past year, you've probably heard of 'Ultra Processed People' by Chris van Tulleken ($9-$18 on Amazon). Now I'm not going to claim I'm a dietician or a scientist (because I'm not — I'm just a humble journalist), so you can do your own research about the concept of ultra-processed food. This is just my personal experience, not a peer-reviewed study.

However, this book did get me thinking: should I really be eating so much stuff with ingredients I can't pronounce? I decided, no, not really, and embarked on a mission to shift my eating habits.

Thanks to my job as a reviews writer, I get my hands on a lot of kitchen tech. I've tested loads of the best Instant Pots, best air fryers, best stand mixers, and more.

I've been able to narrow down the selection of appliances to just three of the best. I genuinely use these three appliances to cook 99.9% of my meals, and here's why you should too.

My Instant Pot helps me meal prep

I have the Instant Pot Pro (2025), but if you're in the U.S., I'd recommend the Instant Pot Pro Plus. These machines work pretty much identically.

What makes the Instant Pot so good is its capacity. It boasts a massive 5-quart capacity, allowing me to prepare up to 10 servings of various healthy meals easily. I've made chili, bolognese sauce, veggie-loaded curries, and meal-prepped about 15 servings of rice in this beast.

When I prep the week's meals ahead of time, I'm not tempted to go to the grocery store and buy a ready meal or order takeout.

The best part of the Instant Pot is that it's a press-play-and-leave-it-alone sort of machine. All I have to do is fill it up with my ingredients, set the time, and I can do something else for that time. I don't have to sweat over the stove stirring sauce.

The Instant Pot means I've always got meals in the freezer, so I know I've got a healthy dinner even after a busy, stressful day. 10/10 would recommend.

My air fryer helps me indulge

I'm human, which means I crave food like fries and burgers on the regular. While there's nothing wrong with eating the food your body wants, I'm trying to stay away from fast food. This means that if I want fries, I have to do it myself.

Thanks to my air fryer, though, this is never easier. I have the Philips 2000 Series Air Fryer (complete with a window, so I can always check on my food), but my parents have the Ninja Foodi DualZone and can't stop telling me about how good it is, so I'd recommend that one too.

Because air fryers are mini, quicker ovens, I can make fries from scratch in about 20 minutes in my 2000 Series. I also make homemade cakes in my air fryer, and it means I don't have to turn the whole oven on for a single-serve dessert.

I love this one because of the window. Yes, I know it's lame, but I love watching my food cook. I'm boring — I know.

My KitchenAid stand mixer helps me cut out grocery store bread

The consensus online is that bread is one of the most highly processed foods available. As a result, I wanted to start making my own. About five months ago, after getting my hands on a sourdough starter, I embarked on my sourdough journey.

Sourdough is fermented, so it's generally better for the gut, and it also tastes delicious. I'm not going to share a picture of my sourdough because I am utterly pathetic at scoring my dough, but I'll tell you about how my KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer has helped me cut out shop-bought bread.

Using the dough hook attachment, I mix my flour, water, starter, and salt. Then, during the bulk fermentation stage (when the dough rises and becomes bubbly), I use the dough hook on speed 1 to mix the dough every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours.

I proof the dough in the KitchenAid bowl, too, so I don't need to transfer to another bowl and do more washing up. After the bulk fermentation, I transfer it to my Dutch oven for the final proof and shaping.

While I know I could mix the dough by hand, the stand mixer helps me develop the gluten and saves my arm muscles while it kneads. I adore my stand mixer, and can't believe I lived so long without one!

More from Tom's Guide

• KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer review: The only mixer you'll ever need
• Instant Pot Pro Plus review: I cooked dinner from my bed with this Wi-Fi-enabled pressure cooker
• Philips 2000 Series Air Fryer review: I’m only using this type of air fryer from now on

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier rocked the coffee game when it dropped last year, but amid its myriad smart touches, there was one feature that I thought it lacked — a tamping arm. Enter: the Ninja Luxe Café Pro.

Tamping arms are a huge mess-saver for modern espresso machines. You can find them in the likes of Breville and De’Longhi flagship models, and Ninja has caught on fast. Not only do they prevent messy countertops, but tamping arms also have the added benefit of measuring the height of your puck to check for grind volumes, and evenly tamping to prevent channeling.

What else is new in this upgraded model? Well, there’s a hot water dispenser, something that was sorely lacking in the OG for Americano-lovers such as myself. And its milk steaming jug is significantly larger, allowing you to brew for two.

I’ve spent a week with Ninja’s latest flagship coffee maker, and here’s why the Ninja Luxe Café Pro has won me over.

Specs

Price and availability

The Ninja Luxe Café Pro retails for $749 / £699, heralding Ninja’s arrival in the luxury coffee machine market. For context, that’s $150 / £150 more than the original Ninja Luxe Café Pro, and comparable to the likes of De’Longhi’s excellent new La Specialista Touch or Breville’s Barista Express Impress.

Design

Visually, the Ninja Luxe Café Pro isn’t my favorite. And I’m not ashamed to say that looks matter to me in a coffee maker - if you’re asking me to display something on my kitchen counters, I’d like to enjoy looking at it.

In a word, I find it a little boxy. But it’s in keeping with Ninja’s branding: all singing, all dancing, but utilitarian. Not an inch of stainless steel is wasted, with a comprehensive drink menu and informative display panel. There’s also a container on the side of your machine for the filters you’re not using, which is a nice touch.

If I’m being picky, which I think is warranted for $749, I wish the water tank and waste water container were larger. I found myself refilling a lot more than I would with my usual Breville Barista Touch Impress, and I also had to empty the drip tray at least once a day.

This might be because Ninja has added a separate, removable drip tray to sit underneath the group head, which loses about a third of the capacity I get in the Breville.

This is a nice idea, because it allows you to put travel coffee cups (or the world’s tallest mug) directly underneath your group head, which is something I usually can’t do when I take my own coffee into the office.

Like I said, I’m a coffee snob, and the machines in the office don’t always cut it. But if I could trade, I’d probably take the extra waste water space over the removable group head drip tray for the convenience of fewer trips to the sink.

Performance

Grinder

The key to a good coffee is a good grinder, but good grinders can be seriously expensive, so if I were placing bets, this is where I’d have expected the Ninja Luxe Café Pro to let me down. But actually, the grinder is pretty clever.

The grinder has 25 settings, which is about on par with the range you’lll find in similarly-priced machines from Breville and De’Longhi.

This machine uses a somewhat unique weight-based grinding system, meaning your machine never under- or over-grinds, and your puck will always be perfectly level. And I found this weight-based system to be shockingly accurate.

Another cool feature that I’ve never seen before is the fact that the machine automatically detects when you change filter baskets. I’m not even sure how it does that, but it never failed in the pretty frequent switches I was making between the luxe basket and the double filter.

A final feature that caught my attention is that the machine automatically purges a little coffee when you change your grind size. That’s pretty smart, because there’s usually some retention in domestic bean-to-cup machines, meaning when you change grind size, you’ll end up with a little of the leftover grounds from the original size, topped up with your new setting. That can make it tricky to find the perfect grind size when you’re dialling in.

Then, there’s the tamping arm. In the Breville Impress range, this arm will indicate if you’ve ground too much (or too little) coffee and suggest either trimming the top of your puck, or grinding a little extra to hit the perfect level. Ninja adds a token green light to let you know the machine is happy with the volume of grounds in your puck, but because it works on a weight-based system, it should in theory be perfect every time.

Espresso

The machine will suggest changing your grind size depending on the extraction time of your coffee. Too long, and your grounds may be too fine, therefore not allowing enough water through and resulting in a bitter brew. Too short, and the grounds are too large, not creating enough pressure and therefore leading to a weak and under-extracted espresso.

The Ninja Luxe Café Pro suggested I start at grind size 18, and it was happy with the first espresso I brewed. I do wish the machine had a timer (my Breville does) to show how long the extraction takes, but regardless of whether Ninja was happy, I wasn’t.

I found the flavor to be a little lacking, and my shot was a little too speedy as it gushed into my espresso cup. After testing countless coffee makers, I know when a shot isn’t pulling quite right. So I overrode the machine and changed the grind size to 15, which resulted in a very tasty shot.

I was using Lost Sheep’s Brazil roast, and the Ninja Luxe Café Pro brought out the deep fruity notes very well. My perfected shot flowed in creamy ropes, and took around 33 seconds. The machine suggested we meet in the middle at 16, which I (again) ignored.

So is its grind suggestion perfect? No, but you can just ignore it, and it’s also led me astray in my much more premium Breville Barista Touch Impress. And for more entry-level users, it’s better to have some guidance than be left to figure out this complicated espresso business solo.

Long coffee

My university nightclub used to sell ‘Quaddies’: 4 shots in one glass for a cost-effective and efficient way of getting the party going. Well, for obvious reasons, the university banned those, and I thought my quaddie days were behind me. Thanks to Ninja, I can now enjoy a different type of quad-shot in the form of its Luxe basket.

I approached the Luxe basket with extreme scepticism. The Luxe basket is the reason the Ninja’s portafilter looks a bit ridiculous: it needs to fit single and double baskets, but also a giant, deep filter that would easily double my daily coffee bean consumption. In this economy?

But before I come down too hard on this unorthodox addition, I should admit that I’ve increasingly been turning to it for my morning coffee. I love an Americano, and combined with the new hot water dispenser, the Americano you can make with this XL basket tastes like straight-up, delicious jet fuel.

It’s really good stuff, giving me a strong but tasty buzz and topping off my mug with an attractive, thin layer of crema. I won’t give up my drip coffee quite yet, but if you’re looking for a machine that can brew longer coffee as well as short shots of espresso, the Ninja could be tempting.

Steaming milk

Like its Luxe basket, the milk jug Ninja developed for the Ninja Luxe Café Pro is also comically large. It comes with a whisk at the bottom, which can texturize hot and cold milk, and the option of four different froth levels if you choose to steam automatically.

You still can steam manually, but I would suggest buying your own, smaller jug to do this. I struggled to steam by hand in the giant milk jug.

I have no notes for the automatic milk steaming. The jug even comes with markings for different volumes to allow you to follow the coffee recipes printed on the side of the machine. I first made a cappuccino following these recipes, and my mountains of steamed milk came out glossy and dry, as you’d aim for when hand-steaming.

Next, the latte. I was surprised and a bit wowed by how evenly this milk was textured, with a soft and shiny microfoam that was definitely latte art-worthy. To be mega picky, I’d have had to decant the jug into a more suitable vessel to then pour something impressive, but that's something they teach you at barista school, so seasoned home baristas shouldn't mind too much.

Iced coffee

As soon as the weather picks up, I switch out my coffee cups for iced latte tumblers. But I’ve never tried a machine that can make cold foam before, and it was love at first brew. First, I brewed a double shot of ‘cold brew’ which, like every cold brew setting I’ve tried from similarly-priced machines, doesn’t quite rival the real 24-hour-steeped stuff but is a pretty good imitation.

Extraction took about 3 minutes, and the machine pulsed water to pre-infuse and slowly pull a room-temperature shot. The flavor was mellow and fruity, and it definitely hit the spot on a hot day.

I then toppped with some milk I steamed using the cold foam setting, and it instantly elevated my summer staple. The thick layer of foam slowly melted into the cold brew, and while it faded relatively first (which is to be expected of any milk that’s whisked instead of steamed) it looked lovely and tasted great.

How does it compare?

The most obvious machine to compare the Ninja Luxe Café Pro to is its predecessor, the Ninja Luxe Café Premier. And while it offers a few things the original doesn’t, I do wonder if this is worth $150 more to every customer. Not because this machine isn't worth $750 machine, but because its initial offering was outstanding value.

The price immediately lifts the Pro out of the realm of entry-level bean-to-cup machines like the Breville Barista Express, where it’s playing in a league of its own. At $749, we’re vying with the big boys.

If, like me, you’re not charmed by the aesthetics, the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch is a very worthy alternative to the Ninja Luxe Café Pro. It’s compact, packed with smart features, and offers a much more interactive experience than the Ninja. In the UK (where I’m based) it’s a tantalizing $699, but it’s $300 more than the Ninja Luxe Café Pro in the U.S., where it retails for $999.

Should you buy the Ninja Luxe Café Pro?

There are people who won't enjoy this machine, but they're in a niche minority. It lacks the finessed finish of more established coffee brands, and breaks with some well-established conventions in favor of accessibility.

For one, the whisk at the bottom of the milk jug, while great for making cold foam, probably won't impress coffee enthusiasts who appreciate the art of hand-steaming. And while the luxe basket turned out to be a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, some will question whether you can get a good espresso out of a quad basket, and resent the unusually large portafilter that comes with it.

As for me? As a seasoned espresso snob, I didn't expect to enjoy this machine as much as I did. Ninja has put a lot of thought into every element of this machine, from the automatic purging when you change grind size to the storage space for your spare baskets. And the inclusion of a tamping arm is a smart one, allowing you to still feel like you've crafted your coffee, but with less mess and more precision.

The Ninja Luxe Café Pro offers the perfect balance between ease of use and manual features to create a uniquely accessible machine that almost everyone will love.

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• Breville just re-invented its iconic drip coffee maker — meet the Luxe Brewer
• I spent a month testing the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch, and it's an instant classic

When I think of Ninja, my mind immediately jumps to their infamous air fryers. But it turns out they make some of the best coolers, too.

The Ninja FrostVault Cooler has blown me away, keeping my drinks freezing cold for eight whole days and still having ice in the box after five. The FrostVault also cools incredibly quickly, and is easy to maintain after any camping trip or day out.

This coolbox is on the expensive side, but the performance speaks for itself. You will need to get someone to give you a hand when the box is full, as it gets pretty heavy, but it’s a good way to get a quick workout in.

You can find out more about my experience in this full Ninja FrostVault Cooler review.

Ninja FrostVault review: Specs

Ninja FrostVault Cooler review: Price & availability

The Ninja FrostVault Cooler is available for purchase from Amazon U.S. for $299 with six colors to choose from: Beige, White, Blue, Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Merlot. From Amazon U.K., the cooler is priced at £279 with color choices of Grey, Olive, and White.

The FrostVault is available in three different capacities. I tested the 45QT model but there is a smaller 30QT box and a larger 65QT cooler. The cooler also comes with a 5 year guarantee from Ninja.

There are cheaper options, like the Coleman Steel-Belted Cooler which is 54QT and $100 cheaper at $199, but the Ninja is the most impressive coolbox I’ve come across, so it’s worth the spend.

Ninja FrostVault review: Design & portability

The Ninja FrostVault Cooler is pretty big, making it adequately spacious. The insulated walls of the box are 3 inches thick, so the box does look bulky, butit works incredibly well. I was able to fit four bags of ice and 10 Coca-Cola cans and still had loads of room left in the top section of the box.

I found the box to be pretty heavy when it had the ice and canned drinks inside, but that’s not to say it was hard to maneuver. I needed a hand to carry the box down a few steps, but everywhere else I was able to use the handle and wheels to move the cooler on my own.

The box has two “all-terrain” wheels. They protrude slightly and are pretty garish, but their functionality makes up for their looks, and make the box stable when moving, although the sort of off-roading Ninja does with this box in the advertising seems a little far fetched — it is still a heavy box with wheels. Ninja says the wheels are “puncture proof” — they’re made of hard plastic so there’s nothing to puncture.

The handles to wheel the box have grips on them, which I found useful since, like I said, the box gets pretty heavy. The arm of the handle also folds neatly into the side of the cooler box, so it saves space when transporting in the car, or for storage.

At the bottom of the main box is the dry storage drawer. This still gets super cold but isn’t in direct contact with any of the ice, so is great for storing anything that can’t get wet.

There is a latch on the front of the box that secures the lid down. There is also a locking mechanism that keeps the dry drawer closed when moving the box. There is a drain at the bottom of the box to easily empty the water once everything has melted.

Ninja FrostVault review: Performance

The Ninja FrostVault’s cooling performance is nothing short of astounding. To test out the box, I filled it with cans of Coca-Cola and added four bags of ice. The ice took up a lot of space but there was still plenty of room for cans.

I checked after 3 hours and the insulated walls of the cooler were freezing cold. Also, the dry tray at the bottom of the cooler was just as cold as the main box, so the insulation works well to transfer the cold between the two sections.

Having the two sections in the box was very useful as I was able to keep drinks at the top and food in the bottom drawer. Ninja advertises the two sections as a way to reduce cross-contamination, which is extremely useful if you’re storing raw meat alongside other foods/drinks for a barbecue.

The drinks in the box were still icy cold and at perfect drinking temperature after 8 days of testing. I checked the ice in the box periodically before this, and on day 5 there were still chunks of ice in the cooler. These had melted by day 6, but ice still being present after 5 days is impressive.

Obviously if you are opening the box more often and are in a hotter climate the cooler won’t perform as well, but you can be assured that if you are going camping for two or three days, your food and drink is in good hands.

Although Ninja makes no specific claims on how long the cooler stays cold for, it definitely blows other coolers Tom’s Guide has tested out of the water. The Coleman Classic Cooler claims to stay cool for up to 5 days, but while it was still chilled at day 2, by day 4, everything was melted the cold drinks were just a few degrees below room temperature. The Ninja is far more reliable.

Ninja FrostVault review: Maintenance

Keeping the Ninja FrostVault Cooler in the best condition is super simple. After use, I drained the water out of the cooler by unscrewing the cap on the side.

Once it is emptied, the inside can be washed with a cloth and warm, soapy water. It then needs to be rinsed and left to air dry completely before closing it. The dry drawer also comes out of the cooler box to be cleaned independently.

I would describe the cooler as rugged. It wouldn’t look out of place in the woodland somewhere and the hard plastic means that if it was thrown around in the back of your truck, it would hold up just fine. The wheels won’t require anything more than a wipe down easier as they are hard plastic so won’t puncture.

Ninja FrostVault review: Verdict

If you need a reliable, freezing cold cooler, then look no further. Its 45QT capacity means it can fit enough food and drink to keep you going for a whole weekend. The dry drawer is also ideal for keeping items separate and ensuring food hygiene.

It is easy to clean and maintain, and while it can be difficult to move up and down steps when full, its wheels make it easy to cart around flatter ground.

Sure, the price tag is high, but the performance really does speak for itself. Keeping ice solid for 5 days is no mean feat, and canned drinks staying chilly for 8 whole days will make festival season even better.

Summer is almost here and the ideal time to upgrade your best cooler for your outdoor gatherings, road trips, or spending all day at the beach.

But when you're on the move, a backpack is the obvious choice to free up your hands for adventuring. If that sounds like you, Ninja's new FrostVault Go Backpack Soft Cooler for $199 could be the solution.

Rather than hauling a heavy cooler around, this innovative backpack cooler allows you to carry your cold beverages and essential items with ease, so that you're completely hands-free.

What's more, it comes with a Cold Dry Zone, that keeps foods separate and dry at a safe temperature, and premium ice retention. Which is perfect for keeping all your refreshing items chilled all day long.

Meet the Ninja FrostVault Go

One thing that makes the Ninja FrostVault Go Backpack Soft Cooler stand out is its stylish, ergonomic design.

Designed with comfort in mind, it has a padded back panel and soft straps for ease of use, premium insulation inside and even has a built-in bottle opener and mesh storage pockets. Plus, it comes in four trendy colors: Birch Beige, Canyon Red, Lakeshore Blue and Charcoal Grey.

What's more, its ChillSeal Lid ensures all your cold beverages and ice are kept chilled for up to 24 hours (even with the lid unzipped), and it comes with two ice packs.

Perhaps what's more handy is the FrostVault Cold Dry Zone, which allows you to separate your dry snacks without the risk of them getting soggy or squashed inside the cooler. These are kept at food-safe temperaures (under 40° F) all day, so they remain fresh and tasty while on the go.

So the next time you're planning on hiking, picnicking or on an outdoor adventure, the Ninja FrostVault Go Backpack Soft Cooler could be a smart choice.

How does it compare?

There are a number of cooler backpacks on the market, including the YETI Hopper and the RTIC Backpack Cooler. Both of these are closer to $300 in price, making the Ninja a competitive price for those looking for a soft cooler this summer.

The Ninja also offers something that neither of these options do, which is two separate cooling compartments. This means you can put your sandwiches in one compartment and your cans in another, without having to worry about your bread getting wet or squashed.

We'll be reviewing the new FrostVault Go in the weeks to come, so stay tuned for a full review.

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• 5 reasons I want a Yeti Cooler

The Ninja Creami makes homemade frozen desserts significantly easier, but achieving consistently good results requires understanding a few key techniques. After working through initial trial and error with my own machine, I've identified specific practices that reliably improve texture and flavor.

Whether you're making ice cream, sorbet, or gelato, certain principles apply across all recipes. Small adjustments to your ingredients, preparation methods, and processing approach can transform icy disappointments into smooth, scoopable treats.

These seven practical tips address the most common Ninja Creami challenges users face. By incorporating these techniques into your routine, you'll avoid frustrating mistakes and get better results from your machine with every use.

Here's how to get the most out of your Ninja Creami.

Ninja Creami Do's

Ninja Creami Don'ts

Now you've learned how top tips and mistakes to avoid for your Ninja Creami, why not take a look at our other useful guides?

If you have a Ninja air fryer, check out how to use your new air fryer — 7 essential tips for beginners. If you're looking for cleaning tips, don't miss 7 car cleaning tips to make yours look brand new and 7 expert-approved tips to keep your windowsills clean during pollen season.

Ninja just added a new espresso machine to its Luxe Café coffee maker lineup.

The new Ninja Luxe Café Pro looks much the same as the original Luxe Café, but includes a new tamping mechanism. This removes all the hassle of dosing and tamping your espresso by hand, and instead uses an in-built tamping arm to evenly compress your grounds for perfect pucks, every time.

Retailing at $699 direct from Ninja, it's $150 more expensive than the Luxe Café Premier Series. Other new features include an XL milk frothing jug that will allow you to make two cappuccinos in one, and an extra-thick froth setting for luscious foam, totally hands-free.

Smarter than ever

Ninja changed the game when it dropped the Luxe Café Premier Series espresso machine last year, but an in-built tamping arm was the one feature I felt it was missing. It's a feature I love in my Breville Barista Express Impress, and it also features in De'Longhi's La Specialista range.

Although the machine's dosing funnel prevents mess, it won't eradicate it completely. So the addition of a lever that evenly compresses your coffee without any manual requirements will ensure that there are no scatterings of coffee grounds on your kitchen countertops.

Another major plus of in-built tamping capabilities is that it removes yet another variable that can get between your machine and the perfect espresso extraction.

Over or under-tamped pucks can throw off your machine, leading to a too-strong or under-developed shot of espresso if you don't use the perfect amount of pressure. So by integrating the tamping system to the inside of the machine, you can be confident that your tamping technique isn't responsible for any dodgy shots of coffee.

I've yet to get hands-on with this machine, but from what I can see on Ninja's promotional materials, it doesn't seem quite a smart as Breville's Impress range. Those machines use the in-built tamping arm to provide feedback on the volume of coffee you've ground. They then either top up the portafilter or advise you to trim a little off the top before brewing. Ninja offers none of this feedback.

There's a reason for this omission, though. Ninja's machine uses a smart weight-based dosing system which weighs your coffee as it grinds. In theory, this means your coffee puck should always be at the right level. As I said though, I've yet to try this feature hands-on.

I'll be testing this machine as soon as I can get my hands on it, but this latest smart feature firmly cements the Ninja Luxe Café Pro as an ultra-smart, mess-free coffee making machine. If the hassle of hand-tamping your coffee has put you off buying until now, I'd recommend you invest sooner rather than later, considering that the original Ninja Luxe Café has barely been in stock since it launched last year.

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• AeroPress just dropped a new Clear coffee maker — and it’s gone super-sized
• I use my De’Longhi Rivelia espresso machine every day — and it’s finally launched in the U.S
• De'Longhi's new Primadonna Automatic will learn your signature coffee, and when you like to drink it

You know when you're in the middle of the forest and you just need a freshly-blended protein shake? How about when you're in the office and your morning smoothie wouldn't hit the spot unless it was blitzed right there and then, within earshot of your colleagues?

Ok, I'll admit that I've got no idea why portable blenders are so popular, but the good thing about the Ninja Blast Max is that, even by the standards of the best blenders, it's powerful and well-priced.

I tested the Ninja Blast Max in our test kitchen, which is, ironically, full to the brim of plug sockets. One thing was clear right from the get-go, which is that you won't compromise on power by opting for this rechargeable blender. In fact, it's also ideal if you're working with a small kitchen or even a studio where counter space is at a premium.

Here's how the Ninja Blast Max performed when I put it to the test.

Price and availability

This is an affordable blender, coming in at under $90/£90.

There is a range of colorways to choose from. I tried a charming Lavender color, but there's also a silver, blue, and navy option.

The Blast Max has a predecessor, the Ninja Blast, which is $20 cheaper, has a smaller capacity, and one On/Off button. I've not tried it, but for an extra 20 bucks, I think the Blast Max is a much more compelling option.

Design

While it's a neat and compact blender, the Blast Max offers some interesting features.

The removable blending cup twists on and off the blending base to make your drinks (even) more portable. A lot of portable blenders either have screw-on blending blades which then need to be covered when not in use, or will require you to carry around your entire blending cup and base in one, which could be a bit heavy when the blender is full of smoothie or protein shake.

You can also flip the lid open and closed by pressing a button on the front of the blending cup, which makes it an interesting mix of a drinking vessel and a blender.

Before testing, I had to charge the Blast Max. Thankfully, it does come with a little charge already included, meaning you can use it as soon as you unbox it. However, I left it to charge until the power light had gone from a flashing red, which indicates a low battery, to solid green, which means it's fully charged.

Many portable blenders won't include indicators of charge level, meaning you could be left in the annoying position of having to charge your blender mid-smoothie, so I was pleased to see that the Blast Max notifies you when it needs charging.

Charging took three hours in total, and although I didn't exhaust the battery in testing, other reviews online suggest that its battery can last a total 30 minutes, which is enough to make at least 15 drinks.

Performance

Protein shake

I think making a protein shake is likely to be one of the most popular things people use their Blast Max for. Because you can take it in your bag to the gym or office, this blender will be ideal for busy people who need to pack some nourishment into their diet on the go.

I started using protein powder at the beginning of 2025, but I hated how lumpy it came out when I used a shaker, so I'd definitely consider taking the Blast Max on the go with me if it can deliver a more creamy result.

I used a scoop of my favorite protein powder, the Protein Works Whey 360 Extreme in the Chocolate Bueno flavor, and added some milk and a couple of ice cubes to the Blast Max. Then, I turned it onto the 'Blend' setting, which runs for 30 seconds.

The blender isn't the noisiest I've tried, clocking in at 77dB, but the sound quality is quite whiny. This is likely a result of it having a weaker motor, but it still powered through the ice cubes somewhat easily.

My end result was well-mixed and not too grainy. It was much better in texture than the type of shake I'd been making in a protein shaker, but probably not as creamy as the sort of drink I make when using my Vitamix blender at home.

It was also nice and cold thanks to the ice cubes, which didn't leave any large chunks behind.

Smoothie

The Blast Max has a dedicated smoothie setting, so I used some fresh berries and apple juice to make a simple morning smoothie.

This is the sort of thing you could easily throw together with store-bought ingredients if you're out of the house and need to make a drink for your kid, or yourself. In fact, I used ingredients that I'd picked up in the train station on my way to our testing lab.

The smoothie setting took just under a minute, and I was left with a pretty decent drink. Could it rival the creamy and smooth drinks I often make in my Vitamix? Absolutely not. There were still seeds and bits of unblended berry skin that made the texture a little less smooth. But I wouldn't expect anything less than this for a portable blender, and the smoothie was still perfectly drinkable.

While the blending cup's 20oz capacity couldn't cater to a crowd, the smoothie I made would have served two quite happily.

Pancake batter

I used to make my pancake batter from scratch, but since I started throwing my ingredients into the blender, I've not gone back.

The texture of pancake batter is a lot thicker than the drinks I'd made thus far, so I was interested to find out how well the blender could incorporate my wet and dry ingredients.

I added my flour, eggs and milk to the blender and manually pulsed for about 30 seconds. The finished batter was ideal for pancakes, and I was able to use the drinking spout from the removable cup to pour the batter onto my frying pan.

This was a huge (and unexpected!) plus, saving me the effort of decanting the drink and ladling it into the pan like I usually would.

My finished pancakes look a little anemic, yes, but that's down to user error. The blender itself did a fantastic job of handling this mix of dry and wet ingredients, and there were no lumps of un-mixed flour hiding in my finished batter.

Crushed ice

The Ninja Blast Max has "turns ice to snow" written on the side of its box, so I had to put this bold claim to the test.

Blitzing ice is a challenge for a lot of blenders, so was skeptical about whether this cordless blender was up to the task. I added five ice cubes to the blender and pressed the "Crush" button.

I was genuinely impressed that, by the time the program finished about a minute later, the entire blending cup was evenly-blitzed into small shards of ice.

This would be a really good base for an iced drink or even a homemade snow cone, and it's a really strong indication of the above-average levels of power you'll find with this portable blender.

What's most impressive is that I didn't need to go in and mix up the ice. The blender was able to work its way through every ice cube systematically and leave me with a well-blended result.

Cleaning

This blender should be easy to clean. As with any blender, I added a drop of dish soap and some water into the blending cup and ran on the blend setting for a few seconds to break down any leftover ingredients that had become stuck to the sides of the blender and the blades.

This was made trickier by the fact that this blending cup has a ribbed interior. It looks nice, but it does create lots of grooves where ingredients can become lodged-on.

The main problem I encountered in cleaning was that it was near-impossible to remove stuck-on protein powder from underneath the blades.

The blending cup is small, and I needed to use a small scrubbing brush to reach under them and dislodge this caked-on mixture. This is a downside of opting for a portable blender without removable blades.

How does it compare?

I've tried a number of portable blenders over the years, and I'll just go ahead and say that this is the best I've seen so far. However, the lack of removable blades did make cleaning tricky, and it's an issue that can be avoided if you opt for something like the Nutribullet Flip which allows you to remove the blades from the blender and use the blending cup as a tumbler once your drink is finished.

However, the Flip is definitely less powerful than the Blast Max, and it's also less intuitive to use.

If you're not committed to the cordless life, the Nutribullet Pro 900W is a superior blender to the Blast Max on account of its 900 watts of power. It's almost as compact and also ideal for smoothies.

Verdict

The Ninja Blast Max will never compete with market-leading blenders because it's not designed to. It's not as powerful, won't leave your drinks as smooth or seed-free, and will require recharging on a semi-regular basis. But if you're looking for a cordless blender to take on the go, or you want an ultra-compact option that will work for one or two-person households, it's a strong performer.

My main complaint is that cleaning was a little fiddly, which is an issue you could experience with a lot of blenders, but the small blending cup made it very tricky to reach under the blades to remove any debris.

If you're committed to buying a portable blender, I think the Ninja Blast Max could be the best on the market. And for the sub-$100 price tag, it's also a strong contender for those on the market for a budget blender that can tackle ice, frozen fruit and protein powder.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today (May 1) a recall of over 1.8 million Ninja Foodi OP300 series Multi-Function pressure cookers. Nearly 200,000 cookers have been recalled in Canada.

These devices have multiple functions, including air frying, broiling, baking and pressure cooking.

The cited issue is with the lid of the cooker, which can apparently be opened during cooking, allowing "hot contents to escape" and posing a burn risk.

In general, pressure cooker lids lock until the cooking time is complete, and the lid cannot be released until you vent the pressure and steam.

What's being recalled and why

The affected Foodi cookers were sold in black and have a 6.5-quart capacity. To determine if your pressure cooker is one of the recalled units, locate the model number, which is typically found on the back of the device.

Affected model numbers:

• OP300
• OP301
• OP301A
• OP302
• OP302BRN
• OP302HCN
• OP302HAQ
• OP302HW
• OP302HB
• OP305
• OP305CO
• OP350CO

According to the CPSC, SharkNinja received 106 reports of burn injuries, at least 50 of which were second- or third-degree burns to people's faces and bodies. At least 26 lawsuits were filed against the company.

The cookers were sold between January 2019 and March 2025 for around $200 from multiple retailers, including Amazon, Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart and via the Ninjakitchen.com site.

What to do if you have an OP300 model

To start, you should immediately stop using the pressure cooker function of the device.

SharkNinja says that you should discard the pressure cooking lid. The company is offering a free replacement of the pressure cooking lid, which is "shipped to you at no charge."

It should be noted that, according to SharkNinja, you do not need to discard the entire device, just the lid.

To receive the replacement lid, you need to go to this recall website and fill out the form (look for the green button about halfway down the page). You will need to take a picture of the label on the cooker and upload it to the form. You can also call 800-365-0135 for more information.

SharkNinja says you can use the non-pressure cooker functions without the lid until your replacement arrives.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the Ninja Crispi for a week and it made me rethink everything I knew about air fryers
• How to use the Ninja Foodi Max Dual air fryer — 5 tips the manual doesn't tell you
• The Ninja Swirl is finally here — and we got a first look