Like most college students, I didn't always make it my priority to cook a delicious, nutritious meal every night. With the time it takes to perfect a main dish, I'd often forget to start side dishes or time them incorrectly. After coming home from a long day of classes, I was rarely in the mood to put in the time and mental energy necessary to plan my meals.
As a result, I spent way too much money on takeout or just eating whatever snacks I could find in my pantry. But dinnertime got so much easier and healthier after this Ninja Foodi 13-in-one air fryer found its way into my college home.
The air fryer is on the pricier side, but it's on sale right thanks to Amazon's Big Spring Sale. For a limited time, you can grab the Ninja Foodi 13-in-1 air fryer for only $230 -- a $100 discount. Though we saw it dip below $200 during last year's Cyber Monday sales, as one of CNET's top picks for the best air fryer toaster oven, it's still a great deal.
This Ninja air fryer was the only countertop kitchen gadget I needed in college, and it saved me tons of money since I was cooking food that I actually wanted to eat instead of eating out. In my opinion, it's well worth the price even without a discount.
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Thanks to the ease of the Ninja Foodi, I didn't have to do questionable math to figure out temperatures and timings to accommodate multiple items in an oven, which often led to me giving up on cooking altogether. This air fryer acted as a whole separate oven right on my countertop, eliminating part of the mental energy that cooking requires. After using it, I found that I started cooking at home more and enjoyed the process.
Want perfectly cooked fries without turning on your oven? The Ninja Foodi 13-in-1 has got you covered.
With the air fryer's multiple options, I found I could get even more specific with what I was cooking. If I wanted to crisp up some tofu, I would use the air fryer setting, but if I wanted to roast some veggies, I would use the bake or air roast options. It can even toast, which was an absolute must-have during college. I could even switch up the method in the middle of cooking to elevate simple side dishes. If I was baking something in the oven, I would air fry it for the last few minutes of cooking time, giving it a bit of extra crispiness.
I'll be honest. The only thing that bothers me about the Ninja Foodi 13-in-1 air fryer is its small size. The pans I'd usually put in my oven don't fit in the Ninja Foodi. It does come with a SearPlate, a basket and a rack, but if you think you'll use it frequently, you might want to invest in some extra pans. (This baking pan should fit just fine and is also on sale.)
Why the Ninja Foodi makes an awesome gift
Given how much I relied on my Ninja Foodi in college, I can easily see this being a great gift for someone looking to make dinnertime easier. The air fryer can do so many things without being intimidating -- even the most timid of cooks will be able to wrap their heads around how this oven can work for them. It's perfect for a small apartment, for those who don't want to rely on their oven or just someone who's been interested in getting an air fryer but doesn't know where to start. The Ninja Foodi can do it all and then some.
If you're looking for other kitchen appliances on sale during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, check out these home and kitchen deals.