I’m having a problem with my ninja air fryer. It doesn’t turn on, and it won’t heat up. What should I do?

Shutting down is one of the most common problems of the Ninja and other air fryers, nothing to worry about since that there are troubleshooting guidelines to help you fix your device!

My air fryer is turning on and off

Is it supposed to turn on and off every few seconds? I don’t think mine is working correctly.

If you’re using a  Ninja air fryer af100 or af101, there are two reasons why your air fryer may be “turning on and off,” and while neither one is a significant problem, it can be kind of annoying.

The first reason your fryer may turn on and off (as you mentioned) is that the thermostat placing was incorrect. If the thermostat is set too low (i.e., <300 degrees), the fan will kick on to keep the temperature from dropping.

Some of the other reasons why your air fryer may turn on and off are as follows:

• The cooking time is too short (i.e., <60 seconds). Short timing will cause the cycling switch to kick in because it needs enough time to preheat before cooking for a sustained period.
• The temperature is too much for the food type you’re cooking. For example, if you try to make french fries in a 350-degree fryer, it will turn on and off because the temps are too high for this type of food.
• There’s an object blocking the thermometer (you can solve this by removing the food you’re cooking).
• The fan is blocked. Fan blockage is a common problem with air fryers because they are high-powered, and it’s easy to restrict the airflow from the front and back (you can solve this by moving your object out of the way or simply turning off your air fryer for a short period).

My air fryer isn’t getting hot

I put my food in my air fryer, turned it on, and waited for the temperature to heat up. It didn’t get above 180 degrees! What’s wrong?

This is also a common problem with air fryers. To fix it, either check the temperature on the control panel (the quickest way to solve this is to turn up the temperature).

My air fryer smells like burning plastic when I use it. I’m using my air fryer, and it smells like something’s burning. What should I do?

This is usually due to food that has gotten stuck in the basket (e.g., potato wedges, chicken nuggets, etc.) or a buildup of oil in the bottom. We recommend that you clean your basket and air fryer at least once every week to avoid this issue (the good news is that it’s super easy to do so).

My food is burning in my air fryer

The temperature on my air fryer says it’s at 350 degrees, but the food I’m making still smells and tastes like it’s burnt! Is there anything I can do?

It sounds like you’re experiencing undercooking (not to be confused with overcooking). If you check your temperature and it’s in the acceptable range, then try some of the following:

• Check that your food isn’t blocking any vents. This is a common issue with air fryers because they are high-powered, and it’s easy to block the flow of air from the front and back (you can solve this by moving your object out of the way or simply turning off your air fryer for a short time).
• Check to make sure that there’s no food on top of the lid. This causes vaporization, which will keep the heating element covered and prevent it from cooking.
• If you’re cooking for longer than the recommended time, check to ensure nothing’s blocking the fan, thermometer, or heating element (you can solve this by removing your food).
• Try reducing the temperature by 10 degrees. This is a standard solution to undercooking problems, and it works perfectly well (make sure you don’t go below 340 degrees).
• Check to see if there’s food stuck in your basket. If it is, try putting a damp cloth on top of the basket and turning off the air fryer for 15 minutes or longer. This should loosen up whatever’s inside without causing damage to your basket.
• For less problematic ways to cook, try using air-popped popcorn (which is perfectly fine for the Ninja Foodi since it doesn’t have much oil). You can even add spices and seasonings to make your version of Kettle Corn!

My food isn’t cooking in my air fryer

I have my temperature set at 350 degrees, and I’m cooking something for the suggested time, but it’s not cooking. What should I do?

Try some of these solutions

• Check that your food isn’t blocking any vents. This is a common issue with air fryers because they are high-powered, and it’s easy to block the flow of air from the front and back (you can solve this by moving your object out of the way or simply turning off your air fryer for a short time).
•  Check to make sure that there’s no food on top of the lid. This causes vaporization, which will keep the heating element covered and prevent it from cooking.
•  If you’re cooking for longer than the recommended time, check to ensure nothing is blocking the fan, thermometer, or heating element (you can solve this by removing your food).
• Try reducing the temperature by 10 degrees. This is a fundamental solution to undercooking problems, and it works perfectly well (make sure you don’t go below 340 degrees).
• Check to see if there’s food stuck in your basket. If it is, try putting a damp cloth on top of the basket and turning off the air fryer for 15 minutes or longer. This should loosen up whatever’s inside without causing damage to your basket.
• For less problematic ways to cook, try using air-popped popcorn (which is perfectly fine for the Ninja Foodi since it doesn’t have much oil). You can even add spices and seasonings to make your version of Kettle Corn!

The top of my basket is flaking off

If you’re noticing chips or flaking around the edges of your basket, then it’s probably because of the high heat that a built-in microwave convection oven or air fryer oven produces. If there are small holes in your basket, then this means that the aluminum is too thin and will easily flake away at the slightest touch. Unfortunately, replacing a basket can be pretty expensive because there aren’t any alternatives you can buy to fit, so it’s best to throw it away most of the time.

If your basket is intact and still able to function correctly, this will probably happen by food getting stuck in crevices. To avoid this:

When removing your baskets after cooking, try using rubber gloves. This will help you avoid getting burnt from the heated racks, and it’ll make sure that your hands don’t stick to them (it’s a great idea since you’ll have to take out more than one basket).

Make sure that food isn’t getting stuck in damp places like honey and caramelized onions. Check the sides of the basket and make sure that food doesn’t get stuck in between crevices.

My baskets aren’t interchangeable with other models

Unfortunately, Ninja Foodi baskets are not compatible with any other air fryer. The only way to get a new basket is through the manufacturer. The process for getting a replacement basket is pretty straight-forward:

Visit the Ninja website and visit their page about replacement parts. Remember to click on ‘Baskets’ from the top menu since they have more than one option for an air fryer basket. After choosing your model, they’ll direct you towards a secure page where you can enter your contact information.