Countertop space is basically Manhattan real estate. It's expensive, crowded, and if you aren't pulling your weight, you’re evicted. Most "all-in-one" gadgets end up in the basement after three weeks because they do ten things poorly instead of one thing well. But the Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven is different. It’s a beast. I’ve seen professional chefs and tired parents alike treat this thing like a holy relic because it actually solves the "uneven cooking" problem that plagues almost every other toaster oven on the market.
It's loud. It’s heavy.
But it works.
If you’re tired of soggy fries or chicken that’s burnt on the outside and raw in the middle, you need to understand why this specific model—the DT201 or DT251 depending on if you want the built-in thermometer—changed the game for home cooks.
The Air Fryer Identity Crisis
Most people think an air fryer is some magical new technology. It’s not. It’s a convection oven with a better PR team. However, the Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven uses what they call "True Surround Convection." While standard ovens just blow hot air around and hope for the best, this unit uses a high-velocity fan and a rear heat source to create a literal wind tunnel of heat.
Think about it this way.
In a regular oven, you have to flip your wings halfway through or you get one side that's sad and mushy. With the Ninja, the airflow is so aggressive that it hits the food from 360 degrees. You genuinely don’t have to flip things. It’s lazy cooking at its finest, and honestly, that’s what we all really want on a Tuesday night.
Why "XL" Actually Matters Here
A lot of "XL" appliances are just taller. That’s useless for a sheet pan dinner. The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven is wider and deeper. It fits two levels of cooking at once. You can roast a 5-pound chicken on the bottom and a tray of broccoli on the top.
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Most air fryers are baskets. Baskets are great for fries, but they suck for anything flat. Try putting a piece of salmon in a basket. It’s cramped. In this oven, you have a 12-by-12 inch space. It’s enough room to actually let the air circulate, which is the whole point of air frying in the first place.
The Learning Curve Nobody Mentions
Don’t trust the box. The box says you can cook things 30% faster. In reality, it’s often 50% faster, and if you aren’t careful, you’re going to be eating charcoal for dinner.
The heat is intense.
Because the heating elements are so close to the food, 400°F in this Ninja feels like 450°F in a standard wall oven. I usually tell people to drop the temperature by 25 degrees and check the food five minutes early. It’s a powerhouse.
The 10-in-1 Marketing vs. Reality
Ninja claims ten functions: Air Fry, Air Roast, Bake, Whole Roast, Broil, Toast, Bagel, Dehydrate, Reheat, and Pizza.
Let's be real.
"Pizza" and "Bake" are basically the same thing with slightly different fan speeds. But the "Whole Roast" setting is a sleeper hit. It uses a specific heating pattern that targets the skin of a turkey or chicken to get it crispy while keeping the inside from drying out. And "Reheat"? It’s the only way to eat leftover pizza. Using a microwave for pizza should be a crime, and this oven fixes the crust in about three minutes.
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Where Ninja Failed (Let's Be Honest)
It’s not perfect. No appliance is.
First, the fan is loud. If you’re trying to have a quiet conversation in a small kitchen while the Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven is at full blast, you’re going to be shouting. It sounds like a small jet engine taking off on your counter.
Second, the cleaning.
The back of the oven has a permanent fan guard that you can’t remove. Over time, grease builds up back there. If you don’t stay on top of it by wiping it down after every greasy meal, you’ll eventually get some smoke. It’s the price you pay for that high-velocity airflow. Pro tip: always use a crumb tray and maybe even a layer of foil on the very bottom (not blocking the vents!) to catch the drippings.
Comparing the DT201 and the DT251
The biggest confusion for buyers is the model number.
The DT201 is the standard model. The DT251 is the "Pro" version that comes with a "Foodi Smart Thermometer."
Is the thermometer worth the extra $30 or $50? Honestly, yeah. It plugs directly into the side of the oven. You tell the oven you want your steak medium-rare, and it shuts off automatically when the internal temp hits the mark. It removes the guesswork. If you already own a good Thermapen or a Meater probe, you can skip the DT251. But for most people, having the oven "talk" to the meat is a lifesaver.
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Technical Specs for the Nerds
- Wattage: 1800 Watts. This is why it heats up so fast.
- Dimensions: Roughly 17 inches wide and 20 inches deep. Measure your cabinets before buying. It’s deeper than you think.
- Preheat time: About 90 seconds. Compared to 15 minutes for a big oven, this is where the time savings actually happen.
The Science of Even Cooking
The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven uses a digital display that tells you exactly which rack level to use for which function. This isn't just a suggestion. Because the heat sources are positioned strategically, putting your toast on Level 4 when it should be on Level 3 will result in a bad breakfast.
Level 1 is for whole roasts.
Level 3 and 4 are for your dual-level air frying.
The oven actually has sensors that detect how many racks you have in and adjusts the fan speed accordingly. That’s some high-level engineering for a toaster oven.
Addressing the "Teflon" Concern
A lot of health-conscious cooks worry about non-stick coatings. The interior of the Ninja is largely stainless steel, but the pans that come with it often have a non-stick coating. If that bothers you, the good news is that standard 12-inch stainless steel or cast iron pans fit perfectly inside. You don’t have to use their proprietary trays.
Does it actually replace a toaster?
Yes.
Some air fryers are terrible at toast. They dry the bread out until it’s a crouton. This Ninja has a specific "Toast" setting that uses the top and bottom elements without the fan at full blast, so you get a crisp exterior and a soft interior. It handles 9 slices of bread at once. That's a lot of avocado toast.
Practical Next Steps for New Owners
If you just unboxed your Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven, do these three things immediately to avoid frustration:
- The Burn-In: Run the oven empty on "Air Fry" at 400°F for 20 minutes. There’s a factory coating on the elements that smells like burning plastic the first time it gets hot. You want that smell out of your house before you put food in it. Open a window.
- The Space Check: Give it at least 6 inches of clearance on the back and sides. It vents a lot of heat. If you tuck it under a low cabinet, you might warp your wood or peel your paint over time.
- Ditch the Aerosol: Never use those pressurized non-stick sprays (like Pam) on the Ninja trays. The soy lecithin in those sprays creates a gummy residue that will never come off. Use a Misto or a brush with regular olive oil.
The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven isn't just another gadget. It's a genuine replacement for your full-sized oven for about 90% of your daily cooking. It saves time, it saves energy, and it actually makes food taste better through sheer force of airflow. Just keep it clean, watch your cook times, and get ready for the loudest, fastest dinner you've ever made.