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Ever since the first air fryers appeared on the market, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been working hard to test the latest models, updating our list of the best air fryers with all the most exciting innovations – and Ninja continues to be a market-leader.
The Ninja Foodi Max air fryer and the new ‘portable’ Ninja Crispi are joint winners of our coveted ‘best air fryer’ crown.
But, if you’re after an air fryer that can handle full family dinners but won’t take up all your precious counterspace, then there’s only one Ninja you need to know about: the Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer.
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The Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer at a glance
Pros
- Extensive instructions with recipe ideas
- Space-saving design with handles that remain cool to touch
- Can divide the two drawers further to make four cooking levels
Cons
- Quite deep so might overhand on some countertops
- No viewing window
- Slightly uneven results when cooking across four layers
Score: 90/100
While we love the best dual air fryers for the extra capacity, some models are pretty bulky, measuring over 40-centimetres in width. So, Ninja has come up with a smart, space-saving solution: stacking the two drawers on top of each other instead of side by side.
Boasting the same capacity as the beloved Ninja Foodi Max model, the Double Stack XL is over 10 centimetres narrower. Plus, as the control panel sits on the side, it’s only slightly taller.
But how did it stack up when put to the test at the Good Housekeeping Institute? And is it worth investing in a cheaper alternative instead? Here’s everything you need to know.
How we tested the Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer
We test all our air fryers in the same way – by cooking up a delicious spread. Our experts start with a whole roast chicken, looking for crispy skin, even browning and flavoursome, tender meat.
We also cook chips, making sure they’re crispy on the outside but fluffy on the inside. Finally, we bake simple fairy cakes – a good rise and golden colour proves how well air circulates around the appliance.
Throughout testing, we also assess ease of use, overall design and clarity of instructions before awarding an overall score.
The Good Housekeeping Institute's verdict on Ninja's Double Stack Air Fryer
Design
One of the main bugbears of dual air fryers is how bulky they can be. It doesn’t leave much room for anything else on your countertop or in your cupboard.
This is where the Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer shines. At 38.5cm tall and 28cm wide, it should fit neatly under your kitchen cabinets, but you don’t have to compromise on capacity. With two, 4.75-litre drawers, it offers the same amount of cooking space as the Ninja Foodi Max; plus, with four cooking racks, you can make a range of foods at once.
However, it’s worth nothing that this model is still quite deep (47cm), so if you have shallow countertops, it could overhang. We recommend measuring up before buying.
Ease of use
This is one of the easier air fryers to get to grips with. The instruction manual clearly guides you from unboxing to plating up with clear diagrams and text.
While many models offer automatic programmes for cooking your favourite dishes, this only has the six pre-set cooking functions (air-frying, baking, dehydrating, crisping, roasting and reheating), which may feel intimidating for beginners. Don’t panic, though, as it comes with a recipe booklet packed full of meal ideas, plus a handy table with the temperatures and times needed to cook key ingredients.
Our experts found the control panel easy to use, with a clear timer showing the duration of the programme. During cooking, the exterior remained cool-to-the-touch, but we felt it missed a trick by not having a viewing window for watching your food crisp-up.
Post-cooking, we spotted a few dirt traps around the crisper tray and at the back of the basket but being able to pop the accessories in the dishwasher should take any of the faff out of clean-up.
Performance
With six cooking settings at your fingertips, it was difficult to fault the Double Stack Air Fryer, which scored an impressive 90/100 in our tests.
A 1.3-kilogram chicken fitted nicely into one of the drawers and it delivered an evenly browned roast with juicy meat in an hour and 10 minutes.
Like many of the best dual air fryers, the Double Stack features both a ‘MATCH’ and ‘SYNC’ function. The first allows you to select the same cooking setting, duration and temperatures across both drawers at the touch of a button. We tried this out when by cooking a chicken in each drawer and it worked a treat, with both reaching the same internal temperature.
It was a similar story with the ‘SYNC’ function. This allowed us to programme both drawers to finish cooking at the same time, no matter the contents or cooking time. The result? A main and sides delivered at the time – all full of flavour.
Our chips were well-browned, light and fluffy on the inside and lacked greasiness, but we had slightly mixed results with our cupcakes. We used the Double Stack Pro feature for these, which allows you to further divide up the two drawers to create four cooking layers, and we had some uneven bakes, with one side crispier than the other.
This is all down to the design of the Ninja Double Stack – the heat source and fan are located on the back wall (rather than the top) to allow for the stacked design. Add in extra layers of food, and this makes it trickier for hot air to circulate evenly throughout the appliance – a sure recipe for uneven cooking.
But don’t let a few extra crispy or slightly soggy chips put you off as there’s so much to love about this sleek air fryer, particularly if you lack countertop space.
The final verdict
The Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer is a joy to use. Its vertical design is a game-changer and we’re now seeing other air fryer brands following suit with space-saving in mind.
It’s not perfect (but we’re yet to find an air fryer that is, and we’ve tested over 70). It’s deep, which means it could still jut out on your counter, and there’s the uneven finish when cooking across four levels. Stick to using the two drawers as they are though and this shouldn’t be an issue.
With both a 9.5-litre design and a smaller 7.6-litre model, the Double Stack Air Fryer is a great option for families after speedy midweek meals without turning on the oven.
More Tried and Tested stacked air fryers
At just over £250, the Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer isn’t the most affordable model on the market. While it is our top-scoring double-stacked model, there are some more now some more affordable options out there. These are our top alternatives.
Daewoo Actuate Range 11 Litre Split Draw Air Fryer
Pros
- Great range of pre-set functions including a bagel setting
- Viewing light makes it easy to check on the food
Cons
- Need oven gloves to remove tray from the bottom drawer
- No child lock
Score: 89/100
This 11-litre double-stacked air fryer offers even more cooking space, with one six-litre basket in the top half and a five-litre compartment in the bottom with a cooking tray for things like steak and pizza. Our pizzas came out lovely and crisp after 20 minutes on the bake setting, our chicken cooked well, and fairy cakes were light and fluffy. The accessories aren’t dishwasher-safe, but at around £100 less than the Ninja, this is an excellent alternative.
Salter VertiCook View Stackable Air Fryer
Pros
- Accessories are easy to remove
- Thorough instructions with different recipes included
Cons
- The viewing window became very hot (85.4C) which could be a burn hazard
- No shake/flip reminder or child lock
Score: 77/100
This model cooked food fast, according to our experts, delivering a tasty whole chicken within 40 minutes. Chips were unevenly browned but nicely crisped, and we liked the match and sync functions for simple cooking across both drawers. Overall, it was easy to use too, thanks to the clear control panel. Plus, it has dishwasher-safe accessories for hassle-free clean up.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Masudah has a master's degree in clinical drug development and combines this scientific background with a love for all things homes – from cooking appliances to smart home tech. She enjoys collecting and analysing quantitative data, ensuring that her product evaluations go beyond mere opinions. She particularly loves using the Digi Eye machine in the GHI lab to assess the colour and texture of products as part of our duvet cover and detergent tests. In her spare time, Masudah enjoys learning about new tech, baking delicious treats, and keeping her home spotless. With a passion for creativity and an eye for detail, she brings a unique perspective to every product she tests.
