Summary of Customer Reviews
The Ninja DoubleStack™ XL 10 QT 2 Basket Multi Rack Air Fryer has received a wide range of reviews from customers, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. Many users appreciate the appliance’s versatility and space-saving design. It is praised for its ability to cook multiple items simultaneously, making meal preparation more efficient, especially for families. The air fryer’s dual-basket system allows for cooking different foods at separate temperatures, which is a significant advantage for varied meals. However, some users note that the device can be a bit noisy and that the cooking time may be longer than expected, especially when using both baskets. The controls and operation may also require a learning curve for some users. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall sentiment is positive, with many users recommending the air fryer for its quality and functionality.
PROS
- Space-Saving Design: “This air fryer is everything I wanted… perfect for limited counter space.” A user mentioned how the vertical design allows for more food capacity without taking up excessive space.
- Versatility: The air fryer offers multiple cooking functions, including air frying, broiling, roasting, baking, reheating, and dehydrating. This versatility has been a highlight for many users.
- Ease of Use: Many users found the controls easy to understand after an initial learning phase. The ability to sync cooking times for different foods is particularly appreciated.
- Efficient Cooking: The dual baskets and stackable racks allow users to cook large meals or multiple dishes at once. One user mentioned, “I cooked a whole chicken + green beans + brussels sprouts, at the same time!”.
- Easy to Clean: The baskets and racks are dishwasher safe, which users find convenient for quick and easy cleanup.
CONS
- Longer Cooking Times: Some users reported that the air fryer takes longer to cook food than expected, particularly when using both baskets simultaneously.
- Noise Level: The appliance can be noisy, which has been a point of concern for some users.
- Small Basket Size: A few users noted that the basket size might not be adequate for larger items, such as a full-sized chicken.
- Learning Curve: While many found the air fryer easy to use, there is an initial learning curve, especially with the controls and settings for different cooking modes.
- Build Quality Concerns: There were some complaints about the durability of certain components, like the control panel and the overall build, with issues like scratches and cracks being reported.
Who Should Buy?
The Ninja DoubleStack™ XL Air Fryer is ideal for families and individuals who enjoy cooking a variety of dishes without using multiple appliances. It is particularly suitable for those with limited counter space, as its vertical design saves room. This air fryer is perfect for people who value convenience and versatility in their kitchen appliances, allowing them to air fry, bake, roast, and more with a single device. Additionally, it’s a great choice for those who prefer easy cleanup, as the removable parts are dishwasher safe. However, it might not be the best fit for those who are sensitive to noise or are looking for an appliance that doesn’t require any setup or learning.
Recommendation
Most users recommend the Ninja DoubleStack™ XL Air Fryer, praising its versatility, space-saving design, and ease of use. They appreciate the ability to cook multiple dishes simultaneously and the overall quality of the product. The few negative reviews often focus on longer cooking times and the noise level, which are relatively minor issues compared to the overall benefits. Users particularly highlight the convenience of the dual-basket system, making it a worthwhile purchase for anyone looking to streamline their cooking process and make healthier meals at home.
Customer Reviews
Updated on August 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
Overrated by the people who got one for free
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike this air fryer. But I do think the existing glowing reviews are very biased and not very objective.
Two chambers is nice, and the format of this machine is great for people without a lot of counter space. Having the controls on the right hand side is going to make this a perfect fit for maybe half of the customers and annoy the other half. Most people are right handed so it’s an understandable design decision, but I think buttons on the top of bottom would have been a better move.
Talking about the controls, they aren’t very good. Ergonomically, it’s kind of a mess. Power is on the bottom, then selecting the basket is on the top, then rotate the knob to select the function, then push temp, spin, then push time, spin. Repeat for other basket if needed, then back down to start. I understand not duplicating all the controls twice for each basket, but the back and forth is really clumsy.
Now this is my first dual-chamber air fryer so I wasn’t so sure what I was to come. A surprise was that your cooking times are longer when both chambers are in use, which seems very odd: if the basket is at 400 degrees, it’s at 400 degrees, isn’t it? Sounds like it really isn’t, in this case, otherwise the times would be the same. So if you think you can get double the cooking done, it’s “not quite.”
One confusing part about this air fryer in particular is the big, bold sticker saying “preheating not needed.” Except I have a few existing recipes that explicitly call for it. I did try one and skipped a preheat and I found it was underdone which was pretty disappointing. The manual has recommendations so I gave those a spin and they turned out pretty good, although I did have to pick the higher time in the range.
Does it cook food evenly? No. But to be fair my previous air fryer also wasn’t particularly good at even cooking. What’s nice about this one, though, is that the baskets are pretty easy to pull out for that needed shake. Each bin is about 1kg so you can muscle it and really shuffle things around.
That said, the racks are now not such a great asset. Shaking the veggies / carbs on the bottom is going to disrupt what’s on the top rack, if you’re using it, so keep this in mind. I’m glad to have the racks, though, even if for most of the time I’m not using them. The idea to cook two things in one basket sounds great until you realize that the odds that you’ll have two things that need the same time and temperature are very slim, and two items with only the same temperature are only marginally more common. Good thing you have two baskets… but being able to realistically cook 4 different things is going to line up once in a blue moon.
Longevity is the final thing. I only got my unit about a week or two ago. The control panel buttons feel like clicky domes under the membrane, so I think odds are pretty good it’ll start cracking in a few years. Another disappointment is that I can hear a relay clicking on and off during cooking. These don’t use solid-state relays and instead use old electromechanical ones that have a much shorter lifespan. In today’s world where everything is disposable, I’m pretty annoyed by this.
Overall, this unit will get the job done. But I think it’s overpriced for the value it offers in reality (as opposed to fantasy, like “4 items at the same time”). This is definitely not my end-game air fryer.
- 55
- 0
Great capacity, easy to use
I am very impressed with the slim footprint of this air fryer. It takes up very little space on my counter. The control panel sticks out a couple of inches to the right side of the machine, so make sure to allow enough room. This works perfectly in my small kitchen because I have a notch wall that is perfect for the control panel. It looks like the wall was custom made for the air fryer.
The air fryer comes with two large baskets that can be used to cook things using the same method or in differing methods either ending at the same time or different times. It is really super versatile. It can air fry, air broil, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate.
Each basket also comes with a separate rack that can be used to cook two different foods at the same time. The item on the top will be crispier on the top and the ones on the bottom will be crispier on the bottom. This feature allows the cooking of chicken tenders and french fries for the kids in one basket, while the other basket is used to cook a different main course for the adults of the family. This is fantastic for families with picky eater children.
There is a specific order to pushing the buttons for the different types of cooking, but the manuals that come with this are extremely helpful and full of color pictures to explain how to use it. Once you understand how it works then it is very simple to use.
It also comes with a recipe booklet with lots of recipes to try. The booklet also has several charts for reference of cooking times needed if you’re using one basket or two. When using both top and bottom baskets, you will need to increase the cooking time.
The baskets and racks are well coated in non-stick coating. These are completely coated without any bare spots. They are incredibly easy to clean up. The additional racks that are used to stack food, however, are stainless steel and not nonstick. Make sure to spray everything with cooking spray for easier cleanup.
The control panel is to the side of this unit which makes it easier to see as the unit is quite tall. It fits underneath standard kitchen cabinets with a couple of inches to spare so there should be no issue in having room for it to fit on a counter. With the control panel on the right, it is easy to see and use. It comes with a short power cord, so put it on the counter near an outlet.
I was pleasantly pleased with the volume of the motor. It is not super loud when it is running unlike other air fryers that I have had in the past.
Verified Purchase
Fantastic. Read the instructions and pay attention to the suggested timing.
I’ve had many air fryers over the years. This one is definitely my favorite. It does a beautiful job. Reading some of the bad reviews that initially made me worried about ordering this, leads me to believe that these people simply don’t know how to properly use an air fryer, and definitely haven’t read the instruction booklet. The timing is different depending on how many drawers/layers you are using. Pay attention to that and it’s a lovely machine.
- 21
- 0
Uneven cooking
According to what SharkNinja has told me the drawers have a PTFE coating but the crisper plates have a ceramic coating.
My understanding is PTFE-based pan coatings can release PFAS into the environment throughout their life, especially during manufacture, but also through high-temperature cooking use and during disposal or recycling. PFAS pollution is extremely difficult to clean up.
One wire on one of the “Stacked Meal Racks” wasn’t welded, poor quality control. After spending a half hour on the phone with Ninja customer service and emailing (Ninja seems to prefer video conferencing for warranty issues) pictures I was told that the racks were a wear item so they were not covered under the warranty even if defective and the solution was to return to amazon. Needless to say I was not impressed with their customer solution or resolution of the issue.
I ended up using a bit of lighter fluid to remove the glue residue left on the racks from the labels before I washed them, small area the way the label is attached but IMO it might not be the best idea to let glue residue burn off during cooking.
Uneven cooking I experienced was reduced/eliminated by rearranging the Just Bare brand from Costco lightly breaded Chicken Breast fillets a couple times during cooking. Also had to add additional time over what the folks at Just Bare recommended for their processed chicken product. I air fried additional batches of 2 pieces, same as the first batch, to double check, same results every time.
Unless you really need a dual basket unit AND are willing to play around during cooking, IMO, a conventional single basket air fryer might just be a wiser, as well as cheaper, choice.
Seems to be pretty much the same quality wise as other imported countertop appliances are these days, wish some company would figure out how to make stuff just a bit better with only a slight increase in price.
Made in China
Broke in one week
Not even worth the review don’t buy
- 14
- 0
Sadly wasn't love!
This Ninja doublestack air fryer is a great idea for those that are limited on counter space. Unfortunately, I’d rather take up more space with a double fryer than this stacked one. Bummer because we love Ninja products!
To start, the lack of symmetry wound up bugging me a bit. I didn’t think it would really be a bother to me, but somehow it just was. Additionally, unlike many other air fryers, the baskets in this one have what I would describe to be a grate-like open back for air flow. This admittedly affected the evenness of the food that was cooked; only slightly, but enough to notice. Also, we struggle to keep our air fryers clean without liners, but I didn’t feel very comfortable using a liner and cutting off the air flow from the back of the baskets.
I will say though, that I loved the layering shelves inside each basket. This allowed us to air fry twice as many chicken thighs as we are typically able to! This is very unique for air fryers and definitely sets this machine apart.
I think for VERY limited space this could be a fantastic option for those looking to air fry a lot of food at once. But if you can spare a liiitle more counter space I’d really opt for their side-by-side double air fryer instead.
- 9
- 0
Too Many Good Features To List! GET IT!!!
This is the best air fryer EVER! I may never use my oven again! This Ninja Double Stack air fryer makes everything BETTER than my oven!
* My baked waffle fries come out PERFECT – crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside.
* My meats are perfectly cooked – TENDER and JUICY, with a nice crispy brownness outside.
* I even baked little cornbread biscuits in it. THEY CAME OUT PERFECT.
There’s nothing this Ninja Airfryer can’t do! It has SO MANY FUNCTIONS – and yes – you can make your whole meal in here. It’s so user-friendly and straightforward. The materials are upscale, from the feel of the handle, to the dish-washer clean-up, to the cute knobs and sounds it makes.
Another plus, the directions and cookbook include a guide on the temperature and amount of time to cook ANY food PERFECTLY. I’m so glad to have this. It’s the end-all-be-all air fryer!
Verified Purchase
Slowly learning
It took me a minute to figure out how to adjust time and temperature of each basket, but now i can do it without the manual. Most of my cooking products are ninja and they never disappoint me. Cooks way better than my old walmart brand air fryer. Plus the little sound it makes when it’s done is adorable.
- 8
- 0
Verified Purchase
Great spacesaver
I like the stacked 2 basket vs the 2 side by side baskets. Takes up less counter space. A bit of a learning curve with the controls. I’ve used it several times with great results. Highly recommend.
- 8
- 0
Best ever
I have owned many air fryers. This surprised me a lot! It actually takes up LESS counter space than my fryer that cooked half as much! But, on top of that, it actually can cook twice more than that, because it has removable racks that can optionally go above the basket, at the top, to fit even more items! Or remove if you want to cook something larger…like two whole chickens!
The great thing about that is you can cook for a family or even allow the juices from some chicken legs to drip down onto green beans as it cooks in the top basket and have potatoes in the bottom basket for an enormous meal in no time and in no space! The top and bottom baskets are separate so you can also cook things that do not touch at all…2 things in top and bottom basket, 4 things using the wire rack to fit two things in each basket, or even one thing if so desired.
Easy to get the hang of cooking so much in one air fryer with the instruction book.
air fry, reheat, bake, rehydrate. Does it all. No preheating time like your oven and uses less electricity.
Perfect results and less fat and calories!
Fits under my countertops. Thin profile.
- 7
- 0