Ninja Double Stack air fryer fans say slim new device 'makes ovens redundant'

Air fryers have been all the rage for a while now, so they might start to look all the same - but Ninja has just come out with an intriguing new version.

One common complaint about air fryers is that they simply require too much room. As convenient as they are, counter space is at a premium. The space conscious among us may have been put off by bulky devices, which makes Ninja's latest iteration interesting.

To make room, you'd typically have to sacrifice space for capacity and settle for a model that feeds a person or two. The Ninja Double Stack XL air fryer goes vertical to solve that dilemma, measuring in at 11 inches wide, but with enough space to feed eight people.

Its small footprint is thanks to its unique build - the drawers are stacked rather than side-by-side as you often see in air fryers. The result is a device Ninja says is 30 percent slimmer than the Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer.

The generous capacity of the Double Stack XL makes it ideal for big families and entertaining, plus the brand claims it is 55 percent faster than fan ovens. It cooks four layers of food in six functions: air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, dehydrate, and reheat.

So, how much will this innovation cost you? The slimmer Ninja air fryer has just been released for UK shoppers with a price tag of £269.99.

This brings it in line with the popular Foodi MAX Dual Zone (£249.99 full price but currently reduced to £199), which feeds 8+ people but is five inches wider.

Whilst the Ninja Air Fryer AF100 (£149.99 reduced to £99.99) is similarly narrow, it is more suited for two people. The compact model boasts a single 3.8L basket versus the Double Stack's two 4.75L drawers.

One nifty feature of the Ninja Double Stack XL is that its drawers can be controlled independently for cooking function, time, and temperature. That means while you've got chips air frying in one drawer, your chicken thighs or salmon can be roasted or reheated for a longer time in the other section.

If you're looking to measure your space before making the plunge, the dimensions of the gadget, which weighs 10kg, are 38.5cm high, 28cm wide and 47cm deep.

There are 20 reviews so far on Ninja's website, adding up to a 4.9 average rating. Shoppers have praised its generous capacity and the convenience of setting the drawers to different settings and times.

One customer left a review titled 'The best yet', sharing: "Simply AMAZING, I havnt used My oven since I got this it’s simplicity of use is fantastic I’ve done roast chicken and veggies , I’ve baked bread and muffins, I honestly think My oven will be complete redundant. Being able to set the draws for different times temps and sync them is a game changer ."

Another said it fits an entire chicken: "This is a fabulous product! The design is so clever it it neat and fits under my cupboards and as it’s a double stack it doesn’t take up as much space as it’s predecessor. Smart design means that you can cook multiple items at the same time (saving lots of arguments) and all parts are easy to clean.

"Big capacity will fit a whole chicken plus room for the roast potatoes and other vegetables. My first item arrived slightly damaged but it was immediately rectified and I was very impressed with the level of customer service."

"This is an absolute game changer for houses with different dietary requirements as you can contain meat/veggie to the separate drawers," a different shopper said. "It cooks so quickly and evenly and it is super easy to clean. I haven't used the oven since receiving it."

All were five stars reviews except one person who knocked off a star, explaining: "Loved it so far, cooking 4 different things at the same time is so handy! I do find it doesn’t always cook stuff evenly, but half way through cooking time I give it a mix up and it’s fine!

"I also find buying the parchment liners very handy, as at the back of the drawers are holes for the fan, unlike the standard dual ones."

Shoppers have been loving air fryers as people look to save money wherever possible. Some cooking inspiration for air fryer devotees include Bored Of Lunch: The Healthy Air Fryer Book (£10) and The Hamlyn All Colour Cookery: 200 Air Fryer Recipes (£7.35).

Another compact device is the Philips Airfryer 5000 Series XXL (£129.99), a Wi-Fi connected 7.2L gadget that can cook up to six portions. One air fryer under £50 is the Tower T17021 Family Size Air Fryer, a 4.3L device now reduced from £69.99 to £42.98.

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