Upgrade your kitchen with the Ninja Double Stack XL Air Fryer—a space-saving, energy-efficient must-have that makes the perfect Sunday roast, says our shopping expert
If you’re like me, always on the hunt for kitchen gadgets that make life easier and your cooking taste better (without the need for skill, then you’ve probably heard the buzz about air fryers. These nifty appliances have become a staple in many of our kitchens, and for good reason. They offer a healthier way to enjoy our favourite fried foods without the guilt.
I initially bought a small one from Amazon as a way to quickly make crispy chicken nuggets without the whole faff and expense of pre-heating a whole oven, but since finding out how much can actually be cooked in an airfryer, my little gadget has had daily use while my oven is collecting dust.
But as my culinary adventures expanded – basically into roast dinners and air fryer cookies – I found my trusty small air fryer just wasn’t cutting it anymore. It didn’t have the space for everything I wanted to cook at once. Enter the Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer SL400UK – an upgrade that made me incredibly popular in my household.
READ MORE: 19 best air fryers that will save you time, energy, and cook healthy meals
Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer
This clever device is indeed big, but it’s mostly vertical, so it’s still a good option for small kitchens like mine. Priced at £269.99, it stacks two drawers on top of each other, and each drawer holds 4.75 litres, allowing you to cook multiple dishes simultaneously—a blessing for when your meal requires meat or fish, vegetables, carbs and sides all made at once.
Pros
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Dual cooking zones: Each drawer operates independently, so you can cook different dishes at varying temperatures and times. The ‘SYNC’ function makes sure both are ready simultaneously.
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Multiple cooking functions: Beyond air frying, it offers roasting, baking, dehydrating, reheating, and a ‘Max Crisp’ setting for extra crunch (incredible, by the way).
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Generous capacity: With 9.5 litres in total, it’s ideal for families, those who love hosting dinner parties, or someone with a partner who could eat two chickens in one sitting (yes, like mine). For reference, each drawer can fit a 1.4kg chicken.
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Easy to clean: The non-stick drawers and crisper plates are dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze.
Cons
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Price point: It’s on the higher end of the spectrum, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious shoppers.
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Learning curve: The side-mounted control panel can take some getting used to, especially if you’re used to a very simple ‘on and off’ model.
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Uneven cooking: Some users have reported that due to the rear-positioned heating elements, food may cook unevenly. The occasional shaking or flipping helps combat this.
Head of shopping Zoe says
After putting the Ninja Double Stack XL through its paces, I can confidently say I have no idea how I lived without it. The space-saving design is a real winner, fitting snugly under my cabinets without hogging the little counter space I have. I love the flexibility of cooking two different dishes at once; I recently made crispy sweet potato fries in one drawer while roasting salmon in the other—both turned out delicious.
The multiple cooking functions have also inspired me to try new, more adventurous recipes, from homemade granola to brownies. Yes, there’s a bit of a learning curve with the controls, but after a few uses, and a good read of the manual, I got to grips with them.
A bit about the functions…
There are six cooking functions: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. The Air Fry function circulates hot air around your food for crispy, golden results with minimal oil—perfect for chips, nuggets, or even homemade spring rolls. Max Crisp takes it up a notch, cooking at higher temperatures for extra crunch (think frozen fries or onion rings).
If you’re after a Sunday roast, the Roast setting evenly cooks meat and vegetables for tender, juicy results. Bake allows you to whip up cakes and pastries without turning on the oven, while Reheat brings leftovers back to life without making them soggy. Finally, the Dehydrate function slowly removes moisture, so you can make homemade dried fruit, veggie crisps, or even beef jerky.
I’ve been using the roast function the most, and last Sunday, I made a full roast dinner in the air fryer for the first time for my whole family. My brother, a chicken connoisseur, said the Ninja made it taste like a perfectly crisp rotisserie chicken – high, high praise. The roast potatoes also came out *chef’s kiss* with almost no oil added.
I know the price of the Double Stack is a tad steep, but it really is worth the investment. If you want some maths to justify it, I’ve worked out how much cheaper it is to run than an oven.
Is Ninja’s Double Stack XL Air Fryer cheaper to run than an oven?
Air fryers generally use less energy because they heat up faster and cook food more efficiently. While a standard oven can take 10-15 minutes to preheat, the Ninja Double Stack XL reaches cooking temperature almost instantly. Plus, thanks to the smaller cooking space and punchy fan, food cooks up to 50% faster than in an oven.
In terms of energy consumption, a standard oven typically uses 2-2.2kW per hour, whereas the Ninja Double Stack XL runs at 1.74kW at full power—and since it cooks faster, it runs for less time overall. Some users have reported saving up to 50% on energy costs by switching to an air fryer for everyday meals.
Shopping around for your perfect air fryer? Check out our roundup of the 19 best air fryers that will save you time, energy, and cook healthy meals. The list includes Salter’s 3.2L Hot Air Fryer and PHILIPS Viva Collection XXL Air Fryer.
