Ninja’s new air fryer is the Double Stack XL. In the United States, it’s called DoubleStack XL. The only difference between the two is the space between the words in the product name, but in all other respects, including cooking space, this double drawer air fryer is the same.
The real benefit of buying this over one of Ninja’s other great dual drawer air fryers is that it will free up space on your counter. If you have a smaller kitchen, this might be the only two-drawer air fryer you can fit into the space.
The Double Stack is available from Ninja in the UK for £269.99 and from Ninja US for $229.99.
But how much counter space will you get back by buying one? In this article we’ll compare it to Ninja’s Foodi FlexDrawer, which also costs £269.99 at Ninja.
In the United States, Ninja’s FlexDrawer model is called FlexBasket. This is a 7QT air fryer with slightly different dimensions, so product comparisons in the images below will not be accurate. However, we will include the dimensions of popular Ninja models so you can compare.
Dimensions
When you place the two fryers side by side you will see that they are very similar in size. The official dimensions of the Double Stack are 38.5 (H) x 28 (W) x 47 cm (D) (15.14 inches x 11.25 x 19.22 inches).
The dimensions of the FlexDrawer are 32.7 (H) x 49.6 (W) x 31.6 cm (D).
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
The Double Stack is therefore really close in size to the FlexDrawer, as you can see from above when placed next to each other.
In the US, the FlexBasket has different specifications than the UK model. But here are the dimensions of popular American models for comparison:
- DoubleStack (10QT): 11.25 (L) x 15.14 (H) x 19.22 inches (L) – $229.99
- Foodi Double Drawer (10QT): 12.8 (H) x 13.9 (W) x 17.1 inches (L) – $249.99
- FlexBasket (7QT): 11.26 (H) x 11.81 (W) x 18.19 inches (L) – $159.99
As you can see, in the US the DoubleStack and Foodi Dual Drawer are very similar in size and capacity.
So where does the space saving of the Double Stack come from?
Well, it takes two forms.
Cooking capacity
If you place the cooking drawers of the Double Stack and the FlexDrawer next to each other, you will find that their capacity is almost identical. You can even swap the crisper drawers from one to the other and they fit perfectly.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Each drawer on the FlexDrawer has a capacity of 5.2L – but you can remove the insert between them for a full 10.4L of space.
The Double Stack has a capacity of 4.75 L (5QT) per drawer, or 9.5 L (10QT) in total. So it seems to have a little less cooking space than the FlexDrawer.
However, it comes with a pair of cooking racks that you can insert and use with a dedicated cooking setting to give each drawer two layers of cooking space. Depending on the type of food you’re preparing, this can double the amount you can eat: Ninja recommends vegetables on the base and protein on the grill.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
There is, however, a slight compromise in that the heating source is at the back of the Double Stack, rather than on top like most air fryers. This means the backs of the drawers are perforated to allow hot air to circulate, which can limit the types of foods you cook (wet foods just won’t work). This also means it’s even more crucial not to overcrowd the drawer so that food can cook evenly.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
On the counter
But it’s at the counter that the difference is obvious. In my small kitchen I need to maximize space and every inch counts.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
(Remember, if you’re in the US, the closest equivalent Ninja Air Fryer to the FlexDrawer pictured above would be the 10QT Foodi Dual-Drawer, which has similar dimensions.)
The Double Stack is essentially a conventional two-drawer air fryer that has been inverted so you can access the drawers from one end. This means that even though it takes up the same counter space, it only uses half the width, but most of the depth of the counter.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Yes, you lose some space on the side where the control panel is mounted (although this is factored into the product dimensions), but for the most part the Double Stack saves space by utilizing the “dead” space in the kitchen, including the area above the height of a traditional air fryer and the space in front of it. There’s still plenty of space above to fit under standard kitchen cabinets, and you can still open the drawers in front to check on food cooking, although you may want to move them to the side to fill and empty them.
So how much space will the Double Stack save you?
Compared to a standard two-drawer air fryer, we think the Double Stack will save you about 20 cm / 8 inches along your counter and, in return, it will take up dead space that you won’t be able to use otherwise. In a compact kitchen, you’ll find it’s worth it.
Plus, thanks to its removable cooking grids, you can double the cooking space inside – but keep in mind that this will only be useful for certain types of food, like chicken or fish, and vegetables.
The Double Stack is available from Ninja in the UK for £269.99 and from Ninja US for $229.99.
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