Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone
For
- Not as deep as the Double Stack XL
- Much cheaper than the Double Stack XL in Australia
Against
- Considerably wider than the Double Stack XL
- Didn’t cook fries as evenly in our tests
For
- Narrower footprint than Ninja Foodi Max
- More consistent results when cooking fries
- Also available in a smaller size for couples or individuals
Against
- Significantly more expensive than the Foodi Max in Australia
Ninja is one of the biggest names in air fryers, and if you’re looking for a two-drawer model, the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone and Ninja Double Stack should both be on your shortlist. If you’re struggling to choose between the two, we’re here to summarize all the key differences so you can make the right choice.
The most obvious difference between these two top-rated air fryers is the arrangement of their baskets (horizontal for the Foodi Max and vertical for the Double Stack), but it doesn’t end there. After putting both air fryers through extensive testing in our kitchen, we found a significant difference in how the two perform when cooking one particularly common food.
First, a word on naming and sizes. The original Ninja Double Stack air fryer was released in April 2024 and has a capacity of 8.3qt / 9.5l. We tested this version in our Ninja Double Stack review. In the US and UK, this specific model is known as the Ninja Double Stack XL, while it’s the Ninja Double Stack XXL in Australia.
Ninja later released a smaller version of the air fryer, with a capacity of 6.7qt / 7.6l. In the US and UK, this is called the Ninja Double Stack, and in Australia, it is called the Ninja Double Stack XL.
The Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone air fryer has a capacity of 8.3qt / 9.5l, so we’ll be comparing it to the larger of the two Double Stack models. Now, on with the details…
Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone vs Ninja Double Stack: price
- The two air fryers were similar prices at launch
- Both are still about the same price in the US and UK
- The Double Stack is now significantly more expensive in Australia
The exact price you’ll pay for each of these air fryers depends on where you live. When they launched, the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone had a list price of £229.99 / $219.99 / AU$449.99, and the Ninja Double Stack XL had a list price of $229.99 / £269.99 / AU$449.99.
Both air fryers have now been available for a while, and discounts are often available on both models. At the time of writing, you can pick up the Foodi Max for about $170 / £190 / AU$240 and the Ninja Double Stack XL for roughly $200 / £210 / AU$390. In other words, there’s little difference in price in the US and the UK, but in Australia, the Ninja Double Stack XL is significantly more expensive.
If you’ve already decided, you’ll find today’s best deals on the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone and Ninja Double Stack XL below. Otherwise, keep reading for more details.
Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone vs Ninja Double Stack: features
- Ninja Double Stack is narrower and taller, but also deeper
- Double Stack includes racks for cooking food in up to four layers
- Both air fryers have the same selection of cooking modes
The key difference between these two air fryers is their footprint. The Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone measures 13.9 x 12.8 x 17.1 inches / 32.5 x 41.5 x 27cm (h x w x d), while the Ninja Double Stack XL is 15.1 x 11 x 18.5 inches / 38.5 x 28 x 47cm. That might not sound like much, but the Double Stack’s narrower build makes a real difference to how it sits on your kitchen counter. It’s worth noting, however, that it’s considerably deeper than the Foodi Max from front to back, so it’s worth measuring your workspace to see how each one will fit.
As we mentioned earlier, both the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone and the Ninja Double Stack XL have a capacity of 8.3qt / 9.5l, and both have separate drawers, so you can’t cook a single large item like a whole chicken or a pizza. Some large-capacity air fryers have a large drawer with a removable divider so you can cook something bigger or two smaller sides, but that’s not the case here. The drawers and crisper plates for both fryers are dishwasher-safe as well.
The Ninja Double Stack XL lets you cook food in more layers thanks to a pair of stainless steel racks – one for each drawer. This means you can cook four different types of food or simply arrange your fries or nuggets so air can circulate around them more evenly.
In other respects, the two models are very similar. Both air fryers have six cooking modes (air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, and dehydrate) and operate at 2,470W. Both have a timer, and you can sync the two drawers to finish cooking different foods simultaneously. Both of the air fryers have a maximum temperature of 464ºF / 240C.
Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone vs Ninja Double Stack: performance
- Both air fryers produced succulent chicken wings
- Fries were more evenly browned in the Double Stack
- Neither showed noticeable heat leakage between baskets
After putting both air fryers through their paces, we were generally more impressed with the performance of the Ninja Double Stack. Both are excellent air fryers, but our results with the Double Stack were more even and consistent than those produced by the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone.
Both air fryers excelled when it came to cooking chicken wings, which turned out crisp and golden on the outside and succulent and juicy inside. However, they weren’t so evenly matched when it came to browning fries. Ones cooked using the Foodi Max Dual Zone were noticeably less consistent in color, with some looking pale and others almost burnt, despite our best efforts to shake them up regularly during cooking as recommended in the instructions.
Fries cooked using the Ninja Double Stack were much more consistent in color. Those towards the back were fractionally darker, but we don’t think you’d really notice the difference in everyday use.
Other foods cooked well, and unlike some other air fryers, neither of these Ninja models showed signs of heat leakage between the two baskets.