Ninja Double Stack XL Vs Ninja FlexDrawer: Which to Buy?

A dual-drawer air fryer is a great alternative to using the oven for most meals, making cooking easier and more cost-effective. However, it’s essential to choose the right one that suits your needs, especially considering their size and features.

Ninja is known for its innovative air fryers, and two of their top dual-drawer models are the Ninja Double Stack XL and the Ninja FlexDrawer. These air fryers offer a unique take on the standard dual-basket design, providing more cooking flexibility. In this article, we’ll compare these two models to help you make an informed decision.

If you’re in the US, the equivalent of the UK’s FlexDrawer is the FlexBasket, a smaller 7QT model. On the other hand, the Double Stack XL in the US is known as the DoubleStack XL, offering the same features as its UK counterpart.

The key reason to buy

The Double Stack XL

The Double Stack XL is designed to save space on your countertop, offering two drawers with wire racks that allow for cooking two layers of food in each drawer. This feature provides extra cooking space and flexibility for your meals.

The FlexDrawer

The FlexDrawer stands out for its unique design, featuring two separate cooking sections that can be combined into one large cooking “megazone” by removing the divider. This allows for cooking large joints of meat or baking full-sized loaves of bread or cakes.

Air fryer design and dimensions

Both the Double Stack XL and FlexDrawer have a sturdy Ninja build, with a functional design that may not add aesthetic flair to your kitchen. The Double Stack XL is designed to save countertop space by stacking the drawers vertically, while the FlexDrawer features a more conventional dual-drawer design with a single large drawer split in two.

Cooking controls and modes

Both models come with intuitive digital displays and easy-to-use controls. The Double Stack XL offers modes for air frying, max crisp, baking, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating. On the other hand, the FlexDrawer includes additional modes for proving dough along with the standard cooking modes.

Both air fryers feature Match and Sync functions, allowing you to program and synchronize cooking instructions between the drawers for efficient cooking.

Cooking capacity

The Double Stack XL offers a cooking capacity of 9.5L/10QT split over two drawers, providing flexibility for cooking different types of food. In comparison, the FlexDrawer has a larger 10.4L capacity, making it suitable for roasts and baking larger quantities.

Downsides

One downside of the Double Stack XL is that it may cook certain foods unevenly due to the heat sources at the back of each drawer. Additionally, the lack of a shake alert means you’ll need to manually remember to shake the food during cooking.

The FlexDrawer also lacks a shake alert and may expose both sides of the food to cool air when checking on it, affecting the baking process. Both models do not have a viewing window for monitoring food without opening the drawer.

Price and availability

The Ninja Double Stack XL is available in both the UK and the US, with pricing varying between regions. In the UK, it is priced higher than the FlexDrawer, while in the US, it is slightly more expensive than the comparable models.

The Ninja FlexBasket, on the other hand, offers a more affordable option with similar features, making it a popular choice in both regions.

Verdict

Both the Double Stack XL and the FlexDrawer are top choices for dual-drawer air fryers, each offering unique features and cooking capabilities. The Double Stack XL is ideal for cooking smaller sides separately, while the FlexDrawer excels in baking and roasting larger quantities. Overall, the FlexDrawer is a more cost-effective option and is recommended for most users.

For more recommendations on air fryers, check out our round-ups of the best air fryers overall, air fryer ovens, Ninja air fryers, and dual-drawer air fryers.