You are supposed to move the crisp plate to the upper level when cooking proteins on their own and move them about for even cooking. The instructions do say all this. I just got mine yesterday and did sausages for tea tonight and it cooked them very well. I had them on the upper level, had nothing else in with them and at least 3 times I moved them about and all had same colour and same temp when done
Thank you so much for your review of this product. Usually I read customer reviews and watch demonstrations before I decide to purchase or not, but I hastily took the plunge and ordered one from Amazon just three hours ago. Amazon stated that it would be arriving in 3 days time. Then seeing your review and many others on You Tube saying that it does not cook evenly as well as other issues I promptly cancelled my order. The Ninja Dual in your demonstration seems to be the better option.
Phew. Close call!! The Ninja Dual Zone is excellent. I’ve also got a review of the Cosori Dual Zone coming soon which is also very, very good (and cheaper).
Again what a fantastic review 👏👌. I can’t believe this passed all the product tests, especially the uneven cooking temperatures! 😯- Thank you for saving us all the headache of having to return it .
Just shake the fries properly and THREE times as per instructions! And simply turn the sausages over/around as you would in any cooking method!!!! Not difficult to get around the uneven cooking thing. Plus there are always different heat zones in any type of oven.
Agreed shake 3 or 4 times vigorously or move them around with tongs. I have no problem even baked a cake. Love the handles no problem just take basket out fully what’s your problem.
Too much overhead shots....you didn't even mention that you can raise the bottom plate (of the stacker) to 1/2 way up the basket...what's this about not showing your face ....have you got 2 heads ? 😢
3 months on and STILL delighted with mine. Shake and rotate your food when cooking is key to delights! But also, we are a two person not a whole family. We cooked a whole 1.3kg chicken for first time last week and that was perfect. Only 55 mins at 190 on roast setting. Turned over once. The spuds roasted well in other oven after same time but had a pre-boil 10 mins. Also shaken around twice. Loving this item to buts. never put in dishwasher as that may be harsh but easy to wash in hot soapy water.
Thanks for that. The sausages were there to show the inconsistency on camera easily. If it had been chips filling half the basket then most would be undercooked and there’s no way to stop that.
It says right in the included documentation, when cooking proteins, take the rack in the bottom pull it up rotate it 180° and put it back in so that it's in the half-height position and cook your proteins that way. Did you attempt to cook the three sausages in that configuration?
It surprises me that Ninja would release something like this, with so many negatives to it. I think they need to go back to the drawing board with this one!
As for cooking times and temperatures, I don't follow the GUIDE lines as for instance I like my chips well cooked because I am eating them not looking at them, so I cook them longer.
I have to share this video with hubby as he will be thrilled to know I won't be buying yet another kitchen gadget! 😂 Thank you so much for saving me money! Great, thorough review. Have a lovely day. TFS 👍💖
It does say on the instructions that you have to shake a least 3x….at least. When this is done, it works great. Granted if you’re doing a chicken then you can’t shake. But just lift and turn
Next to a dual zone, I know which one I’d rather use. Wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a revision of the product in the coming months with all the returns.
You’re the second person I’ve seen is sending theirs back. Sorry to hear this, I find their products, vacuums includes really cheap feeling. I knew the shaking would be an issue with the grill at the back.
I've send 2 back, first was doa, second was uneven cooking and longer cooking then the dual, no liquids, stupid buttons, realistically didn't notice much space saved either
Thank you for a very enlightening review...I was going to purchase one of these, but decided to buy the AF400UK instead,...after seeing this review and the flaws you have so clearly shown with this machine, I'm glad I did..
Very useful thanks! Tempted with the stack purely for the space saving but the negatives far outweigh the positives. Shame. So what's the go-to Air Fryer now then? Still undecided. Ninja Dual Zone or the Ninja FlexDrawer with 'MegaZone'?? Family of 4 slightly favours the latter but the washing up of the whole drawer unit each time is pretty tiresome surely....
Have you seen my video comparing the flex and dual? I prefer the dual personally as i had issues with the flex and shaking food and you are right the cleaning is a bit more challenging. Am also reviewing the cosori next week which has one larger drawer and one smaller, so watch this space.
I love my Cosori single draw . The company’s products are priced well , they cook food lovely and their panels so simple to use and clean . I bet the dual will be just as good. That said, I’m currently eyeing up the ‘Instant VersaZone Dual Air Fryer’ , It comes with XXL Single and Double Air Frying Drawers ( great for cooking whole chickens) . It has great reviews.
Well I haven't had no problem with uneven cooking. I noticed in your test that you didn't shake the food once, let alone the 3 times, as clearly advised in the operating instructions. This Ninja requires a little bit more user input regarding shaking the food. Also I hold a kitchen towel against the holes in the back with an oven glove, no problem. So in my opinion, this, air fryer is just as good as its cousins, all it needs is a bit of a different approach to using it.
It’s a widespread issue that many are experiencing. Not good. I’m expecting a redesign for the smaller version that’s due out. Hence why it’s not out yet.
@@grahamjohnson4702 what a load of bollocks. induction, halogen, gas, etc stoves are all stoves but all offer different cooking abilities and techniques.
Thanks for this great review. When I seen this advertise the other week, my thoughts were to the size and of course saving a bit of counter space as I have a small kitchen. But after your review and seeing the draws and where the hot air comes in from the back, which even before you did the cook test I thought this was going to be an issue. So I be sticking with my old Cosori. Again a bit thanks for your great review and so glad I came across it.
I wonder if it is because the airflow is coming from the back instead of above like a traditional air fryer. Thank you for showing the condensation issue, it would have definately ruined my counter. Maybe it is just me but the alerter sounds their appliances make are annoying lol. Great video, thank you!
Thank you. Was tempted to get on the Air Fryer bandwagon & was tempted by this because of the smaller footprint(width) whilst needing capacity for family of 4. Disappointing
I think you should send this video to Ninja to let them see, I can't understand the heat difference between the front and the back of the drawer as the heat comes into the drawer at the back where the least cook sausage was
Problem I had with 10 qt. model is buttons are kind of hard to push you really need to bear down. I haven't used it since bought their dual air fryer oven, really like that both ovens air fry and toaster part
Thanks for an amazing, honest and thorough review. I’ve bought air fryers to relatives recently (helped them choose) and also bought a new one for myself. So I’m really into AF reviews and was excited to learn more about the new Double Stack. Sad to learn it’s almost worthless, especially since Ninja makes so many great innovative machines otherwise. OK. I got a Ninja Speedi for myself since I wanted the possibility to cook rice, potatoes and wet stuff like gratin and stews in the bottom and proteins on top at the same time. For me it has worked great. And I wanted to slow cook more easily. Right now I’ve been doing a broth for like 16 hours, worked well. Going to see if you’ve reviewed the Speedi but I’m a little bit afraid since you’re so thorough and honest, not like the over enthusiastic reviews I saw on forehand 🤣🤣🤣
Thank you for your comment. So pleased you enjoyed the review. I haven’t done the Speedi yet but I hear great things about it. I used to have a Smartlid which did a lot more cooking styles too and loved it.
Yes we've bought one. Same issues. Not impressed. Already got the returns authorisation from Ninja to get our money back. It's just badly designed. Looks like we'll have to do without an airfryer as this was perfect for the space we had available in our kitchen 😞
@@fulloffood unfortunately we can't fit it in. We just don't have the space which is why the Double Stack XL was perfect. Back to the drawing board 😞 Great videos on this unit BTW
I bought this machine based off the good reviews and have yet to try it but if this is the case then its going straight back to ninja. I love their machines but at this price you should not expect any uneven cooking
I was about to get this because i needed to save horizontal space in my countertop. You saved me the headache thank you. Looks like ill have to wait for the 2nd generation of this
i am so disappointed with mine. I am new to air fryer cooking. Had a little one donated by mum in law. It blew up one day and i rushed out and bought one of these without reading reviews. It is such a waste of money and has put me off air fryers. I can't even get chips to cook evenly. I didn't have this trouble with the little round one, I can't remember the make. I don't want to stand there for 20 minutes moving them around, how is that convenient? I had plans to cook whole chickens etc. However, with the uneven cooking and the holes at the back meaning all the juices will pour out everywhere means this is a no from me. I am SO disappointed.
I’m so sorry to hear that? How long have you had it. Try returning it due to the uneven cooking. That’s what we managed to do. Then you could get another air fryer. This machine is not a good example of a typical air fryer.
This is what I expected and why I didn’t get it , I don’t even think it’s very practical to fill in and move ect What baffles me in your reviews is how the front if more cooked knowing the fan is at the back it just doesn’t make sense
It makes perfect sense. Hot air is blown in from the back, and hits the front wall. this is the hottest part, where the air is being stopped by the front side for the drawer. Hence the better cooked sausages at the front of the unit. The front wall is creating a turbulence of hot air, at the front. Having the air come from the top (on the dual model) is the better design, as the bottom of the crisper plate is getting the hottest of the air.
I know I wonder if the fan must blow the heat forward and it reflects off the front of the drawer and so makes the front hotter. It’s basically a mini fan oven.
@@rdalcroft3934 I just received the US dual stack model and put the crisper tray in the upper position as suggested by the instruction manual and air fried hotdogs. They browned up evenly and quickly. I still have more testing to do but so far I have not had any issues.
I made fries and a steak. Fries came out ok. After 20 minutes at 400 degrees, my steak barely started to look like it was cooking. I finished the steak on my counter top grill. I put the baskets in the dishwasher, put it all back together and took it to UPS to return. I bought a Cosori dual basket. I received it yesterday after I’d been to UPS with this Ninja. I’ll try it today. I’m thinking this is going to be a LOT better due to reviews. I really wanted this to work because of the small foot print. Oh well.
Bad design can't see this being a good seller ninja have failed with this product in my opinion I don't blame you for sending it back it isn't worth the money so many design faults
I believe that some of your conveniences you bought it can be achieved by for instance, take the drawer out. Season the food and put it back in. All cooking needs tending to. You are cooking. Gzz. Not satisfied bc it's not easy enough is just weird & crazy to me.
You are supposed to move the crisp plate to the upper level when cooking proteins on their own and move them about for even cooking. The instructions do say all this. I just got mine yesterday and did sausages for tea tonight and it cooked them very well. I had them on the upper level, had nothing else in with them and at least 3 times I moved them about and all had same colour and same temp when done
Good point!
Thank you so much for your review of this product. Usually I read customer reviews and watch demonstrations before I decide to purchase or not, but I hastily took the plunge and ordered one from Amazon just three hours ago. Amazon stated that it would be arriving in 3 days time. Then seeing your review and many others on You Tube saying that it does not cook evenly as well as other issues I promptly cancelled my order. The Ninja Dual in your demonstration seems to be the better option.
Phew. Close call!!
The Ninja Dual Zone is excellent. I’ve also got a review of the Cosori Dual Zone coming soon which is also very, very good (and cheaper).
Completely agree with everything you've said. I'm really fed up with this because I gave my dual 400 away when this arrived.
Again what a fantastic review 👏👌. I can’t believe this passed all the product tests, especially the uneven cooking temperatures! 😯- Thank you for saving us all the headache of having to return it .
I know I feel the same! Glad my video helped. Thank you for commenting.
Just shake the fries properly and THREE times as per instructions! And simply turn the sausages over/around as you would in any cooking method!!!! Not difficult to get around the uneven cooking thing. Plus there are always different heat zones in any type of oven.
The uneven cooking is just one of many widespread, well documented faults with it sadly. I’m glad you get on ok with yours.
Agreed shake 3 or 4 times vigorously or move them around with tongs. I have no problem even baked a cake. Love the handles no problem just take basket out fully what’s your problem.
Also shake side-to-side.
Too much overhead shots....you didn't even mention that you can raise the bottom plate (of the stacker) to 1/2 way up the basket...what's this about not showing your face ....have you got 2 heads ? 😢
3 months on and STILL delighted with mine. Shake and rotate your food when cooking is key to delights! But also, we are a two person not a whole family. We cooked a whole 1.3kg chicken for first time last week and that was perfect. Only 55 mins at 190 on roast setting. Turned over once. The spuds roasted well in other oven after same time but had a pre-boil 10 mins. Also shaken around twice. Loving this item to buts. never put in dishwasher as that may be harsh but easy to wash in hot soapy water.
I found the same issues with sausages, but if you place them lengthways so the air can flow through it works well
Thanks for that. The sausages were there to show the inconsistency on camera easily. If it had been chips filling half the basket then most would be undercooked and there’s no way to stop that.
It says right in the included documentation, when cooking proteins, take the rack in the bottom pull it up rotate it 180° and put it back in so that it's in the half-height position and cook your proteins that way. Did you attempt to cook the three sausages in that configuration?
Tried every type in every configuration. My other video was the only success.
There’s a reason this is now 20% off after only a few weeks.
The best review on this air fryer! Thank you!
Thank you.
It surprises me that Ninja would release something like this, with so many negatives to it. I think they need to go back to the drawing board with this one!
Agreed.
Tell me the negatives after considering the misuse of the product for this review?
As for this product is good ...I just had my sausages
I think Ninja will have to make a recall or just cut their losses & take it off the market.
It will be interesting to see.
Huh?
Why? Because people don’t know how to adjust cooking things with a different product.
As for cooking times and temperatures, I don't follow the GUIDE lines as for instance I like my chips well cooked because I am eating them not looking at them, so I cook them longer.
Thanks for sharing!
Yes, great video. Maybe I should wait until the second generation of the double stack! Thanks
Good choice! I’m sure they will address the uneven cooking.
I have to share this video with hubby as he will be thrilled to know I won't be buying yet another kitchen gadget! 😂 Thank you so much for saving me money! Great, thorough review. Have a lovely day. TFS 👍💖
You are so welcome! Thank you for commenting. I really appreciate it.
This is the second review i have read with the exact same issues, think i will stick with my foodi max af400
Good choice! Thank you for the comment.
It does say on the instructions that you have to shake a least 3x….at least. When this is done, it works great. Granted if you’re doing a chicken then you can’t shake. But just lift and turn
Next to a dual zone, I know which one I’d rather use. Wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a revision of the product in the coming months with all the returns.
We've just sent ours back too for uneven cooking. We'll be buying a dual.....once Amazon recredit us!
Hope you enjoy your dual once you get your refund shame about the stack, isn’t it?
@@fulloffood yes it is - it’s a very good looking machine; looks can be deceiving! 😂😂😂😂
You’re the second person I’ve seen is sending theirs back. Sorry to hear this, I find their products, vacuums includes really cheap feeling. I knew the shaking would be an issue with the grill at the back.
Thank you.
I've send 2 back, first was doa, second was uneven cooking and longer cooking then the dual, no liquids, stupid buttons, realistically didn't notice much space saved either
@@reviewassistant6891wow! It sounds like a failed product for sure.
Sorry ninja you have failed with this product not great I don't blame you for sending it back 👍 I can't see this being a good seller
Thank you for a very enlightening review...I was going to purchase one of these, but decided to buy the AF400UK instead,...after seeing this review and the flaws you have so clearly shown with this machine, I'm glad I did..
Good choice 👍🏻 Shame as I really wanted the stack to be good.
Exactly my finding, cooks at the back first, also cracked my granite worktop from heat, sent mine back.
Gosh, sorry to hear that about your worktop. That’s not good at all!
As for me am loving it ❤ season your food before puti g it it ...even the oven u dont season while the tray is in the oven
Glad you are enjoying it.
Or try preheating it
This was for demonstration purposes not for a meal, anyway I don't want my sausages seasoned I like brown sauce or BBQ.
Very useful thanks! Tempted with the stack purely for the space saving but the negatives far outweigh the positives. Shame. So what's the go-to Air Fryer now then? Still undecided. Ninja Dual Zone or the Ninja FlexDrawer with 'MegaZone'?? Family of 4 slightly favours the latter but the washing up of the whole drawer unit each time is pretty tiresome surely....
Have you seen my video comparing the flex and dual? I prefer the dual personally as i had issues with the flex and shaking food and you are right the cleaning is a bit more challenging. Am also reviewing the cosori next week which has one larger drawer and one smaller, so watch this space.
I love my Cosori single draw . The company’s products are priced well , they cook food lovely and their panels so simple to use and clean . I bet the dual will be just as good. That said, I’m currently eyeing up the ‘Instant VersaZone Dual Air Fryer’ , It comes with XXL Single and Double Air Frying Drawers ( great for cooking whole chickens) . It has great reviews.
Well I haven't had no problem with uneven cooking.
I noticed in your test that you didn't shake the food once, let alone the 3 times, as clearly advised in the operating instructions.
This Ninja requires a little bit more user input regarding shaking the food.
Also I hold a kitchen towel against the holes in the back with an oven glove, no problem.
So in my opinion, this, air fryer is just as good as its cousins, all it needs is a bit of a different approach to using it.
It’s a widespread issue that many are experiencing. Not good. I’m expecting a redesign for the smaller version that’s due out. Hence why it’s not out yet.
The art of cooking is that you don't need a different approach to cooking in the same type of machine.
@@grahamjohnson4702 what a load of bollocks. induction, halogen, gas, etc stoves are all stoves but all offer different cooking abilities and techniques.
@@headerahelix It's the temperature that counts not the fuel used to make it
@@headerahelix It's the heat that cooks the product not the fuel used to create the heat
Thanks for this great review. When I seen this advertise the other week, my thoughts were to the size and of course saving a bit of counter space as I have a small kitchen. But after your review and seeing the draws and where the hot air comes in from the back, which even before you did the cook test I thought this was going to be an issue. So I be sticking with my old Cosori. Again a bit thanks for your great review and so glad I came across it.
Glad I could help! I’m testing a cosori at the moment and it’s great!
@@fulloffood yes it’s very good AirFryer as I said I had no issues with it.
I wonder if it is because the airflow is coming from the back instead of above like a traditional air fryer. Thank you for showing the condensation issue, it would have definately ruined my counter. Maybe it is just me but the alerter sounds their appliances make are annoying lol. Great video, thank you!
Very useful wonder what ninja will do about this major flaw
Good question! I just can’t believe how poor it is.
Thank you. Was tempted to get on the Air Fryer bandwagon & was tempted by this because of the smaller footprint(width) whilst needing capacity for family of 4. Disappointing
If you are still thinking about an air fryer I’d highly recommend one. We are a family of 5 and I use mine every day.
I think you should send this video to Ninja to let them see, I can't understand the heat difference between the front and the back of the drawer as the heat comes into the drawer at the back where the least cook sausage was
I’m sure they will have found this out in testing. Strange it’s not addressed though.
Problem I had with 10 qt. model is buttons are kind of hard to push you really need to bear down. I haven't used it since bought their dual air fryer oven, really like that both ovens air fry and toaster part
Good point!
Thanks for an amazing, honest and thorough review. I’ve bought air fryers to relatives recently (helped them choose) and also bought a new one for myself. So I’m really into AF reviews and was excited to learn more about the new Double Stack. Sad to learn it’s almost worthless, especially since Ninja makes so many great innovative machines otherwise.
OK. I got a Ninja Speedi for myself since I wanted the possibility to cook rice, potatoes and wet stuff like gratin and stews in the bottom and proteins on top at the same time. For me it has worked great. And I wanted to slow cook more easily. Right now I’ve been doing a broth for like 16 hours, worked well.
Going to see if you’ve reviewed the Speedi but I’m a little bit afraid since you’re so thorough and honest, not like the over enthusiastic reviews I saw on forehand 🤣🤣🤣
Thank you for your comment. So pleased you enjoyed the review. I haven’t done the Speedi yet but I hear great things about it. I used to have a Smartlid which did a lot more cooking styles too and loved it.
I had this for 2 days and sold it had all the same issues gone back to my dual too great video
Shame isn’t it. Had high hopes for it
It is a real shame I did to but it's great you ve done an honest review for others
Wouldn't want to be a friend of yours passing on duff products for money.
Watched both videos, I will get the Dual and extra shelves. Thank you
Good choice! Hope you enjoy it.
Yes we've bought one. Same issues. Not impressed. Already got the returns authorisation from Ninja to get our money back. It's just badly designed. Looks like we'll have to do without an airfryer as this was perfect for the space we had available in our kitchen 😞
Sorrry to hear that. If you can fit in a dual they are really good.
@@fulloffood unfortunately we can't fit it in. We just don't have the space which is why the Double Stack XL was perfect. Back to the drawing board 😞 Great videos on this unit BTW
Uneven sausages were the last straw for me as well!
Totally agree.
Give me a break - have you ever heard of shaking the basket? A common and absolutely necessary step in air fryer cooking.
Can't defend a crap product
@@michaelkramer4741 I get perfect results for sausages without shaking so not absolutely necessary.
Another great video, very informative and yep, defo send it back! Thank you for all the info.
Thank you!
Thank you, helped a lot my decision: I am not purchasing this new Ninja though I loved the design.
Glad I could help! I lived the idea too!
I bought this machine based off the good reviews and have yet to try it but if this is the case then its going straight back to ninja.
I love their machines but at this price you should not expect any uneven cooking
I hope you don’t experience what we did. Such a shame as we had high hopes for it.
I was about to get this because i needed to save horizontal space in my countertop. You saved me the headache thank you. Looks like ill have to wait for the 2nd generation of this
Glad to help. Hopefully the next version will be improved.
i am so disappointed with mine. I am new to air fryer cooking. Had a little one donated by mum in law. It blew up one day and i rushed out and bought one of these without reading reviews. It is such a waste of money and has put me off air fryers. I can't even get chips to cook evenly. I didn't have this trouble with the little round one, I can't remember the make. I don't want to stand there for 20 minutes moving them around, how is that convenient? I had plans to cook whole chickens etc. However, with the uneven cooking and the holes at the back meaning all the juices will pour out everywhere means this is a no from me. I am SO disappointed.
I’m so sorry to hear that? How long have you had it. Try returning it due to the uneven cooking. That’s what we managed to do. Then you could get another air fryer. This machine is not a good example of a typical air fryer.
I didn’t know you could send back if you didn’t like it. I am looking to buy my first air fryer
I don’t like it because it’s not for purpose. Sending it back as it doesn’t work. Shame isn’t it.
Second video I have seen from people I follow saying same thing and was sending his back too
Thanks for your comment.
my first ninja air fryer and its going back same as you said does not cook evenly
Such a shame.
This is what I expected and why I didn’t get it , I don’t even think it’s very practical to fill in and move ect
What baffles me in your reviews is how the front if more cooked knowing the fan is at the back it just doesn’t make sense
It makes perfect sense. Hot air is blown in from the back, and hits the front wall. this is the hottest part, where the air is being stopped by the front side for the drawer. Hence the better cooked sausages at the front of the unit. The front wall is creating a turbulence of hot air, at the front.
Having the air come from the top (on the dual model) is the better design, as the bottom of the crisper plate is getting the hottest of the air.
I know I wonder if the fan must blow the heat forward and it reflects off the front of the drawer and so makes the front hotter. It’s basically a mini fan oven.
@@rdalcroft3934 I just received the US dual stack model and put the crisper tray in the upper position as suggested by the instruction manual and air fried hotdogs. They browned up evenly and quickly. I still have more testing to do but so far I have not had any issues.
@@bahamabreeze1338 the upper drawer must have a more even flow then? Good to know. Thanks!
@@rdalcroft3934 I didn't use the upper drawer only the lower drawer but raised the crisper tray to the upper position in the basket.
Funny thats what i got rid of the side by side one😥
Oh no!
Brilliant video. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your comment it means a lot.
Seems like everyone is having this problem, I’ll look for something else
Yeah. It’s a real problem for them
I made fries and a steak. Fries came out ok. After 20 minutes at 400 degrees, my steak barely started to look like it was cooking. I finished the steak on my counter top grill. I put the baskets in the dishwasher, put it all back together and took it to UPS to return. I bought a Cosori dual basket. I received it yesterday after I’d been to UPS with this Ninja. I’ll try it today. I’m thinking this is going to be a LOT better due to reviews. I really wanted this to work because of the small foot print. Oh well.
Using Ninja Double Stack amzn.to/3MwLmOt
Bad design can't see this being a good seller ninja have failed with this product in my opinion I don't blame you for sending it back it isn't worth the money so many design faults
I agree £270 is a lot.
Your sausages are cremated😅😅 do younot open the drawers and shake or move the food as your supposed to.
I believe that some of your conveniences you bought it can be achieved by for instance, take the drawer out. Season the food and put it back in. All cooking needs tending to. You are cooking. Gzz. Not satisfied bc it's not easy enough is just weird & crazy to me.