Ninja SL401 DoubleStack XL 2-Basket Air Fryer Review: A Space-Saving Powerhouse
Ninja SL401 DoubleStack XL 2-Basket Air Fryer Review: A Space-Saving Powerhouse
What Makes the Ninja SL401 Stand Out?
1. Space-Saving Stacked Design
One of the most impressive features of the Ninja SL401 is its double-stack technology. Unlike traditional two-basket air fryers, this model is designed vertically, which allows it to fit neatly under standard cabinets without taking up too much counter space. At 40% slimmer than conventional dual-basket air fryers, it’s an ideal choice for smaller kitchens while still offering ample cooking capacity.
2. Cook More in Less Time
The stacked design isn't just about saving space—it also allows you to cook four different foods at once. Thanks to the two independently controlled baskets and included stacked meal racks, you can cook on two levels per basket. I found this particularly useful when preparing a full meal, as I could air fry chicken in one section while roasting vegetables in another. The ability to cook multiple foods simultaneously while maintaining crispiness is a game-changer.
3. Smart Cooking Features
This air fryer is equipped with Smart Finish & Match Cook technology, which enhances convenience. Smart Finish allows you to cook two different foods with different settings and have them finish cooking at the same time. Meanwhile, the Match Cook feature lets you sync both baskets to cook a larger portion with the same settings. I used this feature to prepare a family-sized portion of crispy French fries and chicken wings, and everything turned out perfectly timed and evenly cooked.
4. Large Family-Sized Capacity
Despite its compact design, the Ninja SL401 has a 10-quart capacity, making it perfect for families. It easily fits two 5-lb chickens, allowing you to prepare meals for up to eight people. If you love hosting dinners or need to cook for a large family, this air fryer is a fantastic solution.
5. Versatile Cooking Options
The Ninja SL401 is more than just an air fryer. It offers six cooking functions: Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate. I tested each function, and the results were consistently excellent. The Air Fry setting delivered crispy, golden-brown fries with minimal oil, while the Bake function produced perfectly fluffy muffins. It’s an incredibly versatile appliance that replaces multiple kitchen gadgets.
What I Liked About the Ninja SL401
Compact yet spacious: The stacked design makes it easy to store while still offering ample cooking space.
Cooks multiple foods simultaneously: The dual baskets and meal racks allow for efficient multi-level cooking.
Smart cooking features: Smart Finish & Match Cook eliminate the need for manual monitoring.
Easy to clean: The non-stick baskets and meal racks are dishwasher safe, making cleanup hassle-free.
Wide range of cooking functions: It’s not just an air fryer—it can bake, broil, roast, and more.
Amazon Buying Guide: What to Consider Before Purchasing the Ninja SL401
1. Capacity Needs
Before purchasing an air fryer, consider your household size and cooking needs. The Ninja SL401 offers 10 quarts of cooking space, making it ideal for families and those who entertain frequently. If you typically cook for just one or two people, you might prefer a smaller model.
2. Available Counter Space
Although the SL401 is 40% slimmer than traditional two-basket air fryers, it’s still important to ensure you have enough space in your kitchen. Check the dimensions (11.25"D x 19.22"W x 15.14"H) to see if it will fit comfortably under your cabinets.
3. Cooking Features
This air fryer offers six cooking functions, making it a versatile investment. If you want an appliance that can handle air frying, baking, broiling, and roasting, this model is a great choice.
4. Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning kitchen appliances can be a hassle, but the Ninja SL401 has dishwasher-safe parts, including the baskets and meal racks. If you prefer easy cleanup, this is a huge plus.
5. Budget Considerations
The Ninja SL401 is available at different price points depending on the configuration (standard, with a thermometer, etc.). Compare prices and determine whether the added features are worth the extra investment.
Final Thoughts: Is the Ninja SL401 Worth It?
After using the Ninja SL401 DoubleStack XL 2-Basket Air Fryer, I can confidently say that it’s a fantastic kitchen appliance. It combines space-saving design, high capacity, smart cooking features, and multiple functions, making it a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to simplify meal preparation. If you need a powerful, versatile, and compact air fryer that can cook multiple foods at once, this is one of the best options available.
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Top reviews from the United States
- MKCIRCLE EnterprisesReviewed in the United States on January 5, 2025
Love love love this fryer!
Size: 10 QTPerfect for a slender space. It is a great space saver product. The most easy to clean fryer I have owned. Meals come out perfect every time. Easy yo use, but I do recommend taking the time to read the instructions. We love the double fry drawers, you can cook a full meal using drawers simultaneously. Lastly, rack drawers have a rack inside so you can cook two different things at the same time. We use it to make out toast and bengals too! Great buy! - DannerReviewed in the United States on November 11, 2024
Takes up little space, and cooks great.
Size: 10 QTPicked this up to replace an old Power XL that has the basket coating peeling off and is no longer safe to use without a replacement basket. Seems more difficult to get a basket than what it was worth so decided to just upgrade to a newer unit instead.
I picked this up using Amazon card points and got it for roughly half of the normal retail thanks to said points. This is important because I don't think it's really worth the premium price outright. Originally I purchased the 8Qt version, and unfortunately one of the crisper grates that came in it had the coating peeling off right out of the box. I tried to get both Amazon and Ninja to simply send me a replacement plate, but neither one was able to do that. I had to ship the entire unit back and re-order. Since I was able to inspect the 8Qt when it came in, I decided the 10Qt would be better for the larger basket size and placed a new order for that instead.
The 10Qt unit takes up virtually the same space as the 8Qt but you gain a little more basket space so it's easier to fit larger items in (chicken quarters, salmon filets, longer vegetables etc...). I'm very happy with the overall design of the unit. It vents hot air out of the side of the unit as opposed to it out the back of the unit on other air fryers, which I find as a huge positive. Our old fryer vented out the back and it completely discolored the receptacle wall plate (which would likely have caused even further issues if it had ran longer....wall paint, outlet itself, counter back splash?) So having it vent out the side where nothing is against it is much nicer (PLEASE DON'T PUT THE VENT AGAINST A WALL PEOPLE).
The biggest downfall this device has, is the feedback sounds when you start up the air fryer or when it ends. Although it's nice to have a loud indication that the air fryer is done cooking, It's very obnoxious on start up with how loud the starting feedback is. This isn't a deal breaker, but Ninja really should have included a way to adjust the sound level.
Others have noted that this air fryer seems to take longer to cook things, and after a handful of cooks I can attest that seems to be accurate compared to our old single bay unit that had the heat apply from the top. With that being said, I wouldn't go back....Even with it taking maybe 10-20% longer on a cook (this is around 1-10 min longer depending on what you're cooking). The unit is very good at cooking evenly if you do what you're supposed to and rotate/shake your food. Any style of cooking requires you to move the food around for even coverage, people reviewing this expecting them to be perfectly uniform heat wise at every point inside the basket don't understand how convection cooking works apparently. You wouldn't expect a burger to cook uniformly in a pan or on a flat top without flipping it....so why would you think it would be any different in a different cooking device.
If you're looking to save on counter space, I would argue that this MIGHT be worth the premium. But I would more strongly encourage you to pick this up on a sale than at normal retail price. I think Ninja is being a little greedy with the price they're asking for this when it works the same as their side by side units, it's just simply rotated to be stacked as opposed to being side by side.
It works great, the biggest thing to get used to would be the smaller individual basket sizes if you're coming from a single basket unit like we did (Went from a single 7Qt to dual 5Qts). I would definitely recommend giving this a shot if you're looking to save on counter space. Built quality is solid, the baskets are very easy to "toss" your food around, And it's very easy to clean. We haven't really tried out the smarter features yet where it will cooking two different things at varying temps and finish at the same time....But I'm sure that will work great based on the few cooks we've done so far. Just get your cooking times figured out and it'll become that much easier and dialed in to use. Just be ready for the loud feedback noise when you push "start" and when it ends.
[FYI the feedback noise only plays when pushing start or when the unit finishes cooking, it will not make any audible noises while dialing in settings (and this is a very good thing, because if it did, then this would be a 2/5)] - carlosReviewed in the United States on January 26, 2025
Spacious, Easy-to-Clean Air Fryer with Innovative Double Stack Design
Size: 10 QTThe Ninja SL401 Double Stack Air Fryer has been a practical addition to my kitchen. The double-stack design is very spacious, allowing me to cook more food at once, and the included rack is a thoughtful feature for dividing each basket—perfect for items like fries. I did notice that food on the rack tends to come out slightly crispier than food on the bottom plate, which works well for different textures.
Cleaning is straightforward, as the racks and baskets are removable and easy to wash. The Smart Finish feature ensures that both the top and bottom baskets finish cooking at the same time, making it easy to serve multiple types of food together. This feature has resolved the issue of staggered meals I faced with my previous air fryer. While it’s not the smallest appliance, the stacked design saves counter space compared to side-by-side models and fits neatly between the countertop and cabinets. Overall, it’s a well-designed and functional air fryer for families. - sandydog143Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025
Super upgrade from the original!
Size: 10 QT + ThermometerThe double stack is great, super easy to operate both at once too! Airfryers really are the next step in home cooking. They help in fresh recipes and they are the future of reheating leftovers and most frozen meals. Nowadays with an airfryer, ill start most reheat or frozen foods in the microwave, and then finish in the Af for that perfect light, crispy, fresh taste, crunch, and proper mouth feel. And Ninja makes the best airfryers. We owned the original, bought another brand as a replacement and wasn't happy with it at all. Ninja is the way to go. The baskets are slick coated amd easy to clean, the model we bought came with food racks which really help for all side crispiness.
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