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- The Ninja Foodi DualZone XL air fryer features two 5-quart baskets to cook two foods simultaneously.
- It has a massive footprint that takes up half a kitchen counter and cooks frozen fries slowly.
- It beat out over 60 models to win best dual-basket unit in our guide to the best air fryers.
Even the best air fryers aren't always designed with larger families in mind. Sure, you might be able to feed your crew a batch of fries or wings, but what about sides? And who wants to stand in the kitchen making one item after another? Enter the large-capacity Ninja Foodi DualZone XL Air Fryer.
Editor's note
After testing more than 60 air fryers — including our latest round of testing in May 2026 — the Ninja Foodi DualZone XL air fryer continues to hold the title of best dual basket model in our comprehensive guide to the best air fryers. It held its spot because it's like getting two air fryers for the price of one: with two 5-quart baskets that cook independently at different temperatures.
Air fryers usually have a capacity of about six quarts. The Ninja DualZone has two five-quart baskets, so it's like having two air fryers in one. I've tested over 60 units, and the DualZone is the best large-capacity air fryer. It's still smaller than the best air fryer toaster ovens but large enough to cook for the whole family. Below are my experiences with it.
Getting started
Setting up the Ninja Foodi DualZone XL Air Fryer is a breeze. You just remove the packaging and plug it in. Before cooking, I recommend running it empty on its hottest setting for 10 minutes to temper the appliance and allow odors to burn off. Then, let it cool down, and wash the baskets and crisper plates.
The two-basket air fryer is initially intimidating since it has many buttons, but they're intuitive once you get started. Here are the different cooking modes and how to use them:
- Separate zone cooking. Press the zone you want to program and the type of cook you want using the dial. Then, use the buttons to adjust the time and temperature.
- Smart Finish. If you want the zones to finish at the same time, press the "Smart Finish" button.
- Match Cook. If you want the same cooking process in both zones, press the "Match Cook" button.
Once everything is set, press the dial to start heating. The Ninja Foodi XL air fryer has several presets, including bake and dehydrate.
Cooking performance
Frozen fries
We cooked a pound of Ore-Ida Extra Crispy Fast Food French Fries in the unit for eight minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, shaking the basket halfway through. We checked for a golden brown color and added more time if needed.
The Ninja was slow. It took 20 minutes to finish the cooking process, more than twice as long as the top performers. However, the resulting fries were outstanding. They were evenly cooked and crispy, reminding me of the best fast-food fries.
Hand-cut fries
In every air fryer we test, we also cook homemade fries. We cut a pound of potatoes into fry-shaped pieces, soak them in cold water for about half an hour, dry them, and toss the fries with olive oil and salt. We air fry them at 375 degrees for 15 minutes and check for doneness. If they aren't crispy, we add more time.
Most air fryers struggle with this test, taking longer than 15 minutes or producing uneven results. While the Ninja Foodi DualZone XL was nowhere near perfect, it was among the best. The fries were crispy and evenly cooked in about 25 minutes, a perfectly respectable time.
Broccoli
Air fryers tend to struggle with cooking broccoli florets, often producing crispy tops and undercooked stems. When testing we spray a pound of broccoli florets with cooking oil, season it, and air fry at 375 degrees until the broccoli is tender.
Most units take at least 12 minutes, but the Ninja produced stellar results in eight. Air fryers can burn the florets before the stems get tender enough; not the Ninja. The florets remained moist and lightly crisped while the stems were a perfect al dente.
Long-term performance
After putting the Ninja through our air fryer testing a year ago, I sent it to Reviews deputy editor Lauren Savoie for long-term testing. She and her husband still love it, primarily using the air fryer function. "I love that it heats quickly and evenly and that you can cook two different foods at the same time," Savoie said.
Cleaning
If something can go in the dishwasher, I generally prefer to clean it that way. The Ninja Foodi DualZone air fryer features dishwasher-safe crisper plates and baskets, but I mostly washed them by hand for two reasons.
First, the baskets take up a lot of room in the dishwasher. It was too much space to devote to something you could easily wash by hand. Secondly, the nonstick coating lasts longer when you wash items by hand. Debris just slid right off the nonstick coating, making clean-up a breeze. However, Savoie noted that removing the crisping plates from the baskets takes some muscle since they're really wedged in.
Check out our article on how to clean an air fryer. Also, if you want to skip cleanup altogether, consider buying one of the best silicone air fryer liners.
Cons to consider
As we already mentioned, the Foodi DualZone XL cooks frozen fries slowly, which may indicate a slower cook time with other frozen foods. It's important to remember that it still cooks faster than a standard oven since there's no need to preheat. Additionally, this Ninja air fryer is larger than most: "It takes up a good half of a standard kitchen counter in footprint," said Savoie.
Savoie also didn't like the loud beeping noises it makes when you set the time and mode. Since it defaults to 20 minutes of cook time — longer than most air-fried items need — you must put up with loud beeps to make almost anything.
What are your alternatives?
While the Ninja Foodi 10 Quart DualZone XL 2-Basket Air Fryer is our favorite pick for families, thanks to the dual-zone flexibility and highly intuitive controls, its substantial countertop footprint might not be a fit for everyone. If you are looking for a high-capacity cooker, here's how the Ninja DualZone compares to two of its closest heavy-duty competitors.
| Our pick | Price | Aesthetic and interface | Best for |
| Ninja Foodi 10 Quart DualZone XL 2-Basket Air Fryer | $230 | A substantial countertop footprint with highly intuitive controls that don't require a manual to master. | People who cook full meals or family portions and want the flexibility to cook two different foods independently or synced to finish at the same time. |
| Philips Dual Basket Air Fryer | $250 | An attractive black exterior with discreet controls and asymmetrical baskets, including a smaller 3.2-quart basket. | Those who want a highly attractive dual-zone appliance but don't need equal-sized cooking baskets. |
| Philips Premium Airfryer XXL | $150 | A classic, extra-large single-basket design from the brand that popularized the air fryer category. | Brand loyalists looking for a massive single-basket capacity. |
The asymmetrical dual-zone rival: If you are willing to spend slightly more for a sleeker aesthetic, the Philips Dual Basket Air Fryer is a premium alternative. Priced at $250, it features an attractive black exterior with discreet controls. The biggest difference between this model and the Ninja DualZone: the Philips trades the two equal 5-quart zones for asymmetrical baskets, which is great for home cooks who want an attractive appliance with great performance, but don't need identically-sized cooking compartments.
The massive single-basket rival: If you want a huge capacity but prefer an undivided cooking space, the Philips Premium Airfryer XXL is a fantastic choice that will save you some money. Priced at $150, it features a classic, extra-large single-basket design, making it the ideal unit for brand loyalists who want to cook massive portions or large single items without the barrier of a dual-basket setup.
Is Ninja a good brand?
We've tested countertop appliances from the Ninja kitchen product line across several categories, and you'll find top picks from the brand in several of our buying guides. We've found that the company excels most at integrating smart sensing technology into its appliances, and is generally known for having some of the most tech-forward features.
Most importantly, the design and performance across most of the Ninja products we've tested have been very reliable. We're big fans of the Ninja Foodi XL Pro air fryer toaster oven, a great alternative to the DualZone if you're looking for a multipurpose cooker. We also recently pitted the viral Ninja Creami against two other popular at-home ice cream makers, and while we liked all three, the Ninja model ultimately made the best ice cream.
If you appreciate the reliability and multi-functional performance of the brand's air fryers, the rest of the Ninja collection of kitchen products is worth exploring.
The bottom line
The Ninja Foodi DualZone XL Air Fryer is the best large-capacity basket air fryer we've tested. While the Ninja is more expensive than most air fryers, it's like having two thanks to the spacious baskets that allow you to cook two foods independently. It's easy to clean and heats evenly for crisp yet moist foods. Plus, after a year of use, it shows no degradation in performance.
Pros: Made moist and evenly heated foods in our tests, cooks two baskets of food in sync or independently, each basket holds five quarts
Cons: Cooks frozen fries slowly, makes loud beeps when you press buttons, takes up more space than most air fryers
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