When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreThe Ninja Foodi DualZone XL Air Fryer is the best large-capacity basket air fryer that can cook multiple items at different temperatures and times simultaneously.Lauren Savoie/Business InsiderThe 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 noteAfter 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 startedSetting 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 performanceAfter testing the performance of the Ninja Foodi DualZone XL Air Fryer, we found that the results were evenly cooked and moist and all had spot-on textures.Lauren Savoie/Business InsiderFrozen friesWe 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 friesIn 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.BroccoliMost air fryers struggle to evenly cook broccoli florets, but the Ninja DualZone aced our broccoli cooking test.Lauren Savoie/Business InsiderAir 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 performanceAfter 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. CleaningIf something can go in the dishwasher, I g
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