Stacked air fryers are a huge help for cutting countertop clutter and there was one standout product that started the whole vertical cooking trend: Ninja’s DoubleStack air fryer.
Released in 2024, it was a triumph for tidy kitchen lovers who also couldn’t bear to lose out on the merits of one of the best Ninja air fryers. I definitely count myself as one of its fans – it’s yet to be superseded on my kitchen worktop.
But, while it’s undoubtedly one of the best air fryers out there, at £269 I totally see why it’s too expensive for many. That’s where Salter’s £99 alternative – the VertiCook – comes into the frame. I’ve tried both to show you the difference in the two given their relative RRPs.
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Ninja
DoubleStack Air Fryer
With a 9.5 litre capacity, this air fryer comes with racks in order to create 4 distinct areas for cooking different foods.
Read our full Ninja DoubleStack review for the details.
Salter
VertiCook Stackable Air Fryer
There’s 9 litres of capacity on offer with Salter’s version as well as wood-effect accents to fit with your kitchen.
Read our full Salter VertiCook review for the details.
1. Quality of controls
A huge pro to dual-zone air fryers is the ability to program each drawer at different temperatures or for different cooking times (or to do both at the same time). But of course, to get there, you need to punch in the controls first.
To put it plainly, this is harder to do with Salter’s more affordable version than it is with the NinjaDoubleStack. Both use vaguely confusing language on their control panels (unless you have a natural knack for knowing what VertiCook Ultra or DoubleStack Pro mean off the bat), but that learning curve is definitely a little steeper with Salter’s product.
The control panel with the VertiCook favours symbols for the presets over words which I’m not such a fan of, especially when I’m in a rush.
Trying to match the small images with the presets is a bit laborious compared to Ninja’s alternative, where the 6 settings (Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Reheat) are plainly laid out in words instead and you use the air fryer’s control knob to select the right one.
As I mentioned before, this is a learning curve so if you do end up opting for Salter’s version, it’s definitely something you can get to grips with quickly. Our tester Annie didn’t have an issue with it in her in-depth review of the VertiCook View model from Salter in her review, which is extremely similar.
One of the big pros of spending more money on Ninja kitchen appliances is that they’re so easy to use, which means on the controls front, there’s a clear winner for me.
Winner: Ninja’s DoubleStack
2. Evenness of cooking
The fan, which is the element in an air fryer that allows it to cook food so fast, is recalibrated in a stacked design – sitting along the back rather than at the top of the unit.
In my experience, this can prove to be a little problematic when it comes to the evenness of cooking, as it means you must shake the contents of each drawer more frequently to stop food at the front cooking more quickly (which is where the heat, pushed from the fan, ends up gathering).
With my Ninja DoubleStack, this means I have to stay vigilant with shaking and turning food to prevent burning (as it’s super powerful) and I found the same with the Salter VertiCook when I took it for a spin at our test centre. Our reviewer Annie also found that shaking was imperative with the VertiCook for everyday family cooking in her review.
In the VertiCook’s favour however, I didn’t find that kind of heat unevenness when I tried it with a shorter cooking task (baking breakfast muffins).
In short then, it’s unfortunate that both of these air fryers have a bit of an issue with cooking evenness that means you must be vigilant with keeping an eye on cooking progress. Neither have shake reminders either, which is a missed oppurtunity. For the higher price, I’d like to see more from Ninja.
Winner: Salter’s VertiCook
3. Overall finish
It’s my job to try and tell people why it’s worth buying one, but even I can admit that an air fryer isn’t the most sightly of kitchen appliances. That’s why the design of a stacked version appeals to many – they’re easier to make space on a countertop for or even to hide away, if you so wish.
If you have no choice but to keep yours out on display, the finish and look of an air fryer is going to matter a lot. And I think both Salter and Ninja’s offerings bring a lot to the table on the looks front (within reason).
My DoubleStack is white, which makes such a difference to the brightness of the kitchen in my rented flat, especially given that my toaster and kettle are the same sahde. You can also pick it up in Grey, Black or Black with gold accents.
Salter’s range is similarly impressive within the Vertical range, especially with the offering of faux wood accents on the handles to match the brand’s Toronto kettle and toaster range.
The overall winner is hard to award here, as the value of Salter’s range is just so good (there are so many excellent picks under £100), but I think Ninja has the edge on the quality of finish overall with the handles and drawers.
Winner: Ninja DoubleStack
The winner
For me the Ninja DoubleStack, which is the original stacked air fryer, has to win the battle here. It’s more expensive by miles, but it’s more enjoyable on the whole to use (especially if you’d reach for it multiple times a day).
That’s not to say Salter’s version isn’t worth your time, especially if you’re on a budget. I’ve been super impressed every time I’ve tried it given the price and I love the option to pick a colour to suit your kitchen. For under £100, it’s a great option for those looking to save on space.
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