Ninja Foodi 2-Basket Air Fryer Review (2023) Ninja DZ201

Let’s start with its Smart Finish setting.

The Smart Finish option is useful when you’re cooking two recipes with different cooking times. They will finish at the same time when you configure this setting. There’s nothing more comforting than a perfectly warm meal.

On the other hand, if you’re making the same recipe, there’s a shortcut for copying the setting of one zone to the other.

The brand calls it “Match Cook.” Instead of entering the temperature, cooking time, or mode over again, you can just press the match cook to port all the settings to the other basket.

This copy-and-paste feature can be helpful when you’re cooking a large batch of fries or chicken wings.

UPDATE: There are two new air fryers with dual basket design—Instant Vortex Plus Dual, Ninja Foodi DZ401.

Anyway, those are the best parts of the Ninja Double Air Fryer, now let’s get to all its pros and cons.

PROS

• Sleek design
• Midrange budget
• Basket air fryer design is easier to use than a pressure cooker air fryer
• Dual basket for bigger capacity (8-qt total)
• Rectangular basket design to fit more food
• Dual-zone technology
• Match Cook (copy and paste settings across zones)
• Smart Finish feature (syncs the cook timemill)
• Wide temperature range (105-450ºF)
• 6 Cooking functions: air fry, broil, roast, bake, dehydrate, reheat
• Adjustable temperature and cooking time
• Dishwasher safe parts
• BPA-free
• 1-year warranty

CONS

• Bulky size
• Lightweight food can fly to the heating element, which will result in burnt smell
• Non-stick degrades with use
• Chemical smell when new
• No auto-pause
• The baskets are not interchangeable

What can I cook with Ninja Foodi 2-Basket Air Fryer?

Aside from crisping up your french fries with less oil, this Ninja double air fryer has a total of six functions up its sleeve. It can also broil, roast, reheat, dehydrate and bake. With a generous capacity, it can be your go-to kitchen appliance for preparing dinner for the family.

Let’s take a closer look at all its capabilities.

Air Broil

It goes the same way with your conventional oven. If you want a golden brown finish for your dish, then the broil function is your friend. It’s Ninja Foodi DZ201’s perfect setting for melting cheese or achieving a crunchy texture for your protein.

Sadly, you can only use one zone for broiling. You can’t broil on both baskets at the same time. Zone 1 will default to this function, but you can switch zones if you need to.

Air Fry

Here’s the kicker:

If you read my review of the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL, you’ll know that it has a Max Crisp function. You won’t find the button in the Ninja Foodi Dual Basket Air Fryer since it’s already built right into the system. It has the same temperature range of 105°F–450°F.

Making your fries or fried chicken more crispy can be done by simply adjusting the temperature and adding more time. There’s no need for a separate Max Crisp button.

Air Broil

It goes the same way with your conventional oven. If you want a golden brown finish for your dish, then the broil function is your friend. It’s Ninja Foodi DZ201’s perfect setting for melting cheese or achieving a crunchy texture for your protein.

Sadly, you can only use one zone for broiling. You can’t broil on both baskets at the same time. Zone 1 will default to this function, but you can switch zones if you need to.

Roast

You can roast your protein on one basket, and on the other side, you can caramelize your carrots or perhaps Brussels sprouts. That’s the beauty of having a two-basket air fryer.

Bake

The bake function is not at all impressive. For instance, using a water bath is a challenge. In other words, baking in the Ninja Foodi 2-Basket Air Fryer is rather limited.

Nevertheless, having the option to make a dessert in an air fryer is still a win.

Dehydrate

While it cannot replace a traditional dehydrator, the ability to dehydrate is a nice thing to have.

On that note, if you were to buy the multi-layer rack accessory, the dehydrate function will be an excellent asset. It takes a long time to dehydrate foods, so it’s better to do it in bulk using a multi-level platform.

Reheat

Instead of using the microwave oven to reheat fried foods, use the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. It will achieve a crispier and better-tasting result.

Pro Tip: Shake or use non-abrasive tongs to flip your ingredients for even cooking.

Is the Ninja DZ201 easy to use?

I’ll be honest, the Ninja Double Air Fryer can be intimidating at first with its multitude of buttons and the dual basket setup. Luckily, after a few runs, you’ll get the hang of it.

If you watched the video above, it’s just like a mini version of a full-sized oven. The only challenging part is setting the right amount of time and temperature for each recipe.

You won’t be able to memorize it, but the good thing is you’ll have a quick start guide courtesy of Shark Ninja.

On top of that, there’s also an included recipe book to get you started right away.

In comparison to the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Max XL, this model doesn’t automatically pause when removing the air fryer basket. To ensure you’re following the cooking time religiously, you’ll have to pause and start it manually whenever you’re shaking or flipping your ingredients.

On a slightly different note:

The cleanup is easy-peasy.

First of all, it’s dishwasher safe, so you can simply load the basket and crisper plate into the dishwasher.

If not, then you can always hand wash it—which is also straightforward.

It has a non-stick coating, so most food residue will come off quickly.
By the way, only use a soft sponge and non-abrasive cleaners to prevent damaging the coating.

Last but not least, use a damp cloth to wipe the main unit.

Thankfully, the brand has a quick guide on how to clean it.

What makes the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer better than its competitors?

The Ninja DZ201 Smart Finish

The Ninja Foodi DZ201 Match Cook

The DZ201 features a smart finish feature. Simply put, the foods will finish simultaneously even if they have different cook times, temps, or perhaps functions.

It works together with the hold function. So, instead of cooking right away, the other zone will not start until it matches the cooking time of the other zone.

*Product Images and Videos Courtesy of Shark Ninja

Alternatively, if you’re cooking the same recipe, you can press the match function to copy the exact same settings. Brilliant right?

For advanced cooks or amateur cooks, this is an excellent feature. It makes sure that both foods will still be hot when served. Plus, you don’t have to worry about setting a timer for yourself on when to start the second dish.

Technical Specifications

Type	Dual Basket Air Fryer / Drawer Type Air Fryer
Brand/Series	Ninja Air Fryer → The Ninja Foodi Collection
Model #	Ninja DZ200, Ninja DZ201
Price	$$$
Rating	4.5 out of 5
Wattage	1690 Watts
Cooking Functions	6-in-1: Air Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate
Basket Shape	Rectangular
Basket Material	Nonstick coated
Capacity	8 quarts, fit 4 lbs of fries
Dishwasher safe	Yes
BPA Free	Yes
Colors	Black/Gray
Dimensions	15.6 x 13.9 x 12.4 inches (39.6 x 35.3 x 31.5 cm)
Cord Length	2.6 ft. (79.2 cm)
Application	Personal Use
Warranty	1 Year
Related Products	Ninja 6-in-1 Air Fryer, Ninja Air Fryer Max XL, Ninja Air Fryer AF101