Ninja Foodi DZ201 2-Basket Air Fryer

Ninja Foodi DZ201 2-Basket Air Fryer

By Ninja · Air Fryers · Kitchen & Cooking

  • 8-quart total capacity across two independent 4-quart baskets
  • DualZone: two baskets, independent time/temp per basket
  • Match Cook and Smart Finish (sync both baskets to finish together)
  • 6-in-1: air fry, roast, broil, dehydrate, and more

Lowest price seen
$140.79
from $140.79 at eBay · Checked Oct 12, 2026

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Problems, parts and running costs

Summary

A dual-basket air fryer whose real trick is workflow: two independent 4-qt zones with their own settings, plus Smart Finish, which delays the shorter cook so both foods finish together. Measure your counter and your circuit before you buy — the machine is wide, and its 1,690 W draw trips overloaded kitchen circuits.

Strengths

  • Cook two foods at two different settings at once — the core reason to buy it.
  • Smart Finish solves the eternal “main and side ready at the same time” problem.
  • Match Cook mirrors one program across both drawers, which makes batch cooking quick to set up.
  • The 105–450°F range runs from dehydration to broiling-hot crisping.
  • Heats fast with no mandatory preheat; RTINGS found good frying quality and stable temperatures.
  • Cleanup is genuinely easy: two removable nonstick baskets and plates.

Weaknesses

  • Two 4-qt drawers are not one big cavity: each basket floor is roughly 8 × 6.5 in, so a whole chicken or pizza does not fit.
  • Packed baskets cook unevenly — Tom’s Guide’s 4-lb fry test produced a mix of crisp, dry, pale and soft fries, and RTINGS measured an undercooked fraction too.
  • Multiple owners report that running both zones takes longer than one; others see no penalty.
  • Some owners report one zone cooking differently or shutting off in Match Cook — real reports, but no known defect rate.
  • The 1,690 W draw trips breakers on shared or older circuits, especially alongside other appliances.
  • Control beeps annoy some owners — a recurring Ninja dual-zone complaint, though nobody has published a measurement for this model.

Verified specifications

Capacity8 qt total, split into two independent 4-qt baskets, each with its own heater and fan.
FunctionsAir Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate.
Temperature range105–450°F across functions.
Power120 V, 1,690 W, 15 A; 32-in cord.
Dimensions15.63 × 13.86 × 12.4 in; 17.9 lb.
Food capacityup to 4 lb of fries or wings across both baskets, per Ninja.
ProgramsSmart Finish syncs finish times; Match Cook mirrors one program across both baskets.
Cleaningnonstick baskets and crisper plates, dishwasher-safe per Ninja.
Warranty1-year limited manufacturer warranty.
No temperature probe.
In the boxmain unit, two 4-qt baskets, two crisper plates, 15 recipes and cooking charts.
Full research notes and sources

Cooking with two baskets

Each drawer runs its own function, temperature and time, so chicken and fries can cook at different settings side by side. Smart Finish is the standout: it automatically delays the shorter program until both zones end together. Match Cook does the opposite job, copying one program to both drawers for a bigger batch. For small jobs you can run a single drawer and leave the other clean — owners mostly reach for the pair when cooking a main and a side, or for batch cooking.

Evenness and capacity

The 8-qt headline is two drawers, not one cavity. Air fryers crisp by moving air around food, and food with room crisps better: both labs got their weakest results from heavily loaded baskets. Tom’s Guide cooked 4 lb of scratch fries across both zones and pulled out a mix of crisp, dry, pale and soft; RTINGS measured a meaningful undercooked fraction in its fry test. Wings, breaded chicken, burgers and vegetables did well in their tests when the baskets were not packed. Plan on batches for anything loose-cut, and on pieces rather than whole birds or pizza.

Power and circuits

Ninja rates the DZ201 at 1,690 W on a 15-A circuit; RTINGS measured about 1,540 W with both zones running and 1,470 W with one. That is under the nameplate and still enough to matter: owners on shared or older circuits report tripped breakers when the fryer runs alongside a microwave or coffee maker. Give it its own outlet, and note the cord is 32 in long.

Is it worth it?

The value case is specific: households that routinely cook a protein and a side at different settings, and hate sequential batches. If most of your cooking is one dish at a time, a basic single-basket fryer does the same job for less and gives large pieces more room. Refurbished units show up at lower prices, but warranty and condition differ from new. Check the store panel above for current prices.

Which model this is

This page covers the Ninja Foodi DZ201, the 8-qt two-basket model. The current Amazon listing is ASIN B0CL81KCWQ, and older references used a different ASIN, so match on the DZ201 model number rather than the ASIN.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Buying guides for this category

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