In a surprising turn for kitchen appliance enthusiasts, Salter has launched an air fryer that directly challenges premium brands while costing significantly less. The Salter Verticook, priced at just £74.99 during Black Friday promotions, offers functionality remarkably similar to the acclaimed Ninja Double Stack XL, which typically retails for £269.99.
A Budget-Friendly Alternative Emerges
When Ninja introduced its innovative Double Stack air fryer, it received widespread praise from industry experts. However, its premium price point of £269.99 placed it out of reach for many budget-conscious consumers. Even during sales events, finding the Ninja model for less than £220 proved challenging.
Salter's response comes in the form of the Verticook, a strikingly similar dual-drawer air fryer that maintains the core functionality while slashing the price dramatically. At £74.99, it represents less than half the cost of its premium competitor, raising questions about what compromises might have been made to achieve such aggressive pricing.
Performance That Defies Expectations
After several weeks of rigorous testing with various meal types, the Salter Verticook has demonstrated impressive cooking capabilities that closely match its more expensive counterpart. The appliance features the same practical meal rack system that effectively doubles the surface area of each drawer, allowing for efficient cooking of multiple portions simultaneously.
Where the Verticook actually surpasses the Ninja model is in its number of cooking presets. Salter includes 12 preset programs, compared to just six in the Ninja Double Stack. Both models offer the convenience of dual independent drawers, enabling users to cook different foods at separate temperatures with individual timers - the appliance automatically coordinates the cooking process.
Surprising Advantages Over Premium Competition
One particularly clever feature that sets the Salter Verticook apart is the inclusion of clear viewing panels in both drawers. This innovative design element allows cooks to monitor their food's progress without interrupting the cooking cycle by opening the drawers. Surprisingly, this practical feature isn't available on the more expensive Ninja model.
In terms of capacity, the Verticook offers nine litres of cooking space, slightly less than the Ninja Double Stack XL's 9.5 litres but more than adequate for most family meals. Even Ninja's smaller 7.6-litre model costs significantly more than the Salter alternative, typically retailing at twice the price.
While the Ninja undoubtedly feels more premium with its metal handles, more responsive touch-screen controls, and higher-quality drawer mechanisms, these advantages come at a substantial cost premium. For everyday cooking performance, the Salter Verticook delivers remarkably similar results without the luxury price tag.
The Verdict: Exceptional Value for Money
The traditional wisdom of "you get what you pay for" doesn't entirely apply in this case. While the Ninja Double Stack remains the more premium product in terms of build quality and brand prestige, the Salter Verticook performs almost identically in practical cooking tasks for less than half the price.
For consumers who prioritise functionality over brand recognition and want to maximise their kitchen appliance budget, the Salter Verticook represents an outstanding opportunity. Its combination of effective performance, useful features like the viewing windows, and aggressive pricing makes it one of the most compelling kitchen appliance bargains currently available.
