Pros
- Cook, serve, and storage capabilities
- Easy to clean: almost everything is dishwasher-safe
- Intuitive operation
- No concern about PFAS
- Ability to see cooking in progress
- Can buy additional glass vessels for maximum food prep
- Small storage footprint with nesting capabilities
- Portable
Cons
- Price is on the high side for air fryers
- Some exposed hot elements during operation
Ninja is known for reinventing kitchen tools and cookware. One of the brand's latest updates is on everyone's favorite small appliance -- or at least ours -- the air fryer.
The $180 Crispi features a glass cooking chamber making it easy to get spotless and free from any chemical coating like other nonstick air fryer baskets. The chamber also transforms into food storage with the included airtight lids. I tested the function forward new countertop cooker for two weeks and give it an enthusiastic CNET Editor's Choice award.
The Ninja Crispi is our new favorite air fryer.
While it's not technically the first air fryer with a glass cooking chamber to hit the market -- we've tested this self-cleaning air fryer and found it OK, for instance -- it's by far the best. Ninja's Crispi, available for $180 for the full-sized model or $98 for the smaller 4-quart version. The two glass bowls double as portable containers for transport immediately after cooking and get cleaner than nonstick baskets ever could.
Here's everything you need to know about the Ninja Crispi and why it just might be the best air fryer we've tested.
Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 portable glass air fryer at a glance
- Style: Modular air fryer with two sizes of glass cooking vessels and a separate cooking pod in three color options
- Dimensions: 13.5 by 12 by 13.5 inches
- Power: 1,500 watts
- Weight: 15.74 pounds
- Price $160
Ninja Crispi setup
Here's everything that comes with the Ninja Crispi.
Despite not looking anything like a typical air fryer, the Ninja Crispi was intuitive to set up and use. Each of the glass cooking vessels has a built-in stand with feet that keeps it off the counter surface. Side handles are also fitted on the stands of the bowls, which allow not only for easy transporting between the counter and the table (because the vessels can also be used to serve) but also make it easy to shake the contents as needed during the cooking process.
The nonstick crisper plates were packaged separately and simple to place inside the bowls and to remove for cleaning. Lids for the 6-cup and 4-quart bowls were also included: a snap-on lid for the smaller and a simpler press-on lid for the larger.
The cooking pod itself has an ergonomic shape for easy lifting and also has feet for safe placement on the counter when not in use. The cooking pod sits easily on top of the 6-cup bowl and a big-batch adapter frame fits the cooking pod onto the larger bowl. Between unwrapping and rinsing all of the washable parts, I was ready to go in about 2 minutes.
Ninja Crispi operation
Being able to visually track progress is one of the big draws for Ninja's new air fryer.
The cooking pod itself includes crisp, bake, air fry and max crisp functions. Crisp is intended to revive leftovers, while max crisp is the ideal setting for packaged frozen foods. While it is tempting, given its baking dish look, the glass TempWare bowls are not intended to be used as the actual cooking vessels for batters in bake mode, because air still needs to circulate below the cooking vessels to be effective. (Will I try anyway? The temptation is real…)
Pressing any button will indicate a digital timer to which you can add or subtract minutes. (The timer defaults to 10.) Below 1 minute, the timer changes into seconds and the device beeps to alert you when the cycle is complete. Overall, the sound level of the Ninja Crispi was similar to conventional air fryer models, with just a moderate whir when operating.
What I liked about the Ninja Crispi
The cooked food is ready to be packed away or brought to a party as soon as it's ready.
As expected, the ability to see the cooking in progress was really satisfying, both from a nerdy perspective and also to be able to look for visual cues in terms of when to flip your items or to assess doneness. Both chicken parts and Brussels sprouts were cooked evenly and efficiently with little risk of over-cooking given the 360-degree window into the proceedings.
The versatility, however, makes the Ninja Crispi tremendously interesting, especially for avid meal preppers. Full meals or individual cooked components can go right from cooking into the fridge, with the included lids for easy storage. (Although I am bound by refrigerator logistics to tell you to let it all cool first, so you don't inadvertently raise the temperature inside your fridge.)
Additional cooking bowls in a variety of sizes can be purchased separately, allowing for the possibility of a multitude of individually cooked meals with no cleanup required in between use: just transfer the cooking pod from one cooking vessel to the next, assembly-line style. Sunday meal prep has never been easier, nor required fewer dishes.
My brussels sprouts got a good char in the Crispi.
The Ninja Crispi is also easy to store, with a footprint and height requirement that is far less than a lot of conventional models. It also makes for easy portability -- ideal for a potluck situation or even just a hot-meal self-care moment -- where you could even justify cooking on site. Either of the cooking bowls and the cooking pod could easily fit in a shoulder bag. If I worked in an office, it would thrill me to bring the whole thing with me to have a hot, healthful lunch without reheating. Although if you're contemplating being the person to cook fish directly at your desk -- maybe don't.
Not only can the larger 4-quart bowl be used directly as a family-style serving vessel -- whose practical feet preclude the need for a trivet or pot holder -- but one could argue that the smaller 4-cup vessel can be used to eat out of directly, significantly reducing the number of dishes to wash. Speaking of washing, everything except the cooking pod itself is dishwasher-safe.
What I didn't like about the Ninja Crispi
Convenient as it, the glass cooking chamber does get hotter than your average air fryer base.
As a modular device with a ton of built-in practicality and versatility, I do think the Ninja Crispi is a game-changer in the air fryer market. That said, at $180 it's on the higher side, price-wise, for an air fryer.
Those with little ones in the house also may want to note: When the cooking pod is being used with the adapter for large batches, the adapter can become hot and is potentially exposed once the heating pod is removed. Never minding little ones, if you're an absent-minded cook yourself, it can be a hazard.
Read more: 8 Foods That Go From Good to Great in an Air Fryer
Final verdict on the Ninja Crispi
If you're a disciple of air fryer cooking and, especially if you have a serious commitment to meal prepping, the Ninja Crispi is arguably one of the most versatile models on the market. It's satisfying to use and easy to store and clean. I may look for it on sale during Prime Days or the like, but even without a discount, its utility and the reputation of the Ninja brand merits its price tag.