We've Tested Dozens of Air Fryers. This Ninja Model Is Our Favorite (by Far)

5 days ago 8

Hand holding cooking lid above glass-bowl air fryer

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

We've Tested Dozens of Air Fryers. This Ninja Model Is Our Favorite (by Far)
Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 portable glass air fryer at a glance
Ninja Crispi operation: How it's different
4 reasons the glass Ninja Crispi is better
Ninja Crispy setup
What I didn't like about the Ninja Crispi
Final verdict on the Ninja Crispi

Air fryers come in all shapes and sizes. There are toaster oven-style air fryers, Instant Pot air fryers and many full-size ovens that even feature an air fryer function. I've tried almost all of them, and one stands out as the best for an average home cook.

Following loads of air fryer testing -- more than two dozen models at last count -- the glass-bowl Ninja Crispihas emerged as CNET's top pick overall.

After using Ninja's innovative Crispi glass air fryer for more than a year, with its nontoxic chambers that double as serving bowls and storage containers, I'm still all in. The glass cooking chamber and modular build represent the most significant advancement in air fryer design since these appliances appeared more than ten years ago.

ninja crispi bowls with chicken and sprouts inside

The Crispi has a nontoxic glass cooking chamber that's easy to clean, and its cooking power is as good or better than any we've tested. Plus, the entire unit breaks down for easy storage after use -- a claim that 99% of other air fryers can't make.

Here's how the Ninja Crispi glass air fryer works, along with four key reasons I made the switch.

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 operation: How it's different

A Ninja Crispi is air frying chicken. The fryer basket is a glass cooking chamber.

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 their 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 activate a digital timer, allowing you to add or subtract minutes. (The timer defaults to 10.) When the timer is below 1 minute, it switches to seconds, and the device beeps to alert you when the cycle is complete. Overall, the Ninja Crispi's sound level was similar to that of conventional air fryer models, with a moderate whir while operating.

4 reasons the glass Ninja Crispi is better

1. I can check the progress of my food without losing heat

As expected, the ability to see the cooking in progress was really satisfying, both from a nerdy perspective and as a way to look for visual cues to determine when to flip items or assess doneness. Both chicken parts and Brussels sprouts were cooked evenly and efficiently, with little risk of overcooking, given the 360-degree view into the proceedings.

Because I can track progress without opening the basket or stopping the machine, food cooks faster. Who doesn't love that?

2. Glass bowls are nontoxic and easy to clean

Most air fryers use aluminum cooking baskets with a nonstick coating. Those coatings tend to chip and break down if you're not careful. Plenty of folks are concerned about the health ramifications for ingesting nonstick chemicals that chip off cookware. With a glass-bowl air fryer, there's no worry.

If that's not enough, glass is much easier to deep-clean than nonstick surfaces and you can use the dishwasher without issue.

3. The glass bowls double as food storage containers

Ninja Crispi baskets store the cooked chicken and brussels sprouts as can be seen through the glass.

The versatility, however, makes the Ninja Crispi tremendously interesting, especially for avid meal preppers. Full meals or individual cooked components can be stored directly from the cooking process in the fridge, thanks to 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 various sizes can be purchased separately, allowing for the preparation of multiple individually cooked meals with no cleanup required between uses: simply 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.

4. It breaks down for easy storage

Ninja Crispi air fryer has been taken apart and stored in a drawer.

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 or even just a self-care hot meal -- and you can even justify cooking on site. Either of the cooking bowls or 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.

Ninja Crispy setup

Nina Crispi sits empty on counter next to a spare glass air frying basket.

Although it doesn't resemble a typical air fryer, the Ninja Crispi was intuitive to set up and use. Each glass cooking vessel has a built-in stand with feet that keeps it off the counter. Side handles are also fitted to the bowls' stands, allowing easy transportation between the counter and the table (since the vessels can also be used for serving) and making it easy to shake the contents as needed during cooking.

The nonstick crisper plates were packaged separately and were easy to place in the bowls and 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 features an ergonomic shape for easy lifting and includes feet for secure 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.

What I didn't like about the Ninja Crispi

As a modular device with numerous built-in practicalities and versatility, the Ninja Crispi is a game-changer in the air fryer market. That said, at $160, it's on the more-expensive side for an air fryer.

Those with little ones in the house may also want to note that when the cooking pod is used with the adapter for large batches, the adapter can become hot and potentially expose them once the heating pod is removed. Never mind little ones; if you're an absent-minded cook yourself, it can be a hazard.

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. You may want to look for it on sale during Prime Day or a similar event, but even without a discount, its utility and the Ninja brand's reputation justify its price tag.

Read Entire Article