Execs
- Cook dinner, serve, and storage capabilities
- Simple to wash: virtually every thing is dishwasher-safe
- Intuitive operation
- No concern about PFAS
- Potential to see cooking in progress
- Should purchase extra glass vessels for optimum meals prep
- Small storage footprint with nesting capabilities
- Moveable
Cons
- Worth is on the excessive aspect for air fryers
- Some uncovered sizzling components throughout operation
Air fryer ovens have transitioned from passing fad to once-in-a-lifetime kitchen craze. Testing air fryers is extra of a life-style than a interest for us — at CNET, we not solely love the speedy countertop convection ovens, however we’re on a mission to search out the very best of the very best.
Whereas some massive and budget-friendly fashions have impressed us sufficient to make the coveted list of best air fryers, just one reigns supreme as the very best total air fryer. On the high of our record is an progressive glass-bowl air fryer from Ninja. It matches the efficiency of any mannequin we have examined, however its distinctive glass-bowl design offers it an actual edge over the normal basket-style competitors.
This distinctive Ninja air fryer has impressed hoards of copycats, however the authentic continues to be our high choose.
After cooking with Ninja’s Crispi glass air fryer for nearly two years, we have but to search out one other that mixes ease of use, unhazardous supplies and pure cooking prowess fairly like this one. The Crispi makes air frying enjoyable, and the glass chambers with tight-fitting lids act as extra than simply vessels for scorching wings, fries and mushrooms. Plus, the complete unit breaks down for simple storage after use — a characteristic that 99% of different air fryers lack.
Learn extra: Air Fryer Fails: 8 Foods That Just Can’t Handle the Heat
This is why the Ninja Crispi glass air fryer is the very best air fryer purchase in 2026.
Ninja Crispi glass air fryer at a look
- Model: Modular air fryer with two sizes of glass cooking vessels and a separate cooking pod in three colours
- Dimensions: 13.5 by 12 by 13.5 inches
- Energy: 1,500 watts
- Weight: 15.74 kilos
- Worth $180 (at the moment on sale for $160)
Ninja Crispi operation: The way it’s totally different
With the ability to visually observe progress is among the massive attracts for Ninja’s air fryer.
The cooking pod itself consists of crisp, bake, air fry and max crisp features. Crisp is meant to revive leftovers, whereas Max Crisp is the perfect setting for packaged frozen meals. Whereas it’s tempting, given their baking dish look, the glass TempWare bowls should not meant for use because the precise cooking vessels for batters in bake mode, as a result of air nonetheless must flow into under the cooking vessels to be efficient. (Will I strive anyway? The temptation is actual.)
Urgent any button will activate a digital timer, permitting you so as to add or subtract minutes. (The timer defaults to 10.) When the timer is under 1 minute, it switches to seconds, and the system beeps to warn you when the cycle is full. General, the Ninja Crispi’s sound stage was much like that of typical air fryer fashions, with a average whirring noise throughout operation.
4 causes to like the Ninja Crispi glass air fryer
1. I can examine the progress of my meals with out dropping warmth
You may observe cooking progress with out stopping the machine.
As anticipated, the power to see the cooking in progress was actually satisfying, from a nerdy perspective and as a option to search for visible cues to find out when to flip gadgets or assess doneness. Hen components and Brussels sprouts had been cooked evenly and effectively, with little threat of overcooking, given the 360-degree view into the proceedings.
As a result of I can observe progress with out opening the basket or stopping the machine, meals cooks quicker. Who does not love that?
2. Glass bowls are unhazardous and simple to wash
We discovered the glass cooking chamber superior on a number of fronts.
Most air fryers use aluminum cooking baskets with a nonstick coating. These coatings are inclined to chip and break down in case you’re not cautious. Many individuals are involved in regards to the well being ramifications of ingesting nonstick chemical compounds that chip off cookware. With a glass-bowl air fryer, there is not any fear.
If that is not sufficient, glass is way simpler to deep-clean than nonstick surfaces and you should utilize the dishwasher with out problem.
3. The glass bowls double as meals storage containers
The cooked meals is able to be packed away or dropped at a celebration as quickly because it’s completed.
The flexibility, nevertheless, makes the Ninja Crispi tremendously fascinating, particularly for avid meal preppers. Full meals or particular person cooked elements may be saved straight from the cooking course of within the fridge, due to the included lids for simple storage. (Though I’m sure by fridge logistics to inform you to let all of it cool first, so you do not inadvertently elevate the temperature inside your fridge.)
Extra cooking bowls in numerous sizes may be bought individually, permitting for the preparation of a number of individually cooked meals with no cleanup required between makes use of: merely switch the cooking pod from one cooking vessel to the following, assembly-line model. Sunday meal prep has by no means been simpler, nor required fewer dishes.
4. It breaks down for simple storage
Not many air fryers break down for simple storage the way in which the Crispi does.
The Ninja Crispi can also be straightforward to retailer, with a footprint and top requirement that’s far lower than a whole lot of typical fashions. It additionally makes for simple portability — preferrred for a potluck and even only a self-care sizzling meal — and you may even justify cooking on website. Both of the cooking bowls or the cooking pod may simply slot in a shoulder bag. If I labored in an workplace, it will thrill me to carry the entire thing with me so I may have a sizzling, wholesome lunch with out reheating. Though in case you’re considering being the particular person to prepare dinner fish straight at your desk — perhaps do not.
Not solely can the bigger 4-quart bowl be used straight as a family-style serving vessel — whose sensible toes preclude the necessity for a trivet or pot holder — however one may additionally argue that the smaller 4-cup vessel can be utilized to eat straight from, considerably lowering the variety of dishes to scrub. Talking of washing, every thing besides the cooking pod itself is dishwasher-safe.
Ninja Crispi setup
Handy because it, the glass cooking chamber does get hotter than your common air fryer base.
Though it does not resemble a typical air fryer, the Ninja Crispi was intuitive to arrange and use. Every glass cooking vessel has a built-in stand with toes that retains it off the counter. Aspect handles are additionally fitted to the bowls’ stands, permitting straightforward transportation between the counter and the desk (because the vessels will also be used for serving) and making it straightforward to shake the contents as wanted throughout cooking.
The nonstick crisper plates had been packaged individually and had been straightforward to position within the bowls and take away for cleansing. Lids for the 6-cup and 4-quart bowls had been additionally included: a snap-on lid for the smaller and a less complicated press-on lid for the bigger.
The cooking pod options an ergonomic form for simple lifting and consists of toes for safe placement on the counter when not in use. The cooking pod sits simply on high of the 6-cup bowl, and a big-batch adapter body matches the cooking pod onto the bigger bowl. Between unwrapping and rinsing the entire washable components, I used to be able to go in about 2 minutes.
The large-batch adapter body matches the cooking pod onto the bigger glass bowl.
What I did not like in regards to the Ninja Crispi
As a modular system with quite a few built-in practicalities and flexibility, the Ninja Crispi is a game-changer within the air fryer market. That mentioned, at $160, it is on the more-expensive aspect for an air fryer.
These with little ones in the home can also wish to be aware that when the cooking pod is used with the adapter for big batches, the adapter can change into sizzling and doubtlessly expose them as soon as the heating pod is eliminated. By no means thoughts little ones; in case you’re an absent-minded prepare dinner your self, it may be a hazard.
Learn extra: 8 Foods That Go From Good to Great in an Air Fryer
Last verdict on the Ninja Crispi
In the event you’re a disciple of air fryer cooking and, particularly if in case you have a severe dedication to meal prepping, the Ninja Crispi is arguably probably the most versatile fashions in the marketplace. It is satisfying to make use of, and simple to retailer and clear. You could wish to search for it on sale throughout Prime Day or an identical occasion, however even and not using a low cost, its utility and the Ninja model’s repute justify its price ticket.
