I Tried the Ninja Crispi DualZone Glass Air Fryer and Fell in Love – It’s the XL Non-Toxic Upgrade I’d Choose Again

My first air fryer was a dual-drawer Ninja model, and I’ve sworn by the convenience of a double-drawer setup ever since. So, when I heard Ninja was launching a glass version of this kitchen workhorse, I knew I had to try it for myself.

The Ninja Crispi DualZone Glass Air Fryer brings together the convenience of two separate cooking drawers with all the features we loved from the original Crispi Pro. Designed for everything from batch cooking to feeding a family with different tastes, I can safely say that it is one of the best non-toxic air fryers on the market.

After putting it through its paces for several weeks, I’ve found plenty to love, and it’s made a strong case for becoming my go-to air fryer for the foreseeable future. Here’s how it performed in my kitchen, along with the few minor snags worth knowing about before you buy.

Product Specifications: Ninja Crispi DualZone Glass Air Fryer

Design and First Impressions

Image 1 of 5

The Ninja Crispi DualZone Glass Air Fryer looks incredibly chic and, like the Ninja Crispi Pro, solves the main hang-up I had about the original Ninja Crispi we reviewed, with a main head that stays in place, rather than lifting off and on.

Inside the box, you’ll find the main unit, two glass baskets with ceramic-coated crisper trays, and two basket lids that turn the vessels into convenient food-storage containers for leftovers. Everything arrived neatly packaged, although I’d recommend having someone nearby to help lift the unit out safely during unboxing, as the components are heavier than you might expect.

I love the look of this air fryer. While it is a decent size, it didn't feel like it overwhelmed the counter. The glass baskets and lighter colorway I chose meant it didn't feel as blocky or 'heavy' as my old jet black air fryer did. It looks as stylish, which is more than what you can say for most large kitchen appliances.

The two thick glass baskets make this a particularly weighty appliance, so it’s not one you’ll want to move in and out of a cabinet every day. I store mine on a lower shelf when it’s not in use, as I don’t reach for it daily. However, if you have a weaker grip or find heavy appliances difficult to lift, you may prefer to leave it on the countertop.

The baskets slot into the unit easily, settling into place and clicking securely without much adjustment. They’re designed to pull out at an angle, allowing you to reach behind and grip the heat-resistant plastic handles while keeping your hands away from the hot cooking surfaces. I found this straightforward enough, although I felt a little uneasy reaching beneath the heating element while it was still warm. I didn’t burn myself, but it’s something to bear in mind if you’re considering letting older children use the appliance independently.

Once unboxed, it is as simple as wiping out the baskets and plugging the unit in.

Cooking Performance

Image 1 of 12

Using the Ninja Crispi DualZone Glass Air Fryer is simple. Once plugged in and switched on, you select which basket you are using, set the cooking mode, temperature, and time, and press the dial to start.

The match setting turns both baskets on at the same time, while the sync setting allows you to set two different cooking programs and have them finish simultaneously. I loved the sync setting, allowing me to cook two different foods such as chicken nuggets and chips and have them finish at the same time for plating. It really uncomplicates cooking, making convenience food actually convenient.

There’s also a helpful flip reminder, which sounds a single beep halfway through the cooking time to prompt you to turn any food that needs it. The air fryer continues cooking in the meantime, so you can simply ignore the alert if your food doesn’t need turning.

One thing to bear in mind is that the heavy baskets and snug fit mean you can’t shake them to redistribute food as you might with a traditional drawer-style air fryer. I’d recommend keeping a pair of silicone food tongs (available at Amazon) handy instead, so you can turn or rearrange ingredients.

Across all my tests, I found that food cooked evenly and crisped up well, without sticking or burning. The glass-sided baskets also let me keep an eye on everything as it cooked, making it easier to judge when food was ready without repeatedly opening the drawers.

One thing to note is that there was a slightly odd smell on the first use. I washed the baskets and trays as directed, and dried them before use. On the first test, there was a strange odor that didn't affect the flavor, but it did have me opening a window. I assume this was just some factory dust, but if you are concerned, maybe run an empty cycle for a few minutes before putting your food in. The smell disappeared after this first use.

• Chicken Nuggets and Fries: My go-to first test for any air fryer; I put some vegan battered chicken nuggets in one basket and thick potato wedges in the other. I used the sync setting to ensure that everything finished together and pressed start. The air fry setting crisped the nuggets perfectly, while the max crisp function created extra-crispy edges on the wedges that snapped and revealed a fluffy, steaming interior. It's everything you want from an air fryer.
• Roasted Vegetables: I removed the crisper plate and filled one basket with two generous servings of chunky vegetables, tossing them in oil and spices before setting the air fryer to cook for 30 minutes. When the flip reminder sounded, I gave everything a good mix. The result was beautifully softened vegetables with a little char in places, which paired wonderfully with couscous.
  I’d packed the basket quite full, so I was particularly impressed by how evenly everything cooked, with no undercooked or overdone pieces.
• Chicken Breasts: I love to quickly cook some spiced chicken breasts for rice bowls in the air fryer, using foil to catch any juices to pour over the final dish. I made good use of the '+1 minute' button for this, having to add a little time when some of the larger chunks hadn't quite cooked through. It made adjusting cooking times quick and simple. The end result was juicy, well-cooked chicken that shredded nicely.
• Breaded Salmon: Breading has a bad habit of coming loose and flying around an air fryer basket, but I am happy to report that the Crispi DualZone didn't have an issue with this. I placed two salmon fillets I had breaded myself into the basket and watched as they crisped up evenly. I didn't flip these, but the bases crisped too and did not turn soggy as the air circulated evenly. The exterior was crisp, and the fish was flaky. It was perfect.
• Proofing Bread Dough: It is important to note that this feature is not available on the US version of the Crispi Dual Zone. Unique to UK and international units, this feature drops the basket temperature to as low as 77°F (20°C) to help bread dough rise. This ended up being one of my favorite additions, so I am sad to see it not included in the American specification. My dough doubled in size after 45 minutes in the oiled glass dish, and the machine was silent in the process. The resulting bread had a light, airy crumb that I would not have been able to achieve otherwise in my freezing cold kitchen.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Image 1 of 1

The air fryer baskets and ceramic trays are dishwasher safe, but I had no issue hand washing them in my sink once they had cooled down. The plastic handles are easy to hold, and resting the basket against the side made washing them out simple.

The problem came when trying to dry them. The plastic structure designed to hold the basket is not removable, and I found water getting stuck between that and the base of the basket. I could not get a towel into these gaps to dry them out, meaning they had to sit on the counter for a long time to dry completely. This area does not touch food, but I did think it is a design oversight that was rather annoying.

I did like that the baskets came with lids, however. The snap-on plastic means the baskets double as quick food storage, allowing you to transfer food from the counter to the fridge without dirtying another container or dish. The baskets are large, however, so you do need decent fridge space to fit one in, let alone both.

What Shoppers Say

Overall customer reviews for the Ninja Crispi DualZone Air Fryer are overwhelmingly positive, with an average of 4.8 stars on SharkNinja and 4.6 stars on Amazon.

Shoppers appreciate how easy it is to learn to use, the self-explanatory control buttons (I myself did not find myself needing the manual at all), and the Match and Sync cooking settings.

Of the one-star reviews, a few customers say that it stopped working on both or one side after a few uses; however, I am yet to experience any performance issues. I will report back should this happen to me at any stage. Another user was not a fan of the fact that the baskets get hot in use, calling it a burn risk. This is certainly something to consider, especially if you allow children to use the air fryer. I did not have an issue personally, but for those with less stable hands, it might be one to use oven gloves for.

Should You Buy The Ninja Crispi DualZone Glass Air Fryer?

All in all, I would absolutely recommend the Ninja Crispi DualZone Glass Air Fryer. The double basket space makes it the perfect air fryer for couples, families, and batch cookers. The UK model's Proof setting also makes it perfect for home bakers who struggle with cold kitchens.

It brings all of the best features from the Ninja air fryers we already know and love, while doubling the cooking space for increased convenience. It is a little large and can be tricky to dry after cleaning, but these are only minor snags.

At $379.99 at the time of writing, it is not the most affordable air fryer on the market. It is almost $80 more than the standard Crispi Pro model, but I would say that the extra is worth it for the extra basket and increased flexibility. If you love glass air fryer cooking but do not have the budget, however, we tried and enjoyed the smaller, single-basket Cuisinart ClearView Air Fryer, available at Amazon for just $159.95.

I have kept this unit and plan to use it as my main air fryer for years to come.

How We Test Air Fryers

When looking at air fryers, we consider several things. Firstly, we look at the materials, looking for potentially toxic coatings and prioritizing non-toxic products for peace of mind. Then, we focus on exceptional cooking performance. As a team of trained cooks, product testers, and appliance experts, we rigorously test each model by air-frying frozen fries, chicken wings, and roasted vegetables. During our taste tests, we seek food that’s perfectly crispy on the outside and tender within. Having tested the market leaders, we’re familiar with the industry benchmarks.

Ease of use is key, so our tests evaluate the intuitiveness of controls, basket design, and the accuracy of recipe presets. We also explore special features, like grilling and dehydrating, to assess versatility. While cooking, we make notes on capacity – essential for those looking for family-sized air fryers.

Since cleaning can be a hassle, we check if the removable parts are easy to wash, whether by hand or in the dishwasher. We also examine materials' durability, as this is a key criterion for long-lasting, non-toxic items. After testing, we scour the web for the best and worst customer reviews to assess the air fryer's reliability and overall customer satisfaction.

You can go behind the scenes and read more details on our How We Test Air Fryers page.

What Else to Shop

From other gems in the Ninja Crispi lineup to the essential air fryer accessories I would not be without, these are the must-haves to consider for convenient cooking.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Now that you have switched out your air fryer, we have a host of other tips for making a kitchen less toxic.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.