The Ninja Crispi Pro is on Sale – I Tested the Beautiful Glass Air Fryer in my Kitchen to See if it's Worth Upgrading

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The Ninja Crispi Pro is on sale for the first time ever since launching last month. Alongside other retailers, Walmart has knocked $50 off the price.

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It seems like all the major air fryer brands are bringing out 'pro' versions of their most highly-rated models. The original Ninja Crispi was crowned one of the best non-toxic air fryers in our guide; we loved the simplicity and portability. The newest upgrade, dubbed the Ninja Crispi Pro, is a full-size air fryer featuring two extra cooking functions, a larger bowl, and precise temperature control.

I’ve been reviewing air fryers in my NYC apartment since they first hit the market nearly 15 years ago. I recently tested Our Place's Wonder Oven Pro, but the Crispi was my first foray into glass.

I used the Ninja Crispi Pro as my primary air fryer for a week to figure out whether it's worth a place in your kitchen. And though I was impressed with its range of functions, simple controls, and superior air frying, its size makes it harder to tuck away if you are working on a crowded countertop. If you have the space, however, this is an excellent and healthier alternative to those bulkier plastic appliances.

Specifications

Design & First Impressions

The Ninja Crispi Pro 6-in-1 Countertop Glass Air Fryer is larger than the original Ninja Crispi, and it comes with a bunch of parts – a 1800-watt cooking unit, an adjustable base, a 6-quart and a 2.5-quart glass container, two non-stick crisper plates, and two storage lids. I was disappointed that for such a premium price, you have to buy the 4-quart glass container separately if you want the medium size.

One caveat: the surface space of both containers is the same, meaning the larger size simply has more vertical space. For instance, you won’t fit more French fries in the 6-quart bowl, but you can fit a whole chicken.

Ninja says, 'All food-contact surfaces are designed without PFAS and PTFE, are dishwasher safe, and resist thermal shock' – which is a major plus in my book.

The idea is to leave the Ninja Crispi Pro on your counter and slide the containers onto the long, metal, adjustable base, which clicks into one of three slots in the unit (6-quart at the bottom and 2.5-quart at the top). Though I’ve gotten better at this over the week, I still haven’t mastered it. I hope that this becomes more intuitive as I use it.

Once the container was secured, however, I was thrilled with the intelligent controls. Just press the power button, use the knob to toggle to one of the 6 functions, then adjust the time and temperature to your precise needs. You can also modify the temperature while it's cooking, which I found wildly helpful.

Cooking Performance

Test 1: French Fries

The French fry test is always my favorite, and I like to time it around when my boys get home from school. Not only do I get a helpful third-party review, but I put less fried food in my own mouth.

I used the 6-quart bowl for the fries, spread them at the bottom, and clicked to air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It took about 12 minutes to get a golden brown. I did shake them halfway through, which meant I had to pull the container completely off the base. Which also meant I had to futz around with the machine to get it back on correctly.

But unlike my multifunction air fryer toaster ovens, I got gorgeous fries on the first try that were hot and crunchy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. Both adult and teen approved.

The one disappointment was that the Ninja Crispi Pro container yielded a lot less than the spacious racks on the Wonder Oven Pro I had been simultaneously testing. So, you may have to do a few batches if you’re cooking for a large family.

Test 2: Chicken

I started with plain chicken fingers, which I sprinkled with a homemade curry spice mix, then spritzed lightly with avocado oil spray from La Tourangelle at Amazon. I put them in the Ninja Crispi Pro's 6-quart container and cooked them for 20 minutes on air-fry mode at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

I got all 1.5 pounds of the chicken in at once, and although I was worried it may not cook as evenly in the crowded bowl, it came out perfectly.

Next, I used a traditional egg wash and bread crumbs. Again, I lined the bottom of the 6-quart container with the chicken fingers and started the Crispi Pro at 375 degrees Fahrenheight. About 10 minutes in, I slid the bowl out, turned the chicken, and fumbled it back onto the base. Because I worry about the crust burning before the chicken is cooked, I turned the temperature down to 350 for another 10 minutes. This was the perfect combination, and everyone was thrilled with the results. Perfectly juicy inside, crisp outside.

Lastly, I decided to throw some turkey bacon in the smaller container and cooked it at 375 on bake. The Ninja Crispi Pro did a solid job of crisping these slices up, yet not overcooking them. And it was nice and quick, about 8 minutes, though the convection fan did physically blow the slices around a bit. I did the same with bacon, which ended up offering a less greasy option to pan-fried.

Test 3: Vegetables

Finally, I decided to air fry a seasonal gourd. Trader Joe’s has handy packages of zigzag cut butternut squash that need no prep work.

I dressed the bright orange veg in salt and avocado oil and spread them at the bottom of the container. Then, I cooked them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, taking them out and shaking them at least three times. The squash cooked nicely, but try as I did, they never got crispy. Certainly a tasty side dish, but not a crunchy one.

Test 4: Toast

As mentioned, both sized containers have the same amount of surface space, which is fine for one or two people, but not great for larger families or households. And that goes for toast as well. I could fit two pieces in both the small and large bowls, and I had to cook the bread twice, once on each side, to get them properly toasted.

What is it Like to Use?

Set-up and functions are both easy right out of the box, though it took a while to get used to sliding the different containers on and off the base. I was also worried that I’d need oven gloves every time I had to shake or turn my food, but the handles never got too hot.

Cleaning, Maintenance & Storage

Ninja makes it easy on us when it comes to cleaning all the components, and the glass containers, lids and crisper plates are all dishwasher safe (thank goodness). The modular base, however, needs to be hand-washed and dried thoroughly before use. I saw no reason to clean it during my testing period, but good to know just in case.

And then there’s the storage. Because of its height, (just under a foot), I could not easily squeeze it into my pantry. Additionally, you’ll need a place for both bowls and their lids. However, if you have a big enough kitchen, you should be able to stash all Ninja Crispi Pro components out of sight.

How Does it Compare?

I especially liked pulling out the original Ninja Crispi for air frying when my main oven was full. The air fryer hood and all accoutrements fit into my cramped cabinets and were manageable to move around.

However, the larger Ninja Crispi Pro was a little large for my apartment-sized cabinets. And I wouldn't forgo the rest of my appliances for it, given that it didn’t plug all the holes I needed for everyday cooking (like toasting and grilling, for example).

Should You Buy It?

The Ninja Crispi Pro is a is certainly one of the best Ninja air fryers. The glass containers do an excellent job of air frying and recrisping food, serving up perfectly cooked French fries and chicken fingers, though the butternut squash fries fell a little flat. I also appreciated its baking and roasting chops as I put it through its paces with staples like meatballs, Brussels sprouts and bacon.

Yet, because neither of the bowls could hold as much food as my toaster oven air fryer (it's the Midea Flexify, if you're interested), it was harder for me to feed a family of four in a single batch.

In the end, this is well worth it as a compromise between a larger oven and a stand-alone air fryer, and we especially appreciate its non-toxic glassware.

How We Test Air Fryers

Our team is made up of expert cooks, home economists, and experienced reviewers. If you're interested in what happens in the test kitchen, you'll find all the details on the 'how we test air fryers' page.

To give you the bullet points, we focus on exceptional cooking performance by air-frying frozen French fries, chicken, and roasted vegetables. During our taste tests, we seek food that’s perfectly crispy on the outside and tender within.

Ease of use is the best part of air frying, so our tests also evaluate the intuitiveness of the controls, basket design, instruction booklet, and the accuracy of recipe presets. We also make sure to explore any special features, like grilling and dehydrating, the capacity, cleaning, and durability.

Finally, when you're making a kitchen investment, price really matters, so we weigh up the air fryer's features and performance to see if it offers good value for money. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure you choose an air fryer that looks stylish in your kitchen, as well as being reliable, efficient, and a joy to use.