The Ninja Crispi Pro Air Fryer is so good, our Culinary Director can't stop raving about it. Here's why we love this buzz-worthy appliance.
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Over the past dozen years, I’ve tested more than 50 air fryers, from compact models to double-basket machines to countertop convection ovens with an “air fryer” setting. For years, I recommended a different model to friends and family. It performed beautifully, looked nice and had plenty of bells and whistles. Then, I met the Ninja Crispi Pro.
The question isn’t what I’ve made in the Ninja Crispi Pro 6-in-1 Glass Air Fryer. After seven months of using it at least twice a week, the better question is: What haven’t I made in it?
I’ve toasted nuts and coconut flakes, browned bread cubes for panzanella and turned stale bread into breadcrumbs. I’ve made bacon, which emerges remarkably crisp, and the obligatory whole chicken. There have been roasted rosemary potatoes, parmesan-crusted pork chops, spaghetti squash, country-style pork ribs and huli-huli chicken. I even used the dehydrate setting to make orange slices. And that’s hardly everything.
In other words, I’m not basing my opinion on making french fries twice. After seven months, I can confidently say this is my all-time favorite. Apparently, there’s room for more than one air fryer in my heart.
SARAH FARMER FOR TASTE OF HOME
Ninja Crispi Pro Air Fryer
This buzz-worthy glass air fryer is easy to clean—and it doubles as leftover storage for the fridge.
What Makes the Ninja Crispi Pro Different?
At first glance, it’s the glass. Instead of the usual dark, nonstick basket or drawer, the Ninja Crispi Pro cooks in clear glass containers. And while that does make it one of the better-looking air fryers I’ve encountered, prettiness isn’t the reason I love it most.
The real advantage is how those containers work in my actual kitchen. I can use one like a mixing bowl. Say I’m making huli-huli chicken or marinating pork for dinner. I can mix the marinade right in the glass container, add the meat and vegetables, put the lid on and stick the whole thing in the refrigerator before I leave for work. When I get home, I take off the lid, slide the container onto the cooking base and start dinner.
No transferring everything from a prep bowl into an air fryer basket. No additional storage container. No extra dish to wash. It may sound like a small thing, but after seven months, it’s the feature that’s changed how often I use the appliance.
It Makes the “What’s for Dinner?” Question a Little Easier
Sadly, the Ninja Crispi Pro cannot answer the eternal question of what to make for dinner. Believe me, I’ve tried. But it can make the answer easier to execute. If I know I want something more substantial than a quick side dish, I can prep it in the morning. Everything can marinate in the same glass container I’ll cook it in later. Then I come home, get settled and let ‘er rip.
That prep-to-store-to-cook setup is what separates the Crispi Pro from every other air fryer I’ve tested. It fits the way I cook, especially on busy weekdays when I have enough things to think about without figuring out which bowl, container or basket my chicken needs to go into next. The system comes with a smaller 2.5-quart container and a roomy 6-quart one. The adjustable base accommodates both: Move it up for the smaller container and leave it lower for the larger one. Simple.
But Does It Actually Air Fry Well?
Oh, yes.
The bacon gets beautifully crisp. Potatoes brown well. Parmesan-crusted pork chops develop a crunchy exterior. And I’ve made enough whole chickens in this thing that I’m even less inclined to buy a rotisserie bird.
It also handles foods beyond the usual air-fryer suspects. I’ve toasted nuts and coconut, made panzanella croutons and browned breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs did teach me one important lesson, though: Lightweight food plus powerful circulating air can create what I can only describe as a carbohydrate whirlwind.
My fix? Put the crisper plate over them. Trust me. They’ll stay put and still brown beautifully.
Six Cooking Modes, Plus Re-Crisp
The Ninja Crispi Pro has six modes: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Re-Crisp and Dehydrate. I’ve used several of them, but Max Crisp might be my favorite for frozen foods. Case in point: tater tots. They come out incredibly crisp—I wouldn’t have them any other way.
I’ve also used the Dehydrate setting for orange slices, while Re-Crisp has become my go-to for bringing leftovers like pizza and breaded chicken back to life. Anything with a crust that you’d like to remain a crust? This is your friend.
It’s Also the Best-Looking Air Fryer I’ve Tested
An air fryer doesn’t need to be beautiful. But when you use one as much as I do, it helps.
There are only two appliances that live permanently on my countertop: my stand mixer and this air fryer. The clear glass containers make it feel less like a hulking appliance and more like something that belongs in the kitchen. And because it comes in several colors, it’s one of the few air fryers I’ve tested that I genuinely don’t mind looking at every day.
I like my kitchen. I don’t want it to look like an appliance showroom.
You Can Start Using It Without Reading a Manual
Another thing I appreciate: I didn’t have to sit down and study the instruction manual before using it. The controls are intuitive. I could start pressing buttons and figure things out almost immediately. If I can do it, you can, too. The adjustable base is equally straightforward. Small container? Move the base up. Large container? Leave it down.
And yes, the glass containers, lids and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe. I’m more of a hand-wash-it-anyway kind of gal, so this isn’t my personal favorite feature. For normal dishwasher people, though, I imagine it’s a major selling point.
Is It Worth the Money?
Here’s the part where I should tell you that the Ninja Crispi Pro is expensive. It is. You can absolutely buy a perfectly good air fryer for much less money. If you use yours once in a while for frozen fries or chicken nuggets, I wouldn’t necessarily tell you to spend more.
But this doesn’t feel like a basic air fryer to me. The biggest difference is the glass system. I can prep, store, cook and serve in the same container. After seven months, I’ve realized that convenience is worth more to me than another preset button or additional cooking mode. The Ninja Crispi Pro also earns its countertop real estate. It crisps exceptionally well, handles everything from a small batch of nuts to a whole chicken and looks good enough that I don’t mind seeing it every day.
So no, it isn’t the air fryer I’d recommend to everyone. But for someone who uses an air fryer multiple times a week, likes to prep ahead, regularly reheats leftovers and wants one appliance that can handle a surprising amount of cooking, I think it makes a very convincing case for itself.
My Final Verdict
After testing more than 50 air fryers over the years and living with the Ninja Crispi Pro for seven months, this is my all-time favorite. It’s not because it has the most buttons. It’s not because it can cook a whole chicken. And it’s not even because it makes exceptionally crisp bacon, although that certainly doesn’t hurt. It’s because this is the first air fryer I’ve used that genuinely fits into the rhythm of how I cook.
I can think about dinner in the morning, prep it in the same container, put a lid on it, come home and cook it—and store the leftovers in it, too. And when 5:30 rolls around and the question becomes, once again, What’s for dinner? That’s a pretty useful thing to have in your corner.
Where to Buy
SARAH FARMER FOR TASTE OF HOME
Ninja Crispi Pro Air Fryer
The Ninja Crispi Pro offers a modern look, predictably perfect results and a storage-friendly design.
Ready to ditch your old, crusty air fryer? Grab the Ninja Crispi Pro on the SharkNinja website for $299.99. You can also find it at other home retailers such as Kohl’s, Walmart and Wayfair. With seven chic colors to choose from—including a cheery butter yellow—it’s the sleek, easy-to-clean upgrade your countertop deserves!
Why You Should Trust Us
Sarah Farmer has been sharing her culinary talents with Taste of Home since 2004. As the executive culinary director, she leads the Test Kitchen and its team of food editors, recipe and product testers and food stylists. She also styles food and develops and tests recipes.
You might spot Sarah in Taste of Home videos on YouTube or on TV, sharing insights on recipes and kitchen gadgets. She also speaks at culinary events across the country. Sarah lives with her husband, daughter and dog in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she dabbles in making homemade dog biscuits.
