I'm Ditching My Gigantic Air Fryer for This Cute, Tiny One

New York Times

21-03-2025

Most air fryers I'm familiar with have a built-in container or a removable nonstick basket that pulls out like a drawer. The Ninja Crispi, on the other hand, is essentially a lid that attaches to either of two standalone glass containers: one 4-quart and one 6-cup. The containers are refrigerator-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe, and each comes with a corresponding lid that snaps on tight for storing leftovers. For size reference, four standard-size Russet potatoes fit comfortably inside the 4-quart glass container (left), while two standard-size Russet potatoes fit inside the 6-cup glass container (right). Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter
Ninja claims that the 4-quart container can fit a 4-pound chicken. The 6-cup container is best for one or two people and can easily fit two standard-size Russet potatoes. Ninja also sells additional compatible glassware sizes online, including a 2.5-quart option, which can hold 2 pounds of chicken wings at a time. For context, my gigantic 5-quart air fryer can prepare about three salmon fillets at once. The Crispi has eight pieces that fit compactly inside one another for easy storage. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter
The Crispi comes with eight individual pieces—a 1,500-watt air fryer hub with an attached 3-foot power cord, the 4-quart and 6-cup glass cooking containers and matching lids, large and small crisper plates, and an adapter (for the larger container)—all of which can be stored separately.
You can use it in two configurations: the 4-quart setup, which weighs about 9 pounds, and the smaller, 6-cup setup, which weighs about 6.5 pounds. Overall, the components feel durable and sturdy, and the Ninja Crispi is covered by a one-year limited warranty if you purchase the appliance through an authorized SharkNinja retailer. The Crispi offers only four automatic presets for regulating the temperature: Recrisp, Bake, Air Fry, and Max Crisp. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter
The heating console features a simple control panel with four buttons: start (to power the machine on and off), mode (to select from its four cooking presets), and two additional buttons, a plus sign and a minus sign (to increase or reduce the cooking time).
The four cooking presets activate four automatic temperature and fan-speed settings: Recrisp (380 °F to 400 °F), Bake (375 °F to 400 °F), Air Fry (400 °F to 425 °F), and the high-heat Max Crisp (425 °F to 450 °F).
When you select a preset, the air fryer provides a suggested cooking time, which you can adjust depending on what you're making. The machine also can detect which container is underneath it and adjust the cooking preset to account for the difference in volume.
Setting up the Crispi is simple. First, insert the appropriate crisper plate into the bottom of the glass container. Then, add the food. Next, attach the heating pod (if you're using the 4-quart option, place it on top of the adapter until it clicks) atop the glass container. Finally, select the cooking preset and toss the food occasionally for best results.
I tested the Air Fry and Max Crisp modes by preparing two frozen foods: french fries and battered cod fillets. But right off the bat, I encountered one of the Crispi's most significant pain points: its nonadjustable temperature settings.
Since you're limited to the four presets and their respective predetermined temperature ranges, you have no way to adjust the temperature according to a recipe. For example, if a recipe calls for air frying at 375 °F, you can't do that with the Crispi's Air Fryer preset, which automatically heats to a temperature range between 400 °F and 425 °F. However, since the fan circulates air on all four settings, not just when air frying, I'd recommend choosing a preset based on the closest temperature range, as opposed to the cooking technique.
When in doubt, I found the reference charts at the end of the quick-start guide (PDF) included with the Ninja Crispi helpful for determining which preset to use, depending on what I was making. However, it could get cumbersome to have to dig out the manual or find it online each time you set out to cook something, rather than simply relying on the recipe's instructions. The four cooking presets are each preprogrammed with a temperature range. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter
For example, the instructions for the store-bought frozen french fries I cooked called for air-frying the 2-pound bag at 400 °F for 12 minutes. However, Ninja's air fryer reference chart recommended that I cook the fries for 30 to 35 minutes in the 4-quart container using the Max Crisp setting, which is 425 °F to 450 °F).
I opted for the latter approach and found that 30 minutes on the Max Crisp setting was the sweet spot for producing ultra-crispy, crunchy french fries. I was surprised, considering that it was 25 degrees higher and more than double the time that the packaging recommended.
I was extremely pleased with the results and found that the fries were for the most part uniformly crisped, aside from one corner that I neglected to toss adequately halfway through the cooking time. Considering the Crispi's compact setup, I was impressed by its mostly even air circulation and heat distribution.
Also, the more acquainted I got with each temperature setting, the easier it was for me to adjust a recipe without relying on Ninja's reference charts. A 2-pound bag of frozen french fries easily fit into the 4-quart container. However, the bottom-right corner turned out more browned, as I neglected to toss that area adequately halfway through cooking. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter

I put the air fryer setting to the test by air-frying frozen battered cod fillets. This process went smoothly and required minimal futzing since the packaging instructions required no conversion to translate to the Crispi's automatic temperature presets.
After cooking seven pieces of battered cod in the 4-quart container, flipping them halfway through the cooking time, I found that they were evenly crisp on all sides, golden, and thoroughly warmed. Each piece had a nice crunch as I bit into it, and it tasted as if it had been freshly fried. Seven pieces of battered cod comfortably fit inside the 4-quart container, and after 12 minutes of air frying, they were perfectly crispy and uniformly golden on all sides. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter
I was surprised to find that the Crispi required no preheating whatsoever. However, the glassware gets very hot fairly quickly; the Crispi has several caution stickers that advise you to wear oven mitts when handling them. I'd recommend exercising caution when using this device anywhere near small children or pets.
The plastic handles attached to the glass containers were safe to touch, and the feet on them prevented the countertop from heating up underneath. I detected only a small amount of residual heat after removing the glass container from where it had sat for about 15 minutes. (Ninja recommends using the Crispi only on granite, laminate, quartz, butcher block, and marble surfaces.) As the caution label states, you should wear oven mitts for safety when handling the hot glassware. However, the counter-safe feet are effective in preventing heat from transferring to nearby surfaces. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter
When you lift the heating console from the glassware, it automatically pauses, which is a nice safety feature. (If you place it back on top and press the start button, it'll pick up where it left off.) The console is very warm right after cooking—so be sure to handle it carefully—but you can safely place it on a heatproof surface thanks to its footed design.
Note that Ninja advises against using any non-Crispi glassware and to immediately stop using any damaged or cracked glassware.

After preparing chicken meatballs both with and without the crisper-plate insert, I found that the crisper plate made all the difference in uniformly crisping and browning foods.
First, I used the bake setting to cook the meatballs directly inside the glass container, no crisper plate, for 15 minutes while keeping a close eye on them to monitor browning. I also avoided tossing the contents halfway through the cooking time just to see what the results would be. As I anticipated, the tops of the meatballs were adequately browned, while the bottoms were completely colorless.
I repeated the process with the crisper plate inside to keep the meatballs elevated from the glass surface. In this case, the meatballs came out perfectly cooked, with nicely browned bottoms. Even without my tossing the meatballs, the crisper plate was enough to promote even browning on all sides. The meatballs were colorless before they were baked (left). When baked directly in the glass container, they cooked unevenly (middle). When baked on top of the crisper plate, they cooked evenly (right). Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter

One of Ninja's biggest claims about the Crispi is that it's portable, which makes it ideal for potlucks, camping, road trips, or a stay in a vacation rental. So I put it to the test by taking the 6-cup container setup along with the heating console on my hour-long commute home from the office (the Crispi had been delivered to Wirecutter's headquarters).
I packed leftover meatballs and battered cod from the day's testing in the 6-cup container (atop the crisper plate) with its snap-on lid. After I chucked the container into a medium-size tote bag along with the heating console, I still had ample room to stash a quart-size deli cup, another small storage container, and my water bottle. Altogether, the bag wasn't too heavy, and it felt manageable to carry slung on my shoulder. Storing leftovers directly in the cooking container saves time when you want to reheat them. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter
I was impressed by how well the Crispi traveled as I took it with me on the subway and a city bus. I'm sure my fellow commuters would've gotten a kick out of knowing what I had stealthily tucked in my bag. One thing's for sure: I could never do the same with the hulking air fryer I currently own.
Once I got home, I used the reheat function to warm up the leftovers. They turned out just as good as, if not better than, the first time around. The food was evenly warmed, with no hot spots or singes. I took the Crispi on a joyride from our testing facility in Long Island City, New York, to my home in New Jersey. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter
One of my favorite features of the Crispi is its ability to break down into smaller, more manageable pieces, which makes storing, cleaning, and commuting with it noticeably easier.
For comparison's sake, I placed the Crispi and the Instant Mini Vortex 4-in-1 (the Wirecutter-recommended pick for single servings and small spaces) side by side. The Crispi was noticeably more compact and arguably cuter than the Mini Vortex.
It also helps that you can stash all the individual pieces of the Crispi separately (or compactly together) and that the glassware doubles as storage containers. And since everything disassembles easily, cleaning the Crispi is much more seamless than the often tedious task of getting into the hard-to-reach areas of basket-style air fryers in my experience.
The Vortex Mini features a 2-quart basket, which is half the size of the Crispi's large, 4-quart container. However, the Crispi, at a typical price of $180, is considerably more expensive than the $60 Mini Vortex. A side-by-side comparison of the Instant Mini Vortex and the Ninja Crispi. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter You can easily store the pieces of the Crispi separately, which is a nice perk. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter The Crispi (left) has a 4-quart max capacity, while the Mini Vortex's (right) is 2-quart. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter A side-by-side comparison of the Instant Mini Vortex and the Ninja Crispi. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter

All of the Crispi's parts are dishwasher-safe, with the exception of the heating console, which you should clean by hand (while it's unplugged and cool enough to handle) using a damp cloth. You can wash the rest of the pieces by hand or in the dishwasher.
Although washing the Crispi is extremely easy, drying it is a bit more tedious. My main frustration is that drying the gap between the heatproof handles and the glass container is nearly impossible. To remedy the situation, I had to prop the glass container at an angle to help the residual water droplets escape the narrow area more easily. The Crispi is dishwasher-safe, except for the heating console, which you should clean by hand using a damp cloth once it's cool enough to handle. However, one downside is that water droplets tend to accumulate in the difficult-to-dry space between the permanent handles and the glass container. Maki Yazawa/NYT Wirecutter
I think the Crispi is a game changer for avid meal preppers or people with small kitchens. It's more spacious than other, comparable basket-style models, and during my testing it took on crisping large batches of french fries and reheating leftovers without any issue.
It also lived up to its portability claims, commuting home from work with me without any hiccups. It's far less conspicuous than many air fryer pods, and it comes in several attractive colors. Although it's not as versatile as an air fryer toaster oven, it's more compact.
I'm going to continue testing this Ninja Crispi, which Ninja sent to us for testing purposes, alongside my colleagues who cover air fryers, to see how it holds up over time and how it stacks up against our current air fryer picks. But as soon as it leaves my kitchen for one of my colleagues', I plan on buying a Crispi for myself.
This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Marguerite Preston. We've tested dozens of pod-shaped air fryers, and the best is the Philips 3000 Series Airfryer L, which crisps and browns more evenly than the competition.
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