I have tested literally dozens of air fryers. This is the one I kept

Ninja Crispi

Advantages

• Cooking, serving and storage capacities
• Easy to clean: almost everything is dishwasher safe
• Intuitive operation
• No worries about PFAS
• Ability to see cooking in progress
• Option to purchase additional glass containers for maximum food preparation
• Small storage footprint with nesting capabilities
• Portable

Disadvantages

• The price is high for air fryers
• Some hot items exposed during operation

Air fryer ovens have gone from a passing fad to A craze for unique cuisine. Air fryer review is more of a lifestyle than a hobby for us — at CNET, we not only love fast countertop convection ovens, but we’re on a mission to find the best of the best.

Although some large and economical models impressed us enough to create the coveted list of best air fryersone reigns supreme as the best overall air fryer. Topping our list is an innovative glass bowl air fryer from Ninja. It matches the performance of all the models we tested, but its distinctive glass bowl design gives it a real edge over the traditional basket-style competition.

After cooking with the Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer for almost two years, we have yet to find another that combines ease of use, non-toxic materials, and pure cooking prowess like this one. The Crispi makes air frying fun, and the glass chambers with airtight lids act as more than just containers for wings, fries, and sizzling mushrooms. Plus, the entire unit disassembles for easy storage after use – a feature that 99% of other air fryers lack.

Learn more: The Air Fryer Fails: 8 Foods That Just Can’t Handle the Heat

Here’s why the Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer is the best air fryer to buy in 2026.

Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer at a glance

• Style: Modular air fryer with two sizes of glass cooking containers and a separate cooking capsule in three colors
• Dimensions: 13.5 by 12 by 13.5 inches
• Power: 1,500 watts
• Weight: 15.74 pounds
• Price $180 (currently on sale for $160)

Operation Ninja Crispi: How is it different?

The cooking pod itself includes Crisp, Bake, Air Fry and Max Crisp functions. Crisp is meant to revive leftovers, while Max Crisp is the ideal setting for packaged frozen foods. While tempting, given their baking dish appearance, TempWare glass bowls are not intended to be used as actual cooking vessels for pasta in bake mode, as air must still circulate beneath the cooking vessels to be effective. (Will I try it anyway? The temptation is real.)

Pressing any button will activate a digital timer, allowing you to add or subtract minutes. (The timer defaults to 10.) When the timer is less than 1 minute, it changes to seconds and the unit beeps to alert you when the cycle is complete. Overall, the Ninja Crispi’s noise level was similar to conventional air fryer models, with a moderate whirring sound during operation.

4 Reasons to Love the Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer

1. I can check the progress of my food without losing heat

As expected, the ability to see cooking in progress was really satisfying, from a nerdy perspective and as a way to look for visual cues to determine when to flip food or assess doneness. The chicken pieces and Brussels sprouts cooked evenly and efficiently, with little risk of overcooking, given the 360-degree view of the proceedings.

Since I can monitor the progress without opening the basket or stopping the machine, the food cooks faster. Who doesn’t like that?

2. Glass bowls are non-toxic and easy to clean

Most air fryers use aluminum cooking baskets with a non-stick coating. These coatings tend to chip and break down if you’re not careful. Many people are concerned about the health consequences of ingesting nonstick chemicals that damage cookware. With a glass bowl air fryer, there is no hassle.

If that’s not enough, glass is much easier to deep clean than non-stick surfaces and you can use the dishwasher without a problem.

3. Glass bowls double as food storage containers

The versatility, however, makes the Ninja Crispi extremely interesting, especially for meal prep enthusiasts. Complete meals or individual cooked components can be stored directly after the cooking process in the refrigerator, thanks to the included lids for easy storage. (Although I am required by refrigerator logistics to tell you to let everything cool first, so as not to inadvertently raise the temperature inside your refrigerator.)

Additional kitchen bowls in different sizes can be purchased separately, allowing the preparation of multiple individually cooked meals with no cleaning required between uses: simply transfer the cooking pod from one cooking vessel to another, assembly line style. Preparing Sunday meals has never been easier and has never required fewer dishes.

4. It disassembles for easy storage

The Ninja Crispi is also easy to store, with a much smaller footprint and height than many conventional models. It also facilitates portability – ideal for a potluck or even just a hot self-care meal – and you can even justify cooking on site. The cooking bowls or cooking pod could easily fit in a shoulder bag. If I worked in an office, I would love to take the whole thing with me so I could have a hot, healthy lunch without reheating. But if you’re planning to cook fish right at your desk, maybe don’t.

Not only can the larger 4-cup bowl be used directly as a family serving vessel – whose convenient feet eliminate the need for a trivet or pot rack – but it could also be argued that the smaller 4-cup container can be used for direct eating, greatly reducing the number of dishes to wash. Speaking of washing, everything except the cooking pod itself is dishwasher safe.

Configuring the Ninja Crispi

Although it doesn’t look like a typical air fryer, the Ninja Crispi was intuitive to set up and use. Each glass cooking vessel has a built-in stand with feet that keep it off the counter. Side handles are also fitted to the bowl supports, allowing for easy transport between counter and table (as the containers can also be used for serving) and allowing the contents to be easily shaken as needed during cooking.

The non-stick plates were packaged separately and were easy to place in the bowls and remove for cleaning. Also included were lids for the 6-cup and 4-quart bowls: a snap-on lid for the smaller one and a simpler snap-on lid for the larger one.

The cooking pod is ergonomically shaped for easy lifting and includes feet for secure countertop placement when not in use. The cooking pod fits easily onto the 6-cup bowl, and a large batch adapter frame fits the cooking pod onto the larger bowl. Between unpacking and rinsing all the washable parts, I was ready to go in about 2 minutes.

What I didn’t like about Ninja Crispi

As a modular appliance with many convenient and versatile features built-in, the Ninja Crispi is a game-changer in the air fryer market. That said, at $160, it’s more expensive for an air fryer.

Those with children at home may also want to note that when the cooking pod is used with the adapter for large quantities, the adapter may become hot and potentially expose them once the heating pod is removed. It doesn’t matter the little ones; if you’re a distracted cook yourself, this can be a danger.

Learn more: 8 Foods That Go From Good to Great in an Air Fryer

Final verdict on the Ninja Crispi

If you are a fan of fryer cooking and, especially if you are seriously engaged in meal preparation, the Ninja Crispi is undoubtedly one of the most versatile models on the market. It is satisfying to use and easy to store and clean. You might want to look for it on sale during Prime Day or a similar event, but even without a discount, its utility and Ninja’s brand reputation justify its price.