I was an early adopter of the air fryer, when the original T-Fal Actifryer first made super crisp, fast snacks an everyday staple in my kitchen. Over the years, the air fryer landscape has changed dramatically. Most models now come with multiple cooking modes like baking, toasting, dehydrating and even rotisserie, turning them into versatile kitchen workhorses.
I’ve tested a wide range of models along the way, including the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven, and the latest buzzy product on the scene is the Ninja Crispi. It’s a compact, portable system that promises to deliver quick, easy meals without taking up much counter space, making it an especially appealing option for small kitchens or anyone who wants the crispiness of a full-sized air fryer in a more convenient form.
What you need to know about the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer Cooking System
- Four cooking modes: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Bake, and Recrisp
- Compact, portable, and space-saving design
- Includes two glass vessels: 6-cup and 4-quart sizes
- You can cook, store, and reheat in the same dishes
- Made of easy-clean, dishwasher-safe borosilicate glass
My first Impression of the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer Cooking System
Right out of the box, the Ninja Crispi feels impressively compact compared with other countertop appliances. Unlike its summertime compatriot, the Ninja Swirl by Creami, it’s designed for everyday use with space-saving in mind: the glass containers nest together, and you can cook and store food in the same dish. The PowerPod is a bit too bulky to be truly portable, but it is still far easier to manage than the average countertop air fryer.
I tested the Ninja Crispi with two recipes from the Quick Start Guide, Herbed Chicken & Potatoes and Garlic Knots, which the guide considers “intermediate” recipes.
Testing the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer Cooking System
The Herbed Chicken & Potatoes took about 40 minutes on the Air Fry setting. It was convenient to cook a protein and side together, and cooking the chicken over the potatoes made them extra flavourful. The potatoes take a bit longer to cook, so the chicken goes in with 25 minutes left on the clock. Following the recipe’s cooking time exactly, the chicken turned out slightly overcooked and dry. The clear glass containers would have made it easy to monitor and adjust as needed if I were paying closer attention, but to the device’s credit, it cooks so quietly I almost forgot it was on. Overall, the dish was quick, convenient, and simple to make. Minor learning curve aside, I can easily see this becoming a go-to for fast weeknight meals.
The Garlic Knots took roughly 15 minutes on the Bake setting. The Quick Start Guide has you making the garlic butter underneath the crisper plate, then removing the plate to toss the knots in the butter. I slightly over-proofed my pizza dough, so the knots were a bit crowded and needed extra cooking time, but the removable PowerPod was easy to lift off, so I could test doneness and continue cooking until they were perfectly golden, crispy, and chewy. I was impressed with how quick and easy it was to whip up a tasty, nice-looking snack and how little cleanup there was afterwards.
My verdict on the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer Cooking System
I found it really convenient to store leftovers in the glass containers they were cooked in by simply popping on the leak-resistant, snap-on lids. The unit is very light and agile, I could easily move it to the most convenient spot on my countertop, and the permanent easy-grip handles never got hot, even when the glass was. I liked that it comes with both the Small Batch (6-cup) and Big Batch (4-Qt) containers, and that there is the option to purchase additional sizes for extra flexibility. Altogether, the Ninja Crispi delivers on speed and convenience and could easily replace a larger countertop air fryer without sacrificing the quality of fast, fresh meals.
Ninja Crispi Pros:
- Quick cooking: It delivers crisp, well‑done results in less time than many conventional ovens.
- Space‑saving/compact design: The portable “PowerPod” heating lid plus two nesting glass containers give it a much smaller footprint than many traditional air fryers.
- Easy to use: Simple one‑touch modes, glass cooking containers that double as storage, and dishwasher‑safe parts make it user‑friendly.
Ninja Crispi Cons:
- No precise temperature control: It offers preset modes (Air Fry, Bake, Max Crisp, and Recrisp) rather than full manual temperature input, which means you may need to do a bit of experimenting to nail down timing.
- Smaller capacity than some full‑sized models: It may not match larger air fryers when cooking for many people or large batches.
- Learning curve/trial & error for best results: Because of the preset modes and the variation between the glass containers (size, how food sits), you may need to test cooking times and loads to figure out what works best
