I couldn’t wait to review the Ninja Crispi portable air fryer and it doesn’t disappoint

T3’s Ninja Crispi review in a sentence: Does everything a regular air fryer does but in a more compact appliance.

I was quite looking forward to trying the Ninja Crispi, an appliance that falls into the air fryer category but is rather different to the other best air fryer models on the market. This refreshing new take on the countertop cooking phenomenon revolves around its size, which is very compact. In fact, the Ninja Crispi throws conventional air fryer design out the kitchen window and delivers something altogether more inventive.

The thinking behind the Ninja Crispi is portability. The appliance offers all of the power and functionality of a conventional air fryer, but dispenses with the regular black box size and styling. Instead, it’s a combination of a top section, which contains the power unit that does the cooking, which is mated to a versatile selection of glass dishes. These can be changed to suit the size and type of dish you plan on making.

Foodstuffs are placed in the dish or on a metal tray in-between and cooked just as they would be in a standard issue air fryer. Having the ability to cook food in glass dishes is a real bonus for me as it’s easy to see progress, plus there’s no contact with metallic, non-stick surfaces like you get with a standard air fryer. So, the Ninja Crispi portable air fryer promises much and, well, delivers lots too. Read on to find out how I’ve been getting on with it.

Ninja Crispi review: Price and availability

The Ninja Crispi air fryer is out now and available to buy in the US for $159.99, either directly from the Ninja website or other online retailers including Amazon. It’s also available from Ninja in the UK for £179.99. Adding extra appeal is the way Ninja has created different glass containers, which makes it even more versatile depending on how much food needs to be cooked. These range from $29.99 for a six-cup container and $39.99 for a 2.5-quart container right on up to $44.99 for a generous four-quart offering.

Ninja Crispi review: Is it any good?

I’ve been using the Ninja Crispi air fryer for a while now and have to say that it’s currently my favourite kitchen appliance. The great thing about the little bundle I’ve been testing is its versatility. The unit comes in a smallish box, which includes the Ninja Crispi PowerPod plus a 1.4-litre small container and a 3.8-litre large container.

Both are glass and perfect for my needs and, rather brilliantly, the PowerPod has delicately-styled but sturdy plastic legs that make it okay to place on a countertop when you lift it off the dishes. It can be placed on a variety of surfaces too, from marble through to laminate, although I’d always advise reading the manual first to check compatibility with your own worktop. The power unit always switches off when it’s detached from the bottom glass dish section too, although oven gloves are needed when handling those hot surfaces.

An added bonus is that the small container comes with a container lid, with clips on the side so that it can be sealed with a meal inside it for, say, taking as a lunch or for a picnic. The larger container also has a clip-on lid, which means I can make something in it and then store it in the fridge for later. Also included are two no-stick crisper plates, one for each of the sizes, which are used to sit foodstuffs on inside the glass dishes.

While I wouldn’t say the Ninja Crisp is the most aesthetically pleasing appliance in my kitchen, I rather like its simplistic appeal. It’s also brilliant when it comes to cleaning, with dishwasher-friendly parts and those glass dishes, which are way easier to keep clean and looking good compared to many non-stick trays and bowls that come inside regular air fryer appliances. The Ninja Crispi is an easy thing to store once it has cooled down and been cleaned too, with dimensions of ‎33.99 x 30.38 x 34.49 cm and a weight of 6.6kg that makes it very cupboard friendly.

Ninja Crispi review: Performance

I was keen to try out how versatile this small appliance would be, expecting it to be a little less impressive on the performance front than the other more standard issue air fryer models I’ve tested. The four cooking modes comprising air-fry, roast, recrisp and keep warm are simple but effective and, really, offer everything most folks will need for meal making duties. My model features 1500 watts of power in the PowerPod head section too, so it’s more than capable although there is a 1700-watt model available if more oomph is needed.

I picked my way through the manual, and full marks to Ninja for making instructions nice and clear along with supplying an excellent guide to cooking times as well as some fab recipe options. The first meal I attempted was a standard fare frozen chips and chicken wings dish. I had to use the larger dish as the smaller version is just that. It’s perfect for one person, but for two or three people the large dish is essential.

Chips went in the bottom, with the chicken on the top, sitting on the metal divider. Using the functions is simplicity itself; simply power up, press the button in the centre to cycle around the four modes and press start. A time window at the top will show a default/suggested cook time, while plus and minus buttons either side allow this to be increased or decreased depending on preference.

Of course, the big bonus with this model is the way the glass dishes allow progress to be charted without the need to stop it or open it up. That said, it’s wise to move food around as it cooks to ensure consistent results and no scorching. The Ninja Crispi is also impressively quiet when it’s operating, with just the usual fan-style sound you get from a normal air fryer. The results, including everything else I’ve tried since, have been great and I even used it to warm bread rolls too, which suggests the Ninja Crispi does have gentler potential for more delicate food items.

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If I have any criticism of the Ninja Crispi is that it can be a bit fiddly when cooking more than one thing. For example, I cooked frozen French fries on the bottom section of the largest glass dish and chicken on top, sitting on the crisper plates. However, in order to stir the fries midway through, I needed to get the crisper plate out, stir the fries then put it back in again. This proved to be a bit awkward, although I’m sure practice using the gadget will make this much simpler. Aside from that though, there’s very little not to like about the Ninja Crispi.

Ninja Crispi review: Verdict

The Ninja Crispi portable air fryer, or portable cooking system to quote the excellent little manual cum recipe book that’s included, is a brilliant addition to any kitchen. There’s lots to like, from the compact size through to the power, which is just as good as anything bigger or more substantial.

Indeed, the Ninia Crispi doers everything I want from an air fryer, with the four functions proving suitable for the majority of tasks. I love the versatility and easy clean appeal of the glass containers too. Top marks to Ninja for coming up with a brilliant variation on the well-used air fryer front.

Ninja Crispi review: Alternatives to consider

The Ninja Crispi is fairly unique at the moment, but there are oodles of options if you're after a more standard model or need something with extra capacity or more functionality.

Take a look at the Salter XL Dual Air Fryer I tested recently, which comes with a little more versatility thanks to dual doors and drawers. Our selection of the best air fryers and the best multi-cookers will give you an overview of the other rivals.

I also like the Tower 9 litre Dual Basket Digital Air Fryer, or the Tower T17076 Xpress Pro Combo 10-in-1 Air Fryer, which comes complete with a rotisserie that can handle a whole chicken. Similarly, the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLidis a multi-faceted machine with brilliant air and steam-fry features.