Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
To prepare meals, the Crispi must be positioned on top of the 6-cup or 4-quart borosilicate glass air frying “baskets” that accompany the unit—these are more accurately described as casserole dishes, complete with finger-safe handles and Tupperware-style lids. An adapter is provided to enable the Crispi to accommodate the larger 4-quart size. The crisping plates are coated with PFAS-free ceramic, as seen in many Ninja products.
Plug in the Crispi, select one of its four air frying settings, and hit Start. Simple as that. When cooking concludes, lift the air fryer off. The basket then transforms into a table-ready serving dish, equipped with handles and a sturdy base. Place the airtight lid on top, and it becomes your storage container for the fridge or for travel. Fortunately, both options are remarkably easy to clean—more so than most nonstick metal baskets, in fact.
This innovation makes the Crispi a brilliant exercise in efficiency—a solution that occupies zero counter space, prompting one UK writer to call it an air fryer tailored for the housing crisis. Another columnist speculated that the device might be ideal for Zoomers, though what that entails is unclear.
Regardless, the Crispi resonated with consumers. Despite a $160 price tag, considerable in the air fryer market, the Crispi has sold out across multiple production runs since its launch in September 2024.
A Variable Thermostat
Let’s be clear: there are some compromises. When evaluated strictly on cooking performance, the Crispi does not rank as the best air fryer available for its price point. The fryer offers only four somewhat vague settings: Recrisp, Bake, Air Fry, and Max Crisp. The last two operate at high air speeds, while the initial settings work at a much lower volume.
A sticker on the Crispi claims somewhat unreliable temperature ranges for each mode, spanning from 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. In real-world usage, even these inflated temperatures cannot be fully trusted.
One factor to consider is that cooking temps and airflow may vary depending on whether you choose the large or small dish. In any case, the Crispi tends to operate at least 10 degrees lower than the advertised temperatures, a thermostat fluctuation that’s been noted in other Ninja devices I’ve tested. To surpass 400 degrees Fahrenheit, indoors or on a chilly winter patio, opt for the 425-degree Max Crisp setting. Utilizing the Air Fry mode will bring you closer to 390.
