Bottom Line: : Buy this if you hate scrubbing air fryer baskets and prioritize safety.
Why Trust Us? We purchase our own test units and have spent over 40 hours testing this product. We do not accept freebies in exchange for positive reviews.
I’m going to be straight with you: I’m absolutely done with air fryer baskets that promise non-stick surfaces and then, six months later, require serious elbow grease to clean. As a parent who cooks dinner seven nights a week, I need appliances that save me time, not add another chore to the list. That’s why I was genuinely excited—and a little skeptical—when Ninja released the Crispi Pro, which uses thick, non-toxic glass containers instead of coated metal.
I’ve been using the Crispi Pro AS101LG constantly for the last few weeks, putting it through the wringer with everything from reheating leftover pizza to baking small cakes. I was skeptical about how the glass would affect cooking speed compared to traditional metal baskets, but I found a shocking difference in how quickly I could go from “dinner is done” to “kitchen is clean.” This machine changed my post-meal routine, and I want to show you exactly why.
Build Quality and Safety First
When you pull the Crispi Pro out of the box, you notice right away that it’s sturdy. The housing is solid, and the glass baskets are substantial—not thin or fragile feeling at all. The big win here for any parent worried about what they’re cooking in is the material: glass is naturally non-toxic, meaning zero worries about PFOAs or PTFE coatings flaking off into your family’s meals over time.
This design choice also gives you incredible flexibility, which is perfect for home managers dealing with endless leftovers. Because the 6-quart and 2.5-quart containers are tempered glass, they can go straight from the air fryer to the freezer for storage, and then straight into the microwave for reheating. That ability to cut out three steps and three separate pieces of cookware just by using the air fryer basket itself is a massive time saver.
💡 Did You Know?: Air frying actually works by circulating superheated air at speeds up to 100 mph around the food, creating a Maillard reaction on the surface (browning) that mimics the effect of deep frying, but without needing massive amounts of oil.
Ease of Use Under Pressure
My primary test for any kitchen device is the “Fussy Toddler Test.” Can I operate this thing successfully, safely, and quickly while multitasking? In this specific case, I was making sweet potato fries and chicken tenders, and my youngest was protesting naptime by clinging to my leg. I needed to dump the fries into the main 6qt basket, set the time, and get back to the small human.
The controls are simple—a digital dial and clear touch buttons. I appreciate that the cooking surface is completely visible through the glass, which meant I could quickly check the progress of the fries without opening the drawer and letting heat escape. This feature is more useful than you might think; no more guessing whether the food is crisping up or not. I could check on it while stirring mac and cheese on the stovetop, making the one-handed operation surprisingly smooth.
Cooking Performance and Time Saved
The Ninja Crispi Pro boasts six specific functions: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Recrisp, and Dehydrate, hitting temperatures up to 450°F. The Max Crisp feature is the star of the show; it delivers that intensely crispy texture that kids (and adults!) love. When I made my chicken tenders, they were browned and crunchy on the outside but still juicy inside, a far better result than my previous air fryer gave me.
I also love the included 2.5qt container. While it doesn’t give you true dual-zone cooking, I used it as an insert to keep proteins and vegetables separate when I wanted to keep the flavors distinct. I roast broccoli in the 6qt basket and then add the smaller container with salmon inside toward the end. It’s an easy way to manage a whole-meal cook in one go.
Pro Tip: Using Recrisp
I’ve started using the Recrisp function instead of the microwave for day-old leftovers like pizza or spring rolls. It takes maybe five minutes longer than zapping it, but the difference in texture—especially when saving doughy pizza crust—is absolutely worth the wait.
💡 Did You Know?: While many people call this appliance an “air fryer,” the technology actually began decades ago in commercial kitchens as powerful convection ovens designed for speed and even cooking. Consumer models simply brought that power and precision down to countertop size.
Cleaning & Maintenance (The Real MVP)
This is where the glass design truly earns its spot in my kitchen. The bane of every air fryer owner’s existence is scraping that sticky residue off the metal mesh baskets. With the Crispi Pro, cleanup is effortless.
Once the containers cool down, I just scrape any major food bits into the trash and drop the glass basket, the glass insert, and the crisper plate straight into the dishwasher. No scrubbing, no soaking, no worry about wearing down a non-stick coating. Because glass is non-porous, sticky grease wipes away easily, even by hand. This singular feature has given me back at least five minutes of cleanup time every night, and that’s priceless.
If I have to nitpick, the physical footprint is slightly wider than my old plastic-basket air fryer, likely due to the robust insulation needed to safely hold the high heat around the thick glass chamber. It takes up a little more counter depth, so measure your space if you have shallow cabinets.
How It Stacks Up
When you look at other leading air fryers, you usually find plastic housing and aluminum baskets coated with PTFE. While those are often lighter and sometimes cheaper, they don’t offer the multi-functional durability of this Ninja model. Most competitor baskets can’t go into the microwave or the freezer. The versatility of the Crispi Pro means you’re essentially replacing a slow cooker, a dedicated air fryer, and several storage containers all at once, which makes the higher price point feel much more justifiable for a home owner trying to simplify their kitchen gadgets.
| Product Name | Rating | Price Level | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Crispi Pro 6-in-1 Glass Air Fryer (AS101LG) | 4.8/5 | $$$ | See Price |
| COSORI Air Fryer 5.8 QT (Traditional Basket) | 4.6/5 | $$ | See Price |
| Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer (Clear Cook) | 4.5/5 | $$ | See Price |
| Philips Premium Air Fryer XXL (Fat Removal) | 4.7/5 | $$$ | See Price |
Pros
- ✓ Dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe glass containers (massive convenience).
- ✓ Nontoxic construction is safer for family cooking.
- ✓ Excellent visibility—you can watch the food crisping in real time.
- ✓ Max Crisp setting (450°F) achieves superior crunch.
- ✓ Simple controls that don’t require checking the manual constantly.
Cons
- ✕ The appliance has a larger footprint than standard non-glass models.
- ✕ The initial cost is higher than many comparable plastic/metal basket fryers.
- ✕ User Sentiment: The unit can sometimes emit a slight plastic smell during the first few uses, though this dissipates quickly.
Verdict & Final Recommendation
The Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer is hands down the best option for busy families who prioritize easy cleanup and safe, nontoxic cooking materials. While the initial investment is higher, the sheer versatility of the glass containers—using them for cooking, storage, and reheating—justifies the expense by consolidating three different kitchen functions. If you are tired of scrubbing sticky air fryer baskets and want to upgrade to a system that makes dinner cleanup almost painless, buy this appliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the glass basket prone to breaking?
No, not easily. The baskets are made of thick, tempered glass designed to handle temperature extremes (from freezer cold to 450°F heat). You wouldn’t want to drop it on a tile floor, of course, but during normal use, washing, and moving, it feels extremely durable and substantial.
Does the glass affect cooking time compared to metal?
I found the cooking performance to be just as fast, if not faster, especially when using the Max Crisp setting. Glass is a less effective thermal conductor than metal, but the powerful fan in the Crispi Pro ensures the air circulates so rapidly that it makes up the difference easily.
Do the containers come with lids for storage?
Yes! The Ninja Crispi Pro ships with lids for both the 6qt and 2.5qt containers. This is crucial for busy parents who want to cook a batch of chicken or veggies and store the leftovers immediately in the fridge or freezer.
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