Ninja CRISPi Review and Ninja CRISPi Recipes and Ideas
This review includes a Ninja CRISPi, which I was sent to try out as part of another collaboration. All opinions are my own.
The Ninja Crispi has been all over social media lately, and it is easy to see why. A glass air fryer that looks good enough to leave on the worktop? But does it actually cook well, and is it worth spending up to £149.99 on? I did the research, so you do not have to.
This review covers everything you need to know about the standard Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer (FN101UK series), which is the UK version of this popular cooking gadget. I will share what it does, who it suits, and whether it is worth buying. I will also look at how the pricier Ninja Crispi Pro XL compares, so you can decide which one is the better fit for you.
Before I start I would like to clarify that I have only tried out the UK version of the Ninja CRISPi. The US version is a little different from what I have seen, so this is a UK Ninja CRISPi review.
What Is the Ninja Crispi?
The Ninja Crispi is a portable glass air fryer. Instead of the usual plastic basket design, it uses glass containers that you snap a separate heating unit onto. Ninja calls that heating unit the PowerPod.
The standard UK model (FN101UK) comes with two glass containers: a larger 3.8L one for bigger meals and a smaller 1.4L one for personal portions or leftovers. Both come with crisper plates and lids, so you can cook, serve, and store in the same container.
It runs on 1700W and measures H:34.5cm x W:30.4cm x D:34cm. It comes with a two-year guarantee, which is reassuring for the price. You can pick it up directly from Ninja UK, Amazon, Very or John Lewis, with prices starting from around £149.99. In time, it will probably be available elsewhere too.
The Crispi Pro XL (AS101UK) is the upgraded version. It comes with 2.3L and 5.7L containers, offers seven cooking functions including baking and dehydrating, and has full manual temperature control up to 230°C. It is priced at £249.99 from Ninja UK.
What Cooking Functions Does It Have?
The standard Ninja Crispi has four cooking modes:
- Air Fry for everyday crispy cooking
- Roast for meat and veg
- ReCrisp for bringing leftovers back to life
- Keep Warm for holding food at a serving temperature
One thing to note is that the UK version does not have a Max Crisp function. That is only available on the US model. The UK Crispi uses Keep Warm in its place.
There are no manual temperature settings on the standard model. You pick a mode, set a time, and let it do its thing. This is fine for most everyday cooking, but if you like to tweak temperatures, it might feel a little limiting. The Crispi Pro XL fixes this with full temperature control, which is one of its main selling points over the basic model.
What Is It Like to Use?
Setup is simple. Everything clips together without any fuss, and the concept is easy to get your head around fairly quickly. If you have only ever used a drawer-style air fryer before, it will take a little getting used to.
The main thing to know is that you need to use the crisper plates. Without them, air cannot circulate properly underneath the food, and results will be uneven. Of course, this will depend on the function you use and the food you are cooking.
You also may need to shake or flip your food more often than you might with a standard air fryer. When you do this, you remove the PowerPod, which gets very hot during cooking. It does have feet so you can set it down safely, but it is worth knowing in advance so you are not caught off guard.
Once you get used to it, cooking results are good. Vegetables come out crispy, marinated meats cook well, and the ReCrisp function is brilliant for bringing chips or leftover pizza back to life without turning them into cardboard.
Noise levels are reasonable. It is not silent, but it is no louder than a fan oven, so you will barely notice it in a normal kitchen environment.
The Glass Containers: A Real Selling Point
The glass design is one of the Ninja Crispi’s biggest selling points, and it is easy to understand the appeal. You can watch your food cook through the clear sides, which is genuinely fun and means you do not have to keep checking on things. More importantly, there is no plastic touching your food at all.
The containers are PFAS-free, which means no chemical non-stick coatings on the surfaces that come into contact with your meal. The crisper plates have a nano-ceramic coating instead. For anyone who has been worried about PFAS in their cookware, this is worth paying attention to. You can read more about PFAS and cookware safety from the Food Standards Agency.
Cleaning is another area where the glass containers shine. Both the 1.4L and 3.8L containers, along with their crisper plates, are dishwasher safe. Just pop them in after use and you are done. The PowerPod itself needs a wipe with a damp cloth when cool, which takes about 30 seconds.
One minor issue is a small gap where the PowerPod meets the glass container. It can be a little fiddly to clean and dry. It is not a huge deal, but it is worth knowing about.
Is the Ninja Crispi Good for Families?
Here is where things get a bit more honest. The Ninja Crispi is a brilliant appliance, but it is not the right fit for every household.
For one or two people, it is great. The 3.8L container is big enough for a decent portion of chips, a couple of chicken breasts, or a small roast. The 1.4L is ideal for reheating leftovers, cooking a single portion, or making a quick snack. For more, it might be trickier depending on what you are cooking.
What Foods Work Best in the Ninja Crispi?
Based on user experiences, here are some foods that work really well:
- Marinated chicken strips and fish portions
- Potato wedges, chips, and sweet potato fries
- Broccoli and other vegetables
- Frozen snacks like onion rings and nuggets
- Caramelised fruit like bananas
For safe cooking temperatures, the Food Standards Agency recommends that poultry be cooked until steaming hot all the way through, with no pink meat remaining, and that it reaches a core temperature of 70°C for at least two minutes. A simple meat thermometer takes all the guesswork out of this.
If you want inspiration for what to cook, try my air fryer sweet potato fries recipe or my air fryer onion bhajis. Both work really nicely in a compact air fryer like the Crispi.
Ninja Crispi vs Ninja Crispi Pro XL: Which Should You Buy?
Here is a quick comparison to help you decide:
| Feature | Ninja Crispi (FN101UK) | Ninja Crispi Pro XL (AS101UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From £149.99 | £249.99 |
| Containers | 1.4L and 3.8L | 2.3L and 5.7L |
| Cooking functions | 4 | 7 |
| Temperature control | Preset only | Full manual, up to 230°C |
| Guarantee | 2 years | 2 years |
If you cook for one or two people and want a compact, easy-to-use appliance with great cleanup, the standard Crispi is a good choice. If you cook for more people, want to bake or dehydrate, or simply want full control over your cooking temperatures, the Pro XL is worth the extra cost.
The Pros and Cons at a Glance
What works well:
- Glass containers look great and let you watch food cook
- No PFAS or plastic touching your food
- Dishwasher-safe containers make cleanup easy
- Compact enough to put in a cupboard
- ReCrisp function is excellent
What to be aware of:
- No manual temperature control on the standard model
- Small capacity for families of four or more
- The PowerPod gets hot and needs careful handling when flipping food
- Cooking times in the recipe booklet can be inconsistent
- Not cheap at full price
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Ninja Crispi have temperature control?
The standard Ninja Crispi (FN101UK) uses preset cooking modes only, with no manual temperature adjustment. The Ninja Crispi Pro XL (AS101UK) does have full temperature control, going up to 230°C.
Is the Ninja Crispi dishwasher safe?
Yes. Both the glass containers and crisper plates can go in the dishwasher. The PowerPod should be wiped clean with a damp cloth when cool and should never be submerged in water.
Can I cook a whole chicken in the Ninja Crispi?
According to Ninja UK, the Crispi Pro XL with its 5.7L container can cook a whole 1.2kg chicken. The standard Crispi, which I have, is better suited to chicken portions rather than a whole bird.
Is the Ninja Crispi good for beginners?
Yes. It is straightforward to set up and operate. However, beginners should remember to use the crisper plates for some meals and to shake or flip food during cooking if required for even results.
Where can I buy the Ninja Crispi in the UK?
You can buy it directly from Ninja UK, as well as from major retailers like Amazon, Very and John Lewis. Prices can, of course, vary between retailers, especially during sale periods.
How does the Ninja Crispi compare to a standard drawer air fryer?
A drawer air fryer is generally better for larger portions and allows more hands-off cooking. The Ninja Crispi suits smaller households and wins on design, storage, and the fact that no plastic touches your food. For a family-friendly alternative, have a look at my Swan 11L Duo Layer Air Fryer review.
Should You Buy the Ninja Crispi?
The Ninja Crispi is a well-designed, genuinely good air fryer for the right household. If you live alone, with a partner, or in a small flat with limited worktop space, it is perfect. The glass containers are practical and attractive, cleanup is easy, and the cooking results are good once you know what you are doing.
For larger families or anyone who needs to cook large full meals every night, it is likely to feel a bit too small as a main appliance. In that case, you would be better off looking at a larger air fryer or using more than one appliance to cook the meal.
If you are still weighing up your options, my guide to choosing the best air fryer for your family is a good place to start. And once you have your new appliance set up, try the fakeaway KFC recipe as your first proper cook. You will not be disappointed, it is a reader favourite!
