Best Premium Air Fryer [2026]: Ninja Crispi Pro Glass (AS101CY)

After comparing expert reviews, Reddit discussions, and buyer feedback, one model kept standing out: the Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer AS101CY.

It has also earned Amazon’s “Overall Pick” badge and holds a strong 4.6-star rating, adding to its appeal for everyday use.

Instead of a traditional coated basket, it uses borosilicate glass cooking containers that can go from cooking to serving, storing, and reheating.

After weighing performance, cleanup, capacity, and everyday convenience, the Ninja Crispi Pro is my pick for the best overall air fryer in 2026.

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Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer

What cooking experts say

Here are quotes from expert reviewers and trusted publications that have tested the Ninja CRISPi Pro Glass Air Fryer AS101CY and shared their firsthand experiences and opinions.

The roast function delivered one of the best roast chickens I’ve ever made, with crisp skin and perfectly moist meat, in less time than a traditional oven.

All the ingredients I tried came out just right: flaky pastry; crispy chicken skin and chips that were still fluffy in the middle.

Overall rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

[Source]: telegraph.co.uk

In short, the new Ninja crispi pro is the best air fryer that I’ve ever tested. It’s packed full of features, it’s simple to operate, it’s easy to clean, it’s easy to store and even if you have a small kitchen, it won’t take up too much counter space.

[Source]: independent.co.uk

The Ninja Crispi Pro is a sublime air fryer that builds on the success of the original with more functions, proper controls and a stylish look to match its fast, even and consistently excellent cooking for everything from smaller family meals to larger roasts.

[Source]: trustedreviews.com

The Ninja Crispi Pro air fryer is fast, powerful, and easy to program. I loved its glass baskets, which let you visually monitor food, and that it pauses the timer when you remove the basket to give it a shake mid-cook. Everything I made in the air fryer came out crispy and golden—and it’s super fast, with no preheating needed. It’s compatible with three basket sizes, which makes it more versatile than a standard air fryer. While inserting the baskets was finicky, overall, this is a great air fryer.

[Source]: seriouseats.com

Is the Ninja CRISPi PRO XL Air Fryer worth it?

The easiest yes. Not only is it easy to use, but it’s unbelievably easy to clean, as the glass containers and crisper trays are both dishwasher-safe. And it’s PFAS-free, which means the coating is free from the common toxic, synthetic chemicals used in cookware.

The CRISPi’s particularly great for cooking anything that has a strong smell or leaves a lot of residue – such as salmon or bacon – as it really contains the food. And, on top of all that, it actually looks quite nice; a lot of air fryers look like a spaceship has landed in your kitchen, but it’s small, and really is worth any counter space that you might lose. Promise!

Overall rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

[Source]: johnlewis.com

After testing more than 50 air fryers over the years and living with the Ninja Crispi Pro for seven months, this is my all-time favorite. It’s not because it has the most buttons. It’s not because it can cook a whole chicken. And it’s not even because it makes exceptionally crisp bacon, although that certainly doesn’t hurt. It’s because this is the first air fryer I’ve used that genuinely fits into the rhythm of how I cook.

[Source]: tasteofhome.com

Between the intuitive design, controls, and effective cooking functions, the Ninja CRISPi Pro is one small kitchen appliance that I do think is worth it, even with a somewhat hefty price tag.

[Source]: tastingtable.com

For now, the CRISPi Pro has officially replaced my Ninja Foodi, which is living in the cabinet under the sink.

[Source]: bonappetit.com

There’s a lot to like about the Ninja Crispi Pro. But the value is hard to justify at this price point. If you’re committed to a glass air fryer and understand those tradeoffs, the Ninja Crispi Pro is the best option available right now.

[Source]: prudentreviews.com

If you’ve been searching for a new air fryer, I’d recommend the Ninja CRISPi Pro to anyone who’s looking for a powerful appliance that does the following:

Saves space by doubling as food storage.
Uses non-toxic glass containers.
Allows you to see what’s inside at all times.
Has clear temperature controls on a digital display.

[Source]: thekitchn.com

Why I picked it as the best overall

The more air fryers I compared, the clearer it became that the best overall model isn’t necessarily the one with the biggest capacity or the most presets. It’s the one that makes everyday cooking easier without giving up good results.

The Crispi Pro checks a lot of those boxes. It cooks well, reheats leftovers exceptionally well, makes cleanup easier, and gives you two glass containers that can go from cooking to serving and storage.

That combination gives it an advantage over many traditional basket air fryers.

Cooking performance

The Crispi Pro reaches 450°F / 232°C and uses concentrated top-down heat with convection. It performs especially well with foods that benefit from strong browning and crisping, including potatoes, vegetables, breaded foods, and other relatively dry foods.

There are limits, though. The glass has more thermal mass than a thin metal basket, so some dense or heavily frozen foods can take longer. And despite the 6-quart container, the practical cooking surface is what matters when you want food evenly exposed to circulating air.

One thing to remember: 6 quarts describes the container volume, not the amount of food you can spread out in one perfectly crisp layer.

Reheating is a major strength

The Recrisp function is one of the reasons the Crispi Pro stands out.

Pizza, fries, breaded foods, and other leftovers can regain much of their original texture instead of coming out soft like they often do from a microwave.

For households that regularly eat leftovers, this is more than just another button on the control panel. It’s a feature you’ll actually use.

Cleanup is where it really shines

The glass cooking containers are non-porous and much easier to clean than many traditional air fryer baskets. The containers, lids, and crisper plates are dishwasher safe according to the research.

For the longest possible coating life, gentle hand washing of the crisper plates is still the better approach. The PowerPod should never be submerged and should be wiped down after it cools.

The glass is a major advantage

One of the biggest reasons the Crispi Pro stands out is the cooking vessel itself. Instead of putting food directly into a traditional coated metal basket, Ninja uses borosilicate glass for the main cooking container.

For buyers who are concerned about what their food is coming into contact with, that’s a meaningful difference. Glass is non-porous, doesn’t absorb food odors or flavors, and doesn’t need a traditional PTFE/PFAS non-stick coating on the cooking vessel.

That gives the Crispi Pro a cleaner-feeling cooking surface while also making it easy to see your food as it cooks. You can actually watch the browning and crisping without repeatedly pulling out a dark basket.

It’s worth being precise, though: the Crispi Pro is not completely free of coatings. The removable aluminum crisper plates use a nano-ceramic sol-gel coating. So if you want an air fryer with a glass primary cooking vessel and without traditional PTFE/PFAS non-stick on that vessel, this is a particularly interesting option. If you want absolutely no manufactured coating anywhere, this isn’t that product.

Why the glass matters: You get a non-porous cooking vessel without a traditional PTFE/PFAS non-stick coating, plus the ability to see your food while it cooks and use the same container for serving and storage.

The drawbacks you should know about

The glass gets very hot. It requires more care than a cool-touch basket.
It’s heavy. At about 11.4 pounds, it’s better suited to staying on the countertop.
Cooking surface is limited. Large batches may require multiple rounds.
Light foods can move around. Strong airflow can push thin foods around the container.
Thermal shock matters. Hot glass shouldn’t go onto wet or cold surfaces or be exposed to cold liquids.

Who should buy it?

Families that want useful capacity and don’t mind cooking large batches in rounds.
Couples and smaller households that can make good use of the 2.5-quart container.
Meal preppers who want to cook, store, and reheat without transferring food.
People who hate cleanup.
Anyone who reheats leftovers regularly.
Material-conscious buyers who prefer a glass primary cooking vessel.

Who should look elsewhere?

If your main priority is maximum single-layer cooking space, a large horizontal air fryer may be a better choice. The same goes for anyone who wants a lightweight basket that’s easy to move in and out of a cabinet.

And if young children are regularly around the kitchen, the hot glass deserves serious consideration.

Final verdict: ★★★★⯪ (4.7/5)

After comparing the major strengths and weaknesses, the Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer AS101CY is the best overall air fryer I’d recommend in 2026.

It doesn’t win every individual category. Some air fryers have larger cooking surfaces, lighter baskets, or simpler handling. But the Crispi Pro offers an unusually strong combination of cooking performance, reheating, cleanup, convenience, and versatility.

The glass does make it heavier and requires more care, and the 6-quart capacity shouldn’t be confused with a huge single-layer cooking area. Those are real compromises.

But for most buyers looking for one air fryer that does a lot of things well — while making everyday cooking and cleanup noticeably easier — the Crispi Pro is the one I’d choose.