Ninja Crispi
The Ninja Crispi comes in 4-and 6-quart capacities, as well as several color options.
The new Cuisinart ClearView is offered in both 4- and 9-quart sizes, but only comes in one color.
Ninja is well known for being one of the most popular air fryer brands. Apart from coming top of Tom’s Guide’s best air fryers guide, Ninja performs consistently well across industry tests and consumer reviews.
So, when I got to introduce Cuisinart’s ClearView air fryer, it came as a bit of a shock, as this newly launched glass air fryer gives the Ninja’s Crispi a run for its money.
Many people may well opt for Ninja over other brands, just for the company’s consistent performance and reliability. But my advice is don’t assume that the Ninja Crispi is the best buy. Cuisinart’s ClearView air fryer has a lot to offer that could make you change your mind.
Ninja Crispi vs Cuisinart ClearView: Price
When comparing air fryers, a good benchmark is price. The Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass air fryer that my colleague tested in the Stone colorway is $179 at Amazon, while the CyberSpace Gray version is currently $164 at Amazon. The online store is selling plenty of other color options, including Sage, Ginger Snap and Electric Cobalt.
Cuisinart’s ClearView 4-quart air fryer is available for $139 at Amazon — $40 below the regular price of the Ninja Crispi. However, you only get the standard black color option.
Winner: Cuisinart
Ninja Crispi vs Cuisinart ClearView: Design
The key factor about these two air fryers is that they have clear glass bowls. It’s what makes them different from the majority of air fryers on the market, as you can instantly see what’s going on inside without disturbing the cook.
The design also means you can place the bowls straight on the table without them being an eyesore, or cover them with a lid to store in the refrigerator or freezer.
I’ve already mentioned above about the great color options you get with the Ninja Crispi, and for this reason alone it wins on design. However, although you get panoramic glass windows on both air fryers, to give you full sight of cooking progress, you get a top viewing window with the ClearView, and a light to help you see more clearly what’s going on inside.
Although you will pay more for the Ninja Crispi, you do get an extra 6-cup storage bowl with a snap-lock lid. A handy extra if you often have leftovers.
Winner: Ninja
Ninja Crispi vs Cuisinart ClearView: Functions
The Ninja Crispi is slightly different from standard air fryers. Instead of a temperature control with 5-degree increments, like the Cuisinart’s ClearView, it has four preset buttons: Max Crisp, Bake, Air Fry and Recrisp (which translates to Roast, Recrisp, Air Fry and Keep Warm on the U.K. model).
If you’ve used an air fryer before, you might feel the presets seem limiting. However, you can adjust the timer, either up or down, in one-minute increments. However, you can’t stop the cooking setting early if you decide your food is ready, you’ll have to turn the whole appliance off.
With Cuisinart’s ClearView, you get full-on temperature control and two custom presets for all your favorite recipes. What’s more, it has a ‘Shake reminder’ to alert you when it’s time to turn or shake your food for crispy results.
Winner: Cuisinart
Ninja Crispi vs Cuisinart ClearView: Verdict
When you take into account the price, design, and functionality, I’ll be putting my money on Cuisinart’s ClearView air fryer over Ninja's Crispi air fryer for now. But for a fair trial, I’ll be testing the Cuisinart ClearView air fryer shortly, and will report back with my full review.
