Welcome to Plastic-Free Kitchen Week on the Strategist, where we’ve been obsessively researching and testing plastic alternatives — for everything from appliances to cleaning supplies to cookware. For more, head to our Plastic-Free Kitchen Week hub.
I became a skeptical air-fryer owner about three years ago. It was one of those domed, spaceship-like appliances. It made sense at the time, since it allowed me to cook meals without overheating my apartment and would sometimes cut cook times down by half. But over time, the cons started to outweigh the pros. It was bulky, for one. I had to buy a separate shelf to accommodate it, since it wouldn’t fit in any of my kitchen cabinets. Then, the cleanup went from easy to arduous after some residue started to build up inside of the basket. I’d have to soak and scrub it weekly to get it into decent shape. And, maybe most importantly, there were the health concerns. A majority of it was made of plastic, and the inside was covered in Teflon. After lots of articles surfacing about the negative effects of these forever chemicals, I was actively trying to replace everyday items that were better for myself and the environment. That was the tipping point, and I decided to finally kick the air fryer to the curb.
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Then, this past Christmas, my sister gifted me the Ninja Crispi. To be totally honest, I had lukewarm feelings after unwrapping it. I had gone through this journey already and was not excited for another unused appliance to collect dust. But I gave it a chance, and over the past six months, it’s converted me into a full-on air-fryer devotee. What sets this one apart from most of the others is that it fries food in glass containers instead of the usual black Teflon-covered baskets. For one, this totally eliminates my fear of forever-chemical exposure, and an added bonus is that I can watch my food cook in real time. On top of that, the Crisper Plates it comes with are aluminum with nano-ceramic coating, so no PFAS there, either.
The Ninja Crispi comes with a big-batch four-quart container, small-batch six-cup container, a “PowerPod” — the fan and exhaust system that heats up the food — and storage lids. The glass containers have plastic handles on the outside, so you can easily toss whatever food’s cooking or plate it. Because the whole thing is interchangeable and stackable, it can easily fit into my kitchen-cabinet shelf when taken apart. Also, as someone who works from home, I love that I can use the single-portioned container to make myself quick lunches daily. And, when my boyfriend and I are cooking, we can easily use the large-batch container. I’ve cooked everything from frozen fries to vegetables and chicken thighs in this, and the result is perfectly crispy every single time.
Cleanup, which was an issue with my first air fryer, is a breeze with the Crispi, too. I simply remove the Crisper Plate from the glass container and throw both into the dishwasher. It comes out spotless after every wash, and so far, there isn’t any built-up oil or residue on any part of the machine. To boot, the added storage lids make the already easy appliance even more convenient. If I don’t finish the food that I’ve cooked, I just pop one of the lids on and set it in the fridge. Whenever I’m ready to eat the rest, I can just place the PowerPod on top and click the “Reheat” option. Since getting the Ninja Crispi, I’ve used it at least three to four times a week. It’s almost replaced my oven and microwave altogether. Besides my coffee-maker (which also just so happens to be from Ninja), I’d say this is my most used kitchen appliance, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
More From This Series
- Ask the Strategist: Your Most Ultraspecific Plastic-Free-Kitchen Queries
- Welcome to Plastic-Free Kitchen Week
- Replace This With That: An Exhaustive List of Plastic-Free Kitchen Swaps
- Very Pleased With My Teflon-Free Ceramic Waffle-Maker
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