I Tested Cuisinart’s New Glass Air Fryers. Here’s How They Compare to Ninja’s Crispi

Ninja’s Crispi air fryer model wasn’t the first to feature a glass bowl, but its versatile design, effortless operation and portability quickly won me over, securing the Crispi a place as CNET’s favorite air fryer on a list that includes several other Ninjas.

Other glass air fryers have arrived on the market since then, even some that mimic Ninja’s modular vibe. When Cuisinart entered the glass air fryer bowl chat, however, I was eager to get my hands on its ClearView models. Like Ninja, Cuisinart has set the standard in various kitchen appliance categories since its inception over 50 years ago.

Here’s the lowdown on what to expect from Cuisinart’s ClearView 9-Quart and 4-Quart models and how they compare to their respective Ninja Crispi versions.

Cuisinart ClearView Air Fryers at a glance

Cuisinart’s new ClearView line features two different air fryers: a small 4-quart glass bowl model and an extra-large 9-quart model with a traditional nonstick drawer and a ceramic crisper plate. The defining characteristic (and specific point of departure from Ninja) of both models is a panoramic window on the topside of each unit, allowing an easy look into the progress of whatever’s cooking.

Both have heating units situated in a fixed plastic body and removable drawers, unlike Ninja Crispi’s original modular design. The Ninja Crispi Pro, however, released in late 2025, is a larger version, similar in layout to both of Cuisinart’s ClearView air fryers, but it still maintains the glass bowl in the bigger model. (Full disclosure: While I have tested the original Ninja Crispi, I haven’t yet tried the Crispi Pro, so some of the comparison here is based solely on specs and other impressions.)

Cuisinart ClearView 4-Quart Air Fryer

• Style: Glass drawer style air fryer with panoramic window and 4-quart capacity
• Dimensions: 12.2 by 12.6 by 11.5 inches
• Watts: 1,600
• Weight: 12.75 pounds
• Warranty: 3 years
• Price: $140

Cuisinart ClearView 9-Quart Air Fryer

• Style: Extra large nonstick drawer-style air fryer, which includes a ceramic crisper plate, and has a panoramic window and 9-quart capacity
• Dimensions: 15.75 by 16.1 by 12.5 inches
• Watts: 1,800
• Weight: 14.2 pounds
• Warranty: 3 years
• Price: $160

How does Cuisinart stack up against Ninja overall?

The attributes that really set Cuisinart’s ClearView models apart from Ninja Crispi’s — as well as other air fryers I’ve personally tested — are game changing, in my opinion, and features I would never want to live without now that I’ve seen what’s possible. (Literally. They rightfully call it ClearView.)

On the other hand, there are drawbacks to both the 4-quart and 9-quart ClearView models that could equally be considered deal-breakers, depending on your specific air fryer usage.

Considering various features side by side between Cuisinart’s ClearView 4-Quart and the original Ninja Crispi, plus Cuisinart’s ClearView 9-Quart and Ninja Crispi Pro, here’s who I think has the advantage in various categories that may be important. 

Visibility: Cuisinart

The panoramic window and interior light of both Cuisinart models are what I find truly top-notch about what’s on offer. While several air fryer models, including Ninja’s, allow for a peek inside the cooking chamber, Cuisinart has devised a way to be able to see what’s inside from a natural angle: looking top-down while the device sits on the counter.

Even as someone who cooks using an air fryer regularly, this was, in a word, illuminating and allowed for much better decision-making when it came to shaking, flipping or even deeming that the cooking was actually done. This is the element that makes me (almost) not want to use another air fryer again unless it includes this specific functionality.

While Ninja’s glass bowls allow an easy glimpse inside (which was a massive bonus when first released), you admittedly have to lean in to see what’s happening, as both models only allow for a side view. The Ninja Crispi Pro does add an interior light, but the heating element still sits entirely on top of the glass bowl with no view from above.

Versatility: Tie

Both brands’ air fryers here offer a variety of presets and functions, including cooking directly in the glass bowls where available. But the modular design of Ninja’s Crispi model is just so handy for using the air fryer on two dishes nearly simultaneously, as you can simply move the cooking unit from one bowl to the next.

When I originally reviewed the Ninja Crispi, I mentioned that it would be especially attractive for serial meal preppers, and I stand by that claim. The Cuisinart ClearView’s 4-quart model, the model most like the Ninja Crispi, doesn’t quite offer that same ease, though it is perfectly good for most standard air fryer uses.

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When it comes to the larger models, however, Cuisinart takes it on size alone. There’s an element of comparing apples to oranges here, as its 9-quart model doesn’t have a glass bowl like the Ninja Crispi Pro, but the size and shape inside the Cuisinart drawer is the largest and most accommodating I’ve experienced.

This makes for a genuine oven replacement device if baking or roasting are your primary air fryer needs. I fit an entire standard bundt cake tin inside of it. I also roasted a small chicken, though I could easily have done two at once or even a small turkey.

However, it is worth noting that the pull loop built into the crisper plate on this model is large enough to easily allow small items, such as french fries, to get lost underneath.

Storage and portability: Ninja 

Both of Ninja’s models offer slightly more functionality when it comes to storing or moving them. The major benefit of Ninja’s original Crispi model is that it can come apart in a way that doesn’t require much height for storage. The Cuisinart ClearView 4-Quart is still modest in size, with a comparable footprint to the Crispi, but as a traditional, nonmodular air fryer it still requires almost a foot of clearance.

For the larger capacity models, the Cuisinart ClearView 9-Quart is substantially larger. It allows for a great deal of space inside, but that’s also going to require a great deal of space on your countertop or in your cupboards, with a footprint that’s nearly 16 by 16 inches.

I did appreciate the handholds built into the bases of both Cuisinart ClearView models.

Insulation: It’s complicated

David Watsky/CNET

One potential drawback of Ninja’s original Crispi model is that hot elements are exposed once you remove the heating unit from on top of the glass bowl. Even though the heating unit itself has feet that ensure it won’t ruin your countertop, there’s still a slight, built-in burn risk, which is no small consideration, especially if you have children in the household. Otherwise, the glass bowl has plastic handles for easy shaking or moving and plastic feet that let it sit directly on a table for serving.

Cuisinart’s ClearView models correct for the former issue, but in doing so, introduce different issues, at least in the smaller, Ninja-like 4-quart model. The heating elements of both the 4-quart and 9-quart models are built into the mechanism like traditional air fryers and shielded by their panoramic windows, so there’s much less opportunity to suffer a burn from coming in contact with the heating element itself. 

On the other hand, the glass bowl of Cuisinart’s 4-quart ClearView model acts more like a drawer; while there are safeguards for smooth movement and to lock it in place, this precludes the ability for any sort of feet on the bowl itself, meaning that in removing it from the unit and using it to serve, the bowl is hot and will require a trivet or towel to protect your countertop or table.

For that matter, because of its drawer-style operation, there is just enough of a gap between the lip of the bowl and the base in the ClearView 4-quart to allow heat to escape. This didn’t seem to reduce its ability to cook efficiently, but in an already hot kitchen, it was noticeable.

Cost and value: Cuisinart

Depending on your air fryer needs, there are good reasons to consider both of Cuisinart’s new ClearView models. There are some challenges to get around, but both models clock in a little cheaper than their respective Ninja counterparts. For its capacity, if you have the counter and storage space, the 9-quart ClearView model is a bargain at just $160. 

Pamela Vachon

Contributor

Pamela is a freelance food and travel writer based in Astoria, Queens. While she writes about most things edible and potable (and accessories dedicated to those topics,) her real areas of expertise are cheese, chocolate, cooking and wine. She’s a culinary school grad, certified sommelier, former bartender and fine dining captain with 10 years in the industry. When not sitting at the keys, she leads in-home cheese classes, wine tastings and cocktail demonstrations.

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