The catch
Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
A main and a side cannot be timed independently in one cooking zone.
Side by side
Ninja Air Fryer Max XL vs Ninja Crispi Pro: Crispi brings glassware that cooks and holds leftovers
Quick verdict
Crispi Pro adds interchangeable glassware, a six-quart main vessel and a smaller dish for leftovers. AF161, by contrast, is a conventional five-and-a-half-quart drawer fryer.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Without a second heater, the smaller Crispi dish is still useful
A modest portion or leftovers fit it well, but the two included vessels have to take turns on the single base.
Where this comes from
With one cooking base, Crispi Pro includes 6-quart and 2.5-quart containers.
The catch
Ninja Crispi Pro
Many conventional drawers give food more single-layer area than the six-quart vessel does.
Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
- Why pick it
- A conventional pull-out basket is your preference
- Named Broil and Reheat modes are on your list
- The catch
- A main and a side cannot be timed independently in one cooking zone.
Ninja Crispi Pro
- Why pick it
- Cooking and storing in glass is important
- Two vessel sizes in the box appeal to you
- The catch
- Many conventional drawers give food more single-layer area than the six-quart vessel does.
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What this page compares
The conventional five-and-a-half-quart drawer fryer here is AF161. Crispi Pro brings interchangeable glassware, a six-quart main vessel and a smaller dish for leftovers.
Interchangeable glass cooking vessels, or a fixed metal basket
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
You require cooking in glass
Glass vessels come with Crispi.
- Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
- Not suitable
- Ninja Crispi Pro
- Better fit
The routine of a conventional basket
The familiar drawer stays on AF161.
- Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
- Better fit
- Ninja Crispi Pro
- Good
Small portions get a smaller cooking vessel in the package
A 2.5-quart container is included with Crispi.
- Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
- Not suitable
- Ninja Crispi Pro
- Better fit
Two foods timed independently
A single cooking zone is used by both.
- Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
- Not suitable
- Ninja Crispi Pro
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Without a second heater, the smaller Crispi dish is still useful
A modest portion or leftovers fit it well, but the two included vessels have to take turns on the single base.
How we worked this out
With one cooking base, Crispi Pro includes 6-quart and 2.5-quart containers.
Roughly nine percent is the main capacity gain
Glass and storage convenience give a stronger reason to switch than hoping for a dramatically larger meal.
How we worked this out
(6 - 5.5) / 5.5 × 100 = 9.1%, greater nominal capacity in the large vessel.
Seven modes do not automatically make the Ninja more useful in your kitchen
Mode count alone misses the decision, because AF161’s Broil option and Crispi’s vessel-to-fridge routine solve different needs.
How we worked this out
Air Broil is documented among AF161’s seven modes, whereas Crispi Pro supplies glassware and storage lids along with six modes.
Option A
Ninja, AF161
Air Fryer Max XL
This single-basket air fryer holds five-and-a-half quarts, has a 450°F Max Crisp setting and gives you separate bake, broil and dehydrate modes.
- Best for
- High-heat crisping and baking in a simple single-drawer routine
Facts we checked
- 5.5-quart basket
- Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat and Dehydrate across seven functions
- 450°F at Max Crisp
- US specification of 1750-watt
- Basket and crisper plate go in the dishwasher
Option B
Ninja, AS101LG
Crispi Pro
The air-fryer head is modular and pairs with clear glass vessels in six-quart and 2.5-quart sizes, with lids and six cooking modes.
- Best for
- Cooking family portions in glass
Facts we checked
- Glass vessels, six-quart and 2.5-quart
- Six modes for cooking
- Up to 450°F
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Ninja Air Fryer Max XL | Ninja Crispi Pro | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking material | Coated metal basket | Glass vessel | Transparent cooking access is what Crispi gives. |
| Large vessel | 5.5 quarts | 6 quarts | Main-dish room is slightly greater on Crispi. |
| Second vessel supplied | No | 2.5-quart glassware | Smaller portions go into separate cookware on Crispi. |
| Food storage | Transfer into another container | Supplied storage lids | Food can stay in its cooking vessel on Crispi. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
- The six-and-a-half-quart baskets on newer Ninja alternatives are larger.
With Ninja Crispi Pro
- Glass adds weight and takes storage room, and the main vessel is relatively slow to preheat.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You require cooking in glass
Go with Ninja Crispi Pro. Glass vessels come with Crispi.
The routine of a conventional basket
Go with Ninja Air Fryer Max XL. The familiar drawer stays on AF161.
Small portions get a smaller cooking vessel in the package
Go with Ninja Crispi Pro. A 2.5-quart container is included with Crispi.
Decision guide
How to decide
Think of AF161 as the conventional five-and-a-half-quart drawer fryer. Crispi Pro adds interchangeable glassware, a six-quart main vessel and a smaller dish for leftovers.
Crispi’s two containers take turns and are not two zones
One at a time, the six-quart and 2.5-quart vessels share the same cooking base. They let you fit a dish to its container, but they do not cook two independently timed meals at once.
Little separates the main vessels in capacity
Compared with AF161, Crispi’s large vessel is half a quart bigger. Visibility, serving and covered storage matter more than that nominal increase.
The cooking menus reflect different priorities
Air Broil and Reheat are on AF161. Crispi Pro has Recrisp, and you can use glass from cooking right through serving. Choose the workflow you will repeat and not the larger function count.
What this page can’t tell you
- Manufacturer specifications cover equipment and capacity. Cooking or preparation outcomes were not independently tested for this comparison.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the air fryers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 3 of the 35 models checked meet every need here: “I'd like my food cooked in glass”, “I like to watch food as it cooks”, and “My controls need to be very simple”.
3 models fit, out of 35 checkedThe gap in numbers
Ninja Crispi Pro lists 6 qt for listed cooking capacity, 9% more than the 5.5 qt on Ninja Air Fryer Max XL.
- Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
- 5.5 qt
- Ninja Crispi Pro
- 6 qt
- Models with this figure
- 29 of 35
Show the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I'd like my food cooked in glass”, “I like to watch food as it cooks”, and “My controls need to be very simple”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
How we calculatedOnly quart figures go into this median. Oven cavities listed in liters or cubic feet are left out, since they do not compare directly with basket capacity. For context, 29 of 35 models publish comparable figures.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Air Fryer Max XL |
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| Ninja Crispi Pro |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
A conventional pull-out basket is your preference
See price & reviews on AmazonNinja Crispi Pro
Cooking and storing in glass is important
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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