After testing the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill with 30 meals, I found it to be my favorite pick for indoor grilling. This 1760-watt countertop grill offers the ease of cooking indoors while delivering results that are just as good as cooking on an outdoor grill.
I spent a lot of time using this Ninja indoor grill, and I get why it has a solid rating of 4.8 out of 5 from more than 830 reviews. Its 9 x 13-inch grill grate fits six steaks at once, and the 12-inch griddle works well for making everything from a big tray of nachos to six pancakes. The 4-quart crisper basket also gives you enough room to air fry plenty of food. Right now, it costs $149.99, which is marked down from its usual price of $299.99. In this review of the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill, I’ll explain if this handy 6-in-1 kitchen gadget is worth making space for.
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Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill (Model IG600/IG651) Details and Assembly Instructions
When I first unboxed the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill, its size caught my attention right away. It takes up a good amount of room measuring 15.7 inches in width, 17.4 inches in depth, and standing 11.63 inches tall. Even though it is designed to be compact, you should think about how much space you have in your kitchen before deciding to buy it.
Size and Space Details
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill packs a powerful 1760-watt punch and deserves its “XL” name thanks to its large cooking space. Its 9 x 13-inch grill grate lets you cook up to 6 steaks or grill 24 hot dogs at the same time making it a great option to prepare family meals. The 12-inch flat top griddle is also pretty handy and can make 4 sandwiches or 6 pancakes all at once. I liked the 4-quart crisper basket for air frying and the roomy 5.7-liter cooking pot, which holds a 1.4kg roast without any issue.
What’s Included and Overall Build
Opening the box shows several well-made parts inside. You get the main unit, a 9″ x 12″ grill grate, a 4-quart crisper basket, a 4-quart cooking pot, the Foodi Smart Thermometer, a cleaning brush, and a recipe book with 15 recipes made by a chef. Most of these items, except the thermometer, are safe to clean in a dishwasher, which makes tidying up much easier. The materials feel solid. On the downside, the unit is a bit heavy, so leaving it on your counter might be better than stuffing it in a cabinet.
Getting Started and First Thoughts
Starting with the Ninja indoor grill was simple. First, I took off all the packaging and removed the labels. Then, I cleaned the grill grate, the crisper basket, the thermometer, the splatter shield, and the cooking pot using warm soapy water. The splatter shield needed extra care because it has to fit by lining up its grooves with the notch on the heat shield ring. After cleaning and putting everything together, I plugged in the three-foot-long power cord.
The front LED screen looks sharp and clear, and the buttons respond making it easy to use. To set up the smart thermometer, all I had to do was open the storage compartment, unwind the cord, and plug it into the jack. At first, I was worried about smoke, but the appliance has a reliable smoke control system. It includes a splatter guard, a zone with cool air, and a grill grate that keeps the temperature steady.
Cooking Modes I’ve Tried: Grill, Air Crisp, Bake, Broil, Roast, Dehydrate
After preparing 30 meals using every cooking option, I got a good understanding of how the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill works in everyday use. This machine stands out for its flexibility during these in-depth tests.
Grill Mode: Grilled Steak, Chicken, and Burgers
The grill mode uses a heating element at the bottom to warm up the nonstick grate, while the fan and top coil help move air around. This setup creates steady high heat that can reach up to 500°F. I used the beef preset and a probe thermometer to cook rib-eye steak, and it turned out medium-rare to perfection. However, chicken breasts brought to the safe temperature of 165°F felt a bit dry compared to other ways of cooking. Quarter-pound beef burgers cooked on the HIGH setting had nice grill marks and stayed juicy. They took 8 minutes to cook, 5 minutes on one side, and 3 minutes after flipping. The quick preheating stands out—the grill heats up in just a few minutes, and indicator lights show when it is ready.
Air Crisp Mode: Fries, Wings, and Veggies
The air crisp mode turns this machine into an effective air fryer. Set the temperature to 400°F and cook wings for 20 to 24 minutes to get a crispy outside while keeping the inside juicy. Tossing the wings midway through cooking helps achieve the best texture. At 375°F French fries turn out great in 22 minutes if you shake them around at the 10-minute mark. Adding a mix of melted butter, garlic, parmesan, and herbs after frying gives fries an extra tasty kick. Vegetables come out excellent too in air crisp mode, but their cooking time depends on the type of veggie.
Bake Mode: Cookies and Flatbreads
Bake mode can do a lot more than you might expect. I used it to bake cookies by laying parchment paper on the pan and heating them at 300°F for about 8 minutes. Flatbreads turned out even better. I started with raw pizza dough on the grill insert and cooked it on HIGH for three minutes until it puffed up enough to turn over. After flipping, I cooked it for one more minute then added the toppings. This setting basically turns the appliance into a mini pizza oven making crispy and charred flatbreads in no time.
Broil and Roast: Pork Tenderloin and Fish
The roast setting works great with pork tenderloin. It cooks just right when it reaches the USDA-recommended internal temperature of 145°F. I placed the thermometer in the thickest part to make sure it cooked . This helped the meat stay juicy by managing the temperature well. Fish also turns out amazing. A whole red snapper, for example needs about 10 minutes at 400°F. Vegetables roast just as . In about 28 minutes, they become soft, but I noticed stirring them every 5 minutes gives a more even cook.
Dehydrate Mode: Apple Chips and More
During my tests, I found the dehydrate setting to be handy. To get apple chips crispy, I set the temperature to 150°F and let them dehydrate for 8 hours. I cut the apples to about 1/8-inch thick and spread them out on the dehydrator rack leaving some space between slices so air could circulate . This helped everything dehydrate . After they were done, I kept the apple chips in a sealed container, and they lasted well for a couple of days. This same feature also works great to dry out banana slices or other fruits, although the time needed depends on how much water is in the fruit.
Smart Features and User-Friendly Design
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill brings more to the table than your usual countertop appliances thanks to its advanced smart technology. What stands out the most is how its clever design choices make it intuitive.
Smart Thermometer Precision and Applications
The integrated probe thermometer forms the centerpiece of the “smart” features by working with pre-set options. It shuts off on its own depending on the meat type and how well-cooked you want it. It also considers the extra heat that continues to cook the food after it’s taken out. To get the best outcome, place the probe in the thickest section of the meat. This thermometer is compatible with every feature except the dehydration function.
Pre-programmed Settings Compared to Manual Options
The Smart Cook System checks the inside temperature through the thermometer when connected. You can press the Preset Manual button to pick the type of protein and how well you want it cooked by using the arrow buttons. The manual settings let you adjust the temperature for any food that needs tracking. There is a temperature guide showing LO, MED, HI, and MAX options to help you avoid burning your food.
User Interface and Display Feedback
The digital screen includes buttons with clear labels for every cooking feature. It shows notifications on the screen to tell you when to add, flip, or remove food. Paying attention to these instructions is important because the smart grill uses internal temperature readings to work .
Noise Level and Smoke Control
Running at about 72dB, this model is noisier compared to Ninja’s standard air fryers. You could compare its sound level to what you’d hear from a microwave. The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill creates almost no smoke if used as long as you stick to high smoke point oils and clean the splatter guard after each use.
Cleaning and Taking Care of the Grill Over Time
To keep the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill working well, you should maintain it after every use. During my testing with 30 meals, I found several helpful cleaning tips to keep it functioning well and lasting longer.
Parts Safe for the Dishwasher and Those That Are Not
, you can clean most parts of the ninja indoor grill in the dishwasher. The splatter guard cooking pot, grill grate, and crisper basket all qualify for this. This makes cleaning up after cooking much easier. But you need to wash the probe thermometer by hand. I scrub the probe with a soapy sponge and rinse just the tip with hot water. To avoid problems with the cord, I wipe it with a damp cloth. Failing to clean the thermometer could cause the wires to short out or stop working.
How to Clean the Splatter Guard and Grill Grate
The splatter guard needs extra care because it helps keep the cooking area free from smoke. To clean it , I fill a big dish pan with hot water and Dawn dish soap then scrub it using a stiff kitchen brush. To tackle tough grease mixing baking soda with vinegar does the trick. The manufacturer recommends giving the grease filter a quick wipe between cooking sessions to keep it clean.
How It Holds Up After 30 Uses
After using the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill a lot, it still works well and does its job. The nonstick layer on the grill and pan helps you clean it and with a rinse. Some users say their grills still work fine after about five years of regular use, though they notice small wear and tear on the outside. A change that a few long-time users point out is the fan sounding a little different after being used for a long time.
Usual Problems and Fixes
When I tested the unit, I ran into a few problems that were easy to fix. If the control panel buttons stop working, unplug the unit and reset it. That takes care of the issue. The “Add Food” error shows up when food bits block the hinge sensor. To fix this, clean the hinge area using soapy water or a steam cleaner. This clears out the sensor problems . If the thermometer shows a “Plug-In” error, you’ll need a new probe, which costs about $15. I avoid this trouble by always wrapping the thermometer cord the same way it comes off the holder keeping the bends consistent and preventing damage.
Conclusion
After testing all six functions on the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill, I am keeping it on my countertop. This appliance handles various tasks with ease and delivers great results grilling steaks, air frying chicken wings, and making crispy flatbreads. It is a bit big, but it frees up space by taking the place of other kitchen gadgets.
The built-in smart thermometer is a game-changer. It removes all the guessing when cooking meats just right. Its almost smoke-free grilling makes it perfect to use indoors no matter the weather. Cleaning is easier because parts can go in the dishwasher. However, the thermometer probe needs to be hand-washed .
The $149.99 price tag for the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill offers great value since it takes the place of six separate appliances. This can help families, people living in apartments, or busy workers. It is ideal for anyone who enjoys grilled food but does not have outdoor space or the time to deal with a regular grill.
There are a few small downsides. Chicken can come out a bit dry when using the default settings, and it can be louder than most countertop appliances. Even so, these minor flaws seem small when you consider the convenience and the great results it provides with its multiple cooking options.
After trying out 30 meals, I can say the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill is a great buy for those who want a reliable, all-in-one countertop appliance. It offers ease of use, flexibility, and consistent performance. Its smart features large cooking space, and variety of functions make it a fantastic addition to any kitchen.
Key Points
After putting together 30 meals using all its settings here’s what stood out about the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill to help you decide if it’s right for you:
• Built-in thermometer takes out the guesswork – The smart probe tracks the food’s internal temperature and turns the grill off once it hits your chosen doneness so meats are cooked every time.
• 6-in-1 appliance tackles multiple cooking tasks – You can grill, air crisp, bake, broil, roast, or dehydrate. This single countertop gadget handles everything from juicy steaks to crispy apple chips.
• Fits big family-sized meals with ease – Its 9×13-inch grill grate can cook six steaks at once. The 4-quart crisper basket is great for big amounts of air-fried snacks.
• Grill indoors without worrying about smoke – A smart smoke control system, splatter shield, and temperature-controlled grate let you grill all year without needing extra ventilation.
• Dishwasher-safe parts simplify cleanup – Most parts can go straight into the dishwasher, except for the thermometer probe making cleanup quick and easy.
- This is an amazing deal at the current price – Priced at $149.99 ($299.99), this gadget gives great features for the price when compared to getting separate machines for grilling and air frying.
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill shows that grilling indoors can match restaurant-level quality while being super convenient for countertop cooking. It works great for families, people in apartments, or anyone looking for flexible ways to cook.