What Are The Size Differences Between The Original Indoor Grill The Xl Indoor Grill And The Xl Pro Indoor Grill & Griddle
There is not much difference in the height, the XL and the XL Pro Grill/Griddle is slightly higher than the original Grill. Although the depth of the cooking area is greatly reduced, the heating element is recessed back into the lid further than the 5 in 1 model and that is why it sits a bit taller.
The depth of these two grills are also very similar.
There is a difference in the width of the two models and it’s pretty significant, BUT do you really get that much more surface area to cook on?
The answer is not really.
Here is the width of both.
Based on these measurements, you would really think the surface area for cooking would be so much greater on the Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill 6 in 1, but it really isn’t.
I do have to say that I prefer the rectangle shaped grilling surface more than the square, but when it comes down to it, you can cook 1 more pork chop on the 6 in 1.
I think the biggest difference in size between the two grills is the depth of the inner pan.
The Ninja Foodi 6 in 1 Indoor Grill with Smart Technology has a much shallower inner liner pan.
I have been told by a member of my that he has successfully cooked a whole chicken in the 6 in 1 grill and although I think it probably was a small chicken, I am not doubting that it can be done. Remember that the heating element is recessed and that gives more room for taller types of foods, like roasts and whole chicken.
This is where your cooking style is going to come into play with which grill is right for you.
What Is The Best Ninja Air Fryer And Grill
Verdict. The Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer AG301UK is a good option for anyone wanting a dual-purpose machine. It combines the features of an air fryer and grilling machine, so you can cook your chips using the fry mode but grill your meat or vegetables. The results in all the cooking modes were excellent.
Price: A Quality Investment
The Ninja Foodi retails around $280, which is more than reasonable for a kitchen appliance with so many high-performing functions. Even if grilling was the only feature, it does it so well that Id still think it was worth the price. But since this one appliance can replace several others in your homeand even your outdoor grill if you really wanted it tothat sealed the deal for me.
To make things even easier, all of the removable parts except for the thermometer are dishwasher-safe, so if you want to, you can give them a quick, gentle scrub with the included brush and then toss them in the dishwasher for even faster cleanup.
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Performance: Worth The Hype
Even after developing over 1,000 recipes, cooking steaks still feels intimidating, so the thought of being able to pull off a perfectly cooked steak with basically the push of a button sounded really exciting. But after testing and owning dozens of kitchen appliances that fall way short on their promises, I was skeptical, to say the least.
Nevertheless, I put the Ninja Foodi to the ultimate grill testgrass-fed filets. Filets naturally have less fat than other cuts, and grass-fed filets have even less fat, so its really important not to overcook them if you want a good flavor.
During the five minutes it took to preheat the grill, I rubbed the filets in avocado oilone of the high-heat oils recommended by the manufacturerand sprinkled them with sea salt and crushed black pepper. Once the grill was preheated, it beeped and flashed an add food alert on-screen, signaling that it was time to add the steaks. I inserted the thermometer into the thickest part of one of the steaks, laid them on the grill pan, and chose the rare option in the beef preset function.
When I finally cut into the steak, I was wowed by how perfectly rare it was, and I’m not easily impressed. Ive tried to pull this off with other grills and meat thermometers but was never as successful as I was with the Ninja Foodi.
When I finally cut into the steak, I was wowed by how perfectly rare it was, and I’m not easily impressed.
Ninja Foodi Grill Recipes
While we love its air fryer function, the Ninja Foodi Grill is a great indoor grill that can handle anything youd cook on an outdoor grill. Weve had great results with pork, steak, chicken, hamburgers, sausages, vegetables and seafood cooked on the Ninja Foodi Grill.
Here are a few entree recipes to try.
The answer to this question depends on your familys cooking preferences and also what other appliances you own.
Some questions to consider:
- Do you already have a pressure cooker?
- Do you already have an air fryer?
- Do you wish you have a larger air fryer?
- Do you enjoy grilled foods?
- Do you enjoy slow cooker meals?
- Do you enjoy slow cooker meals or grilled foods more?
If you already have a pressure cooker and an air fryer, I would choose the Ninja Foodi Grill. Theres no need to replace those two appliances with a multicooker. But the Foodi Grill will give you indoor grilling functionality that you dont already have.
If you already have an Instant Pot, I would also say go with the Foodi Grill. No need to buy something with duplicate functionality.
If you only have an air fryer, then you might consider upgrading to either the Foodi Grill or the Foodi for the additional capacity and additional functions.
If you prefer grilled foods to slow-cooked foods, go with the Ninja Foodi Grill.
If you like slow cooker foods more, get the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer combo.
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How Much Is A Ninja Foodi Grill
The retail price for the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill with 4-Quart Air Fryer is $210, while the Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill with 4-Quart Air Fryer is $250 and the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill withKitchen Collection is $299.40. The Kitchen Collection model comes with a Grill Grate, Crisper Basket, Grill Brush, recipe book, Smart Thermometer, Kebab Skewer Set and 3-year VIP warranty, so everything you need to get grilling like a pro, pretty much.
The Bake Setting On The Xl Indoor Grill
The temperature ranges for the bake setting are 250-400/120-205. These are exactly the same as the origianl Ninja Foodi Grill.
One thing to note about using the bake feature is that the depth of the inner pot is much shallower than in the original grill and I will get into the size differences a little later in this article.
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Ninja Foodi Grill 6 In 1 Vs 5 In 1
Ninja Kitchen has been busy releasing new models of their Ninja Foodi range of appliances, including the Ninja Foodi Indoor grill with griddle function, which was just introduced.
This Ninja food grill 6 in 1 vs. 5 in 1 has more information. If youre seeking the greatest Ninja Foodi Grill, youve come to the correct place.
But there are only two indoor grills in Ninja Kitchens portfolio only one of them can be described as such.
Traditional models use the top heat source or the air fryer cover for cooking your barbeque or burger patty.Technically, a grill isnt an actual grill unless it has a heat source from below. It was more of an air fryer with grilling capabilities.
Fortunately, this is no longer the case with their newest indoor barbecue.
So, without further ado, lets get started comparing the Top 2 Ninja Foodi Indoor Grills, beginning with their most recent product offering.
Which Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill Is The Better Buy
It always boils down to the features, functions, budget and most importantly your cooking style.
If you want the most budget friendly Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill, then go with an older model. If you want all the bells and whistles and don’t plan on using it for baking that much, go with the newest Indoor Grill & Griddle.
Personally, I like the flexibility of the new Indoor Grill & Griddle and love that you can sauté, make pancakes, and so many other things on the griddle. However, I don’t do a lot of baking in any of the grills, so for my cooking style, I would choose the Grill & Griddle.
I also really love the XL grill because of the surface for air frying and grilling. Again, I don’t do a lot of baking in the grill, so the depth is not important to me.
Here is a Quick Comparison Chart based on available functions.
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The Ninja Foodi Fg551 Smart Thermometer
Your grill will include this terrific smart thermometer. You can insert this into your food to read the temperature and show it to you in real-time. Plus, it features two sensors which will give you a more accurate reading than the traditional one.
Essentially, thanks to this thermometer, you can predetermine the doneness you wantrare, medium rare, medium, medium well, and well-done. Whether youre a beginner or an experienced cook, this is a fantastic feature for achieving that perfect doneness.
Even better:
The Ninja Smart XL Grill will prevent overcooking. Mainly, the machine will tell you to GET FOOD just before it reaches the doneness you selected. By then, transfer your food onto a plate and rest .
Once your food is resting, it will still cook for approximately 5 minutesthis is called carry-over cooking. Knowing that Ninja considered this factor, they certainly deserve a thumbs up.
Furthermore, having this smart thermometer is a tremendous help when multitasking in the kitchen. Its like a walkaway feature as you can do other stuff without worrying about overcooking.
What Can You Cook With The Ninja Smart Xl Grill
Theres a lot you can make with the Ninja Smart XL Indoor Grill. Here are just a few:
BurgersSalmonGrilled Veggies
As I have mentioned earlier, these are just a handful of the endless possibilities. Better yet? It has five more cooking functions to explorebake, broil, roast, dehydrate, and best of all, air fry.
Unless you dont have an oven range, the bake, roast, and broil modes arent that impressive. Instead, well discuss the dehydrate and air crisp functions.
If you dehydrate occasionally, the 6-in-1 Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill could replace the traditional dehydrator. The quality isnt that far from each other, and more importantly, it will save you a ton of space in the kitchen.
Heres the kicker:
The same space-saving idea applies to the next functionair frying. Other than grilling, this is the most remarkable function of the Ninja Foodi FG551. For context, this will be a lot cheaper and more straightforward than a deep fryer.
So, if you have a standalone air fryer , you might want to consider this product for an upgrade. Its a multifunctional appliance, so you can never go wrong with this Foodi.
Heres the catch:
The heat comes from the top, which means it mainly cooks through convection instead of direct heat. In short, searing isnt its best quality.
Thus, for a more genuine indoor grill, you should consider the more recent Ninja Foodi IG651.
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Is The Ninja Smart Xl Grill Easy To Clean
Before anything else, make sure to only use silicone or plastic tongs/spatula. Just like your non-stick pan, this prevents any scratches on the ceramic coating.
Heres one more tip:
If youre going to cook a marinated protein, line your cooking pot with aluminum foil for a more swift cleanup later on.
Now:
Compared to a charcoal grill, cleaning this Ninja Foodi XL Grill is easy-peasy. Its technically dishwasher safe, yet I dont recommend it. The ceramic coating can get chipped easily, so preferably, you should wash it by hand.
Not to worry, its still going to be a straightforward cleanup.
First, soak the cooking pot, splatter shield, grill, and crisper basket in warm soapy water for an hour or two. If its easy to clean, you can skip this part. When its the other way around, you can also soak it overnight.
Use a soapy sponge to gently scrub off any residue, which should come off quickly. Dont use the scouring pad of the Scotch-Brite as it can damage the coating.
Rinse off the parts with running water and finally, dry completely before storing. As for the unit, simply wipe it off with a damp cloth.
*Product Images and Video Courtesy of Shark Ninja
Features Of The Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill 5 In 1 With The Integrated Probe
I believe that Ninja Kitchen may be phasing out the Indoor Grill 5 in 1 with the integrated probe. I could not find it on their website.
I did find in on Amazon though: Ninja Foodi 5 in 1 Indoor Grill with probe
It took some time to find the model number, but I think it’s AG400.
I don’t have this model, but I’m pretty sure the features are the same with the same temperature ranges as the Ninja Foodi 5 in 1 Indoor Grill without the probe.
The size is the same as the Ninja Foodi 5-1 grill and I’m fairly certain it functions the same with the exception of the integrated probe.
The integrated probe is designed to work similar to the integrated probe on the Ninja Foodi 6 in 1 grill from what I just learned. You set the temperature and the grill shuts off when the meat reaches that temperature.
It sounds like it functions a lot like the 6 in 1 xl model, but doesn’t have the presets.
I will say that there have been some complaints about the probe not working well and having to be replaced.
Since I don’t have this model, I can only go by what is being discussed in Facebook groups. If you have any other information that you think I should add in this post, I always welcome feedback!
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Where To Buy Ninja Foodi Grill
For authentic Ninja models with a warranty and 60-day money back guarantee, it’s safest to purchase your Ninja Foodie Grill from ninjakitchen.com. The Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill is equipped with grill, air crisp, bake, roast and dehydrate functions and can also be found on sale from time to time at Kohl’s, Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond and Best Buy. If you buy direct from the Ninja site they’ll also throw in free shipping on select purchases.
Best Ninja Foodi Grill Recipes
When it comes to the best Ninja Foodi Grill recipes, there are grilled appetizers, salads, sides, main courses and yes, dessert. Never tried grilled watermelon or grilled fruit skewers? They will change your life. How about grilled salsa or grilled bruschetta for a summer BBQ? And we all know about grilled burgers and wings, but grilled Bacon-Wrapped Barbecue Beef Bites are the crowd-pleasing dish you didn’t know you needed until know.
Try all of these grilled Ninja Foodi recipes and for even more summer grilling inspo, check out these ideas.
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Ninja Foodi Smart Xl 6
$399.99
Meet the Ninja® Foodi Smart XL Grill, the SMART XL grill that sears, sizzles, and air fry crisps. The innovative Smart Cook System helps you achieve the perfect doneness from rare to well done at the touch of a button without the guesswork. With its XL capacity, you can grill even more full meals for the whole family, virtually smoke free. It even air fry crisps for guilt-free fried favorites.
The Dehydration Setting On The Xl Indoor Grill
The temperature ranges for the dehydration setting are 105-195/40-90. These are the same.
You aren’t going to be able to do much layered dehydrating in the XL Indoor Grill, but it will work fine for making yogurt, proofing bread, and dehydrating small amounts of food.
The dehydration rack that is available for the original Ninja Foodi Grill will not fit the XL Grill.
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Features: Six Appliances In One
Ninja calls the Foodi Smart XL Indoor Grill the grill that sears, sizzles, and air-fry crisps, but I think it should be called the grill that replaces all of the other small kitchen appliances taking up too much space on your kitchen counter. Okay, maybe it cant replace all of the appliancesyoull still need your blender and coffee makerbut after testing this Ninja Foodi for a few weeks, I was ready to get rid of my toaster oven, air fryer, dehydrator, and even my outdoor grill.
This version of the Foodi indoor grill has six main cooking featuresgrill, air fry, roast, dehydrate, broil, and bakeand, unlike the smaller version, it includes a meat thermometer that allows you to choose from several preset meat options. Instead of manually monitoring the temperature, you can set the grill to beef or pork and then choose from a range of internal cooking temperatures, from rare to well. While the whole appliance is impressive, the smart thermometer was my favorite feature by far.
How Does The Ninja Foodi Smart Xl Grill Perform
Just like the previous Ninja 5-in-1 Grill, it produces delicious char-grilled results for your barbecue, steaks, chicken, etc. Plus, it wont create a crazy amount of smoke, so your fire alarm wont inconveniently go off.
It has a 10-minute preheat timea bit faster than a charcoal grill. In that time, you can prepare your food which should be more than enough for some recipes.
Heres the thing:
Ninja claims that you can cook 50% more than the original based on the steaks you can fit. You see, given that the grill area of the new Ninja XL Grill is 9×12 inches, its technically only 8% larger .
But wait, let me tell you something:
Since the orientation is now a rectangle, some food will be easier to fit than the older model. So, its still accurate to say that you can definitely cook more food simultaneously.
To put it into perspective, youll be able to cook 5-6 steaks at a time. Or, you can also cook the main and side dishes all togetherwhich is a significant time-saver.
Heres more:
The Ninja Smart XL Grill features a shallower depth which is crucial for grilling. Think about it itll be a lot easier to flip your burgers compared to that of a deep pot.
Moreover, it cooks food evenly thanks to its cyclonic grilling technology. So, even if you forget to thaw your food, you can still directly cook it on the grill with no problem.
Heres the best one yet:
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