Compare Ninja Foodi Models: Find Your Perfect Indoor Grill

Choosing the right kitchen appliance can be overwhelming, especially with the multitude of options available in the Ninja Foodi lineup. If you’re looking for a versatile indoor grill that can do more than just grilling, you’ve likely come across several Ninja Foodi models. This guide is designed to help you Compare Ninja Foodi Models, highlighting their similarities and differences, so you can make an informed decision and select the best one for your cooking needs. We’ll delve into the features, functions, and unique aspects of each model to help you determine which Ninja Foodi indoor grill is the perfect fit for your kitchen.

Exploring the Features of the Original Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill

Let’s begin by examining the features of the original Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill. This model laid the groundwork for the popular Ninja Foodi indoor grill series, offering a range of cooking functions in a single appliance.

The Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill, model # AG301, is known for its five core cooking functions: grilling, roasting, baking, air frying, and dehydrating. It’s a versatile appliance designed to replace multiple kitchen gadgets, saving space and simplifying cooking. It’s important to note that while there might be various model numbers associated with this 5-in-1 grill, they generally offer the same core features. Some retailers might offer bundles with extra accessories, but the fundamental functions remain consistent.

Grill Function and Temperature Settings

The grill function is a standout feature of the Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill, allowing you to enjoy grilled flavors indoors, regardless of the weather. It offers four temperature settings to cater to different types of food and desired levels of grilling:

• Grill Low: 400℉/205℃, ideal for delicate items or slow grilling.
• Grill Medium: 450℉/230℃, suitable for general grilling of meats and vegetables.
• Grill High: 500℉/260℃, for achieving sear marks and grilling thicker cuts.
• Grill Max: 510℉/265℃, the highest heat setting for intense searing and quick grilling.

These temperature settings provide flexibility for grilling various foods from chicken and fish to steaks and vegetables. The indoor grilling capability makes it convenient to enjoy grilled dishes year-round.

Air Crisp Function for Crispy Delights

The air crisp function leverages the power of hot air circulation to create crispy textures similar to deep frying, but with significantly less oil. The temperature range for air crisping is 300℉-450℉/150℃-230℃.

This function is perfect for making crispy fries, chicken wings, and other traditionally fried foods in a healthier way. The Ninja Foodi’s air crisping capability is highly effective and has been noted to outperform other air fryers in some comparisons.

Roast and Bake Functions for Versatile Cooking

The roast setting operates within a temperature range of 250-500℉/120-260℃, making it suitable for cooking larger cuts of meat, poultry, and vegetables. It’s ideal for dishes like pot roasts or small chickens, providing even cooking and tender results.

The bake setting, with a temperature range of 250-400℉/120-205℃, allows you to bake a variety of dishes. However, it’s important to note that the heat source primarily comes from above. When baking items like brownies or casseroles, it’s recommended to slightly reduce the temperature to ensure the bottom cooks thoroughly before the top becomes overdone.

Dehydrate Function for Healthy Snacks

The dehydration setting operates at a lower temperature range of 105-195℉/40-90℃. This function is designed for removing moisture from foods over an extended period, preserving them and creating healthy snacks like dried fruits, jerky, and vegetable chips. While the base unit is suitable for dehydration, a dedicated dehydration rack accessory can be purchased separately to increase capacity and efficiency. The dehydrate function can also be used for other tasks like making cold start yogurt.

Exploring the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill with Integrated Probe

Building upon the original 5-in-1 model, Ninja introduced a version with an integrated probe, designed to take the guesswork out of cooking meat to the perfect internal temperature. While it seems Ninja Kitchen might be phasing out this specific model from their official website, it can still be found through retailers like Amazon. The model number is believed to be AG400.

The core functions and temperature ranges remain consistent with the original Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill. The primary addition is the integrated probe, which functions similarly to the probe found in the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 XL model. This probe allows you to set a desired internal temperature for your meat, and the grill automatically shuts off when that temperature is reached.

This feature aims to provide more precise cooking, especially for meats, ensuring they are cooked to your preferred doneness without overcooking or undercooking. However, some users have reported issues with the probe’s reliability, suggesting it may require replacement over time. Despite potential probe concerns, the concept of integrated temperature monitoring adds a layer of convenience for users who prioritize perfectly cooked meats.

Unveiling the Ninja Foodi XL Smart Indoor Grill

The Ninja Foodi XL Smart Indoor Grill (Model FG551) represents a significant step up in the Ninja Foodi indoor grill series, introducing “smart technology” with preset cooking programs and a larger cooking capacity. While it retains most of the core functions from previous models, it adds new features and improvements.

The XL Smart Grill maintains the grill, air crisp, roast, bake, and dehydrate functions, and introduces a new broil function. The “smart” aspect comes from its integrated probe and preset cooking programs designed to simplify cooking various types of meat and fish to desired levels of doneness.

Grill Functionality on the XL Indoor Grill

While the specific temperature displays for grill settings are not as readily visible as on the 5-in-1 model, it’s believed the temperature ranges for low, medium, high, and max grill remain similar. The XL grill aims to provide the same grilling performance as the original model, but with a larger grilling surface.

Air Crisp, Bake, and Dehydrate Functions on the XL Model

The air crisp function on the XL Smart Grill maintains the 300℉-450℉/150℃-230℃ temperature range and is expected to perform similarly to the other models, delivering excellent air frying results. The bake and dehydrate functions also retain their original temperature ranges (250-400℉/120-205℃ for bake, 105-195℉/40-90℃ for dehydrate), providing consistent performance for these functions.

Roast and Broil Functions: Expanding Cooking Versatility

The roast function on the XL Indoor Grill has a slightly reduced maximum temperature range of 250-425℉/120-218℃ compared to the original model. This adjustment may be related to the introduction of the new broil function, which fills the higher temperature cooking gap.

The broil function on the XL Smart Grill operates within a temperature range of 450-500℉/230-260℃. This high-heat function is ideal for top-down cooking, browning, and finishing dishes, adding another layer of versatility to the XL model.

Smart Technology and Preset Cooking Programs

The “smart technology” is a key selling point of the XL Smart Grill. It utilizes the integrated probe in conjunction with preset programs to automatically cook meats and fish to your desired doneness. You insert the probe, select the preset and desired doneness level, and the grill monitors the internal temperature and shuts off when the food is cooked.

The XL Smart Grill offers presets for beef, pork, fish, and chicken. For beef, pork, and fish, multiple doneness levels are available, allowing you to customize the cooking results. However, the chicken preset only has one option, set to 170℉/77℃, which some users find overcooks chicken breast. It’s often recommended to use the manual probe settings for chicken to achieve optimal results.

Preset Options on the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill:

• Beef: 9 levels of doneness, from Rare to Well Done (110℉/45℃ to 159℉/70℃).
• Pork: 4 levels of doneness, from Medium Rare to Well Done (130℉/55℃ to 160℉/71℃).
• Fish: 4 levels of doneness, from Medium Rare to Well Done (120℉/49℃ to 150℉/66℃).
• Chicken: 1 level of doneness, Well Done (170℉/77℃).

Manual Probe Settings for Custom Cooking

In addition to presets, the XL Smart Grill offers manual probe settings, allowing you to set a specific internal temperature for any type of food. The manual temperature range is 100-210℉/38-99℃. This feature provides flexibility for cooking various foods and ensures precise temperature control when needed.

Introducing the Ninja Foodi XL Pro Grill & Griddle

The newest addition to the lineup, the Ninja Foodi XL Pro Grill & Griddle, brings a griddle function to the Ninja Foodi indoor grill series. This model expands the cooking possibilities even further by incorporating a heated griddle plate alongside the grilling capabilities.

The XL Pro Grill & Griddle retains the grill, air crisp, roast, bake, dehydrate, and broil functions found in the XL Smart Grill and adds the new griddle function. A key difference is the heated grill plate at the bottom, which must be in place for cooking. This model does not use a traditional inner liner pan like the previous models.

Griddle Function and Versatility

The griddle function is the standout addition to the XL Pro Grill & Griddle. It provides a flat, heated surface for cooking breakfast foods like pancakes and eggs, as well as sandwiches, quesadillas, and sautéing vegetables. The griddle plate expands the appliance’s versatility beyond grilling and air frying, making it a more comprehensive kitchen tool.

Impact of the Grill Plate Design

The XL Pro Grill & Griddle’s grill plate is slanted, which can be a consideration when baking. While you can technically place a casserole dish on the grill plate to bake, the slanted surface may cause uneven cooking, especially for batters that can shift to the lower side. To achieve a level baking surface, you can use the griddle plate as a base and place a small baking pan on top of it.

Ease of Cleaning Across Models

Cleaning is always a factor to consider with kitchen appliances. The original Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 and XL Smart Grill models come with grill grates that some users find challenging to clean due to their rounded shape and food sticking. While they are non-stick, stuck-on food can be difficult to remove.

The XL Pro Grill & Griddle is generally considered easier to clean, primarily because its grill plate has straight rails instead of curved ones, making food removal simpler. Additionally, the inner liner of the XL Smart Grill is shallower than the original 5-in-1 model, which also contributes to easier cleaning. All models have removable grease filter screens in the lid that should be cleaned regularly to prevent smoke buildup. The XL models have a recessed heating element in the lid, making the lid itself easier to clean compared to the original model.

Size and Capacity Comparison

When comparing Ninja Foodi models, size and cooking capacity are important factors. While the XL models are advertised as larger, the actual usable cooking surface increase may not be as significant as measurements might suggest.

In terms of height, the XL and XL Pro Grill & Griddle are slightly taller than the original 5-in-1 model. The depth (front to back) of the cooking areas is similar across models. The main size difference is in width. The XL models are wider than the original 5-in-1, but the increase in actual cooking surface area might only translate to cooking one or two more items, like pork chops, at a time.

A more noticeable size difference is the depth of the inner pan. The Ninja Foodi XL Smart Indoor Grill has a shallower inner liner pan compared to the original 5-in-1 model. This shallower pan might be less suitable for recipes requiring depth, such as certain casseroles or baking dishes. While a whole chicken can be cooked in the XL models due to the recessed heating element providing more headroom, the shallower pan is a factor to consider, especially for baking enthusiasts. The XL Pro Grill & Griddle does not have an inner pan at all, further differentiating it in terms of cooking depth and capacity for certain recipes.

Which Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill Model is Right for You?

Choosing the best Ninja Foodi indoor grill depends on your cooking style, needs, and budget.

• Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill (AG301 or AG400): This model is a great entry point to the Ninja Foodi indoor grill series, offering essential functions at a potentially lower price point. It’s suitable for individuals or smaller families who want versatile cooking capabilities without the advanced features or larger size of the XL models. The AG400 with the probe adds temperature monitoring, which can be beneficial for cooking meats to perfection.

• Ninja Foodi XL Smart Indoor Grill (FG551): The XL Smart Grill is ideal for those who want a larger cooking capacity and the convenience of smart cooking features with presets and a probe. It’s well-suited for families and individuals who frequently cook meats and appreciate the automated cooking programs. However, the shallower pan and potential probe accuracy issues should be considered.

• Ninja Foodi XL Pro Grill & Griddle: This model is the most versatile, combining grilling and griddle functions in one appliance. It’s the best choice for those who want the widest range of cooking options, including griddling, and prioritize ease of cleaning. The XL Pro Grill & Griddle is excellent for families who cook a variety of meals, from breakfast to dinner, and desire a comprehensive kitchen appliance. The lack of a deep inner pan and the slanted grill plate might be minor drawbacks for specific baking tasks.

Quick Comparison Chart of Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill Models:

Ultimately, the best Ninja Foodi indoor grill model depends on your individual cooking preferences and priorities. Consider which functions are most important to you, the size and capacity you need, your budget, and how much you value ease of cleaning and advanced features like smart probes and preset programs. By carefully comparing these models, you can confidently choose the Ninja Foodi indoor grill that will best enhance your culinary experiences.