When it comes to indoor grills, the team at Ninja Kitchen has been busy and is now launching the Ninja Foodi Indoor Griddle & Air Fryer.
The new Ninja Foodi Indoor Griddle & Air Fryer is a testament to how Ninja has reacted to what customers want. This compact, multi-use cooking device has a similar look to the Ninja Foodi Smart XL grill but with one major upgrade. More heat!
What is different with the new Ninja Foodi Indoor Griddle & Air Fryer?
The new Ninja® Foodi® XL Pro Grill & Griddle still includes the top heating element but adds a bottom heating element to the device.
Don't get me wrong, the other Foodi Grill products get hot too. But the heat was coming exclusively from a single heating element in the top of the grill.
Having heat come from the bottom means two things:
- You can cook with the lid open like an outdoor grill or griddle
- Having heat from the top and the bottom means foods can cook much quicker than before
I tested this the very first time I cooked with this device. I preheated the griddle and put frozen sausage patties on the griddle surface. It allowed me to cook with the heated griddle and the hot air from the air fryer at the same time!
I had anticipated it would take about 12 minutes for the sausages to cook. To my surprise, they were done in under 4!
I've cooked quite a few things using a majority of the functions of this device. The only function I didn't use was dehydrate and I anticipate trying that with some garden herbs at some point.
One cook that's particularly enjoyable is chicken parmesan. I'm able to air fry the chicken and then add sauce and melt the cheese. The pictures below show parts of the process.
I figured if it claims it can grill, I better also try to cook steaks. I actually cooked a variety of steaks on the grill using both the grill and griddle functions.
When is the food done?
The grill's smart settings allow you to insert a temperature probe into foods and cook to a specific temperature. It has both manual settings and smart settings so if you tell the device to cook a steak to medium it will do just that.
On the other hand, if you tell the device you're cooking chicken it will adjust the finish temperature to ensure that the chicken is safely cooked.
When I cooked this steak, I used an aftermarket thermometer to test the temperature against what the device said. The two temperatures were about in sync and I was very happy with the performance.
Another dish I tried was blackened fish.
Blackened fish typically leaves my kitchen smoky and me coughing and running for the exits. But I had no issue this time. I cooked both halibut and rockfish with zero issues.
Because halibut is expensive I again trusted the temperature probe to make sure it hit the proper doneness without being overcooked. It was spectacular!
After cooking many dishes with this device, one of the things I appreciate more than anticipated is the ability to cook with the lid open.
The griddle is nice for breakfast items like bacon and pancakes, but it really cooks like a skillet. So if I want to do a stir-fry, it's no problem. I love how I can switch between settings and finish foods by melting a little more cheese or allowing it to brown more.
Ninja sent me this grill to test and provide feedback so some of the design features may differ slightly from what you purchase from them.
If you're interested in purchasing this item and adding it to your kitchen, you can get one here.
Wondering what you should cook first? Check out these jalapeno poppers that cook up quickly in the Ninja!
This is something that I would be interested in getting. Wish it had come out before I got the food grill. Hope some specials will be offered.
It's always a bummer when you have that feeling of missing out. In the grilling world, it's called MCS or Mass Cooker Syndrome. I've had it happen a couple of times now with Ninja products. I have a combo pressure cooker/air fryer and they just released one with less of a footprint and I suspect more features.
I agree. I love the model I have but wish it had bottom heating element.
It is a must have! I loved it so much, I bought one for my RV! So easy, So easy to clean! At 75 I need that!
Thanks for the grill - I'm on the fence over the current 6in1 Smart Grill and this new 7in1 Smart Grill Griddle. Being smokeless has been the salient feature of the Ninja Foodi Grill for me. An indoor grill is pointless if there is smoke - even a small amount. Can you please comment on smoke with the new Grill Griddle.
Hi Shirley,
It's been my experience that smoke can happen when cooking something either where extra oils accumulate, or if the food is being cooked too hot. As an example, I love cooking bacon at 390F but if I cook more than a pound of it at a time or in succession any temperature over about 335F will smoke. On a positive note, I've never had an issue with smoking cooking raw meat or steaks in a clean grill. I hope this helps-
I just received this model last night. I just unboxed it and can't wait to cook my baby back ribs for dinner. The only thing I was disappointed in is how small the veggie tray is
Enjoy your new grill!
Yes have a ninja Jodi Grill and Air Fryer combo. Love it, except that it is difficult to clean. How does this new product compare regarding cleaning? How difficult is it?
Compared to the original it is easier.
The Ninja Foodi Grill (original) is the company’s MOST DIFFICULT product to clean. I own a trifecta - Ninja Foodi (6.5 quarts), Ninja Foodi Dual Air Fryer, and the Ninja Foodi Grill (original).
Don’t get me wrong, I love all of them and I use the grill the most, but in terms of cleaning ….it is (and can be) a headache to clean because of its design.
The New Ninja Foodi Indoor Griddle & Air Fryer - Pro XL Grill and Griddle Combo is so easy to use and clean, it is a must have!
You can now cook more with hood open like grilling and griddling use dawn spray power wash and brillo
I’m having trouble figuring out exactly which of the Ninja grills you were reviewing. Can you give me the model number please.
Thank you
Janet-
This grill is the one I am writing about. It's new!
Find it here:
ninjakitchen.pxf.io/7mOAXy
Ok cause you are picturing my two cookers with 3 button; but you written review is the other newest (unit with thermometer and extra buttons).
My model is FG 551 6in one. Will this griddle fit mine is ex large
If it can be cooked you can do it in the New Ninja Foodi Indoor Griddle & Air Fryer - Pro XL Grill and Griddle Combo! Quick, Easy and easy to clean! So GREAT I bought a second for my RV! You won't be disappointed in your purchase!