Review: Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer with Thermometer

Are you tired of firing up the outdoor grill in the rain or dealing with a smoky kitchen from stovetop frying? What if one sleek appliance could handle grilling juicy steaks, air frying crispy fries, roasting veggies, baking cookies, broiling fish, dehydrating fruits, and even crisping up leftovers all indoors, without the hassle? Enter the Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer FG551 in stylish black and silver its here to challenge everything you thought you knew about indoor cooking.

View On Amazon

Overview

This Ninja Foodi Smart XL is a game-changer for anyone who loves flavorful meals but hates the cleanup or weather dependencies of traditional cooking. Clocking in as a spacious countertop beast, it combines the power of a grill with air frying smarts, making it perfect for families or meal preppers. With its 6-in-1 functionality, smart thermometer for perfect doneness every time, and splatter shield to keep your counters spotless, its designed for effortless, restaurant-quality results right in your kitchen. I snagged this bad boy after seeing rave reviews, and after weeks of testing, its become my go-to for everything from weeknight dinners to weekend experiments.

Features

First off, the 6-in-1 versatility is unmatched you can grill, air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, and crisp, all in one unit, switching modes with a simple dial and letting the smart cyclonic cooking tech handle the rest for even heat distribution without hot spots. The built-in smart thermometer is a standout it probes your meat wirelessly, connecting to the digital display to monitor internal temps in real-time, alerting you when its rare, medium, or well-done, so you never overcook a steak again. Then theres the splatter shield, a genius mesh lid that lets steam escape while trapping grease and splatters, keeping your kitchen smoke-free and clean. Dont forget the dishwasher-safe parts the 10-quart cooking pot, 4-quart crisper basket, and all accessories rinse clean in minutes, no scrubbing required. And with its XL capacity, it fits up to six steaks or a whole chicken, making it ideal for feeding a crowd without multiple batches.

Experience

From day one, this Ninja has been a joy to use. I started with grilling marinated chicken breasts the thermometer hit 165 degrees spot-on, and the grill grate seared beautiful crosshatch marks while locking in juices, tasting like summer barbecue without stepping outside. Air frying frozen fries came out shatteringly crisp in half the oven time, no oil needed, and roasting a tray of Brussels sprouts with bacon turned them caramelized and addictive. Baking worked like a charm for cornbread muffins that rose perfectly fluffy, and the broil function gave my salmon that flaky, charred top in under 10 minutes. Even dehydrating apple slices for snacks was foolproof they came out chewy-sweet after six hours. Cleanup? A breeze just toss everything in the dishwasher and wipe the exterior. The only learning curve was dialing in times for my favorite recipes, but the included cookbook and app tips made it quick.

Pros and Cons

On the pros side, the flavor and texture results are phenomenal everything comes out juicy inside and crispy outside, thanks to the super-hot 500-degree grill plate and rapid air tech. Its incredibly user-friendly with intuitive controls, voice prompts, and that thermometer making it newbie-proof, plus the splatter shield really minimizes mess and odors. Space-saving for indoor warriors, and energy-efficient compared to preheating a full oven. Cons are minor the unit is bulky about 17 inches wide, so it demands counter real estate, and its loud like a powerful fan during air fry mode. Initial preheat takes 10-15 minutes, which feels long if youre hangry, and at around 200 bucks, its an investment, though worth every penny for heavy users.

Advice

If youre cooking for a family of four or more, crave variety without a cluttered kitchen full of gadgets, or just want to elevate your meals effortlessly, grab the Ninja Foodi Smart XL FG551 now its a friendly kitchen companion thatll make you the hero of dinner. Start with the thermometer-probed proteins to build confidence, experiment with the dehydrate for healthy snacks, and always preheat fully for best results. Pair it with Ninas app for recipes tailored to the model. Trust me, once you taste that indoor-grilled perfection, youll wonder how you lived without it your taste buds and clean counters will thank you.

View On Amazon