Ninja DG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill with Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, & Dehydrate, Foodi Smart Thermometer, 2nd Generation, Black/Silver

We received our Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Grill, model 301 yesterday. (I included the model number since I found it difficult to identify the specific models in various reviews) Tried ribeyes right away and they turned out great. We will do some trial and error with the cooking time to get them to our liking. Tonight we did brats and they were delicious. It is easy to grill since you don't need to keep watch to prevent them from burning. We used the recommended temp each time and will stick with the recommendations. The grill cooks well, is very easy to clean by just popping the pieces in the dishwasher and we are thrilled with it. Look forward to the air fry function, and expect it to work well too. Perfect size for two people.

This unit combines a grill with a convection oven.Be realistic. There is no substitute for charcoal but I am precluded by local law and my condo association from barbecuing on my terrace. The Foodi offers a good sear and SOME of the flavor you would get from a charcoal grill.I have had excellent results with this thing. If you do not have a dishwasher, you might want to think twice. There are a lot of parts to be cleaned.I have a Cuisinart contact grill that became all but useless. The teflon coating has worn off top and bottom plates and everything sticks like crazy - usually to the top plate. Replacing the plates is about the same cost as replacing the machine. Even if there were not a sticking problem there is no comparison between the two appliances. The Foodi is far superior.The Foodi has an enamel coating that is very slick and should be far more durable than teflon.You ABSOLUTELY need a meat thermometer - the external kind with a cable or bluetooth connector to the probe. You will never have satisfactory result with a timer. Overall this cooks much quicker than an oven or a conventional grill because of the convection effect. Cooking times will vary depending upon fat content and size. The mean thermometer (around 2 bucks) takes the guesswork out of the process.I made some fennel sausage last weekend. I grilled these without the thermometer. I managed to overcook the links. I use commercial grade hog casing (my poor mother kept kosher) and the casing split.On the other hand I grilled some double rib lamb chops with the thermometer and they were done to perfection - a few degrees lower than desired and then allowed to rest for five minutes. Seared on the outside, medium rare on the inside.On the grill you are limited to four temperature zones. If you roast you can set the temperature to any point like an ordinary oven.I have not tried it but apparently you can air fry a breaded chicken cutlet. We will see. It would be a real plus.I have a sensitive, hard-wired smoke alarm and it went off when I turned the chops. Frankly it wasn't necessary to turn. As advertised is sears all around. I will turn them the next time as well but open my terrace doors first.You MIGHT want to obtain kevlar oven gloves. The reason I said that is that they enable you to remove the components while they are still hot and wipe the down with a paper towel before the D/W. No need to use the brush. Everything just slides off.There are three parts to clean: The grill, the pot and the splatter shield. My definition of clean is however, er, ... stuff comes out of the dishwasher. There was something in the manual about soaking the splatter shield for 24 hours. Yeah, sure. I'll get right on that.Overall - unless you are expecting robust charcoal barbecue taste - most people will be satisfied. As an indoor grill I would give it six stars if I could.

I bought this as a returned "excellent condition" item.1. Box was damaged but the product packaging was not open. There's one small dent and if I didn't tell anyone they wouldn't ever find it.2. Very high quality piece of cookware, very solid.3. So easy to clean we used it 2-3 times ish a week and several times a day on the weekends. We haven't used our grill in over a month now and we grilled a lot.4. Smoke level varies depending on what your cooking and how long. When I say smoke varies it's not even close to what a outdoor grill is. The temperature settings are adjustable and the airfryer option selection are great but you need to watch it and you'll learn the amount of time you need to cook to your taste.5. Easy to setup and instructions are very clear and precise6. Stickiness is not a factor, depending on if you overcook you may spend a little more time cleaning7. Set it and go do something else after you've learned what settings you prefer. The overall functionality is the best for a Ninja airfryer.

I’ve had this grill since late 2022, and it’s still one of the best things in my kitchen. It’s held up beautifully through constant use, and I’m honestly impressed with how well it performs every single time.We don’t have an outdoor grill, but this little machine turns out actual steaks, like, crispy-seared, juicy-center, restaurant-quality steaks. No babysitting the heat. No flare-ups. Just 500°F of countertop magic.The interface is simple, cleanup is easy, and it doesn’t make the house smell like smoke. I’ve done steaks, chicken, veggies, even quick reheats, and it handles all of them beautifully.Only downside? Don’t overcrowd it. If you try to squeeze in too much at once, you’ll lose that gorgeous sear. Give it space and you’ll be rewarded.Now yes, the price is up there. But considering how many meals we’ve made on it, I’d say it’s paid for itself ten times over. It’s replaced our need for a bulky outdoor grill, holds up year after year, and honestly makes me feel like a grill master without ever leaving the kitchen. If you’re on the fence, this is your sign. Just buy it.Photo proof attached, just look at that crust. You’d never guess it came off a plug-in grill. Ninja nailed it with this one.