Grilling a steak often involves guessing when it’s done, and the Ninja FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer eliminates that with a smart thermometer. Once you select a type of food and how cooked you want it, the grill tells you when it’s done. It can reach temperatures up to 500°F to create those distinctive char marks, as if the steak were grilled outdoors. It also air fries with approximately 75% less fat than traditional deep-frying methods, and its XL size fits six steaks at once.
Amazon currently lists the Ninja FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer at $200, down from $280. That’s 29% off, or $80 in savings.
An indoor grill and air fryer with a built-in meat thermometer
This appliance has six different cooking capabilities. Along with grilling, the Foodi Smart XL can also air crisp, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate. You can prepare items such as burgers, chicken wings, a baking pan full of vegetables, a casserole, or even homemade jerky, all without having to use multiple machines.
The Smart Cook System makes grilling simple. The Foodi Smart Thermometer attaches to the grill and continuously monitors the internal temperature of your food throughout the entire cooking process. Along with choosing from four protein settings, you can also select your preferred doneness. There are nine levels of doneness, from rare to well done, so you simply choose how you’d like your food prepared, and the grill alerts you when it reaches that point, so you never have to slice into a piece of meat again to see if it’s done.
Cyclonic Grilling Technology circulates 500°F hot air around the food with a fan, and the 500°F grill grate delivers char-grilled flavor and uniform heating throughout. The XL capacity also lets you feed large families at once. On the XL grate,, you can cook either six steaks or 24 hot dogs, and you can cook a complete meal plus sides at the same time.
Air frying uses the 4-quart crisper basket included with the grill. The basket holds up to 2 lbs. of French fries, and according to Ninja, it can produce air-fried foods with up to 75% less fat than traditionally deep-fried counterparts. Dehydration is another capability that few other indoor grills have. Using low, consistent heat, the Foodi can slowly dry sliced fruits, vegetables, and meats over many hours, letting you make your own beef jerky or dried apple slices instead of buying them pre-made. The bake and roast functions also offer options for side dishes and small casseroles.
Indoor grilling doesn’t always have to mean smoky kitchens. A smoke control system included in the Ninja FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer minimizes smoke during operation. A splatter shield, a cool-air zone, and a temperature-controlled grill grate help minimize smoke during grilling, so your kitchen doesn’t fill with haze while dinner cooks.