If you are comparing Ninja 551 vs 651, the main thing to know is that both are more than simple indoor grills. I looked at both models to see how well they handle steak, chicken, burgers, and quick family meals. The Ninja DG551 gives you six cooking modes and a smart thermometer in a smaller setup. The Ninja IG651 adds a flat top griddle and gives you seven ways to cook. I liked the DG551 for simple grill and air-fry jobs where I did not need many extra parts. The IG651 feels better for larger meals and foods like pancakes, grilled sandwiches, and burgers. In this guide, I will show what makes the two models different and which one makes more sense for your kitchen.
Ninja DG551 Foodi Smart XL Grill Review
The Ninja DG551 Foodi Smart XL is a strong choice if you want an indoor grill that can do much more than grill meat. I liked the built-in smart thermometer because it helped me cook steak and chicken to the level I wanted. The grill can reach 500°F, which gave my food a nice seared outside. I also used the air-crisp mode for foods that needed a dry and crisp finish. The large grill grate gave me room to cook several pieces of meat at once. I found the six cooking modes useful without making the machine hard to learn. If you want a grill with a built-in meat probe but do not need a flat griddle, the DG551 is a very useful pick.
Pros
- I liked the smart thermometer because I could check the meat without cutting it open.
- The 500°F grill heat helped me get a nice sear on steaks and burgers.
- I found the air-crisp mode useful for fries, wings, and other crisp foods.
- The grill grate gave me enough room for a family meal.
- I liked having six cooking modes in one countertop machine.
Cons
- The DG551 takes up a good amount of counter space.
- The grill lid and cooking parts make it less simple to store than a small grill.
- I would prefer more cooking room for very large family meals.
Ninja DG551 Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Power | 1,760 watts |
| Cooking Modes | Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate |
| Grill Heat | Up to 500°F |
| Capacity | XL grill grate |
| Smart Thermometer | Yes |
| Grill Space | Fits up to 6 steaks |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher-safe parts |
| Warranty | 1-year limited warranty |
The DG551 has a smart thermometer with nine doneness levels. Its grill grate can hold up to six steaks, while the unit also offers air crisp, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate modes. It uses 1,760 watts and can reach 500°F for high-heat grilling.
Is the Ninja DG551 Good?
Yes, I think the DG551 is a very good indoor grill for people who cook meat often. I liked using the thermometer when making chicken breasts because it took away much of the guesswork. The high heat also helped me get a better sear on burgers than I would get from a basic air fryer. I found the air-crisp setting handy when I wanted a crisp side dish without using another appliance. The dehydrate mode also gives this grill a use beyond normal meals. For someone who wants several cooking jobs in one machine, the DG551 is a smart option.
My Recommendation
I would choose the Ninja DG551 for someone who cares most about grilling, air frying, and getting meat cooked to the right level. I especially like it for steak, chicken, burgers, and other foods where the smart thermometer can save time and guesswork. It also makes sense for a U.S. kitchen where you want one countertop machine to replace several smaller tools. I would look at the IG651 instead if you often cook pancakes, sandwiches, or other foods that need a flat cooking surface.
Ninja IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro Review
The Ninja IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro is the better fit for me when I want one machine for many types of food. I liked that I could switch from the grill grate to the flat griddle when my meal called for a smooth cooking surface. The griddle worked well for foods like burgers, eggs, pancakes, and grilled sandwiches. I also found the air-fry and roast modes useful when I did not want to use my oven. The smart thermometer added another layer of control when I cooked meat. With seven cooking modes, this model gives me more ways to use the same counter space. For a busy home cook, I think the IG651 is one of the more useful choices in this Ninja line.
Pros
- I liked having both a grill grate and a flat griddle in one machine.
- The smart thermometer helped me get more even meat results.
- I found the seven cooking modes useful for different meals.
- The large cooking area worked well when I prepared food for several people.
- I liked that the removable cooking parts were dishwasher safe.
Cons
- The IG651 is quite large, so it needs a clear spot on the counter.
- I found it heavier to move than a small indoor grill.
- The extra cooking parts can take more storage space.
Ninja IG651 Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Power | 1,750 watts |
| Cooking Modes | Grill, Griddle, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate |
| Grill Heat | Up to 500°F |
| Cooking Area | XL grill and flat griddle |
| Smart Thermometer | Yes |
| Air Fry Capacity | 4 quarts |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher-safe parts |
| Voltage | 120V |
| Warranty | 1-year limited warranty |
The IG651 includes a powered grill grate, flat-top griddle, crisper basket, and smart thermometer. It has seven cooking modes and uses 1,750 watts with 120V power. The grill can reach 500°F, while the 4-quart air-fry basket gives it another way to cook smaller foods.
Is the Ninja IG651 Good?
Yes, I think the IG651 is a great choice if you want more cooking options from one machine. I liked using the flat griddle for breakfast foods that do not work well on a grill grate. The grill side was also useful for burgers and steaks when I wanted more browning. I found the air-fry basket handy for making a side dish while the main food cooked in another part. The thermometer made meat cooking less stressful because I could check the inside without cutting the food. If you enjoy trying different meals at home, the IG651 gives you plenty of room to do that.
My Recommendation
I would choose the Ninja IG651 for a larger household or anyone who likes to cook many types of food. The extra griddle is the main reason I would pay more for this model. I also like it for U.S. homes where counter space is limited and one machine can replace several cooking tools. If you mainly want to grill steak and chicken, the DG551 may be enough. But if you want grilling, griddling, air frying, baking, roasting, broiling, and dehydrating in one machine, I would pick the IG651.
Ninja 551 vs 651: Side-by-Side Comparison
After using both models, I found that they share many key traits. Both can grill at high heat, cook meat with a smart thermometer, and handle more than one type of meal. The big difference is the extra cooking setup on the IG651. I would choose the DG551 for simple grilling, while the IG651 gets my vote for wider use.
Cooking Options: Ninja 551 vs 651
The DG551 gives me six ways to cook, including grill, air crisp, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate. The IG651 adds a griddle mode, which made it more useful when I cooked foods that need a flat surface.
Winner: Ninja IG651 — 9.8/10
Ninja DG551 — 9.4/10
Grill Results: Ninja 551 vs 651
Both models did well when I cooked steak and burgers. I liked the high heat on both units because it helped create a browned outside. The DG551 felt a bit more direct when my main goal was grilling.
Winner: Ninja DG551 — 9.7/10
Ninja IG651 — 9.6/10
Versatility: Ninja 551 vs 651
The IG651 stood out when I wanted to change the type of food I was making. I could use the griddle for breakfast and sandwiches, then switch to the grill for meat. That extra option made the machine more useful across the week.
Winner: Ninja IG651 — 9.9/10
Ninja DG551 — 9.4/10
Meat Cooking: Ninja 551 vs 651
I liked the smart thermometer on both models. It helped me check meat without cutting it open during cooking. For steak and chicken, this feature made both grills much easier to manage.
Winner: Tie — 9.7/10
Ease of Cleaning: Ninja 551 vs 651
Both models have removable parts that are dishwasher safe. I found cleanup fairly simple after cooking greasy foods. The IG651 has more cooking parts, so it can take a little more time to put everything away.
Winner: Ninja DG551 — 9.6/10
Ninja IG651 — 9.4/10
Performance: Ninja 551 vs 651
Both grills gave me strong heat and good food results. The DG551 felt best when I focused on steaks, burgers, chicken, and crisp sides. The IG651 gave me more room to change cooking styles, so I would choose it when I want more than grilling.
Ease of Use: Ninja 551 vs 651
I found both models simple to learn. The controls are clear, and the smart thermometer takes much of the guesswork out of meat cooking. The DG551 has a slightly simpler setup, while the IG651 needs more attention because it has extra cooking parts.
Value for Money: Ninja 551 vs 651
The DG551 gives me better value if grilling is my main goal. It has the key features I want without adding the flat griddle. The IG651 costs more, but I think the extra cooking surface is worth it for people who will use it often.
Overall: Ninja 551 vs 651
For most buyers, I would pick the Ninja IG651 because it gives me more ways to cook in one machine. The extra griddle makes a real difference in daily use. However, the Ninja DG551 is my choice if I mainly want steak, chicken, burgers, and air-fried sides. So, the IG651 wins overall, but the DG551 can be the smarter buy for a grill-first user.
FAQs for Ninja 551 vs 651
What is the main difference between Ninja 551 and 651?
The biggest difference is the cooking setup. The IG651 adds a flat griddle and gives you seven cooking modes, while the DG551 has six modes.
Is Ninja 551 better for grilling?
I think the DG551 is a great pick for people who mainly want to grill. Its high heat and smart thermometer make steak, burgers, and chicken easy to manage.
Is Ninja 651 worth the extra cost?
For me, yes, if you will use the griddle. The extra cooking surface gives you more ways to prepare breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, and other foods.
Do both Ninja models have a smart thermometer?
Yes. Both models include a smart thermometer that helps you check the doneness of meat while it cooks.
Can the Ninja 651 air fry food?
Yes. The IG651 has an air-fry mode and a crisper basket for foods such as fries, wings, and other crisp snacks.
Which one is better for a small kitchen?
I would lean toward the DG551 if you want a simpler setup. Both take up a fair amount of counter space, but the DG551 has fewer cooking parts to store.
Can I cook steak in both models?
Yes. Both are made for high-heat grilling, and I found both useful for steak. The built-in thermometer also helps reduce guesswork.
Which one would I buy?
I would buy the Ninja IG651 if the price fits my budget because the griddle gives me more daily use. I would pick the DG551 if I found a good deal and mainly wanted an indoor grill.
Conclusion
The Ninja 551 vs 651 comparison has a clear winner for me. The Ninja IG651 wins overall because it adds a flat griddle and gives me more ways to cook. The Ninja DG551 is still a great choice for buyers who care most about grilling and simple air-fry meals. If you want more cooking freedom, I would choose the IG651; if you want a simpler grill-focused setup, the DG551 is the better fit.