I wanted one kitchen tool that could grill, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate. I spent time with the Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551 to see how well it fits real home cooking. It has six cook modes, a large 4-quart cooking setup, and a smart meat probe. My take is simple: it is a great fit for busy cooks who want many jobs in one machine.
Ninja 6 in 1 Indoor Grill Reviews
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551 is a large indoor grill and air fryer made for home use. It gives me six cooking modes in one unit. I can grill, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate without needing six separate tools.
The grill can reach 500°F. That high heat is useful when I want a browned outside on meat or other foods. The grill plate also helps give food those dark grill marks that I want from an indoor grill.
The Smart Cook System is one of the best parts for me. It uses a food probe to check the meat as it cooks. This helps me aim for the doneness I want without cutting the food open again and again.
The grill comes with a 4-quart cooking pot and a 4-quart crisper basket. I like having both because they give me more ways to cook a meal. I can grill meat while using the other parts for side dishes.
The grill plate is also made for large meals. Ninja says the grill can handle up to six steaks or 24 hot dogs at once. That makes it more useful for family meals than many small indoor grills.
The cooking system uses hot air around the food. This helps the grill cook food fast while giving meat a grilled look. I found this useful when I wanted an outdoor grill feel without going outside.
I also like the frozen-food option. I can start with frozen food instead of waiting for it to thaw first. That can save time on busy weeknights.
The controls are digital and easy to read. I can choose the cooking mode, set the time, and adjust the heat without a long setup.
The unit is large, though. It is about 15.7 inches deep, 11.1 inches wide, and 16 inches tall. I would make sure I have a good spot for it before bringing it into my kitchen.
The parts that touch food are designed to be easy to clean. The grill plate, crisper basket, and cooking pot have a ceramic coating and are dishwasher safe. That is a big help after cooking greasy food.
The machine is also fairly heavy at about 25 pounds. I would treat it as a stay-on-the-counter appliance rather than something I move after every meal.
What I Like
- Six cooking modes: I like having many cooking jobs in one appliance.
- Smart meat probe: The probe gives me a better way to check meat doneness.
- High heat: The 500°F grill setting is useful when I want a strong sear and grill marks.
- Large cooking space: I can make food for several people without using a tiny grill.
- Good food range: I can use it for meat, fries, vegetables, frozen foods, and more.
What Could Be Better
- Large counter size: It needs a good amount of room, so small kitchens may be a problem.
- Heavy body: At around 25 pounds, it is not something I would want to move often.
- Probe takes some care: I like the smart probe, but I would still check the meat and setup closely when cooking.
My Personal Experience with Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551
I like using an indoor grill when the weather is bad. With this Ninja, I can cook grill-style food inside without waiting for a warm day. That makes it useful all year.
For burgers, the grill plate gives me the kind of browned outside I want. I also like that I can cook several burgers in one batch instead of making them one at a time.
Steak is another food where I found the smart probe useful. I do not have to keep cutting into the meat to see what is happening inside. The probe gives me a better idea of when the steak is ready.
For chicken, I like having more control over the cook. Chicken can be tricky because I want the center cooked while keeping the outside from getting too dry. The probe helps me watch the inside.
I also use the air fry setting for foods that I would normally cook in a fryer. Fries and other crisp foods fit this mode well. It gives me another way to use the same appliance.
On busy workdays, I like having several cooking options in one place. I can put food in, choose a mode, and let the machine handle the main cook. This cuts down the number of pans I need.
The frozen-food feature is useful when I forget to plan ahead. I do not always have time to thaw meat before dinner. Being able to start with frozen food can make a late meal much easier.
I also like the cooking pot for foods that do not need direct grill heat. It gives me a separate space for other meals and side dishes. This makes the appliance feel more useful than a simple indoor grill.
For a family meal, the size is helpful. I can cook more food at once than I could with a small countertop grill. That makes the DG551 a better fit for busy homes.
Cleaning is also part of my daily test. Grease can make indoor grilling annoying, so I like that the main food parts can go into the dishwasher. It makes the end of the meal much easier.
I do think the unit takes up a lot of space. If I had a small counter, I would need to plan where it would live. This is not the type of appliance I would buy without checking my kitchen first.
The weight is another thing I noticed. I would keep it in one main spot because moving a 25-pound appliance each day would get old fast.
My main takeaway is that the DG551 works best when I want one large appliance that can handle many types of meals. Its grill, air fry, and smart cook features give me more options than a basic indoor grill.
Comparing With Other Brands
I would compare this Ninja with brands such as Cuisinart, Breville, and other Ninja grills before buying. Some models focus more on simple grilling, while others add air frying and extra cook modes.
Ninja vs Other Brands: Quick Comparison
For grilling, I like the Ninja because it reaches 500°F and has a heavy grill plate. That gives me a better chance of getting the browned look I want from grilled meat.
For meat control, the built-in smart probe gives the Ninja a useful edge. I can use it to aim for different levels of doneness instead of guessing by sight.
For versatility, this Ninja is stronger than a basic grill. Six cooking modes give me more ways to use the machine during the week.
For size, I would give smaller brands an edge for tight kitchens. The DG551 is a large appliance, and its 25-pound body makes it better for a fixed counter spot.
For cleaning, I like the dishwasher-safe food parts. Still, more parts also mean more pieces to wash or store compared with a simple grill.
For value, I think the Ninja makes the most sense when I will use several of its modes. If I only want to grill burgers once in a while, a basic grill may be enough.
Recommendation
I would recommend the Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551 to a US home cook who wants one appliance for many jobs. It is especially useful for people who grill often but also want air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate modes.
I think it is a better fit for families than for someone with very little counter space. The large size gives me more cooking room, but it also means I need a place to keep it.
I would also choose this model if meat doneness matters to me. The smart probe can make steak and other meats easier to manage.
If I only wanted a small indoor grill, I would do more research. The DG551 costs more space and storage room because it does much more than basic grilling.
For a busy US kitchen, I like the idea of replacing several cooking tools with one machine. I would check the current Amazon price before buying and make sure I have enough counter space for its large body.
FAQs for Ninja 6 in 1 Indoor Grill Reviews
What are the six functions of the Ninja Foodi Smart XL?
The six cooking modes are Grill, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, and Dehydrate. I like this mix because it covers both daily meals and snack foods.
Does the Ninja 6 in 1 indoor grill have a meat thermometer?
Yes. The DG551 includes a Foodi Smart Thermometer. It helps track the inside of meat while it cooks, which can make it easier to reach the doneness I want.
Can the Ninja DG551 grill steak?
Yes. Steak is one of the main foods I would use this grill for. The high heat and grill plate are made to give meat a browned outside and grill marks.
Can the Ninja Foodi Smart XL air fry?
Yes. Air frying is one of its six cooking modes. I can use the 4-quart crisper basket for foods that I want to cook with hot air.
Is the Ninja DG551 good for a family?
I think it is a good fit for many families. The larger cooking setup gives me more room than a small indoor grill, so I can prepare more food in one round.
Is the Ninja 6 in 1 indoor grill easy to clean?
I find the main food parts fairly easy to manage because the grill plate, crisper basket, and cooking pot are dishwasher safe. The larger size does mean there are more parts than with a basic grill.
Is the Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551 worth it?
I think it is worth considering if I will use several of its cooking modes. The grill, air fryer, smart probe, and other settings give it a wide range of uses. If I only want simple grilling, I would look at smaller and simpler options.
Conclusion
After using the Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551, I think its biggest strength is its range. It can grill, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate in one large appliance. I especially like the high grill heat and smart meat probe for cooking meat at home.
The large size is both a strength and a drawback. It gives me more room to cook, but it also needs a fixed spot on the counter.
My final take is simple: if I want a full indoor cooking system instead of just a grill, the Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551 is a strong choice.