Review on Ninja IG651 Foodi Advanced XL Pro by Jamie Brown

To be honest I didn't know what to expect from this Ninja Food Smart Grill and Fry Pan other than it was going to be big. I took a chance that the kitchen lot he occupied was worth it - and luckily it is. It doesn't have the steep learning curve of Ninja Foodi's pressure cooker/fryer/steamer. The included instructions will help you determine the heat level, whether you should leave the top open or closed, and, if you bought the smart thermometer version, the temperature you want to aim for. Ninja does most of the work for me. Steak, chicken, and burgers come close to the flavor you'd expect from an outdoor propane grill, and Grill Marks is even better. You can preheat the grill just enough to brown sous vide meat and leave grill marks on it before it's done. The booklet contains some basic recipes and tricks to help you become familiar with the grill and its settings. The sweet chilli chicken breasts were delicious despite being cooked ahead of the allotted time. A griddle is placed on top of the grill pan to provide a flat surface; This is great for grilled cheese sandwiches and maybe pancakes. The Foodi grill also comes with a large frying basket. (Ninja sells a small basket that lets you grill and air at the same time, but I haven't seen it for sale here.) or my Philips XL Air Fryer. Because the top of the Ninja Grill rises so high, you can bake in larger pots than I anticipated. The grill/pan does not brown the top and bottom on the same tine as panini/grills; However, when the lid is closed, the food also begins to cook at the top, just like in an oven. Of course, if you use the air roast option, you must close the lid. If you use a timer, the grill will let you know when it's time to turn. The smart thermometer signals when it's time to take out the food and let it rest so it heats up to the right temperature. This waiting time ensures that the food is not overcooked and the timing is very accurate. I love that the grids and Airfryer basket are dishwasher safe. However, there was a black residue on the grill grate, which aluminum often collects in the dishwasher. In the future I plan to hand wash it unless food gets stuck to it. Although this Food XL grill doesn't replace many household appliances, it works well as a dual grill/pan and air fryer. I love that I can now grill steaks, fish, chicken, and burgers during the off-season. While cooking outdoors is easier and less messy, the weather can get in the way. From now on I will not hesitate to use this grill in bad weather. – Debbie Lee Wesselman.