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If you’re eyeing up the Ninja Woodfire Grill and Smoker, you’re probably looking to dodge the usual faff of lighting a barbie and waiting around in a cloud of smoke while everyone gets hungry.
That’s exactly what I wanted and that’s what this thing does.
It’s the Swiss Army knife of summer cooking. With seven functions, you’ve got no excuse to cook indoors. Grill, smoke, air fry, even dehydrate or reheat if that’s your thing.
All of it electric, and none of it involving charcoal.
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How does the Ninja Woodfire Grill work?
The key ingredient? Woodfire pellets. The smart tech inside fans the smoke around your food, giving it that proper smokey flavour without the mess. Two pellet types come in the box, one mellow, one punchier.
Load them into the hopper, press a button and you’re away.
If you’re not after smoke, skip it. Just slap your chicken, burgers or veg on the grill and get cooking. I did exactly that. You can easily knock up a quick evening tea in under 30 minutes (all northern aren't we?).
Key details
Max temperature: 260°C (500°F)
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Cooking functions: 7 - Grill, Smoke, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Dehydrate
Fuel: Wood pellets (electric-powered, no charcoal)
Heat-up time: under 15 minutes
Weight: Just over 12kg - light enough to move around easily
Cooking area: 28cm x 37cm - fits about eight burgers or a decent rack of ribs
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How easy is it to use?
The machine itself is simple to run. A toggle switches between functions and you’ve got buttons for temp and timer, with settings for low, medium and high.
No poking at coals or checking thermometers. The grill heats up in about 10-15 minutes and lets you know when it’s ready.
That’s what I liked. No standing around guessing if the coals are hot enough, no smoke in your face, no drama. If you just want to get s**t done, the Ninja’s made for you.
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So, how does the food actually come out?
Honestly, solid. The grill gets hot enough to give you those proper sear marks you want from outdoor cooking. Burgers came out juicy and fast. I even nailed a steak, though you’ll have to crack the lid to check temp as you go. Which isn't always ideal. Still, it’s the easiest route to knocking up dinner outside without it being a full-on mission.
But what about the woodfire flavour? That’s what you’re probably here for. Is it the same as a traditional smoker? It’s pretty damn close. Judge these ribs. They were rich, smoky, and finished off with a crisp in the air fyer. You’ll have to take my word for it since you can’t taste a screen, but the depth of flavour is legit.
Who is the Ninja Woodfire Grill for?
If the words you care about are speed and ease, then this thing delivers. No, it’s not going to give you that flame-grilled, open-fire taste, because it’s not a traditional BBQ. But what it gives you instead is a lot more: a smoker, grill, and air fryer plus all of the rest in one compact, easy-to-move unit.
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You can leave it to slowly smoke a proper slab of meat to fall off the bone or just throw together a quick tea in the garden with a beer in hand.
Either way, there’s a lot you can achieve without the usual BBQ drama. Bosh.
Topics: Food And Drink, Lifestyle
Ben Smith