--- title: "Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill FG551 review" description: "Ninja Foodi Smart XL FG551 review: a 6-in-1 indoor grill and air fryer with a built-in thermometer. Specs, cleaning, smoke, size and who it suits." canonical: https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/ninja-foodi-smart-xl-6-in-1-indoor-grill-fg551/ language: en-US updated: 2026-11-11 score: 9.3 --- # Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill FG551 review > **Our verdict:** The best electric grill in 2026 is the Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill FG551. It tops our ranking with 9.3 out of 10. No. 1 of 10 in our [electric grills ranking](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/) · Updated November 2026 · [How we rank](https://vettedten.com/how-we-rank/) **9.3 out of 10** · Best Choice The Ninja Foodi Smart XL FG551 is an indoor countertop grill that also air fries, roasts, bakes, broils and dehydrates. It suits people who want steaks and sides from one large, heavy machine. Why it's here: - Grill grate fits up to six steaks, with a 4-quart air fry basket included - Built-in thermometer and preset doneness levels take guesswork out of steaks - Grate, basket and pot are dishwasher safe - Six functions in one machine: grill, air crisp, bake, roast, broil and dehydrate Keep in mind: - Heavy and bulky at over 22 pounds - Still makes some smoke with fatty cuts, so run the vent fan - The lid is large and splatter lands on the hood [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQRTGL8N) ## Why the Ninja FG551 scores 9.3 - How happy owners are: 1st of 10 - How many rated it: 1st of 10 - How new it is: 6th of 10 ### Why No. 1 beats No. 2 The Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill FG551 (9.3) beats the Ninja Sizzle Smokeless Indoor Grill & Griddle GR101 (9.1) because it leaves owners a little happier. ## About the Ninja FG551 The FG551 is a six-function countertop appliance. The grill uses a lid that closes over the food, and the same unit switches to air crisp, bake, roast, broil and dehydrate. The grate fits up to six steaks, and a 4-quart air fry basket comes with it. A thermometer is built in. You choose a protein and a doneness level, and the grill works toward that target, so you don't judge a steak by eye. The grate, the basket and the cooking pot can go in the dishwasher. It is big. The page lists it at over 22 pounds, and one retail summary gives a heavier figure, so plan on a permanent spot rather than a cupboard you lift it out of. Ninja's support site lists a splatter shield for this grill family, and its guidance is to clean it after each use. ### Key specs - Functions: Grill, air crisp, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate - Grill grate capacity: Up to six steaks - Air fry basket: 4 quarts, included - Thermometer: Built in, with preset doneness levels - Dishwasher-safe parts: Grate, basket and cooking pot - Weight: Over 22 pounds - Outlet: US 120V household outlet ## What owners report about the Ninja FG551 Little owner feedback for this exact model was readable to us, so this section is short and limited to what we found. Owners in retailer Q&A and summaries describe the non-stick grate and the removable parts as easy to wash, and the dishwasher-safe parts get praise. The splatter shield is the part that needs the most attention: owners soak it and scrub it with a non-abrasive sponge. The complaints are about bulk. Owners say it is hard to move and takes a lot of counter space, and some report uneven cooking when the unit isn't level. A few mention inconsistent quality between units and patchy customer service. We found no solid pattern on how it holds up after a year or more. ## Who the Ninja FG551 suits It suits a household that cooks steaks, burgers or chicken indoors and wants an air fryer in the same box. The thermometer helps if you tend to over- or undercook meat. You need a permanent spot on the counter and a vent fan for fatty cuts. Look elsewhere if your counter is small or you want to put the machine away after each use. The Weber Lumin Compact Electric Grill is built for tight spaces. If you want a lighter, cheaper grill without air frying, the Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill is the simpler option. For real wood smoke, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker is the one to look at. ## Questions about the Ninja FG551 ### How many steaks fit on the Ninja FG551? Up to six. The grill grate is sized for that, and the 4-quart air fry basket is a separate accessory in the box. ### Is the Ninja FG551 dishwasher safe? Yes, for the grate, the air fry basket and the cooking pot. Owners wash the splatter shield by hand with a non-abrasive sponge and soak it if grease has baked on. ### What's the difference between the Ninja FG551 and the DG551? A Best Buy owner answer says the DG551 is bigger and taller and otherwise the same, but we couldn't confirm that on Ninja's page. Check the code on the listing before you buy. ### Does the Ninja FG551 smoke? Some, with fatty cuts. Run the vent fan, and empty built-up grease between batches. ### How heavy is the Ninja FG551? Over 22 pounds, going by the page. Sources vary, and a retail summary gives a higher figure, so expect it to be awkward to lift. ## All 10 electric grills, compared | No. | Product | Score | Badge | | ---: | --- | ---: | --- | | 1 | **Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill FG551** (this review) | 9.3 | Best Choice | | 2 | [Ninja Sizzle Smokeless Indoor Grill & Griddle GR101](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/ninja-sizzle-smokeless-indoor-grill-griddle-gr101/) | 9.1 | Value for Money | | 3 | [Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker OG701](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/ninja-woodfire-outdoor-grill-smoker-og701/) | 9.0 | Best Premium | | 4 | [Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Searing Grill 25360](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/hamilton-beach-electric-indoor-searing-grill-25360/) | 8.9 | Best Budget | | 5 | [Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill 52020001](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/#weber-q-1400-electric-grill-52020001) | 8.8 | | | 6 | [Weber Lumin Compact Electric Grill 91010901](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/weber-lumin-compact-electric-grill-91010901/) | 8.7 | | | 7 | [George Foreman 15-Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill GIO2000BKX](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/george-foreman-gio2000bkx/) | 8.6 | | | 8 | [Hamilton Beach Indoor Searing Grill with Hot/Cold Smoke Infuser 25375](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/hamilton-beach-indoor-searing-grill-hot-cold-smoke-infuser-25375/) | 8.6 | | | 9 | [Weber Lumin Electric Grill 92010901](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/weber-lumin-electric-grill-92010901/) | 8.6 | | | 10 | [Zojirushi Indoor Electric Grill EB-DLC10](https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/#zojirushi-indoor-electric-grill-eb-dlc10) | 8.6 | | ## How we score it Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 14 models for this guide before settling on these ten. Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026. [How we rank, in full](https://vettedten.com/how-we-rank/) ### Where these facts come from - [ShopSavvy: Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill summary](https://shopsavvy.com/reviews-tldr/ninja-foodi-smart-xl-grill) - [ShopSavvy Answers: cleaning the Ninja FG551](https://shopsavvy.com/answers/how-easy-is-it-to-clean-the-ninja-fg551-foodi-smart-xl-6-in-1-indoor-grill) - [Answerbase: cleaning the Ninja FG551H](https://manuals.answerbase.com/4832359/How-do-I-clean-the-Ninja-FG551H-Foodi-Smart-XL-Grill) - [Best Buy: Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill owner Q&A](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questions/ninja-foodi-smart-xl-6-in-1-countertop-indoor-grill-with-smart-cook-system-4-quart-air-fryer-dark-grey-stainless/12067894) --- Canonical page: https://vettedten.com/us/kitchen/electric-grills/ninja-foodi-smart-xl-6-in-1-indoor-grill-fg551/ · Every guide: https://vettedten.com/llms.txt · For AI agents: https://vettedten.com/agents.md