Tested: Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker

While the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker has garnered considerable attention from those with a passion for outdoor cooking at home, I initially wondered if there was a place for it in a camping environment.

Sure, it’s packed with innovative features and has the ability to infuse authentic smoke flavours into food, but it is quite heavy and can have a high power draw in some cooking modes. Despite the weight, the Ninja Woodfire has a sleek and compact design, which will please those with limited space for storage and who enjoy grilling on the road.

One of the standout features is the Woodfire’s portability. It has been designed to be easily transportable, whether you’re heading to the beach, a picnic or are off on a camping trip. Importantly, this compact design does not compromise the cooking surface, which is spacious enough to accommodate various types of food, from steaks and burgers to vegetables and seafood. Additionally, it features sturdy legs that provide stability on different surfaces, ensuring a safe cooking experience.

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The most unique feature of the Ninja Woodfire is that it uses real wood pellets to impart a rich, smoky flavour to food, a characteristic that sets it apart from traditional gas or charcoal grills. This woodfire flavour is one of the grill’s main selling points, providing a distinctive taste that is as close as you can get to a full-sized pellet smoker.

The Ninja Woodfire has multiple cooking modes that include grilling, smoking, air frying, roasting, baking and dehydrating. It also has a reheat mode. This versatility allows you to experiment with different cooking techniques and recipes, making it an all-in-one outdoor cooking solution. The digital control panel is intuitive and user-friendly, enabling precise temperature control and monitoring, which reduces guesswork and ensures consistent results. It even tells you when to ADD FOOD, when to GET FOOD and what the REST TIME is.

Another great feature is the integrated thermometer, which provides accurate monitoring of internal food temperatures. This is crucial for cooking meats to perfection while ensuring they remain juicy and flavourful. I reckon the Ninja Woodfire is crying out for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, which would make monitoring even simpler.

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I was surprised by the performance of the Ninja Woodfire which consistently delivered exceptional results. The wood pellets generate a consistent heat source, and the grill heats up quickly. The grill preheat times depend on the level selected; HI takes 15-20 minutes, MED 13-18 minutes and LOW 12-16 minutes. If the WOODFIRE FLAVOUR option is not selected these times are reduced by 5-7 minutes respectively, as this is the time it takes for the pellets to go through the ignition cycle.

When it comes to grilling, the Ninja Woodfire performs well, although I couldn’t get a steak to cook and look how I like it. They always seemed overcooked in order to achieve sear marks, or sear marks were reduced in order to get a nice medium-rare cook. However, the sear marks it produced on other proteins such as chicken, burgers and fish were impressive.

The woodfire flavour is pronounced but not overwhelming and adds a depth of taste that enhances the overall eating experience. Vegetables and seafood also benefited from how well the grill performed, coming out perfectly cooked and infused with a subtle smokiness.

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When smoking on the Ninja Woodfire the results are impressive. The ability to control the temperature precisely ensures that meats are cooked low and slow, resulting in tender, flavoursome proteins. The ease with which I could cook pulled pork and a leg of lamb was satisfying, especially compared to my larger pellet smoker. The smoke ring and flavour infusion achieved on smoked meats are a testament to the grill's capability to function as a dedicated smoker.
Ease of use is an area where the Ninja Woodfire kicks goals.

Setting up the grill is straightforward, and the clear instructions make it easy for anyone to get started. The intuitive digital control panel simplifies the process of selecting cooking modes and adjusting temperatures, making it accessible even to those who may not be experienced grillers.

Maintenance and cleaning are also hassle-free. The grill’s ash management system efficiently collects ash from the wood pellets, and the non-stick grill grates are easy to clean with some hot soapy water and a gentle scourer, as are the internals of the Ninja Woodfire, with a quick wipe once it has cooled down. The grease trap doesn’t perform well when lined with foil, but it is easy to scrape out and dispose of the cold drippings before washing it in hot soapy water.

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The maximum draw of the Ninja Woodfire is 1760W, with the highest numbers seen on test during the preheat function for the air fryer mode at around 1733W. Once the preheat finishes, power draw reduces significantly to an average of 815W when roasting, 40W when smoking, 230W when grilling and 1650W when air frying. This means you could easily operate the Ninja Woodfire on a 2000W inverter, although you would be near the limit with air frying.

In terms of value for money, the Ninja Woodfire is cheaper than a Weber Pulse 2000 yet offers better functionality. The two compare well for portability, but the Ninja Woodfire has greater versatility and advanced features that make it a better choice.

The grill’s durability and high-quality construction mean it is likely to last for many years, providing long-term value. Moreover, the unique woodfire flavour it imparts to food is a feature that many will find worth the investment, as it enhances the overall cooking and dining experience.

I should point out that having used the Ninja Woodfire extensively over the past six months I have noticed that the spring-loaded lid on the ash management system stretches so that the lid doesn’t close all the way; not a biggie, but something to take note of.

I guess the question is, would I buy a Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker? The answer is a definite yes. I’ve even convinced our daughter to buy one for home. The unique blend of portability, functionality and performance, and the ability to infuse food with authentic wood-fire flavour, sets the Ninja Woodfire apart from other grills on the market. The versatile cooking modes, user-friendly design and consistent performance make it suitable for both seasoned grill masters and beginners alike.

The Ninja Woodfire also provides a reliable and enjoyable grilling experience with advanced features that make it a versatile tool for a variety of cooking methods.

The Ninja Woodfire represents a great investment for anyone looking to elevate their outdoor cooking game.

RRP: $699.99