NINJA FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-In-1 Indoor Grill User Guide
- June 4, 2024
- Ninja
Table of Contents
NINJA FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-In-1 Indoor Grill User Guide
NINJA FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-In-1 Indoor Grill User Guide
Get to know the control panel
- A POWER: To turn the unit on and off, press the POWER button.
- B COOKING FUNCTIONS: Air Crisp, Roast, Grill, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate.
- C LEFT arrows: Use the up and down arrows to the left of the display to adjust the cooking temperature or doneness when using the thermometer.
- D RIGHT arrows: Use the up and down arrows to the right of the display to adjust the cooking time or food type when using the thermometer.
- E START/STOP button: Press to start cooking, or press while the unit is cooking to stop the current cook function
- F: Press the skip button after pressing START/STOP to skip preheat.
- G THERMOMETER: Press to activate and program thermometer on left side of the unit.
- H MANUAL setting: Switches the display screen so you can manually set the internal doneness when using the thermometer.
- I PRESET setting: When the thermometer is inserted in a protein, this allows you to use the arrows to the right of the display to select the protein type.
How to place the thermometer
More flavor. Less smoke.
FOR LESS SMOKE, WE RECOMMEND USING OILS WITH A HIGH SMOKE POINT—LIKE CANOLA,
COCONUT, AVOCADO, VEGETABLE, OR GRAPESEED OIL—INSTEAD OF OLIVE OIL.
If you choose to cook ingredients at a higher temperature than recommended or
when using olive oil, it may result in more smoke and food having a burnt,
acrid flavor. Also, to help prevent grease from building up and causing smoke,
clean the splatter shield after every use.
Preheat for better results
For best grilling results, preheat the Foodi Smart XL Grill before adding
food. It will take approximately 10 minutes. Adding food before preheating is
complete may lead to overcooking and smoke
How to turn off Preheat
We do not recommend skipping preheating, as it will impact cooking results.
However, if you would like to skip it, after selecting a function and pressing
the START/STOP button (when the unit is then in preheat mode), press the skip
button to cancel preheating.
Let’s start cooking
The Foodi® Smart Thermometer continues to monitor doneness throughout the cooking process, unlike traditional instant-read thermometers.
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STEP 1 Set Up
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Remove the storage compartment on left side of the unit.
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Unwind cord and remove thermometer.
NOTE : Plug thermometer into jack under cover on the left side of the unit -
STEP 2 Select Cook Function
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Press the desired cooking function (e.g., Grill).
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Use the left arrows to select desired cook temperature (setting a time is not necessary when using the thermometer).
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STEP 3 Program Thermometer
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Press the THERMOMETER button.
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Use the right arrows to choose the desired protein.
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Use the left arrows to choose the desired doneness
NOTE : If selecting the MANUAL setting, use the internal cook temperatures recommended in the Owner’s Guide -
STEP 4 Place Thermometer
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Wait until unit is fully preheated before adding food.
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Insert thermometer in protein using the guide on the front page.
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STEP 5 Add Food
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Once unit has preheated, “ADD FOOD” will appear on the screen.
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Add food with thermometer grip(s) fully inside unit, then close hood over cord(s) to begin cooking (see images below).
NOTE : DO NOT close hood on thermometer grip, as this will prop open the hood and create inaccurate readings. -
STEP 6 Track Progress
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The progress bar at the top of the display will track doneness.
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Flashing doneness indicates progression to that doneness.
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When using Roast and Grill, the unit will beep and display FLIP. Flipping is optional, but recommended.
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STEP 7 Carry-Over Cook & Rest
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Unit will beep and show “GET FOOD”, indicating it’s time to allow food to rest and carry-over cook on a plate for 3–5 minutes.
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Carry-over cooking is when food retains heat and continues to cook after being removed from the source of heat.
Ninja Beef Doneness Guide
Perception of what a specific internal doneness looks like differs from person
to person, even restaurant to restaurant. This guide shows what to expect with
each preset beef doneness level (we have provided a wide range of options so
you can customize doneness to your liking).
NOTE : This guide is based on New York Strip Steak. Using different cuts and/or sizes of beef can alter the outcome. For cuts 2 inches or thicker (e.g., filet mignon), we recommend selecting the lower temperature setting within the desired doneness category (e.g., Rare 1 instead of Rare 2).
Did you know?
Meat keeps cooking when you remove it from the grill. To prevent overcooking,
the unit will beep right before your food reaches desired doneness, taking
carry-over cooking into account.
Removing your food
Transfer meat to a plate using silicone-tipped tongs with the thermometer
still inserted.
WARNING : Thermometer and grip will be hot.
Carry-over cooking & resting
Allow protein to carry-over cook and rest for 3–5 minutes. “REST” will appear and timer will count up.
To check the internal temperature of other pieces of protein, press and hold MANUAL. Then insert the thermometer into another piece of protein and check the display for the internal temperature reading.
NOTE : Skipping carry-over cooking and cutting into food right away may result in a rarer level of doneness.
For more instructions on cleaning the unit, refer to your Owner’s Guide.
FAQS
What accessories come with the grill?
Buster B is comparing 2 different items. The item he is talking about is the Power XL Air Fryer Grill by TriStar. It comes with the grill plate, air flow mesh basket, stainless steel rack, rotisserie spit, and Eric’s Recipe Book.
Is the air crisper basket as deep as the original Ninja Foodi?
No it is not, it is shallow but longer. They are both 4 qt baskets. I have both, really like that the grill is more shallow and bigger.
Can it be plugged into a power strip or does it have to be directly to wall outlet?
It can be plugged in a power strip but you can’t run more than one appliance on a 110-120v outlet at a time or it’ll trip the circuit
How big is the grilling surface?
It’s 9×14. Not real big, but I’ve had 4 NY straps, 4 filets, 6 boneless chicken breast on it. If you’re grilling for 6 or less, it’s good enough.
How much does it weigh?
We would like to let you know this unit weighs approximately 22.44 lbs.
Dimensions of actual product?
15 x 15 x 11
Does it make smoke when grilling?
It recommends that you use a high smoke point oil to prevent smoking. Oils with high smoke point for example are: avocado oil, grape seed oil, and rice oil. These oils will not cause any smoking they can be heated up to 460-490 degrees without causing smoke.
Can you get replacement grill and spatter screen
Yes. Ninja site
Will this unit do frozen french fries and if so how long does it take?
Yes it can. Timing depends on the cut of the fries. It will definitely be quicker than your oven.
Can you cook bacon?
Absolutely yes!!
Is there a tray that collect juices? How easy is it to clean?
The tray is easy to clean, however the lid and the working mechanism is not.
what is the warranty?
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill has a one year manufacturer warranty.
Can you really cook inside the house ?
Yes! And it is amazing!
Is there a dehydrator rack compatible with this xl model?
Although it has the dehydrate function, Ninja does not yet offer one.
Can this replace my toaster oven? Will it fit a 12″ pizza?
Yes
cooking time?
Including searing it took 30 minutes for a large roast dinner with all the fixings
does this cook rice?
You could cook rice in it, yes.
What is the length of the power cord?
2 ft
How long does it it take a bake?
Depends on what you are baking. But much faster than your traditional oven
It comes with a 15 recipe cookbook. Is there a larger cookbook available?
Yes!
Cook a whole chicken? What size max?
No you cannot cook a whole chicken, maybe a small 5lb chicken and even that you would have to spatchcock it.
Can it reheat a slice of pizza?
It does a great job with all reheats.
Why does mine make such a loud sound while cooking?
There’s a fan that forces the air around while cooking. It does make noise.