Ninja Foodi Grills are users’ favorite from the very start with the original Ninja Foodi 7 in 1 Grill. Then, the following versions are only getting better. Ninja IG601 is the latest model of this series.
The Ninja IG601 and Ninja FG551 don’t have much difference. Both the models have a built-in thermometer, ample cooking space, and several cooking functions. Moreover, they also look similar.
The thermometer is helpful when doing steaks at night. With the smart features, you can select among several doneness levels and protein levels. From the design to features, all make this model a perfect indoor grill.
Today, I will provide you with every single detail of the machine and show a broad difference between the Ninja IG501 and FG551. So, let’s start the Ninja IG601 review.
At A Glance Of Ninja IG601
- The high temperature (500 degrees Fahrenheit) provides high-heat searing for better grilling results.
- Ninja Indoor Grill Combo comes with a 12-inch BBQ griddle.
- You can cook by both keeping the hood up and keeping it close.
- Dual heating zones make grilling easy and faster.
- The smart indoor grill offers seven different cooking functions without grilling.
Compare Ninja IG601 vs Ninja FG551 – which is the best?
| Ninja IG601 Air Fryer | Ninja FG551 Air Fryer |
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| Ninja IG601 is a pretty large grill – the dimensions are 16 inches in length, 17 inches in width, and 12 inches in height. And it weighs around 27.5 Pounds. | Ninja FG551 also has a similar size, slightly different, which is 15.7 inches long, 17.4 inches wide, and 11.63 inches tall. |
| Thanks to the large size, it also can cook quite a large amount of food. It can hold six steaks, mains, and sides at the same time on the grill grate. | As the dimensions are pretty similar, their cooking capacity is also similar. It holds the same amount of food. |
| The machine’s max temperature goes up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, which lets sear food at a high temperature. Also, the large temperature range means cooking more food. | You can perfectly cook and grill using the 500 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. |
| To cook food faster and precisely, the Ninja IG601 has two heating zones to cook food faster and precisely, one on the top and the other on the bottom. | The FG551 has only one heating zone and uses cyclonic grilling technology. The heating zone is located at the top. |
| You can cook food, both with a closed lid and open. Whatever you make, smart smoke control will eliminate all the smoke. | To cook an open lid, the machine needs a heating element at the bottom, But, this model doesn’t have one. So, you can’t cook food while keeping the lid closed. |
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What is The Key Feature Ninja IG601 Foodi XL 7-in-1 Indoor Grill
Design
You will see the large body of IG601 Ninja from the moment you take it out of the box. It is around 16 inches long, 17 inches wide, and 12 inches tall, so you will need to free up considerable space on your countertop.
It looks pretty beautiful with stainless steel and a black finish. I especially like the Contemporary touch screen aesthetics and institutive controls. Overall it provides a different experience than others.
And, you don’t need to worry about the size as it will replace many appliances on your countertop. The Ninja IG601 has several accessories, including a 12-inch BBQ griddle, a smart thermometer, grill grate, cooking and crisping basket.
Performance
Very few indoor grills have a similar level of performing power as the Ninja IG601 Foodi xl 7-in-1 indoor grill. Firstly, it offers seven cooking functions, including – grill, bbq griddle, air crisp, roast, bake, broil and dehydrate. I have cooked in all the functions, and get a great outcome from them.
It has two heating elements, one on the top and another on the bottom. Thus, it heats up pretty quickly and precisely. This also allows you to cook keeping the hood open or keeping it close. If you keep it close, you get better heat and cyclonic air for faster cooking. Besides, the machine utilizes a 1760-watt power motor.
Its large cooking space also lets you cook large amounts at once, which makes it suitable for large families where cooks have many mouths to feed.
Clean And User Friendliness
As I said earlier, I love the Ninja IG601 air fryer control panel. The main reason for it is providing a smartphone experience. And, so users can easily navigate it. Moreover, the text and simple are easy to choose from.
Cleaning won’t be an issue either. The griddle, baskets, grill plate has a non-stick ceramic coating and they are dishwasher safe at the same time. So, you can easily just clean them.
What Users Are Saying About Ninja IG601 Foodi XL 7-in-1 Indoor Grill Combo
In simple words, users are quite satisfied with the model. From the institutive design to the cooking performance, everything is likable about the Ninja foodi air fryer. Firstly the control panel – has a Contemporary touchscreen aesthetic and intuitive controls. And, navigation is pretty simple for most users.
The Ninja Foodi IG601 comes with seven different cooking programs, and almost all the functions do an excellent job compared to single-purpose machines.
To help users further in their cooking, the model eliminates all the guesswork with nine customizable doneness levels and four smart protein cooking settings. The smart thermometer will let the machine automatically adjust the temperature.
Besides, it reaches a pretty high temperature (510º F), which not only ensures high-heat searing but also cooks different types of foods. You can sear sizzles, crisps, or whatever you want, but your kitchen will be completely smokeless thanks to the smart smoke system.
But, all of these won’t be without a few drawbacks. Firstly, you need to pay a premium price for it and it has a significant countertop footprint. Although different cooking functions, few functions may not satisfy the need. Also, you can’t roast a whole chicken.
There are a few more issues, but everything is acceptable in front of its fierce performance and beautiful design.
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FAQ About the Ninja IG601 Foodi Air Fryer
Can I broil keeping the lid up?
Can I open it as an oven?
What is the max temperature it reaches?
Does it get hot outside, when cooking?
Final Verdict
Ninja has quite improved with its indoor grills. And, you can see the result, if you compare the original Ninja indoor grill with this version. From design to cooking, it has improved in every aspect.
I love the Ninja IG601 for several reasons. I like how well it grills, its versatility, fast cooking speed, and user-friendliness. So, I think it’s a great indoor grill and an air fryer for medium to large families. But, the price of the machine won’t allow everyone to purchase it.