The versatility of the indoor grill is unrivaled, and the electric indoor grill is no exception. It may be small in size, but this little appliance can make a big impact on your cooking.
A Ninja indoor grill is a perfect solution to any home chef who wants to cut down on mess while still getting the same delicious results. A Ninja grill uses an element similar to that of an oven to heat up quickly and efficiently. It’s small enough that it won’t take up much counter space, yet large enough to cook dinner for you and your family in no time.
Ninja has a wide range of electric indoor grills available for purchase today, which can make choosing one difficult. In order to help you narrow down your options, we are comparing Ninja FG551 vs IG651, two of the finest indoor grills on Amazon to help you find THE ONE!
Ninja FG551 vs IG651 Smart Grill & Air Fryer Showdown
Features Ninja FG551 Ninja Ig651
Product Dimensions 15.75x16.54x11.1 Inches 15.7x17.4x11.63 Inches
Material Ceramic Ceramic
Weight 22.44 lbs 27.5 lbs
Color Black/Silver Black
Control Panel Touch/Dial/Digital Timer Touch/Dial/Digital Timer
Cooking Functions Air Crisp, Roast, Grill, Bake, Broil & Dehydrate Grill, BBQ Griddle, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate
Smart Cook System 9 customized doneness settings, 4 Protein settings 9 customized doneness settings, 4 Protein settings
Foodi Smart Thermometer Yes Yes
Capacity 6 Steaks, 24 hotdogs, 4 Sandwiches, or 6 Pancakes 6 Steaks, 24 hotdogs, 4 Sandwiches, or 6 Pancakes
Max Temperature 500F 500F
What’s in the Box? Ninja Smart XL Grill
9x12 Inch Grill Grate
4 Qt Crisper Basket
4 Qt Cooking Pot
Foodi Smart Thermometer
Cleaning Brush
Chef Created 15 Recipe BookNinja Foodi Smart XL Pro Griddle & Grill
Amazon Rating 4.8/5 Star 4.7/5 Star
Buy On Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon
Ninja FG551 and IG651 are two versatile indoor smokeless grills and there is not a lot that these grills can’t do. From steaks and hotdogs to French fries and grilled chicken, prepare delicious meals without all the hassle of large sized outdoor grills.
Both models have both differences and commonalities. Let’s explore the key differences between Ninja FG551 vs IG651 indoor grills.
Appearance & Design
A ninja smokeless grill is designed to allow the grilling of meat indoors without the creation of any smoke. This is accomplished by using a fan to suck up the smoke and fumes created by the grill, and then venting them outside.
Ninja FG551 has a more refined, and optimized designed for indoor grilling. It is fairly large and will take up a considerable amount of space on the counter. Its stainless-steel and black finish blends in with most kitchen themes and it is good looking enough to be left on the counter. The grill has a large touchscreen digital display on the front which is easily accessible and well laid out. Also, it has a smart thermometer housed in a magnetic compartment where you can put it after every use.
- SMART INDOOR GRILL & AIR FRYER COMBO: The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill is an all-in-one indoor electric grill and air fryer oven that sears, sizzles, and crisps. Ideal for countertop use, it combines grilling and air frying with Ninja’s Smart Cook System and dual-sensor thermometer for perfect results every time
- CYCLONIC GRILLING TECHNOLOGY: Enjoy authentic BBQ grill flavor indoors with 500°F cyclonic air that char-grills food evenly on the grill grate. Get delicious sear marks with no need for outdoor grills or smokers. Perfect for apartments or indoor smokeless grill cooking.
The hood houses one heating element and a fan whereas the 2nd heating elements is in the bottom for quick heating up and cooking. It measures 16x17x11 Inches and weighs about 22.44 pounds which fairly large and heavy. If you have a small space, you will have to look for other smaller models.
Ninja IG651 on the other hand slightly different control panel layout but similar large footprint measuring at 16x17x12 inches. Weighing at 27.5 pounds, it is not the most lightweight cooking appliance you can get.
Unlike Ninja FG551, the control panel is not touchscreen however, it is pretty responsive and intuitive to use along with a dual which makes choosing the required program and settings easy as ABC.
- NINJA'S MOST POWERFUL GRILL: 500F independently powered grill grate creates direct, edge-to-edge high-heat searing for better char-grilled results. (Based on grill grate's direct heating element Versus FG500-series grills.)
- 12” BBQ GRIDDLE: flat top bbq griddle cooks foods grills can't and interlocks with the grate to harness its direct high heat. Precise temperature controls allow for fast, even cooking without hot or cold spots.
No. Of Cooking Functions
The Ninja smokeless grill is a versatile and convenient indoor grill that offers many functions. It can be used as a traditional griddle for cooking pancakes, eggs, and bacon; as a grill for meats or vegetables; or as a smoker for pulled pork, chicken, or ribs.
Ninja FG551 is a 6 in 1 indoor grill featuring following functions:
- Air Crisp
- Roast
- Grill
- Bake
- Broil
- Dehydrate
Ninja IG651 on the other hand is a 7 in 1 cooking appliance with following functions to choose from:
- Grill
- BBQ Griddle
- Air Crisp
- Roast
- Bake
- Broil
- Dehydrate
Both models offer 9 customized doneness settings and 4 protein settings to achieve precise cooking results. The cooking process is further refined with the help of integrated Ninja smart thermometer.
What’s in the Package?
Ninja FD551 6 in 1 indoor smokeless grill
- Ninja Smart XL Grill
- 9×12 Inch Grill Grate
- 4 Qt Crisper Basket
- 4 Qt Cooking Pot
- Foodi Smart Thermometer
- Cleaning Brush
- Chef Created 15 Recipe Book
Ninja IG651 7-in-1 indoor grill
- Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro Griddle & Grill
- 9×12 Inch Grill Grate
- 12 Inch Flat Top BBQ Griddle
- 4 Qt Crisper Basket
- Foodi Smart Thermometer
- Quick Start Guide
Quick Overview of Ninja FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill
- SMART INDOOR GRILL & AIR FRYER COMBO: The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill is an all-in-one indoor electric grill and air fryer oven that sears, sizzles, and crisps. Ideal for countertop use, it combines grilling and air frying with Ninja’s Smart Cook System and dual-sensor thermometer for perfect results every time
- CYCLONIC GRILLING TECHNOLOGY: Enjoy authentic BBQ grill flavor indoors with 500°F cyclonic air that char-grills food evenly on the grill grate. Get delicious sear marks with no need for outdoor grills or smokers. Perfect for apartments or indoor smokeless grill cooking.
Pros ✅
- Contemporary design
- Touchscreen control panel
- 6 in 1 functionality
- Foodi smart thermometer with storage space
- 9 doneness, 4 protein settings
- Huge cooking capacity
- Smokeless, stay cool exterior
- Easy to clean
- Multiple useful accessories
Cons ⚠️
- Large footprint
- Heavy to move around
- Not suitable for small spaces
Quick Overview of Ninja IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro Indoor Grill / Griddle
- NINJA'S MOST POWERFUL GRILL: 500F independently powered grill grate creates direct, edge-to-edge high-heat searing for better char-grilled results. (Based on grill grate's direct heating element Versus FG500-series grills.)
- 12” BBQ GRIDDLE: flat top bbq griddle cooks foods grills can't and interlocks with the grate to harness its direct high heat. Precise temperature controls allow for fast, even cooking without hot or cold spots.
Pros ✅
- Versatile with 7 in 1 functionality
- Efficient grilling without smoke
- Several doneness settings
- Smart thermometer for precise cooking results
- Easy to follow controls
- Huge cooking capacity
- Perfect for large family gatherings
Cons ⚠️
- Heavy
- Hard to store
Conclusion: Ninja FG551 Vs IG651 Electric Grill
Ninja FG551 vs IG651 are perfect for those who don’t want to cope with all the hassle of starting up an outdoor propane grill and the mess it creates afterwards which is pretty hard to clean I must say. Ninja indoor electric smokeless grills are virtually smokeless and replicate the very smokey flavor we all crave.
Comparing versatility and performance, both models are pretty much head to head however, it’s the price where they differ hugely. Ninja FG551 is a budget friendly indoor grill while IG651 is quite expensive. We’d suggest you pick Ninja FG551 for its impressive performance and very affordable price tag.
Let us know what would you choose and why? We’d love to know of your first grilling experience. Thank you for reading…
