Ninja Foodi Griddle Air Fryer Combo Review: Hood-up Smart Crisping Power

⚡ Quick Verdict

📋 How We Evaluated

Build quality and heat system design drive performance, including grill coverage, airflow, and temperature control accuracy. Value considers capacity, functions, and included accessories, while Amazon rating signals guide confidence in reliability and user satisfaction.

User suitability focuses on indoor space needs, smoke management, and how well each unit fits everyday grilling and crisping habits.

Cooking Surface Size	524 square inches carbon steel griddle top
Air Fryer Capacity	2-quart air frying capacity
Air Fry Temperature Range	300°F to 475°F with three settings
Grease Management	Patented rear grease management system with grease trap

What We Found

Blackstone’s 28-inch gas griddle station brings outdoor-style capacity with a built-in air fryer drawer and hooded workflow. It uses a carbon steel cooking top with 524 square inches, plus a 2-quart air frying capacity.

That drawer basket is set up for crisping after griddle searing, including foods like potatoes, egg rolls, and fried-chicken-style items. The air fryer basket has a temperature control knob with three temperature options from 300°F to 475°F.

There’s also an air fryer warming basket to support a cook-then-hold routine, so fries or sides can stay warm while burgers finish. Cleanup includes a rear grease management system that channels drippings into a trap to reduce grease spread.

This model targets entertaining and batch cooking, with wheels and side shelving to support longer outdoor sessions.

Who It’s For

I would pick this for backyard cooking and crowd meals when I need both a large flat-top and built-in air frying. It’s a good fit for game-day appetizers and burger parties, where side items can finish at different times.

The 2-quart drawer basket works well for moderate crisping loads, while the griddle handles most of the meal. Expect a bigger footprint and outdoor setup, so it’s less ideal for small kitchens or year-round indoor use.

Grill Grate Max Temperature	500°F independently powered for direct edge-to-edge searing
Griddle Surface Size	12-inch BBQ griddle for flat-top cooking
Air Fry Capacity	Included 4-qt crisper basket
Smart Doneness Control	4 smart protein settings with 9 customizable doneness levels

What We Found

Ninja’s IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro pairs a 12-inch BBQ griddle with a 4-qt crisper basket. You can cook with hood up or hood down. The grill grate uses an independently powered 500°F direct heating element to help with edge-to-edge searing.

The griddle section handles flat-top foods that grilling alone struggles with. Hood down adds cyclonic air for fast, even crisping and melting. Hood up shifts toward more intense direct-bottom heat. The Foodi Smart Thermometer supports four smart protein settings with nine doneness levels, aimed from rare to well.

Ninja also claims up to 75% less fat versus deep frying for air-fried-style results.

Who It’s For

I would shortlist this when you want one appliance for char-grilled favorites and crisp air-fried sides. The smart thermometer and doneness levels help if you prefer temperature guidance, especially for chicken and burgers. Hood positioning gives flexibility, from surround-searing crisping to more direct griddle flavor.

The XL footprint fits families and entertaining, but it also asks for meaningful counter space if you plan to use the griddle often.

Max Grill Temperature	510°F with selectable Low, Medium, High, and Max
Air Crisp Technology	Patented FryForce 360° hot-air circulation
Controls	Digital touch panel with preheat and turn reminders
Included Cleaning Parts	Removable nonstick grate, air fry basket, and drip tray

What We Found

Gourmia’s smokeless indoor grill and air fryer leans into grill marks with reduced odor, thanks to a smoke extractor. It heats up to 510°F using Low, Medium, High, and Max settings for searing steaks, burgers, and vegetables. There’s an LED digital touch panel with preheat and turn reminders.

A glass viewing window lets you check progress without lifting the lid. For crisping, FryForce 360° circulates hot air for faster, more even cooking, aiming for crispy textures with little or no oil. The set includes a removable nonstick grill grate, an air fry basket, and a drip tray.

Gourmia also lists dishwasher-safe parts for easier cleanup.

Who It’s For

This fits me best if I want indoor grill aesthetics with less smoke in the kitchen. The viewing window and turn reminders help when I’m cooking wings, roasting vegetables, or flipping burgers. It also suits busy routines, since the presets reduce how often you need to check.

Removable and dishwasher-friendly parts make it more practical for regular weeknight use. Still, it feels more focused on indoor grilling and daily air frying than huge batch entertaining.

Capacity	26QT cooking capacity
Functions	24 cooking functions with digital controls
Air System	Dual-speed fan with 360° superheated air circulation
Accessories Included	7 accessories included

What We Found

Emeril Lagasse’s Extra Large French door air fryer toaster oven combo focuses on multi-cook oven functionality with air frying. It offers 24 cooking functions and digital controls, aimed at larger oven capacity for roasting, baking, and air frying rather than a dedicated griddle surface.

A dual-speed fan uses 360° superheated air circulation to improve crisping and browning consistency across the chamber. Toast mode includes a countdown timer with automatic shutoff and indicator light feedback, which helps prevent burnt toast during hectic mornings.

The French door opens with a single pull and includes an interior light for monitoring without frequent interruption. With 7 included accessories, it’s positioned as an expanded one-unit cooking solution. This is a different interpretation of the griddle air fryer combo concept, leaning into oven capacity and multi-function cooking.

Who It’s For

This fits me when I want a large countertop oven with air-fry capability. It’s a better match for meal prepping, batch roasting, and baked breakfasts, where capacity and accessories matter more than griddle-style grill marks. The toast auto-shutoff and light monitoring also help when morning schedules are tight.

Bigger capacity supports family meals, and the dual-speed fan helps foods that need even browning. If you want griddle searing and flat-top versatility, I’d choose a true griddle air fryer combo instead.

Cyclonic Air Temperature	500°F cyclonic air for char-grilling and air crisping
Functions	6-in-1: Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate
Air Fry Capacity	Included 4-qt crisper basket
Frozen Cooking Claim	Frozen-to-char-grilled in under 25 minutes

What We Found

Ninja’s EG201 uses cyclonic grilling technology at 500°F, meant to sear, char, and air fry on a grill grate with air assistance. The 6-in-1 setup includes Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil, and Dehydrate. It includes a 4-qt crisper basket for air-fry tasks.

Ninja also claims up to 75% less fat compared with deep frying. A convenience claim says it can transform foods from frozen to char-grilled in under 25 minutes. Dishwasher-safe design is also part of the maintenance pitch, especially after fatty or sticky cooks.

Overall, it prioritizes grill marks with cyclonic airflow, not flat griddle coverage.

Who It’s For

I would shortlist the EG201 if I want a compact indoor grill that also crisps and roasts, without dedicating the space to a true flat-top griddle. Cyclonic grilling suits chicken, wings, burgers, and roasted vegetables where char and crisping go together. The frozen-to-grill convenience also matches quick weeknights.

For smaller households, grill-first design can reduce how often food needs to be staged into multiple batches.

Cyclonic Air Temperature	500°F cyclonic air for indoor char-grilling
Functions	5-in-1: Grill, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate
Frozen Cooking Claim	Frozen to char-grilled in under 25 minutes
Air Fry Capacity	Included 4-qt crisper basket

What We Found

Ninja’s AG301 Foodi Indoor Grill and Air Fryer uses cyclonic grilling technology at 500°F to combine char-grilled flavor with air-fried crisping. The five-in-one lineup includes Grill, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, and Dehydrate, designed to cover common indoor cooking tasks.

A convenience claim says it turns frozen foods into char-grilled results in under 25 minutes. It includes a 4-qt crisper basket for air-fry cooking, and Ninja claims up to 75% less fat versus deep frying.

Dishwasher-safe parts are included to reduce day-to-day cleanup friction, since grill textures and oil drips can build up. The design is aimed at countertop indoor cooking, bringing outdoor-style grill power without needing a separate griddle setup.

Who It’s For

This is for me when I want indoor grilling that can also crisp, without deep-frying. It works well for families cooking multiple proteins and sides, since air crisping and roasting both show up in the menu. The frozen-to-grill approach helps when schedules don’t allow for prep time.

Dishwasher-safe parts are a plus if you cook often, though the flat-top griddle aspect is more limited than models that add a separate griddle plate.

Max Temperature	450°F
Capacity	5QT crisper basket
Air Circulation	360° hot air circulation
Power-Off Memory	Retains mode for at least 15 minutes

What We Found

Joy Pebble’s indoor grill with air fryer takes a 5-in-1 approach, combining grill and air-fry modes in one countertop unit. It lists a maximum temperature of 450°F, which is meant to cook faster than a traditional oven by using concentrated heat and air circulation.

It includes a die-cast aluminum baking plate designed to reduce smoke during grilling. Hot-air circulation across 360° supports crisp results. For oil reduction, it claims up to 85% less oil than deep frying, using a 5QT crisper basket.

The LCD interface shows time and temperature, and it supports preset-style operation for foods like fries, roast chicken, pizza, dehydrating fruit, and reheating. It also has a power-off memory function for at least 15 minutes, so cooking can resume to the saved mode after short interruptions.

Cleanup uses non-stick surfaces and a dishwasher-friendly basket, plus reminders to use silicone tools when grilling.

Who It’s For

I’d consider this for everyday home cooking when you want a multi-function countertop unit that handles quick meals. The 450°F max temperature and 5QT capacity work for weeknight chicken, wings, steaks, and side vegetables. The smokeless-oriented design and aluminum plate can help when kitchens need lower odor during grilling.

Presets and LCD reminders are friendly for beginners who want guidance for fries, roasts, and reheats. The power-off memory is useful if you deal with brief outages or routine interruptions, though people who love flat-top griddle cooking may find the griddle option limited.

Temperature Range	100°F to 450°F
Functions	7 cooking functions including grill, BBQ griddle, air crisp, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate
Smoke Control	Advanced smoke control system with hot air circulation
Cleaning Approach	Non-stick removable grill plates

What We Found

NutriChef’s smokeless indoor grill and air fryer emphasizes multifunction cooking with smart-thermometer support and removable non-stick plates. It lists seven cooking functions: grill, BBQ griddle, air crisp, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate. Temperature control runs from 100°F to 450°F, which suits gentle reheating and also higher-heat crisping.

The smart thermometer is aimed at better doneness, while hot air circulation helps create air-fryer-style results. Smoke control is a featured focus, using an advanced smoke control system with hot air circulation for a virtually smokeless indoor experience.

Cleanup is supported with non-stick surfaces and removable plates, which can help when switching between drippier grilling and lighter, oil-focused air frying. As an all-in-one, it prioritizes versatility over a specialized, probe-heavy griddle ecosystem.

Who It’s For

I’d consider this combo when you want multiple modes without a steep learning curve. The temperature range covers everyday tasks like reheating leftovers, crisping fries, and browning meats. Smart thermometer support helps if timing is tricky for broil and roast-style results.

Removable plates are a plus for households that cook often and dislike scrubbing. It can fit smaller spaces because it’s designed for countertop use, though it may not match the most specialized models for consistent edge-to-edge searing.

Heat-Up Time	45 seconds to 750°F on carbon fiber heating element
Capacity	6 Qt
Programs	7 programs including Air Fry, Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Toast, Crispy Finish
Noise Level	44 dB operation and No-Shake Technology

What We Found

T-fal’s infrared air fryer toaster oven combo targets faster heat-up and consistent crisping for small-to-medium countertop cooking. It claims 45-second preheat to 750°F on a carbon fiber heating element, designed to speed up weeknight meals without a long warmup.

Its infrared thermal diffusion technology emphasizes deeper heat penetration, meant to lock in natural juices while still producing crisp finishes. It includes 7 programs: Air Fry, Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Toast, and Crispy Finish, which automatically adds texture for crisping-focused recipes.

The 6 Qt capacity supports full dinners for two, family sides, or about a 3 lb chicken depending on rack placement. Quiet operation is listed at 44 dB, with No-Shake Technology for even results. There’s also an always-on lighted window so you can monitor progress.

Who It’s For

I’d recommend this for households that want a compact oven-style option with real air-fry capability. It fits couples and small families, especially when faster heat-up matters. The 6 Qt size is also practical for toast, reheating, and roasting smaller portions.

Infrared heating appeals to anyone chasing crisp edges without as much dryness. That said, this is more baking-and-air-frying than true griddle searing, so if flat-top grilled textures are your must-have, a griddle-based combo is a better match.

Smoke Control	Smoke extraction technology for indoor grilling
Heating Method	Direct contact heat from below onto cast-metal grate
Cooking Style	Raclette grill approach for Korean BBQ style meals
Core Aim	Smokeless extraction with electric indoor operation

What We Found

Gourmia’s smokeless indoor grill and air fryer raclette-style variant focuses on smoke control with extraction technology. It uses direct contact heat from below onto an inlaid heavy-duty cast-metal grate. Instead of relying only on airflow, this model leans on contact heat to drive grilling performance.

It positions smoke extraction as the key differentiator for indoor cooking where odor is a concern. Since the details emphasize heavy cast-metal contact heat and smoke extraction, the likely priorities are grilling and raclette-style prep, more than dedicated flat-top griddle tasks.

For air frying inside the combo concept, you still expect hot-air circulation, but the emphasis here stays on smoke management and grate heating.

Who It’s For

I would recommend this when smoke reduction and contact grilling matter most. It fits everyday meals like grilled vegetables, quick protein searing, and raclette-inspired sharing plates that benefit from direct heat. Extraction makes sense when open windows are not realistic.

The griddle-air-fryer combo benefit is less spelled out here, so anyone chasing heavy air-fry crisp performance should double-check basket capacity and airflow behavior.

What to Look For Before Buying

When I’m shopping a griddle air fryer combo, I start with heat coverage for searing and an actual air-circulation system for crisping. Then I match griddle and basket capacity to my usual portions. After that, I compare temperature controls and whether presets or probes help keep results repeatable.

For indoor models, smoke management and easy cleaning are deal makers. I also measure the counter or patio space so the best performer still fits your routine.

Check Verify true high-heat searing coverage

I’d verify that you’re getting real high-heat searing. Look for a direct heating grill grate or a stated flat-top griddle surface size. Check whether hood positioning changes airflow for crisping, or if air fry relies on a separate basket.

Confirm the max temperature and how it’s controlled, since uneven heat is what causes patchy browning. For thicker foods, prioritize designs that support reliable internal doneness, not just surface sear.

Value Choose capacity that matches weekly cooking

I compare griddle surface area and air-fry basket capacity, not just how many functions show up. A bigger griddle helps with meal prep, but a smaller air basket can bottleneck fries, wings, or vegetables.

I also consider included accessories like warming drawers, drip trays, and racks, since they change how you stage food. I see better long-term value when parts support frequent use and reduce how often you need extra pans.

Rating Use rating signals and feedback patterns

If ratings are limited, I rely on design details instead. Dishwasher-safe components, clear control indicators, and easy-to-understand cooking modes tell me more than marketing claims. When reviews exist, I look for recurring patterns like uneven cooking, smoke problems, or cleaning that feels difficult.

I also scan for whether crisping stays consistent across multiple batches. Averages matter less than how often people describe predictable results.

Verify Assess smoke control and cleanup before buying

Before buying an indoor unit, I check smoke control and cleanup. I prefer models with smoke extraction, reduced-odor claims, or viewing windows that minimize lid lifting. I look at how grease drains, whether grease trays remove easily, and whether nonstick parts are dishwasher safe.

I also confirm if plates come out for quick wipe-down. If the cleaning process looks complicated in photos, it usually stays that way during real cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What foods benefit most from a griddle air fryer combo?

I’d use a griddle air fryer combo for meals that need both sear flavor and a crisp finish, like burgers with crispy fries or chicken with roasted vegetables. The flat-top/griddle part is great for breakfast items, sandwiches, and veggies that benefit from direct surface contact.

The air-fry basket helps with wings and nuggets, plus reheats that brown quickly. Matching the food to the right cooking section reduces steaming and helps texture hold up.

Do hood-up or hood-down modes actually change results?

Yes, hood setup often changes results because it affects airflow and heat exposure. Hood-down behavior typically boosts cyclonic air for faster, more even crisping across the cooking zone. Hood-up behavior usually leans more toward direct bottom heat, which can strengthen searing flavor.

For best results, I’d match food thickness and spacing to the mode you’re using.

How much smoke reduction should indoor griddle air fryer users expect?

Smoke reduction depends on what you cook and how you cook it, oil level, marinades, and food moisture matter a lot. Even with smoke extractors, greasy cooks can still create visible smoke, so ventilation helps.

Using a thinner oil layer, patting wet foods dry, and avoiding very sugary sauces usually improves outcomes. For truly smoky items, I’d still consider outdoor options for safety.

How should air-fry baskets be loaded for even crisping?

For even crisping, spacing is everything. I avoid overfilling so hot air can circulate around each piece. I keep similar sizes together so they finish around the same time. For wings and fries, turning or shaking mid-cycle helps browning.

If your unit supports preheat, I’d use it so food starts crisping faster.

Are smart thermometers worth it in a griddle air fryer combo?

Smart thermometers can be worth it because they reduce guesswork for proteins and make repeat results easier. They work best when you follow guidance for probe placement and thickness limits. Even with presets, I’d still do an occasional check, since loads and portion sizes change airflow.

If you cook proteins often and want consistency, thermometer-based models tend to deliver the biggest convenience gain.

🎯 Final Verdict

My top pick is the Ninja IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro for its independently powered 500°F grill grate and smart thermometer-driven doneness control. It covers griddle needs and air-fry crisping, with hood-up or hood-down flexibility for different styles of searing and crisping.

The Gourmia smokeless indoor grill-air combo is a strong alternative if smoke reduction and easy monitoring matter most. If you want balanced, probe-guided confidence, start with the IG651, then run a simple burger-and-fries cook to dial in timing.