If you’re trying to cook smarter in a small or busy kitchen, you’re not alone. More and more home cooks want multi-functional appliances that save space without sacrificing real performance.
The Ninja IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro 7-in-1 Indoor Grill is designed exactly for that—grilling, air frying, roasting, baking, dehydrating, and more in one heavy-duty unit.
The promise is simple: bring outdoor-style grilling indoors, cut down on smoke, and retire a few single-use gadgets in the process. The key question is whether it actually delivers that in everyday use, not just on the box.
Design and Power: How It Fits into Your Space
You’re getting a substantial appliance here.
At roughly 15.7″ × 17.4″ × 7″ and around 27.5 pounds, the IG651 isn’t something you tuck away after every meal. It’s meant to live on your counter and earn its footprint.
A 1750-watt heating system and up to 500°F of high heat give you real searing power. The Pro Power Grate and 5998 BTU performance are built to provide true grill marks and browning instead of the pale “griddled” look many older indoor grills produced.
The hood can be used up or down, depending on whether you’re grilling, air crisping, roasting, or baking.
If you like the feel of substantial, restaurant-style equipment, you’ll appreciate its build. If you prefer ultra-compact appliances, you’ll see the size as a potential drawback.
7 Cooking Functions: What You Can Actually Make
The IG651 stands out for how many roles it can play day to day. Instead of buying separate devices, you use different modes:
- Grill: Indoor high-heat grilling with visible char marks and fat drainage.
- BBQ Griddle: Flat-top cooking for smash burgers, breakfasts, stir-fries, and fried rice.
- Air Crisp/Air Fry: Crispy fries, wings, and snacks with far less oil than deep frying.
- Roast: Convection roasting for meats and vegetables with even heat.
- Bake: Small desserts, breads, and side dishes without firing up a full oven.
- Broil: Intense top heat to caramelize, melt cheese, or finish casseroles.
- Dehydrate: Lower temps for jerky, fruit chips, and dried herbs.
If you already own a separate air fryer, grill pan, and countertop oven, this may feel redundant. But if you’re building up your kitchen or trying to consolidate, the 7-in-1 feature set can genuinely replace multiple tools.
Smart Cooking Technology: Making Doneness Easier
One of the biggest advantages of this model is the Foodi Smart Thermometer. Instead of guessing, you insert the probe, choose your doneness, and let the grill track internal temperature for you.
You benefit from:
- Real-time internal temperature monitoring without constantly opening the lid
- Preset doneness levels for steaks, chicken, and more
- Custom controls if you prefer to set your own temps and times
- Visual and audible alerts when food hits the target
If you’re newer to cooking or nervous about undercooked meat, this feature is genuinely helpful. If you’re already very confident with manual thermometers and timing, you may see it as a nice-to-have rather than a must-have.
Real-World Performance: From Steaks to Weeknight Meals
Where this grill earns its reputation is in the food it can turn out on busy nights.
- Steaks: You can get a solid sear and grill marks with evenly cooked centers, especially when using the smart thermometer for medium-rare or medium targets.
- Chicken and poultry: The smart probe helps you hit safe internal temperatures without drying breasts and thighs out as easily as in a traditional oven.
- Seafood: Delicate fillets cook quickly with good color and minimal sticking on the non-stick surfaces.
- Vegetables: High heat brings out caramelization and char without turning everything mushy.
- Breakfasts: Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and hash browns do well on the griddle plate.
- Snacks and sides: Air-crisped fries, nuggets, or veggies come out crispy without deep-frying mess.
You’re not just getting “good for indoors” results—you’re getting genuinely high-heat cooking that can rival many outdoor grills, especially if you live in an apartment or have limited outdoor space.
Practical Trade-Offs: What You Might Not Love
No multi-function appliance is perfect, and this one has trade-offs you should consider before you commit.
- Counter space: You need to be okay dedicating a chunk of counter to this. Small kitchens may feel the squeeze.
- Weight and bulk: At over 27 pounds, it’s not something you casually move in and out of cabinets.
- Cleanup: While the grate, griddle, and crisper components are non-stick and dishwasher-safe, you’ll still need to deal with grease and splatters, especially after high-fat meats.
- Noise: The internal fan is noticeable, similar to a strong air fryer or convection oven. It’s not overwhelming, but it’s not silent either.
- Learning curve: Getting the best results from all seven modes can take a few sessions, especially if you’re used to traditional stovetop or oven cooking.
- Specialization trade-off: A dedicated high-end air fryer or built-in oven may outperform it in narrow areas, but they don’t offer the same all-in-one flexibility.
If you’re expecting a “set it anywhere, use it occasionally” gadget, you might be disappointed. This is more of a core appliance than an occasional accessory.
Who Will Benefit Most from the Ninja IG651
You’ll likely get the most from this grill if you:
- Live in an apartment or condo with no outdoor grill access.
- Cook for a family or group, thanks to the XL capacity for multiple steaks or full meals.
- Want to replace multiple appliances (air fryer, grill, griddle, toaster oven) with one.
- Care about precision doneness for steaks, chicken, and seafood.
- Want year-round “grill” flavor without worrying about weather or outdoor space.
- Value dishwasher-safe, non-stick parts that make cleanup more manageable.
If you rarely grill, mostly cook simple microwave meals, or strongly prefer ultra-minimalist setups, this might be more appliance than you realistically need.
Final Take: Is the Ninja IG651 Worth the Counter Space?
The Ninja IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro 7-in-1 Indoor Grill earns its place as a true kitchen workhorse for 2025. It can sear steaks, grill veggies, air fry weeknight favorites, and even bake and dehydrate—while helping you control doneness with a built-in smart thermometer and reducing smoke compared to older indoor grills.
As part of Amazon Holiday Gifts, you can explore the Ninja IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro alongside more multi-function kitchen gear—and browse even more gift ideas for home cooks, apartment dwellers, and anyone looking to upgrade their 2025 kitchen.
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