Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill

As someone who grills regularly at home and also spends a lot of time traveling in an RV, I wanted something that would give me the flexibility to cook outdoors without having to carry a full-size grill around. The Ninja Woodfire has turned out to be a great addition to our outdoor cooking setup, particularly for smaller, quicker cooks where that authentic smoky flavor really makes a difference. One of the biggest advantages is its versatility. It offers multiple cooking modes, including Smoke, Bake, Grill and Air Crisp, so it's much more than just an outdoor grill. Being able to switch between grilling, adding smoky flavor, baking and air frying makes it useful for a wide variety of meals. Another big advantage is how little wood pellets you actually need. You only use a small amount to get a surprisingly rich smoky flavor, so the pellets last a long time and are very economical. They light easily when fresh, although if they've been sitting around for a while or have absorbed some moisture, you might need to try igniting them a couple of times. I've also found that a quick blast in the microwave can help slightly damp pellets catch and start smoking sooner. If you buy pellets in bulk, I'd definitely recommend keeping them in a good airtight container to protect them from moisture. I've also bought a couple of accessories that have made the Woodfire much more versatile. The flat-top accessory is excellent for breakfast, allowing me to cook eggs and crispy hash browns outdoors without having to get the kitchen involved. The crisper basket is another favorite. Chicken nuggets are already great in an air fryer, but add that smoky flavor and they're on another level! These accessories make the grill useful for much more than just traditional barbecue. Where the Woodfire really excels is with smaller, quicker cooks. Chicken, burgers, sausages and similar foods are ideal, and roast chicken comes out particularly well. The temperature probe is especially useful here, as it helps me monitor the internal temperature of a whole chicken rather than relying solely on cooking times and ensures consistency in your cooks. However, I wouldn't choose it for larger cuts of meat that benefit from a long, slow cook. Even on its lowest setting, I've found it tends to run a little hot and cook faster than I'd like. With things like brisket and ribs, that can leave the meat tougher than I prefer. You can certainly experiment with these types of cooks, but if low-and-slow barbecue is your main priority, I'd look at a dedicated smoker instead. With that said, there appears to be evidence of people achieving the low and slow cooks so maybe it's just my unit that runs a little hotter or, a skill issue on my part. Perhaps I need to brine the meat first but when space is at a premium in a small RV refrigerator it's not really a feasible option. I'm also impressed by how well it has stood up to the elements. We've used it in extreme cold, extreme heat and heavy rain, and it has performed flawlessly. When it's not in use, we keep it under the Ninja cover, which has held up well and proved waterproof so far. The cover isn't particularly thick or securely fitted, though, so I'd still recommend keeping the grill protected when possible rather than relying on it to withstand everything the weather throws at it. The Ninja stand is another worthwhile accessory for home use. Although it's made of plastic, it's surprisingly sturdy and provides a good setup for regular outdoor cooking. For RV travel, however, I found it less practical because it doesn't fold flat and takes up valuable storage space. We bought a generic collapsible stand for camping instead, and it works perfectly well. The grill itself is fairly large, bulky and heavy, but I can manage it without too much trouble. If you're planning to move it in and out of an RV regularly, make sure you check the dimensions and weight beforehand, particularly if lifting heavy items is a challenge for you. Cleanup is generally straightforward thanks to the excellent nonstick cooking surface. I'd avoid metal utensils to prevent scratching the coating, and I recommend cleaning it thoroughly while it's still warm so that sauces and grease don't have time to harden. There is one little quirk worth mentioning: smoke and steam residue collect inside the lid. Even after wiping it down while warm, some liquid-smoke residue can remain and become more noticeable the next day. This is especially worth remembering before transporting the grill in an RV, as you may need to wipe it down again before packing it away. The drip pan does a reasonably good job of catching grease, but it isn't perfect, so be mindful of the surface underneath the grill. One final practical point is electricity. This is an electric grill, not a gas grill, so you'll need a suitable power supply wherever you use it. If you're running it through an extension cord, use a properly rated, high-quality cord that meets the manufacturer's requirements. It draws a substantial amount of power, and an unsuitable cord can cause problems. Check the manual rather than assuming any outdoor extension cord will do. Overall, I'm very happy with the Ninja Woodfire. It gives me genuine wood-smoked flavor without needing a large smoker, uses very few pellets, cleans up reasonably easily and has proved dependable in a wide range of weather conditions. The different cooking modes, built-in temperature probe and additional accessories make it even more versatile, whether I'm cooking breakfast at home, making smoky chicken nuggets or preparing a roast chicken while camping. It's not a complete replacement for every type of grill or smoker, particularly if you're passionate about traditional low-and-slow barbecue, and its size and weight mean it isn't the most convenient option for every RV setup. However, for someone who enjoys regular grilling at home and wants to take that experience on the road, it's a very capable and versatile piece of equipment. I'd happily recommend it, provided you understand its limitations and have a practical way to transport and power it.