Rock down to electric BBQ
And then we’ll take it higher or lower, depending on what and how you’re cooking. RUPERT BATES reviews the Ninja Woodfire
A Ninja Woodfire landed on my doorstep. I knew it was a Ninja, as I didn’t hear it coming – light on its feet, skilled in the arts of cooking and in control.
In terms of range of abilities, not to mention a recipe book to sate all appetites and diets, the Ninja Woodfire electric BBQ grill and smoker is to everyone’s tastes.
But if you prefer to take your time, with trial and error your whimsical, wispy master as you learn to tame your barbecue, you might consider the Ninja too clean and convenient.
But for me the product, suitable for garden, balcony or campsite, very much earns its space in the backyard, a whip-smart addition to an eclectic collection of outdoor grills and ovens from around the world, which all have their place in the barbecue pantheon.
BBQ is an inquisitive animal, a restless beast, taste and tech at its most compelling, as fires are refined, recipes reimagined, fresh flavours uncovered and new grills forged.
Do you like to spend more time eating and entertaining and less time prepping and cooking? It is a personal choice, but if you are after the holy grail, or grill, of maximum flavour with minimum effort then the electric Ninja Woodfire should be your weapon of choice when dining al fresco.
However, crucially, despite its speed and accuracy of cooking, it still emits enough smoky essence in the air and on the palate to ensure you are assuredly enjoying a barbecue, not just cooking outdoors.
It is cool on the eye too, and good looks on the patio are important to many, with grills now items of furniture; the room outside must look the part in the new dawn of outdoor dining.
When it comes to learning how to cook on the Ninja Woodfire, it is initially a numbers game, but one that doesn’t require the mind of a maths professor to fathom. Just do as you’re told and you won’t go wrong.
This is flavour technology made simple – literally the touch of a button – as you assume control of the cooking functions to add woodfire flavour, be it via the grill, smoker or air fryer, whether you want to roast or bake, or maybe dehydrate to dry fruit and vegetables, or even the reheat function to ensure leftovers are not wasted.
Component parts of the Ninja Woodfire include a non-stick grill plate with room for eight burgers, 16 sausages or two racks of ribs, a removable self-igniting smoke box, a grease tray and a pellet scoop. I was also furnished with packets of natural hardwood pellets – an all-purpose blend of cherry, maple and oak, as well as a stronger blend with hickory added – very much there for flavour, not fuel, while a high-powered convection fan ensures an even distribution of heat and smoke around the food.
The quick start guide is exactly that and very straightforward. Ninja Woodfire will pick a protein for you, be it chicken, beef, pork or fish, or plant based, and suggest a marinade or rub to go with the dish, as well as vegetables.
It seems crass to call something so useful and comprehensive an idiot’s guide, but it did explain why my wife handed the controls to me.
Time to try some Ninja Woodfire recipes. Marinated lime and chilli garlic prawns were a must, programming to grill and following the cook time instructions. Cook time seven minutes and, ping, king-size prawns for four.
Chicken kebabs followed, with grill dialled and Woodfire Flavour button pressed. Barbecued corn on the cob with flavoured butters – think cajun and jalapeno – was our vegetable of choice.
You can go low and slow too, with smoked pulled pork on the weekend menu, with a cook time of four to five hours plus resting. Meanwhile, the kids are begging Ninja Dad to air fry some smoky caramel and chocolate bananas.
An array of sauces from sweet BBQ to spicy mustard and horseradish mayonnaise embellish the recipe book, along with spice rubs such as a Jamaican jerk spice blend and a café mocha.
Such are its easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, doing all the temperatures and timings for you, it certainly takes the guesswork out of outdoor cooking.
We’re back where we’re started. Some like to leave the guesswork in. Whatever your preference, inside or out, the Ninja Woodfire is a breakout star of the grilling market for 2023. Rookie of the year and perfect for a novice cook looking to grow into a pro.