The Ninja Woodfire Grill & Smoker is the ultimate summer garden gadget

Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more

No more struggling to light the charcoal, no more running out of gas in the middle of a burger flip. This is a barbecue – but not as you know it.

Yes, the traditionalists will call it cheating, but you plug this Ninja BBQ into the mains and away you go.

This is a straightforward, cost-efficient gateway into al fresco cooking for those short of space but unwilling to compromise on flavour. It's almost as easy to use the new Gozney Arc Lite pizza oven - another must-have garden gadget we recently reviewed.

Read my full review on the Ninja Woodfire BBQ Grill and Smoker below. 

Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker 

Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker

★★★★★
£229.99£299.99
£229.99 from Ninja £229.99 from Argos £229.99 from Currys

Product Specs

• Number of functions7
• Size34 x 46 x 46cm
• Weight12kg

What we love

• Ease of useSimply plug it in and go
• Steak searDespite it not being a 'traditional' BBQ, it still left good sear marks

What could be better

• One grill areaLimits what you can cook at once

£229.99£299.99
£229.99 from Ninja £229.99 from Argos £229.99 from Currys

Our verdict

This isn’t a like-for-like replacement for the classic barbecues, but that’s what makes it work. It's an all-in-one outdoor cooker designed for ease and consistency – not for ritual.

You don't quite get the same exterior as when food is licked by flames, or the intensity of a hardcore smoker (and if you enjoy the process of managing a fire, this clearly won’t be one for you).

What it does do is take most of the guesswork from outdoor grilling and smoking – and the fact that it can also roast, bake and air fry only makes it an even more useful piece of kit.

And crucially, this is a barbecue built for modern outdoor spaces: balconies, patios and smaller gardens where a full-size grill simply isn’t practical.

Pick the Ninja Woodfire Grill if you want great results without the hassle in a smart, well-designed and more than capable alternative to gas and charcoal.

How we test

As with all the products tested by the Daily Mail, we want to make sure they are put through their paces before recommending them. 

That’s especially important when it comes to something used for cooking – as any home chef will testify, there’s little worse than your tools letting you down when you’ve gathered friends or family over for a meal (especially when it’s something like this, that you’d like to show off).

For this Ninja BBQ and smoker, it was tested three times, for different lengths of time, various food (beef, pork, poultry and veg) and in different conditions (glorious spring sunshine, and grey drizzle – the latter a common scenario for British BBQs).

A critical eye at all times, and an attempt to push the equipment to its limit (as someone who purchases it would), has led to a thoughtful, fair review to assist you with your decision on whether to buy.

Read more about how we test home and garden products. 

Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker review

Performance

It’s an unwrap, plug in and go appliance, so no issues there. It needs to preheat, whether you’re smoking, grilling or baking, but reaches temperature in around 10-15 minutes. It doesn’t hit the scorching heights of a traditional charcoal barbecue but makes up for it with reliable, even heat distribution that’s easy to control.

Versatility is key with this Ninja, with settings that grill, roast, dehydrate, bake, smoke and air fry. Get to know the basics, and you’re good to go – it is incredibly simple to use.

Steaks developed a good sear with clear grill marks, while chicken stayed juicy without needing constant attention. BBQ staples like sausages and burgers were also fuss-free, cooking evenly without flare-ups.

Vegetables held up well, too. Corn on the cob and peppers both developed nice char on the outside, without drying out.

I was most curious about the smoking function, testing it with a marinated rack of ribs. Compared to a traditional smoker, it’s supremely easy, and there’s no stress over the heat. 

The wood pellets that came with the barbecue do impart a smoky flavour (you get samples of the ‘robust’ and ‘all-purpose’ blends to try), but it was a little on the subtle side; my advice would be to overestimate the amount of pellets you need. Beyond that, the ribs came out tender – delicious.

The laborious post-barbecue clean-up was surprisingly easy. The non-stick coating on the interiors means, as long as you wash relatively quickly and haven’t charred something to an inch of its life, it’s unscathed after multiple uses; any grease and liquids drip from the underside of the Ninja (you’ll just need a foil tray, or similar, to catch the runoff).

Design and features

Anyone who has used a Ninja air fryer will be familiar with the setup – ease of use firmly at the forefront.

The barbecue is compact – easy for moving around, or taking on a camping trip, with handles to attach to the side – but doesn’t feel lightweight and flimsy at all. It’s weather-resistant and has been standing up well to the flip-flopping British spring so far; you can buy a cover to protect it further.

A digital panel on the front makes clear what is going on (for example, when it’s preheated or when you should flip your food, depending on the setting). The controls are clear and intuitive.

It’s a pretty stout piece of kit, so you’ll need a surface to use it on unless you’re happy to kneel; those without an outdoor table could consider the adjustable stand.

Along with the sample of wood pellets, you also get a pellet scoop, a crisper basket and a recipe guide.

It’s not the largest cooking area inside (28cm x 37cm), but it can easily accommodate meals for four people. By only having one grill area, however, you are stuck if you want to cook in two ways – you can’t smoke a joint and then grill some courgette, for example.

Value for money

It’s less than £300 for something that will become a spring and summer go-to for years, which I think is brilliant value. 

Yes, you can purchase the extras (and you’ll need to stock up on wood pellets if you’re frequently smoking), but when you consider everything this Ninja offers, it’s far better value – with much, much more functionality than a gas or charcoal barbecue.

Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker

£229.99£299.99
BUY NOW

Why trust us

Before writing about travel, the Daily Mail’s acting head of travel, Benjamin Parker, mostly wrote about food and has a keen eye on what does and doesn’t work when it comes to cooking at home. His kitchen is filled with all sorts of gadgets and equipment that have steamed, smoked, spiralized, pickled and more in the quest for delicious meals.

FAQs

Is the Ninja Woodfire Grill dishwasher-safe?

According to Ninja, the pellet scoop is safe to put in the dishwasher. 

However, the unit base, grill plate, crisper basket, grease tray, and smoke box are not dishwasher safe.

Can the Ninja Woodfire Grill be used indoors?

No, Ninja's Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker is only for outdoor use. None of the cooking functions are suitable for indoors.