I’ve been desperate to get my hands on a barbecue for years now, but as a renter, I’ve found it hard to commit. I’ve either lacked space, had no outside area, or couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of low-balling people on Facebook Marketplace to find a cheap option (particularly when I’m not sure what to look for).
Now, all my grilling dreams have come true as I have had the fortune of testing the Ninja Woodfire Pro XL Outdoor Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker. I can see why dads take pride in their barbecues, as I’m now obsessed with mine.
We might be leaving summer and entering Autumn, but that’s not going to stop me from my newfound outdoor cooking passion. 
Want to know why I think it is a great investment? I’ll gladly tell you.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
The Ninja Woodfire Pro XL Outdoor Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker is a versatile 4-in-1, weather-resistant, electric appliance that grills, smokes, air-fries, and roasts using real wood pellets to create an authentic smoky taste. It has a 30 per cent larger capacity than the original model, a built-in smart probe, four smart protein settings and five customisable doneness levels for precise, large-batch cooking.
The fact that I can cook on a balcony table is wild, and very convenient. (9Product Reviews)Why I loved it
You can cook from anywhere: With the Woodfire XL, you can cook from anywhere: From a small apartment balcony, to an RV, to a deck, to a backyard. Pop it on top of any surface, whether a wooden table, a plastic outdoor bench, or even on the ground. You don’t have to worry about the underside overheating because of its “cool-touch” base design, which is electrically powered and designed for insulation.
It’s a speedy thing: I used it the other evening to cook some chicken for a housemate dinner. Within 10 minutes, it was cooked perfectly with a good amount of charring. Key speeds include four-minute steaks, 45-minute roasts, and 60 to 90-minute smoke sessions. Talk about saving time and energy compared to oven cooking.
Easy set-up: I’m pretty instruction-reading-averse. Whether that’s because I’m lazy or more capable than I think, I’m not sure… Anyway, I flicked through the set-up basics and had it all ready to go in about 20 minutes! It also comes with setup essentials: a non-stick grill grate, crisper basket, and a removable smoke box.
Enough space for batch cooking: If I want to meal prep for the week, there’s plenty of room to cook all the protein I need.
A user-friendly interface: Whether you’re grilling or air frying, you can set different times and temperatures, or use pre-sets – all of which are displayed on the interface. The grill will beep halfway through cooking, so you know when to turn the food.
A genuine smoky flavour and char: It uses electric heat and real wood pellets to create authentic smoke flavour, which actually works. This is pretty impressive from an electric device.
The only downsides…
Accessories: If you want a stand, a cover, or other accessories, you have to buy them separately. While I currently store mine in the kitchen, we don’t quite have enough space, so I’ll have to buy a cover to keep it protected outside.
Extension cables: Unlike a normal barbecue, you have to connect the Ninja Woodfire XL to the mains. Since the built-in lead is quite short, it means you have to have a suitable extension cable (and plug handy!) to give it power.
Not as big as a typical BBQ: While I find it the perfect size for cooking for myself, meal prepping and entertaining a handful of people, it’s likely not big enough for hosting big groups unless you’re willing to cook a few batches.
I grilled nectarines for a salad and marinaded chicken and skewers! (9Product Reviews)Want something more compact and affordable?
The Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker is the smaller original version. With seven functions, there’s a BBQ grill, a BBQ smoker, an air fryer, and you can also bake, roast, dehydrate and reheat – all in one appliance.
The Ninja Woodfire XL was provided to our writer for the purpose of this review.
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