'I tried the Ninja Woodfire and it's a total game changer for BBQs'

Daily Record

07-05-2025

The outdoor electric Ninja oven will change the way I BBQ from now on.
With temperatures warming up, many are gearing up for BBQ season. Summer is the perfect time of the year to start enjoying outdoor life and what better way to do that than eating meals in the garden.
Householders will have taken the time over the spring to clean and decorate their gardens for upcoming summer fun with friends and family. However, one thing that should be on top of your summer list is a BBQ. Ensuring you have the right equipment to cook for your guests will elevate your parties.
When we think of a barbecue, we think of the smoky flavours and charcoaled meat, but with that comes a bit of a mess. It can sometimes feel like a chore to stand for hours making sure your charcoal is at the right temperature before adding your meat, only for you to turn your back for a split-second and realise you have burnt the burgers.
It's a faff that some people might not think is worth it. So, what if there is a way of still having what feels like an authentic BBQ, with the fuss?
Ninja is known for being king of the air fryers for your kitchen, but it's outdoor cooking equipment is less well known. Reporter Chris Hall recently tested the Ninja Woodfire, which describes itself as an 'electric BBQ grill and smoker', to see if it was any good.
Chris said he was 'blown away by the experience' and believes the garden appliance is worth the price tag. The Ninja Woodfire usually retails for £299.99, but there's currently a £50 discount from Ninja that makes it more attractive – and cheaper than it's retailing on Amazon.
If you are after a more traditional barbecue, the Weber compact kettle charcoal grill is currently £87 on Amazon, down from £114.99. The retail giant also has the CosmoGrill Outdoor XL Smoker Barbecue for £159.99, which offers extra cooking space.
Writing about his experience for Chronicle Live. Chris said: "The Ninja Woodfire is a versatile device, offering a wide range of cooking functions. These are controlled by the dial and buttons on the front, so it's really easy to preheat and cook exactly to your specifications.
"Unlike a charcoal barbecue, like the traditional Weber you could buy from Amazon, lighting it is no hassle at all, so you'll be ready to cook in about 15 minutes. The clever part – and the bit that gives the Woodfire its name – is that there's a hopper on the side of the lid where you can add flavoured wood pellets.
"These will ignite and burn, with the smoke being drawn into the Ninja and circulated with your food. That adds a great aroma, it adds flavour and it adds a little excitement to your outdoor cooking.
"Yes, it's not like a charcoal BBQ, but it's closer than a normal electric BBQ like this plug-in model from B&Q."
Explaining how the Ninja Woodfire works, Chris said: "There's a heating element in the bottom and one to the top of the lid, so it can cook from both sides. There's a fan in the lid to circulate the heat like an air fryer and that also circulates the smoke for that BBQ flavour.
"The base of the Ninja Woodfire has a griddle plate for cooking on, meaning your steaks or burgers will be seared like they are on a BBQ, but there's no open flames, you're not going to have a grease fire – in fact, excess fats drain off into a tray underneath."
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Chris said the Woodfire comes "mostly assembled" so "getting started takes no time at all". While there is a model that includes a stand, Chris revealed that he has just been using it on his garden table.
And "best of all", according to Chris, the Ninja gadget comes with a recipe book "that's not only filled with great ideas to feed the family, but it also tells you what settings to use for a full range of foods – ribs, wings, veggies – as well as telling you how to use the Woodfire's other functions."
Chris continued: "Because it's versatile, you can use it as a smoker, using those wood pellets (you get two packets free) to flavour your food with a long and low temperature cook, while you can also roast a whole chicken (it's big enough), bake, dehydrate or reheat your food.
"All you need is an external plug socket – no gas, no charcoal – and there's very little mess. The cooking plate comes out for easy cleaning, but it's not dishwasher safe, so you'll have to do it by hand.
"If there's a downside to the Ninja Woodfire, it's the size of the grill. You'll just about feed a family of four using it, but if you're planning a BBQ in your garden, then you can only cook about 16 sausages at a time, so for a large gathering, you might need something bigger."
The Ninja Woodfire is sure to be popular this summer, so shoppers can snap it while there's £50 off the price.