Ninja 5-in-1 for the win


 
LMichaels said:
IDK who indicated it needed to be plugged in 24/7. How many folks with NG grills disconnect after use? In any case want to use it insert plug. EZPZ. I keep my Z Grill plugged in 24/7 unless I move it. The Members Mark though gets plugged in only when needed since I move it around. Honestly I don't get the "plugged in" hangup
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I don't need to plug my grill in to use it now, and I don't want an extension cord laying across my patio or in my yard. It doesn't look good to me. Besides that, the technology is there to make it battery powered, like power tools, lawn equipment, etc. Heck, the vacuum I just bought uses a rechargeable battery. That to me is the way to go on these new grills as well.
 
Electric for grills is a non issue these days. I would think that almost everyone has a power bank. I have two, and an inverter for my Ego batteries that I could use. Also I would say most gas grills over $600 and all pellet, gravity, etc have the need for power either for lights, rotisseries, etc.
 
Steve Hoch said:
It seems to be a nice grill, although having to plug it in wouldn't be ideal. I think a rechargeable battery would have been a more modern approach to powering it along with the ability to plug it in if necessary.
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This was one of my comments to the staff. My 120v outlet is 30 feet from my grilling area (I have a concrete pad set away from my house/ deck)- I don't grill close to the house.
I used to, until I read up on homeowner's insurance regs and local fire codes.
 
LMichaels said:
Yep, even went to Ninja site and no mention of a remote app. Seems like a glaring oversight for such an advanced cooker
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That will be the "LX" model for more money.

Nonetheless, for $999 it is an innovative and seemingly impressive entry into the gas grill arena. I hope someone here gets one and can give a full review.
 
Ninja FlexFlame

Very nice, but hold on. I was surprised to see a new Ninja FlexFlame front and center at my little Ace Hardware here in Brazil, IN. I didn't have a lot of time, but my first impressions were positive about:

IMG_7194.JPEG
  • The "Cyclonic" fan that keeps air moving and blows in smoke if you choose to use the pellet grill holder.
  • The flexibility to cook in different ways with electronic temperature control.
  • Nice shelves, impressive flavorizer bars, and not bad cast iron grates.
  • The three horizontal gas burner tubes that, as Larry has noted, are like the old classic Genesis reborn. Incidentally, the cooking area/grate size is almost exactly the same as the old Genesis grills. Nowadays, that's kind of small compared to grills like the current Genesis. I asked Tom Horsman if he has had time to look into the FlexFire. He responded by saying that for $1,000 it didn't offer a lot of cooking space. I think it is adequate other than large families or gatherings. I think the real thing is the new innovations all combined that this grill brings. If it is a hit, don't be surprised to see a larger model as a follow-up.
OK, so why my "Hold on" comment? Well, looking closer, while the flavorizer bars look very good, the ENTIRE firebox, sides, front and back - all is made of not very thick porcelain-coated regular steel.

IMG_7193.JPEG

So, if the first three generation of Summits had issues with just the lower front and back of the firebox being made this way, how is this grill going to fare over time? I suppose the mindset today is as long as it lasts 4 or 5 years that is good enough. I would expect to see firebox issues and probably cabinet rust by then unless very well cared for and/or lightly used. Maybe that's OK with many prospective buyers. I am sure until that starts happening, cooking on this new grill will be very enjoyable. I would love to see Ninja go with a cast aluminum firebox on any future iteration of this very interesting grill.
 
The fire box may not be an issue, depending on how it's made. As long as there are no "cuts" or such in the stampings as stress areas to the porcelain, it'll likely hold up just fine. Also Ninja has a very good rep for customer support. So while it may be a little worrisome, at least without actually laying eyes on one, I think it's gonna be fine. Ninja makes some awfully good stuff IMO
 
I agree with you, Larry, in that Ninja does makes good stuff, and I would believe that their customer support also will be good. But touching and feeling the firebox didn't give me a lot of confidence that it would not have the same issues the Summits had. I will try to take some better pictures next time I go to Ace.

And, I will say, it did look like an otherwise very nice grill. I certainly would love to put it through some paces and see how it all works together.
 
I would also be hesitant with the cook box situation. But, I would assume it would be fine for 7-8 years at least. With all the bells and whistles on those grills, I think that would be about as long as you could hope for. With everything built in and the versatility, I think it could be a big winner for most grill buyers. I don't think many people expect to get 10 years out of a grill any more, especially in that price range.
 
I honestly after looking at those close ups don't see any real issues with the fire box. The issue with the Summits wasn't the material but the material combined with compound curves causing the porcelain to expand/contract at conflicting rates, cracking and once it cracked it was "all she wrote". I don't see that issue here.
Of course I am not an engineer (though I play one on TV) but I really don't see issues here. I could really see this thing being a great cooking appliance and really bringing true innovation to the outdoor cooking scene more than anything since the true Weber Genesis. I'd say next in innovation is the new Weber Summit. With the top down IR burner that thing looks like another game changer.
IMO everything else in the gas grill arena (regardless of name) is an "also ran". Nothing innovative. Simply "same ol same ol" generic burners under a grate. Yawn.
This (other than a Summit which is WAY over the top for me) is truly a product I could see myself actually wanting to buy
 
I agree Larry. This looks like a very good grill, especially for the price. The looks are good, the versatility is exceptional and according to the reviews I have seen, the performance is excellent as well. About the only question that remains is durability. Does the fan hold up? Does the porcelain cook box survive repeated heat cycles? Does the burner and drainage system show problems after a year or two of use. Then you have the electronics. It will take some real world time and testing to answer those questions. But, otherwise, this does look like a grill will be a game changer in the mid range gas grill market.
 
LMichaels said:
I honestly after looking at those close ups don't see any real issues with the fire box. The issue with the Summits wasn't the material but the material combined with compound curves causing the porcelain to expand/contract at conflicting rates, cracking and once it cracked it was "all she wrote". I don't see that issue here.
Of course I am not an engineer (though I play one on TV) but I really don't see issues here. I could really see this thing being a great cooking appliance and really bringing true innovation to the outdoor cooking scene more than anything since the true Weber Genesis. I'd say next in innovation is the new Weber Summit. With the top down IR burner that thing looks like another game changer.
IMO everything else in the gas grill arena (regardless of name) is an "also ran". Nothing innovative. Simply "same ol same ol" generic burners under a grate. Yawn.
This (other than a Summit which is WAY over the top for me) is truly a product I could see myself actually wanting to buy
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This Weber Summit or this Weber Summit?
Which are you referring to?
 
LMichaels said:
I'd say next in innovation is the new Weber Summit. With the top down IR burner that thing looks like another game changer.
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So, here my reference was the "newest version" of the Summit. Not the tired old version with all the problems. While Weber is not the first to use this top down innovation (Costco's Kirkland Signature SS Gas Grill) is the actual first time I've seen this. But Weber is the first mainstream mfgr I've seen with it
 
BobH-SCW said:
Jon, the Barbecue Lab-based in Indiana-just released their video review of this grill.
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That's an awesome review right there. It can function literally as a convection oven. I never experienced a gas powered convection oven, but google says they exist sonit must be true.

Two things are what would keep me from buying one:

I don't see an easy way to two zone grill with this thing. Its the way I cook, because it works well on my equipment. I would need to adapt.

Every fun part is done by the silicon circuits. I wanna play with the fan, dammit!
 
Cuisinart has an entry in the gas grill arena. Only $499 so it relies on "natural" convection and doesn't have as much electronics. But, it is clearly after the same "do it all" market:

Amazon.com: Cuisinart Propel+ 4-Burner 3-in-1 Gas Grill, Stainless Steel Versatile Grill, Griddle & Pizza Oven with Pizza Stone, Convertible to Natural Gas, Side Burner & Integrated Storage, Perfect for BBQs : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Amazon.com: Cuisinart Propel+ 4-Burner 3-in-1 Gas Grill, Stainless Steel Versatile Grill, Griddle & Pizza Oven with Pizza Stone, Convertible to Natural Gas, Side Burner & Integrated Storage, Perfect for BBQs : Patio, Lawn & Garden
www.amazon.com

The diagonal cast iron grates are an interesting touch.
 
That looks interesting. I would like to see more on this: "THERMO-FLO TECHNOLOGY: Advanced convection system ensures even heating from edge to edge for consistent cooking." Is it just a cool sounding catch word or is it a real thing?

Also, I cringe at the side griddle. Pretty small and worse is that I can't imagine the surrounding area and grill lid side looking too good after a few bacon and sausage cooks.
 
I have always had great luck with Cuisinart products. I agree with Bruce on the side griddle. Maybe a great idea if the hinge side opened against the lid to act more as a shield. A simple range-limited hinge would keep it from interfering with the main grill lid.
 
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