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Grilling at home can be difficult when outdoor space is limited, the weather is uncooperative, or you simply do not want to deal with a full outdoor grill. An indoor appliance that combines grilling with air frying offers another way to prepare familiar foods without dedicating an entire area of your home to cooking equipment.

The Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill & Air Fryer is designed around that multi-function approach. The supplied model includes a Smart Cook System with a Foodi Smart Thermometer, XL cooking capacity, and six cooking functions, including grilling and air frying.

Rather than focusing only on features, this review looks at what matters in everyday use: steak doneness, cooking space, smoke management, air-frying convenience, countertop placement, cleaning, and the habits that help an indoor grill work effectively in a home kitchen.

What to Consider Before Using an Indoor Grill

An indoor grill needs to fit both your cooking style and your kitchen layout. A countertop appliance may save you from needing an outdoor cooking area, but it still requires enough room for operation, ventilation, storage, and cleanup.

Start by measuring the space where you expect to use it. Consider the appliance's footprint as well as the clearance around it. Cabinets, walls, and nearby objects should not interfere with the lid, controls, airflow, or cooking process.

Also think about what you actually want to cook. If steaks, burgers, chicken, vegetables, and air-fried foods make up a large part of your regular meals, multiple cooking modes may be more useful than a grill designed for one purpose.

For a smaller apartment kitchen, storage deserves equal attention. A large cooking surface can be convenient during meal preparation but less convenient if the appliance must be lifted into a crowded cabinet after every use.

How the Smart Cooking System Can Help With Steak Doneness

Cooking steak indoors is less forgiving when you are trying to reach a particular level of doneness. Thickness, starting temperature, cooking time, and heat all influence the final result.

The supplied model includes a Smart Cook System and Foodi Smart Thermometer. The practical benefit of a thermometer is that it gives you a way to monitor the internal temperature rather than relying entirely on appearance or timing.

That distinction matters because cooking time alone does not tell you exactly how far a steak has cooked internally. If you prefer a particular level of doneness, using the thermometer as intended can provide more useful information during the cooking process.

For consistent results, begin with steaks that are reasonably similar in thickness when preparing more than one at a time. Different thicknesses can reach their desired internal temperatures at different rates, even when they are exposed to the same cooking conditions.

Tips for More Consistent Steak Results

• Choose pieces with reasonably similar thickness when cooking several steaks together.
• Follow the appliance's instructions for thermometer placement.
• Use the desired internal temperature as the primary reference rather than appearance alone.
• Allow the cooked steak to rest according to the recipe or appliance guidance before cutting.
• Avoid repeatedly opening the cooking area unless the instructions call for it, since unnecessary interruptions can affect the cooking process.

The phrase “perfect steaks” should be treated as a cooking goal rather than a guarantee. An indoor grill can provide useful tools for controlling doneness, but the ingredients, preparation, thickness, and cooking choices still matter.

Understanding the Six Cooking Functions

A multi-function indoor grill can be useful when its additional modes genuinely replace separate cooking tasks. The supplied appliance combines grilling with air frying and other cooking functions, giving you more flexibility than a grill-only setup.

Grilling

Grilling is the obvious starting point for foods such as steaks, burgers, chicken, seafood, and vegetables. The key is to avoid overcrowding the cooking surface.

Food needs sufficient contact with the cooking surface to cook as intended. If you pack too much food into the grill, pieces can interfere with one another and make it harder to manage cooking times.

Air Frying

Air frying provides a different cooking approach for foods that benefit from circulating hot air. It can be useful for items such as vegetables, potatoes, and other foods commonly prepared with an air-frying method.

The basket should not be treated like a storage container. Follow the appliance's guidance for loading it, and avoid piling food so heavily that air circulation is restricted.

Using the Other Cooking Modes

The remaining functions can add flexibility depending on the specific cooking modes included with the appliance. Before using a less familiar mode, read the relevant instructions rather than assuming every function works like the grill setting.

The advantage of having multiple modes is convenience, but there is also a trade-off: a multi-function appliance may take up more space than a single-purpose tool. Your regular cooking habits should determine whether that flexibility is worthwhile.

If you are comparing different countertop options, you can explore electric grills for indoor cooking and countertop meal preparation (paid link). Compare cooking functions, usable capacity, countertop requirements, and cleaning needs rather than focusing on the number of features alone.

How to Manage Smoke and Indoor Cooking

One of the biggest concerns with indoor grilling is smoke. Foods containing excess fat can produce more smoke as they cook, particularly when grease reaches a very hot cooking surface.

The supplied appliance is described as supporting smokeless indoor grilling, but that does not mean every food will produce zero smoke under every condition. Ingredients, temperature, cooking time, grease, and cooking surfaces all affect what happens during cooking.

A practical approach is to prepare food with excess moisture and surface grease under control. Follow the appliance instructions for the appropriate cooking settings and avoid adding unnecessary oil when the recipe does not require it.

Good kitchen ventilation can also help manage cooking odors and airborne moisture. If your kitchen has an exhaust fan, use it appropriately while cooking and follow the appliance's placement and ventilation requirements.

Never modify the appliance or attempt to create your own ventilation arrangement around electrical cooking equipment. If you have concerns about an electrical setup or a persistent issue that cannot be resolved through the manufacturer's instructions, qualified professional assistance is the safer choice.

Getting the Most From XL Cooking Capacity

A larger cooking area can be helpful when preparing food for several people, but bigger does not automatically mean better for every kitchen.

Before using the grill for a family meal, think about the order in which foods need to cook. You may be able to prepare several portions at once, but different foods can require different temperatures, cooking times, or handling.

For best organization, group foods with similar cooking requirements. If you are preparing vegetables alongside meat, for example, consider whether they need different cooking conditions and whether cooking them separately would produce a better result.

In a small household, XL capacity can also be useful for meal preparation rather than large family dinners. You may prefer to cook several portions at once and reserve leftovers for another meal. The trade-off is that the larger appliance still requires counter and storage space whether you are cooking one portion or several.

A Step-by-Step Indoor Grilling Routine

1. Measure your cooking area. Make sure the appliance has a stable location with appropriate clearance before starting.
2. Prepare the ingredients first. Trim food, season it, and organize everything you need before preheating.
3. Select the appropriate cooking function. Choose grilling, air frying, or another available mode based on the food rather than convenience alone.
4. Use the thermometer correctly when appropriate. For foods where internal temperature matters, position the probe according to the appliance instructions.
5. Avoid overcrowding. Give food enough room for the selected cooking method to work properly.
6. Monitor the cooking process. Use the appliance's controls and thermometer information rather than relying only on a fixed cooking time.
7. Handle cooked food appropriately. Follow the recipe and appliance instructions for resting, serving, and storing food.
8. Clean the appliance after it has cooled as directed. Regular cleaning makes the next cooking session easier and helps prevent accumulated grease and residue.

Cleaning and Maintenance Considerations

Indoor grilling can create grease and food residue even when smoke is well controlled. Cleaning should therefore be part of the cooking routine rather than an occasional deep-cleaning task.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for removing and cleaning cooking components. Do not assume that every part can be submerged, placed in a dishwasher, or cleaned with the same method.

• Remove food residue after cooking according to the cleaning instructions.
• Pay attention to grease that may collect around cooking components.
• Keep electrical components dry and clean them only as instructed.
• Inspect the thermometer and its connection area regularly if you use it frequently.
• Allow components to dry appropriately before storing the appliance.

For small kitchens, cleaning also affects storage. A bulky appliance that is difficult to clean may end up being used less frequently simply because the cleanup feels disproportionate to the meal.

Common Mistakes That Can Affect Results

Overcrowding the Cooking Surface

Trying to cook everything at once can make meal preparation less predictable. Leave appropriate space around food and follow the appliance's capacity guidance.

Relying Only on Cooking Time for Steak

Time is useful, but steak thickness and starting conditions can vary. When a thermometer is available and appropriate for the food, use internal temperature as an important reference for doneness.

Adding Too Much Oil

Extra oil can contribute to grease and smoke without necessarily improving the food. Use the amount required by your recipe and the appliance's instructions.

Ignoring Ventilation

Indoor cooking still produces heat, odors, and moisture. Make sure the appliance is positioned and operated according to its instructions, and use suitable kitchen ventilation.

Storing the Appliance Without Planning

A countertop grill with multiple components can require more storage space than a simple pan. Decide where the main unit and accessories will go before committing valuable cabinet space.

Indoor Grill Checklist

• Measure the countertop and storage area.
• Check the required clearance around the appliance.
• Decide which cooking functions you will actually use.
• Plan how you will handle steaks with different thicknesses.
• Use the smart thermometer according to the manufacturer's instructions when appropriate.
• Avoid overcrowding the grill or air-frying basket.
• Use reasonable kitchen ventilation during indoor cooking.
• Clean grease and food residue after use.
• Keep electrical components away from water.
• Store the appliance and its accessories where they remain accessible without overcrowding the kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an indoor grill cook steak to different levels of doneness?

A cooking system with a food thermometer can help you monitor internal temperature, which is more useful for judging doneness than relying on time alone. Results still depend on factors such as steak thickness, starting temperature, and cooking settings.

Does an indoor grill produce no smoke?

Smoke levels depend on the food, fat content, temperature, moisture, and cooking conditions. An appliance designed to manage smoke can reduce the issue, but indoor grilling should still be performed according to the manufacturer's ventilation and operating instructions.

Can you use an indoor grill for air frying?

A multi-function model with an air-fry setting can be used for foods suited to that cooking method. Follow the appliance's loading instructions and avoid overcrowding so hot air can circulate appropriately.

Is an XL indoor grill suitable for a small kitchen?

It can be practical if you regularly cook larger portions or want several cooking functions in one appliance. However, measure your counter and storage space first because a larger cooking appliance also requires more room when stored.

How can you get more consistent steak results?

Use steaks with similar thickness, follow the recommended cooking settings, and use the supplied thermometer according to the instructions when appropriate. Internal temperature provides a more useful reference for doneness than cooking time alone.

Conclusion

The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Indoor Grill is built around a practical combination of grilling, air frying, smart temperature monitoring, and additional cooking functions. Its strongest appeal is the ability to bring several cooking tasks into one countertop appliance, particularly for households that want indoor grilling without relying on an outdoor setup.

For the best results, focus less on the number of functions and more on how they fit your routine. Measure your available space, avoid overcrowding, use the thermometer appropriately for foods where internal temperature matters, manage grease and ventilation carefully, and make cleaning part of each cooking session. With those habits in place, an indoor grill can be a useful way to prepare steaks and other everyday meals in a more organized kitchen.