Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 Review: Is the 2nd Gen Indoor Grill Worth It?

You want grilled food, not a whole production. You want the sizzle, the browned edges, and that “yep, that’s dinner” feeling, but you also want to cook in sweatpants, in February, and without dragging a greasy grill brush outside.

That’s the lane the Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 tries to own. It’s a countertop indoor grill that also air fries, roasts, bakes, broils, and dehydrates, and it leans hard on two promises: high heat (500°F airflow and a 500°F grill grate) plus less smoke in your kitchen. The real question is simple, is it actually worth paying for the “2nd Gen” version, or are you better off grabbing a different model?

Let’s get into this Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 Review the way you would if you were shopping with your own money.

What the Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 is (and who it’s really for)

The Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 is designed to give you “grill night” vibes without the weather, and without needing a patio. It combines Cyclonic Grilling Technology, which Ninja describes as 500°F air circulating around your food for “Surround Searing,” with a 500°F high-density grill grate to create char-grilled marks and flavor. It also includes a Smoke Control System meant to keep smoke down using a temperature-controlled grate, splatter shield, and a cool-air zone. All of that is straight from the product listing, so you know what it’s trying to do on paper.​

This kind of appliance makes the most sense if your reality looks like one of these:

• You live in an apartment or a place where outdoor grilling is annoying or not allowed.
• You want a weeknight tool that can grill burgers and then air crisp frozen fries without switching appliances.
• You cook for one to three people most of the time, and countertop space matters.

On the flip side, you might want to pause if you know you want the “smart thermometer” style experience. Ninja’s FG551 model, for example, is positioned around a Smart Cook System with a dual sensor thermometer and an XL capacity angle. If you’re the person who gets stressed about steak doneness, that difference can matter.​

Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 Review, quick specs (with a table)

Before you fall in love with the idea of indoor grilling, check the boring stuff. The boring stuff is what decides whether this ends up living on your counter, or living in a cabinet you hate opening.

Here are the key specs pulled from the Target listing:

Now for the practical part. At 20 lb, it’s not “heavy-heavy,” but you probably will not feel like moving it daily. If you’re short on space, the 17.16-inch depth is the number to measure against your backsplash and cabinet overhang.​

What’s included in the box

One small reason people like the EG201 is that it’s not a “buy five accessories later” situation. A retailer listing describes it as coming with a 10 x 10 grill grate, a 4-qt crisper plate, a 6-qt cooking pot, a recipe book, and a cleaning brush.

That included cooking pot is also relevant for cleanup, because it acts as part of the system that catches drips and keeps things less chaotic.

What “2nd Gen” seems to mean here

Some brands slap “Gen 2” on a product and you’re left squinting, trying to spot what changed. With the Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1, the listing frames it as a “new exterior look” while keeping the functions people liked from the original Foodi Grill concept. So, yes, some of it is simply an updated look and packaging, not a whole reinvention.

Where it gets more meaningful is the consistent emphasis on smoke control and high heat. The EG201 is marketed as virtually smoke-free with its smoke control setup, and it highlights that 500°F airflow plus the 500°F grill grate for searing and grill marks. The takeaway is that the “worth it” question is less about “Gen 2 tech” and more about whether you want this specific combo of indoor grilling plus air frying in one unit, and whether the smoke reduction is good enough for your kitchen.​

And to be fair, “virtually smoke-free” is a tricky promise. It may suggest “less smoke than a pan on high heat,” not “zero smell forever.” Even Target’s Q and A area includes a brand expert response noting that light smoke or steam from the back vent can be normal, and that strong smoke is often tied to grease or residue burning. That kind of note matters because it sets expectations.​

The 6 cooking functions and how you’ll actually use them

In this Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 Review, you don’t really care that it has six functions unless those functions make your life easier. Let’s break them down in a normal-person way.

Grill (the main event)

This is why you’re here. The EG201 uses high heat airflow and the high-density grill grate to mimic that outdoor grill sear, and it gives you GrillControl settings (Low, Medium, High, Max) so you can get closer to “set it and chill” cooking.​

If you cook burgers, chicken thighs, salmon, or kebabs a lot, this is where you’ll probably get value. It also helps that the listing claims superheated airflow surrounds your food so you don’t have to flip delicate items like fish as much. Do you still flip sometimes? You probably will. But less babysitting is still a win.​

Air Crisp (air fry)

The EG201 also plays the air fryer role, and Ninja claims you can air crisp with up to 75% less fat than deep frying, tested against hand-cut, deep-fried French fries. It’s a specific claim with a specific comparison, so it’s useful as a reference point, not a guarantee that every frozen snack will taste like a fair food booth.​

Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate

These are the “nice to have” modes that turn it into a mini cooking station. Roast is great for vegetables and smaller cuts. Bake works for quick breads, biscuits, or even cornbread, and Target’s Q and A includes notes pointing out you can use the bake function for breads and desserts. Broil is handy when you want top browning. Dehydrate is a niche feature, but if you like jerky or dried fruit, it’s there.​

Performance talk: what you can realistically expect

I can’t test your unit for you, so here’s the honest approach. The marketing claims give you a framework for what to look for.

Heat and sear

The EG201 listing repeatedly ties the experience to 500°F airflow and a 500°F grill grate. If you’ve ever used a weak electric grill that “sort of browns” but never really sears, that 500°F positioning is meant to separate the EG201 from those. When you’re evaluating whether it’s worth it, pay attention to:

• Whether you get real browning on steak and burgers without a long preheat.
• Whether grill marks are visible and consistent across the grate.
• Whether chicken skin actually tightens and browns, or just dries.​

Smoke control, the part everyone cares about

Ninja’s Smoke Control System is described as a combination of chef-recommended grilling practices, a temperature-controlled grill grate, a splatter shield, and a cool-air zone that reduces smoke and keeps it out of the kitchen. It sounds reassuring, but it also quietly hints at something important: your habits matter. If you ignore cleaning, or cook very fatty food at max heat, you can still make smoke.​

A practical mindset that usually helps:

• Trim obvious excess fat on meat when you can.
• Clean the removable parts frequently so old residue doesn’t burn.
• Use the right heat setting for the food instead of defaulting to Max.​

Speed for real life

Ninja also claims it can take food from frozen to perfectly char-grilled in 25 minutes. That’s one of those claims that is likely to be true for certain foods, not all foods. Frozen burger patties? Probably close. Frozen thick chicken breasts? Maybe. Either way, the point is that it’s built for weeknights, not slow weekend cooking.​

Ease of use and cleanup (the unglamorous truth)

If you’ve ever owned an appliance you loved for two weeks and then avoided because it was annoying to clean, you already know why this section matters.

The EG201 listing calls out PTFE and PFOA-free, nonstick, ceramic-coated removable parts, and it describes them as easy to clean. It also emphasizes dishwasher-safe parts. That’s a good sign, because indoor grilling can get messy fast.​

Still, you should expect some hands-on cleanup. Grease and seasoning build-up happen with grilling. Dishwasher-safe helps, but wiping and brushing right after cooking is usually what keeps it from turning into a “Sunday afternoon project.”

Ninja EG201 vs two strong alternatives (bestselling style picks)

You asked for a comparison against two top picks in the same category. For indoor grill plus air fryer combos, two common alternatives you’ll see while shopping are the Ninja FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 and the Ninja IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro 7-in-1 grill and griddle combo.

Here’s a practical comparison using available retailer specs.

Specs comparison table

Which one makes sense for you?

Pick the Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 if you want a straightforward, strong indoor grill and air fry combo that’s compact enough for many countertops, and you like the “smoke control system” emphasis. It checks the core boxes without pushing you into a more expensive smart ecosystem.​

Pick the Ninja FG551 if you want that “tell me when my steak is medium” vibe. The listing highlights a dual sensor thermometer and a Smart Cook system angle, plus similar 500°F capability. You pay more, but you may stress less if you’re picky about doneness.​

Pick the Ninja IG651 if you want added flexibility with the grill and griddle combo concept, especially if you cook breakfast foods, smash burgers, or items that do better on a flat top. It also appears heavier, so it’s probably more of a permanent counter resident.

So, is the Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 worth it?

In this Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 Review, the “worth it” answer comes down to what you want most.

If what you want is indoor grilling with high heat, a smoke-reduction setup, and extra modes that actually get used (air crisp, roast, bake), the EG201 is a solid fit on paper. The specs are clear, the cooking modes cover most weeknight needs, and the included accessories mean you can cook a full meal without improvising.​

The subtle critique is this: indoor grills are never truly “set and forget.” Smoke control helps, but it doesn’t erase the laws of grease and heat. If you hate cleaning and you cook very fatty meats often, you may still deal with some lingering smell and extra wiping. The product’s own smoke-control description hints that good results come from both the design and the recommended practices.​

FAQ: Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 Review

Does the Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 really hit 500°F?

The listing describes 500°F cyclonic air and a 500°F high-density grill grate used to create char-grilled marks and flavor. That’s the stated design target for heat performance.​

Is the Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 actually “smokeless”?

It’s positioned as virtually smoke-free, with a Smoke Control System that includes a temp-controlled grill grate, splatter shield, and cool-air zone. In real kitchens, you should still expect some steam or light smoke at times, especially with fatty foods or when residue burns.​

What can you cook in the Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1?

It supports Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil, and Dehydrate, so you can cook everything from burgers and chicken to wings, vegetables, quick breads, and dried snacks.​

What comes with the Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1?

A retailer listing describes it as including a 10 x 10 grill grate, a 4-qt crisper plate, a 6-qt cooking pot, a recipe book, and a cleaning brush.

Your next step

If you’re leaning toward buying it, do one quick thing first: measure your counter depth and your cabinet clearance, then compare it to the EG201’s listed 17.16-inch depth and 11.02-inch height. That tiny step saves a lot of frustration.​

If you already own an indoor grill or air fryer, see what you cook most often (steak, burgers, chicken, fish, wings, veggies), and whether smoke or doneness is your bigger headache. then pick the better match between EG201, FG551, and IG651 based on that.

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