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Title: Ninja FG551 Vs DG551
Ninja FG551 Indoor grill is the 1st generation foodi grill with a higher selling rate on amazon, and Ninja DG551 is the latest 2nd generation foodi grill with an upgraded design.
Both FG551 and DG551 are known for their 6-in-1 functionality and XL size capacity. They can Grill, Air fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, and Dehydrate. The built-in Foodi Smart Thermometer is what separates them from various indoor grills on the market.
But which Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 grill is better? FG551 or DG551?
Just by looking at them and reading about their features and specifications, you can’t decide which model will fit best for your kitchen and needs.
Which is why we are comparing Ninja FG551 Vs DG551 in this article based on various factors. Keep Reading…
Ninja FG551 Vs DG551: ninja foodi 6-in-1 indoor grill
It is very clear from the pictures that Ninja Foodi FG551 old design is upgraded into new advanced design of Ninja Foodi DG551. The design is new but everything is similar such as control panel buttons, thermometer position, accessories included, and even the L-shaped handle in front.
Ninja FG551 Vs DG551: SIMILARITIES
| Ninja FG551 | Ninja DG551 | |
| Wattage | 1760 Watt | 1760 Watt |
| Nonstick Coating | Ceramic | Ceramic |
| Accessories | 9″ x 12″ Grill Grate, 4 qt. Crisper Basket, 4 qt. Cooking Pot, Foodi Smart Thermometer, Cleaning Brush and Chef Created 15 Recipe Book. | 9″ x 12″ Grill Grate, 4 qt. Crisper Basket, 4 qt. Cooking Pot, Foodi Smart Thermometer, Cleaning Brush and Chef Created 15 Recipe Book. |
| Protein Settings | 4 (Beef, Fish, Pork, & Chic) | 4 (Beef, Fish, Pork, & Chic) |
| Customizable Doneness Levels | 9 | 9 |
| Grilling Temperature Reach | 500°F | 500°F |
| Cooking functions | 6 | 6 |
Ninja FG551 Vs DG551: Differences
The XL capacity of FG551 grill and DG551 grill is large enough to fit up to 6 steaks, 24 hot dogs, and more. Now Lets’ move on to the differences between Ninja Foodi FG551 and DF551 based on various factors.
1. Flavor and grill marks
Anything you cook in the Ninja FG551 grill, flavor comes out very well. The flavor is good but not like the charcoal grill flavor. FG551 doesn’t give a full outdoor grill taste but its gas grill flavor is awesome. The food will get a grill mark with a 9″ x 12″ Grill plate.
Like FG551, Ninja DG551 grill cooks the food quickly just like a BBQ. The flavor and tenderness achieved with DG551 is unmatched. Without any smoke it produces great taste. But grill marks the grill plate gives are swirly instead of being straight.
2. Size, weight, and Deepness
Ninja FG551 is lighter as compared to Ninja DG551. FG551 weighs 22.44 pounds while DG551 grill weighs 25 pounds. FG551 weighs less because of its smaller size.
The dimensions of FG551 (1st gen) are 15.75″D x 16.54″W x 11.1″H and the DG551 (2nd gen) are 11.1″D x 15.7″W x 16″H. As it is clear from the dimensions that the deepness of 1st gen ninja foodi grill is more than 2nd gen grill.
3. Smoke
Ninja claims that Ninja FG551 and DG551 indoor grills are smoke free. But they are not 100% smoke free. Users have mixed views on the smoke…. these grill models produce while grilling.
Some say their smoke alarms activate when they grill using ninja foodi 6-in-1 indoor grill and some say it doesn’t smoke at all.
Out of all Ninja Foodi FG551 (1st gen) users, 30% users have smoke issues while using the grill. Whereas, only 10% users experience visible smoke while grilling on the Ninja Foodi DG551 (2nd gen).
How to Prevent smoke production on Ninja Foodi Grill?
If you don’t want your ninja foodi grill to produce smoke then always keep in mind to use a high smoke point oil. High smoke point oils can be heated up to 460-490 degrees without producing smoke.
Some of the high smoke point oils are avocado oil, grape seed oil, Canola oil, and rice oil. Using these oils will help a lot.
Secondly, never spray oil directly on hot burner or plate of the Ninja foodi grill, and always cook with the lid closed or never open the lid in-between cooking to prevent smoke production. Clean the grill plate after every use, not regular cleaning may lead to smoke issue.
4. Heating and Unit cooling
Both Ninja Foodi FG551 (1st gen) and Ninja Foodi DG551 (2nd gen) heat from the top. The top heating element is about 3/2″ up from the bottom of the lid. The heat distribution is even. Both units stay cool from the outside even though they cook at very high temperatures.
Ninja FG551 retains heat and takes about 15 minutes to preheat. It doesn’t heat up the kitchen like an air fryer oven. On the other hand, the new design of Ninja DG551 holds the heat inside pretty well. Grilling takes a while to preheat and air frying takes relatively shorter time to preheat.
5. Noise
Ninja Foodi FG551 (1st gen) has a fan which pushes the air out while cooking. It does make some noise but is not loud as a mixer or a blender.
Ninja Foodi DG551 (2nd gen) also has an inbuilt fan and it is loud and noisy. You can’t ignore the noise level during the entire cooking process if you are standing next to it.
6. THERMOMETER
Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 grill comes with an inbuilt thermometer. Thermometer ensures that meat is never over cooked or under cooked. It offers a great help to get the food the exact way you want it.
Ninja FG551 is a 1st gen grill with an old thermometer whereas the DG551 comes with an improved thermometer.
FG551 users are not happy with the quality of the thermometer. It either stops working or doesn’t work correctly and accurately. On the other hand, DG551 users love the inbuilt thermometer. With the help of it, the food is cooked to perfection.
Keep in mind to learn how to use the thermometer properly. Else it will not be easy to get the desired results.
7. What Users are COMPLAINING?
Even though Ninja FG551 and Ninja DG551 are great machines but like other cooking appliances they are not perfect and have complaints.
| Ninja FG551 | Ninja DG551 |
| Inside top gets greasy easily | Does not cook that hot |
| Not enough height on closing the lid | Loose jack of the thermometer |
| Loss temperature quickly on putting multiple meat pieces | Splatter Shield detaches while cooking |
Conclusion
Ninja FG551 and DG551 Indoor grills are best in their own way. DG551 is just the upgraded version of the old FG551 grill. All the removable parts of both the grills are dishwasher safe and very easy to clean except the upper hood.
The best part about both the Foodi grills is their non stick ceramic coating which is PTFE/PFOA-Free. Also, DG551 is $20 cheaper than FG551. Those who want to save some dollars can go for Ninja DG551 and those who want lighter cooking appliance, Ninja FG551 is the best 6-in-1 indoor grill for them.
