DG550 / DG650 Series Ninja® Foodi® Smart XL 6-in-1 Indoor Grill FAQs

If the grill is warm from previously being used, it will not require the full preheating time.

Preheating is highly recommended for best results, but you can skip it by selecting the SKIP  button after you press the START/STOP button.

When you open the hood during Roast, Broil, Bake, Air Crisp or Dehydrate, Grill cooking functions the grill will automatically pause.

The 1–9 scale provides a wide range of options for each doneness level so you can customize doneness to your liking. 

1–2 = Rare Doneness

3–4 = Medium Rare Doneness

5–6 = Medium Doneness

7–8 = Medium, Well Doneness 

9 = Well Done

Yes, when using two Foodi® Smart Thermometers you can select two different donenesses levels.      

Follow the steps below to select the donenesses:

1. Program Thermometer 1
•Press the THERMOMETER 1 button.
• Use the right arrows to choose the desired protein.
• Use the left arrows to choose the desired doneness.

2. Program Thermometer 2
• Press the THERMOMETER 2 button.
• Use the right arrows to choose the desired protein.
• Use the left arrows to choose the desired doneness.
• Press the START/STOP button to begin preheating.

3. Place Thermometer
Wait until unit is fully preheated before adding food.
Insert each thermometer in the protein using the guide from the Quick Star Guide.

Follow the steps below to set up both thermometer before cooking:

1. Program Thermometer 1
•Press the THERMOMETER 1 button.
• Use the right arrows to choose the desired protein.
• Use the left arrows to choose the desired doneness.

2. Program Thermometer 2
• Press the THERMOMETER 2 button.
• Use the right arrows to choose the desired protein.
• Use the left arrows to choose the desired doneness.
• Press the START/STOP button to begin preheating.

3. Place Thermometer
Wait until unit is fully preheated before adding food.
Insert each thermometer in the protein using the guide from the Quick Star Guide.

Yes, your food will still have the same output. Please ensure that the rubber handle of the Smart Thermometer is placed properly inside the unit while cooking. The lid should close on the Smart Thermometer wire. You can place the Smart Thermometer on the front or the side of the unit while cooking.

Press the Power button located on the far left of the front face of the unit. If the unit is still not powering on, make sure the unit is plugged in, or try a different outlet in a different room. If the unit is still not powering on, please contact Customer Service at 1-877-646-5288.

Place the cooking pot in the unit with the indent on the pot aligned with the bump on
the main unit. Then place the grill grate in the pot with the handles facing up. Ensure the
splatter shield is in place, then close the hood.

It is suggested to use each function with its recommended accessory to prevent smoke.

Grill function - use the Grill Grate and Cooking Pot
Air Crisp function- use the Crisper Basket and the Cooking Pot
Bake function - use the Cooking Pot
Roast function  - use the Cooking Pot
Dehydrate  function (not available on all models) - use the Crisper Basket and the Cooking Pot
Broil  function (not available on all models) - use the Cooking Pot
 

At the start of preheating, the progress bars will begin illuminating. Once preheating is complete, the progress bar will stop illuminating and the unit will display “ADD FOOD”. Preheat time varies depending on function and temperature.

Yes, the splatter shield should always be used when cooking with the unit. The splatter shield will keep the top heating elements clean and help prevent smoke.

The unit can hold up to 4 quarts of food at once.
The unit can hold 2lbs french fries, 4x 12-14oz strip steaks, 6x 6oz pork chops, 10 italian sausages at once.

The countdown timer will pause automatically when you open the hood of the unit. Please note that pressing the START/STOP button during cooking will cancel the current cooking function.

This is a function on the grill. Once a preset is chosen and cooking begins, the unit will jump back to “RARE”. This indicates the unit has begun cooking.

As the the thermometer reads the internal temperature of the meat, the unit will move to the next cooking level from rare until the level you selected is reached.

The current temperature of the thermometer is visible on the right side of the digital display. The temperature on the left side of the screen is the upper limit of the current cooking level.

Preheat times may vary depending on the voltage provided by your outlet. Another reason the unit may still be preheating is if you add food to the grill before preheating is complete. Make sure to add food only when preheating is complete, and the unit displays “ADD FOOD”. Preheating is approximately 10 minutes.

Preheat times may vary depending on the voltage provided by your outlet. Another reason the unit may still be preheating is if you add food to the grill  before preheating is complete. Make sure to add food only when preheating is complete, and the unit displays “ADD FOOD”. This is approximately 10 minutes and it will vary based on the function used

The grill is designed to retain heat for even and thorough cooking and may take a while to cool down. Cool down times will vary depending on cook function, temperature, and duration used. The grill will take longer to cool after using the Grill Max function than when using the dehydrate function. You can leave the hood open to cool the unit down more quickly after cooking.

No, the grip is made of a high-temperature silicone that can handle the grill’s high temperatures.

The unit uses 1760 watts of power, so it must be plugged into an outlet on a 15-amp circuit breaker. Using an outlet on a 10-amp breaker will cause the breaker to trip. It is also important that the unit be the only appliance plugged into an outlet when in use. To avoid tripping a breaker, make sure the unit is the only appliance plugged into an outlet on a 15-amp breaker.

Please ensure to push down the metal clip in the holder to place the shield back in. Sometimes when taking out the splatter shield, the clip over time will shift. Continue to utilize the metal clip.

The crisper basket is approximately 12.5  ̎ x 7  ̎ x 2.5  ̎ and holds 4 quarts.

The grill grate is approximately 13.25" x 9" x 2.5"

The cooking pot is approximately 14" x 9.75 x 2.25

Yes, the  Grill Grate and Crisper Basket are all nonstick with a ceramic coating that is PTFE free.

Place the crisper basket and pot on heat-safe surfaces only and use caution when handling, as both will become hot during cooking.

Yes, we recommend checking on food regularly during cooking. When you open the hood, the unit will pause. Use silicone-tipped tongs to toss ingredients or oven mitts to shake the basket. When done, replace the basket and close the hood. Cooking will automatically resume after the hood is closed.

Although the outside of the unit will heat up during cooking, the control panel and hood handle will remain safe to touch at any time during cooking.

The unit utilizes a high powered fan motor to circulate hot air during preheat and cooking. You may notice this as ambient noise while the unit is operating.

We recommend to clean your grill lid regularly to mitigate any grease buildup while cooking. The Inner Hood should be wiped down with a damp towel or cloth after each use to deodorize the unit and remove any grease.

DG551: The smart thermometer is located on the bottom right side of the grill.
DG651: The smart thermometers are located on both right and left bottom sides of the unit. There will be a red sticker to indicate the Thermometer placement

To best store the accessories we recommend placing the Cooking Pot and the Grill grate in the unit and storing the Crisper Basket separately. STORAGE TIP: When stacking the coated accessories to store place a cloth or paper towel between each piece to protect the coated surfaces.

The grill has completed preheating and it is now time to add your ingredients.

The hood is open and needs to be closed for the selected function to start/run.

DG551: The thermometer is not plugged into the jack on the right side of the control panel. Plug the thermometer in before proceeding. Press the thermometer in until it clicks into place.

DG651: The thermometer is not plugged into the jack on the side where the “Plug In“ light indicator appears, either right or left side. Plug the thermometer in before proceeding. Press the thermometer in until it clicks into place. During cook it would flash PLUG IN repeatedly until the issue is resolved.
If both probes are unplugged then to resolve and remove PLUG IN error, you need to have BOTH plugged in.

The cooking pot, grill grate, crisper basket, splatter shield, cleaning brush, and any other
included accessories are dishwasher safe,  except the thermometer. DO NOT place the
thermometer in the dishwasher.

We recommend the following:

Clean the splatter shield after every use. Soaking the splatter shield overnight will help soften any baked-on grease. After soaking, clean the splatter shield with a non-abrasive sponge or brush to remove the grease from the stainless steel frame and front tabs.

Deep clean the splatter shield by putting it in a pot of water and boiling it for 10 minutes. Then, rinse with room-temperature water and allow to dry completely.

Over time the splatter shield may discolor as grease burns onto it. This will not effect the performance of the splatter shield.

The Foodi Smart Thermometer and holder are hand-wash only with a damp cloth. Never place unit or thermometer in dishwasher or submerse in liquid of any kind.

Unplug unit from wall outlet before cleaning. Keep the hood open after removing your food to allow the unit to cool quicker.
The Inner Hood should be wiped down with a damp towel or cloth after each use to deodorize the unit and remove any grease.
The  Grill Grate is dishwasher safe and also can be washed with soap, water, and a non-abrasive sponge. If there is stuck-on food reside, soak in warm, soapy water before cleaning.
The Crisper Basket is dishwasher safe, and it can also be washed with soap, water, and a non-abrasive sponge. If there is stuck-on food reside, soak in warm, soapy water before cleaning.
The Splatter Shield is dishwasher safe, and it can also be washed with soap, water, and a non-abrasive sponge. If there is stuck-on food reside, soak in warm, soapy water before cleaning. To deep clean, put in a pot of water and boil for 10 minues, then rinse with room-temperature water and allow to dry completely.

Smart Thermometer: The smart thermometer should be hand-washed with a damp cloth only. DO NOT place the thermometer in dishwasher or immerse in liquid of any kind.  

DO NOT use abrasive tools or cleaners on the main unit or any accessories. DO NOT immerse the main unit in water or any other liquid. DO NOT place the main unit in dishwasher.

It is important to insert the thermometer lengthwise into the thickest part of the ingredient to get the most accurate reading. Make sure to allow food to rest for 3–5 minutes to complete cooking. For more information, refer to the Owner's Guide in the "Using the Foodi™ Smart Thermometer” section or refer to the first page of the Quick Start Guide.

Ground beef cooks differently than steak because it is not solid. Use manual temperature settings to find the doneness of your liking. When using presets,  set the unit to one temperature setting above target doneness level to avoid undercooking. For a well done burger set unit to 170F.  Note: That food safe temperatures for ALL ground meat is 165F.

For best results, let the grill preheat before adding ingredients.

When using the Grill function, always select the recommended temperature setting to minimize smoking.
LO – Bacon and sausages and when using thick BBQ sauces
MED – Frozen meats and marinated/sauced meats, burgers
HI – Steaks, chicken, hot dogs, and meat kebabs
MAX – Veggies, fruit, pizzas, fresh/frozen seafood and vegetable kebabs
Make sure the splatter shield is installed and that you are using the correct cooking oils. We recommend canola, avocado, vegetable, or grapeseed oil for a virtually smoke-free experience.
Note: Marinades containing herbs or sugars have a high potential for smoking.

Note: Refer to the Smoke insert under the Manuals Tab.

Do not add food until recommended preheat time is complete. For best results, check progress throughout cooking, and remove food when desired level of brownness has been achieved. Remove food immediately after the cook time is complete to avoid overcooking. During the Resting period the food should not be inside the grill.

For batch cooking meats, for best results, we recommend in between batches to close the hood and run the programmed function for 2 to 3 minutes before adding more food.

Yes. It is important to shake or rotate food for consistent browning and crispiness. For best results, follow the recipe or cooking chart to see how often you should shake or rotate ingredients while cooking.

After grilling meat, let it rest for 3 to 5 minutes before cutting it. As it rests, it will retain more moisture and stay juicy.

No, you can cook all your favorite ingredients on the Foodi Grill straight from the freezer. However, ingredients must be thawed when using the thermometer.

We recommend using the following types of oil when grilling : Canola, Refined coconut, Avocado, Vegetable
Grapeseed oil. We do not recommend using Olive oil, butter or margarine when grilling.