Introduction
The Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker (model OG901UK) is a cutting-edge electric BBQ grill and smoker designed for outdoor cooking enthusiasts who crave convenience. This 7-in-1 appliance can grill, smoke, air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, and reheat – all in one unitk. It’s a plug-in electric smoker that uses a small wood pellet box to add authentic smoke flavor without the hassle of charcoal or propane . Priced around £450 (with deals around £399) in the UK , the Ninja Woodfire aims to make backyard barbecuing “fantastically convenient” year-round expertreviews.co.uk. In this review, we’ll dive deep into its pros and cons, evaluate its cooking performance, and see how it stacks up against a more traditional electric smoker – the Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Digital Electric Smoker.
- AMAZON EXCLUSIVE: This Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Grill includes extra accessories - a Cover, Additional Probe, Rib Rack, Grease Tray Liners and Cleaning Brush. The Ideal all in one bundle for outdoor grilling.
- APP CONTROL: Control your BBQ from your phone. Set your perfect cook level, time & temp, monitor your food’s progress & get notifications. Cooking probes for perfect results, no guesswork. Large capacity fits 10 burgers or two 3kg chickens
- 7 OUTDOOR COOKING FUNCTIONS: BBQ Grill, Smoker, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate & Reheat. Water resistant to rating IPX4. Perfect for gardens, patios, balconies and camping.
- WOODFIRE TECHNOLOGY: Integrated smoker box burns 100% real wood pellets for natural smoky flavours. Smoke low & slow for tender results, or quickly add smoky flavours to any food
- INCLUDES: Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ Grill (UK plug), 2x Digital Probes, Smoke Box, Crisper Basket, Grill Plate, Grease Tray, 2 Woodfire Pellet Starter Packs, Scoop, Cover, Rib Rack, Grease Tray Liners & Cleaning Brush. Weight: 18kg. Colour: Black/Blue
Above: Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Grill & Smoker (OG901UK) – a versatile electric outdoor cooker with smart features.
Ninja Woodfire Overview and Key Features
The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is essentially a compact outdoor electric grill with a built-in smoker function. Weighing about 18 kg (40 lbs) and measuring 57 × 51 × 41 cm, it’s sturdier and larger than the original Ninja Woodfire model, offering roughly 30% more cooking capacity techradar.com. Its ceramic-coated grill grate provides a cooking area of 45 × 31 cm, spacious enough to cook up to 10 burgers or two 3 kg chickens at once . The design includes a side woodfire smoker box where you add a small scoop of hardwood pellets. These pellets are not the primary fuel (the heat comes from an electric element) – instead, they smolder to infuse smoky flavor into your food. A convection fan in the lid circulates heat and smoke evenly around the cooking chamber.
Key features of the Ninja Woodfire include:
- Wide Temperature Range: Adjustable from 40°C up to 260°C (105°F–500°F) across its various modes . This means it can do low-and-slow smoking or high-heat searing and air frying. In contrast, typical electric smokers max out around 135°C (275°F) international.masterbuilt.com, so the Ninja offers far greater heat for grilling and crisping.
- 7 Cooking Functions: It’s a true multi-cooker. You can smoke, grill, air fry, roast, bake, reheat, or dehydrate by selecting the mode on its digital control panel. For example, it can double as an outdoor air fryer (using an included crisper basket) to make fries, or as a mini oven to bake or roast. This versatility sets it apart from dedicated smokers like the Masterbuilt, which are focused only on smoking foods.
- Smart Connectivity: As the “Pro Connect” name suggests, the Ninja Woodfire XL comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Using the Ninja Pro Connect app, you can monitor and control the cooker remotely from your phon. The app provides guided cooking: it will notify you when the grill is preheated and prompt you when it’s time to add food or when your cook is finished. It even checks that you’ve inserted the correct accessory for the chosen mode (e.g. the air-fry basket). This smart integration is aimed at making the cooking process foolproof for beginners.
- Integrated Thermometer Probe: The unit includes a smart meat probe that plugs into the control panel, allowing you to monitor internal food temperature precisely. The OG901UK has ports for two probes (though only one is included) for tracking multiple items. The smart thermostat can be used in conjunction with the app to achieve “pinpoint accurate cooking” by automatically adjusting cooking times based on the food’s temperature.
- Woodfire Smoke Technology: To use the smoker, you add about a ½ cup of hardwood pellets into the smoker box. With the press of a button, the Ninja automatically ignites the pellets and begins producing smoke thespruceeats.com. The pellets burn for roughly 20–30 minutes per load, delivering a quick, intense burst of smoke flavor reddit.com. In testing, a small amount of pellets produced “ample smoke flavor” with efficient distribution throughout the cooking chamber. The design keeps most of the smoke sealed inside, so your patio won’t billow like a bonfire (and you won’t “smell like a campfire afterward”). For longer smoking sessions, you can simply add more pellets when the box is half-empty and hold the “Woodfire Flavor” button for 3 seconds to reignite a new batch – allowing back-to-back smoking without significant interruption.
The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL with its lid open. Note the convection fan in the lid and the ceramic-coated grill grate. The wood pellet smoker box is attached on the right side.
Build-wise, the Ninja Woodfire feels robust. It’s weather-resistant for year-round outdoor use – you can barbecue even if it’s chilly or drizzling, as the unit is insulated and can hold temperature without being as affected by ambient conditions. However, it’s still an electric appliance, so you’ll want to keep it sheltered from heavy rain and always use a proper outdoor extension cord if needed (the built-in power cord is somewhat short, which may necessitate an extension in many setups). The unit is relatively heavy (around 18 kg), so while it’s portable enough to move around the patio or take camping in a vehicle, it’s not something you’d want to lug around frequently by hand. Ninja does sell an optional stand, but it’s not included – you’ll need a strong, stable surface to operate it (the weight could bow a flimsy table).
Pros and Cons of the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL
Pros:
- Versatile 7-in-1 Cooking – Replaces multiple appliances by grilling, smoking, air frying, baking, and more in one unit. You can smoke ribs low-and-slow, then crank it up to air fry crispy sides or sear steaks at high heat – a range of capabilities traditional smokers lack.
- Easy Electric Convenience – No charcoal lighting or babysitting required. Just plug it in and set your desired temp; the digital control maintains the heat for you. This lowers the barrier to entry for BBQ – you get authentic wood smoke flavor with push-button ease.
- Fast Preheating & Cooking – The Ninja heats up quickly (often in minutes) thanks to its powerful heating element. Reviewers found it “heated up in less than a minute” for air frying, and around 10 minutes to reach high grill temps. Food cooks faster than in a big traditional smoker, in part because the small chamber comes to temperature quickly and the convection fan circulates heat efficiently.
- Delicious Smoke Flavor – Despite the short smoke cycles, the flavor infusion is impressive. Testers were “truly wowed by the efficient smoke distribution and even cooking” in the Ninja. Meats come out with a genuine kiss of wood-smoke flavor similar to a traditional BBQ, just achieved in a shorter time. For example, a whole chicken picked up a “sweet, smoky flavour” from one load of pellets.
- Smart Cooking Features – The WiFi app integration enhances ease of use. You get alerts when preheat is done or when to flip or remove your food. You can also monitor two meat probes remotely and even control the smoker from anywhere – handy if you’re multitasking or entertaining. The Ninja app’s interface is intuitive and includes cooking charts and recipes, effectively helping beginners learn the ropes.
- High Heat Searing & Air Frying – Unlike most electric smokers, the Ninja doubles as a high-temperature grill. It can hit 260°C for searing steaks or getting a nice char on veggies. It also air-fries foods with the lid closed and fan on, producing crispy results. This means you can do things like finish smoked chicken wings by blasting them on “Air Crisp” mode to tighten the skin – all in one machine.
- Year-Round Use – Being electric and enclosed, it’s largely immune to weather. It’s “weather-resistant for year-round use”, so you can barbecue in winter or when it’s windy. No need to wait for perfect summer weather to enjoy BBQ.
- Low Running Cost – Electric cooking is relatively efficient. The Ninja uses a 1,700 W element (lower wattage than its predecessor, making it cheaper to run). In testing, an hour of air frying at 200°C consumed about 0.67 kWh (~£0.19 of electricity), which is quite reasonable for outdoor cooking. No money spent on charcoal or propane, and wood pellet usage per cook is minimal (just a scoop of pellets).
Cons:
- Limited Capacity for Large Gatherings – While the XL model is bigger than before, it’s still not a pit smoker. The grill space (~216 sq inches) can handle a family meal (e.g. a couple of whole chickens or a rack of ribs), but it’s “still not big enough for large gatherings” or big cuts like a full packer brisket. If you plan to smoke large quantities of meat regularly (party-sized portions), you might find the Ninja too small.
- Short Smoke Duration per Load – Each pellet load smokes for roughly 20–30 minutesr. This is fine for quick smoke flavor or shorter cooks, but for long low-and-slow recipes (like an 8-hour pork shoulder), you’ll need to refill the smoker box multiple times to maintain continuous smoke. The unit will beep when pellets are low, but it’s an extra step compared to bigger smokers that hold more wood. On the bright side, adding pellets is easy and doesn’t require stopping the cooker – just top up and press the button to re-ignite.
- Not a True “Set and Forget” for Long Cooks – Related to the above: while the temperature control is automatic, if you want constant smoke over many hours, you can’t just leave it completely unattended. Traditional smokers (or pellet grills) often have larger hoppers or chip feeders for hours of smoke. The Ninja’s approach is more “smoke in short bursts” which may not penetrate as deeply as an all-day smoke session. In practice, foods still get good flavor, but smoke rings on brisket might be lighter. Serious BBQ purists might miss the nuance that comes from an extended low smoke.
- Heavy and Bulky – Portability is somewhat limited by the 18 kg weight. It’s a solid, well-built machine, but moving it around requires some muscle. There are side handles, yet they are a bit smaller in this new model. If you need a smoker to take tailgating or camping frequently, this is something to consider (it’s portable in the sense of an “RV/campsite grill,” but not a lightweight carry-on).
- Requires Power Outlet – An obvious point, but unlike charcoal or gas smokers, the Ninja must be plugged in. If your outdoor space has limited outlets, you’ll likely need an outdoor-rated extension cord (the cord it comes with is short). This tether can be a minor inconvenience if you want to cook far from the house or on the go.
- Accessories Not Dishwasher-Safe – All the removable parts (grill grate, grease pan, crisper basket, etc.) have durable nonstick coatings but must be hand-washed. None (besides the little pellet scoop) are dishwasher safe expertreviews.co.uk. This means cleanup is a bit more effort – you’ll be scrubbing grill grates and drip pans by hand. Given the smoky grease that BBQ produces, some users wish these parts could go in a dishwasher.
- Pellets Are Proprietary Blend – Ninja recommends using their branded wood pellets for optimal performance. It comes with a sample pack of “Robust” and “All-Purpose” wood pellet blends, and refills cost about £30 for two 900 g bags. These pellets are essentially mini wood pellets, and while you could experiment with other food-grade pellets, the unit’s warranty and performance are tied to Ninja’s pellets. Relying on proprietary pellets adds ongoing cost (though usage is low per cook) and slightly less flexibility compared to smokers that can use common wood chips or any pellets.
- Premium Price Point – At ~£450, the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is double the cost of some basic electric smokers or mid-range charcoal grills. You are paying for the tech features and multi-function versatility. If you only care about simple smoking and have a tight budget, there are cheaper options (for instance, the Masterbuilt 710 is about £249). Value-wise, the Ninja packs a lot into one device, but the upfront cost is on the high side for its size.
- WiFi digital electric smoker with 711 square inches of cooking space
- Digital control panel to easily set cooking time and temperature from 100F to 275F
- Masterbuilt WiFi technology to control your smoker from anywhere
- Connect to the Masterbuilt app to set smoking temperature and time, receive alerts, monitor meat probes and discover new recipes from anywhere
- Patented side woodchip loader to continually add smoke flavor without having to open the smoker door
- AMAZON EXCLUSIVE: This Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Grill includes extra accessories - a Cover, Additional Probe, Rib Rack, Grease Tray Liners and Cleaning Brush. The Ideal all in one bundle for outdoor grilling.
- APP CONTROL: Control your BBQ from your phone. Set your perfect cook level, time & temp, monitor your food’s progress & get notifications. Cooking probes for perfect results, no guesswork. Large capacity fits 10 burgers or two 3kg chickens
- 7 OUTDOOR COOKING FUNCTIONS: BBQ Grill, Smoker, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate & Reheat. Water resistant to rating IPX4. Perfect for gardens, patios, balconies and camping.
- WOODFIRE TECHNOLOGY: Integrated smoker box burns 100% real wood pellets for natural smoky flavours. Smoke low & slow for tender results, or quickly add smoky flavours to any food
- INCLUDES: Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ Grill (UK plug), 2x Digital Probes, Smoke Box, Crisper Basket, Grill Plate, Grease Tray, 2 Woodfire Pellet Starter Packs, Scoop, Cover, Rib Rack, Grease Tray Liners & Cleaning Brush. Weight: 18kg. Colour: Black/Blue
Ninja Woodfire vs. Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Smoker – Key Differences
Now, let’s compare the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL with the Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Digital Electric Smoker – a popular traditional electric smoker in the same general price range. While both are electric and offer app connectivity, they represent different philosophies:
- Design & Capacity: The Masterbuilt 710 is a vertical cabinet smoker with four removable racks and a front door. It boasts 711 sq. in. of cooking space across those racks. In real terms, it can handle up to 6 whole chickens, 2 turkeys, 4 pork butts or 4 racks of ribs at once – enough for a big barbecue party. The Ninja Woodfire, by contrast, is more like a tabletop grill with a single main grate (~216 sq. in.). It can fit a whole chicken or two, or a few racks of ribs (cut to size), but overall capacity is much smaller. If you regularly cook for a crowd or smoke large cuts, the Masterbuilt’s expansive vertical space is a clear advantage. The Ninja is ideal for family-sized portions or small gatherings.
Above: The Masterbuilt 710 Digital Electric Smoker opened to reveal four racks of food. Its vertical design and water pan allow smoking large quantities (multiple racks of ribs, whole poultry, etc.) with consistent low heat.
- Versatility of Cooking: The Ninja is a multi-purpose cooker – it grills, air fries, bakes, etc. The Masterbuilt 710, on the other hand, is purpose-built for smoking (and low-temperature roasting). It cannot sear or grill at high heat; in fact, its temperature range is 100°F–275°F (38°C–135°C) max. That’s perfect for true slow smoking, but it means you won’t be grilling steaks or getting crispy skin without finishing those foods elsewhere. The Ninja can smoke meat and then also finish it with high heat all in one device. Furthermore, you can use the Ninja as an outdoor oven or air fryer for things like pizzas, casseroles, or fried chicken, which the Masterbuilt simply isn’t designed to do. In short: Masterbuilt = specialist, Ninja = generalist. If you only care about traditional smoking, Masterbuilt works; if you want one gadget to handle many cooking styles, Ninja wins.
- Smoke Generation: Both units use wood + electric heat to create smoke, but the method differs. The Masterbuilt has a side wood chip loader – you insert wood chips (chunks or chips of hardwood) into a tube and turn it to drop them onto an internal tray over the heating element. This patented system lets you add chips without opening the main door, maintaining heat and smoke. However, the chip tray is not huge, so you typically add chips every 30-60 minutes to keep the smoke going. (Some users note the tray requires frequent refilling during long cooks, especially since it’s fairly small youtube.com.) The Ninja’s pellet smoker box is also accessed externally on the side, and it automatically ignites the pellets at the start of cooking. Each fill (about half a cup of pellets) lasts ~30 minutes of active smoke. For longer smokes, you similarly reload from the side and press a button to reignite. The difference: Masterbuilt’s chips smolder continuously at a low rate as long as there are chips, whereas Ninja’s pellets burn in more of a burst. Both approaches yield great smoke flavor; however, the Masterbuilt is better suited for overnight or all-day smoking with periodic tending, whereas the Ninja’s smoke is optimized for shorter, controlled sessions. If you want a heavier smoke profile on the Ninja, you may have to reload pellets a few times – which is easy to do, just not automatic.
- Temperature Control & Consistency: Both units feature digital thermostats to regulate the cooking temperature. The Masterbuilt has a control panel (and app) where you set a temp and the electric element cycles on/off to maintain it. In testing, Masterbuilt smokers tend to hold temperatures within a reasonable range, though one user review noted about a ±25°F variance at times (which is not uncommon in electric smokers) lowes.com. The Ninja also holds temperature very well; its smaller insulated chamber and powerful element mean it recovers heat quickly even if you open the lid briefly. One benefit of the Ninja’s app integration is it can adjust or prompt you through stages – for example, it can automatically drop to a keep-warm mode once a target internal meat temperature is reached. The Masterbuilt’s app will monitor meat probes and send alerts, but it’s more manual – you set and change settings yourself. Both have the ability to use meat probes (Masterbuilt supports up to 4 probes, with 1 included; Ninja supports 2, with 1 included) so you can accurately gauge doneness. Overall, both smokers offer “hands-off” temperature control where you’re not managing a fire – a big plus for beginners. The Ninja perhaps edges out in smart automation (with its guided cooking programs), whereas the Masterbuilt excels in simplicity and reliability for holding a steady low-and-slow temp for hours.
- Moisture & Heat Circulation: The Masterbuilt includes a removable water bowl that you can fill to add moisture during smoking. This helps keep foods from drying out over long cooks and can moderate the heat. It also has an adjustable air damper on top to control smoke density and airflow. These are classic smoker features that give you some control over the environment inside the box (closed for moist smoke, or more open for a firmer bark). The Ninja Woodfire doesn’t have a water pan specifically, but it has a drip tray that can catch juices, and you can add a bit of liquid there if desired for moisture. The Ninja’s convection fan ensures even heating but also tends to produce a dry heat (great for crisping, but you may need to watch that certain foods don’t dry out – brining meats or spritzing can help, as with any smoker). In practice, foods like ribs and chicken come out juicy on the Ninja, but the Masterbuilt’s ability to employ water and its overall larger mass can lend a slightly more humid cooking environment. Serious pitmasters might prefer a water smoker for very delicate meats or long cooks, but for most typical uses, both units yield moist, tender results.
- Footprint & Portability: The Masterbuilt 710 is a tall cabinet (~103 cm high on its legs) and weighs about 25–26 kg (based on similar models). It’s like having a small fridge dedicated to smoking. It requires more space on your patio or deck and isn’t really portable – it’s meant to sit in one place. The Ninja Woodfire is more compact and tabletop-sized. If you have limited outdoor space (e.g., a small patio or balcony where allowed), the Ninja might physically fit where a vertical smoker won’t. Also, if you want to occasionally take your cooker on the road (camping, to a friend’s house, etc.), the Ninja is much easier to transport. The trade-off is cooking capacity, as mentioned.
- Build and Aesthetics: The Masterbuilt has a powder-coated steel body with full insulation and a latched door. Some models even feature a window to see the food (though windows can get grimy from smoke). It looks like a traditional smoker – utilitarian, boxy, and built to maintain heat. The Ninja Woodfire has Ninja’s modern design flair: it looks like a high-tech grill gadget with a sleek control panel and a sturdy plastic/metal build. It’s weather-resistant and well-made, but it doesn’t have the double-wall insulated feel of the Masterbuilt’s cabinet. However, the Ninja’s materials make it much easier to clean the exterior (no flaking paint or rust – Masterbuilts can rust if left exposed). Both have a quality feel, but in different ways.
- Smart Features & Apps: Both smokers can be controlled via smartphone app, but the user experience differs. The Ninja’s app is highly interactive – it essentially can run the cook for you with presets, prompts, and even recipe programs. The Masterbuilt app allows you to set temperature and time, monitor the smoker and meat probe temps, and receive alerts. It’s more about remote control and monitoring rather than guiding you through a cook. Some users have found the Masterbuilt’s WiFi connectivity a bit finicky (reports of needing 2.4GHz WiFi and occasional disconnects), whereas the Ninja being a newer entry may have improved connectivity (and it also supports Bluetooth as a fallback). The Ninja also integrates with the Ninja Foodi app ecosystem, which might appeal if you own other Ninja appliances. If app functionality is important, note that Ninja’s app is described as “intuitive” and robust by reviewersr, whereas Masterbuilt’s is serviceable but not as feature-rich.
Bottom line: The Masterbuilt 710 is ideal if you want a dedicated smoker with large capacity and you value the traditional smoking process (low and slow, with the ability to use water pans, etc.). It’s great for BBQ enthusiasts who regularly cook in volume or who want to smoke full briskets, multiple racks of ribs, or host big cookouts. The Ninja Woodfire, on the other hand, is perfect for those who need versatility and convenience. It’s geared toward beginners or casual grillers who want smoke flavor without the learning curve – as well as experienced cooks who appreciate the speed and multi-functionality for everyday meals. It can’t match the Masterbuilt in sheer capacity or long-haul smoking without attention, but it offers far more flexibility in cooking styles. In many ways, these two aren’t direct competitors so much as different tools: one a specialized smoker, the other a jack-of-all-trades outdoor cooker.
Who Is It For? (Beginners vs. BBQ Enthusiasts)
Beginners: The Ninja Woodfire is extremely user-friendly, making it a great choice for beginners or anyone new to smoking. If you’ve been intimidated by traditional charcoal smokers or just don’t have the time to tend a fire, Ninja’s plug-and-play nature is a blessing. As one expert noted, the Woodfire “removed almost all [barriers]” to barbecuing – no fuss with lighting coals, no struggle to maintain temperature, and no need to watch the weather. The digital controls and presets mean that a novice can achieve excellent results on the first try. The app’s guided cooking and notifications further reduce the chances of error (e.g., it will tell you when your food is done or needs flipping). Beginners who also want a general outdoor cooker (not just a smoker) will love that they can grill burgers or air-fry wings in the same machine. Essentially, the Ninja makes outdoor cooking as straightforward as using an indoor kitchen appliance – you set it and focus on enjoying your time, which is perfect for someone who doesn’t want the trial-and-error phase that often comes with learning a charcoal or wood smoker.
The Masterbuilt 710 is also relatively beginner-friendly compared to charcoal smokers – you still just set temp and let it go – but it requires a bit more smoking knowledge to fully utilize. A novice can certainly use it (and many start with electric cabinet smokers for ease), but you’ll need to know how and when to add wood chips, possibly manage the air damper for smoke intensity, and use a meat thermometer to judge doneness (the Masterbuilt’s app helps with this, but it’s not as hand-holding as Ninja’s). Beginners who are sure they mainly want to do traditional BBQ in larger quantities might go with Masterbuilt, but in general, for a first-ever smoker, the Ninja Woodfire is almost foolproof. It’s forgiving and produces great results without a steep learning curve.
BBQ Enthusiasts: For more experienced grillmasters or BBQ purists, the choice can go either way depending on priorities. Enthusiasts who enjoy the craft of smoking – tweaking vents, experimenting with different wood flavors, doing long overnight brisket cooks – may lean toward the Masterbuilt or other traditional smokers. The Masterbuilt 710 provides a more classic smoking experience (minus managing a fire). It allows the use of various wood chips/chunks, can be used for hours on end, and has the space for competition cuts of meat. Enthusiasts often value the deep smoke penetration and bark development that comes with a slow, continuous smolder, and the Masterbuilt is built for that style of cooking. Also, if an enthusiast already has a separate grill for high-heat cooking, the Masterbuilt adds smoking capability without duplicating the grilling function.
That said, many BBQ enthusiasts have embraced the Ninja Woodfire for what it is: a convenient way to get smoke flavor when you’re not in the mood for an all-day smoke. In fact, some seasoned pitmasters use the Ninja for weeknight cooks or quick smokes. It can smoke a steak or a couple racks of ribs after work without needing to fire up a big offset smoker or pellet grill. The Ninja’s smoke may be a bit lighter, but it’s remarkably good, and enthusiasts appreciate being able to smoke and sear in one device (for example, reverse-searing a steak: smoke it low, then finish with a high-heat sear all in the Ninja). Also, for enthusiasts who live in apartments or places where charcoal smokers aren’t practical, the Ninja offers a way to continue the BBQ hobby on a smaller scale.
In summary: Beginners will find the Ninja Woodfire to be an accessible introduction to smoking (and grilling) with almost guaranteed success, whereas the Masterbuilt 710 appeals to those who are a bit more serious about smoking in large volumes or who want a more traditional smoking tool. BBQ enthusiasts might choose Ninja as a convenient secondary cooker or for its multi-function versatility, but if their main goal is mastering the art of smoking large cuts low-and-slow, the Masterbuilt (or similar smokers) might be more satisfying. For the enthusiast tinkerers, Ninja’s very automation and ease (ironically) might take away some of the hands-on fun that they enjoy – but it will also reliably handle the less “fun” parts like maintaining temp, so it really depends on whether one’s enthusiasm is for the process or the end results.
What You Can and Can’t Do with the Ninja Woodfire
The Ninja Woodfire opens up a lot of cooking possibilities, but it also has some limitations to be aware of. Here’s a rundown of “can do” vs “can’t do”:
What you CAN do:
- Authentic BBQ Smoking: Despite its compact size, the Ninja can genuinely smoke meats using real wood. You can do classics like ribs, pulled pork, brisket (small/trimmed), chicken, sausages, etc. The wood pellet system imparts true smoke flavor comparable to larger smokersm. Many users have successfully smoked pork butts to juicy tenderness and even achieved a decent smoke ring on meats.
- Grill & Sear: With temperatures up to 260°C, it functions as an electric grill. You can sear steaks or burgers, grill veggies, or even get a nice char on chicken. It won’t have the open flame of a charcoal grill, but it gets hot enough to create grill marks and browning. Plus, you can grill with the lid open (using direct bottom heat) or closed (for convection cooking).
- Air Fry & Roast/Bake: The Ninja essentially doubles as an outdoor convection oven. You can air fry wings, fries, or nuggets in the crisper basket – getting them crispy without deep frying. You can roast vegetables, bake casseroles, or even cook pizza and bread (some owners have baked desserts in it too). It’s very much like having a sturdy outdoor countertop oven that also smokes.
- Cook in Any Weather: Since it’s electric and enclosed, you’re not as restricted by weather. Wind won’t snuff out a flame (there is none), and cold temperatures are countered by the insulated design and powerful heater. It’s marketed for all-season use, meaning you could grill on a snowy day if you wanted (just mind the electrical connection).
- Set Precise Temps & Times: You have fine control over temperature settings (in both °C or °F) and cooking time. This precision means you can follow exact recipes or do delicate tasks like dehydrating fruit at 40°C or baking at 180°C. It’s more precise than many charcoal/pellet smokers where temperature can fluctuate. If a recipe calls for, say, 225°F for 3 hours, you can dial that in and trust the Ninja to hold it reasonably close.
- Safe, Clean Operation: No open flames means it’s safer for environments where fire is a concern. It also produces less ambient smoke; most of the smoke stays in the chamber or exits via a controlled vent at the back, which disperses it. So you won’t smoke out your neighbors (within reason – there is still some visible smoke venting out). It’s cleaner too – no piles of ash (just a tiny amount from the pellet box) and no spent charcoal to discard.
What you CANNOT do (or not ideal):
- Ultra-Long Unattended Cooks: If your goal is to throw in a brisket and leave it overnight, the Ninja isn’t the best fit. Its wood pellet supply and smaller heating element mean it’s not designed for 12–20 hour continuous smoking without intervention. While the heat will stay on, you’d have to reload pellets periodically for smoke flavor (or accept that only the first couple hours get smoke). In a Masterbuilt or similar, you might also refill chips, but those are built with that expectation in mind and some models have attachments (like cold smoking attachments or larger hoppers) for continuous feed. Ninja’s strength is shorter cooks or ones where you’re around to occasionally check in.
- Feed a Crowd in One Go: As noted, the cooking area limits how much you can cook at once. You can’t fit a whole rack of brisket ribs without cutting, probably can’t do a full-sized brisket packer (unless it’s a smaller one or cut in half), and you can’t do, say, 30 burgers at once. For a larger backyard party, you’d have to cook in batches. The Masterbuilt or a big charcoal smoker can cook an entire feast in one session; the Ninja is better for family meals or a few friends.
- True Cold Smoking: The Ninja’s lowest setting is around 40°C (105°F), which is actually a warm smoke. If you wanted to cold-smoke items like cheese or cured fish (which typically is done under 30°C/85°F so the food doesn’t cook), the Ninja isn’t suited for that out of the box. There’s no dedicated cold smoke mode. You might jury-rig a way to generate smoke without heat, but it’s not intended for that, whereas some traditional smokers can do cold smoke with a special attachment or by just smoldering chips with no heat.
- Open-Flame Charcoal Flavor: While the Ninja adds smoke flavor, what it won’t give you is that subtle flavor from charcoal or live fire. Some BBQ enthusiasts love the taste that charcoal or wood embers impart (beyond just the smoke). The Ninja’s flavor profile is purely from smoldering wood pellets – which is quite good – but you won’t get a charcoal-grilled flavor or the ability to, say, burn wood logs for a campfire-like sear. In other words, it can mimic a gas grill and a smoker, but not a charcoal grill in terms of combustion flavor.
- High-Quantity Smoke Ring/Bark: This is a bit technical, but the Ninja’s shorter, intense smoke might not produce as deep a smoke ring or as thick a bark on brisket as an all-day traditional smoker. You will get some pink smoke ring on meats (from the nitric oxide in real wood combustion), but because the pellet bursts are intermittent, it may be lighter. Similarly, a long cook in a wood/charcoal pit can build a heavy bark on a brisket; in the Ninja, since it’s somewhat a humid convection environment, the bark might be softer or lighter. These are nuances mostly noticed by BBQ die-hards – the average eater will still love the Ninja’s end product, but purists chasing competition-level brisket might see this as a limitation.
- Simultaneous Multi-Zone Cooking: In a large smoker or grill, you can arrange different heat zones (e.g., one side high heat, one side indirect low heat) or cook lots of different items at different temps at the same time. The Ninja is too small for that – it cooks everything in the chamber at one setting. You can’t, for example, smoke ribs on one rack and grill steaks on another at the same time (the Masterbuilt at least could smoke different meats on separate racks together since it has more space at a uniform temp). With Ninja, it’s one mode at a time – you might smoke your meat first, then switch modes to finish or cook something else after. Essentially, it’s a one-chamber operation.
- Indoor Use: This should go without saying, but the Ninja Woodfire is outdoor-use only. It produces real smoke, so you cannot use it inside a closed space or under an un-vented covered patio. (Some people ask if they can use electric smokers indoors – the answer is no, you’ll set off alarms and fill your home with smoke!). Use the Ninja outdoors in a well-ventilated area. The Masterbuilt and all similar smokers are also outdoor-only.
By understanding these can/can’t points, you can better decide if the Ninja Woodfire fits your cooking lifestyle. For many users, the “can do” list aligns with the kind of cooking they want (versatile, quick, flavorful meals) and the “can’t do” list are things they don’t mind avoiding. But if you find several “can’t do” items are exactly what you want to do, then a more traditional smoker might suit you better.
Cooking Performance: Smoke Quality & Consistency
One of the most important aspects of any smoker is how well it actually cooks and flavors the food. In testing and user reviews, the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL has proven to be a strong performer for its size.
Smoke Flavor: The Ninja’s wood pellet system produces a clean, flavorful smoke. Because the wood burns in a controlled electric heating element, the smoke is consistent and not overly heavy or bitter. Reviewers consistently found the smoke taste to be pleasant and noticeable but not overpowering. For instance, The Spruce Eats testers praised the “great smoke flavor” the Ninja imparted, noting that a small amount of pellets “brought in ample smoke flavor” with efficient circulation. Expert reviewers also commented that food had a “sweet, smoky flavour” after cooking in the Ninja. Essentially, it mimics the flavor profile of a wood smoker quite well. If you use the “Robust” blend pellets, you’ll get a stronger, hickory-like smoke; the “All-Purpose” blend is milder – so you can choose based on your taste.
One thing to note is that the smoke application is front-loaded: the Ninja applies most of its smoke in that first 20-30 minute pellet burn window. This is great for things like steaks, chicken, or fish that don’t cook for long – they get smoked the whole time. For very large cuts that take many hours, the initial smoke will flavor them, but after it burns out you’re essentially cooking in an oven. You can mitigate this by adding more pellets periodically (as discussed), but the flavor won’t intensify much past a certain point. The smoke ring on a brisket, for example, might not get deeper after the first hour or two of smoke. In contrast, a Masterbuilt or other smoker can produce continuous smoke for many hours, potentially layering on more smoke intensity (and a deeper smoke ring) over time. However, there’s also a point of diminishing returns – too much smoke can turn acrid. The Ninja’s approach arguably gives just the right amount of smoke for most palates, avoiding the risk of oversmoking. Overall, smoke quality is excellent – it’s real wood flavor, and you can taste it, but it’s “clean smoke” (thin blue-ish) due to the controlled burn, which is a positive in BBQ (dirty smoke makes food bitter).
Temperature Accuracy & Consistency: The Ninja’s digital thermostat and design lead to very steady cooking temps. In practice, users found that the temperature they set is the temperature the grill maintained, with minor fluctuations. The device will cycle on/off to hold the set point, and the insulated lid and body help keep heat in. The only times you’ll see a drop are when you open the lid or if the weather is extremely cold (even then, it compensates by heating more). Expert Reviews noted that the Ninja can “heat up to 260°C” and it indeed reached those high temps and cooked as expected. There’s no built-in readout of the actual internal temperature (aside from the setpoint), but using an external thermometer, people have found it’s usually within a few degrees of the target. For smoking, consistency is key – you don’t want wild swings that could dry out or undercook food. The Ninja performs well here, often better than analog smokers which can drift. The Masterbuilt likewise is consistent, but some variance can occur (like the ±25°F noted in a user review) – still, both are far easier to keep at a stable 225°F than any charcoal smoker where you adjust vents by hand.
The Ninja’s heat distribution is very even thanks to the fan. In our own tests and reviews, things like biscuits or pizzas cooked in the Ninja came out evenly browned, indicating minimal hot spots. When smoking or roasting meat, you don’t need to rotate or swap positions as much as in some other smokers – the top and bottom of a chicken, for example, cook evenly when the lid is closed with convection. One reviewer did note that when grilling with the lid open (direct heat mode), the timer starts counting down immediately and they had to adjust it because loading food took time. That’s a small quirk – essentially, if you grill with lid open, be aware of your timing as the heat is high direct heat but without convection, food might cook slightly slower on the surface. With the lid closed, the convection makes it cook faster.
Food Results: The ultimate measure – how’s the BBQ? In general, the Ninja Woodfire produces excellent results:
- Pulled Pork / Brisket: It can tenderize tough cuts like pork shoulder to pull-apart texture. You might smoke a pork butt for a couple hours with smoke, then let it roast for another few hours till it hits that ~93°C internal for pulling. The smoke flavor will be there, and the texture moist (especially if you used the water pan or wrapped the meat partway through). A large brisket might be a tight squeeze, but a smaller one or just the flat can be done – expect a decent bark, a smoke ring (though possibly lighter pink), and very juicy meat due to the consistent low heat. The Masterbuilt, with its water pan and continuous smoke, might edge out on brisket bark, but the Ninja holds its own in tenderness.
- Ribs: Ninja can do 2-3 racks of baby back ribs (cut in halves to fit on the grate or stacked using a rib rack accessory). Smoked at 120°C (250°F) for a few hours, ribs come out nicely smoky and can be made fall-off-the-bone if you wrap them or just tender-bite if you don’t. The smaller chamber keeps them basted in their own juices somewhat. People have been very happy with ribs on the Ninja, often adding a bit of wood halfway through for extra smokiness. The Masterbuilt can do more ribs at once, but flavor-wise both deliver that classic BBQ rib taste.
- Chicken: Poultry is a strong suit for the Ninja. Whole chickens or wings get a mild smoke that pairs well with their shorter cook times. One can smoke-roast a whole chicken and even use the probe so the app tells you exactly when it’s done – resulting in a juicy chicken with a hint of smoke. Because the Ninja can then crank up heat, you can crisp the skin at the end (something electric cabinet smokers struggle with, since they max at 135°C, often yielding rubbery skin). So for smoked chicken with crispy skin, Ninja shines. Masterbuilt would need you to finish on a grill or broiler to achieve that.
- Steaks/Burgers: Here the Ninja has a totally different use-case: you can reverse-sear steaks (smoke at low temp briefly, then high heat sear) and they come out fantastic – smoky inside with a seared crust. Burgers can be grilled with a touch of wood flavor if you like (throw in a small pellet load at the start). Essentially, it can do backyard grilling with bonus smoke flavor. The Masterbuilt can’t high-sear a steak at all (275°F isn’t enough for a good sear), so you wouldn’t do traditional grilling in it.
- Vegetables & Sides: The Ninja’s ability to roast and air fry means sides like roast potatoes, mac & cheese, baked beans, even breads or desserts can be done in it. Smoking vegetables (like smoked corn, peppers, or eggplant) works great too – the Masterbuilt can also smoke veggies, but the Ninja can then finish them with a char if desired. Reviewers at Expert Reviews found that while grilling corn on the Ninja, some parts were a bit pale (because an electric grill doesn’t have flames licking the food), but overall the veggies cooked through nicely. If grill marks or full browning are desired, sometimes just a bit more time or a finish on “max grill” setting with the lid open will do it.
Reliability: Both Ninja and Masterbuilt have generally reliable heating elements and controls. Electric smokers, in general, have the downside that they depend on electricity – a power outage mid-cook would be problematic (whereas a charcoal smoker would just keep going). That’s rare, but worth mentioning. The Ninja’s electronics are a bit more complex (WiFi, etc.), but being a Ninja product (by SharkNinja), build quality is high. There is a 2-year warranty on Ninja Woodfire, similar to Masterbuilt’s 2-year warranty, for peace of mind. Some Masterbuilt users have reported issues like heating elements failing after a couple years or WiFi glitches, but Masterbuilt has a long track record in electric smokers. The Ninja Woodfire is a newer product line, but early feedback is positive on its durability – it’s built to handle outdoor conditions and the rigors of high heat.
In terms of consistency, you can expect repeatable results with the Ninja. Once you dial in a recipe you like (say, 225°F for X hours for ribs), you can do it the same next time and get the same outcome, because the machine takes a lot of variables out of the equation. It makes smoking approachable and consistent, which is great whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook who just wants a reliable shortcut for good BBQ. Expert Reviews summed it up well by saying the Ninja turned out “wonderfully grilled results”, tempered only by the high price and a few small niggles – in other words, performance-wise the food was excellent. TechRadar’s review was similarly glowing, awarding it “Editor’s Choice” because it delivered “delicious smoky flavors, convenient smart cooking features, and fantastic ease of use”, with very little to complain about.
Verdict: Is the Ninja Woodfire Worth It?
The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is a remarkably versatile and convenient outdoor cooker that brings real wood-smoked BBQ into an easy-to-use format. It caters to a broad audience – from absolute beginners who want foolproof results, to busy home cooks who love BBQ flavor but don’t always have an entire day to tend a smoker, and even to seasoned grill enthusiasts looking for a handy secondary unit. The Ninja delivers on its promises: it’s easy to use, saves time, and produces delicious food with genuine smoke flavor.
Pros Recap: You’re getting an all-in-one grilling and smoking appliance that can handle everything from low-and-slow brisket to high-heat searing and air-fried sides. The smart features (WiFi/app, probe thermometer) remove guesswork and babysitting, allowing even novices to cook like a “pitmaster” with minimal effort. The build is solid and weather-resistant, meaning you can cook year-round. Importantly, the food it produces – be it smoked meats or grilled dishes – is consistently tasty, with that sought-after wood-fired flavor, earning the Ninja Woodfire high praise in reviews.
Cons Recap: The main drawbacks are its limited capacity (it’s not meant for large-scale entertaining or very large cuts) and its premium price. It also requires you to adapt to its pellet smoking cycle if you want continuous smoke on long cooks (which is a minor hassle but easy to manage). If you’re specifically looking to do serious long-duration smoking of big quantities (like competition BBQ or feeding a big reunion), a larger smoker like the Masterbuilt 710 or a pellet grill might be more suitable. The Masterbuilt 710, for instance, shines in those scenarios with double the capacity and a straightforward smoking setup – and at a lower cost. However, it lacks the Ninja’s versatility and convenience features.
Which to Choose? If you’re torn between the Ninja Woodfire and the Masterbuilt 710: consider your use-case. Choose the Ninja Woodfire if you value a multi-purpose grill that can do it all – you want quick weeknight grilling, occasional smoking, and the ability to experiment with many cooking styles, all with minimal fuss. It’s ideal for someone who might grill one day, smoke ribs on the weekend, and air fry some wings as a game-day snack, without needing separate devices. It’s also perfect if you’re short on space or don’t generally cook for more than 4-6 people at a time. On the other hand, choose the Masterbuilt 710 (or a similar dedicated smoker) if your primary goal is smoking large volumes of food and you don’t mind sacrificing grilling capability. It’s better for traditional BBQ aficionados who do big cooks for gatherings or who already have a grill for searing.
Verdict: Overall, the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is an impressive innovation in the outdoor cooking world. It lowers the entry barrier to smoking while upping the game in terms of flexibility. During our research and testing, it consistently delivered mouth-watering results – from succulent smoked meats to crispy grilled veggies – with a fraction of the effort that traditional methods require. It isn’t cheap, and it isn’t a replacement for an offset smoker in a competition sense, but for the average home cook it offers tremendous value through convenience and performance. If you’re a BBQ lover who wants that wood-smoked goodness without committing half a day to tending a smoker, the Ninja Woodfire is absolutely worth considering. It’s a “compact powerhouse” that can transform the way you cook outdoors, making real BBQ more accessible to everyone.
In one line: The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is a game-changer for easy, delicious BBQ – bringing together the best of grilling and smoking technology. Just be mindful of its size and pellet refills for long cooks, and you’ll be rewarded with fantastic barbecue with minimal hassle. For many, that convenience plus great flavor will make it a winner, earning it a spot as one of the top electric outdoor cookers you can buy.
Sources:
- Expert Reviews – Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ and Smoker (OG901UK) review expertreviews.co.uk
- TechRadar – Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Grill and Smoker review techradar.com
- The Spruce Eats – Best Electric Smokers 2024/2025 – Ninja Woodfire 8-in-1 thespruceeats.com
- Masterbuilt (Official) – 710 WiFi Digital Electric Smoker – Features international.masterbuilt.com
- Reddit r/NinjaWoodfire – User discussions on Ninja vs Masterbuilt (insights on smoke application) reddit.com
- Home Depot Customer Q&A – Feedback on Masterbuilt 30” WiFi Smoker (connectivity and chip refilling) youtube.com
