Ninja is a house-care brand that seems to have it all: indoor grills, ovens, cookers, blenders, coffee makers, tea makers, and a lot more.
Besides its wide range, this brand is also known for the high quality of each of its products.
As a result, if you plan to buy something from them, chances are you’ll find yourself struggling to make up your mind.
That’s why we thought an article based on Ninja Foodi appliances solely will help you in your buying process.
We will analyze and compare two of their products: Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker OP401and Ninja Foodi Grill FG551.
Now let’s get down to business.
1. Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker OP401 8-Quart
We’ll start by overviewing Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker OP401 8-Quart.
This 1700-Watt unit is made out of plastic, metal, rubber, and it has a high gloss finish, which enhances the elegance of its look.
The model is covered by a one-year warranty and it weighs approximately 26 pounds.
Ninja OP401 is a spacious appliance (assembled product dimensions: 14.25 x 16.75 x 14.10 inches), that can fit an 8-Quart cooking pot!
You will never have to worry about not having enough food for everyone.
In fact, it can even hold a 7-lb chicken!
In case you don’t interact with the display at all for ten minutes, the device will automatically switch to Standby mode.
Owning this product means that you will have more than enough cooking modes at your disposal.
There are a total of nine functions, including Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Steam, Sear/Sauté, Bake/Roast, Air Crisp, Broil, and Dehydrate.
If you can’t think of what to cook, the 45+ recipe book will come and instantly help you.
With the Pressure mode, you’ll have the opportunity to cook food quickly and maintain its succulence at the same time.
When we say “quickly”, we truly mean it. When using this mode, you can cook up to 70% faster in comparison to the traditional cooking methods.
Steam allows you to carefully cook delicate food at high temperatures.
The Slow Cook mode can be used when your appetite calls for some delicious meals and you don’t mind waiting more time than usual for them to be ready.
This function has different time settings.
The High one can be adjusted between 4 and 12 hours. The Low time setting can be adjusted between 6 and 12 hours.
Ninja OP401 can also be used as a stovetop when the Sear/Sauté function is chosen.
This cooking mode allows you to brown meat, sauté vegetables, simmer sauces, and the list goes on.
As for the Air Crisp function, it’s a perfect feature for those who love crispy food that doesn’t require a lot of oil.
It can reduce fat by up to 75%.
The Bake/Roast setting can be used for a huge variety of dishes, from meats to dessert.
You can caramelize and brown your food when using the Broil setting, and remove moisture from fruits, vegetables with the Dehydrate function.
This gives you the opportunity to make homemade snacks such as jerky or chips.
Moreover, the oven features a special technology, known as “TenderCrisp technology” that locks in juices when pressure cooking, and guarantees crispiness to your meals when air frying faster than you imagine.
Besides the unit, you’ll also get several accessories: a reversible rack, a 4-Quart Cook & Crisp Basket, a non-stick, PTFE-PFOA-free 8-Quart Pot, a crisping lid, and a pressure lid.
The stainless steel reversible rack can be used with the Steam and Broil function.
The ceramic-coated 4-Quart Cook & Crisp Basket is non-stick.
Its large capacity is enough to fit four pounds of french fries. It is also PTFE/PFOA-free.
As for the crisping lid, it’s the perfect accessory to use when you want to offer a crispy, golden finish to your meals.
In addition to that, its layered insert increases cooking capacity inside the basket.
The digital control panel features both the function and the operating buttons.
The latter include the following: TEMP arrows, TIME arrows, START/STOP, KEEP WARM, and POWER.
The cooking time’s minimum and maximum values, as well as the increments, vary from one function to another.
After using the Pressure Cook, Steam, or Slow cook function, the appliance will switch to Keep Warm mode by itself, and it will count up.
It can stay this way for 12 hours, or you can turn it off by pressing the button that corresponds to it.
Keep in mind that this mode’s purpose is to maintain the warmth of your food, and therefore it can not be used for changing the temperature of cold dishes.
The anti-clog cap is designed to protect the inner valve of the pressure lid from clogging and avoid any food splatters.
Thanks to its surprisingly wide range of functions, you can easily cook frozen food from the inside out.
When you don’t want to thaw, all you need to do is start by pressure cooking.
After doing that, switch to a crisping method and drop the crisping lid.
This process can take as little as 20 minutes!
It is necessary to clean the unit after every use.
The cooker base and the control panel can be cleaned by simply wiping them with a damp cloth.
The pressure lid, reversible silicone ring, removable cooking pot, Cook & Crisp Basket, reversible rack, and condensation collector should be washed in hot, soapy water, then rinsed and dried.
The crisping lid can be wiped with a damp cloth or even a paper towel.
Still, some accessories, including the crisper basket, silicone ring, rack, and 8-Quart cooking pot, don’t necessarily need to be hand-washed, as they are dishwasher safe.
Always keep in mind that the cooker base and pressure lid should never be put in the dishwasher.
This Ninja Foodi appliance has 14 Safety Features, which makes the cooking process a lot safer.
2. Ninja Foodi Grill FG551
The second model in question will be Ninja FG551.
This multifunctional appliance has a stainless steel finish and a 1760-Watt power.
The warranty lasts one year.
Product dimensions are the following: 15.7 x 16.54 x 11.05 inches.
The power cord has a length of 36 inches and needs to be plugged into a 120-Volt outlet.
Ninja FG551 weighs 22.44 pounds.
The XL capacity of this device makes it a perfect tool to use when you want to cook for a large number of people.
For instance, it can fit six steaks, 24 hot dogs, two pounds of fries, or a three-pound roast.
Time-saving is something this model is exceptionally good at, as its roomy interior allows you to cook both mains and sides at the same time.
Equipped with a Smart Cook System, Ninja FG551 allows you to achieve flawless results every single time.
If you think this device can be used solely for grilling, you’ll be surprised to hear that it can do a lot more than that.
This appliance has six functions: Grill, Air Crisp, Bake, Roast, Broil, and Dehydrate.
The Air Crisp function is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, considering the fact that it can reduce fat by up to 75%.
You’ll be able to cook your favorite fried dishes, using the 4-Quart crisper basket.
The Cyclonic Grilling Technology maximizes the success rate of your results, by grilling every side with 500 Fahrenheit degrees cyclonic air.
The airflow facilitates the cooking process because thanks to it, there’s no need to flip your food.
Ninja FG551 comes with four smart protein settings (BEEF, CHIC, PORK, FISH), and nine customizable doneness levels (from rare to well done).
These two features really increase the number of recipes you can choose from.
The manufacturer tried its best to excel at everything.
That’s why the special grilling practices, temperature-controlled grill grate, splatter shield, and cool-air zone work together to make sure that as little smoke as possible comes out of the appliance.
The unit automatically shuts off when time is up.
This indoor grill comes with several accessories, such as a Dual Sensor Foodi Smart Thermometer, a 9″ x 12″ high-density grill grate, a 4-Quart crisper basket, a 4-Quart cooking pot, a cleaning brush, and a 15-recipe cookbook.
The thermometer is a great tool that makes cooking more convenient and less stressful.
It does this thing by continuously monitoring food temperatures.
It is also responsible for automatically shutting off the unit when the cooking cycle is over.
Note that most parts of this model are dishwasher-safe, which means that not only cooking, but cleaning will be easy, too.
Additionally, the grill grate, crisper basket, and cooking pot are PTFE/PFOA-free.
3. Differences
Although it’s already obvious that these two products are different, considering the fact that they’re not part of the same appliance category, it’s still important to highlight the main differences between them.
First of all, while Ninja FG551 is mostly made out of stainless steel, Ninja OP401 also has plastic, metal, and rubber as materials.
However, there aren’t any important differences color-wise, as both of them have a black/silver exterior.
Even though the power is pretty much the same, you should keep in mind that the Ninja Pressure Cooker has a 1700-Watt wattage, while the Ninja Indoor Grill has a 1760-Watt power.
The voltage is the same (120 Volts).
Both models are covered by a one-year warranty. Most of their parts are non-stick and PTFE/PFOA-free.
It won’t take a lot of time to understand how to use them, as they are equipped with a digital display.
When it comes to capacity, Ninja OP401 fits an 8-Quart cooking pot, while Ninja FG551 – a 4-Quart cooking pot.
Both of them enter Standby mode when you don’t interact with them for a certain amount of time.
Their weight is similar (Ninja OP401 weighs 26 pounds, while Ninja FG551 – 22.44 pounds).
Probably the most important difference between these two products has to do with their functions.
While Ninja OP401 is a 9-in-1 device, Ninja FG551 is a 6-in-1 kitchen appliance.
Considering that Ninja OP401 is a pressure cooker, it can do such things as Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Steam, and Sear/Sauté.
These functions cannot be found in the case of Ninja FG551. On the other hand, this model, unlike the first one, can grill.
The cooking modes they have in common are Air Crisp, Bake, Roast, Broil, and Dehydrate.
In addition to that, we thought that it’s important for you to keep in mind that although both of them come with a cookbook, the one of Ninja OP401 contains a lot more recipes.
When it comes to the accessories included, both of them are equipped with a cooking pot and an Air Crisp basket.
As Ninja FG551 is an indoor grill, it also comes with a grill grate. Most of their accessories are dishwasher safe.
4. Summary
Our article wouldn’t be complete without giving an opinion about these two models and the category of people that should definitely consider buying them.
The Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker (OP401) is the right device for people who don’t stick to one or two cooking modes but like to expand their cooking experience function-wise.
If you love to invite a lot of guests often and impress them with plenty of delicious dishes, you’ll find this device very useful.
As for the Ninja Foodi Grill (FG551), it is a great purchase for people who love to eat grilled food and don’t mind having a few more other functions to choose from.
Its 4-Quart capacity is enough to cook for larger families.
5. Comparison table
Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker OP401 8-Quart |
Ninja Foodi Grill FG551 |
|
|---|---|---|
Brand |
Ninja |
Ninja |
Model |
Ninja OP401 |
FG551 Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 |
Color |
Black/silver |
Black/silver |
Material |
Plastic, metal, rubber |
Stainless steel |
Power |
1700 Watts |
1760 Watts |
Voltage |
120 Volts |
120 Volts |
Warranty |
One year |
One year |
Temperature range |
varies from one function to another |
can reach 500°F |
Product Dimensions |
14.25 x 16.75 x 14.10 inches (when assembled) |
15.7 x 16.54 x 11.05 inches |
Non-stick accessories |
Yes |
Yes |
Digital display |
Yes |
Yes |
PTFE/PFOA-free parts |
Yes |
Yes |
Capacity |
8-Quart |
4-Quart |
Keep Warm |
Yes |
Not specified |
Standby mode |
Yes |
Yes |
Weight |
26 pounds |
22.44 pounds |
Functions |
||
Pressure Cook |
Yes |
No |
Slow Cook |
Yes |
No |
Steam |
Yes |
No |
Broil |
Yes |
Yes |
Sear/Sauté |
Yes |
No |
Bake |
Yes |
Yes |
Air Crisp |
Yes |
Yes |
Roast |
Yes |
Yes |
Grill |
No |
Yes |
Dehydrate |
Yes |
Yes |
Includes |
||
Cooking pot |
Yes |
Yes |
Grill grate |
No |
Yes |
Air Crisp basket |
Yes |
Yes |
Recipe book |
Yes |
Yes |
Cleaning brush |
Not specified |
Yes |
Thermometer |
No |
Yes |
Rack |
Yes |
No |
Dishwasher safe accessories |
Some of them |
Some of them |
Dual Voltage (Yes/No) |
No |
No |
Cleaning |
Easy |
Easy |
Cord length |
Not specified |
36 inches |
