Ninja Woodfire Grill Review: Compact Powerhouse with Smoky Flavour

Back in the summer of 2022, I had the privilege of being among the first in the UK to test the Ninja Woodfire Grill. At a top-secret event in London, I joined a select group to explore every inch of this innovative grill, from its features to its design. Since its release, I’ve been putting it through its paces at home, and now, after months of use, I’m ready to deliver a no-holds-barred review of this compact BBQ marvel.

So, grab a drink, and let’s dig into why the Ninja Woodfire Grill has earned a top spot in my BBQ lineup.

The Ninja Woodfire Grill: A Technical Marvel

Designed for outdoor use and fully weather-resistant, the Ninja Woodfire Grill combines the convenience of an electric grill with the rich flavours of traditional woodfire cooking. Here’s what makes it stand out:

  • Woodfire Technology: A built-in smoke box powered by just one scoop of wood pellets creates an authentic smoky flavour.
  • Pellet Innovation: Unlike traditional pellets designed as fuel, Ninja’s pellets focus purely on flavour, using a blend of premium hardwoods.
  • Convection Power: A high-power fan ensures even cooking and rapid smoke absorption.
  • Compact Design: Perfect for small spaces and portable enough for camping trips or cozy backyard gatherings.

With this grill, you’re getting a seamless fusion of modern technology and classic BBQ flavours, all in a compact package.

Performance: Fast, Smoky, and Flavourful

When it comes to speed, the Ninja Woodfire Grill is in a league of its own. I’ve never cooked beef short ribs faster, and the results were stunning—tender, juicy, and packed with flavour. Its efficient design doesn’t sacrifice taste for speed, making it ideal for those who want great BBQ without the long wait times.

Versatility: Your BBQ Swiss Army Knife

This grill is more than just a smoker or a grill—it’s a multi-functional powerhouse. From air frying to smoking and grilling, the Ninja Woodfire handles it all with ease. Here are some standout recipes I’ve tried so far:

  • Bavette Cheesesteak: Smoky, tender steak in a flavour-packed sandwich.
  • Baby Back Ribs with Bacon Jam BBQ Glaze: Sweet, sticky, and smoky perfection.
  • Woodfire Cheeseburgers: A classic with a bold twist.
  • Pulled Pork: Slow-cooked to tender, juicy goodness.
  • Asian-Style Sticky Chicken Wings with Air-Fried Pak Choi: A delightful mix of sweet and savoury.
  • Shredded Beef Cheeks and Cheese-Loaded Fries: The ultimate indulgence.

The range of dishes you can whip up on this grill is nothing short of impressive.

Ease of Use: Plug, Play, and Grill

With a straightforward interface, the Ninja Woodfire is beginner-friendly while offering plenty of options for seasoned BBQers. However, I’d love to see a built-in thermometer with remote monitoring in future models for true set-and-forget convenience.

Weather Resistance: Built for the UK’s Mood Swings

British weather can be unpredictable, but the Ninja Woodfire Grill is tough enough to handle it. Mine has been living outside in an uncovered shack, and it’s still going strong months later.

The Downsides: A Few Minor Quirks

No grill is perfect, and the Ninja Woodfire has a few quirks worth mentioning:

  1. Power Switch Location: It’s placed underneath the unit, which isn’t the most convenient spot.
  2. No Outdoor Cover: You’ll need to buy a separate cover if you’re leaving it outside.
  3. Cooking Guide: A more detailed guide for heat source and fan speed settings would make experimenting easier.
  4. Size: It’s a bit compact for larger gatherings and struggles to fit a full rack of St. Louis cut ribs.
  5. Pellets: While Ninja recommends their own pellets, I’ve found options like Exstream BBQ offer better performance.
  6. No Cold Smoking: The lack of a cold-smoking option limits versatility for some users.
  7. Cleaning: The grates and basket aren’t dishwasher safe, making cleanup more labor-intensive.

Conclusion: A Must-Have for Busy BBQ Enthusiasts

The Ninja Woodfire Grill is a game-changer for anyone who loves BBQ but doesn’t have hours to spend managing a traditional smoker. Its speed, versatility, and ease of use make it perfect for modern BBQers who want quick, consistent, and delicious results.

Whether you’re grilling up burgers or slow-cooking pulled pork, the Ninja Woodfire Grill delivers flavour in spades. It’s not a replacement for a larger smoker, but it’s an invaluable addition to your BBQ arsenal.

Check out the Ninja Woodfire Grill here.

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Shot on Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra 🎥🔥

I had some fantastic dino ribs from idevour that needed smoking — so I decided to put the new Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra through a proper real-world test while cooking.

Producing BBQ content solo is hard work — juggling tripods, chasing angles, and trying to film when your hands are covered in seasoning is honestly the most stressful part of sharing the journey.

But this gimbal genuinely made life easier.

🙌 Gesture control to start/stop recording and enable A.I. tracking worked a treat — reliable every time.

📸 The built-in tripod meant I could drop it exactly where I was cooking.

💡 The variable light module helped even out those tricky shadows.

🎮 And that removable remote with live-view screen . . . game-changer. I can finally use my phone’s rear camera for proper quality and still see exactly what I’m filming. A quick tweak on the joystick and framing’s sorted.

I’m still exploring the different gimbal modes and plan to dive deeper into the Hohem app, but for a first run it was seriously impressive — smooth, stable and intuitive.

Admittedly, filming myself using the gimbal filming me cooking got a little confusing at times (had to prop up an iPad to catch the chaos 😂) — oh, the joys of content creation!

In short: if you’re a solo content creator who wants to simplify your workflow while levelling up filming quality and creative angles, the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra is an absolute winner.

🔗 Check it out via [link in bio]

#Hohem #iSteadyV3Ultra #HohemV3Ultratryout #Videography #ContentCreation #BBQ #SmokeAndSear #SoloCreator #BBQCommunity

@hohem_global @hohem_na 

⸻

⚠️ Gifted Item Disclosure:

The Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra was sent to me by Hohem to try out and review. Opinions and content are my own.
🔥 This is probably the thing I’m most proud of in my BBQ journey.

I’m not a pitmaster or pro chef — just a geek who started cooking outside during lockdown and wanted to remember what I’d learnt.

So I built Smoke & Sear - a site that’s now packed with:

✅ 100+ step-by-step BBQ recipes
✅ Honest reviews of grills, gadgets, and gear I’ve actually used
✅ A full UK BBQ Events calendar
✅ Top UK BBQ Instagram accounts
✅ Rub competitions, pitmaster map & more
✅ Sizzle – my own AI BBQ assistant (yep, I went full nerd)

All built to support the UK BBQ community — nothing fancy, just useful stuff from someone who lives and breathes it.

📍 114,000+ have found it via Google
📈 27,000+ users in one week (at peak)
🌍 Visitors from 170+ countries — but always flying the UK flag

—

💬 If you’ve ever used the site, let me know what helped.

If you haven’t yet, go have a mooch - it’s all free.

👉 https://www.smokeandsear.world

What else would you like me to add or do?

I’m a geek — and if it helps the UK BBQ community, I’ll see what I can do.

— Lee | Smoke & Sear

"Just a bloke with a BBQ obsession and a dodgy memory."
"Low ‘n’ slow till it falls apart in your hands – @ninjakitchen Woodfire pulled pork that’s smoky, juicy and dangerously moreish 🐖🔥"

Here’s the move:
🐖 Pork collar rubbed, scored and (optionally) injected for max flavour
💨 Smoked at 120°C until the bark is set and the colour’s spot on
🥤 Foil-wrapped with cider vinegar, BBQ sauce… maybe even a cheeky splash of Dr Pepper
🔥 Cooked through till probe-tender at 95°C, then rested so it pulls like butter
🥪 Load it into buns, pile it on fries, or stuff it into a jacket spud – it’s BBQ gold

No shortcuts, just patience and smoke working their magic.

👉 Full recipe here:
https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/perfect-pulled-pork-in-the-ninja-woodfire/

#SmokeAndSear #PulledPork #NinjaWoodfire #LowAndSlow #BBQPork #UKBBQ #BBQComfortFood #SmokeGameStrong
"Golden fries drowned in melty cheese, topped with smoky shredded beef cheeks that fall apart with a fork. Comfort food, BBQ style 🍟🔥🥩🧀"

The play-by-play:
🥩 Ox cheeks smoked in the @ninjakitchenuk Woodfire, then braised till buttery tender
🍟 Fries cooked crisp and golden, ready to carry the load
🧀 Cheddar, mozzarella & parmesan melted into gooey goodness
🌶️ Garnished with red chilli, spring onion & coriander for a fresh kick

It’s indulgent, messy, and exactly the kind of food that makes a BBQ table go quiet for a few minutes.

👉 Full recipe here:
https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/shredded-beef-cheeks-and-cheese-loaded-fries/

#SmokeAndSear #LoadedFries #BeefCheeks #CheeseGoals #BBQComfortFood #NinjaWoodfire #UKBBQ #MessyEats
"Rotisserie Picanha with a fat cap sizzling, gooey Brazilian cheese bread, smoky sweet potato wedges and a mango-pomegranate salsa that hits like Rio Carnival 🎉🥩🧀"

This cook’s a full-on flavour trip:
🐂 Picanha steaks skewered and spun over live fire until medium-rare perfection
🧀 Pão de Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) – crispy outside, chewy, cheesy middle
🍠 Sweet potato wedges with smoked paprika, grilled till fluffy inside and crisp outside
🥭 Carnival salsa with mango, pomegranate, coriander, lime & a kick of chilli

Stick it all on a big board, crack a cold one, and you’ve got yourself a proper celebration of fire and flavour.

👉 Step-by-step feast guide here:
https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/picanha-steak-pao-de-queijo-carnival-sides/

#SmokeAndSear #BrazilianBBQ #Picanha #PaodeQueijo #BBQFeast #CarnivalOnAPlate #UKBBQ #RotisserieMagic
"Forget your meal deal – this is the kind of sandwich that needs two hands and a bit of silence while you eat 🥩🥖🔥"

Here’s what makes it special:
🐂 Prime rump joint from Village Butchers, dry brined & cooked rotisserie-style over coals
🔥 Rested, sliced thin, juicy and tender
🥖 Artisan baguette toasted over the fire for that charred crunch
🌿 Fresh rocket for peppery bite
🥵 Slathered with a mustard-horseradish-mayo sauce that packs just the right amount of punch

It’s messy, it’s meaty, it’s smoky – basically the ultimate steak sandwich.

👉 Full step-by-step recipe here:
https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/prime-beef-rump-joint-sandwich-with-zesty-sauce/

#SmokeAndSear #SteakSandwich #BeefDoneRight #BBQSarnie #UKBBQ #RumpSteak #FireCooking
First night away in the @tentbox I bought from @nomadtrailers ✅

Kept it local and, despite a few niggles, I loved it. 

Stayed at the @theglampingpub pub & campsite — can’t fault it at all. Friendly owners, loads of chats with locals and other guests, self-serve beer pumps (dangerous 😂), and the food was spot on after hiking the Footsteps of Kolkr.

Lessons learned:

	•	I need a @jackery.uk or similar . . . power is everything ⚡️

	•	Waterproof jacket = essential for packing away in the rain 🌧

	•	Snacks . . . don’t forget the snacks 🥨

	•	Mobile reception is rubbish — might have to treat myself to portable Starlink 📡

Wins:

	•	Two plastic tubs system worked perfectly (one for tent & dog bits, one for comfort gear — @chillbeamofficial lights, speaker, chargers etc).

	•	My double sleeping bag was a game-changer — best night’s sleep ever. 😴

	•	TentBox setup was smooth, even if pack-down in the rain took me 15 mins instead of 5.

Overall: cracking little adventure, and I can’t wait for the next one… which just happens to be the Big BBQ Community Cookout next weekend 🔥🍻
"Beef short ribs, smoked low ‘n’ slow, glazed up char siu style and served with plum sauce, sticky rice, slaw and chilli-garlic green beans. East meets West, BBQ edition 🔥🥢🥩"

This cook’s all about big flavours and balance:

🥩 Beef short ribs dry brined, rubbed with Norfolk Smoke Pit’s China Town seasoning & smoked over cherry wood
💨 Spritzed with apple cider vinegar, bourbon & water for sweet, smoky tang
🔥 Wrapped with rendered tallow for juicy, tender perfection
🍚 Served with coconut jasmine rice, zingy Asian slaw & chilli-ginger beans
🍑 Finished with a sticky, homemade plum sauce that takes it over the edge

This is backyard BBQ with proper global swagger.

👉 Step-by-step breakdown here:
https://www.smokeandsear.world/BBQ-recipes/east-meets-west-char-sui-beef-short-ribs/

#SmokeAndSear #BeefShortRibs #CharSiuStyle #EastMeetsWest #UKBBQ #KamadoJoe #FusionBBQ #BBQFeast #FoodWithFlare