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It’s always grilling season when you have an indoor grill, and few indoor grills have proven themselves more than the George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill and the Ninja Foodi grill line. Both of these have different price points, features, and benefits, but they both give you that charred grilled flavor in your home or outside on the deck. We’re comparing George Foreman Grill vs Ninja Grill to see which is the best.
Both of these brands have made several models, so we’ll be looking specifically at the Ninja Foodi Smart XL, Ninja Foodi original, George Foreman Grill Indoor Outdoor, and George Foreman 4-Serving Grill. This gives you different options depending on what price and features you’re looking for.
By the way, we recently did a comparison between Ninja Foodi Smart XL vs Ninja Foodi Pro vs Ninja Foodi. Consider checking it out.
| Ninja Foodi | Ninja Foodi Smart XL | George Foreman 4-Serving | George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill |
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Capacity
How many servings can you make with indoor grills? It all depends on which grill you choose as each one is very different. In general, we’ll say that while both of these give you a flat space for grilling veggies and meat, the Ninja grills are deeper while the George Foreman grills tend to be more shallow. That might matter with some recipes.
Let’s start with the Ninja grills for our Ninja Grill vs George Foreman Grill comparison. The original Ninja Foodi grill allows you to cook up to 4 servings at once. That means 4 burgers, steaks, or chicken breasts.
If that’s not enough for you, then consider the Ninja Foodi XL Smart Grill. It has 50% more capacity, so that means a total of 6 servings can be grilled simultaneously. That’s enough for a seriously hungry couple or the whole family.
Moving onto the George Foreman grills, it should be obvious how many servings you get with the George Foreman 4-Serving Grill. It’s roughly the same as the Ninja Foodi Grill. However, as we said, the George Foreman grills aren’t quite as deep, so the Ninja Grill will have an easier time with thicker pieces of veggies and meat.
The George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill though is the biggest of them all. This cooks between 12-15 servings at once, which is impressive for any electric grill like this. However, we do have to say that the servings seem a little skewed. The Indoor Outdoor George Foreman Grill doesn’t look that much bigger than the Ninja Foodi Smart XL, so we think they are talking about smaller servings.
In general, if you’re looking for a smaller grill, then it’s Ninja Foodi vs George Foreman 4-Serving Grill. If you need a larger grill, then consider Ninja Foodi Smart XL vs George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill.
Ninja Grill vs George Foreman Grill: Cooking Options
While the capacity section was pretty close, there’s a big difference here with George Foreman Grill vs Ninja Grill in terms of design philosophy.
Ninja Foodi grills are packed with features. The original Ninja Foodi can grill, air fry, roast, dehydrate, and bake. To help with this, it comes with a grill grate, 4qt crisper basket, and 6qt cooking pot. It might be billed as a grill, but it does so much more than that.
The Ninja Smart XL Foodi comes with even more. Aside from all the features above, it can also broil and has the Smart Cook System. If you’re tired of your meals coming out overdone or underdone, then this was practically made for you. There are 4 protein settings (beef, chicken, fish pork) and 9 doneness levels (rare, medium, well, etc). Simply choose the right settings, insert the connected temperature probe, and your meal will be perfect.
That’s a lot of features, how do the George Foreman grills fare in this comparison? Well, they’re straightforward, but the list of features is significantly shorter.
The George Foreman 4-Serving Grill has an indicator light that shows you when the grill is up to temperature. It turns on immediately when you plug it in (there isn’t a power button) and it should only take a few minutes to preheat. It also has removable grill grates for easy cleaning along with a drip tray to collect grease.
The George Foreman Outdoor Indoor Grill also has a removable grill grate and drip tray, but it comes with a few more features. It has adjustable temperature, a domed lid, and a grill stand for better outdoor cooking.
If you love having more features and versatile kitchen appliances, then Ninja Foodi Grills win by a mile. However, if you prefer something a little more straightforward and simple, then the winner in our George Foreman vs Ninja Foodi grill contest would be George Foreman.
George Foreman Grill vs Ninja Grill: Indoor and Outdoor Cooking
All of these are indoor grills, so we’re going to briefly mention how stable they are and how suitable they are for sitting on your counter. We’re then going to see if any of these can also be used as outdoor grills during warmer weather.
The original Ninja Foodi has a wide, stable base that makes it ideal for sitting on counters and other flat surfaces. The Smart XL from Ninja has durable legs and it’s just as sturdy. The George Foreman 4-Serving is mostly flat, it’s somewhat at an angle for easy grease removal, but it’s still quite sturdy and secure. Lastly, the George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill is curved at the bottom and ends at four very thick legs.
The best thing about all four indoor grills is that they are virtually smoke free. This makes them ideal for apartments and rented spaces. Even if you don’t have to worry about a landlord, who wants smoke in their eyes?
Honestly, there’s really no difference when it comes to indoor cooking. I would say that the George Indoor Outdoor Grill is a little tough to fit on regular countertops while the George Foreman 4-Serving is probably the easiest because it’s the most compact (both Foodi grills are right in the middle), they all perform great with indoor grilling.
However, how do they fare with outdoor grilling? All of them must be plugged in, so they aren’t going to be as portable as a gas or charcoal grill, but that goes without saying.
I would be worried about grill outdoors with the George Foreman 4-Serving Grill. It’s weaker than the other grills. It could probably cook well on a good day, but if it’s cool and windy, then I can’t imagine that would do well.
Both the Ninja Foodi and Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grills are strong, have a durable lid, and have high temperatures. While you’ll need to place it on a table to make it accessible, these grills should be fine for outdoor cooking.
The George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill is the best for outdoor cooking. It has a domed cover that is ideal for keeping away wind and cold from interfering with your cooking. It also has its own cooking base that takes seconds to assemble. Instead of needing to find a table to rest the grill on, like with the Foodi grills, you can set this on its own base.
Power and Temperature
Power and temperature are everything when grilling. Why use a grill instead of a regular fry pan? Because you want those tasty grill marks. While propane and charcoal grills obviously get hot enough, how do these electric indoor grills fare?
Both Ninja Foodi models have a high power rating of 1760W and reach a maximum of 500 F degrees. That makes them ideal for grilling just about anything. From steaks and burgers to more delicate meats like chicken and fish, you’ll have no problem. Plus, it’s easy to adjust the temperature as needed.
While both Ninja Foodi grills are consistent, there is a massive difference between the George Foreman grills. The George Foreman 4-Serving has a power rating of 1000W. While they don’t specifically state their temperature (remember, the grill is only on or off), it seems to be around the 400F degree area. This allows it to efficiently cook meat and get a good char, but not to the same degree as the Foodi grills.
Next up is the George Foreman Grill Indoor Outdoor. While this does have adjustable temperature, it’s like a stovetop where it uses a number indicator but not a temperature indicator that ranges from 1-5. It seems to reach around the 450F degree area and is around 1500W of power.
Overall, when it comes to Ninja Grill vs George Foreman Grill, the Ninja Foodis are stronger and reach higher temperatures. But, while they are stronger, the George Foreman models are good as well. Both brands will cook delicious meat, but Ninja is the winner here.
Which Electric Grill is Best?
Ninja Foodi
- Ninja Foodi vs Ninja Foodi Smart XL: costs less, similar power/temp, compact design
- Ninja Foodi vs George Foreman 4-Serving: stronger, more accessories, more cooking features
- Ninja Foodi vs George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill: more accessories, more cooking features
Ninja Food Smart XL
- Ninja Foodi Smart XL vs Ninja Foodi: more capacity, more features, smart cooking features
- Ninja Foodi Smart XL vs George Foreman 4-Serving: stronger, more capacity, more features, smart cooking features, more accessories
- Ninja Foodi Smart XL vs George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill: more accessories, more cooking features
George Foreman 4-Serving
- George Foreman 4-Serving vs Ninja Foodi: significantly more affordable, similar capacity
- George Foreman 4-Serving vs Ninja Foodi Smart XL: significantly more affordable
- George Foreman 4-Serving vs George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill: more affordable, compact design is good for countertops
George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill
- George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill vs Ninja Foodi: more capacity, better for outdoor grilling
- George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill vs Ninja Foodi Smart XL: somewhat more capacity, better for outdoor grilling
- George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill vs George Foreman 4-Serving: more capacity, better for outdoor grilling, more features, hotter cooking
| Ninja Foodi | Ninja Foodi Smart XL | George Foreman 4-Serving | George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill |
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Final Thoughts
So, who wins when it comes to George Foreman Grill vs Ninja Grill? It comes down to what you’re looking for. If price is your main consideration, then both George Foreman models are more affordable than the Ninja Foodi grills. If features and versatility are your main concern, then Ninja Foodi is significantly better.
Let us know which indoor grill is best for your needs.