Ninja EG201 Foodi 6-in-1 Indoor Grill (2nd Gen) with Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil & Dehydrate
Product description
Key takeaways
If you want grill flavor without the weather, the Ninja EG201 Foodi Indoor Grill is built for that “countertop grill” role. It combines six cooking modes—Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil, and Dehydrate—so you can handle everything from char-grilled marks to air-fry style crisping in one appliance.
That cyclonic airflow is the heart of the pitch: the unit uses 500°F cyclonic air to cook and crisp on the grill grate, aiming for doneness with the kind of sear you’d expect from a grill. The model also leans into practical convenience with a dishwasher-safe design and a smoke control system designed to keep splatter and smoke down.
One limitation to keep in mind: “up to 75% less fat” is based on testing versus deep-frying (hand-cut, deep-fried French fries), so it’s not a universal promise for every food. Still, if your goal is crisping with less oil than deep frying, it’s a compelling direction.
The essentials
This is the type of indoor grill that’s meant to replace multiple countertop cooking steps. In the air crisp mode, it works with an included 4-qt. crisper basket for crisping, on the grilling grate, it’s designed to char-grill and leave those browned grill marks.
The cooking approach centers on speed and control: the description calls out transforming frozen foods into properly char-grilled results in under 25 minutes. In real day-to-day terms, that means you can skip the “thaw first” routine when you’re running behind—think grabbing frozen chicken pieces or frozen snacks from the freezer, getting them on the grate, and moving toward a finished meal without waiting for defrosting.
And if you’re tired of smoke taking over your kitchen, the included smoke control system (temperature-controlled grill grate, splatter shield, and a cool-air zone) is specifically meant to reduce smoke and keep it out of the kitchen as much as possible.
What stands out day to day
There are two things you’ll likely notice most, based on how this unit is designed.
First, it’s positioned to deliver true grilling flavor on the countertop. The “BTU power of a full sized grill” claim signals that Ninja is trying to keep the indoor results closer to outdoor grilling than a basic indoor panini-style device.
Second, it’s trying to make cleanup and routine easier. The unit is described as dishwasher safe, which matters when you’re using it frequently (not just occasionally).
Where it may not feel perfect: no matter how good a smoke control system is, any indoor high-heat grilling can still create some smells or residue. The goal here is reduction, not zero.
Tech overview
Specifications
- Type: Indoor grill with multi-function cooking modes
- Cooking modes: Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate
- Temperature/cooking method: 500°F cyclonic air for grilling/cooking
- Air fry claim: Up to 75% less fat vs deep frying (tested against hand-cut deep-fried French fries)
- Included accessory: 4-qt. crisper basket
- Frozen to char-grilled: Under 25 minutes (per product description)
- Smoke control: Temperature-controlled grill grate, splatter shield, and cool-air zone
- Finish: Black/Silver
- Cleanup: Dishwasher safe (as stated)
Who it’s for (and who should skip it)
This makes sense if you want one countertop appliance that can grill, crisp, and handle oven-style tasks—especially if you care about char-grilled marks and faster cooking from frozen.
It may not suit you if you only need basic air frying, or if you prefer cooking methods that stay far from grilling smoke and grease by design. Also, if you’re expecting a truly “set-and-forget” grilling experience every time (like a sealed air-fryer environment), note that this is still a grill-first setup, so cooking behavior will differ from a fryer-only appliance.
Best purchase checks before you buy
Before committing, it’s worth thinking about how you’ll use the six modes. If your week includes a mix of grilling (steaks, burgers, veggies), air-crisping (crispy sides), and oven-like cooking (roast/bake), the EG201’s feature set is the point.
If you mainly cook one type of food and don’t care about grill marks, the multi-function concept can be more appliance than you need. Also, because the description mentions freezer-to-grill performance and smoke control practices, it’s a good idea to review your typical foods and whether you’ll actually benefit from those workflows.
When it makes sense?
Buy the Ninja EG201 if you want indoor grill flavor with air-fry style crisping, you cook often enough to justify a dedicated appliance, and you care about reducing smoke and simplifying cleanup. The six modes and cyclonic grilling approach are built for variety—grill when you want char, air crisp when you want crunch.
Skip it if you’re mainly buying for simple, low-mess air frying, or if you’re trying to avoid the sensory side of grilling (smell, splatter risk). It’s more of a countertop grill with air-fry capability than a substitute for every cooking situation.
Mini FAQ
Questions
1) What cooking functions does the EG201 include?
It includes Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil, and Dehydrate.
2) Can it cook food from frozen?
The product description says it can transform foods from frozen to perfectly char-grilled in under 25 minutes.
3) What’s the difference between Air Crisp and Grill here?
Air Crisp is designed for crisping (using the included 4-qt. crisper basket), while Grill is designed to cook on the grill grate for char-grilled marks.
4) Does it reduce smoke?
Yes. The description mentions a smoke control system using a temperature-controlled grill grate, a splatter shield, and a cool-air zone to reduce smoke.
5) Is it easy to clean?
The unit is described as dishwasher safe.