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Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker (OG701) Review: Is It Worth It?
The apartment-friendly outdoor grill that smokes, air-fries and grills on 120V — no propane, no charcoal, real wood-fire flavor from a half-cup of pellets.
Quick answer: Yes — the Ninja Woodfire OG701 is worth it for the apartment, condo or small-yard cook who wants real wood-fire flavor without propane or charcoal. Electric, 7-in-1 versatility, and a half-cup of pellets makes chicken, salmon and vegetables taste properly outdoor-cooked. Not for BBQ purists — perfect for everyone else.
Illustrative image — see Amazon for the actual product.
Our verdict
Yes — the Ninja Woodfire OG701 is worth it for the apartment, condo or small-yard cook who wants real wood-fire flavor without propane or charcoal. Electric, 7-in-1 versatility, and a half-cup of pellets makes chicken, salmon and vegetables taste properly outdoor-cooked. Not for BBQ purists — perfect for everyone else.
The short version
The Ninja Woodfire OG701 is the outdoor grill for people who can't have a propane tank on their balcony. It's electric — plug it into a normal 120V outlet, and it grills, smokes, air-fries, bakes, roasts, dehydrates and broils. It runs on hardwood pellets (about a half-cup per session) purely for wood-fire flavor — not for cooking heat, which comes from the element — so you get real smoke on chicken, brisket, salmon or vegetables without needing a full pellet grill or a fire in the backyard. Not a replacement for a serious offset smoker for BBQ purists, but for renters, apartment dwellers, small yards and weeknight cooks who want wood-fired flavor on a Tuesday, it's genuinely transformative.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Electric — works on a normal 120V outlet, no propane or charcoal
- Real wood-fire flavor from ½-cup of hardwood pellets
- 7-in-1 — grill, smoke, air fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, broil
- Fits a 9lb brisket or 6 steaks — enough for a small dinner
- Compact enough for balconies, patios and small yards
- Easy cleanup — dishwasher-safe grease tray and grate
Cons
- Requires an outlet and electricity — no going off-grid
- Only takes Ninja-branded wood pellets
- Short power cord means an extension is usually needed
Why people love it
Load pellets and turn on
Add ½ cup of hardwood pellets to the pellet basket, plug into a 120V outlet, and select a cooking mode from the dial.
Cook with real wood smoke
The electric element heats to your set temperature while the pellets smolder — putting real wood-fire flavor onto whatever's on the grate.
Clean up dishwasher-safe
When you're done, the grill grate and grease tray come out and go in the dishwasher. No charcoal ash, no propane.
Who it's for
- Apartment and condo dwellers
- Renters who can't have propane on balconies
- Small-yard and townhouse owners
- Weeknight cooks who want smoke flavor fast
Is the Ninja Woodfire OG701 worth it — and who is it for?
The Woodfire OG701 solves a specific problem: outdoor wood-smoked cooking without propane, charcoal, a huge yard or a Traeger-level investment. That's a big audience — anyone in an apartment, a condo, a rental, a townhouse with a small patio, or a small yard where a full-size grill is overkill. For those cooks, the traditional options were terrible: an indoor grill pan (no smoke, no outdoor experience), a portable propane grill (no wood flavor, plus propane tank storage), or a stovetop smoker (limited food capacity, indoor smoke smell). The Woodfire delivers real wood-fire flavor at 120V, on a balcony, with a half-cup of pellets.
The trade-off is that it's not a BBQ purist's tool. Serious low-and-slow smoking of a 12-hour brisket produces deeper bark, more visible smoke ring and more pronounced smoke flavor on a Traeger or a dedicated stick burner. The Ninja gives you an authentic wood-fire note on chicken thighs, salmon, ribs, vegetables and weeknight cooks — plenty of smoke for most people's palate, not enough to satisfy a competition BBQ cook. Set that expectation, and the OG701 becomes one of the most-used grills in a small-space kitchen. Combine it with an indoor multi-cooker like the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker for a small kitchen that can genuinely do it all.
Ninja Woodfire OG701 vs OG301 vs OG501 — which model should you buy?
Ninja makes several Woodfire models, and picking is straightforward once you know the axes. The OG701 (this review) is the flagship: 7-in-1 modes, larger cook chamber, includes dehydrate and roast. It's the pick for households that want maximum versatility and can commit to storage space for a slightly larger unit. The OG301 is the original and simpler: grill, air fry, smoke — the three core modes — in a smaller footprint. It's the pick if space is very tight or you specifically don't want bake/dehydrate/roast/broil.
The OG501 sits in the middle — most of the OG701 features in a slightly smaller size. For most buyers, either OG701 (if you have the space and want everything) or OG301 (if the three-mode simplicity is all you need) is the right call. Skip the OG501 unless you find a specific deal on it — the OG701's extra modes are useful and the price gap between 501 and 701 is often small. And factor in the accessories: an outdoor cover for weatherproofing is essential; a wire brush for the grate is worth the small extra.
Getting the most out of your Ninja Woodfire — techniques and recipes
The Woodfire cooks differently from other outdoor grills, so the first few cooks are learning curve. Preheat fully before adding food (about 8 minutes) — cold cooks lose their smoke early because pellets need heat to start smoldering. Use the woodfire flavor button in combination with air-fry, roast or bake to get smoke integration on any cooking mode, not just 'smoke' proper. For smoking (low-and-slow), the Woodfire tops out around 275°F, so plan for cooks that finish faster than a traditional 225°F smoker — a small brisket in 6-7 hours instead of 12.
On food selection: chicken thighs, salmon, ribs, pork tenderloin, sausages and vegetables all take beautifully to the Woodfire and are the sweet spot. Whole chickens do well in roast mode. Air-fried wings with smoke flavor are a signature Woodfire dish — better than an indoor air fryer for taste, easier than traditional wing smoking. Steaks work but the grill marks aren't as aggressive as a charcoal or high-heat propane grill; sear on high, finish with smoke. And don't forget vegetables: pellets impart great flavor to grilled zucchini, corn, peppers and pineapple. Save the outdoor grill for the pizza-oven-style side dishes and cook the main protein indoors when time is tight — that's how many owners rotate use to keep the Woodfire's novelty from wearing off, especially in winter.
See Ninja Woodfire Grill on Amazon
Check the latest price, photos and buyer reviews on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Sold and shipped by AmazonFrequently asked questions
Does the Ninja Woodfire grill actually taste like wood-fired BBQ?
Yes for chicken, salmon, ribs, vegetables and weeknight cooks — noticeable wood-smoke flavor from a half-cup of pellets. For BBQ purists doing 12-hour brisket cooks, it's less convincing — you get a real smoke flavor but not the deep bark and pink smoke ring of a competition-level offset smoker. Think of it this way: it's better than any propane grill for flavor, better than any indoor cooker for outdoor authenticity, and 90% of the way to a dedicated pellet grill for weeknight food. Not the pick for BBQ competition. Perfect for 'I want smoke on my chicken thighs on a Tuesday.'
Is the Ninja Woodfire OG701 apartment-friendly and safe for a balcony?
Yes, and it's arguably the standout use case. Because it's electric (120V) with pellets used only for flavor (not for cooking heat), there's no propane tank, no charcoal, and much less smoke than a traditional grill. Many apartment buildings prohibit propane and charcoal on balconies but allow electric grilling. Always check your building's rules and your local codes, especially fire codes about combustible surfaces, and use the grill on a stable, non-combustible surface with clear overhead space. For most apartments where a Weber propane wouldn't be allowed, the Woodfire is.
Ninja Woodfire OG701 vs Weber propane grill vs Traeger pellet grill — which should I buy?
Three different tools. A Weber propane kettle is the classic hot-and-fast grill for burgers, hot dogs and steaks — best flavor from charcoal, easy to use, needs propane tanks or charcoal. A Traeger pellet grill is a dedicated smoker — best-in-class smoke flavor and set-and-forget cooking, but big, expensive and outdoor-only. The Ninja Woodfire is the compact 'do a bit of everything with real smoke flavor' pick — electric, portable, 7-in-1 versatility. Buy Weber if you're a backyard-BBQ traditionalist. Buy Traeger if you're serious about smoking. Buy Ninja Woodfire if you want a compact, apartment-friendly grill that also smokes and air-fries.
How much do the Ninja wood pellets cost, and can I use other brands?
Ninja pellets are around $15 per bag, and each cook uses about a half-cup, so a bag lasts many months. Officially, only Ninja-branded pellets are supported — the pellet basket is sized specifically for their pellet dimensions and moisture content, and using other brands can cause inconsistent smoke and possibly void your warranty. In practice, some users have reported success with other brands' pellets, but the safest and most consistent path is Ninja pellets. Flavors include Robust Woodfire (all-purpose blend), Apple, and Hickory.
Can the Ninja Woodfire replace an indoor air fryer or oven?
For outdoor cooking on a balcony or patio, yes — the air-fry mode works well for wings, vegetables, potatoes and other typical air-fryer foods, with the bonus of light wood smoke flavor. The bake and roast modes handle whole chickens, small briskets and vegetables. That said, it's not designed as your indoor kitchen replacement. It's an outdoor unit (waterproof cover recommended for outdoor storage), and using it means going outside, which for a quick weeknight air-fried side is less convenient than a countertop fryer. Keep an indoor air fryer for weekday convenience, use the Ninja Woodfire for outdoor cooks.
Is the Ninja Woodfire OG701 hard to clean?
Easier than a traditional grill. The main grill grate and the grease/water tray both come out and go in the dishwasher. The pellet basket needs occasional cleanout of ash residue (a small amount per cook — nothing like the ash from a charcoal grill). The heating element and interior can be wiped down with a damp cloth. The one caveat is grease buildup on the interior over time — every few cooks, wipe out grease drippings that don't reach the tray. Overall, cleanup is 5-10 minutes vs 30+ minutes for a charcoal grill.
As an Amazon Associate, TopCrate earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The image above is illustrative; price, availability and current ratings are shown on Amazon and are subject to change.
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