Ninja DG551 vs FG551: Which Is Better? (October 2026)

On this page (12 sections)

1. Ninja DG551 vs FG551: what actually changes?
2. Which model fits your counter and storage space?
3. How much food can you cook at once?
4. Who should buy the DG551, and who should skip it?
5. Who should buy the FG551, and who should skip it?
6. How useful is the Smart Cook thermometer?
7. How should you set up either grill for the first meal?
8. What are the most common cooking mistakes?
9. How much smoke and ventilation should you expect?
10. Which is easier to clean and care for?
11. When does the EG201 make more sense?
12. Ninja DG551 vs FG551: which should you choose?

In the Ninja DG551 vs FG551 choice, buy the DG551 when counter depth and width are tight, or the FG551 when shorter storage height matters more. Their core cooking tools overlap, so neither earns the decision through extra cooking modes.

Both suit households that want indoor grilling and air frying in one appliance. Your best choice depends on where the grill will sit, how often you'll move it and how you cook a full meal.

Ninja DG551 vs FG551: what actually changes?

The body size, weight and exterior design are the clearest differences. The DG551 has an updated design, but that alone is no reason to expect better browning, faster meals or easier cleanup.

Both offer Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil and Dehydrate. Their Smart Cook Systems pair a thermometer with 4 protein settings and 9 doneness levels.

Ninja describes both as using 500°F cyclonic air for grilling. That shared approach gives you a heated grate and circulating hot air, rather than an open flame.

You'll get grill marks and browned surfaces, but you shouldn't buy either expecting the smoke flavor of burning charcoal. Seasoning, surface dryness and enough room around the food matter more than the newer exterior.

DG551 vs FG551: should you replace a working grill?

Keep a working FG551 if its size suits your kitchen and it already handles your meals. The DG551's updated exterior does not add a cooking function or expand the stated grill capacity.

Replacing it makes more sense if the different body dimensions solve a real placement problem. For a first purchase, compare your available space before choosing by model generation.

For a wider view of the range, read Ninja indoor grill models explained.

Which model fits your counter and storage space?

The DG551 takes less depth and width, while the FG551 is shorter and lighter. Measure the cooking spot and storage spot separately because they have different requirements.

The DG551 measures 15.7 x 11.1 x 16 inches, and the FG551 measures 18.74 x 17.95 x 14.45 inches, in depth, width and height. Those are appliance dimensions, not the full space needed for safe operation.

Use the manual's clearance requirements around and above the grill. A cabinet opening that accepts the closed appliance may still be unsuitable for cooking beneath it.

Leave space to lift the lid, reach the controls and move hot food to a plate. You also need a nearby heat-safe landing area for accessories after cooking.

The DG551 weighs 25 pounds, compared with 22.4 pounds for the FG551. Neither is a casual one-handed lift, especially if your storage shelf is low or deep.

For daily use, a permanent counter spot is easier than moving the grill after every meal. If you must store it, check the whole route, including cabinet doors and anything you'll need to move first.

Our guide to indoor grills for small spaces covers useful access checks. Apartment cooks should also read what to check before choosing an indoor grill.

How much food can you cook at once?

Both Smart XL models offer the same stated grill capacity: up to 6 steaks or 24 hot dogs. Those counts describe a possible load, not a promise that every set of thick steaks will fit comfortably.

Each includes a 9 x 12-inch grill grate, a 4-quart crisper basket and a 4-quart cooking pot. You aren't gaining a larger grilling surface by choosing the DG551.

For meal planning, think about the shape and thickness of your usual food. Wide burgers, bone-in cuts and long vegetables compete for surface space differently.

Leave gaps so hot air can circulate and you can turn pieces without stacking them. A packed grate makes it harder to manage food that finishes at different times.

The basket's volume also differs from usable crisping space. A deep pile of fries can need shaking or several batches even when everything fits inside.

For a family meal, decide which food needs the grill most and prepare the rest elsewhere. Treat the grill and basket as separate cooking setups rather than expecting full grilling and air-frying capacity at the same time.

Who should buy the DG551, and who should skip it?

Choose the DG551 for a narrower permanent cooking spot that still provides the required operating clearance. It makes sense when saving horizontal space helps you keep an indoor grill ready to use.

Its updated design may also appeal if the appliance will stay visible on your counter. Treat that as a preference, rather than a cooking upgrade.

Skip it if your storage opening is too short or you expect to carry the grill in and out for every meal. Its weight makes awkward storage a problem worth solving before buying.

The DG551 also isn't the answer if your current Smart XL feels too small. Its matching grate and basket sizes won't remove the need for batches.

Read the Ninja Foodi Smart XL DG551 review if this is the body shape that fits your kitchen.

Who should buy the FG551, and who should skip it?

Choose the FG551 when you have a broad counter and a shorter storage opening. Its lower weight also helps if occasional moving is unavoidable, though it remains a substantial appliance.

It suits buyers who want thermometer-guided grilling without needing the DG551's newer exterior. The shared cooking setup gives you a sound reason to choose whichever body works better in your kitchen.

Skip the FG551 if its depth pushes your prep area too close to the counter edge. Losing the space needed for a cutting board or serving plate can make a large appliance frustrating to use.

It's also a poor fit for a cupboard that requires twisting or lifting around obstacles. Check storage access with the same care as the cooking location.

The FG551 grill review gives a closer look at this model's features and tradeoffs.

How useful is the Smart Cook thermometer?

The thermometer is most useful for thicker proteins, where surface color cannot tell you how the center is cooking. Both models offer the same preset counts, so this feature doesn't favor either grill.

Place the probe as directed in the manual, with its sensing area in the thickest part of the food. Avoid bone and large pockets of fat because a poor position can give a misleading reading.

For a thin piece, side entry may help reach the center if the manual allows it. Check the probe's position again after turning the food.

A probe reading represents the piece holding it, not every item on the grate. If your steaks or chicken pieces vary in thickness, check them individually and remove each when ready.

Use food-safe internal temperature guidance for the protein you're cooking. A preferred doneness setting should not replace that check, especially for poultry and ground meat.

Follow the program's removal and resting instructions too. Leaving food on a hot grate while you finish the rest of dinner can push it beyond your target.

How should you set up either grill for the first meal?

Start with a safe cooking position and the right accessory for the mode. Wash the removable food-contact parts as directed, dry them and assemble the grill according to its manual.

Use a stable, heat-safe surface and a suitable outlet. Keep the cord away from hot surfaces, and follow the model's electrical guidance rather than assuming an extension cord is suitable.

Choose a simple first meal with pieces of similar thickness. That makes it easier to learn the controls, probe placement and amount of food that fits without crowding.

Preheat as directed before adding food for grilling. Loading a cold grate changes the browning process and can make a recipe's timing less useful.

Pat food dry where appropriate and use oil according to the cooking instructions. Thick, wet marinades can drip, while sugary sauces can darken before the center is done.

Keep the lid closed when the recipe or program calls for it. Repeated opening releases heat and makes progress harder to judge.

For a fuller cooking sequence, see how to grill indoors.

What are the most common cooking mistakes?

The biggest mistakes are overcrowding, poor probe placement and expecting one timing rule to fit every food. Avoiding them is more useful than choosing a model solely because its exterior is newer.

Don't pack frozen food into a solid layer and expect even cooking. Separate pieces where possible, follow suitable directions and check the center before serving.

Ninja promotes the DG551's ability to cook some foods from frozen in under 25 minutes. That does not make every frozen cut suitable for the same program or cooking time.

Keep thick and thin pieces in separate groups when you can. Otherwise, have a clean plate ready so you can remove smaller pieces while larger ones continue cooking.

Don't add a heavy coat of sweet sauce at the start unless the recipe calls for it. Adding it later can help limit scorching while the food cooks through.

Finally, plan the order of the meal before preheating. If you grill a main and then air crisp a side, account for the main's resting time and safe holding needs.

How much smoke and ventilation should you expect?

Plan for ventilation with either grill. Indoor electric cooking can still create smoke and odors when fat, sauce or old residue gets hot.

The DG551 has a Smoke Control System that combines a temperature-controlled grate, splatter shield and cool-air zone with Ninja's recommended cooking practices. Smoke reduction still depends on how you cook and maintain the appliance.

Use your kitchen's ventilation and follow the manual's placement rules. Don't assume a closed lid makes it suitable for an enclosed shelf or a room without suitable airflow.

Clear grease and food residue between uses, especially after fatty meals. Leftover drips can become the source of smoke during the next preheat.

If indoor cooking odors are a major concern, read indoor grill ventilation basics before deciding where either model will live.

Which is easier to clean and care for?

Both support dishwasher cleaning, so choose around your cleanup routine rather than expecting the newer model to remove all handwork. The DG551's removable grate, crisper basket and cooking pot are dishwasher safe.

For the FG551, follow its manual's directions for each removable part. Keep the electrical base out of water and clean it only as directed.

Let hot parts cool before washing them. Remove loose residue, then soften stuck food with an approved soaking method instead of scraping hard at the coating.

Use utensils and cleaning tools that won't damage nonstick surfaces. Avoid metal scouring pads and harsh abrasives, even when a stubborn patch makes them tempting.

Check dishwasher space before making that your daily plan. A large grate and pot can displace the dishes from the meal, making careful handwashing more convenient on some nights.

The DG551 includes a cleaning brush and a 15-recipe book. Use the brush according to the care directions, and check the splatter shield and other areas identified in the manual.

Dry parts before reassembly or storage, and keep the thermometer clean according to its own instructions. Our Ninja Foodi grill cleaning guide explains a practical routine.

When does the EG201 make more sense?

Choose the EG201 if you prefer setting heat and time yourself and don't need the Smart Cook thermometer system. It offers the same six cooking modes with Low, Medium, High and Max grill settings.

Its 6-quart cooking pot is larger than the Smart XL models' pots, but its 10 x 10-inch grate has less cooking surface. More pot volume should not be confused with more room for steaks.

It retains a 4-quart crisper basket, so it also doesn't provide a larger air-crisp basket. Choose it for the pot and control style, not as a general capacity upgrade.

Skip the EG201 if integrated temperature guidance is the feature drawing you to the DG551 or FG551. A separate food thermometer can help you check doneness, but it won't provide the same integrated control experience.

Ninja DG551 vs FG551: which should you choose?

Choose the DG551 for horizontal space, the FG551 for shorter storage, and the EG201 for manual heat-and-time cooking with a larger pot. If both Smart XL models fit, their shared cooking tools make body shape and handling the useful tie-breakers.

Skip both Smart XL models if you can't provide safe operating clearance or a manageable storage route. Their cooking features won't make up for an appliance that's awkward to place and clean.

Before ordering, confirm the exact model and dimensions, then map out one normal dinner from prep through washing up. That check is more useful than choosing by the newer design alone.

If you're still deciding whether this appliance style suits your meals, use our indoor grill and air fryer combo guide to compare the wider category.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Ninja DG551 and FG551?

The main difference is the appliance body: the DG551 has an updated design with less depth and width, while the FG551 is shorter and lighter. Their core cooking functions, Smart Cook thermometer controls, main accessory sizes and stated grill capacity match, so kitchen fit is the clearest buying guide.

Do the DG551 and FG551 have the same cooking functions?

Yes, both grill, air crisp, roast, bake, broil and dehydrate, and both include a Smart Cook System with a thermometer. Choose between them based on placement and storage rather than the function count; neither adds a cooking mode that the other lacks.

Which Ninja Foodi model is smaller?

The DG551 needs less depth and width, while the FG551 needs less height. The DG551 measures 15.7 x 11.1 x 16 inches, compared with 18.74 x 17.95 x 14.45 inches for the FG551, in depth, width and height; allow additional operating clearance according to the manual.

Can you put Ninja Foodi grill parts in the dishwasher?

The DG551's removable grill grate, crisper basket and cooking pot are dishwasher safe. The FG551 also supports dishwasher cleaning, but check its manual for instructions for each part, and keep the appliance base out of water; let cooking parts cool before cleaning and avoid abrasive tools on coated surfaces.

Is the Ninja Foodi EG201 the same as the DG551?

No, the EG201 uses manual grill settings and does not include the DG551's Smart Cook thermometer system. It also has a larger cooking pot but a smaller grill surface, making it a different choice for cooks who value pot capacity and are comfortable checking doneness with a separate thermometer.