Ninja DG551 Foodi Smart Air Fry
More flavor. Less smoke.
FOR LESS SMOKE, WE RECOMMEND USING OILS WITH A HIGH SMOKE POINT—LIKE CANOLA, COCONUT, AVOCADO, VEGETABLE, OR GRAPESEED OIL—INSTEAD OF OLIVE OIL.
If you choose to cook ingredients at a higher temperature than recommended or when using olive oil, it may result in more smoke and food having a burnt, acrid flavor.
Also, to help prevent grease from building up and causing smoke, clean the splatter shield after every use.
Preheat for better results
For best grilling results, preheat the Foodi Smart XL Grill before adding food. It will take approximately 10 minutes. Adding food before preheating is complete may lead to overcooking and smoking.
How to turn off Preheat
We do not recommend skipping preheating, as it will impact cooking results. However, if you would like to skip it, after selecting a function and pressing the START/STOP button (when the unit is then in preheat mode), press the skip button to cancel preheating.
QUICK START GUIDE
Get to know the control panel
- POWER: To turn the unit on and off, press the POWER button.
- COOKING FUNCTIONS: Air Crisp, Roast, Grill, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate.
- LEFT arrows: Use the up and down arrows to the left of the display to adjust the cook temperature or doneness when using the thermometer.
- RIGHT arrows: Use the up and down arrows to the right of the display to adjust the cook time or food type when using the thermometer.
- START/STOP button: Press to start cooking, or press while the unit is cooking to stop the current cook function.
- Skip button: Press the skip button after pressing START/STOP to skip preheat.
- THERMOMETER: Press to activate and program the thermometer on the left side of the unit.
- MANUAL setting: Switches the display screen so you can manually set the internal doneness when using the thermometer.
- PRESET setting: When the thermometer is inserted into a protein, this allows you to use the arrows to the right of the display to select the protein type.
How to place the thermometer
FOOD TYPE and PLACEMENT
- Steaks
- Pork chops
- Lamb chops
- Chicken breasts
- Burgers
- Tenderloins
- Fish fillets
- Insert the thermometer horizontally into the center of the thickest part of the meat.
- Make sure the tip of the thermometer is inserted straight into the center of the meat, not angled toward the bottom or top of it.
- Make sure the thermometer is close to (but not touching) the bone and away from any fat or gristle.
NOTE: The thickest part of the fillet may not be the center. It is important that the end of the thermometer hits the thickest part so desired results are achieved.
DO NOT use the thermometer with frozen protein or for cuts of meat 1 inch thick or thinner.
- Whole chicken
- Insert the thermometer horizontally into the thickest part of the breast, parallel to, but not touching, the bone.
- Make sure the tip reaches the center of the thickest part of the breast and doesn’t go all the way through the breast into the cavity.
Let’s start cooking
The Foodi® Smart Thermometer continues to monitor doneness throughout the cooking process, unlike traditional instant-read thermometers.
Set Up
- Remove the storage compartment on the left side of the unit.
- Unwind the cord and remove the thermometer
NOTE: Plug the thermometer into the jack under the cover on the left side of the unit.
Select Cook Function
- Press the desired cooking function (e.g., Grill).
- Use the left arrows to select the desired cook temperature (setting a time is not necessary when using the thermometer).
Program Thermometer
- Press the THERMOMETER button.
- Use the right arrows to choose the desired protein.
- Use the left arrows to choose the desired doneness.
Place Thermometer
- Wait until the unit is fully preheated before adding food.
- Insert the thermometer in the protein using the guide on the front page.
Add Food
- Once the unit has preheated, “ADD FOOD” will appear on the screen.
- Add food with thermometer grip(s) fully inside the unit, then close the hood over the cord(s) to begin cooking.
NOTE: DO NOT close the hood on the thermometer grip, as this will prop open the hood and create inaccurate readings.
Track Progress
- The progress bar at the top of the display will track doneness.
- Flashing doneness indicates progression to that doneness.
- When using Roast and Grill, the unit will beep and display FLIP. Flipping is optional, but recommended.
Carry-Over Cook & Rest
- The unit will beep and show “GET FOOD”, indicating it’s time to allow food to rest and carry-over cook on a plate for 3–5 minutes.
Carry-over cooking is when food retains heat and continues to cook after being removed from the source of heat.
Ninja Beef Doneness Guide
Perception of what a specific internal doneness looks like differs from person to person, even from restaurant to restaurant. This guide shows what to expect with each preset beef doneness level (we have provided a wide range of options so you can customize doneness to your liking).
NOTE: This guide is based on New York Strip Steak. Using different cuts and/or sizes of beef can alter the outcome. For cuts 2 inches or thicker (e.g., filet mignon), we recommend selecting the lower temperature setting within the desired doneness category (e.g., Rare 1 instead of Rare 2).
Did you know?
Meat keeps cooking when you remove it from the grill.
To prevent overcooking, the unit will beep right before your food reaches desired doneness, taking carry-over cooking into account.
Removing your food
Transfer the meat to a plate using silicone-tipped tongs with the thermometer still inserted.
WARNING: The Thermometer and grip will be hot.
Carry-over cooking & resting
Allow protein to carry-over cook and rest for 3–5 minutes. “REST” will appear, and the timer will count up.
To check the internal temperature of other pieces of protein, press and hold MANUAL. Then insert the thermometer into another piece of protein and check the display for the internal temperature reading.
NOTE: Skipping carry-over cooking and cutting into food right away may result in a rarer level of doneness.
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