Ninja Sizzle Review

The Ninja Sizzle offers two different interchangeable cooking surfaces: One with grill texture that functions essentially as an indoor mini-grill, and another classic flat-top griddle plate. It has 223 square inches of cooking surface on both pieces and has a temperature range from 200 to 500 degrees, programmed by an intuitive dial. Both stainless steel plates feature excellent grease drainage and highly effective non-stick coating for easy cleanup and food release. Part of what makes this griddle stand out is its prowess at high-heat cooking, allowing it to easily sear a piece of meat. It's just at home cooking an omelet on medium heat, too. Add in the hinging lid to prevent messes, and this griddle becomes an everyday staple appliance.

Non-Stick Properties

The Ninja Sizzle grill and griddle plates are made from durable stainless steel coated with effective non-stick, which makes cooking and cleanup a breeze. Ninja does not note exactly what material the non-stick coating is made from in the product description, and while it's described as BPA-free, there is potential that it contains PFAS, Teflon, or other chemicals in the non-stick coating. All foods, including eggs and even melted cheese, slide around easily, and don't stick to the surface or cause stains.

The only time we experienced food sticking even slightly was during cooking on the upper limits of heat on the Sizzle, for temperatures higher than recommended for that particular food. It's important to hand-wash the grill and griddle plates only, rather than using the dishwasher, to maintain the integrity and durability of the non-stick coating. Throughout the testing period, the non-stick proved to be pretty scratch-proof, without any chips or scratches, and still works well after a couple of years of consistent use. If you do use additional oil, which typically isn't needed, we had the best luck with oils with a high smoke point, like avocado oil.

Heat Distribution

The Ninja Sizzle achieved the best consistency of heat of any electric griddle we tested, with consistent edge-to-edge cooking, minimal hot or cold spots, and reliable heat. It had a low deviation of temperature from the center to each corner. Using the lid can also help to trap in heat for cooking certain foods, like melting cheese on burger patties or cooking dumplings. For the griddle to function at its best, it's important to preheat for long enough to let the surface come up to temperature before you begin cooking.

We didn't really note any particular downsides or weak points with heat. We especially appreciated the easy-to-use dial that suggests an ideal temperature for different foods, although it would be handy to know when the griddle has finished pre-heating and has reached the desired temperature value — generally, you'll want to allow at least five minutes. It has a massive effective temperature range from 200 up to 500 degrees, the largest of any electric griddle we tested.

Grease Management

The Ninja Sizzle is constructed with a slight tilt to help direct excess drippings and oil into the grease channel without much extra effort. Both the grill and griddle plate have an identical grease channel on the bottom to help capture grease and direct it away from food while cooking. The grill plate has ridges running perpendicular to the grease trap, allowing for easy draining. The whole system is well-designed and works well with all kinds of foods.

We occasionally had slight issues with eggs or pancake batter accidentally spilling over into the grease channel if we weren't careful, or if we tried to pour batter on while the griddle pan was still pre-heating. We didn't encounter any foods greasy enough to completely fill up the channel, but a traditional grease trap may have a bit more volume for turning out large amounts of bacon or sausage.

Cooking Versatility

Versatility is the name of the game with the Ninja Sizzle. The smoke-proof lid allows you to have the ability to grill indoors. We cooked anything on this, with the only limitation being cooking with added liquid. From thick-cut New York steaks to chocolate chip pancakes, homemade naan bread to breakfast egg scrambles, the Sizzle will pleasantly surprise you with its versatility, reliability, and utility.

There's almost nothing that we wouldn't try and cook on this griddle. The only downside of the interchangeable pans is that they make the Sizzle bulky to store. With the lid, this capable griddle is much higher profile than some other countertop or stovetop options and requires thoughtful storage space.

At the upper limits of the temperature range, like when charring meat, we had a bit of smoke still come through the lid, though not enough to set off a smoke alarm.

Cleanup

We found the Ninja Sizzle relatively easy to clean, but it has lots of moving parts compared to simpler griddles. The grill and griddle pans are easy to remove and wash in the sink, but require gentle washing and cannot be put in the dishwasher. As far as electric griddles go, we found this model pretty straightforward to clean.

A slight challenge when it comes to cleaning the Sizzle is with the perforated lid. It collects a bit of splatter residue and requires some attention and upkeep to keep it clean. Unlike the griddle and grill pan, though, the removable lid can go in the dishwasher for a more thorough wash, and may not need to be cleaned after every single use. Overall, we felt like it was quite easy and reasonably fast to clean.

Should You Buy the Ninja Sizzle?

For most home cooks looking for maximum convenience, easy temperature control, and incredible versatility, there are very few options on the market better than the Ninja Sizzle. You can't achieve that perfect char on just any griddle, and few others match the temperature range, consistency, and ease of use. If you have budget constraints, there are certainly cheaper options out there, and it's also not the largest cooking space available. But for a wide variety of foods, we found ourselves looking to the Sizzle.

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