I Tested the Ultimate BBQ That Cooks Faster and Keeps Meat Extra Juicy!

IT’S summer time so that can only mean one thing – BBQs.

I’ve been loyal to the old coal BBQ for years but I’ve finally decided to embrace gas – all thanks to tech magic that adds something real special.

Food cooks fast – and it’s mega juicy too Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun It’s all thanks to the convention fan on the right And you can easily control the temperate too Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun

Ninja is no stranger to innovative cooking and kitchen products, whether that’s or blenders.

But in the space the company has managed to take things to a new level with the Ninja FlexFlame Gas BBQ & Outdoor Cooking System.

It’s gas but also has an electric element in the form of a convection fan.

I’ve been giving it a go to find out if it’s all worth the premium price tag.

Setting up

You can receive your BBQ delivery for free from Ninja directly in as quickly as two days.

The FlexFlame I have is the Green & Gold which I think looks super classy.

It’s a massive package and you’ll need two people to carry it and for at least one key part of the building process as well.

I find constructing big products like this a bit daunting but I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was.

You can follow the guide book or watch an official video on – I opted for the latter and it took me just under an hour.

For the most part I did it entirely solo but when adding the bulky top half onto the base I needed help from someone else as it’s very heavy.

The instructions were very clear, I didn’t make any mistakes that required a rethink, unlike some of the household items I’ve put together from Ikea over the years…

I’m instantly wowed by the porcelain-enamelled cast-iron grates and double-walled stainless steel hood which make it feel super study, premium… and ready to go.

It took me about an hour to build itCredit: Jamie Harris / The Sun

Get cooking

What’s great about the FlexFlame is it can cook in five different ways.

However, to get all of those you’ll need to buy the extra bundle.

You can do traditional grilling, woodfire smoking and MaxCrisp roasting with the standard FlexFlame product.

Extra accessories are needed to do flat-plate griddling and pizza making – if you love a pizza especially, it’s well worth paying a little bit more for.

The BBQ features a dial with a digital screen so you can set the exact temperature you want.

I found this extremely useful for getting my cooking just right, no more guessing for the best – if you want to know how long you should leave different meats, have a look through the guide in the box, it will tell you all you need to know.

The woodfire pellet box is also a game-changer, especially on things like steak. It worked a treat on a bit of Picanha, giving it a real bit of smokey flavour.

However, Ninja’s official pellets cost £15 a pop which is quite steep but there are plenty of cheaper alternatives around, just be sure to do thorough research on them.

The high-velocity convection fan essentially turns the BBQ into a powerful oven.

This provides the advantage of being able to control the temperature – and it’ll circulate the heat for consistency all over your food, not just on the bottom.

However, this does mean you’ll need to us an extension lead to give your BBQ a power supply.

And I should note the fan isn’t exactly quiet either, it’ll produce a slight humming sound.

The key advantage is that food will cook considerably faster, which is a real win when you have loads of guests.

These burgers worked a treat Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun The pizzas also come out beautifully Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun Base like a restaurant Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun

Eat up

I tried everything from burgers and sausages, to steaks, chicken and prawn skewers on the FlexFlame and they all come out beautifully.

I’ve never managed to pull off chicken so juicy while having that slightly blackened BBQ coating I absolutely love, until now.

The smokey flavour on the steaks were divine.

And the pizzas made on the stone were next level – if only you didn’t have to pay extra for the accessories.

Everything had a consistent warmth and cook to them that I’ve not seen on a BBQ before.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a premium BBQ that will last (with good care) and cooks a variety of food, look no further.

It costs £1,000 for the main BBQ package which is a big ask but this is a long-term investment for top quality.

And it also makes BBQs so, so easy. I could actually spend time with guests rather than standing over the BBQ the entire time.

I would recommend going for the 5-in-1 bundle for the pizza and griddle bits, as well as a cover and other useful accessories.

But at the time of writing, the 5-in-1 bundle option is on offer for £949 on Ninja’s website, down from £1,249. Even when it’s not on promotion I would recommend the extras for the full experience.

The need for an extension lead isn’t as annoying as you might think – I quickly overlooked this.

And the humming sound from the fan isn’t terribly annoying either.

This BBQ is a real crowd pleaser, especially with all the good weather ahead…

Ninja FlexFlame Gas BBQ & Outdoor Cooking System – available now for £999 at sharkninja.co.uk

Also available at Currys, John Lewis, AO.com and Argos.

All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.

Always do your own research before making any purchase.