What is a power XL grill?
A power XL grill is a large, high-powered electric indoor grill made by Ninja Foodi. It has a large cooking surface that can accommodate multiple burgers or steaks at once. Some key features of the Ninja Foodi power XL grill include:
- 1500 watts of power for fast, even heating
- 10-quart nonstick grill plate
- Temperatures range from 105°F to 500°F
- 4-quart air fryer basket
- 6 cooking modes: grill, air crisp, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate
So in summary, the power XL is a versatile electric grill that can not only grill, but also air fry, bake, roast, broil and more. The large cooking surface and high wattage allow it to heat up quickly and cook efficiently.
Can you bake in a power XL grill?
Yes, you can absolutely bake in a Ninja Foodi power XL grill! Here are some key points on using it for baking:
- The power XL grill has a specific “bake” mode that is ideal for baking. It circulates hot air evenly around food for uniform baking.
- You can bake a variety of foods including cakes, brownies, cookies, breads, pizza, casseroles, roasted vegetables, and more.
- For baked goods, you’ll want to preheat the grill first before adding your batter or dough. Preheat at 350°F for 5-10 minutes.
- Use parchment paper or silicone liners on the grill plate for easy release of baked goods.
- The grill’s temperature range allows you to do high temperature baking up to 500°F. Great for pizza, foccacia, puff pastry, etc.
- You can also do layered bakes in a cake pan or casserole dish. The circulating air will evenly bake the top and bottom.
- Monitor your bake time and adjust temperature if needed. The conductive grill plate can bake faster than a traditional oven.
- Use an oven-safe meat thermometer to ensure meats are fully cooked to a safe internal temperature.
Tips for successful baking in the power XL grill
Follow these tips to get the best baking results when using your power XL grill:
- Preheat properly – Preheat your grill for at least 5-10 minutes at your target baking temperature before adding food.
- Use liners – Parchment paper, silicone baking mats, and aluminum foil help prevent sticking.
- Adjust bake time – Bake times may be a little shorter than what recipes state for oven baking. Keep an eye on doneness.
- Rotate pans – Rotate baking pans and trays halfway through for even baking.
- Watch the top – Brush a bit of oil or butter on top of breads, muffins, etc if browning too quickly.
- Use thermometers – An oven safe probe thermometer helps ensure meats are cooked to proper temps.
- Allow steam release – Before removing lid, carefully allow steam to release to avoid condensation drips.
- Adjust racks – Adjust rack positions to bring food closer to or farther from heating element as needed.
Guidelines for common baked goods
Use these general guidelines when adapting traditional oven recipes for baking in the power XL grill:
Cakes
- Pan size – Use 8 or 9-inch round pans. Anything larger may not fit.
- Temperature – Bake at ~350°F. Check doneness early.
- Time – Bake times range 20-35 minutes. Test doneness with a toothpick.
- Position – Place pan in center of grill plate for even browning.
Cookies
- Pan size – Use large baking sheets. Avoid overcrowding.
- Temperature – Bake at ~350-375°F for soft cookies.
- Time – Bake 7-12 minutes. Thinner cookies bake faster.
- Sheet placement – Place sheets directly on grill plate.
Breads and Pizza
- Temperature – Bake artisan breads at 400-450°F. Pizza at 400-500°F.
- Time – Breads take 20-35 minutes, pizza 12-18 minutes.
- Placement – Use shallow rimmed baking sheets. Place directly on grill.
- Steam – Add a baking pan with water below pizza/bread for extra moisture and rise.
Meats and Vegetables
- Temperature – Roast meats at 350-375°F, veggies at 375-400°F.
- Time – Roast meats and veggies until desired doneness is reached.
- Placement – Place proteins and vegetables directly on grill plate.
- Protection – Line plate with foil and add a bit of water or broth for braising-like results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pans work best for baking in the power XL grill?
Good pans for baking include metal cake pans, muffin tins, loaf pans, pizza stones, rimmed baking sheets, oven-safe casserole dishes, and metal pie pans. Avoid glass and stoneware as they retain heat.
Can you make a cake completely from scratch in the power XL grill?
Yes, you can mix, bake, and frost a cake made completely from scratch in the power XL grill. Just follow your normal cake recipe, preheat the grill well, and monitor bake times closely. Cool completely before assembling and frosting.
What about baking delicate items like soufflés or custards?
Soufflés, flans, and delicate custards may be tricky in the power XL grill since opening the lid frequently lets out hot air. They may work best baked in oven safe ramekins placed in a rimmed pan filled with water for gentle, indirect heating.
How does baking in the power XL compare to a regular oven?
Baking in the power XL grill is faster and crisper due to the conductive heating of the metal grill plates. You may need to lower temperatures, shorten bake times, and watch closely until you get the hang of it. In general, expect faster, crisper results than a standard oven.
What about baking for a crowd or batch cooking?
The large interior and grill plate of the power XL accommodates baking for a crowd. Make multiple pans of baked goods at once. For big batch baking, you may need to extend cook times slightly but can still bake up to 8 dozen cookies or a few loaves of bread in one go.
Conclusion
The Ninja Foodi power XL grill is an extremely versatile appliance that excels at not just grilling, but baking too. With some practice using the bake mode and keeping an eye on doneness, you can successfully prepare all kinds of baked goods from cookies, cakes and breads to casseroles, roasted veggies and more. The power XL makes baking for a crowd easy. Follow recipe guidelines for adapted bake times and temperatures and enjoy freshly baked goods with the convenience of an indoor grill.