When it comes to using a Ninja grill, one of the most common questions is whether you need to use oil or not. The short answer is that it depends on what you are cooking. While the Ninja grill’s unique design allows for mostly oil-free cooking, using at least a small amount of oil can help certain foods cook more evenly and prevent sticking.
What is a Ninja Grill?
The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill is an indoor electric grill that uses a combination of heat and fan circulation to cook food quickly and evenly. It has a large grilling surface with a ridged grill plate design that leaves grill marks on foods. The Ninja grill reaches temperatures up to 500°F, allowing it to sear foods and replicate an outdoor grilling experience indoors.
Some key features of the Ninja grill include:
- Large grilling surface with ridges
- Cyclonic grilling technology with 500°F max temperature
- Integrated thermometer
- Fan speeds and temperature controls
- Ability to air crisp foods
- Nonstick, removable grill grate
Do You Need Oil for the Ninja Grill?
The Ninja grill is designed to allow for oil-free cooking in most cases. The combination of the heated grill plate ridges and circulating fan allows food to cook evenly without sticking. The nonstick grill grate also makes flipping and removing foods easier without oil.
However, there are some instances where using a small amount of oil can be beneficial when cooking on the Ninja grill:
- Prevent sticking – A light coating of oil can help prevent thin or delicate foods like fish, shrimp, and vegetables from sticking to the grill plate.
- Promote browning – Oil helps promote more even browning, especially on lean proteins like chicken breast.
- Add flavor – Oils and cooking sprays add flavor and allow you to more easily apply seasonings or marinades to foods.
- Moisture – Oil provides a bit of moisture to help prevent foods from drying out.
Recommendations for Using Oil on a Ninja Grill
Here are some tips on how and when to use oil with a Ninja grill:
- Use sparingly – Only a light coating is needed, no more than a teaspoon or two. Too much oil can lead to excess smoke and flare-ups.
- Try an oil mister – Using a mister allows you to evenly and lightly distribute oil without overdoing it.
- Use high smoke point oils – Refined avocado, grapeseed, peanut, or canola oils are best as they can withstand high heat.
- Avoid heavy oils – Thick, heavy oils like olive or sesame oil may cause more sticking and smoke.
- Apply oil to food, not grill – Directly coating the food rather than the grill helps prevent excess buildup.
- Focus on thinner proteins and veggies – Items like patties, chops, and vegetables benefit most from a light oiling.
- Let marinades do the work – Well-oiled marinades and pastes can eliminate the need for extra oil.
Meats
Lean meats like chicken breasts, pork chops, or fish fillets benefit from a small amount of oil to prevent sticking and promote browning. Use oil modestly on these proteins. Fattier meats like sausages, burgers, and steaks generally won’t need extra oil when grilling.
Vegetables
To avoid sticking, lightly coat vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, onions, bell peppers, and corn on the cob with oil before grilling. Heartier veggies like potatoes or mushrooms won’t need as much.
Breads and Baked Goods
When making grilled breads like pizza or flatbreads, a wipe of oil helps obtain a crisp exterior and prevents sticking. Baked goods like cakes or biscuits can benefit from a small brush of oil to promote browning.
Oil-Free Ninja Grill Cooking
While oil can be helpful for some Ninja grill recipes, it’s not a must. You can certainly cook many foods oil-free. Here are some tips for oil-free cooking:
- Use marinades and rubs – Let meat, poultry, or vegetables marinate in wet rubs, herbs, and acidic ingredients instead of oil.
- Coat with broth or sauce – Use a sauce, juice, or broth to provide moisture rather than oil when cooking.
- Trim fat from meats – Leave fat on steaks, chops, etc. to self-baste and cook evenly.
- Lay vegetables flat – Cut peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc. into planks rather than chunks to maximize surface contact.
- Flip halfway – Frequent turning helps food cook evenly without sticking.
- Keep temps lower – Cook at 400°F vs. 500°F to prevent sticking and drying out.
- Use foil – Lightly covering food with foil can mimic steam to reduce sticking.
With the right techniques, you can absolutely cook nearly any food on the Ninja grill without oil. It may just take some trial and error.
Oil Alternatives for the Ninja Grill
Aside from traditional cooking oils, there are some other alternatives you can use to prevent sticking and promote browning with the Ninja grill:
Broths and Sauces
Using small amounts of broth, juice, wine, or sauce in place of oil can provide moisture while cooking. Marinate meats in pineapple juice, chicken broth, barbecue sauce, etc. prior to grilling. Or quickly coat or mist vegetables with sauce or broth before cooking.
Water
Misting foods with water before grilling is an easy oil-free solution. The water creates steam to prevent sticking. Just be sure to pat off excess moisture so foods don’t boil vs. brown.
Mustard
Brushing foods with mustard before grilling adds flavor while helping items brown without burning. The small amount of fat in mustard also minimizes sticking. Opt for yellow mustard over Dijon to prevent burning.
Mayonnaise or Greek Yogurt
Smearing a thin layer of mayo or Greek yogurt on meats or vegetables gives browning properties similar to oil without heavy greasiness. The proteins and acids in these condiments help with charring.
| Oil Alternative | Benefits | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Broth or Sauce | Provides moisture, flavor | Marinades, misting meats and vegetables |
| Water | Creates steam, no added calories | Misting vegetables, some lean meats |
| Mustard | Browning, flavor, minimal added fat | Burgers, brats, chicken, vegetables |
| Mayo or Greek Yogurt | Browning, small amount of fat | Veggies, chicken, fish |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to grill without oil on the Ninja Foodi Grill?
Yes, it is completely safe to cook foods without oil on the Ninja grill. The unique grill plate and heating elements allow food to cook evenly without sticking. Oil is not required for safety or function.
Do you have to oil the Ninja grill grate?
No, you do not need to oil the Ninja grill grate itself. The removable grill grate has a durable nonstick coating that prevents food from sticking. Avoid spraying or brushing oil directly onto the grate.
What happens if you use too much oil on the Ninja grill?
Using excessive amounts of oil can lead to flare-ups, heavy smoke, and overly greasy food. It can also cause a buildup of burned, sticky residue on the grill grate over time. Use oil sparingly on the Ninja grill.
What is the healthiest oil to use for grilling?
Some of the healthier oils for grilling in moderation include avocado, grapeseed, rice bran, sunflower, and olive oils. They have beneficial fats and high smoke points. Avoid highly processed vegetable oils.
Can you use butter or margarine instead of oil on a Ninja grill?
It’s best to avoid cooking with butter, margarine, or spreads on the Ninja grill. These can burn easily and create more smoke and buildup on the grate. Stick to small amounts of high heat cooking oils.
Conclusion
While the unique design of the Ninja grill allows you to cook many foods oil-free, using a small amount of oil can be beneficial for preventing sticking, promoting browning, and adding flavor in some instances. Apply oil modestly by misting, brushing, or coating foods directly instead of heavily oiling the grill grate itself. And consider lower-fat oil alternatives like broths, water, mustard or yogurt. With the proper techniques, you can cook nearly any food on the Ninja grill with or without oil.