Ninja Foodi grills are one of the most popular types of grills. It is definitely taking the BBQ world by storm.
However, most people do not consider how to clean a Ninja Foodi grill before buying it. They often end up sifting through dozens and dozens of articles online to find cleaning instructions.
Luckily, you do not have to sift through tons of articles. However, before we discuss how to clean a Ninja Foodi grill, let’s discover what this grill is.
Contents
What Is a Ninja Foodi Grill?
The Ninja Foodi is an indoor kitchen appliance. Yes, I called this indoor grill a kitchen appliance because it is so much more than a grill.
The Ninja Foodi grill is a 5-in-1 appliance that is capable of achieving all your kitchen dreams.
You can grill foods on the grill grates or griddle. However, you can also dehydrate, bake, air fry, or roast foods in the ninja Foodi grill.
Can You Use Oven Cleaner on the Ninja Foodi Grill?
You may become so addicted to your Ninja foodie that you use it more than your oven or stove. However, you should never clean your Ninja Foodi grill with oven cleaner.
Oven cleaner can distort the plastic used to construct the Ninja Foodi grill. Therefore, it can destroy your Ninja Foodi grill.
Furthermore, do not use hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or any abrasive chemicals to clean your Ninja Foodi grill, as they can damage your grill.
Instead of oven cleaner, it’s best to use dish soap and a nylon brush. You can pour boiling water into the grill to help release the caked-on grime.
Alternatively, you could use 1 quart of water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda.
You can wipe the grill with a damp cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup of ammonia and 16 cups of water to remove grease from the Ninja Foodi grill.
How To Clean Ninja Foodi Grill
There are multiple ways to clean a Ninja Foodi grill. Depending on the state of the grill, you may need to use each of the methods mentioned below at different times to clean your indoor grill.
It doesn’t matter which cleaning method you use; there are some general cleaning rules you should use when cleaning your Ninja Foodi grill.
The first rule of cleaning your Ninja foodie grill is to read the instruction manual. The instruction manual gives you the necessary steps to clean your grill each time you use it.
Additionally, always unplug your Ninja Foodi from the wall before you start cleaning it.
Furthermore, do not submerge the Ninja Foodi grill in water or any other liquid. Do not place it into the dishwasher either.
Ninja Foodi grills contain electrical components which can lead to electric shock if submerged in water or washed in a dishwasher.
To clean your Ninja Foodie after using it, remove the cooking insert along with any removable parts such as the basket and reversible rack. Place the removable pieces into the cooking insert and place them into your sink.
Fill the cooking insert with hot water, add a few drops of mild dish soap, and soak it for 15-20 minutes.
Drain the water from the cooking insert and clean it gently with a sponge or nylon brush. Do not use a Brillo pad to clean your Ninja Foodi grill.
The Brillo pad will damage the cooking insert, which can warp and scratches the insert.
The grill’s exterior does not need to be cleaned every time you use it. However, you should clean it every so often.
Unplug the grill, then let it cool down. Use a damp microfiber towel of a soft sponge and a non-abrasive dish soap to clean the grill’s exterior.
Make sure you wipe down the control panel, lid, and crisping rack.
Next, clean the lid and valve. Clean the lid with a soft sponge and warm water.
The rubber valve resembles a large plastic ring and is located under the grill’s lid. Remove the valve gently and place it under hot water.
Once it is clean, dry the valve and fasten it back onto the lid. The valve may lose its original color over time which is perfectly normal.
It is simply a little wear and tear. It does not mean the Ninja Foodi is malfunctioning or broken.
How To Deep Clean A Ninja Foodi Grill
Wiping the Ninja Foodi grill’s interior and exterior every time you use the grill is mandatory. However, you need to give the grill a deep cleaning periodically.
To deep clean your Ninja Foodi grill, add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of lemon juice to the cooking insert. Set the Ninja Foodi grill to bake for 10 minutes.
Keep the lid on the Ninja Foodi grill. The steam will make it easier to clean the grill by lifting any caked-on grease or gunk.
Let it sit for 15 minutes, then carefully remove the cooking insert and drain it in the sink.
Wipe the insert and the grill’s interior with a damp kitchen cloth and dry it with a microfiber towel. If the Ninja Foodie grill is still dirty, repeat the process until it is clean.
The dirtiest part of your Ninja Foodi grill is probably the diffuser stand. The diffuser stand is an X-shaped instrument that sits on the bottom of the basket. It is designed to catch any meat juices and oil that accumulates over time.
The diffuser needs to be cleaned every time you use the Ninja Foodi grill. If you do not clean it every time you use the grill, any fat, oil, or juices will solidify into a slippery goo.
The longer this slippery substance sits, the harder the grill will be to clean. Therefore, it’s best to clean the fat and juices immediately to prevent them from becoming a big problem.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to indoor grilling, the Ninja Foodi grill is one of the best grills. Not only can it grill, but it can bake, roast, dehydrate, and air fry.
However, to keep your Ninja Foodi grill working for a long time, you need to keep it clean.
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.