Enjoy the robust flavor of smoked meat and wood-fired cooking? Us, too! So you'll need the Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven.
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We Tried the Ninja Woodfire 8-in-1 Outdoor Oven—Here’s What We Thought
Updated on Nov. 01, 2024
On most summer evenings, you’ll find my best friend at her boat cooking up a storm for friends. The marina doesn’t allow open-flame cooking, however, she’s creative and loves to feed the hungry fishermen almost as much as they love pizza night. So, when I found the electric Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven, I knew we had to test it out for those evenings. With eight versatile cooking methods, the possibilities for feasting are endless.
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We Baked, Roasted and Smoked with the Ninja Outdoor Oven
Outdoor pizza ovens are becoming increasingly popular, and our Family Handyman team has tested more than one. But can they make a one-dish meal, smoke ribs or roast a chicken? I was determined to find out.
When I test products, I look for functionality, performance and durability before recommending them. The Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven gets high marks in all three categories, making this pizza oven an exceptional value. I combed through user reviews to find the pitfalls and problems, and when a product seems to pass the sniff test, I try it for myself.
Ninja is a forerunner when it comes to multi-functional appliances. I tested the 8-in-1 Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven by baking pizza, roasting vegetables and cooking proteins on different cooking modes. Plus, I’m no newbie to Ninja products. I’ve used the 7-in-1 Ninja indoor grill for months and found the features useful. It has even become a beloved appliance in my kitchen.
Another factor is that the product must have a user-friendly interface. The Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven proved to be foolproof for a new user. Unlike my friend, a culinary expert, I want an appliance that isn’t overly complicated for the average hungry bear.
What is the Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven?
If you love the smoky, rich flavor of wood-fired food, you’ll love the versatility of this 8-in-1 electric outdoor oven. The Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven heats up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, an important ingredient for brick-oven-style pizza and crispy high-heat searing.
This smoker oven uses electricity as fuel rather than wood pellets, so it’s safe and easy to use. To create that woody smoke flavor, simply add a scoop of Ninja wood pellets to the smokebox located on the side of the unit. Using the wood pellets is optional in any mode and at any temperature. It’s clean burning without the mess of gas, charcoal or wood.
This oven comes with a pizza stone for even heating, a roasting rack, the 12-inch-by-12-inch Pro-Heat Pan, an accessory frame, a pellet scoop and a starter pack of pellets. It also includes a helpful Quick Start Guide recipe book.
This oven has a beautiful copper-colored finish on the weather-proof powder-coated steel exterior. The unit is compact, standing approximately 14.5 inches high by 16.5 inches wide by 22 inches deep (including the handle). The interior dimensions are 13 inches wide by 13 inches deep, and from the lowest rack position, it has 6 inches of clearance to the top of the oven. So, whether you’re smoking a brisket or baking a 9-inch-by-12-inch pan of lasagna, you’re in luck: It’ll fit!
The 8-in-1-derful Features on the Ninja Woodfire Oven
The Ninja outdoor oven is more than a wood-fired pizza oven. It has two roasting modes: Specialty slow roast is for large cuts of meat suitable for a crowd while the 700-degree Fahrenheit high heat Max Roast mode is for quick charring and cooking smaller portions and veggies. While the star of this outdoor oven is the pizza mode, it can also broil, smoke, bake, dehydrate and keep food warm.
The oven has five pizza settings customized for your favorite crust. So, whether you prefer thin crust, Neapolitan, New York style, pan pizza or frozen pizza, your pie will bake to perfection. The handy user guide is full of cooking charts and recipes, including homemade crusts and gluten-free options. And if you enjoy wood-fired pizza, just add pellets for a Tuscan touch of flavor.
Pros
- Eight ways to cook almost anything
- Intuitive user experience
- Low smoke output
- Cooking charts and recipes included
- Cook with or without smoke flavor
- Year-round outdoor storage
- No-mess electric operation
- Heats up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit
Cons
- Oven clearance is low
- Short power cord
- Must use Ninja brand wood pellets
How We Tested the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven
My friend, Jeanette, makes the best pizza ever. So, naturally, I asked her to help me test this Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven using her Sicilian grandmother’s recipes. We used the Neapolitan setting, and the unit pre-heated in about 15 minutes—faster than expected. The user-friendly screen alerts you when it is time to add food. After three minutes of cooking, we put the pizza back in for two more minutes for a crunchier crust. We cooked three pizzas, including one with a thin crust, and the results were fabulous.
The Ninja cooks evenly and efficiently. I was thankful we had the pizza peel because the oven is very hot, and the clearance between the open door and the bottom shelf is tight. I recommend wearing grilling gloves or mitts to avoid the danger of burning your knuckles when pulling out the tray.
Jeanette gave the Ninja five stars for even heating, excellent flavor and ease of use. She’s particular about her culinary equipment and plans to use it not only for pizza nights and smoking fish on the boat, but also for roasting, warming and baking her famous cherry pies.
BBQ Smoker Mode
Next, I was excited to add the smoky flavor to chicken thighs, so I chose the BBQ Smoker mode and added the wood pellets. I consulted the cooking chart in the Quick Start Guide and set the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Dinner was ready in less than 30 minutes. I used a Yummly smart thermometer to monitor the internal temperatures of the meat, and Ninja’s cooking time and temperature settings proved accurate.
Ninja doesn’t recommend using sugary marinades or barbecue sauce that could burn while cooking, so I used a simple salt and pepper seasoning. The wood-smoked flavor was a savory and robust complement to the protein. The skin was crispy and the meat tender, similar to an oven-baked chicken. At 375 degrees, the chicken didn’t char like it would cooking with the Max Roast mode.
Max Roast Mode
The next dish I prepared was a gift from the fishermen. My goal was to attain a seared and grilled texture on the fish, so I opted for the Max Roast setting. I set the temperature to 600 degrees Fahrenheit and the timer for 10 minutes. Pre-heating took 20 minutes, and then I added the salmon seasoning side down to sear it. It was done in 5 minutes, with no need to flip.
Fair warning: Cleanup isn’t a breeze. The interior is hard to wipe down because of the crevices and coils. The grate is dishwasher safe, but the Pro-Heat pan is not.
I continued to use the Ninja Outdoor Oven for grilled vegetables, smoked pork chops and fish. We have yet to bake bread, pies or casseroles in it, and I look forward to making sun-dried tomatoes using the dehydrate mode with that delicious wood-fire flavor.
FAQ
Can the Ninja Woodfire be stored outside?
This Ninja oven is an outdoor appliance with a powdered-coated, rust-resistant finish. I recommend buying the waterproof cover to prolong the life of the oven and keep it looking sharp. The portability and small footprint of this outdoor oven make it easy to tuck into a corner of the patio or sit on a garage shelf when not in use.
Does the Ninja Woodfire have to be plugged in?
The Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven, like the Ninja Woodfire grill, must be plugged into a GFCI plug when using an extension cord suitable for outdoor appliances.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
Jessica F. gave the Ninja outdoor oven five stars on the Ninja Kitchen website. “I love how easy the instruction book is to read and follow,” she writes. “It includes basic recipes for beginners to help ease into the outdoor oven. The package also included a pack of wood-fire pellets. The all-purpose blend flavor gave our roast a mild wood-fire flavor and turned our mac-n-cheese into the most flavorful mac-n-cheese we have ever had! The smoker feature is the best feature, in my opinion!”
“I love my Ninja Woodfire 8-in-1 outdoor oven,” shares Robert, another five-star reviewer. “This does it all. It even makes pizza. This oven can get really hot if you want, so plug into a strong plug or use a heavy extension to handle the power. There is enough space in the oven to cook for the whole family and then some. This is so much better, healthier and safer than using my old barbecue.”
Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven Accessories
I was also able to test the accessories for the outdoor oven (sold separately), and my favorite is the Ninja perforated pizza peel. This $30 utensil is a must-have item to get pizza in and out of the oven easily. It’s perfectly sized for the oven, and the handle is the ideal length for maneuvering while still avoiding the heat.
The premium oven cover is a snug weather-proof cover constructed with elastic and drawstrings for secure outdoor storage. For $25, you can’t go wrong with this custom-fit cover.
Lastly, the Ninja Woodfire adjustable outdoor stand is a weather-resistant plastic stand that assembles quickly. The leg height is adjustable, but honestly, I would rather have casters on the stand to easily move it around the patio. And if you want a larger work surface, simply add the attachable table for an extra $25.
Final Verdict
Cooking pizza with this oven is fast, easy and fun. I’m especially impressed with the options for crust preferences and the control panel, which is intuitive and elegant in every cooking mode. The wood-fire smoke adds an enhanced level of flavor without the time or mess of traditional barbecue smokers and grills.
The Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven is a perfect all-in-one appliance for outdoor kitchen and backyard fun. It keeps the house cool and the party outdoors. The wood smoke, high heat and searing options make this multi-functional appliance a superior choice. Plus, it cooks faster than traditional smokers and delivers the same savory taste that would normally take hours.
Its compact tabletop size makes it portable—although it’s a little bulky to load in the car for a day on the dock, weighing in at 32 pounds, the fishermen are happy to help. The only downside for me is the danger of pulling out the accessory frame without insulated grilling gloves.
I enjoy trying the recipes and experimenting with the eight cooking modes and smoky flavors. The multi-purpose functionality that this outdoor oven provides, along with the solid weather-proof design, is worth the money.
Where to Buy the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven
If you’re looking for a versatile outdoor smoker, roaster and pizza oven—and so much more—take your meals to the next level with the 8-in-1 Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven. This versatile appliance retails for under $400, and is available at Ninja Kitchen, Target, The Home Depot, Kohl’s, Best Buy, BBQGuys and HSN.
