Ninja Sizzle GR101EU: The Absolute Compact Grill Revolutionizing Your Kitchen or Just Another Overhyped Countertop Waste?
Hello everyone. Let’s talk about the Ninja Sizzle GR101EU – that’s right, yet another kitchen gadget from the American brand that came to France quietly in 2021 and decided, “Oui, we’ll just take over your countertops, merci.” A few years later, they’ve clawed their way into a million kitchens, mostly via air fryers, but apparently, that wasn’t enough. Now they want to “revolutionize” indoor grilling with what is essentially a compact barbecue-shaped UFO for small apartments. Spoiler alert: It mostly works… but not without some quirks that smell suspiciously like missed opportunities – and burnt sausages.
Design & Build – Small Soldier With a Short Leash
I’ll give credit where it’s due – five minutes from opening the box to first sizzle is impressive. No IKEA-style trauma, no Allen keys, no swearing in multiple languages. This 34 × 38 × 13.5 cm bundle of metal and aluminum actually feels solid, unlike the flimsy plastic warriors in the €50 bargain bin. But then, bam – the first rookie mistake: a power cable so short (70 cm) it’s basically asking you to play Russian roulette with your socket arrangements. No cable storage, no side handles, so moving it mid-session is about as safe as licking a live socket. Lovely.
Ease of Use – Dummy-Proof Operation
The control scheme? One chunky dial, temperatures from 60°C to 260°C in 10-degree jumps. Even your grandmother could run this without accidentally launching a missile. Ninja thoughtfully throws in a temperature guide brochure and a sticker on the front, in case you think chicken cooks well at 260°C (spoiler: it doesn’t, unless you like the charcoal-lava hybrid look).
Cooking surface? Generous enough for three hungry gamers or four normal humans. But you’d better plan ahead – because once you’ve picked the grill plate or the plancha plate, swapping mid-cook is like changing your build in Dark Souls without a bonfire: dangerous and ill-advised.
Performance – Hot in the Middle, Cold in the Corners
In doctor terms, the Ninja Sizzle’s center is a healthy heart – steady heat, great searing, Maillard reaction achieved. The outer edges? A bit anemic. Perfect for veggies or foods that don’t need the sear of a thousand suns, but if you expect every sausage to finish identically, prepare for disappointment. You’ll be shuffling items around like a speedrunner hitting RNG resets until everything matches.
It does preheat to max in a respectable 7 minutes, makes breakfast a breeze (bacon, eggs, blinis – all good), and the perforated lid at least pretends to keep the smell down. But let’s be honest, if you think you’re walking away odor-free, you’re living in the same fantasy world as people who believe pineapple belongs on pizza.
Cleaning & Maintenance – Simple but Fragile in the Long Game
Cleanup’s a win: dishwasher-safe plates, easy wipe-downs, and a neat trick with a bit of water or vinegar on a still-warm plate to lift grease – like deglazing a pan after a culinary boss fight. But here comes the conspiracy theory-level annoyance: no replacement plates for sale. If one plate dies in three years, your €149 gadget becomes an expensive conversation piece. Funny how they’ll happily sell you ninja-branded air fryer baskets but won’t let you extend this grill’s life, isn’t it?
The Good
- Two interchangeable plates (grill and plancha) for versatility.
- Compact enough for small kitchens, yet big enough for real meals.
- Fast heat-up to 260°C – meat-searing power unlocked.
- Perforated lid cuts down splatter.
- Easy cleaning – even post-brunch carnage.
The Bad
- Uneven heat distribution – center’s the hero, edges are lazy NPCs.
- Still smells up the room despite the lid.
- No cable management; cable is insultingly short.
- No side handles – mobility during cooking is basically forbidden.
- No replacement plates – planned obsolescence vibes.
Verdict – Worth the Slot on Your Counter?
The Ninja Sizzle GR101EU is like a competent mid-tier raid member: does its job, rarely wipes the party, but sometimes forgets key mechanics. It’s powerful in the center, intuitive to use, quick to get cooking, and genuinely easy to clean. But the short cable, uneven edges, lingering smells, and lack of long-term parts support keep it from being top-tier loot.
If you’re in an apartment with no outdoor grill dreams and you accept its few frustrating quirks, it’s one of the better options out there for smoky, satisfying grill marks without actually breaking your tenancy agreement. Just keep your extension cord handy – you’re going to need it.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is entirely my opinion.
