Ninja's newest innovation can turn your air fryer or pizza oven into a smart appliance - here's how
Turns out there's a new Ninja you need for your other Ninja
The only thing better than a Ninja air fryer, it turns out, is a Ninja air fryer equipped with the brand's new smart thermometer to let you know exactly how the whole cooking thing is going. Yep, Ninja's latest release isn't an appliance per se but a sophisicated tool to help you master the art of cooking meat at home in your existing pick of the best air fryers.
While the vegetarians and vegans among us might want to look away now, meat eaters will be in their element with this gadget, which works on the best BBQs and kitchen appliances alike to get the best possible cook of your chosen foodstuff.
Here's a look at exactly how this smart thermometer works, and how I'd recommend using it as Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor.
This wireless thermometer can sync up with your phone to give you realtime updates on the progress of the food in your BBQ or your air fryer. For foodies, it's a great addition to your cooking collection.
A look at Ninja's newest cooking gadget
Smart barbecues have been around now for a while. Ninja has even released one itself: the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL, available from £449.99 from the brand's website. It's a game changer for outdoor cooking if you love to get down to the nitty-gritty when grilling, but if you don't want to fork out on an entirely new BBQ, this new smart thermometer from Ninja is a smart cheat. You can use it across your pizza oven, air fryer or even your conventional oven.
That's because this thermometer is safe to use up to temperatures of 370°C, so you can char and roast foods to your heart's content.
From where I'm standing, the thing that really gives the Ninja ProChef an edge is the fact that you can connect it up to your phone. Using the Ninja Pro Connect app, you can monitor the progress of your joint of meat or fish from up to 50 metres away, so that you can get on with other food prep or take the weight off while your centrepiece cooks.
Not only that, but the app can offer you specialised Ninja-specific guidance on cooking times too. From your phone you can pick the Ninja appliance you're cooking with and then access cooking charts, eliminating any guesswork. If you're still yet to master the art of a perfectly cooked steak at home, that's an enticing prospect.
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
I can see this as being a really handy tool to use with your air fryer when cooking larger joints of meat, especially near Christmastime. Air fryers can be tricky to get to grips with timing-wise, and for the most important meal of the year, this little tool could add a lot of reassurance.
For the pizza lovers out there, this thermometer will also be handy when using your pizza oven as part of an outdoor kitchen. As the pizza ovens have higher temperatures, it can be difficult to know how to use them for meat and fish, which is why this gadget might just help you to become a pro outdoor cook too.
However you choose to use it, Ninja's newest cooking tool is a more affordable way to make your appliances smart than splashing out on brand new buys. And for that, we think it's pretty genius.
Molly is Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor, the Ideal Home Certified Expert on Appliances and an all-around baking and cooking enthusiast. She joined the team in September 2022 as an Ecommerce Editor after working across Real Homes, Homes & Gardens and Livingetc. She's been reviewing products for 4 years and now specialises in weighing up kitchen essentials' pros and cons, from air fryers to bean-to-cup coffee machines.
She's always been a keen reader, so after graduating from the University of Exeter in 2020 she was thrilled to find a way to write as a full-time job. Nowadays, she spends her days at home or the Ideal Home test facility trying out new kitchen innovations to see if they’re worth a space on your worktop. Her most beloved and hard-working appliance is her Sage coffee machine though she also takes the title of Ideal Home’s in-house air fryer expert after writing about them religiously over the past few years.
-
Do thermal blinds keep the heat in? Experts reveal how your window dressing can save money as the temperature plummets
Reduce window heat loss by up to 55% with this one simple change
By Kezia Reynolds
-
Inexpensive bedroom flooring ideas to transform your sleep space
Don't let your budget stop you from creating the bedroom of your dreams, with our round up for flooring ideas that won't break the bank
By Holly Walsh
-
I got my hands on Ninja's sold out espresso machine. Here's why this one is worth signing up to the mailing list for
Ninja's first foray into the world of coffee will have newbies to bean-to-cup machines becoming pros with ease
By Molly Cleary
-
I always failed at keeping my sourdough starter happy - that all changed once I tried the Goldie keeper
The Goldie made looking after a sourdough starter a much more achievable task
By Molly Cleary
-
Are boiling water taps easy to install? A breakdown of the process so you can decide if it’s DIY-able or best left to the pros
Considering fitting a boiling water tap yourself? This is everything you need to know first
By Linda Clayton
-
Le Creuset held a huge half-price sale requiring police back-up - If you missed out these are 3 affordable Le Creuset lookalikes you'll love just as much
Find your dream cast iron cookware, without breaking the bank
By Kezia Reynolds
-
I tried the OXO Reusable Silicone Bags and they saved me so much time when food prepping
I won't be going back to plastic tubs
By Kezia Reynolds
-
The 4 best scents for hiding bad cooking smells – get your kitchen ready for hosting season
Banish any bad odours while adding ambience
By Holly Cockburn
-
The 5 things you need for hosting in a small kitchen to take the stress out of entertaining
From the perfect plates to mood lighting - these buys will have your kitchen prepped for hosting
By Holly Cockburn
-
I’ve renovated four kitchens - these are the 7 trends I regret falling for, and what I'd now do instead
Learn from my kitchen trend mistakes
By Linda Clayton
-
Do you need an air fryer cleaning spray? I've tested air fryers from all the big names and this is why I'd save your money
An air fryer cleaner is no different from an ordinary one, really
By Molly Cleary