Ninja FlexFlame Gas BBQ and Outdoor Cooking System PG305UK

Honest review

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Ninja FlexFlame ProConnect arrived in very sturdy packaging, and all in perfect condition. You will need a lot of room for unpacking everything, so either do it outside on a nice day, or inside if you are fortunate enough to have the space (just remember you will need to wheel or lift it outside once it's put together). I don't know if it's an error, but there were no physical instruction leaflets included - so I scanned the QR code and followed the instructions on there. It would have been easier with something I could actual hold rather than keep checking my phone screen. All the parts are very clearly labelled and the screws and nuts required come in blister packaging that is also labelled, relevant to each piece. The construction process was all pretty straightforward, and I only needed an additional person to help lift the firebox on to the base section. It was also helpful looking at the videos on the Ninja YouTube page. Once all complete, the Ninja Flexflame feels like a very sturdy item and appears very well manufactured, with a 10 year warranty. As ours will be spending most of it's time outside, we have bought the Ninja Flexflame grill cover to help protect it - I do wonder if an item of this value should maybe come with such a cover included in the price. Connecting the Ninja Flexflame to the Ninja ProConnect app was initially quite easy - my phone connected to the Bluetooth no problem at all, but I had several attempts before I got the Wifi connection to work, as the signal wasn't strong enough. I moved the Flexflame in front of a window and also repositioned the Wifi hub in the house, and the two did eventually connect. The App allows you to control cooking temperatures remotely, switch the smoker on or off, and check the temperatures of the probes. It also has recipes and cooking advice for several cuts of meat and vegetables. You can use the Flexflame perfectly well without an internet connection of course, you just wouldn't be able to use the ProConnect features. Edit/ after a few more BBQ sessions, the wifi connection keeps dropping out - probably due interference/distance in the house, so a Wifi booster may be required depending on location of the FlexFlame. There are storage hooks alongside the tray on the left side and also in the lower storage box - which also has ample room for any accessories or cleaning gear you want to store in there. The gas ignites easily and the grill heats up very quickly - aided by the convection fan. It probably caught me by surprise at how quickly and hot it gets as I managed to overcook my first attempts! We've had a few barbecue now and we are delighted with the performance of the FlexFlame - the woodsmoke feature works very well and really boosts the flavours of what you are cooking. We plan to get the pizza stone upgrade soon, as we'd like to try home made pizzas cooked under the correct heat - which is unachievable in our electric oven. Until now our barbecue sessions have been a nice day/summer treat, but with the performance and flexibility of the Ninja Flexflame, I can see us using it all year round for briskets and pizzas, and even just general cookery where an extra depth of flavour would be preferred. All in all, it's a great piece of cooking equipment and we hope to get many years of use from it.

MrsB007, 55 - 64, Shetland Islands

Ninja Flexflame ProConnect! Bring on Summer!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This Flexflame bbq was a dream from start to finish. The box was enormous so we were a little bit daunted at first. We shouldn’t have been. My husband said that with the instructions and how things were packaged it was one of the easiest things he’d assembled. The weather hasn’t given us many opportunities yet to use the bbq but when we did get a chance it was really easy to use and produced tasty food. We tried chicken wings and pork belly slices to start. Both were delicious! Hopefully a chicken will be the next thing tomorrow. The size is impressive and cleaning is a breeze. I can’t wait to try many more things on it when the weather warms up. I’m already eyeing up the accessories. Pizza stone and griddle sounds good!!!

Cazza B, 65 or over, South London

Nothing to disappoint

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] From first opening the box, easy to follow instructions, easy to assemble. BBQ and grill are both excellent using either is so easy, even heat throughout and even cooking, no pink bits! And a whole chicken cooked to perfection in just over a hour, Im looking forward to having a wonderful summmer with what I can only say is a beautiful piece of kit,

Trace57, 55 - 64, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

From charcoal to THIS...

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My fiancé and I have always been massive charcoal BBQ fans. So the big question was always going to be: can a high-tech gas barbie convert us? Delivery & Assembly Getting this massive bit of kit delivered was easy. The courier AIT text and emailed with a date, and I was able to quickly swap it to a day that worked better for us with instant confirmation. We received a time slot the night before delivery and the courier also phoned and text us shortly before arrival. We'd downloaded the BILT app before delivery but there was also a QR code on the front of the instruction booklet. My partner worked with the paper instructions whilst I cross-checked everything on BILT - having the 3D instructions on my phone was very helpful and we can't fault how it was packed - all the screws came in separate, labelled compartments on one long strip. My fiancé (the chief builder) actually said it’s one of the best/easiest things he's ever put together, which is very high praise. Gas Because we're so used to charcoal, seeing the price of a propane gas canister for the first time was a bit of a shock, but it's worth pointing out that you're paying a deposit for the actual canister upfront. Once you have that, refills are about half the price. We easily picked one up locally - just make sure you're getting one with the right connector - and expect it to last the two of us the whole Summer. We've all been there when a surprise heatwave hits the UK on a Saturday morning and there isn't a single bag of charcoal left in the supermarket. Having gas on standby is very convenient - the BBQ also heats up and cools down more quickly. The Tech Setting up the WiFi connection was a doddle. We liked that we could both log into my Ninja account from each of our own phones, meaning we could both keep an eye on the cooking temperatures at the same time. The app beeps to let you know anything you need to know, or when to take action, such as reminding you to turn off the gas once you've finished cooking! The temperature probe was very accurate and gave us perfectly cooked beef as you will see in the photos :) Taste Tests Burgers & Sausages Our first cook was the standard burgers and sausages using grill/pizza mode. We kept it simple and left the lid up whilst using a BBQ pan we already had on top of the grill. It preheated very quickly (especially compared to our old charcoal BBQ) and dinner was ready in no time! Woodfire Beef Rib To really test the Woodfire and ProConnect features, we went for a 1.3kg boneless beef rib joint (seasoned simply with salt, garlic pepper and light olive oil) using the "reverse sear" method. We cooked it low and slow, rested it in foil for 20 minutes, then seared it at a high temperature. It was cold outside so we were able to retreat to the living room whilst receiving real-time info on the app as to how the cook was progressing :) At first, we weren't entirely sure if we'd managed to turn the Woodfire mode on correctly. But you definitely know when it kicks in - the smell is incredible and you get all this lovely smoke coming from the rear vents. It made a massive difference to the flavour. It felt like we were eating restaurant-quality steak. A Few Extras (Pros & Cons) Safety shut-off: We accidentally triggered a safety feature on our first cook that turned the BBQ off when we closed the lid while searing at a super high temperature. Totally our mistake, but we were really glad to find out that safety feature exists! Easy clean-up: The grease tray collected a surprising (and satisfying!) amount of fat, which made cleaning up easier. The frustrating bit: Because it's such a new product, a lot of the official accessories are out of stock. We really wanted to get the griddle pan, but neither the half nor full-size versions were available. I've set up email alerts for when they're back in stock and hopefully availability improves soon. I was able to buy the pizza stone and we're looking forward to testing this next week! The Verdict The build quality, convenience of the gas, versatility and that amazing smoky flavour from the pellets, meaning we don't have to sacrifice the taste you get from charcoal, won us over. The Proconnect feature means you don't have to be glued to the BBQ and can move indoors if the weather turns, especially for longer cooks. Can it convert die-hard charcoal fans? Definitely.

Gemma B, 35 - 44, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, UK