Home LivingGardenBarbequeWeber Lumin Compact vs Ninja Woodfire: which is the best electric BBQ grill?Looking for a compact electric grill for your balcony or patio? Both of these sterling stalwarts will do the trick, but which one cuts the mustard?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingGardenBarbequeWeber Lumin Compact vs Ninja Woodfire: which is the best electric BBQ grill?Looking for a compact electric grill for your balcony or patio? Both of these sterling stalwarts will do the trick, but which one cuts the mustard?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Looking for a compact electric grill for your balcony or patio? Both of these sterling stalwarts will do the trick, but which one cuts the mustard?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
As you may have spotted in our recent feature on whetherelectric power will become the future fuel for barbecue grilling, there’s been a recent push towardselectric BBQ grillsas a cleaner and safer alternative to both charcoal and gas.
Since electric grills don’t have a naked flame, they are definitely safer to use, case closed. Also, electric grills generally produce less smoke, making them better suited to balcony use and in neighbourhoods where homes are clustered closely together. Electric grills are also cheaper to run than both charcoal and gas and they will never run out of fuel unless you have a rare power cut. Lots of reasons, then, to consider buying an electric barbecue grill for your balcony or patio.
This writer can’t think of a better electric BBQ duo for balcony and away-from-home use than theWeber Lumin Compactand theNinja Woodfire BBQ Grill & Smoker. Both models are compact in size and both provide a variety of tantalising outdoor cooking options. But which one is the best portable electric grill for you?
Let’s find out.
Weber Lumin Compact vs Ninja Woodfire: design
Weber Lumin Compact(Image credit: Future)
Weber Lumin Compact
Weber Lumin Compact
(Image credit: Future)
While you will find some full-sized electric barbecues on the market – like the excellentChar-Broil Smart-EI recently reviewed – the vast majority of electric models have been designed with balconies, patios, camping and caravanning in mind and are therefore better suited for use in confined spaces while being easier to store under cover.
Both the Weber Lumin Compact (H: 27.9cm x W:58.6cm x D: 41.2cm) and Ninja Woodfire (H:34 x W:46 x D:46) have small footprints making them perfect for table-top use. However, in case you’re interested, Weber also produces a larger model of the same grill which measures 66.1cm x 64.8cm x 51.8cm.
In terms of design, the Weber is very pleasing to the eye and unmistakably Weber-esque in the way it encompasses the company’s telltale black enamel-coated lid and grill tub (in the States, buyers have a choice of another four colours – navy blue, yellow, seafoam green and ice blue). However, the low height of the lid does restrict it from grilling a whole chicken under it unless it’s been spatchcocked.
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Ninja Woodfire(Image credit: Future)
Ninja Woodfire
Ninja Woodfire
(Image credit: Future)
Both models are equipped with a standard oven-style Calrod heating element that meanders beneath the grill grates. For something so old fashioned, this method of heating works extremely well as I discovered when reviewing theSage Smart Oven Pizzaioloindoor pizza oven. In fact, I think it’s amazing that here we are in 2023 still using an invention from 1915 to such amazing effect. Believe me, the level of heat these elements emit is powerful enough to grill a sausage to death in mere minutes.
In terms of transportation, both models weigh in at 12 kilos, making them relatively easy to lift. However, only the Ninja Woodfire has side handles which makes a big difference when carrying. Moreover, since the Weber’s lid isn’t lockable, it’s quite easy for the lid to swing open if you carry it at the wrong angle. A simple latch would have solved this.
Weber Lumin Compact vs Ninja Woodfire: features
Weber Lumin Compact(Image credit: Weber)
Weber Lumin Compact
Weber Lumin Compact
(Image credit: Weber)
When it comes to versatility and features the Ninja Woodfire wins hands down. Both models use a Calrod heating element beneath the grill grate but the Lumin’s temperature control is much easier to understand. Although each temperature setting is labelled Warming, Medium, Smoke, Steam and High, this is just a more user-friendly way of labelling the individual temperatures that are best suited to the task in hand. And speaking of tasks, this little thriller griller can sear, smoke, steam or boil with the capacity to keep food warm, too.
If searing meat or vegetables, you simply whack the temperature up – not too high, mind – and slap on the burgers, sausages, chicken legs, corn on the cob what have you. However, if you want to steam or smoke your food you’ll need to remove one side of the main grate and replace it with the two provided stainless steel trays – the bottom tray is for containing water for steaming or wood chips for smoking, while the upper tray is used for cooking the ingredients. Of course, this means that you lose half of the standard grilling surface in the process, but on the plus side it also means you could feasibly cook for both meatarians and vegetarians at the same time.
Ninja Woodfire(Image credit: Ninja)
Ninja Woodfire
Ninja Woodfire
(Image credit: Ninja)
Conversely, the Ninja Woodfire specialises in smoking and air frying though it can certainly grill, too, albeit not quite as authentically as the Weber. Uniquely, this model has a specific smoker box that you fill with wood pellets, just like those used on a pellet grill. However, unlike a pellet grill that burns the pellets as fuel, the Ninja Woodfire burns them solely for flavour enhancement. While the jury’s out on the effectiveness of the smoker during a long five-hour, low-and-slow brisket smoking session, it certainly adds an unmistakably authentic outdoor smokiness to food when doing standard grilling or even air frying. The Woodfire comes with two small packets of pellets to get you started.
With respect to air frying, it makes some sense that one of the market leaders in the air frying business should add one to their first outdoor barbecue. While some may question the addition of an air fryer on a barbecue, in this instance it works, partly because the BBQ is portable, electric and it’s therefore worth adding, but mostly because meat –especially chicken with the skin on– is outrageously good when air fried. You can even add the smoker into the mix for extra flavour.
Weber Lumin Compact vs Ninja Woodfire: performance
(Image credit: Weber)
(Image credit: Weber)
When it comes to standard grilling and searing – both convection style with the lid closed or brazier style with the lid open – the Weber Lumin Compact does a better job almost entirely because of the slatted grill grates that let fats and juices drip through onto the heating element where they sizzle to create flavouring smoke in the process.
Weber Lumin Compact vs Ninja Woodfire: pricing and availability
(Image credit: Ninja)
(Image credit: Ninja)
The Weber Lumin Compact is available direct fromWeber,John Lewis & PartnersandBBQ Worldwhere you can snap it up for just £359, just £9.01 north of the Ninja.
If the Ninja Woodfire whets the palette, you can buy it direct from a much wider range of outlets, includingNinjaKitchen,Argos,AmazonandVery.
Weber Lumin Compact vs Ninja Woodfire: verdict
(Image credit: Weber | Ninja)
(Image credit: Weber | Ninja)
Both of these tabletop electric grills are capable of producing excellent BBQ results though I personally think the Weber Lumin Compact’s slatted grill grate makes it a better choice for standard grilling. It’s also more efficient at steaming food like fish and vegetables.
However, there is no contest when it comes to smoking. In this regard the Ninja’s specialised wood pellet burner puts it way ahead of the Weber’s traditional wood chips method. And, of course, the Ninja can also air fry food which is something the Weber most certainly cannot do.
Some comparisons are pretty clear cut with one surefire winner, but this one is ultimately down to whether you want a more authentic style of grilling – that’ll be the Weber Lumin Compact – or access to a wider variety of cooking methods, in which case the Ninja Woodfire is the model for you.
Read our full reviews of theWeber Lumin CompactandNinja Woodfire
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