Ninja's new 5-in-1 gas BBQ would make a sleek garden addition

Ninja FlexFlame BBQ — (Image credit: Ninja)

Ninja just dropped its first ever gas BBQ in the UK, the 5-in-1 FlexFlame Cooking System (£999.99 via Ninja), which is sure to be a hit with outdoor cooking enthusiasts.

This propane fuelled BBQ, which was released this time a year ago in the US to rave reviews, has launched with the promise that it 'combines up to five unique cooking methods all under one lid, with no compromises'. So do the best BBQ makers on the market have some serious competition?

Ninja

Flexflame Gas Bbq & Outdoor Cooking System

As with the brand's Slushi machines, Ninja has spruced the FlexFlame up with an array of colours to choose from: Black, Blue and Green.

So what's different about the FlexFlame compared to Ninja's other BBQs? Well thus far the brand has only designed electric BBQs, with the flagship Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ & Grill being the biggest success. We awarded it 5 stars in our review back in 2023.

The FlexFlame is a different beast altogether. It has the undeniable power of gas, with the ability to preheat up to 315°C in 10 minutes, combined with precision burner control via a digital control panel. It's also kitted out with a cyclonic fan, which can evenly circulate air (much like one of the best Ninja air fryers) in order to bring 'surround crisping and browning'.

If you need to cater to a crowd this summer (World Cup BBQ anyone?), this BBQ is suitably huge. Across three burners, it easily has space for at least 8 burgers at a time.

Plus, popular elements of the electric Woodfire BBQ have been integrated into the FlexFlame. As well as the gas element, you can use this buy as a Woodfire BBQ Smoker with pellets to get those coveted infused smoky flavours.

The catch to the other functions (pizza-making and griddling) is that you'll need to add on extra attachments to your FlexFlame. These are available to buy separately or as part of the FlexFlame Ultimate Bundle (£1,249 via Ninja), which additionally features a Propane Grill Cover, Full Flat Plate, 16'' Perforated Pizza Peel, 16'' Artisan Pizza Stone & Storage Caddy.

If you already own one of the best pizza ovens (which can be awfully pricey in and of themselves) then the idea of having to purchase another pizza stone additionally might not necessarily appeal. But if you're more of a BBQ fan, it's nice to have the option to add in other functions.

Of course, with a purchase this expensive, you'll want to know it's built to last. This BBQ is, according to Ninja, 'built to withstand the Great British weather over years of use' with porcelain-enamelled cast-iron grill grates as well as a double-walled heavy-duty lid. The side tables are another very useful addition.

The FlexFlame undoubtedly looks like a very capable outdoor living buy, but at £999.99 it's certainly a pricey one. Could you see yourself installing one in your garden?

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Molly is Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor, the Ideal Home Certified Expert on Appliances. An all-around cooking and baking enthusiast, she loves finding the next must-have product for readers that will their kitchen a better place. She joined the team in September 2022 after working on the editorial teams of Real Homes, Homes & Gardens and Livingetc.

For the last 4 years, she's been reviewing hundreds of small appliances; conducting tests at home or in the Ideal Home test kitchen. She would be hard-pressed to pick a Mastermind specialist subject but air fryers are her ultimate area of expertise, after testing just about every single one released since 2022.

To keep ahead of trends and new releases, Molly has visited the testing and development spaces of multiple kitchen brands including Ninja Kitchen and Le Creuset as well as attended consumer shows such as IFA, hosted in Berlin to see the cooking innovations of the future.