Great tasting and Healthy!
Written: Nov 20 '02
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Pros: mostly easy to use, good healthy cooking
Cons: large and bulky, needs sufficient counter space
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this product, but only if you have the adequate space.
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| mom2ericha's Full Review: George Foreman GR82B Indoor Grill |
I have only had the George Foreman Jr Rotisserie for a short time, but I can give you some pro's and con's that I have encounted in this time. First: At this moment, hubby is wrestling like a pro with the skewers, to make shish kabob. I gave up 20 minutes ago, and said "put 'em in the basket!" but he is determined...the look on his face says "utter concentration" and yet, the skewers fall off the bar assembly. Aha! He got them to stay on (for the moment)! I won't hold my breath too long. The best thing about this part of the machine, it's fun and creates lots of laughs!
I've used the basket for chicken pieces and they've turned out ok. One comment: you need to make sure the lid is securely fastened or it will pop off while cooking and smoke up a storm when the grease hits the heating element. Make sure the pieces can't move too much while turning or you'll have a mess on your hands.
I would recommend getting a meat thermometer to be sure your meat is done adequately. It is very easy to say "it's done" and find out the juices are still running red. With a thermometer, you don't have to take the pieces out, just stick it in for a sec and see where you stand. You can't count on the timing list, it isn't accurate. It all depends on the thickness of the meat.
One advantage of the Jr. compared to the smaller rotisseries, this one comes with a basket that can hold veggies. It is called an "air bake" basket, and you can bake potatoes or other veggies in this.
The Jr Rotisserie is slightly larger than the "baby" machine, but it still takes up about the same size counter space. One caution before buying the product: they do NOT recommend that you place the machine on a counter with a cupboard above it. This really limits some people. In my old house, I would have been "SOL" but we have an island now, and I have it there. It allows dispersion of the heat and steam and works well for me. Beware, it DOES get hot, don't put it near items that could cause a fire.
Be warned also. I have not experienced this, but my sister in law scared my mother into giving me this as a gift (she was going to send it back and I talked her into giving it to me!) My sister in law has another like product. I am unsure of the name of her machine, it is NOT George Foremen, but DOES have the shield in the back, like this one does. Hers was cooking and the grease must have hit the heating element and fire shot out the back end of hers. It didn't start a fire, thankfully, but if that HAD happened and it was against a wall....well, that is why mine is on the island. I won't take any chances of this occurring. Again, I haven't had any problems so far. The only time I've had problems with smoke was when the chicken fell out of the basket (the lid wasn't on tight) and grease got on the heating element and started smoking. It was only minimal. I would not recommend that this stop you from buying the product. I am sure you will hear other horror stories as well as this one. Be sure that you have an adequate spot to place the product before purchasing it, however, and be alert to the possibilities.
I haven't gotten my fill of the product yet, I'm still using it (to my husband's chagrin..he's not fond of chicken and I'm making chicken because I LOVE it!) but I think eventually this product will be one of the items I relegate to the back of my cupboards and only use occasionally. It's big and takes up a lot of my island, and my cats like to climb on it when not in use! It will be difficult to store, as it is so big, also.
Some of the items you can make in this:
Chicken, whole (takes a couple of hours)
Chicken pieces (takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on the thickness and if there are bones)
kabobs
duck
turkey burgers
turkey (up to 10 lbs)
beef roast
steaks (in basket)
Pork
Lamb
Seafood and fish
hot dogs
bratworst
veggies
potatoes
I made a steak (cheap cut) in the basket and it turned out sort of tough. I would recommend getting a better cut of meat, or tenderizing the meat somehow before cooking beef in the machine. Because it cooks it at a faster rate, it tends to make beef tough (my opinion!) I love it for cooking chicken, however, because it holds the juices in the meat and it is very tender and juicy, not dried out. You have to be careful to take it out right at the moment it is done however, not too soon (or it will be red in the middle) and not when its burning on the outside.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 90.00
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Epinions.com ID:
mom2ericha
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Member: Linda Scott
Location: Madison Heights, MI
Reviews written: 136
Trusted by: 22 members
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