George Foreman's Grill
Apr 13 '00 (Updated Mar 26 '04)
The Bottom Line Overall the grill is an easy way to cook, but cleaning can be a real chore.
Naturally some gifts are better than others. I received the George Foreman Grill as a gift, and initially used it to cook everything from chicken breast to juicy succulent steaks. I have owned it for 4 years and it has continued to work flawlessly. Using this small kitchen grill is pretty easy. Simply plug it in and the tiny orange indicator light comes on. Slide the small grease tray underneath the front of the grill and within minutes the orange light is off, and the cooking can begin.
This is not the biggest grill in the world but the 6-by-7-inch nonstick cooking surface is ideal and adequate for my needs. Separately, I can get two regular size hamburgers, or two small chicken breast or two small steaks on the surface with ease. The food cooks rather quickly and I enjoy the great tasting meals that I have prepared. The grill cooks evenly and simultaneously from both top to bottom so there is really no need to flip the meat unless you want to readjust the cooking lines. The double-sided grill surface does not take long to heat up. In less than five minutes the orange indicator light goes off which means the temperature is right for grilling. The grill is sturdy and durable I suspect it will be around for a very long time.
When I first got the grill I used it on a weekly basis, currently I use it on a monthly basis since some of the initial enthusiasm has worn off. Although the cooking time is good when compared to the frying pan, I prefer cooking on the outside grill. There is a noticeable taste difference in comparison to meat cooked over charcoal and hickory sticks.
The grill gives off a fair amount of steam and aroma so make sure your cooking area is well ventilated. The grill’s smooth grooves allow the oil and juices to run off while the food is cooking. Fortunately, there is no need for oil due to the grills non-stick coated surface. The dripping fall right into the small plastic dish that included with the grill. No need to look for temperature gauges or additional levers, on this easy to use grill, the orange indicator light is it. For most foods I recommend using a timer or stopwatch.
The only minor con for me is the cleaning. It is recommended that you clean the grill after it is cool. I have had some difficulty using the plastic grooved spatula that is included for cleaning. The plastic spatula easy bends and is not sturdy in my hand. I do the best I can with the grooved spatula but usually switch to the dishtowel to get off the bits of food on the surface. I usually have a lot of difficulty when I use a marinated sauce. When I cooked two small steaks using A.1.’s Marinade Chicago Steak House, this created a brownish sticky syrup that needed a lot of extra elbow grease to scrub off.
- - Final Thoughts - -
This indoor folding grill is similar to the outside grill, only you don’t get the smoke, and fire. What you get with the George Foreman Grill is an easy and convenient way of cooking. The most important thing to remember is to make sure the items you cook are even in height since varying sizes can affect the evenness of cooking and how the lid closes. Depending upon the thickness of your meat, you could cook a steak for example in 3 minutes, or pieces of chicken in less than 4 minutes. The trick with the grill is that by cooking the meat quickly the juices are locked in giving the meat the extra moisture and tenderness desired. This is a nice small appliance for those who don’t want the extra grease.
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