George Foreman's idea for a great grill is so simple that somebody else should have thought of it years earlier. (Actually, I suspect that somebody else did think of it, and George Foreman endorsed it.)

I have been using my grill for three years, which is very good for a product that has a one-year warranty.

How It Works:

The George Foreman grill cooks the top and bottom at the same time, sealing in juices and cooking meat about twice as fast as other methods. In addition, you do not have to turn the meat over.

The grill is tilted, so the fat runs out while the food is cooking. The surface has grooves to help the fat run off of the grill and into the drip pan. You must remember to place that little plastic dish (drip pan) under the front of the grill to catch the drippings, or you will have a mess all over the counter. You can watch the fat dripping out of the grill, leaving the food, so you do not end up eating the fat.

Even if you do not start out with lean meat, you will end up with lean meat. You will be surprised at how much fat drips out of lean meat.

This grill is great for when you just want to feed yourself, and not have to fire up the big grill that feeds the whole family. It is simple and easy to use, even for a kitchen klutz like me.

NOTE: This grill does not have an "On/Off" switch, so when it is plugged in, it is ON. And HOT.

I like to cook boneless chicken breasts in this neat little appliance. You just plug it in and preheat the grill for about five minutes. Then you open the lid, pop the meat onto the non-stick surface, and close the lid,. Steaks do not come out very well, unless you like them very well done. Also, it is nearly impossible to close the grill on any cut of meat that has the bones in it.

NOTE: I have managed to burn my fingers a couple times, so do be careful when putting the meat in and taking it out. (As Obi Wan Kenobi said on Saturday Night Live, “Use the forks, Luke!”)

Although the grill surfaces are non-stick, I do have some problems with little chunks of hamburger meat being left behind. They say that you do not need to use any oil or spray to stop the meat from sticking to the grill, but I have found it best to spray it with a non-stick cooking spray, such as Pam.

Also, the meat cooks very fast, so you have to watch it. No walking away to watch TV or use the facilities. If the meat gets burned, not only will your meal be ruined, but you will also have a devil of a time cleaning the stuck-on meat from the grill. It's a Catch-22: You need to scrub it off, but you do not want to damage the non-stick surface.

Cleaning

No matter what you cook, it is very important to clean the grill as soon as it cools off. Cleaning is not all that simple, since this is an electric appliance that you cannot soak in the sink. They claim that you can just wipe it off with a damp cloth and soapy water, and maybe George Foreman is strong enough to do that, but I need lots of soapy water and a nylon scratchy pad (one of those green things that look like a piece of cloth).

They do include two little fork-like plastic tools for cleaning out the grooves in the grill.

I unplug the grill as soon as I am through cooking, since it does not have an "On/Off" switch. I make sure that it is cool, so I will not get burned. Then I set the grill by the edge of the sink, so the soapy water will run into the sink, and not all over the counter, while I am cleaning it.

I also rinse it very well, to make sure that I do not leave any soap behind. Soap is not food. It tastes nasty.

What can you cook?

You get a cookbook with the grill, and it has 127 pages with many ideas for a healthful grilled entree.

They claim that you can fit all sorts of things into the grill all at once, but it is only about ten inches wide and twelve inches from front to back.

Well, you could squeeze in four smaller hamburger patties, but I find it better to grill two big ones. Or you could cram in four chicken breasts, but once again, two fit in better, unless you have midget chickens.

You can cook two good sized steaks, but I do not like the way they come out. If you want a rare steak, this is not the way to cook it. By the time the outside gets browned, the inside is also brown.

You can also cook fish with this little grill. I recommend filets, since they are less likely to fall apart and make a mess, compared to those little squares or sticks of fish pieces that have been pressed together.

You can also grill sandwiches, but not open-face sandwiches. You need two slices of bread with the filling in between them. It makes a nice grilled cheese sandwich. I like to use sourdough bread and fill it with a slice of ham and lots of cheddar cheese. After taking it out of the grill, I dip my sandwich in honey mustard.

TIP: Grilled sandwiches come out with a nice brown outside if you spread a little bit of butter or margarine on the outsides of the bread.

I have even grilled slices of eggplant, turnip and other firm veggies. This is not recommended for potatoes (heads up, Spudman!), yams or other soft veggies.

Steamed Buns

On top of this grill you will find a clear plastic dome that opens up, so you can place buns inside for warming. They call it “steaming”, but it is really just warming. The steam from the meat that you are grilling is supposed to travel through this dome, but it does not really work all that well.

Stinking Short Cord!

I would like to have a sit-down talk with the idiot who decided that appliances would be safer with shorter cords. This grill has a cord about two feet long. If I put it near the outlet, it is also close to things that might catch fire. In fact, it is under my wooden cupboard, which really should not be exposed to the heat. Those “safety” cords simply force me to use an extension cord, which is even more dangerous than a long appliance cord. I bought a special appliance extension cord, which cost me about ten bucks, just to make it a little safer to use my grill.

Recommendation:

This is a great little grill for one or two people, especially if you are watching the fat in your diet. It is simple and easy to use, but hard to clean. I recommend it.

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Thank you so much for reading my Epinion!

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