George Foreman Grill GR26BW: Succulent Meat & Warm Buns
Written: May 28 '02
Product Rating:
Ease of Use:
Durability:
Ease of Cleaning:
Style:
Pros: Food tastes great, Cooks quickly
Cons: cleaning, bun-warmer is not very useful, wish it had on/off and hi/lo
The Bottom Line: For healthy and tasty grilled food that is quick and easy to prepare and not too bad to clean up after consider a George Foreman grill.
marytara's Full Review: George Foreman GR26CB XL Indoor Grill
I finally gave in and asked for one of these George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machines last year for Christmas. My mother, who swears by her Foreman grill was quick to oblige and picked out this George Foreman XL Family Size Grill with Bun Warmer GR26BW for us. As a family of 3 consisting of two adults and a child she reasoned that this would be the right size and hoped that we'd enjoy the grill as much as she loves hers.
About the Grill
Sizing
Even though the grill is called "Extra Large" its not very big in size, measuring in at about 10 inches wide by 12 inches deep this Grill does take up a significant portion of our countertop island mostly due to the fact that you will want to allow space around it to allow for ventilation and prevent from the heat causing damage to surrounding appliances or items.
According to the manufacturer, the George Foreman XL Family Size Grill with Bun Warmer GR26BW"Grills up to 5+ extra large burgers, 5 plump chicken breasts, or 4 juicy steaks in minutes.". The keywords being up to as I've found that 4 burgers, 3 chicken breasts, or 2 steaks to be a bit more realistic. Still, for a family of 3 (including 1 toddler) this is about perfect for us portion wise. Honestly, if I was going to want to make 6 burgers or more than 3 pieces of chicken that would most likely mean I was having a barbecue or company of some kind over which would dictate using the "Real grill" as in the one outdoors on our patio.
Use
This baby is Easy to use!. I never considered myself much of a cook, and definitely NOT a griller. I like things that are easy but still flavorful and the idea of grilling over an open flame has always -- well, its terrified me. So, leaving outdoor grilling up to my husband, I'm happily grilling indoors on my George Foreman.
Before using the grill, simply plug in the cord and allow the grill to heat up for approximately 5 minutes. Once plugged in there is a little orange indicator light that will come on to indicate the grill is heating up. Once heated up, lift the top plate up and simply place your dinner (chicken, steaks, burgers, whatever) on the grill and then close the top plate.
Don't forget to slide the drip pan under the front of the grill as excess fat will drip off of your food and into the pan. The design of the grill is on slope with grooves in the grill plates that "channel the fat" away from your food. This grill comes with two of these little drip trays so that you can quickly swap them out in case one should fill up during cooking (which has never happened to me).
Listen to your food sizzle and cook up and take in the great smell of grilled foods as your food cooks up in no time at all. I've found that I like to check my dinner selections after a few minutes to guage their progress and add additional seasonings, if necessary. Most items cooks in 10 minutes or less depending on their size and thickness. Our grill came with a small paper cookbook which included some estimated cooking times and recipes.
Also, If you want to also heat up some rolls or bread you can pop a few into the top clear plastic dome portion of the grill and allow the steam from your dinner to naturally warm them. We've used this feature a few times and while the warmed rolls were nice its something that I wouldn't find a selling point or a necessary feature to have on a grill. Your mileage, of course, may vary.
The Taste Test
Yummm!
My favorite, is what my husband and I refer to as "George Foreman Chicken". This is simply boneless, skinless chicken breast that is purchased individually frozen and pre-flavored (such as mesquite, honey garlic etc) by the bag at a local grocery. Of course, the non-cheater method of cooking up a split breast or chicken tenderloin which has been marinated in a favorite sauce is just as good (ok, even better!). I've had equally good luck with burgers, steaks, chops, even fish, and veggies on this grill.
Things to be mindful of include the thickness of the meat, and also to make sure if anything is frozen that its adequately defrosted before cooking.
Overcooking is also to be avoided. If you leave a piece of meat on this for too long it will get dehydrated long before it gets burned. Its all a matter of timing, so if you aren't sure you need to check your food item frequently. This grill cooks up FAST, that is for sure.
The Dreaded Cleaning
The George Foreman XL Family Size Grill with Bun Warmer GR26BW comes with 2 identical tools for clean-up purposes. They look kind of like flat plasticky forks that are shaped to fit into the grooves of the grill and scrape up any cooked on food. Because the grill is a "non-stick" surface you should not use any metal appliances on it or you will ruin the cooking surface.
Before cleaning, be sure that the grill has been cooled down and is also unplugged. Then simply use a sponge and soapy water plus this special tool and clean up each of the grilling surfaces (top and bottom). Because the grill is sloped its important that you have a drip tray still in place during clean up unless you want to make a mess of your countertop or floor. Also, do not put the grill in your sink or immerse it in water. Also, be sure that it is truly dry and all the soap is off of it before cooking on it again (duh!).
Sounds great, ok.. a few negatives
Cleaning up
The clean-up process is not all that it is cracked up to be. While most certainly easier than cleaning up an outdoor grill, this is still messier than using the oven, broiler, or the microwave. After cleaning up with a sponge and soapy water, the provided tool, and paper towels, I've often wondered if the grill is actually clean. No matter how much you clean it there still seems to be some residual grease left on the grilling surfaces. Yes, this bothers me.
Short Cord
I am sure this is for safety reasons, but the cord is less than 3 feet in length. I had to rearrange my kitchen in order to get this set up.
Lack of Controls
I really wish that there was an On/Off switch as well as a settings for Hi or Lo. Instead the grill is either plugged in - "On" or not - "Off". Rather primitive, I'd say.
My Additional Recommendation
According to the manufacturer no additional cooking products, like oils, sprays, etc are necessary. I have found that spraying both the top and bottom grill plate with a bit of Fat Free cooking spray (like PAM) to be beneficial. I believe that it not only adds to the flavor and juiciness of the food, but also prevents foods from sticking to the grill and also speeds up clean-up. So, my tip to others is to use some Fat Free lubricant on your George Foreman grill if you are having trouble with foods sticking, excessive dryness, or arduous clean up.
Overall
I really enjoy my George Foreman XL Family Size Grill with Bun Warmer GR26BW and let my Mom know that her gift has been a great success. I love being able to cook up a healthy and tasty meal in no time at all with very little preparation required.
For more info http://www.salton-maxim.com/salton/
Warranty on product: 1 year
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