George Forman (or other indoor) grills.. the good, the bad, the ugly???

[housewolf]

Who has/had one? What do/did you like/don't like about it? Is it an important kitchen appliance or a fad item? I'm thinking about one for someone for whom a 'real' grill is too impractical/too much work, but who needs to increase their protien consumption, and wondering if one of these might be a solution for cooking steaks, fish etc.

Please share your experience and stories, I'm very curious.

[Warpy]

1. It depends on how you cook

If you're somebody who rushes home from work with a slab of meat and wants it to cook while you're climbing into comfy clothes, maybe one of the electric grills is for you. Just be aware that they steam the meat as much as grill it and they do eat counter space.

I use a Le Creuset cast iron stovetop grill for fish and veggies. Combined with a domed lid that just happens to fit it, it's a great way to get great grilled flavor in the kitchen in winter. I chose the Le Creuset because it's round and I knew one of the wok lids would probably fit it for thicker fish steaks so they'd get done throughout.

Some people swear by the electric jobs and use them to grill everything. Others have used it as a novelty item and abandoned it in the cupboards within a few weeks.

Just know how and what you like to cook and choose accordingly.

[housewolf]

5. Your Le Creuset sounds great, Warpy

They are such wonderful pans... my mom had a big orange Le Creuset dutch oven years ago... when I went back home after she'd dies, I found my sister in her hatred of that "big ugly too-heavy thing" had thrown it out. Along with other "valuables" (to me at any rate!).

The person I'm thinking of the GF for can't lift heavy pans and basically "won't" cook for himself or even clean up after himself ... much... but will fix steak for himself in a small cast iron skillet in the oven but even that is getting to be too much. I'm just wondering if the GF grill might be a suitable alternative to him, and maybe open up some options for him since he does like fish too.

[kcass1954]

2. I have a George Forman, and I really like it. But...

It's a smaller grill that I got several years ago when I was a single mother of one. I now have a husband and another child, and it's not big enough for all of us. The reason that I haven't bought a bigger model is that it's a really pain to clean. Now there are some grills with removable plates - that's what I'd get if I could afford a new one.

[housewolf]

6. Keep you eye on Craigs List...

you just might find one there. Amazon.com lists them, too.

[wildeyed]

3. I really like mine.

I didn't expect that I would when I bought it, either. I purchased a 1/2 price reconditioned Cuisinart Griddler to use after I had ankle surgery. I wanted something that was easy to use since I was going to be off my feet for a while, but still had two little kids who needed to eat.

I used it during my rehab period, then kept right on using it. I rarely cook meat on it. Maybe the occasional hamburger, but I have never done a large steak. I only buy local grass fed meat which is ridiculously expensive. If I do spring for a steak, I cook it outside on the charcoal grill or in the cast iron skillet. Perhaps the griddler would do a good job, too, but I hate to risk it.

What I do cook is fish, frozen salmon burgers from Costco, veggie burgers, hamburgers, sweet potato "fries", marinated tofu (cut it in half the long way, marinate, then grill), cheese quesadillas and veggies. The grill is also a panini maker, so it makes great sandwiches.

The primary appeal of this appliance is its speed of cooking and convenience. If you don't have room on the counter top to leave it out all the time, it will probably be more trouble than it is worth. It cooks faster than a stove top grill because the heat source is on the top and bottom, so if you work late and are pressed for time in the evening, it is great. You throw what ever you want to eat on it, close it up and come back in five minutes to cooked food. Mine is easy to clean, the grills pop off and go into the dishwasher. I wouldn't bother with one that didn't have that feature.

My reconditioned model is starting to malfunction, loose wire or something, and I am considering buying a new one at regular price, so you can tell I really like it.

[housewolf]

7. "Easy to use"... that's what he needs... as well as easy to clean up

and of course, delicious food.

Re: Costco's "Grilled salmon burgers" - when you cook these, do you cook them straight from the freezer or do you have to thaw them out first?

Thanks for recommendation! I thought Geroge Foreman had a monopoly on this market. Thanks to your info, I've done a little research and realize that there are many other choices out there.

[wildeyed]

9. Straight from the freezer.

You can do the pre-made frozen burgers they sell in the burger packs that way, too, and even frozen veggie burgers. I am an expert at this. Typical weekday evening at my house: Get home from swimming lessons, or piano lesson or whatever darn lesson we have that day at 6PM with zero plan for dinner. Turn on grill. Peel and slice two sweet potatoes and put on grill. When they are done, put them into bowl with a little salt and olive oil and mix. Slam generic burgerfood onto grill and toast whole wheat english muffins. Put generic burgerfood on muffins with some ketchup. Add some "salad" (actually just cut up fruit or cucumber or tomato) to the side of the plate with the sweet potatoes and burgers. Call it dinner.

Finished in under 15 minutes, completely edible and even nutritious. Almost zero clean-up to boot :)

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

11. How long does it take to do the sweet potatoes ?

Thanks

[wildeyed]

12. 5 minutes.

yum!

[NashVegas]

4. I Consider It a Fad Item

I received one of the first generation models as a gift.

I can't think of anything I could fix on there that I couldn't fix on a "real" grill, or in some other way that's not equally or more beneficial. ie, when they were introduced, the big benefit that was marketed was that meat-fat would drip out as it rendered.

Unless your someone has a real medical need to cut their fat intake, that fat is usually beneficial to cooking or the meat can be cooked in a broiler. After all, you're really not supposed to squeeze meat while its cooking, unless you like it dry.

What I personally don't like about the GF grill (at least the one I have) is that the grill plates don't come off for cleaning.

[housewolf]

8. There are models now with removable grill plates...

"Real" grill cooking isn't an option for this person... he can't handle charcol or a propane bottle and isn't in an enviroment where he could have an inline gas source, so I'm looking for something as an alternate that would give him delicious, appetizing food without much time, mess and trouble. I'm not so interested in the fat rederning-thing, more a way of cooking that's easy, fast and provides delicious foods.

Thanks for your feedback, good points.

[pengillian101]

18. I'm not so interested in the fat rederning-thing, more a way of cooking that's easy, fast and provid

We are into our second George Foreman grill, and I bought the smallest one this time because it's just the two of us. If your pal is cooking for one, it's great. Cleanup is a breeze, trust me. The plates don't need to be removable.

Just drop the lower grill part over the sink and wash it out. Easy-peazy!

[Tab]

10. I don't think much of them for regular cooking, but they can make damned good Paninis.

which is about all I use it for. In a pinch, I can toss other stuff on, but basically I use my regular equipment for that, but I love a good grilled Panini sandwich.

[Rosie1223]

13. I use mine often

It's great for quick pork chops or burgers in winter when it's too cold to grill outside. I've done fish and shrimp too, the non-stick is wonderful and easy to clean (mine has removable grill plates).

I've never used mine for paninnis as another poster suggested. I'll have to try it.

[yy4me]

16. Try grilled cheese sandwiches too. Browns and melts just

right. Mine is underutilized but this winter I will crack it out again.

[Shakespeare]

14. I love mine, but only used it regularly AFTER I traded up to one with removable grill plates.

Otherwise, it's a pain in the ass to clean.

[NJCher]

15. Cleaning tip

A friend taught me this: after grilling, take a wet paper towel (has to be a good quality) and put it between the grill and plug it in. Let this go only a short time, like 30-seconds or so, and then open it up and remove the paper towel. Lots of the residue will adhere to the paper towel.

Dedicate a toothbrush to your grill. Once the paper towel operation is finished, just brush whatever's left into the drip pan and thre you are--cleaned up in less than a minute or so. Sometimes I do have to take an extra paper towel to it--only occasionally.



Cher

[The empressof all]

17. I just bought this today...

I love my Wolfgang Puck cookware and saw this flipping through the channels and I sucked it up and got it.

http://www.hsn.com/todays-special_xh.aspx

My Foreman with the replaceable plates was on it's last legs. It got very heavy usage and was loved by all in my household. I replaced it briefly with a flat grill/griddle combo but it just wasn't the same so the Foreman came back out from the pantry.

I decided to try the W.Puck because of the floating lid feature which allows me to make Pizzas and open faced sandwiches.

I'm not cooking much lately so we'll have to rely on the SO for the final opinion on this one. He's a tough sell so it should be interesting.

[housewolf]

19. Impressive!

I just saw you post (haven't been online for a few days after frying my old computer Thursday night!) but I was able to find the machine. The price today is $119, I imagine that's something more than what you paid for it, but the option of 3 flex-pays helps out.

Can't wait till you get it and can let us know how you like it. I loved the part about the storage drawer for the extra plates, and the fact that the plates are dish-washable.

[The empressof all]

20. I'm really looking forward to it

Looks like my link went hinky. Here's what I got

http://kitchen-dining.hsn.com/wolfgang-puck-multi-position-tri-grill-with-storage-and-removable-drip-tray_p-4337246_xp.aspx?web_id=4337246&ocm=sekw

I got it for $99 including free shipping so I think I got a good deal. It was probably a bit more than a new Forman with the replaceable plates but I think it's tres cool looking. I love the little storage area for the extra plates too. With my closet sized kitchen a little extra space for organization goes a long way in my book.

I think that Wolfgang makes a really good product. I've been happy with everything I've gotten with his name on it. Ordinarily, I'm not impressed at all with celebrity endorsed products but I've been so happy with his pans that I just rave about them to everyone.

I'm really looking forward to using this grill's "broiling" feature. I can actually melt cheese on a sandwich or burger without it getting mushy. Hopefully it won't be too hard for the Hubs to use. He could barely use the Forman. He's not a bad cook when he puts his mind to it but even though he's picky about the quality of his food he doesn't want to put the time and effort in to it. He'd rather eat a good PB & J and get it overwith than make a Burger.