Customer Reviews

George Foreman Grilling in Hot Metals, Blue

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

UPDATE: I have now owned the griller for well over a year. I still use it regularly (now several years, still using it regularly). If I can grill it instead of microwaving it (fish burgers/fillets, veggie burgers, frozen egg rolls, and lately chicken patties or breasts), I do. Still miss an on/off switch. Wish it were just a bit wider to get 2 veggie burgers or a top & bottom of a bun side by side to toast (without smashing them in there). Bigger units seem "too" big, unfortunately, with lids also far too heavy, smashing foods. Buns will warm on their own and sometimes toast slightly if you let them sit on top of the unit during warmup/cooking, or toast them by laying them in the grill (some robust buns can essentially handle you closing the lid to toast both sides simultaneously, or making a 'toasted sandwich'). Everything said in my review still rings true to me, and this is possibly my most-used kitchen gadget aside from microwave and refrigerator. Non-stick surface is still going strong (no noticeable wear), and is hard and (thankfully), apparently not being Teflon/fluoride (poison) based. Pretty good for an impulse buy, or something I wasn't sure I would use. I also still get a lot of use out of my stick blender and stainless steel deep fryer.

--Original Review--
- Cons: No thermostat, no on/off switch, some stickiness, heat distribution not perfect.

- Pros: Easy to use, fairly easy to clean, somewhat thoughtful design, quick easy cooking.

Resembles an entry-level wafflemaker, only with grilling ridges instead of waffle divots, and smaller. Is priced similarly. The similarities continue with the lack of an on/off switch, and lack of temp setting, and the "heating" light which goes on and off as it maintains temperature. Differences from a wafflemaker would be the slope concept (to let fat "drip off", and I think they have a patent on this concept), and the articulated lid which accomodates various thicknesses of foods.

Manufactured by Salton Industries, this could be good or bad depending on your experience/opinion with their products. I don't eat birds or mammals, but I still bought it because it cooks fish & veggie burgers great. I bought it after grilling some fozen fish with it at a friend's house, fish my friend's brother had caught, and it did a very good job. The grill ribs seem a bit [too] high, and get higher toward the front end; the newer ones have lower ribs. Still, the ribs go cook into the food and the rest of the heating surface contacts the food.

Would prefer a temp switch to avoid inconsistent cooking, also better heat distribution; have only used mine thrice, and as long as I leave it in there long enought, it's okay. Believe it or not, it's great for breadded fish filets (if flattening them a bit), veggie burgers, and frozen fish burgers (like salmon or mahi mahi). Sure beats babysitting it in the frying pan! No need for oil, either (though animal body fat is -really- what's unhealthy, since it's solid at body temperature, unlike natural plant oils and dairy). I think the lack of on/off switch is a negative safety factor, and is a stupid form of cost-saving, being the most inconvenient thing about the product, esp right after your food is cooked and it's hot (and possibly open) and you're trying to quickly reach behind to unplug it. Just like a wafflemaker.

Strangely enough, the included recipie ideas suggest cooking whole dishes on the thing, such as starting with onions, then adding other things like veggies and cooked noodles. I think that may be a bit of a stretch, kind of like microwaveable cakes in the 80s, but it's within the realm of conceivability. I like to toast my split buns in a toaster oven, so the lack of a "bun warmer" gives you a cost break, and if you toast them, you won't miss the feature (the "warmer" doesn't toast, so kinda gimmicky anyway, and probably interferes with lid operation).

Attractive enough to have around. (I got the cobalt blue version and it is a pleasing color.) Included spatula has cutouts to help you scrape off most of the sticky stuff which adheres to the cooking surface between the ribs and is useful. A subsequent wipedown is sufficient, though not the best non-stick surface I've seen.

Depending on what you're cooking, how many people, and how hungry you are, this MAY or MAY NOT be big enough. Frozen battered fish pieces, or frozen egg rolls are perfect in this, and you can arrange them efficiently. Burgers or pieces of chicken, not so much. Quick cooking due to cooking on both sides and less tending to food, quick cleanup too which increases overall convenience (and your willingness to prepare the food). There are competitors/imitators, some with temp control; most of those have lower/wider ribs, and again I think the "slope"/fat drain concept is patented. Part of the "high rib" reason on this model appears to be to "grab" the food to keep it from sliding down, as are the rib "teeth" at the front to keep it from sliding out entirely. I think this is overdone, as newer models' ribs seem shorter.

Amazon's shipping weight of 21 pounds is untrue (ridiculous, actually); this has to be some kind of error (maybe 2.1 pounds). Shipping charge to me in Calif. would have been seventeen dollars (!) if it weren't for Super Saver free shipping, so it was moot for me, but make sure for you.

Buying this grill to help you lose weight by getting mammal or fowl gristle to roll out is, frankly, stupid. Again, the problem with warm-blooded meat fat is that it's solid at BODY temperature (not even dairy fat is), which makes it unique among fats and much more dangerous. If you're concerned about health or avoiding fat, reduce/eliminate your red meat intake and just don't temp or lie to yourself, by buying a meat griller. But if you want quicker, easier cooking of many common foods, this may be the the product for you. I have warmed up ("cooked") pre-made frozen fried chicken in this, and it takes a long time... but does work if you give it enough time. Doesn't do so well with frozen burritos (outside gets burned while inside might have frozen center, then it smushes/leaks)--microwave and/or toaster oven is better for that.

Got this as a gift and find it hard to operate and clean. Will going back to store tomorrow.