George Foreman GR20WHT XL Grill
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of George Foreman GR20WHT XL Grill
Customer Review: I was skeptical, but now I'm sold . . .
Summary: 4 Stars
I'll admit it -- I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to kitchenware. I love to cook, I entertain frequently, and I collect cookbooks. I'd heard about the George Foreman Grill, and generally figured it wasn't for me. If I wanted something grilled, I'd do it the "proper" way -- on an outdoor gas grill! However, I kept hearing about this George Foreman grill, and figured it was worth a look -- especially since the weather had made it impossible to grill outdoors for several months.I purchased the "middle" size (called XL), figuring that if I didn't like it, I wasn't out that much $$, and I could probably give it to my mother. I have to say -- I was VERY pleasantly surprised.
As others have said, it's virtually fool-proof. There's no "on-off" switch -- you plug it in, wait for it to heat up, and start cooking. When you're finished, you unplug it. It has a short cord to prevent accidents, so if you don't have an outlet handy, it could be awkward. Also, the cookbook that comes with the grill is woefully lacking in general advice (for example, a "time needed to cook" chart for various types of meat and fish, based on thickness, would have been a nice touch). You pretty much have to figure things out for yourself.
That said, it does a fine job on steak, salmon, chicken breast, and pork chops. I haven't tried it on veggies or sausages yet, but I anticipate no problems. The food turns out nicely seared (in a grill-stripe pattern), and juicy inside.
My biggest complaint is clean-up. You cannot immerse the grill in water, so you have to do the best you can with paper towels and damp sponges. It would have been nice to have made the grill plates removable, so that they could be washed properly.
In all, however, I'm quite pleased with this grill. I anticipate using it far more than I expected I would. I've only had it a week, and I've already used it 4 times. If you're looking for something that is quick, easy, and produces good results with just a little attention, definitely give the George Foreman grill some consideration.
I'm keeping mine; Mom can get her own.
Customer Review: For Upper cuts,...of meat
Summary: 4 Stars
While I was in Joliet Correctional boot camp, we found that cooking meat from both sides was the way to go, holding a beef patty between 2 clothing irons was faster and juicer. I thought nothing could be that until I saw The George Forman XL grille. It's a great way to grill up some meat quickly and evenly. (10mins. for a 1 inch thick, 8oz. burger, medium done.) It is perfect for keeping in those all important meat juices whilst grilling. I hate flipping burgers, especially when the grill gets dirty, and the drive-thru manager is in a bad mood. Eliminating the need to flip your meat means less of a chance for pesky burns and stains. The accompanying spatula doesn't fit in the grooves sufficiently and is only the beginning of clean up woes. Keep in mind that you can't simply drop this in a sink full of water (or dishwasher). At 10 by 8-1/2 by 6 inches, the grill should handle one "George Sized" burger at a time. That's about 4 standard human burgers to you and me. I also highly recommend the companion book: George Foreman's Big Book of Grilling, Barbecue, and Rotisserie. I will say I am somewhat concerned about the "drip off" method the "Champ" has chosen. Having to place small oval bowls beneath the unit to catch boiling hot grease is not exactly fun for the whole family unless you intend to provide some first aid lessons for the young ones. Though infomercials are a surefire way to find superior products, I am concerned about health. After all, even at his thinnest, George Forman still had a 39inch waist in his prime, but I am so captivated how he say's "knocks out the fat". I guess if he says it on TV, it has to be true. This product is much better than Smokin' Joe Frazier's Funky Fondue Pot, and Evander's Ear of Corn Rotisserie. However, I have heard that Mike Tyson is a planning a similar product that uses the heating elements of 2 clothing irons; his grill will be called, Mike Tyson's Cellmate.Customer Review: Knockout Performance
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't recommend George Foreman's grills highly enough. If you want to do a huge barbecue party and invite everyone and her sister, the Foreman grills (even the XXL, the next size up from this one) probably won't cook enough at a time to keep everyone happy. However, for home and family use, it's perfect.Before I had my GF grill, I dealt with my apartment complex's charcoal grill, which I couldn't use indoors, and it was a mess to use. Later, I bought a "suitcase" (i.e. small and portable) gas grill. I could operate that on my balcony, but it's not something you'd ever bring inside your kitchen. That was also a mess to clean.
Enter my GF grill. I got this size because it was perfect for my uses. This grill is the perfect size for 4 burgers (veggie or standard, whatever's your pleasure). If you want a slightly larger size, that will accommodate 6 burgers, for example, go with the XXL size instead of this one. I've also found it a joy to use with portobello mushrooms and grillable vegetables. The tilt of the GF grill is such that your items will not slip down off the grill but that the stuff you want to slip down (excess fat, etc.) will be collected in the receptacle.
I know some people suggested that the grilling plates be removable, and if the manufacturer could work that out, great, but I never saw it as much of an obstacle. All it takes to clean it is a quick wipe-down with a damp sponge. The coating (teflon?) is really superb. I've not once had my food stick to the grill.
It's of an extremely portable size should you care to take it out of the house. All you would need would be access to an electrical outlet, making it ideal for campers or better-equipped parks. I find the GF grill an indispensable kitchen appliance, a healthier and better-tasting alternative to microwaving or range cooking.
Customer Review: This is one hot little item!
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this particular grill 6 months ago. I am very happy with it. It works exactly as described. The design is very elegant and it fits very nicely in a cupboard or on a shelf. It will cook two large burger patties if you squish them in a little , sort of diagonally. (They shrink during cooking). I find that you have to stop halfway through cooking and rotate the meat half a turn so as not to have the grill marks too dark, as this grill is very hot. Also I like to flip the meat at this time, but you don't have to. The grease pours out the front during cooking, into the tray provided, which is pretty shallow. If cooking hamburgers this tray fills very quickly and must be emptied each time (don't forget or you will have a mess). I keep a tin can right nearby to discard the hot grease. This model cooks very quickly, so be ready with more patties. It will cook two large thawed patties in about 5 minutes or less. You have to actually use thick patties in order to make contact with the upper grill, so smaller thinner patties actually don't cook as quickly or evenly as the thicker (1/4 lb ) ones. So you are going to be buying those kaiser type hamburger buns.. This will be perfectly fine with the men and teenagers in your household. I did not give it 5 stars because there is still a fair amount of cleanup afterwards, because grease can spatter outward, (use oven mitts) when you open the lid, also you can't immerse the unit so you are left with wiping it numerous times with many wet paper towels, which is a messy job. Lots of steam comes out the back and sides so use it under the vent hood on high or your house will smell like a fast food kitchen.Customer Review: great for low-carb dining and fast 'real' meals
Summary: 4 Stars
GOOD POINTS:
Several of my friends have already said that they believe that this little tv-infomercial item will become the next staple of the kitchen. It is fast, makes great juicy grilled food because it basically sears the food on both sides simultaneously so no moisture can get out. It's the best for low carb dieting. It's also the best for people like me who hate eating out, don't have the time for gourmet cooking during the weekdays and refuse to eat out of a can or out of a box. It does great grilled veggies too.
I've had mine for over 1 year now and I haven't found the 'on/off' switch. Either I'm oblivious or it doesn't have one. You have to pull the plug to turn it off. For me, it's very troubling to have to do that and see the little spark everytime you yank the plug out. On top of that, you have to train yourself to do it and treat it a lot like your iron or you'll have a fire-hazard on your hands. I would not only feel really stupid but I'd also love it if someone would tell me that I've been overlooking some little switch on the underside for 1 year.
It's extremely annoying to clean. Either you have to clean it hot (and risk burning yourself), or you have to clean it somewhere near water and the sink because you can't just magically wipe away cold hamburger grease with a papertowl no matter how much the commercials might want you to think you can. It's bulky and hard to manipulate in the sink and the directions say, 'don't immerse in water.'
This product feels like the beta version of a great appliance. It's a great idea no doubt, but it still has the feeling and functionality of a 19.95 Ginsu knife set.