George Foreman GR82B George Jr. Rotisserie
by George Foreman

List Price: $119.99
Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary

• 9-1/4-inch rotisserie spits hold 10-pound turkey, 2 chickens, roasts
• 8-1/4-by-7-1/2-by-2-1/2-inch flat basket for grilling fish, steaks, vegetables
• Round basket for roasting vegetables, "dry-frying" potatoes
• 6 skewers for kabobs, ribs; cook-time chart, recipes included
• Compact size: 18 inches wide, 12-1/2 inches high, 12-1/2 inches deep

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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of George Foreman GR82B George Jr. Rotisserie

Customer Review: From a Former Showtime User
Summary: 4 Stars

There's good and bad about both the George Jr. and the Showtime, but having tried both, I'd have to go with the Junior. For starters, the half-cylinder design and molded base make for a sturdier unit. (With the Showtime, you have to pull down a glass door secured by small pins that lock into a track that in itself is very flimsy and breakable, as others have reported.) Also, I have to admit that I wasn't looking forward to another go-around with Customer Service for my Showtime - would be great if long-time users would share their George Jr. CS experiences, here.

I'd also give the edge in terms of easy cleaning to the George Jr. Yes, the reflector thingie will never again attain it's perfect mirror finish after use, and I will update here if it loses any cooking speed once well "seasoned". As for heating up the kitchen - well, yes, it's un-insulated and needs to be kept well away from cabinetry, etc. so as not to do damage or start a fire! (As with any rotisserie of this type, it's advisable to stand it on a heat-resistant surface, as well.) But I'd say it really doesn't heat up my mid-sized kitchen noticeably, with the fairly open floor plan of our home. (I wouldn't even try this appliance in close quarters, though.) Oh, and for removing your cooked items, be sure to get yourself a good pair of heat proof gloves - no, *not* fabric, the rubberized, non-combustible kind - should be less than $... from the BBQ area of your local home store. The removal tool that comes with the George Jr. is ingenious, but I still find I need hand protection.

I do miss the Showtime's squeaky old rotisserie assembly. The chicken "skewering" plates were awkward, but held the birds (or roasts) quite securely for rotating. The George Jr. has nicer (bigger) turning gears for slow and silent rotation, but the actual skewer/plate things (check one in a store if you can't envision what I'm talking about) are more of a partial vice, complete with nut-screw tightening. Looks good, but in practice it seems a little insecure and you *really* have to truss a bird good in order to keep it from making contact with the heating element, which would be a fire hazard.

Which brings me to a final comment about the Junior - it doesn't seem to have quite the capacity of the full sized Showtime, although it claims to be able to handle two chickens, etc. I'd probably have bought the BIG George if I could find it in stores these days...and I can't imagine that the <even smaller> "Baby" George would really be suited for anything much bigger than one little chicken or a hefty game hen.

In my opinion, other than maybe BBQ, no chicken tastes better than a horizontal rotisserie chicken. It's not that much extra work, it's fun to watch, and it's a shame that there aren't more players in this appliance's arena updating and improving the designs. But until that happens, the George Jr. looks like a step up in usability and durability.

Description of George Foreman GR82B George Jr. Rotisserie

The spits are one of four cooking methods provided by the rotisserie. There's a round basket for roasting vegetables and "dry-frying" potatoes (fresh or frozen) in the low-fat method for which George Foreman appliances are famous. A flat basket measuring 8-1/4 inches long, 7-1/2 inches wide, and 2-1/2 inches deep adjusts to hold foods like fish, steaks, and vegetables flat for grilling as they rotate. Finally, six skewers fit into the rotisserie for kebabs and pork ribs. Other features include a lift-up cover with a window, a three-hour timer, and a pullout drip tray. The rotisserie has a metal-and-plastic exterior and a metal interior for easy cleaning. It carries a one-year warranty against defects and comes with a cooking time chart and recipes. --Fred Brack

Rotisseries & Roasters

• Kitchen & Dining > Small Appliances > Ovens & Toasters > Rotisseries & Roasters