A Must For Healthy Eating (George Foreman Grills)

Member Name: milmol

Product:	George Foreman Grills
Date:	30/06/02 (2076 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cooks food quickly and lets fat drain away.

Disadvantages: Make sure you buy the correct size.

I have the world cup to thank for my ‘Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine’, let me explain. Hubby had decided he must have a wide screen TV to watch the world cup and nothing else would suffice, he had to go to work so he sent me off to the shop with clear instructions on which TV he wanted. Now that was mistake No. 1, mistake No. 2 was he instructed me to put it on his credit card until he could go to the building society to withdraw the cash. Now I had been thinking of buying one of these machines and while I was in the shop I noticed some on the shelves. They seemed very reasonably price at £24.99 and so I impulsively told the shop assistant ‘I’ll have one of those as well’, after all if he can buy a new telly he can’t begrudge me a grill can he????? That was mistake No.1 for me and I’ll explain why later.

On arriving home I unpacked the machine, (I left the TV for hubby to see to) and my first impression was disappointment at the small size. The one I bought is actually the same size as a sandwich toaster and not really appropriate for families, my mistake. It’s a nice creamy colour that doesn’t clash with any other appliances but I believe the bigger sizes come in various colours and with a ‘Bun warming’ facility in the lid. I have to say though that I was not disappointed in any other way. That night I decided to cook Steak. The instructions say the machine must be used on a heat resistant surface and it must be wiped with a damp cloth before using for the first time. The grill becomes very hot and care must be taken once it has been plugged in. The cooking surface is non-stick so no metal implements should be used and it must be kept away from any sources of water.

To use the grilling machine you first need to gently wipe the non stick surface with a piece of kitchen roll with either low fat margarine or cooking oil, then turn the machine on to heat up. There is a light
on top of the machine that goes out when the correct temperature is reached. A small narrow plastic tray is placed under the grill at the front to catch any fat that drips from the food. Any food that is to be cooked must be no more than 1inch thick to ensure it cooks all the way through. Place the food on the non-stick plates and close the lid. The lid is actually on a ‘movable hinge’ to allow it to accommodate thick or thin slices of food and it is not necessary to press the lid down as it will toughen meat and crush fish. The instructions state that if the ridges around the cooking plates do not overlap or at least meet the food inside is too thick to cook safely in the machine.

Cooking times vary depending on if foods are fresh or frozen and they recommend meat be cooked until the juices run clear. The steaks I cooked took 6 minutes (these were medium to well done) and a haddock fillet takes 3-4 minutes. The book says fruit i.e. bananas; apples and nectarines can be cooked though it doesn’t appeal to me. You can also cook Brussel sprouts though why you would want to grill them I cannot imagine.

Things I Have Cooked ~

Tomatoes
Sausage
Peppers
Steak
Fish
Mushrooms
Bacon
Lamp chops
Pork chops
Onions
Toasted Sandwiches (less hassle than the sandwich toaster as the slices will fit in without trimming).
Kebabs

Five recipes are in the instructions book including George Foreman’s Powerburger and Rosemary Lamb Chops but most meats and vegetables are included in a list of cooking times.

The amount of fat that drains from some meat is amazing and yet the food is left moist and tender. Bacon sandwiches are so easy with no turning or being spat at by the frying pan, you also are left with ‘barbeque’ type lines on the food, which is quite attractive to see.

After use the machine must be allowed to cool and then a plastic spatula is provided
with prongs that are spaced to fit the machine to gently scrape off any stubborn marks. The non-stick surface is then wiped with a damp cloth and this is honestly enough to clean it. The small plastic tray can then be placed on the top shelf of the dishwasher although I recommend removing any fat with kitchen roll first or it might block the machine.

The instruction book also covers After Sales Service with hints on what to do if the machine is not working properly and a phone number for the Customer Services Dept. It comes with one years guarantee and clear instructions and contact numbers for the company which is Salton and is based in Manchester.

Regrets ~ I didn’t look at the size of the machine in the shop and I wish I had bought the next size which I believe was approx £45. The small size is more appropriate for one person and when I use it I have to cook one steak and then keep it warm while I cook another. Apart from that which is clearly my own fault I love this machine. I use it nearly every day, it’s a very healthy way to cook and I wish I’d had one years ago.

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