It's lean, it's mean but ain't no grilling machine (George Foreman 14066 GRP3 Grill)

Member Name: Tamarind

Product:	George Foreman 14066 GRP3 Grill
Date:	23/02/09 (347 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Removable plates for easy cleaning

Disadvantages: Small cooking area

George Foreman first became famous when he was two-time heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Today, however, his name is synonymous with Lean Mean Grilling Machines which he launched in 1996, having designed them as a way for us to eat more healthily.

I have owned a George Foreman grill for a number of years but when it eventually packed in a few months ago I was secretly quite glad. Why, you may ask? Well, designs have moved on since I last purchased and now I could buy one with removable plates. This had been my only bug bear with my old one, as it really was a pain trying to clean the plates whilst keeping the machine out of the water.

Off to Argos I headed and looking through their catalogue decided on the 14066 model as it had the desired removable plates. Better still, it was on sale and reduced from £39.99 to £29.99. It was obviously a very popular item as I had to order it but it took only a couple of days to arrive.

When I opened the box I must admit was a bit disappointed with the size of the grill. The description had stated that it was big enough for cooking for two, which was what I wanted. However, it must be for people who eat very small portions. To give you an idea of the size of the plates, you would not be able to make two toasted sandwiches side by side, made from an ordinary sized, sliced loaf. I would say it is better sized for solo cooking.

As is usual, there are heating elements in the top and bottom of the grill and the plates sit on top on them. The plates are released by sliding latches that are located on either side of the grill. I find you sometimes have to wiggle the handles around in the latches to ensure they been properly secured when replacing the plates. A word of warning, if you don't do this you can give yourself a nasty burn when you next lift the lid , as the hot plate falls out of the machine.

To heat the grill it is simply a case of plugging it in. A light on the top will glow until the pre-set temperature has been reached. Unlike other models you cannot set the amount of cooking time you would like, it is a case of on or off. There seems to be a cut off when the temperature is reached but unfortunately it usually happens when you don't want it to, usually in the middle of cooking. I get quite frustrated whilst waiting for something to cook and the machine seems to grind to a halt.

The grill also comes with a plastic drip tray. This needs to be placed in front of the grill whilst cooking and is used to catch any drips or fat that is released whilst cooking.. Both the plates and the drip tray can be washed in hot soapy water or placed in the top rack of your dishwasher if you have one. I prefer to handwash them as that way I am able to gently rub the plates with a soft brush to remove any food that has become stuck.

With regard to cooking, again I am not that impressed. It seems to take ages to cook even the simplest of things, like a slice of bacon or a sausage. Although the plates are coated with non-stick material, I find certain foods do tend to stick. If I am in a rush I prefer to use the grill in my oven as, not only is it quicker, but I can cook more food in one go.

I think you will have already guessed from the above that I am disappointed with this machine. The only saving grace is the removable plates, which makes for easier cleaning. Other than that, I really don't have a good word to say about it. It certainly was cheap and in this case, I obviously got what I paid for. My advice would be to pay for a bigger machine with more features.

Summary: Cheap machine that takes ages to cook anything