Yesterday, we took a look at the Leap Motion Controller. Today, we're going to head back into the kitchen. Today, we're going to check out the George Foreman Grill.
In 1994, a product was released, promoted by former Olumpic gold medalist and heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman. The Mean, Lean, Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine - or George Foreman Grill was introduced as an electric two-sided contact grill set on a slight angle. This design allowed for both sides of a food item - burger, chicken breast, steak, etc - to be cooked simultaneously, and the grease to run down into a specially designed tray. The effects of this were that food would cook faster, and there would be less grease, making it "better for you".
I remember seeing infomercials for this during the '90's. After knowing a few people - including my parents - that had one, I got one in 2003. I like to think I got some pretty good use out of it. I can't say I used it every day, but I used it enough over the course of a couple years that eventually, I wore it out and had to replace it. I wasn't the only one who enjoyed this product. Sales figures showed that over 100 million Foreman Grills were sold in the first 15 years of its existence.
Individual size Foreman grills, with non-removable plates run about $20, and are available at many retail stores. The original Foreman, which still has variations on the market, is designed to cook two portions, and tend to run $20-30 depending on store & sales. There are larger options, that can feed a family - 6 portion and 9 portion grills are available.
One criticism of the Foreman grill was that the contact plates were part of the grill. This presented certain challenges to cleaning the grill. Special cleaning sponges were made, but it still was not always the easiest thing to do. Further, abrasive cleaners and pads could not be used because they would ruin the non-stick surface. This was remedied with removable plate options for the Foreman Grills. These grills maintained the electric heating elements in both sides of the clamshell, but had detachable metal plates that could be washed in a sink or dishwasher.
Other options have been created, such as this indoor/outdoor grill. In fact, I once saw a product called "iGrill With George", which was a free-standing indoor/outdoor Foreman grill, with a speaker & dock for your mp3 player.
Economical Value:
The Forman Grill comes in several styles, configurations and price ranges. The most basic, single portion units can run about $15, with a good sale. Two portion grills may run $20-30, again sale-dependent. The size depends on your need. A heated up grill will cook a burger, steak, pork chop, chicken breast, etc in under 10 minutes, so, you can estimate your need based on your family size. It's hard to say this one "pyas for itself in _____". It does add a nice convenience factor, though. Assuming that you make food items it can handle (Yes, vegetarians, it can cook veggie burgers and other non-meat items), it's a nice accessory to have around the kitchen.
I would recommend this one for college students (dorm dwellers may want to check on rules), single folks, apartment dwellers, people who may not have time to roast/bake/broil all the time, but still want something good, and people looking for convenience.
The George Foreman grill and the concept spawned many copycats and variants. Check back tomorrow, and I'll detail some of those other items you may see or want.
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