Thinking of getting one, but found so many differant types now getting confused

Also are they easy-ish to clean ?


Is there one you'd rec for family of 4 (2 adults 2 children)

thanks in advance

jo x x

A lot of people swear by them, I don't. They don't get hot enough to sear a steak properly. Also, although the fat drains out of burgers etc so does the flavour. I'm a firm believer in "no fat, no flavour". They are supposed to be good for Panini type sandwiches though.
I'm sure there'll be a lot of posters along soon who are big fans of them!

Ok thanks for reply

jo x x

Mine has now gone to the gadget resting place on top of the shelf. I can't be bothered with it, hassle to clean.

I suppose it depends what you cook on it. I use mine a lot, it's permanently on the worktop next to my toaster. I only have a small one for cooking for me, but don't find it a problem to clean. I mainly grill things like Quorn fillets or veggie burgers. They only take about 15 mins whilst I am preparing the salad or whatever. To clean, I just wipe mine down with a wad of kitchen roll whilst still warm. Maybe it's different if you cook greasy meat stuff though.

Steaks are rubbish on it, but it's great for Sausages and Bacon and as you say Toasted Sandwiches.

It's piece of piss to clean as well, don't understand people who say it isn't.

Haven't used mine in ages. It was alright but prefer using the grill for cooking things like bacon (comes out crispier) and sausages. Last time I used it was to make a panini actually. But I agree they are really easy to clean in my opinion.

We had ours for a few years before the black coating started to flake off and things would get stuck to it. This was mainly my sisters fault who would use a scouring pad on it after she used it, insted of the kithcen roll method which most people used.

It was good for toasties, bacon and sausages, we didn't use it for much else, the top area for heating up rolls was good too.

Generally using a scouring pad on a non-stick surface is a bad idea.

I've got one with removable grill plates - Just take them off & place in the dishwasher (or soak/wash by hand) - It's a lot easier than the old one I had where the plates don't come off!

I got a Morphy Richards toaster/grill from ASDA and that is very easy to clean. Toasted sandwiches are excellent and miles better than the toasted sandwich maker we had in the 80's/90's as kiddywinks.

I keep hearing removable grill plates are better

thanks for replies everyone, mmm don't sound that great on average, but gotta feeling i won't be happy till ive tried one now

jo x x

Me too.
I don't use it for steaks any more since I got my cast-iron skillet, but great for other stuff.
Mix the fat that comes out with seeds, breadcrumbs, leftovers etc and put it out for the birds.

they are a nightmare to clean!

Why do you say that out of interest? I clean it while it's still hot, takes about 2 minutes with some kitchen paper.

You can get grill sponges

http://www.grillingwithgeorge.com/range/sponge.aspx

I swear by my George Foreman, use it pretty much every day. Best thing I've bought for the kitchen.

Either your not using hot enough water, or you aren't cleaning it while it is still warm. It is no different then cleaning a frying pan that has had cooking oil, the fat from the food and any water lost by the food. Leave that for a while and you will have a nightmare to clean it.

Secret to any greasy cleaning, is hot water (as hot as you can stand it) and plenty of washing up liquid. Water by itself won't lift the grease from the surface, that is what the WU liquid is for. If you have to, turn it on just below the lowest setting for a few minutes, turn off and slowly pour hot soapy water over the plate. Close up and finish the rest of your dishes, then a dish cloth or kitchen towel should lift the whole lot away.

So far I have worn out 2 GF Grills and are onto our third one with the hot plate/grill combo. Not one of them have been a nightmare to clean, even with lazy ass daughter who don't bother to clean up after them.

We started off with a GFgrill, it was fine for cleaning if it was still warm, then I saw an Anthony Worral Thompson one with removable plates, great, I thought (as it was myself who always ended up cleaning the GF grill) I can stick this in the dishwasher.

So I gave the GF to my son who was moving into a flat, but the AWT grill plates soon deteriorated with getting put in the dishwasher & sadly packed up altogether not long after.

We now have another GF grill, I always wipe the grill plates with a little oil/marg before cooking anything, wipe off most residue with kitchen paper, then more or less perch it over the washing up bowl & rinse off with soapy water.

My conclusion is best using one without the removable plates. If you are watching the weight...they're great

Precarious, but if it works.....why not. Personally I just leave the drip tray in place, as the hot soapy water will be doing its work on that as well.

They are fantastic for making panini, we use ours a lot for lunches at weekends and they just wipe clean. Even my teenage son can use it, Ciabatta cut in half and sprinkled with a little olive oil, mozarella, parma ham, and some basil leaves, sandwich back together and place in hot FM grill for 5 mins. Delicious. mmm

I'm quite looking forward to getting one now, some great tips, and esp good idea about using the fat that comes out with leftovers etc to put it out for the birds..


thanks everyone

jo x x

Well just got home and unpacked a

'George Foreman Café George'
cost me £34.99

Good news >Has a temperature control, timer and grilling space to cook 6 chicken breasts etc

Bad news > No removable plates or floating opening lid
but think it will be ok for what I want


Any more tips what to or not to cook etc be very welcome.

Sausage and burgers to try it out tonight

jo x x

Hi Jorda,

I have a similarly sized one to yours. Don't worry about it not having removable plates. I find the best way to clean it is to run a damp sponge (no washing up liquid) over the warm plates a few times, rinsing the sponge in between wipes. Or as mentioned in another post, simply use kitchen towel.

As well as the usual burgers, bacon, etc, the grill is great for making warm sandwich wraps. Fill a flour tortilla with whatever you want, roll up and place it on the preheated George for about five minutes. It warms through and goes golden on the outside. Delicious!

Hi Victoria Sponge,
love your ID

Thanks, and for sandwich wraps idea they sound lovely, im going to make a list of recipes to try on it...

Will be bit scared to use tonight, have turned on to check its working ok, think my husband is half expecting a dash to the fish shop later

jo x x

Here i go.. 1st really silly question

is it ok to melt some cheese on burgers once there cooked?
i can turn the heat down

jo x x