Do you use a george foreman grill?

Category: Let's talk

Post 1 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Sunday, 14-Jan-2007 12:27:29

Hi all. Well, I got one of these grills for Christmas, because I'd like to start learning more about cooking. I love baking, and I know that I'd like cooking too, so I asked for one, and I got it. I know that there are a lot of blind and visually impaired people out there who use these, and so I was just wondering how many of you use them, and what kinds of things do you like to make?

Post 2 by bozmagic (The rottie's your best friend if you want him/her to be, lol.) on Sunday, 14-Jan-2007 12:48:50

Well well well, what a coincidence. I was cajoled in to asking for a George Foreman grill for my Birthday, 7 weeks before Christmas, and I got one. They really are a blessing when it comes to heating cuts of meat, toasties and stuff (that's generally what I use mine for).

Post 3 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 14-Jan-2007 22:25:29

Hi! George Foreman grills are awesome! I make all kinds of things with mine. Hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks. Grilled cheese sandwiches, tuna patties, chicken breasts. If you have the one with the different sets of irons, you can make pancakes, waffles, and even more. I suck at flipping things, and with the Foreman, I don't have to. Yay!

Post 4 by rdfreak (THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE-BLUE KANGA-KICKIN AUSIE) on Monday, 15-Jan-2007 1:25:11

yep, they're awesome! .. I have cooked sandwiches on them before. a lot of the time now, I cook sausages, chops and steak on there, but there is no real limit to what ya can do with them! .. apparently ya can cook chicken on there but mine have always been to dry when I've tried. .. if you've got a scanner, scan the book that comes with it. there's a lot of great recipes in there for the grill.
happy cooking!

Post 5 by Ukulele<3 (Try me... You know you want to.) on Monday, 15-Jan-2007 6:41:18

That is awesome. I got one for Christmas too. lol My brother and sister completely surprised me by getting me one. I haven't had much time to play around with it but I am sure I'll have lots of fun experimenting with it. hehe

Michelle

Post 6 by Thom3of5 (Do the Doo.) on Monday, 15-Jan-2007 6:52:07

We have one. I think that pork chops and chicken breast turn out good, Thought, I like chicken breast cooked in the oven better. We even tried cooking bacon in it, that worked out good too. It keeps them flat and the grease runs right off. We also have the baby George Forman rotisserie. It's the bomb. A whole chicken or a pork loin, even without seasonings, turn out great.

Post 7 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Monday, 15-Jan-2007 9:12:36

I haven't experimented around with mine yet, but I'm excited about starting. I'm so interested to learn how to cook different things. One thing that makes me nervous though, is meats. I'm afraid that I won't know when the meat is done, and it'll either be overcooked, or, *cringe*, undercooked. Were any of you nervous about this too? If so, what techniques do you use to determine whether or not something is all the way cooked to your liking.

Post 8 by fuzzy101 (The master of fuzz!!) on Monday, 15-Jan-2007 11:53:33

sample it and if it needs more time, put it on for more ttime.
Just remember that the bigger the thing you cook on there, the more time it will probably need.
Hot-dogs take the less time with about 6 to 10 minutes, while other things take fifteen or more.

Post 9 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 15-Jan-2007 13:20:36

If you can scan the book that comes with it, or go through it with a reader, the book tells you the precise timing you'll need for certain meats, based on their size. the first time you cook something, follow the book's recommended time, and experiment as needed. But once you've got it, then whenever you cook that same thing, you just time how long you know to cook it, and then it's done.

Post 10 by bozmagic (The rottie's your best friend if you want him/her to be, lol.) on Monday, 15-Jan-2007 16:58:56

Well, i think burgers, cutlets and things just need around eight minutes, because they either burn or explode if left any longer than that in the George Foreman. Mum thought they needed 10 minutes, but I found cooking anything like burgers, grills or sausages for over 8 minutes, that the outside always catches or they stick to the lid of the grill when you open it to lift them out on to your bap or slice of bread with the spatula provided, so, for the past two lunchtimes, I've only cooked them for 8 minutes or 9 minutes maximum to ensure they didn't burn or fall apart again.

Post 11 by guitargod1 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Tuesday, 16-Jan-2007 1:43:16

two things about the foreman. don't put anything frozen into it. let it thaw first. also, let it heat up and then open it and put the food in. it will click when it gets to the correct temperature. If you put things into it before it heats up all the way, your cooking times will be off. I've had very good results with mine, even doing sausage, capers, onions, and peppers all at once. Took seven minutes. if you're going to do vegetables though especially, be sure to use olive oil or canola oil etc.

Post 12 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Tuesday, 16-Jan-2007 10:24:55

Another question. For some reason, mine didnt' come with the little spatula thinggy that it's supposed to have. Are you able to buy these separately?

Post 13 by Polka dots and Moonbeams (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 16-Jan-2007 14:50:35

I definitely recommend a meat themomitor. Not sure if there are talking ones; my is electronic.

I love the George! Have been thinking of upgrading to the one with removable grill plates. That is the dreaded task, washing the darn thing.

I haven't had something explode or fall apart. My burgers, do tend to turn out a bit over done, but we like them that way anyway. I love doing pork or chicken. First, I marinate it, then cook it on the George.

The new one has adjustable temps, so I'm hoping that will help things getting done, but not over cooking on the outside.

PS. If anyone is a QVC fan, did you see the pink one offered? *grin!*

Post 14 by guitargod1 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Wednesday, 17-Jan-2007 0:42:01

the little plastic spachula doesn't work that well. and you don't need a meat thermometer. just follow the guidelines and use a butter knife or fork. put it in the center, straight down, all the way through, hold it in for five seconds, take it out, and touch the end of it. If it's hot, then it's done. if it's cold or luke warm, give it more time. it's a pretty reliable method. Mine, which is the small all in one version, where the surfaces don't come off, is a pain to clean. it's best to clean it when she's still warm.

Post 15 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Wednesday, 17-Jan-2007 13:08:02

Mine is the kind with the removable plates, so I'm glad for that. It'll definitely make cleaning up easier. As far as the thermometer goes, I've thought about getting one. I can see how the knife/fork method could work, but for now, since I'm a beginner, I think a thermometer would be agood idea.

Post 16 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Thursday, 18-Jan-2007 1:02:03

As far as timing goes, I put the meat in and wait for my smoke alarm to go off. then it's done.

Seriously, guitargod1 is right about that little spatula thing. It's not worth worrying about it. Just use a plastic spatula. I would think that a metal spatula might scratch the surface.

Congrats on getting the one with removable plates. Mine doesn't have them and it's a real pain to clean. I don't know what the book says about cleaning by immersion, but I do it and have had no problems so far.

Bob

Post 17 by Bryan (This site is so "educational") on Thursday, 18-Jan-2007 8:20:55

i have one, but don't really like it, but there is a george foreman rotisserie that is just great and very easy to use and clean up is no big deal

Post 18 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Thursday, 18-Jan-2007 11:42:28

Well, so far, I've used it once, to make a tuna melt, and so far, I like it very much. I've only used another once before, so I'm not extremely experienced with them. I've heard so many people say that they use them, and that they love them. I can see this. Once I start learning more about cooking, I think that I will be very fond of this grill. LOL.

Post 19 by bozmagic (The rottie's your best friend if you want him/her to be, lol.) on Friday, 19-Jan-2007 11:30:30

Mine's also the type with the removable plates. Cleaning them though, is a challenge! The fat never wants to shift.

Post 20 by shea (number one pulse checking chicky) on Friday, 19-Jan-2007 12:12:04

hmmm, i have to disagree with you not putting frozen foods on the grill. i do it all the time and my food still turns out great! I do chicken breast twelve to fourteen minutes, depending on who is eating. Dan likes his a lot more crispier than i do. so yeah. good luck with you grill and just experiment!

Post 21 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Friday, 19-Jan-2007 12:16:14

Thanks. I'm hopeing to do some more experimenting. So far, I've only tried the tuna melt, but I'm gonna try more this week. Probably some chicken. I love chicken!

Post 22 by Jess227 on Friday, 19-Jan-2007 22:07:30

My parents use to own one. I loved it as it cooks food more healthy. Unfortunately sis was moving out and needed a grill that she could use inside and that does what the George Forman Grill does so the parents gave it to her.

Post 23 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Friday, 19-Dec-2008 13:43:15

I read that you can cook eggs on the George Foreman. Have any of you tried it?

Post 24 by Ukulele<3 (Try me... You know you want to.) on Friday, 19-Dec-2008 18:35:07

lol I grill frozen stuff too. You just have to give it 2 to 3 minutes more on the grill depending.

Post 25 by Albanac (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Saturday, 20-Dec-2008 17:28:53

I love my gf grill. I too cook frozen things on it and have no trouble doing so. For chicken I use a talking meat thermometer, www.blindmicemart.com sells them as do other places. I bought mine from the RNIB over here in the UK.

The only more unusual thing I've cooked on it apart from chicken and burgers etc is pineapple drizzled with honey and cinamon. Very nice that is too.

Oh yeah and my grill has an adjustable temp gauge, which I set in the middle setting for chicken, and it comes out very juicy indeed.

Cheers,
Simon

Post 26 by The royal princess (Zone BBS Addict) on Sunday, 28-Dec-2008 18:56:27

Hi, it's the royal princess. I have used a forman grill, but I use something a lot easier that might help you. There is a device that cooks, broils, bakes, fries, grills, barbeeques, bakes, dehydrates, and anything you can think of. It uses three types of cooking methods conduction, convection, and infrared. It is called the New Wave Oven pro. All you do is set it and forget it. Set the time. For instance, say that you take a ham streight out of frozen, you can cook it for 2 and a half hours from frozen. It leaves your ham juicy and flavery. What it does is it keeps in the juices and drains out all the fats and oils. It's great! I bought one for my dad and he liked it. Let me know if you want more Info. See ya.

Post 27 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Sunday, 28-Dec-2008 21:13:11

I've heard of the New Wave Oven Pro, but haven't actually seen one in person.

I'm still learning how to cook, so I think I'll definitely be putting my grill to use. I don't have an actual George Foreman, but it's one made by Hamilton Beach, and it does the same exact thing as the GF.

For Christmas I got one of those talking cooking thermometers from BlindMiceMart, so now that I have that, I'll feel much more comfortable with cooking meats.