Appliance Reviews

When my first Foreman (the small version) finally kicked the bucket and was retired with full honors, I went straight out to buy another one. This model is the best of several I've come across. It's sturdy, well constructed, the floating hinge lets you cook thicker cuts of meat, and it's wider than the smaller version so you don't have to scrunch up the bacon on the cooking surface. Everything I've grilled on it has come out tasting great. No more grease splatters all over the stove is another plus. And cleaning it up is a snap. I don't understand why anyone has a problem cleaning a Foreman. If it's cooled down, plug it in, let it warm up so that the grease melts, unplug it, take some damp paper towels and wipe it clean. You can add a little bit of detergent if you want but it's not necessary. My old Foreman performed like the champ its namesake was, and I'm expecting the same from this one.

This is our first day with our GF grill, but we've already made grilled vegetables (zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions) and Boca burgers. Everything turned out very well, and it was quick and easy. I think it's pretty easy to clean, too (much easier than your average broiler pan). This is a good size for two people, but don't expect to cook everything at once (i.e., meat and vegetables together). There isn't enough room, and if the items aren't of uniform thickness, the thinner items won't be as nicely grilled. Also, you may have to turn some items midway to get grill marks on both sides. I don't think the bun warmer does much good on its own, but it can be useful for keeping bread products warmed after you've heated them in the toaster. All in all, I'm very pleased. My husband and I had fun playing grill chefs indoors on a chilly fall day.

There are too many great things to say about this little device: It's affordable to anybody, even if you are a student stuck living at school. It's compact, you can store it anywhere--a closet, your car, your office, the kitchen cabinet. It's powerful--I have plugged it in and in just minutes began working on an entire three course meal for six people with only this unit to work with. It's easy to clean--this is one of the few products out there that is every bit as easy to clean as the commercials show it to be on TV. It's is economical, using very little electricity to do a just that would waste electricity in a conventional oven or even an older model microwave oven. It's versatile--I have cooked everything from thin pieces of tempeh strips to thick steaks and it cooks both to perfection. You never would have been able to convince me to buy anything on TV before (and most certainly not from a former boxing champion...) but since a friend both this grill for me I have thanked them time and again (and in turn bought the same gift for many a friend of my own).

What I really love about this grill is that it sears and cooks burgers, chicken cutlets, steaks, etc. evenly and within a short period of time. The lid automatically allows for thicker cuts of meat (I think up to 1" thickness) and is variable in its height adjustment, which is an excellent and useful feature.
The lid prevents any spattering of liquids or fats which are directed to empty into the plastic fat rendering container provided. Since there is a small output of smoke during grilling, I just place the grill on a thick wooden cutting board, on the stovetop (obviously with the burners in the off position) and with the stovetop hood on to remove smoke and odors; it's pretty effective.
Cleanup is relatively simple due to the grill's nonstick surface and takes just a few minutes. This model is quite small, compact and lightweight, making it easy to store. The surface area is large enough to grill two burgers at a time. I use it often and highly recommend it.

I had a white Foreman grill and recently bought this one as a gift for someone. It's easy to use, and can cook great-tasting, healthy meals. It's small, but is a great size to cook for 1-2 people, especially for college kids. I love the metallic color, (I bought green), it looks great!!! Trust me, if you cook one burger in it and watch all the fat that comes out, you'll never want to use anything else to cook with. Highly recommended!!!

There are too many great things to say about this little device: It's affordable to anybody, even if you are a student stuck living at school. It's compact, you can store it anywhere--a closet, your car, your office, the kitchen cabinet. It's powerful--I have plugged it in and in just minutes began working on an entire three course meal for six people with only this unit to work with. It's easy to clean--this is one of the few products out there that is every bit as easy to clean as the commercials show it to be on TV. It's is economical, using very little electricity to do a just that would waste electricity in a conventional oven or even an older model microwave oven. It's versatile--I have cooked everything from thin pieces of tempeh strips to thick steaks and it cooks both to perfection. You never would have been able to convince me to buy anything on TV before (and most certainly not from a former boxing champion...) but since a friend both this grill for me I have thanked them time and again (and in turn bought the same gift for many a friend of my own).

The George Foreman GR44TMR Double Knockout Grill is a real winner. I have had mine for about thirty days now and can find absolutely nothing wrong with it. First, the power is more than sufficient for thick juicy steaks and the preheat timer and cooking timers make cooking simple and easy. These timers make it impossible to forget to turn your grill off because it will go off automatically and with the timers, you can duplicate previous results easily. I cook my meat on one side of the grill and vegetables on the other side. With two timers, it is easy to set the separate cooking times. Cleaning is a breeze once you develop a routine. At first, I was skeptical about the fact that the cooking plates are not removable for cleaning, but after I used the grill a couple of times, I no longer had any reason to worry. My method of cleaning may a be a little different, but it works like a charm. I use a thick towel (actually a cut up thick bath towel) well wetted with clear water and place it on the grill immediately after unplugging and removing the food from the grill. I close the grill down on the towel and allow to sit there until after dinner. After dinner, while the grill is still warm, I wipe down the cooking surface with the towel and then finish the wipe down with paper towels. Bingo, cleaning takes less than two minutes, and the grill is as clean as new. The non-stick surface on this grill is the best I have ever seen. I use a basting brush to brush a little olive oil on the vegetables before putting them on the grill and if the meat is especially lean, I give it the same treatment. If you use a lot of sugary grilling sauces, you are on your own. I don't think any grill will clean up easily after that treatment, but I really don't know about the Foreman grill because, I do not use them. If you are a grilling fan, you know how much better grilled foods taste and it is no different with the Foreman Grill. Buy it, you will love it.

This is a wonderful appliance. It is easy to operate...place the drip pan flush against the legs under the front of the machine (my first time to use the grill, I didn't push the tray against the front legs, so runoff dripped on the counter til I noticed it). Plug it in, and push the on/off button(s). It takes five minutes to heat up and it beeps when heated. Place items on the grill and set time by pushing another button (when I did this the first time, I kept pushing the on/off button by mistake :(, but no harm done). Again, the grill beeps when done. The first items I cooked were pork chops that I'd dipped in bar-b-que sauce. I set the timer for five minutes and they were cooked to perfection. When finished cooking, turn the power off, unplug the machine and wait til it cools before cleaning. Cleanup is super easy using a damp papertowel or soft cloth moistened with water. We've also cooked salmon steaks on the grill and they were very tasty. Our family loves grilled food and the GF grill has been very satisfactory.

The Teflon surface is flaking off so bad that I will have to buy a new grill or buy another brand. Has Salton been hearing of these complaints? Is there an address to send the complaint to? I bought it at Sears and without my receipt will not be able to return the grill.

I recommend this to anyone! It's affordable, easy to clean, and great for locations where an actual fire is not practical or allowed! We just started using ours, and everything we have done comes out perfectly. Steaks are tender, chicken is moist, and burgers are juicy. The is no open flame, so there are no flare-ups or burnt foods, even if you are using a sauce or marinade. Great for veggies and fish,too. There are no spaces to lose the food through. Clean up is quick and easy, you need only hot water, a sponge, and a little soap! The size is great, too. It's large enough to do a family size meal with out having to cook everything one at a time. Definitely a must have for anyone! Great for apartments and RV's. We love it!

My husband purchased this grill a few months ago. I cannot even begin to say how great this grill is. We have cooked chicken breasts, steak, and burgers to perfection. We grilled sliced chicken breasts to put on quesadillas and marinated the chicken using the infusion cup in the center. The aromas were to die for not to mention the taste, perfectly tender and seasoned. Clean up was easier then I thought it would be, just immerse in hot soapy water, wipe, and wah lah!! :-) I would recommend this grill to anyone!

I rec'd this for a gift about 4 yrs ago and I use mostly in the winter. I just love it!! It grills very well, the temp. control is great, and I can leave food on to keep warm.

I usually fill the infusion cup w/hot water, and the meats are more tender. It doesn't really "infuse" much flavor from it, but that's what seasonings are for.

I'm now looking for another GF item to buy!

I have owned this unit for six months. I like it very much and use it whenever possible. It is compact, easy to set up and operate, and fairly easy to clean.

I think that all owners of this rotisserie agree that the back plate is probably the major con about this machine. However, the pros justify purchasing this incredible product. When we first used our rotisserie, we were absolutely amazed at how wonderful it made our food taste. We cooked a fryer that was exactly 5 lbs and although we had some trouble situating it on the prongs, we were finally able to get all of it on with a perfect fit (after all that trouble, we now hold the chicken together with cooking strings). In addition to chicken, I have cooked salmon using a recipe that was provided in the cooking manual that comes with this product. The cooking manual is very helpful because it give you the approximate times that you should cook suggested foods. We chose this product over the Ronco because of its unbelievable value. The similar sized Ronco costs ...more than the George Forman Rotisserie.... Although the Ronco does enable you to stand your food in an upright position and steam vegetables (in small quantities) ontop of your unit, the George Forman unit provides you with the same deliciously tasting food, is equally durable, and economically priced.

This is a most excellent appliance. It will be cooking mostly for two people. I read the other reviews before I purchased it and was a bit leary about its size. Let me tell you something, this baby may be small but he can still cook your bird. We cooked a three and one-half pound yard bird in this bad baby. It fit in with no problems. On a larger bird, I would advise tying the wings and legs before putting it in. There was pleanty of room for the chicken. I imagine a much larger one could have easily fit.

It cleans very easily. The cover comes off and there is a drip tray and a tray that slides over the top that gets the grease sizzles.

It is easy to use. The spit just slides into the rotisserie and is easy to get off when it is hot.

The cooking chart seems to be pretty close to what the actual cooking times are (I would advise using a meat thermomoter just to be safe).

A great product. Designed well, functions excellently.

The only thing I would tell someone is that you probably don't want this one if you are feeding a large family. This is probably good for 3 people.

It vents the heat throught the top well and does not raidiate it.

I purchased the 5 Star grill as a Christmas present for my husband. He had admired the "other" grills, but once I discovered this one at Amazon, I knew I had to try it. We have used it on numerous occasions since Christmas and have been more than satisfied. We thought at his first attempt at chicken he was preparing too much. It was so delicious we didn't even have leftovers! Only one problem. Wish more recipes came with it. That would give a better indication as to time to allow to cook something.

I used to grill outside on a portable gas grill and a large gas grill. Both were just too hot to grill fatty chicken like leg quarters, unless the heat was put on very low. That is OK unless there is any kind of breeze to blow out the fire. This grill solved that problem. I can now grill fatty meats without the burn off bonfire I used to get after grilling pork and chicken. I also don't have to worry about the fire getting blown out. I also get to leave this grill under the covered porch. The gas grills would smoke up the covered porch very badly.

My family has enjoyed all kinds of meat grilled on this grill. I have never even used the recipes that came with it. The variable temp makes it so I can grill ANYTHING; I just have to proceed with caution and figure out the temp that works best with the type of meat I am cooking.

Clean up is a pain, but it is worth it to have such great grilling. I used to have to boil any chicken with the skin on it, but now I just use this grill and let the fat drain off. It is worth the price. I would recommend it for someone who has some grilling/cooking experience, though, as few recipes leave a lot of experimentation in order. I've not burned anything yet; on the contrary, my family has enjoyed everything I have cooked on this appliance.

Having enjoyed the classic "lean mean grilling machines" to prepare burgers and chops for a few years,I was curious to see if the new 5 Star grill would help in my new (and very small) kitchen environment. The verdict? It's fabulous! Having very good temp control (to 450 degrees), 4 distinct direct grilling surfaces, steaming, woking, and roasting capability, this gem will get lots of use in an active kitchen. Cook burgers and steak for 6 without touching the grease pan. Clean up is quick and easy. It is not for a couch bound chef, as you do have to turn your burgers, steaks, etc., as with any true grill, and the results are great. It really is one of the few products that will work with your imagination. The only minor negative is that the manual is short and to the point. It tells how and why, offers a few good suggestions, and you are on your own. Lastly, I think that the person who wrote that the grill had a hard time cooking a steak misunderstood, and tried to grill the steak on the steaming rack included in the package. My first steak was well striped, and grilled to perfection.

Oh man, Salton and George did it right, mostly. This machine produces some tasty chicken. The advice I read in the other reviews was good, too. Always line the drip tray with aluminum foil to make clean-up easy. Fryers cost less than Roasters, per pound. The reflector shield in the rotisserie WILL stain (they made it out of a material that does not resist grease AT ALL).

The construction quality is good, but not great. Using and cleaning the unit is easy, after you accept that the back reflector is impossible to clean, even if you remove it from the unit and soak it for an hour. Give up on that before you waste your life.

Buy some string to tie down the legs and wings on your chickens, or they will get too close to the heating element and may burn before your chicken is done.

I read all the reviews and did my research before purchasing a rotisserie and decided on my old friend, George. I've had other George Foreman products for years and they haven't let me down yet, so I thought I'd give the George Jr. Rotisserie a try. And I was definitely NOT disappointed! And this comes with everything you need without having to purchase any additional accessories. I have made a chicken, using the deli recipe from the instruction booklet and it was awesome. The skin was crispy while the inside of the chicken was tasty, tender and moist. Rump roast? YUM! Once again, very crisp on the outside, very juicy on the inside. But my favorite was a pork loin roast. The best pork roast I have ever had....period.

Previous reviewers had stated their problems with the back reflector being very difficult to clean and I do unfortunately agree with them. It will not come completely clean no matter what I do and I do wish it came with some heatproof and stainproof gloves, which would make taking food off the spit much safer. But those are the only complaints I have in regards to this product, as the good far outweighs the bad. The food tastes great and the inside of the oven and the spit rods are a breeze to clean. I especially like that the door is removable, which makes the cleaning that much easier. I'd recommend this machine to anyone. Definitely!

The George Foreman Jr. Rotisserie is a good size for servimg 2-6.
I have had mine since Christmas and love it, the other reviewers are right chicken is great, steaks are very good but you dont get the charcoal flavor. It is easy to use and clean (the heat sheild being the hardest to remove stains from). I would highly recommend this item but, also buy a Rotisserie cook book for recipes. I have The Ultimate Rotisserie Cookbook: 300 Mouthwatering Recipes for Making the Most of Your Rotisserie Oven by Diane Phillips. This is a great book i'm sure their are others.

I bought one of these because it promised to replace my broken toaster oven and add a rotisserie feature. Well, after using it for a couple of weeks, I've found it's not really a good replacement for a standard toaster oven, and it takes a lot of practice to use it as a rotisserie.

This unit is BIG, I'd say about 2-3 times the volume of a typical toaster oven. On the plus side, it will hold bulky items like a Bundt pan or a turkey, but the drawback is that it takes about ten minutes to preheat, and the rack space for pans is still only about what you'd get in a regular toaster oven.

The rotisserie works, but the recipies and recommended cooking times supplied in the instruction manual are questionable. If you use the round basket to make oven fries and follow the recipie (30 minutes at 450 F), you end up with half-raw potatoes. It takes an hour to cook them properly. Is it worth it for two servings of potatoes? Thinner meats like steaks and kebobs don't cook evenly, and there isn't enough heat to sear them properly. The result is a half-browned, dry piece of meat. IMO, a regular gas or charcoal grill, or the oven broiler is much better for steaks and fish.

There is a large, shallow water pan in the bottom that must be filled when cooking anything that drips. It is very easy to make a big mess when moving this pan to empty it. I'm hoping this grill will redeem itself on a whole chicken or turkey, but so far, I feel like a turkey for buying it.

Well, I finally purchased a rotisserie. I had to stay away from the infomercials on the Ronco brand. Something told me that "set it and forget it" is to good to be true. Once a meal was prepared using that one I new I had made the right decision on not to purchase it. It was loud as hell, didn't hold the food in place and was a pain trying to get the food in and out of the rotisserie. So I started to look into other ones. All I can say about the Foreman Big GR80 is Fantastic! This item is off a bit on the cook times but now a days what isn't. They are not that far off. Just read the instructions and watch the video. Believe it or not, read additional reviews as well. There is plenty of helpful hints and things to ensure a proper delicious meal. I've put them all together when using mine and everything came out delicious and done. I have a company picnic coming up and guess who will be taking a turkey as an item. Helpfuls suggestions that I have is line the drip tray with foil. This will most definitely help in cleanup. also add water for the items that drip. It cuts way down on the smoke if not eliminates it completely. In addition it helps keep everything tender and juicy. Clean up is a snap. Some of the people that wrote reviews saying it isn't must be doing something wrong. Most sound like the expect their food to shoot out, do a dance and carve itself once it's done. It takes a little elbow grease but is simple and fast. It is very well built and a little on the heavy side if you try and lift it but very sturdy construction. It has a lot of gadgets and items to experiment with as well. Not sure what different things i'll try but it looks like fun. I am single male and let me tell you, this impressed my date to no end. I'm a master chef now thanks to Foreman.

It was a good size. You could fix two items at the same time.

There are too many great things to say about this little device: It's affordable to anybody, even if you are a student stuck living at school. It's compact, you can store it anywhere--a closet, your car, your office, the kitchen cabinet. It's powerful--I have plugged it in and in just minutes began working on an entire three course meal for six people with only this unit to work with. It's easy to clean--this is one of the few products out there that is every bit as easy to clean as the commercials show it to be on TV. It's is economical, using very little electricity to do a just that would waste electricity in a conventional oven or even an older model microwave oven. It's versatile--I have cooked everything from thin pieces of tempeh strips to thick steaks and it cooks both to perfection. You never would have been able to convince me to buy anything on TV before (and most certainly not from a former boxing champion...) but since a friend both this grill for me I have thanked them time and again (and in turn bought the same gift for many a friend of my own).

This grill is great! Steaks, burgers, chops, etc. come out great each time. It is large enough so that if you have guests, there is plenty of room to throw on that extra steak.

One thing I like to do with this grill is to grill veggies, spritzed with olive oil. Unlike every other grill I have tried, cleanup is a snap, especially with the aformentioned veggies.

I have not used my propane grill since I bought this unit.

The one and only possible negative is that the numbers on the timer dial wore off after only a few uses. But it is no biggie.

After reading the mixed reviews I decided to purchase this grill and try it myself. Its amazing it takes up a good chunk of counter space but it allows me to cook two pounds of chicked breasts at a time. Unlike some of the previous reviewers I haven't had any problems at all doing this all two bpounds done after preheating the grill for 10 minutes and cooking for 18 minutes. Cleanup was a breeze I just wiped the grill down whil it was still warm with a soapy sponge and then rinsed. Some have complained about not being able to clean marinades or spices of of the grill without scrubbing. I didn't have this problem but I also sprayed the grill after preheating with a PAM non stick spray made for indoor grills. This is one of the best buys I've made in a long time

Got this as a gift and find it hard to operate and clean. Will going back to store tomorrow.

- Cons: No thermostat, no on/off switch, some stickiness, heat distribution not perfect.

- Pros: Easy to use, fairly easy to clean, somewhat thoughtful design, quick easy cooking.

Resembles an entry-level wafflemaker, only with grilling ridges instead of waffle divots. Is priced similarly. The similarities continue with the lack of an on/off switch, and lack of temp setting, and the "heating" light which goes on and off as it maintains temperature. Differences from a wafflemaker would be the slope concept (to let fat "drip off", and I think they have a patent on this concept), and the articulated lid which accomodates various thicknesses of foods.

Manufactured by Salton Industries, this could be good or bad depending on your experience/opinion with their products. I don't eat birds or mammals, but I still bought it because it cooks fish & veggie burgers great. I bought it after grilling some fozen fish with it at a friend's house, fish my friend's brother had caught, and it did a very good job. The grill ribs seem a bit [too] high, and get higher toward the front end; the newer ones have lower ribs. Still, the ribs go cook into the food and the rest of the heating surface contacts the food.

Would prefer a temp switch to avoid inconsistent cooking, also better heat distribution; have only used mine thrice, and as long as I leave it in there long enought, it's okay. Believe it or not, it's great for breadded fish filets (if flattening them a bit), veggie burgers, and frozen fish burgers (like salmon or mahi mahi). Sure beats babysitting it in the frying pan! No need for oil, either (though animal body fat is -really- what's unhealthy, since it's solid at body temperature, unlike natural plant oils and dairy). I think the lack of on/off switch is a negative safety factor, and is a stupid form of cost-saving, being the most inconvenient thing about the product, esp right after your food is cooked and it's hot (and possibly open) and you're trying to quickly reach behind to unplug it. Just like a wafflemaker.

Strangely enough, the included recipie ideas suggest cooking whole dishes on the thing, such as starting with onions, then adding other things like veggies and cooked noodles. I think that may be a bit of a stretch, kind of like microwaveable cakes in the 80s, but it's within the realm of conceivability. I like to toast my split buns in a toaster oven, so the lack of a "bun warmer" gives you a cost break, and if you toast them, you won't miss the feature (the "warmer" doesn't toast, so kinda gimmicky anyway, and probably interferes with lid operation).

Attractive enough to have around. (I got the cobalt blue version and it is a pleasing color.) Included spatula has cutouts to help you scrape off most of the sticky stuff which adheres to the cooking surface between the ribs and is useful. A subsequent wipedown is sufficient, though not the best non-stick surface I've seen.

Unless you're a hoggy, this is plenty for two people, and possibly more depending on what you're cooking. Quick due to cooking on both sides and less tending to food, quick cleanup too which increases overall convenience (and your willingness to prepare the food). There are competitors/imitators, some with temp control; most of those have lower/wider ribs, and again I think the "slope"/fat drain concept is patented. Part of the "high rib" reason on this model appears to be to "grab" the food to keep it from sliding down, as are the rib "teeth" at the front to keep it from sliding out entirely. I think this is overdone, as newer models' ribs seem shorter.

Amazon's shipping weight of 21 pounds is untrue (ridiculous, actually); this has to be some kind of error. Shipping charge to me in Calif. would have been seventeen dollars (!) if it weren't for Super Saver free shipping, so it was moot for me, but make sure for you.

Buying this grill to help you lose weight by getting mammal or fowl gristle to roll out is, frankly, stupid. Again, the problem with warm-blooded meat fat is that it's solid at BODY temperature (not even dairy fat is), which makes it unique among fats and much more dangerous. If you're concerned about health or avoiding fat, reduce/eliminate your meat intake and don't buy a meat griller. But if you want quicker, easier cooking of many common foods, this may be the the product for you.