Appliance Reviews

I am glad i bought it. I had the GF small grill but wanted a larger family size. I am too cheap to pay the 99.00+ for the family GF grill so i bought this one and I am so glad i did. We started a Healthy eating plan a month ago. IF it were not for this grill i would not have lost 17 pounds in 36 days. I cook everything on this grill. My (teens) also love it. so fast and Fat free cooking could not be easier. I have even cooked eggs on this. a fast spray with non fat cooking spray and BAM you are cooking away. Can not go wrong on this one.

I bought two of these over a year ago. I gave my retired parents one and keep the other. They clean up with ease
and cook really fast. I cook chicken breast and beef patties the most with mine, but have used it for a lot of other items.
My mom liked hers so much that she gave both of my siblings one for Christmas presents. I'm trying to decide who's left on my list that might enjoy one.

The Hamilton HealthSmart Grill is a glorious piece kitchenware I Love it, It allows you to lower your fat intake as well as count calories. It's wonderful for Meat, bread , grilled vegetables and even grilled fruit. When it comes to dinner, With the Hamilton Grill it's a no-brainer makes cooking enjoyable. The clean up is a cinch. I use my grill very often because it's healthy, easy and fast. I recommend the hamilton for every one...........................

Please take the negative reviews with a grain of salt. It's obvious that some of them are from people who don't like to read instructions. First, the indicator lights are NOT supposed to tell you when the waffle is finished. One light simply tells you the unit is receiving power (i.e., it's plugged in). The other light tells you when the iron is hot enough to pour in the batter. The waffle is done in five minutes or when steam stops. All of that is in the instructions that come with the waffle maker. My waffles always come out golden brown.

You will have no problem with the batter sticking if you use the recipes for waffles, not pancakes. Waffle recipes include a small amount of cooking oil, which is needed to keep the waffles from sticking. Every box of mix I've ever purchased has alternate instructions for mixing waffle batter vs. pancake batter. Again, it's just a matter of reading the instructions. My waffles are easily removed from the waffle maker and NEVER stick.

I read the instructions and I get PERFECT waffles every time! I am DELIGHTED with my purchase!

Only have used it a few times, but its easy and almost foolproof.
I'm only using Aunt Jemima or Hungry Jack pancake mix for now. Tried adding 2 small bananas to the basic recipe. For that, I needed a spray-on oil, like Pam. Little booklet does warn you that recipes with extra sugar may require spraying.

Wish it had a timer, like some more expensive ones. But maybe a timer wouldnt really help. Depending on what's in the waffle, it might take a different amount of time to cook. With bananas thrown into the most basic Aunt Jemima mix, I found the waffles required a bit more time. But u cant wait til the steaming stops before removing these banana waffles. I guess the bananas will keep on steaming , long after waffle is already quite golden. Even tho I've experimented a bit, there's nothing about this machine that's gonna fool u much. It stores upright, everything is basically good.

The booklet does tell u to start with simple stuff and experiment later. If u have a huge family, maybe u would be better off with an iron that makes 4 at a time. Anyway, overall, I'm quite pleased.

I got tired of paying $8-10 for waffles in New York City restaurants, so I decided to look for a good waffle iron that would satisfy my frequent cravings. I am a big fan of Villaware, which inspired me to first look for their products. I was, however, suprised to learn that the best rated and selling waffle maker on the Amazon was Hamilton Beach Flip 'n Fluff. After reading the reviews, I was persuaded that this was the product I wanted (plus it was a half price of the Villaware equvialent).

I got my waffle maker a week ago and I made waffles several times. They were truly big and fluffy, crispy outside and moist inside. The cooking time is only about 3 minutes. I would, however, like to suggest to use cooking spray the first time you use this product. My first two waffles sticked, but after that initial failure, I had no problems. The cleaning is a breeze. This product deserves the highest marks!

I've been using this grill for almost a year, and agree that it is a great little grill. The only problem I've had with it is the not-so-non-stick surface. Since my first use, food has stuck to it, making it difficult to clean. As a result, I've had to use more abbrasive cleaning tools that damaged the surface, making it even more not-so-non-stick! Beef, chicken, fish, and veggies cooked on it do come out tasting great. Just not as easy a clean-up as I would have liked.

After purchasing an Aroma grill (yes, I have reviewed it here in Amazon.com) and having the Teflon wear off it, I purchased the Hamilton Beach HealthSmart grill. So far I have grilled k-bobs, meatballs, hamburger patties, steaks, seafood (shrimp in particular), salmon, and tuna on this grill. What can I say, it is magnificent! The food always comes out juicy, tasty, and done right (you have to learn how to time your cooking, though)! I've also warmed tortillas and pita bread on this grill. In other words, it has almost replaced my stove. Only one problem, I have a lot of utensils hanging above it, and when you fix steaks, expect a little spatter that should be cleaned up immediately. Being single, I have a lot of utensils with little blobs of grease hanging off them. In all seriousness, this is a product that is well worth the price, and this is a darned good price.

This little grill is awesome! Not only is it easy to set up & use, but the clean up is amazing. The nonstick surface is a God send, and the food turns out perfect every time! I absolutely love it!

We bought the Hamilton Beach to replace our aging George Foreman grill which was starting to have the nonstick coating peel off. So far we've been pleased with the Hamilton Beach.

The best feature of the HB is that the cooking grids are removed for cleaning and better yet, are dishwasher safe. This feature alone was enough to draw us to the HB instead of buying another GF.

I have seen some comments about the HB not getting hot enough and I have to agree-- to a point. It does get hot enough to put sear marks on the food but does not seem to get as hot as my old GF got, judging from cooking times. I preheat mine for 10 minutes (instead of the recommmended 5 min.) and seem to get better results this way.

The cooking area is adequate but not as large as the biggest GF grills. If you frequent cook for more than 3 people or so you might need something bigger. But, the HB has a unique design which allows you to open the top of the grill completely back and lay it flat, which effectively doubles cooking area, but when doing this you are only cooking the food on one side at a time. This would work in a pinch.

The cooking grids snap out easily for cleaning along with a drip cup that snaps into one end. The HB has some nice design features including channels on the grids to funnel drippings into the drip cup even if the top of the grill is laid open to grill flat. The hinge for the top, however, does not expand enough to allow easy cooking of thick steaks and chops. This causes the food to cook unevenly. I also found that if you cook very thin items, such as prepackaged frozen burgers, there is too much space between the grids when the lid is closed and the top will not contact the food very well. The HB does have a rotating dial timer which is a nice feature and one that the GF grills don't have.

The HB is a fine choice and in my opinion preferable to the GF grills due to the removable grids alone. I always dreaded cleaning my GF after using it but those days are gone.

Any indoor grill will not replace good old fashioned outdoor grilling but comes in handy during colder months or bad weather. That's what we use ours for, as a substitute for the gas grill outdoors, and the HB will serve you well!

We subscribe to Consumer Reports and read all about these types of grills. The George Foreman and the Hamilton Beach MealMaker Express Grill seam to be the most popular but the HB beats ALL the competition hands down!
Many people who already have the George Foreman grill all have told us they hate it because it's so difficult to clean. With the removable grills on the HB model, this problem simply does not exist. We love how fast this grill cooks chicken and steak. The best part is that the meats are so juicy and delicious.
I highly recommend the Hamilton Beach MealMaker Express Grill.

Never used the Foreman grill but this has been a great device cooking for a family of five. Fast, easier to prepare meals, a big fan so far. Easy clean up a big plus.

Love the thought of hot, steaming waffles, but as a diabetic not much hope.....please offer items which are not food related. Otherwise, I won't be able to be able to partake of your wonderful offers. thanks otherwise.

I have used my Waffle Iron three times now and love it. The waffles are cooked perfectly, come out with ease and best of all, they are voted by my family as the best waffles we have ever eaten. The waffle iron is so easy to clean, use and store. It is always nice to buy somthing, and be happier then you expect when you use it. When I make waffles I always make a couple extras and put them in a ziplock, and throw them in the freezer. My son puts them in the toaster oven, for a before school breakfast

Making a perfect waffle should not require Betty Crocker, or Martha Stewart. This product is designed with simplicity and practicallity in mind. Even though it has the good looks of a fashion model, it is as easy to use as the girl that you wouldn't take home to Mom. If you want flawless waffels at an economical price, and without much thought, this is the one for you.

This grill is definitely better (dollar for dollar) than the infamous George Foreman grill. My college roommates and I usually buy about fifty frozen hamburger patties from costco every month. Each frozen patty takes only 15 minutes to cook, making it perfect for a quick inbetween-class meal. You'd be suprise at how much grease is extracted from each meal!

Now, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to use this grill in a small room (ie. dorm) unless you don't mind your place smelling like a busy kitchen for a few hours. Also, this appliance is not the easiest thing to clean.

Also, the Extra Large Contact Grill is only large compared to the smaller foreman grills. It really will only hold about two steaks, 3 burgers (2 if they're big), 3 chicken breasts, and about 2 lrg pork chops. If you have a big family, I suggest you go up one model to the even bigger grill.

In conclusion: Great grill for smaller families. Awesome grill for college folks in an apt/house. Not so good for dormatories.

We originally were looking at a George Forman grill since, after all, GF grills are the "kings" of the market. We liked this because it was bigger and would handle our 2 adult, 2 young children family better.

We are very happy with it. The pluses are that it cooks great with it's top and bottom cooking, gives you a timer to limit how long you cook so you don't overcook, is very easy to clean up, and has a slanted surface to drain off the fat into a small removeable fat holder. It folds up and stores on it's side -- very nice!

The only less-positive comment is that the grill area does not come out, which would make cleaning the outside edges a bit easier (I'm sloppy at times so at rare times, the sauce goes outside the main grill area). Also, you can not adjust the temperature. (Not that I would know what to adjust it to.)

However both of these points are common to most of the other grills and they are minor.

All in all, I'm extremely happy with the grill! And the food it cooks taste great! I''d by it again if I needed to.

have used the George Foreman Grill, then bought this one - love it! The only downside is that it doesn't close all the way when grilling thick steak or chicken, but it still works fine. Grills quickly, and is VERY EASY to clean (unlike the Foreman grills.) I'd highly recommend it.

I would have preferred a waffle/toaster that could also grill meat. It takes too long to heat up and cool down to facilitate cleaning.
The cost is a little high for what you get and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
I recall having a toaster similar to that in my youth and it recieved a lot of use, this item won't.

I have two of the Hamilton Beach 26290 Waffle Baker/Sandwich Griddles and use one of them very frequently. It is perfect for one or two people but when the kids are here (they love grilled cheese sandwiches) it is not really big enough. I have no trouble making two sandwiches at a time on each unit and the cleanup is a breeze. The concept of two appliances in one is great for it saves storage space.

The way it cooks, ease of use, and quick cleanup is the reason I give this Hamilton Beach Waffle Maker a five star rating. I've been having waffles for breakfast every morning since the first time I decided to give it a try. I use it for waffles and grilled cheese sandwiches, and I am very pleased with the results. Cleanup is a breeze because the plates pop out for washing. It is especially ideal for a single person on the go.

This grill is definitely better (dollar for dollar) than the infamous George Foreman grill. My college roommates and I usually buy about fifty frozen hamburger patties from costco every month. Each frozen patty takes only 15 minutes to cook, making it perfect for a quick inbetween-class meal. You'd be suprise at how much grease is extracted from each meal!

Now, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to use this grill in a small room (ie. dorm) unless you don't mind your place smelling like a busy kitchen for a few hours.

The Extra Large Contact Grill is only large compared to the smaller foreman grills. It really will only hold about two steaks, 3 burgers (2 if they're big), 3 chicken breasts, and about 2 lrg pork chops. If you have a big family, I suggest you go up one model to the even bigger grill.

I really don't like washing cleaning. This grill is improved from the previous model, because the heat panels come off, and are dishwasher safe.

In conclusion: Great grill for smaller families. Awesome grill for college folks in an apt/house. Not so good for dormatories. Easy to clean.

The Hamilton Beach Meal Maker Express is not only better designed and more sturdily made, it has more features, and BETTER features. After owning and using this marvel regularly for two years, I do nothing but rave about it to everyone I know.

Fast easy meal for one: 2 frozen chicken thighs, sliced onions and bell peppers. Set the cooker/timer for five minutes, flip chicken (I usually slice it into fajita strips at this point), move onions/peppers around on grill, add some salt and pepper, set timer for 8 minutes and DING! Dinner's ready!

Of course, cooking non-frozen food is quick and easy, too. And, if you've got a lot of mouths to feed, simply lay it flat and get twice the cooking surface.

As others have noted, cleanup is a breeze - just toss everything into the dishwasher if you're lazy (like me). And the grease collector is INSIDE the grill, so you'll never spill the grease all over your counter and floor, as so often happens with George Foreman's crummy shallow-grease-dish-on-the-counter design.

If you're looking for a superior countertop grill, you won't regret replacing your Foreman with the Hamilton Beach Meal Maker. It simply can't be beat. The price is right, too! ...

This grill KNOCKS OUT BIG GEORGE FOREMAN'S. This grill is a pleasure to use. It cooks steaks, burgers, chicken to perfection. I love the timer feature. But without a doubt the best feature of this grill in addition to its ease of use is how easy it is to clean. No scraping or having to use a roll of paper towels to clean this grill up. Simply pop out the grills and into the dishwasher they go. They come out crystal clean. NO MESS!!! This is a BEST BUY item for sure!

We have an old Black & Decker toaster oven which works beautifully but we wanted something smaller. We researched the Internet and also consulted Consumer Reports Magazine which rated the "Hamilton Beach 31430 IntelliToast Toaster Oven/Broiler" as good. We decided to order it.

The first disappointment when opening the box was the baking pan. It looks and feels as flimsy as a disposable tray -- in fact, the old disposable aluminum trays from instant dinners are considerably thicker than this one.

The oven looks nice but it is poorly designed. The overall feel of the oven is CHEAP! The baking tray (which also seems very flimsy) supposedly slides out when you open the oven's door...but it only extends about 3/4 of an inch. You then have to pull the tray out with your fingers, which becomes difficult because the tray touches the hot glass door and it hangs up on the latch mechanism.

The crumb try looks neat and it has a nice handle to pull out. The problem is that the tray is extremely shallow and if something like a quesadilla drips anything bigger than a breadcrumb, it will get stuck when you pull the crumb tray out.

The oven was promptly return[ed]...

I have owned several toaster ovens in my life and I can easily say this is one of the worst I have ever had. The timer settings are finicky and it has an odd on off toast cycle that takes forever. It overheats and the outside plastic covering has turned an ugly brown. Worse, the unit broke after a year. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this one.

Finally junked my Black & Decker toaster oven because I was tired of turning bread over to even up the toasting. From the reviews I saw that other brands are more expensive, too complicated, poor quality or all three. I am very satisfied w/ the evenness of the toasting w/ the Ham-Beach. Has a decent design and a crumb tray that pulls out from the front. I saved $$ and would highly recommend this product.

This is a wondwerful item,but was misled in editors review that the grill area was 13 1/2 x 11 1/2,which it is not,I would not have purchased item if I would have known it was only 12 1/2 x 8 1/2 which makes alot of difference on how many sandwiches you can cook at one time.