We got a grill for Christmas from my sister. I am excited about it but have been having trouble cleaning it after each use. Does anyone have one? Do you spray it with Pam or something first?

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 08:23 pm:

I had one and I used Pam. I used mine for chicken mostly, and sometimes burgers. I thought it dried the chicken out too much so I gave the grill to my neighbor.

By Reds9298 on Saturday, December 31, 2005 - 09:36 pm:

I'm just getting rid of mine...sorry to say! I actually loved the way this grill cooks (although I agree with Karen that I rarely fixed chicken on it because it always was too dry), BUT...it's a royal pain to clean. ROYAL. That's why I asked for a new grill for Christmas. I never used Pam on mine...hhhmmmmm, never thought of that. Maybe that will help some.

Also, if you haven't tried it already, reheat it before cleaning it. It's dangerous, I know, you have to watch yourself, but once it's heated, all the gunk from the grilling comes off much easier. Still a pain, but easier than when it's cooled off IMO.

I got a new grill because I had stopped using my George just due to cleaning issues. My new one (not a George, although I think he does have one of these now) has removable grill plates. Yay!

Good luck, because the George really does grill well and makes chops and steaks DELICIOUS!

By Jackie on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 12:59 am:

I think the older George Foreman grills didnt have removable plates. We bought one about 4 months ago from Kmart. I just loved it. My parents gave me there old one, as they bought a large one and didnt need one so big. But, I soon discovered that this older one did not have removable plates. So, we wont be using that one again. Its much easier to clean when the plates come out to wash/clean.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 08:23 am:

The one I had didn't have removable plates, but I'd put soapy water on the grill, I'd tip the entire grill up with something underneath it so it wasn't at its *normal* angle to drain into the drip pan underneath, and it actually was easy for me to clean. I just didn't like the way it dried out the food. Plus - my kitchen always smelled like grilled food for a couple days afterwards. Just not worth it to me. For the time and trouble, we can fire up the Weber grill outside and the cleanup is minimal.

By Jackie on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 08:31 am:

I think its crazy that the first foreman grills didnt have removable plates. I could see why so many people did not like them. I guess they got smart with their new versions. It makes cleaning so much easier when I can take the plates out to clean.
I find if I dont time things just right, it will dry out the food.

By Reds9298 on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 08:50 am:

True about the drying Jackie. It seems like you have to have some trial and error with the George to figure out timing/drying. My new grill is a Hamilton Beach, much cheaper than my George was, removable plates, and it flattens out (like the top folds down as a grilling surface if you need more space to grill. I really love it!

Karen-yes on the grilled food smell in your kitchen! I noticed that, too.

By Agreen on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 09:43 am:

i have one, but rarely use it. I love my "real grill" and use all year long, snow and all!

But i found that if you get while it is hot with super wet paper towels, it is much easier to clean. then i clean it better with soapy towels once it cools. just be careful not to get burned

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 09:48 am:

DH usually cleans ours, but I don't like how it stinks up the kitchen for so long, afterwards! WE don't have removable grills. I think that would be easier, too.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 10:31 am:

Seems like a lot of us are in agreement on the kitchen smell! LOL

Angela, I'm with you, I'd rather use our Weber grill. DH LOVES to cook on that, and we use it several times a week, every week of the year. We just prefer grilled meat and vegies and the cleanup is much easier!

By Pamt on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 02:27 pm:

I don't really like the way meat on the George Foreman tastes. My DH is a grilling snob and has converted me---it's only good on a charcoal grill. No gas or electric grills here! DH also always put wood like hickory or apple in with the coals or the smoker. Yum! I do like making Panini sandwiched in my Foreman though and not nearly so messy!

By Kiki on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 02:51 pm:

We got the newer version. It's so much easier to clean because the plates are removable. I like the way it grills. I have never found it to leave the meat dry. My husband loves it and it means that I don't have to cook!

By Paulas on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 02:57 pm:

Well, I'm not as excited about my new grill as I once was. I was planning on using it for chicken mostly. It's disappointing to hear that it will probably dry chicken out.

I wouldn't mind using my traditional BBQ in the snow but not in -40C...just too plain cold!

I did find that putting a damp cloth on it once it was still warm but unplugged helped loosen things up and made it easier to clean.

Ours does not have removable plates. That is probably why my sister got it on sale. However, she spent over the limit and was so proud of her gift that I will use it and be happy

By Shann on Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 11:45 pm:

we have the newer one the plates remove for washing but I love mine. I use it for just about anything they make perfect casadellias I also will roll up my burrito with all the works and put them in and grill on both sides it is just like the grilled stuffed burrito you get from Taco bell. I use mine for steaks,pork chops I did find that it dried out my chicken and other meats but I started putting like garlic powder and alittle oil maybe water and put it in a spray bottle and spray my meat as it cooks or It works okay. also use it on fish

By Crystal915 on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 12:43 am:

I always cleaned it as it was cooling, but DH said "If you let it heat up, all of the fat melts off.", so I tried it, and it's MUCH easier. We just use the little scraper as it's melting off, or wipe with a wad of paper towels. I LOVE mine, although it's a Hamilton Beach, not GF, so it cost less!

By Tink on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 01:00 am:

We have one without the removable plates but I've never had too much trouble cleaning it. I use Pam on it first and then use a wet paper towel on it before it cools off. I can't tell you how many times I've told my DH that I wish it had removable plates before the new ones came out.

By My2girlygirls on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 08:46 am:

I just spray mine with Fantastic or some type of grease fighter and then close the lid and let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe it off.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, January 2, 2006 - 09:40 am:

I don't mean to say that all of you will have problems with the dry chicken. My mom gave us ours 5 years ago when I had back surgery - she figured it would make preparing meals easier. And it did, actually, but it DID dry the chicken out, and that was mainly what we used it for. The newer models may not do that. I just happened to NOT be too thrilled with it. Just my opinion..... if it works well for many of you, then I say GREAT!!!

As for the cleaning, I didn't wait until it was totally cooled, and used Pam before we cooked. Cleaning was never the problem for us.