Hare Today Fawn Tomorrow

What can I say about the George Forman Grill that hasn’t been said already……..

"It reduces fat!" – well the food I eat is still greasy, so some fat may be gone, but still it exists.

"It is easy to use!" – yeah, if you have counter space next to a power outlet – move over coffee maker!

"It is easy to clean!" – sure, if you are the type of person that thinks of using a Bounty towel, before eating.

"It makes cooking fun!" – Cooking is not fun, until you have perfected cooking salmon over a barbecue.

I could end my review here...but that would be…uncooked Epinions style!

Let’s be honest – if you were to purchase a George Forman Grill – you would in fact purchase a heating element capable of cooking meat in a way that would perhaps reduce fat yet be quick enough for the average family to enjoy dinner in a timely manner. Let me explain….

I remember a time when my parents were totally amazed at a piece of machinery that would, in theory, allow a user to take two pieces of bread and some filling and create "the perfect personal casserole". That little invention lasted for at least three years – until reality set in or taste buds finally realized, that what you cooked had an obvious taste to what it was cooked in. Face it, we all know the difference between an oven cooked burrito and a microwaved one. The "perfect personal casserole" may have been easy to make – but it was without a doubt not "perfect" nor a "personal" and not even close to a "casserole" in the scheme of things. What it was – was an efficient way to cook, cut, and make it look cool, way to eat your lunch.

"I’d pay a dollar to see that!"

It all boils down to the mere fact that the George Forman Grill is here now – but will be gone tomorrow. Here’s why…

"It reduces fat" – Yes, it has a convenient drip tray – one that you have to remember to put there in the first place – to capture all the fat. So far, it seems to only capture all the juices I used as a marinade. Yes, it does capture some fat – but only if you take the time to not clean the unit and wait overnight – just so you can see how much fat remains on the grill.

"It’s easy to use" – Like the pancake or waffle makers we saw our fathers use – to use the grill, just plug it in and wait until the light, unlights. It’s ready – or so you think!

"It’s easy to clean" – Yes, if you are the Martha Stewart kind. You know, you are able to describe to others on making a dish and then poof! You have the completed product in front of you. In other words – the best way to clean the George Forman grill is to cook what you want – then wait till it cools down for about 5 minutes – then take a paper towel and carefully clean it. Be warned, that all this time your food will get cold and your guests will feel alienated by the mere fact that you are cleaning, instead of eating.

"It makes cooking fun" – Is cooking ever fun? Yes, it is – on the weekends, while spending time with guests, during holidays, or while you are taking your one week vacation from work. Now, is it fun for most people? Let see...you have to take this device, plug it into the wall, put your item to be cooked on it, let it cook, then carefully clean it with a soft paper towel or a sponge. This is not some device you can submerge in a cauldron of boiling hot water and then shove into the dishwasher – in hopes that Cascade and/or Jet Dry would remove all the grease and spots from it.

Is it worth the purchase?

I always ask myself the hardest questions! Is it worth the purchase? Well, if you have one of those extra-large kitchens seen frequently on "The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", then yes, you can afford and "afford" to have a Foreman grill. But, if you are like 99% of the population – consider that you will have to make space for the grill. It takes up space – not only during use, but while awaiting use. Plus….

It has only one purpose – and that is to cook meat products. A microwave can heat up anything (expect metal), but you can only use the Foreman grill to cook meat. For this reason – I fear that it will eventually pass. That is until they promote the production in the next infomercial as having the product to cook the perfect chicken noodle soup! (attachment sold separately – unless you call within the next 10 minutes!)

How do I use it? –

Carefully. You pre-heat the thing – put your meat on it – and unlike what the commercials say, you do not walk way from it. Check your product often, flip it over if you can. If something is cooked on the outside, yet not cooked on the inside – unplug the unit and let it cook by "left over heat". The grill comes with instructions on making the "perfect piece of meat" but what they leave out is the exact measurements and dimensions of the meat they used to create their fancy "cooking time sheet". Too much hamburger and you have a bloody mess. Too little, and you have a rubbery mess. In other words – throw out those expectations that this will make the perfect "piece of steak" in five minutes. It will only be perfect if you take the time to check it, flip it, and stand above it, to determine when "it is done." Any less, and the grill will find itself back on the store’s shelf, in the cabinet underneath your oven – or, and perhaps the worse outcome – used in your local yard sale. In other words…

….if the perfect sandwich could not be made – what makes you think the perfect steak could?

In conclusion or better yet...While my stomach digests the product – the Foreman grill is a nice addition to cook meat if you have; the money, the space, and the belief that it "saves" fat from your body. My grandmother would say "cooking it in that is no different than cooking it in a pan equipped with a drip rack!" She is in a way correct. Yes, it’s a smaller device. Yes, it is easier to take something out of the closet and simply plug it in – than try to figure out how to put some old "grandma" device together. Yes, it is purposely designed to reduce fat and cook meat – but grandma is right. If it works – why replace it?

The answer lies within you. For me...thank god for Santa!