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| George Foreman 4 serving grill; grilling chicken tenders |
Contact grills have a top and bottom grill
plate and close over the food to cook both sides at once. The advantage of a folding contact grill
is that they cook on both sides simultaneously and require less attention from
the cook. They also contain grease
spatters and mess.
My favorite is a 4 serving George Foreman
grill with removable plates that I only paid $30 for. It
heats quickly, cooks very well, is easy to clean, and has a floating hinge so
your food isn’t squashed. My Panini
grill didn’t have the floating hinge, and limited me to just sandwiches or open
grilling.
The biggest drawback...their idea of 4 servings is more adequate for 2, which works for us. If you actually need 4 servings, look at a little bigger version, there are several.
The advantages, at that price, I can afford to replace it if we wear it out, we have no grease floating around the kitchen when I cook, and the speed is unbelievable. It's much faster than the one I bought when they first became popular, and removable plates are a big improvement; they can be washed in the dishwasher if you wish. We use it at least once or twice a week.
The biggest drawback...their idea of 4 servings is more adequate for 2, which works for us. If you actually need 4 servings, look at a little bigger version, there are several.
The advantages, at that price, I can afford to replace it if we wear it out, we have no grease floating around the kitchen when I cook, and the speed is unbelievable. It's much faster than the one I bought when they first became popular, and removable plates are a big improvement; they can be washed in the dishwasher if you wish. We use it at least once or twice a week.
So what can you grill on your indoor grill?
Most anything you would outside. Indoor grills don't have the ability to drain
liquids as well as outdoor grills and you don't want marinades running over
your counter, so when grilling marinated meats allow them to drain first, although there is a liquid-catching tray that comes with the grill.
To get delicious grilled flavor from
protein like meat, poultry, fish, it's important to start with the right type
of cut. Lean, tender pieces that aren't full of fat or connective tissue
are the best choices. You'll get the best results from thinner pieces of meat,
such as flank steak, pork chops or chicken breasts that have been pounded to
around 3/4 inches, or thin fish fillets like tilapia or trout. The reason? The
thinner the piece, the faster it'll cook. It's also helpful if the meat is
relatively uniform in its thickness so that it will cook evenly.
Because you're not going to be getting the
smoky flavor you would from a charcoal grill, you'll want to season your meat. A simple sprinkling of salt and pepper is
fine, but we like buying or making a spice rub. Evenly sprinkle or rub this
into the meat and let it sit a few minutes before putting it on the grill. You
could also use a barbecue, grilling sauce, or marinade, which can be applied
about 20 minutes before you're ready to cook. The easiest way to marinate meat
is to put the meat and the marinade in a large zip-top bag and maneuver it
around with your fingers so that the meat is evenly coated. Store the bag of
meat in the refrigerator while it's marinating, but bring it out about 20
minutes before you're ready to start cooking so it can come up to room
temperature.
Make sure the grill is well heated before
you put the meat on. I let my George
Foreman grill preheat 5-6 minutes. Put
your meat on the grill, at a roughly 45˚ angle to the grill lines to achieve
the most attractive grill marks.
I prefer testing my meat it with a food
thermometer, and consulting a list of safe food temperatures to make sure
cooked to a proper temperature.
If you're using a contact grill, be sure to
close the grill gently over the food so you don't compress it and risk
squeezing the juices out. Foods cooked in a contact grill will take roughly
half the amount of time they'd take on an open grill, since they are being
cooked simultaneously on both sides, and also since the heat is more enclosed
within the top and bottom grill plates.
To clean my contact grill, I lay 3 or 4
layers of very wet paper towels between the plates, and let them soak while we
eat our meal. I simply remove the towels
and wash the plates in a little sudsy water in the sink; letting them dry
thoroughly before snapping them back into the grill. They can be washed in the dishwasher, but I
want to prolong the finish as long as I can.
My grill directions specifically say to avoid cooking sprays on the
grill plates, because they cause a gummy residue you can’t remove. Use non-metal tongs or spatulas to help preserve the non-stick finish.
I found I like this small hardcover cookbook to use with my grill more than others I looked at, called The Indoor Grilling Cookbook. It's by Julie Stillman, from 2001. I purchased it inexpensively used.
I found I like this small hardcover cookbook to use with my grill more than others I looked at, called The Indoor Grilling Cookbook. It's by Julie Stillman, from 2001. I purchased it inexpensively used.
Here’s my
husband’s favorite Foreman grill recipe…because the sandwiches are gooey in the
middle, and the bread is crisp on the outside.
Easy
Foreman Grill Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
2
slices your favorite bread
2
slices your favorite cheese
(American is the classic)
1
tablespoon
butter
I recommend
a firm bread for these sandwiches…homemade is great!
Preheat your
Foreman Grill for at least 5 minutes. Use medium-high setting if your grill has
temperature settings. Place the cheese between the bread slices and spread the
butter on the outside of each slice in a nice thin layer. Place on the grill,
close lid, and check after about 3 minutes.
Pork Chops on the George Foreman Grill
Grilled Minute Steaks on the George Foreman Grill
Grilled Chicken Recipes on the George Foreman Grill
We have a panini press and went thru a spell of using it all the time. I like my sandwiches crisp and toasty.
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