NOW CLOSED: Join the review thread for George Foreman Grills - share an idea for what you'd cook on one - you could win your own grill worth £40

[AnnMumsnet]

George Foreman Grills recently gave ten Mumsnetters the opportunity to try out a selection of their grills at a demo day in Manchester, where they got to experience the versatility and simplicity of cooking with a George Foreman.
Another ten reviewers were also sent grills to try out.

The four different models used in the demos were:
~ 18603 Grill & Griddle
~ 14525 Grill & Melt with Removable Plates
~ 14181 Grill & Melt

and the extra 10 testers are trying the 19570 Family Grill

Testers: This thread is for you to share your experience with the George Foreman grills, and to start you off we would love to know:

1. What have you learnt to cook with a George Foreman Grill? What would you like to learn to cook in the future?

1. Are there any features of your Grill you would like to know more about? What's the best feature you've discovered so far?

1. What would make you use your Grill more regularly? How many times a week are you using it?

1. How long do you spend cooking for your family on an average day? How has the grill helped with this?

1. Generally speaking, which is more important to you: healthy eating or quick preparation time?

1. What have you and your family thought of the meals you have created? What's been a success? And what's not been quite so good?

1. What would you say was the best feature or benefit of the George Foreman Grill you have used?

And if you attended the George Foreman demo day, please also answer:

~ What was your perception of George Foreman Grills prior to the demo day?
~ How did your perception change from what you experienced on the demo day?
~ What did you most enjoy about the day?

If you're not an official tester, but would like the chance to win a new George Foreman Grill (RRP: £40) then all you have to do is - on this thread - please share your ideas for a quick and easy meal which you could create with one. Once you've commented you'll be automatically entered into the draw to win a George Foreman Family Grill & Melt with Removable Plate.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

1. What have you learnt to cook with a George Foreman Grill? What would you like to learn to cook in the future?
Salmon is really quick and easy on the George, a few minutes where it used to be half an hour in the oven.
2. Are there any features of your Grill you would like to know more about? What's the best feature you've discovered so far?
I got the family grill, it's pretty simple and self explanatory really. I like how quickly it heats up, and that it has a floating back hinge.
3. What would make you use your Grill more regularly? How many times a week are you using it?
I'm using it 3 or 4 times a week, I'd use it more if it had 2 sections so I could keep one side dairy free for DS.
4. How long do you spend cooking for your family on an average day? How has the grill helped with this?
On average I spend about 20 minutes cooking, it's still about that, but I now start cooking the carbs before prepping the meat, where before it was the other way round.
5. Generally speaking, which is more important to you: healthy eating or quick preparation time?
both, I quite enjoy going into the garden in the late summer and picking dinner ingredients from the raised beds. Quick and healthy!
6. What have you and your family thought of the meals you have created? What's been a success? And what's not been quite so good?
Salmon went down very well, I grilled the salmon while cooking rice and frying off onions and other veg, then put chunks of salmon in with the veg and added thai green curry paste and coconut milk. Yummy, and a lot faster and easier than using the oven.
7. What would you say was the best feature or benefit of the George Foreman Grill you have used?
I like that it squishes and grills ciabatta rolls so they look all professional.

1. How long do you spend cooking for your family on an average day? How has the grill helped with this?

About an hour on average. The grill cut that time drastically on the days I used it. About 20 minutes and most of that was prepping time.

1. Generally speaking, which is more important to you: healthy eating or quick preparation time?

Healthy eating.

1. What have you and your family thought of the meals you have created? What's been a success? And what's not been quite so good?

My dcs have loved it. Especially the fruit and veg. Ds1 (17) loved bacon on it as it's so quick.

1. What would you say was the best feature or benefit of the George Foreman Grill you have used?

Definitely how easy it is to clean. That has been the biggest time saver for me.

~ What was your perception of George Foreman Grills prior to the demo day?

That it was just a bit of an indoor BBQ.

~ How did your perception change from what you experienced on the demo day?

That it is much more versatile than I thought.

~ What did you most enjoy about the day?

I loved meeting the other mnetters and seeing the ones I already knew. Our demo lady was funny and informative. In fact she was great.

I would love one in time for summer to do healthy grilled chicken salad dishes for the whole family! Grilled fruit kebabs are great for kids too.

Chicken Quesadillas
we either boil a chicken breast on the stove or grill it. Then we cut the chicken into small pieces and place them, along with shredded Mexican cheese, in between two tortilla shells.

Place the quesadilla on the grill until the cheese melts. Although you can only grill one quesadilla at a time, it usually takes less than a minute if the grill is preheated.

For a vegetarian option, try just cheese or add a little pico de gallo.

Cut some sliced medallions from a pork loin, season and stick on grill. At the same time fry off some chopped spring onions in a pan, when they're soft, add grainy mustard and a dollop of cream cheese and some veg/chicken stock to make a tasty sauce. Add a splash of cream if you have any. Serve with boiled rice and some chargrilled asparagus which you can cook on the grill while the pork is resting for a few minutes. Delicious!

Non tester here;
Grilled toasted sandwich with onions, frankfurters, and ups to sauce, less mess and gaff that a toaster maker and not soggy.

I butterflied a chicken breast, brushed it with BBQ sauce and grilled it. It took no time and was lush :)

Today I made an omelette on the griddle side and grilled mushrooms and left over gammon on the other side.

I am going to do the pancakes for the filming bit of the test. It's taken me a while to get into using it. I still havent done a full dinner on it because I just don't cook like that, and tend to opt for slow cooked, one pot options that can be dished up at different times depending on who is where. I am going to do inside out burgers and veggie kebabs this weekend.

It is great for getting the kids to cook on.

we have a mini george foreman grills. they are great. i use a bacon to wrap up a chicken breast meat to grills. add just salt and pepper, mixed herbs.

Tandoori chicken breasts (4 servings)

Mix together a small pot of natural yoghurt, 1 tsp oil, 1 tsp pureed garlic, 1 tsp purred ginger, 2 tsp tandoori spice mix, 1 tbsp lemon juice and salt and pepper.

Use this mixture to marinade chicken breasts. Cook on the grill. Or cube the meat and put onto skewers for grilling. Yum!

Aw foxy ditto my lovely

1. What have you learnt to cook with a George Foreman Grill? What would you like to learn to cook in the future?

I learnt that you could cook spring rolls and pastries on it! Who knew!

1. Are there any features of your Grill you would like to know more about? What's the best feature you've discovered so far?

Mine is fairly simple and self explanatory, so nothing much to learn about it, it is what it is! I have the one with the magic foot, which is great for veg (and round things) as they don't slide down like they do on a regular sloping one. this has been the best feature of it so far!

1. What would make you use your Grill more regularly? How many times a week are you using it?

If it was less smoky I would use it more. I've made burgers on it twice and set the smoke alarm off both times I'm doing burgers again tomorrow so will put it directly under the extractor fan on the hob and see if that helps. I'm using it two or three times a week.

1. How long do you spend cooking for your family on an average day? How has the grill helped with this?

I usually spend about half an hour to an hour on average more at the weekends. Although when I work evenings, it can be as little as the time it takes for some pasta to boil. The grill has helped as I can cook pre-prepared homemade chicken nuggets in minutes, and served with pitta bread and salad is a much more balanced meal than pasta and jar of sauce!

1. Generally speaking, which is more important to you: healthy eating or quick preparation time?

Both are equal really, though I am prepared to sacrifice healthy eating for speed on occasion, like a bought pizza instead of making my own

1. What have you and your family thought of the meals you have created? What's been a success? And what's not been quite so good?

The kids have loved everything so far; sausage kebabs, chicken kebabs, cheese-in-burgers, marinated lamb chops; all have gone down a treat. We did some fruit kebabs as well and though they were a bit ewww at the concept, when they were done, dusted with icing sugar and dipped in honeyed greek yogurt, they soon came round! I've not done anything that wasn't successful yet, though not sure about them liking the pancakes which I've yet to try.

1. What would you say was the best feature or benefit of the George Foreman Grill you have used?

The best feature is the novelty factor at the moment, as we are making things that are a bit different. It's got us out of a real food rut and my youngest who prefers to live on a diet of buttered pasta is getting a little bit more adventurous and trying new things

And if you attended the George Foreman demo day, please also answer:

~ What was your perception of George Foreman Grills prior to the demo day?

Perception before the demo was of something to grill meat on that was healthier than normal cooking methods

~ How did your perception change from what you experienced on the demo day?

I learnt that it's not just for chops and bacon, and that pretty much anything can be cooked on a George!

~ What did you most enjoy about the day?

I loved the demo; fast paced and funny. The demonstrator, Emma? , was really nice and got everyone involved. The best bit? Apart from finally meeting ohforfoxsake, was sitting and chatting, meeting some familiar names and being fed a constant stream of goodies for a couple of hours.

I liked cooking our own lunch too; I though lunch will be provided would mean some sandwiches and crisps! George lunch was much much better.
And I loved the fact that most things cooked were gluten free

the only negative thing I have to say about it is that a variable temperature control would be a fantastic addition to any George as it might save my smoke alarm batteries

I wish I'd opted for the griddle one now

Oh, and another teensy weensy little criticism . Mine is meant to be five portion, but I've struggled to get more than three on at a time of, say, Quarter pound burgers or average portions of salmon/chicken. And as it's recommended to butterfly chicken breasts before cooking, only two fit on at a time. Three average or four small portions would be more apt.

Testing the Family Grill

1. What have you learnt to cook with a George Foreman Grill? What would you like to learn to cook in the future?
Salmon fillets! Absolutely inspired. I'd like to expand my use of the grill and try some marinaded recipes and will be testing a few from the book

2. Are there any features of your Grill you would like to know more about? What's the best feature you've discovered so far?
The family grill is straightforward and uncomplicated. The best feature has to be the way the lid adjusts to different thickness completely unobtrusively

3. What would make you use your Grill more regularly? How many times a week are you using it?
I'm using it a couple of times a week. DS2 (15yo) on the other hand has used it at least twice a day since it arrived :)

4. How long do you spend cooking for your family on an average day? How has the grill helped with this?
Cooking times really vary and it depends on how I'm feeling. I'm trying to use the electric oven and grill less as an economy measure and the GF grill has helped with that. It reaches cooking temperature much quicker than my grill which has to help

5. Generally speaking, which is more important to you: healthy eating or quick preparation time?
Healthy eating for sure. (However I don't buy into the "fat-bad" mantra)

6. What have you and your family thought of the meals you have created? What's been a success? And what's not been quite so good?
Fish has gone down as well as fish usually does. I loved it though. Homemade burgers were a resounding success. I wasn't so keen on the bacon but DS2 loved it and toasties have been a success all round

1. What would you say was the best feature or benefit of the George Foreman Grill you have used?

I have two. The speed at which it heats up and cooks and the ease of cleaning

I received mine fairly late and haven't had an opportunity to try many recipes or 'different' things yet. I'm taking it away with us this weekend and will add any further comments if I have any.

Non tester, love making quesadillas with tortillas, cheese and other finely chopped veg ie spring onions, tomatoes, avocado...

I tested the 19570 Family Grill

1. What have you learnt to cook with a George Foreman Grill? What would you like to learn to cook in the future? The only thing I learnt to make with this grill was the Asian chicken burgers that were in the recipe section of the manual. Otherwise I made things i already make anyway, toasties, quesadillas, sausages, bacon and attempted a panini style thing

2. Are there any features of your Grill you would like to know more about? What's the best feature you've discovered so far? to be honest the family grill is seriously lacking in features. There are some features I think it really needs to add!

3. What would make you use your Grill more regularly? How many times a week are you using it? For this product test i've used it 4 times in just short of a week. But i wouldn't say that's normal and the more the weeks go on i'd probably use it less because i don't do that much grilling. But it will get dug out for burgers etc just because it's easier to clean than the grill pan

4. How long do you spend cooking for your family on an average day? How has the grill helped with this? On a typical day i spend about 30-60 minutes cooking. The grill hasn't really reduced that as it's very small for 'family size' so had to faff cooking in 2 batches and keeping things under the grill to stay warm, and also i still have sides to the main meal to cook anyway. I don't see it as a time saving device

5. Generally speaking, which is more important to you: healthy eating or quick preparation time? healthy eating

6. What have you and your family thought of the meals you have created? What's been a success? And what's not been quite so good? they've enjoyed having something different to normal cos i've gone out of my way to use the device. We tried to make a panini style sandwich with leftovers but on ciabatta. The lid doesn't have the weight to melt everything inside but a toastie works. My dd and dh enjoyed the asian turkey burgers

7. What would you say was the best feature or benefit of the George Foreman Grill you have used? Like said above it lacks in features. I suppose its easy to clean because a damp cloth does the job rather than having to chip n scrape at it

1. What have you learnt to cook with a George Foreman Grill? What would you like to learn to cook in the future? As a avid cook there isn't much I haven't cooked. I tried a variety of dishes on this from potatoes, pork chops and toasted sandwiches.

1. Are there any features of your Grill you would like to know more about? What's the best feature you've discovered so far? Best feature is how fast it heats up and how easy it is to clean.

1. What would make you use your Grill more regularly? How many times a week are you using it?

-Nothing would make me use more. As a family of 5 I have an 8 burner range with 2 ovens & grill. I am an experienced cook. Whilst this is a fab little product it doesn't match everyday cooking. If you are worried about fat from food oven cook on a wire rack on a oven tray. This hardly removed any fat from the cooking. Although no oil was needed except a little brush of olive oil on potatoes.

1. How long do you spend cooking for your family on an average day? How has the grill helped with this? 1-2 hrs a day.

-The grill was great for little jobs like toasted sandwiches. As we are a large family. Anything I cooked still needed to go in the oven till I cooked the next batch... took much longer than how I would normally cook.

1. Generally speaking, which is more important to you: healthy eating or quick preparation time?

-Healthy eating

1. What have you and your family thought of the meals you have created? What's been a success? And what's not been quite so good?

-Aspects are a success but as a whole the grill isn't large enough. We could only cook 2 pork chops at a time. It grilled sliced potatoes nicely too. Again its not big enough. I cook from scratch every day and I would find this more of a nuisance than a help.

1. What would you say was the best feature or benefit of the George Foreman Grill you have used?

-How fast it heats up. Although it would be a nice feature to have variable temps, a lock on the handle (as it flops open) and a longer cord too.

Overall this would suit a beginner cook. The family size would be better suit to a couple as it is far to small to cook a full meal on.

Non tester.
I'll probably try a to make mozzarella and pesto panini as they are quick and an easy to make, and the children love it and it's also my favourite.

1. What have you learnt to cook with a George Foreman Grill? What would you like to learn to cook in the future?

I learnt how to make spring rolls and the apple strudel thins. DH and I also learnt how to make flatbreads and crumpets on the griddle.

1. Are there any features of your Grill you would like to know more about? What's the best feature you've discovered so far?

Best feature is either how easy it is to clean, or how quickly it heats up and cooks food.

1. What would make you use your Grill more regularly? How many times a week are you using it?

I'm using it about five times a week, most often because the DCs have sandwiches for lunch, and they like them toasted (yes I know it's not the most inspiring thing to do with it, but it's quick and easy, and it means DS2 can't chuck grated cheese everywhere).

1. How long do you spend cooking for your family on an average day? How has the grill helped with this?

I'm a very slow cook, so if I'm cooking from scratch, it can take 45 minutes to make a stir fry, or something. It does speed up the cooking time.

1. Generally speaking, which is more important to you: healthy eating or quick preparation time?

Quick preparation time. I don't like spending ages cooking, I'm far too lazy.

1. What have you and your family thought of the meals you have created? What's been a success? And what's not been quite so good?

We made fajitas last night, and they were amazing, especially making our own tortillas. I've also made sesame crusted salmon, with asparagus, pak choi and noodles, and that went down really well with the DCs.
Nothing has been an abject failure yet, but the omlette I made on the griddle wasn't the prettiest thing I've ever mated, although it tasted fine.

1. What would you say was the best feature or benefit of the George Foreman Grill you have used?

I love the griddle. I've always wanted one, and even though we have a teeny kitchen, it's worth it losing the space for the griddle. We are going to see if we can use it like a teppenyaki plate soon.

And if you attended the George Foreman demo day, please also answer:

~ What was your perception of George Foreman Grills prior to the demo day?

Good for cooking steak and paninis and that's about it.

~ How did your perception change from what you experienced on the demo day?

It showed me that if it can be cooked on a grill, or in a pan, it can be cooked on the GF.

~ What did you most enjoy about the day?

Eating lots of lovely food and having a break from the kids

Can we have a support thread for filming?

I've had two disastrous attempts where I look and sound like a load of old bollocks. Are we meant to be scaring potential customers away?

Non-tester
I would do skewers of garlic, chilli and coriander marinated king prawns or scallops and chorizo chunks on a skewer.

I once asked a friend how she liked her steak.. She replied 'on the George Forman' I've always thought this would be a good slogan!

lackaDAISY - do you need to channel your inner delia?!

I didn't realise the videos were automatically downloaded from the app - I thought I could do a few and select the best. The two i have managed have my kids going on and on and on in the background. I have some butternut squash in a bag ready to be boiled and mashed for pancakes tomorrow, but we have to be out at the crack for a cricket match now. Best laid plans and all that.

I used mine 3 times yesterday - sausages for tea, chicken and chargrilled veg (halo) for my dinner and a bacon and egg butty for DS after match snack. It's great for in between activity food. It is rubbish for cooking dinner for 6 on. 10 portion grill? 10 portions of what exactly?

I want mrs G's fajita recipe please. Seriously impressed with homemade tortillas!

I'm having a thick moment, trying to work out what to do with my videos!!!