by Thomas Edens

Created on: January 13, 2009   Last Updated: December 12, 2009

George Foreman's line of fat reducing contact grills has come a long way since the 1994 debut of the Lean, Mean, Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine. Today, these grills come in three sizes: small, medium, and large, and in variations such as outdoor and indoor. The line even includes a roaster and a fryer. If you wanted to take the plunge, you could cook every meal in some version of a Foreman.

The first Foreman grill I ever used was the Family Sized Grill that a colleague brought into the office. He grilled up a couple of hot dogs and gave me one. I would have never thought to use a contact grill on hot dogs, but when I tasted them, I knew I had to get a Foreman Grill. Soon after, I purchased an Indoor/Outdoor Electric Dome Grill.

I have grilled just about everything imaginable on my Foreman Indoor/Outdoor. I do not recommend using it indoors, because the grill does work and that makes it a bit messy. As the meat cooks, the grease and fat runs to the center where it falls through a slot into a bowl. You can discard the grease after grilling, but not during, because the plate gets extremely hot. If you are grilling a lot of meat, the bowl fills up and can overflow. Because of the overflow, I do not suggest using the grill on a hard surface either.  I positioned my grill over dirt, so that any spillage falls harmlessly onto the ground.

I had a Super Bowl party in 2007 and I grilled steaks, country ribs, and boneless chicken breasts on the Foreman. I received nothing but compliments from my guests and I had no leftovers. The only guy that left unsatisfied was a Bears fan, but no meat was going to cheer him up that day.

I highly recommend the Foremen line of contact grills to everyone. Whether you live in a house, an apartment, or even a dorm room, there is a Foreman Grill that is suited for you. They can be a little difficult to clean, but it is a small price to pay for perfectly prepared food.

I have three meals that I prepare regularly on a Foreman Grill that my kids absolutely love:

1. Grilled Hot Dogs on the Family Sized Grilled. This is the easiest meal to make. Take a few hot dogs and press them between the grill plates for about a minute. Next, put the hot dog buns between the plates and press them for about a minute. You can vary the times if you want the dogs or buns toasted more or less. Add ketchup or mustard to taste and you have lunch in less than five minutes.

2. Mini Cheese Burgers on the Indoor/Outdoor Electric Dome Grill. This is another meal the kids will love. Place mini hamburger patties on the grill at a medium temperature. The dome grills do not have a press plate, so you will have to flip them when you are satisfied that the initial side is cooked. I season the burgers to taste with garlic or other spices. The great thing about the Electric Dome Grill is that you can cook about half-a-dozen burgers at a time. The fat runs off, so all that is left is lean flavorful meat. When satisfied that the burgers are done, put some cheese on top and put the dome cover back on for another minute, the cheese will melt perfectly.

3. Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken.  Another quick meal with little prep time that will have the family asking for seconds.  Season boneless chicken breasts with any lemon pepper rub or powder and then place them on the grill.  Flip them when they are well seared on one side.  I prefer to flip them back and forth several times to make sure the internal temperature reaches the appropriate level.  Any fat will run off and leave you with tasty, lean chicken. 

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