by Maryann Macleod

Created on: January 15, 2009   Last Updated: January 28, 2009

In 1996 the method of grilling food was supposed to be improved with a new, healthier and easier to clean machine by the Americantwo-time World heavyweight Champion George Foreman. After losing an exhausting match to Jimmy young in 1977 George suffered heatstroke an believed he had a near death experience, he became a born again christian and became an ordained minister of a church in houston where he also started a youth centre. In 1994 he returned to boxing and formally retired after losing to Shannon Briggs in 1998, Foreman was 48. He then decided to join the entrepreneurs business with his lean mean grilling machine which made approximately $240 million , almost three times what he earned boxing.

The inside of the grill is ridged so it squeezes out the fat, the slanted design and non-stick surface allows the fat to slide out into the tray. When comparing the amount of fat in the tray to the amount in a normal grill when cooking the same amount it is easy to see that the lean mean fat grilling machine does indeed live up to its promise of lowering the fat content of the food, even the taste of the food is better as with the "10099 Big George" it becomes a lot more difficult to burn your meals as the machine is fitted with a timer and a rather loud alarm which makes forgetting about it almost impossible. However the smaller machines such as the 13622 do not.

The grill is also brilliant value for money as the majority of machines are in the range of 18-60. Many cooking appliances in that range are often unreliable or only have a short lifetime the george foreman however is widely rated as one of the most reliable appliances around. My own has lasted me three years and still works as though new.

I used to hate cleaning my grill, with all the fat sticking between the spokes on the metal and the tray itself being so full of fat it had to be left to soak for hours and then of course you had to wash it last of all your dishes because the water in the basin would become so murky you would worry about pouring it down your sink for fear of blocking it. The non-stick design of the george foreman machine means that the majority of the fat drips down to the tray which is plastic and so easy to empty and very little fat is left on the actual machine. All that is required is to wipe it with a wet cloth saving much needed time and energy for harassed mothers and girlfriends.

While the grill is excellent for simple meals such as chicken and bacon it is also a great oppertunity to try out new recipes such as toasties, kebabs and burgers. I found a recipe for a beautiful sweet red salad on the george foreman website; http://www.georgeforemangrills.co.uk/redsalad.php

The re are many brilliant recipes available on the website and a few which come with the actual device.

All in all a truly wonderful appliance and lives up to the promises made by the ex-boxer turned entrepreneur.

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