Cleaning a George Foreman Grill? Or just buy another?

[Cruise]

I'm a huge fan of the George Foreman grill...we have the smaller size one, leave it on the counter, and use it almost every night. The problem is, the grilling surface gets harder and harder to get clean over time. It just seems like some places won't let go of the cooked on fluids after a while. It's not solid bits, but you can tell something's there.

I was just looking through my past Amazon orders and it looks like I've had to buy a new one approximately every 12 months because of this.

Has anyone else had this problem and figured out a way to bring new life to the grill plates? Since it's the small one, the plates aren't removable for a good soak. We usually clean it while it's still hot using a wet paper towel. Other than that, it works fine and I hate the waste involved in buying a new one each year.

Thanks!

 

[DuckMom]

Have you tried Easy Off or some other spray on cleaner? I haven't noticed a problem with my Foreman, but we don't use it a ton. We use Easy Off to clean our grill though and it works pretty well. Not sure if it would work, but might be worth a shot!

 

[Princess Nancy]

We do not use ours as often as you do, but I HATE cleaning it. Love it otherwise!


I did buy a sponge made for the GF Grill. It is better now. But I think I gotta get the one with the removable plates. I think it is $65 at Amazon.

If you are getting a new one, I say go for the one with the plates that can come off!!

 

[trustknoone]

Try replacing it at your local Goodwill type place. Just bought one for $4.95, looks like it was barely used.

 

[finz2left]

ditch the George Foreman and get a Breville or Cuisnart and they'll last you a lifetime and the cooking surface is far superior

 

[marmalade]

I have found that the fastest and easiest way to clean my george forman is to lay some wet paper towels in there while he lid is closed and plug it in. I only let it heat up for maybe a minute or 2. Then I unplug it and wipe and everthing inside wipes right off with zero effort. Be careful not to burn yourself because the paper towels do get hot.

We only use ours in the winter but I have had the same one for years and it looks just fine.

 

[Suz D]

I have found that the fastest and easiest way to clean my george forman is to lay some wet paper towels in there while he lid is closed and plug it in. I only let it heat up for maybe a minute or 2. Then I unplug it and wipe and everthing inside wipes right off with zero effort. Be careful not to burn yourself because the paper towels do get hot.

We only use ours in the winter but I have had the same one for years and it looks just fine.

This was going to be my exact suggestion!

 

[phred52]

This was going to be my exact suggestion!

huh. I just spent a lot of time cleaning ours last night. Seemed like a lot more than normal stuck to it. going to give this method a try next time!

 

[Seahunt]

I just bought one of the George Foreman models that has the removable plates and really love it. I didn't like cleaning my old one either, but the removable plates make all the difference - just snap the plates out, wash and dry them, snap 'em back in. So EZ

 

[Janepod]

We upgraded to the removable-plate version for just that reason. However, the one tip I do have for cleaning: make a paste of baking soda and water, really cover the grill, and leave on for a couple of hours. When you wipe that off, it will take a lot of the gunk with it. Good luck! Aren't they terrific?

 

[Cruise]

I have found that the fastest and easiest way to clean my george forman is to lay some wet paper towels in there while he lid is closed and plug it in. I only let it heat up for maybe a minute or 2. Then I unplug it and wipe and everthing inside wipes right off with zero effort. Be careful not to burn yourself because the paper towels do get hot.

We only use ours in the winter but I have had the same one for years and it looks just fine.

This is how I usually clean it, but right at the "one year" mark, more and more keeps sticking to it and not coming off as well.

We upgraded to the removable-plate version for just that reason. However, the one tip I do have for cleaning: make a paste of baking soda and water, really cover the grill, and leave on for a couple of hours. When you wipe that off, it will take a lot of the gunk with it. Good luck! Aren't they terrific?

I did actually make up a mixture of lemon juice and vinegar and rubbed that on the stubborn spots and that seemed to work a bit. I might try the baking soda as well...thanks

I'm afraid to use Easy Off on it because of the non-stick surface. I've read that Easy Off can damage that. Though I might try it as a last resort since I'd have to replace it if nothing else worked anyway.

 

[Sarahlovy]

I would try a magic eraser before I tried easy off

 

[SandrA9810]

Have you tried cooking half a lemon on it??

Never did it on my foreman grill, but the last apartment had a glass top stove. I hated that thing, and hated cleaning it. So I'd turn it on, to get the glass hot, and rub a half lemon all over it, then go over it with a sponge. It's a tricky act of getting the surface hot enough to clean and then not burn yourself. Then I'd chuck the lemon into the disposal to make it smell a bit better.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Have you tried cooking half a lemon on it??

Never did it on my foreman grill, but the last apartment had a glass top stove. I hated that thing, and hated cleaning it. So I'd turn it on, to get the glass hot, and rub a half lemon all over it, then go over it with a sponge. It's a tricky act of getting the surface hot enough to clean and then not burn yourself. Then I'd chuck the lemon into the disposal to make it smell a bit better.

I boil my lemon in half in the microwave first to clean that, then use the hot water lemon to clean the smooth top hen chuck it all down the garbage disposal for freshener and cleaning. Now I will add my grill plates to he routine!!. Not bad for half a lemon!

 

[SandrA9810]

Not bad for half a lemon!

I love fresh lemon on my seafood, but I can never use a full lemon on food alone. Plus I don't like using the bottle stuff that'd sit in the fridge for a year before being completely used.
So seafood night, I better be in the mood for a bit of cleaning up. Plus lemon fresh is a bit nicer after cooking fish.

 

[S. C.]

This one sounds good. We have been looking for one that the drip container is a drawer under the grill. This one has it. On sale on Amazon but thru a 3rd party for $75.95 Anyone ever bought anything from Kitty Hawk Enterprises before?

Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-GR-4N-5-in-1-Griddler/dp/B002YD99Y4/ref=lh_ni_t_

 

[S. C.]

This one sounds good. We have been looking for one that the drip container is a drawer under the grill. This one has it. On sale on Amazon but thru a 3rd party for $75.95 Anyone ever bought anything from Kitty Hawk Enterprises before?

Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-GR-4N-5-in-1-Griddler/dp/B002YD99Y4/ref=lh_ni_t_

Anyone seen these at any of the big box stores?