I was going to buy a panini maker a while back, never did, and someone mentioned
that a George Foreman grill would be just as good for the task and also useful
for other things. With the cold weather here, I've been cooking steaks inside
in a grill pan and they don't come out too bad at all. How good a job does the
GF grill do on steaks, being as they cook on both sides at once? And will it
work well as a panini maker? I've already looked at them on line and see many
models. What would be the best one for what I want to use it for, and given I
have no dishwahser so I'll be cleaning it by hand. Removable plates? Any info is
appreciated. Thanks.

On Nov 7, 10:49*am, wrote:
> I was going to buy a panini maker a while back, never did, and someone mentioned
> that a George Foreman grill would be just as good for the task and also useful
> for other things. *With the cold weather here, I've been cooking steaks inside
> in a grill pan and they don't come out too bad at all. How good a job does the
> GF grill do on steaks, being as they cook on both sides at once? And will it
> work well as a panini maker? I've already looked at them on line and see many
> models. What would be the best one for what I want to use it for, and given I
> have no dishwahser so I'll be cleaning it by hand. Removable plates? Any info is
> appreciated. Thanks.

My recommendation is that you get a grill that's hinged in the middle
of the plate. The ones with the hinge on the end do not open wide
enough.

I love my contact grill. I'm able to fry a steak that's frozen solid
because it grills from both sides. Simply amazing!

The plates on my grill do not remove. I prefer that because I believe
that it heats up faster and hotter than removable plates. This may or
may not be important to you but it is to me. I like hot!

On 11/7/2012 4:02 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> On Nov 7, 10:49 am, wrote:
>> I was going to buy a panini maker a while back, never did, and someone mentioned
>> that a George Foreman grill would be just as good for the task and also useful
>> for other things. With the cold weather here, I've been cooking steaks inside
>> in a grill pan and they don't come out too bad at all. How good a job does the
>> GF grill do on steaks, being as they cook on both sides at once? And will it
>> work well as a panini maker? I've already looked at them on line and see many
>> models. What would be the best one for what I want to use it for, and given I
>> have no dishwahser so I'll be cleaning it by hand. Removable plates? Any info is
>> appreciated. Thanks.
>
> My recommendation is that you get a grill that's hinged in the middle
> of the plate. The ones with the hinge on the end do not open wide
> enough.
>
> I love my contact grill. I'm able to fry a steak that's frozen solid
> because it grills from both sides. Simply amazing!
>
> The plates on my grill do not remove. I prefer that because I believe
> that it heats up faster and hotter than removable plates. This may or
> may not be important to you but it is to me. I like hot!
>
I've had one for several years and, even tho' you can't put it in the
dishwasher, it cleans very easily over the sink.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not" in Reply To.

On 11/7/2012 12:28 PM, James Silverton wrote:
>>
> I've had one for several years and, even tho' you can't put it in the
> dishwasher, it cleans very easily over the sink.
>

I get a couple of paper towels, wet them and lay them on the plate and
close the grill. After the steaming stops, the towels are wiped over the
plates. It works pretty good.

On Nov 7, 2:55*pm, dsi1 > wrote:
> On 11/7/2012 12:28 PM, James Silverton wrote:
>
>
>
> > I've had one for several years and, even tho' you can't put it in the
> > dishwasher, it cleans very easily over the sink.
>
> I get a couple of paper towels, wet them and lay them on the plate and
> close the grill. After the steaming stops, the towels are wiped over the
> plates. It works pretty good.

That's what I do. I make sure the paper towels are quite wet.
Works great.

I've had my Foreman for over ten years. I only use it to grill portobella mushrooms ( I paint a lot of olive oil on them). I could live without the grill tho. The nonstick up and left long ago. I also used to use it to quick-cook frozen chicken cutlets, but they came out pretty dry. I did this when I needed some quick cooked chicken for further recipe use. I guess hamburgers would be ok too - but why heat up the Foreman when you can slap em in a skillet?

As for cleaning, I put a couple of hot, soaking wet dishrags between the grills and close it as soon as the 'rooms are removed. Cleanup is then pretty easy.

I'd say - savayoMAHnee. ONe less thing to buy, clean and store.