KITCHEN Foreman delivers a knockout product

George Foreman says he's sold 50 million of his grills.
SACRAMENTO BEE
Products sold on TV "infomercials" rarely make lasting impressions. The "Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine," also known as the George Foreman Grill, is an exception.
The countertop grill, named after and marketed by former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, was introduced in 1996 on those late-night half-hour commercials. It quickly took off.
Although Salton Inc., the grill's Illinois-based manufacturer, would not divulge sales figures, Foreman says 10 million have been sold in the United States and 50 million worldwide.
"People love their George Foreman Grills," says Frances Largeman, a registered dietitian and managing editor of FoodFit.com, a nutrition information Web site. "They make quick work of chicken breasts and burgers, and I even know folks who use them at work. They keep all the cooking juices contained, so they're really easy to clean up and are perfect for people who hate to make a mess in their kitchen."
"The George," as some call it, has gone mainstream. It's now sold more often in retail stores than directly through the TV infomercials.
The lineup of grills has expanded to include 20 models and sizes, ranging from one with 38 square inches of cooking surface -- large enough for two hamburger patties -- to one that will cook 12 burgers. Manufacturer's recommended retail prices range from $20 to $150, although stores and online suppliers often discount them.
Testimonial
Eileen Patricia Rice, who has seen her share of kitchen gadgets during her 101 years of life, bought the smallest Foreman grill a year and a half ago for $14.90.
"I had seen the infomercial and was impressed, but I never buy anything directly from TV," says Rice, who lives in a retirement home in Roseville, Calif. "When I saw it at Wal-Mart at that price I thought, 'What have I got to lose?' It turned out better than I had hoped.
"In fact, it's the best money I ever spent on an appliance. It works beautifully, especially on hamburgers and fish. It's perfect for someone living alone. Now I don't have to bother with my stove, and cleaning up is a cinch."
Similar to an electric waffle iron, the grill opens like a book to reveal two cooking surfaces. When a hamburger or other food item is closed inside the appliance, both sides are grilled simultaneously.
A model of simplicity to operate, you just plug it in to turn it on, unplug it to turn it off. There are no controls to set. Because the grill is slightly angled toward the front, fat drips off into a small plastic dish that sits under the front opening.
Its taste effect on food, especially meat, is similar to that of barbecue grilling but with a fraction of the mess. No charcoal, starter fluid, propane canisters or special cooking tools are necessary. It even puts grill marks on the food. You can use it anywhere you have an electric outlet, indoors or out.
Readers recently commented on their Foreman grills. Those who responded said they like it -- and then some.
Risa Golding, from Oxford, N.J., calls the Foreman grill her favorite gadget, using it for bacon, grilled cheese sandwiches, pork chops, steaks, burgers and vegetables. "But my favorite thing to make on it are quesadillas," she said.
Amy Gutierrez, from Forest Hill, Md., was given her grill as a wedding present three years ago. "I use it at least once a week. It's best for grilled cheese sandwiches. They come out perfect, not the least bit greasy."
Jim Crupi of Sacramento, Calif., recalls watching a Foreman infomercial with a friend and wondering aloud, "Who buys those things?"
The friend said, "I do," and took Crupi to the kitchen, where he cooked a frozen chicken breast on the grill, seemingly in no time. Crupi liked the way the chicken turned out and bought a Foreman grill the next day.
Then he got his parents to buy one.
Unsatisfied customers
Complaints? There were few. You can't adjust the cooking temperature. Fat sometimes overflows the drip dish, and some buyers said the grill is hard to clean. (More people, however, said cleaning was easy.) One reader thought chicken breasts came out too dry.
David Schwoegler of Oakland, Calif., said the grill did not get hot enough to properly sear some meats. Its design made cooking foods on a skewer impossible, and it doesn't open wide enough to accommodate thick cuts of meat.
But, Schwoegler adds, the grill's virtues outweigh its shortcomings. He finds it especially good for making french toast, grilled sandwiches and fish.