Do you love cooking on your George Foreman? Do you want your George Foreman grill to last for as long as possible? If so, the best way to accomplish this is by ensuring that you know how to clean it properly.
Just like most things, there are better techniques for cleaning these types of grills, but it depends on the type of George Foreman grill that you have and the features that it has.
Therefore, we have come up with a few easy ways that you can use to help ensure that your George Forman grill will always remain clean and optimal for your next grilling experience. Let’s get going!
What Not To Do When Cleaning Your George Foreman Grill
Although we will talk about some easy ways to clean a George Foreman grill, we feel that it is just as important to point out the one thing that you should never do when cleaning your grill.
The purpose of this type of grill is to allow the natural grease from the meat to drain while it is being cooked. George Foreman grills are coated with a non-stick coating. This is what makes it easy to cook and flip your meat as needed.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when cleaning this type of grill is that they use rough materials, like scrub pads, to clean it.
This will increase the probability of scratching the non-stick material off of the grill face, which will render the grill useless.
Although it might still cook the meat, it will no longer allow the grease from the meat to flow into the drain pan. So, make sure that in a haste, you do not pick up something that will have the possibility of scratching the non-stick surface.
Basic George Foreman Grills with Non-Removable Plates
This is one of the most common grills of this type, and there are three basic methods that anyone can use to clean these grills. They are all safe and easy, but it is up to you to choose which one is the best method for you.
Paper Towel and Non-Metal Tongs
After unplugging the grill, you will wet paper towels and squeeze them into a ball.
Then, using a pair of non-metal tongs, you will take the paper towels and wipe the grill down from the top to the bottom, where the grease drains during cooking.
It is important to make sure that you keep the drain catcher in place to catch excess water and debris from the grill.
After this is done and the grill cools down, you will take a soft sponge and using mild soapy water wipe down the inside of the grill. It is important to wipe the edge of the grill to remove any fat that has dripped and dried, during the process of cooking.
Use Paper Towels to Steam Clean the Grill
After unplugging the grill, you will allow the grill to cool down, but you do not want it to get too cold. Once it has cooled a little, you will take three to four paper towels and wet them.
Then place them on the bottom half of the grill and closed the lid. This will create steam inside the grill, which is designed to help loosen any leftover seasoning or material from your cooking.
Once the grill cools down, you will then use a soft sponge and mild soapy water like in method one to wipe down the inside and outside of the grill.
However, it is important to note that this method will provide a lot of steam in your kitchen, and it might not loosen everything that was left behind on the grill.
Use Aluminum Foil or Parchment Paper While Grilling
This method makes it easy to ensure that your grill will not have any food particles on the grill plates. Basically, before cooking, you will coat the grill with either aluminum foil or parchment paper.
After you are finished cooking, all you will have to do is remove the paper or foil and throw it away. If any juice manages to get on the plates, you can simply wipe the plates off with a soft wet sponge.
Advanced and Premium Grills with Removable or Interchangeable Plates
Some advanced George Foreman grills have removable and interchangeable plates. These types of grills can be easier to keep clean than the solid George Foreman Grills.
Submerge and Wipe Off
After you finish cooking, you can simply remove the plates on the grill and submerge them into warm soapy water to allow them to soak. This will wipe and clean the plates of any debris that was left behind.
After this is done, most of these plates are dishwasher safe, which means after the hard grilling debris is lifted off of the plates in the sink, you can simply place them in the dishwasher to finish the cleaning process.
You can also line these plates with aluminum foil or parchment paper as well just like with the regular George Foreman grills.
Final Thoughts and Additional Tips For Cleaning George Foreman Grills
George Foreman Grills are capable of grilling and cooking all kinds of dishes, but it is important to know how to clean them properly to ensure their lifespan.
You should remember that these grills often have their grates coated with a non-stick substance, which is essential for them to cook properly and as intended.
When cleaning these types of grills, it is important to understand that the sooner you clean the grill plates the easier the job will be.
Also, you want to make sure that you always unplug the grill before starting any of the cleaning methods above for safety reasons.
Finally, you need to make sure that you unplug the grill as soon as you are done using it to make sure that the excess juice and debris are not hardened and caked onto the grill’s plates.