What We Like
- No charcoal, no propane, no flare-ups
- Dishwasher-safe grill plate and drip tray
- Adjustable temperature control
- Indoor/outdoor removable stand
- George tough non-stick coating
What We Don’t Like
- Lacks a built-in temperature gauge
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a clean grill that is comfortable to use in your apartment, be sure to check out George Foreman’s GGR50B.
Introduction
Though some grilling fanatics prefer a smoky flavor in their meals, smoke is not very clean and can be a nuisance to your neighbors. Electric grills don’t produce smoke and therefore, they have the benefit of being very clean.
George Foreman’s GGR50B is one such electric grill and due to this property, it is ideal for people living in apartments, and still delivers impressive cooking performance.
The tool is also very practical because it is mounted on a stand. Let’s dive into the review below to see all that this grill has to offer.
George Foreman GGR50B Review
Photo: George Foreman
Performance: Apartment Approved
Because it is powered using electricity, George Foreman’s GGR50B eliminates the messiness associated with handling charcoal and removing ash, as well as the carbon emissions produced by burning charcoal, propane, or natural gas.
Instead, it has a grilling plate with an embedded heating element to warm it up. This gives you the convenience of cleanliness, which is apartment approved and can be comfortably used in the kitchen or patio.
Heat is controlled via an adjustable temperature probe that has 5 different levels, with 5 being the hottest.
Though a thermometer gauge is not built into the lid, the most commonly used levels are 4 and 5, and this table can act as a rough guide:
Food | Temperature Level | Time |
|---|---|---|
Steak (3/4 inches thick) | 5 | 7-14 minutes |
Steak (1/2 inches thick) | 5 | 5-12 minutes |
Sausage | 4 | 20-30 minutes |
Fish (1-inch thick) | 4 | 20 minutes |
Chicken breast | 4 | 20-30 minutes |
Hamburgers | 4 | 5-15 minutes |
For more precision though, you need to buy a thermometer to check the temperature inside steaks and other thick pieces of meat.
That said, the heating element powers up a mid-size 240 square-inch cooking surface, which is large enough to hold over 15 servings. As such, the grill can come in very handy if you are hosting a party.
The circular cooking surface is covered in George’s tough non-stick coating and has a non-perforated surface with raised ridges that allow drippings to flow out while producing nice grill marks on your food.
A sloped design on the grilling surface ensures all the fat and drippings flow outside to leave the food dry and tasty. This design evacuates up to 42% of fat, and it was tested by the manufacturer on a 1/4-lb of uncooked 80/20 ground chuck.
Design: Easy to Use
With electricity as its power source, this grill is very easy to use. For starters, no refilling is required because electricity does not run out. For control, you get a temperature probe that is very easy to adjust because you simply have to turn the dial to turn up or lower the heat.
Other than that, the unit comes with a removable stand that has a base with five forks for stability and a pedestal tube that raises the grill to a comfortable working height for easy use. This stand is durable enough to withstand the elements and this makes it ideal for setting up on your patio.
That said, the grill has short legs that can hold it steady on a countertop. Therefore, you can switch from the patio to your kitchen countertop with ease.
Setup Process: Easy to Assemble
Assembling the GGR50B is very easy. It has few parts, which include a domed grill lid, a removable grill plate, a drip tray, a temperature control probe, and the stand.
Putting these pieces together does not require any tools and according to Donna Currie – a blogger specializing in kitchen gadgets – the process takes only about 10 minutes.
However, since the parts fit snugly into each other (especially the base), you need to apply some strength to pull apart or assemble them.
Other than that, no fuel is required, and therefore, after setting up the grill, simply plug it into a wall outlet and get started.
Cleaning: Dishwasher-Safe
Cleaning this grill is also a very easy process because the grilling plate and drip tray are dishwasher safe. Therefore, you don’t have to brush or scrub the grease and drippings after use.
That said, these two components are very critical because they help to keep the unit clean. The grilling plate has a non-stick surface that is easy to clean, and it has ridges that allow grease and drippings to flow under the meat.
These fluids are directed to a drip tray under the plate, which can then be removed to pour out the waste. This mechanism ensures the grill remains clean and leaves you with very few parts to wash after use.
In contrast, most charcoal and gas grills are fitted with grates, which allow drippings to pour into the flame and consequently, into some sections on the grill’s internal surface. This means you have to wipe these sections after use, which is not the case with this unit.
Additionally, with these grills, flare-ups are common when the fat drips into the flame. This creates additional smoke that might stain your walls. However, this is not possible with the GGR50B and therefore, it leaves your kitchen as clean as it was before use.
Portability: Removable Stand
Since it has a removable stand, George Foreman’s GGR50B can be very compact if this component is removed. It measures 22.2 x 20.5 x 13 inches and combined with a lightweight 21-lb design and carrying handles on the sides, this makes it easily portable.
Therefore, moving it from the kitchen countertop to the patio should not take a lot of effort.
Accessories: None
George Foreman does not provide any accessories for this GGR50B. This is quite common among many grills from different manufacturers and therefore, I don’t consider this to be a disadvantage.
That said, you can get tongs, forks, and grill covers separately, which are not very costly.
Our Shortlist: Essential BBQ Accessories
Price: Affordable
Apart from being clean and apartment-friendly, this grill is also very affordable. It costs less than $100 and despite this, it gives you a relatively large grilling surface that you can use to prepare servings for multiple guests.
However, if you want a slightly more premium electric grill, there is the George Foreman GFO3320GM, which has a premium ceramic coating and a lid-mounted temperature gauge. This comes at a higher price though, and it exceeds the $100 mark.
Verdict
An apartment-friendly electric grill that is ideal for kitchen or patio use.
Because it is powered using electricity, the George Foreman GGR50B offers a clean grilling solution that is ideal for use in apartments because it does not produce any smoke that might cause disturbance to your neighbors.
Furthermore, since it has a compact and lightweight design plus a removable stand, you can easily switch its use between your kitchen and patio.
Specs
- Product Name: George Foreman GGR50B
- Product Brand: George Foreman
- Power Source: Electricity (120V, 1600W)
- Cooking Surface Area: 240 square inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Product Dimensions: 22.2 x 20.5 x 13 inches
- Weight: 21 lbs.
- Warranty: 3-year limited (30-day money-back guarantee)
Key Features
- Adjustable temperature control.
- Removable grill plate with a George tough non-stick coating.
- Fat removing slope with a drip tray.
- Removable stand.
- Domed grill lid.
- Dishwasher-safe plate and tray.
- 15+ servings capacity.