How to clean a George Foreman grill

George Foreman grills are popular and an essential in almost every home. One of the basics of having a grill is cleaning it to maintain food hygiene as well as the grill. Learn how to clean a George Foreman grill with this simple guide.

How do you clean a George foreman grill? There are several ways to clean George foreman grills. For basic grills, you can wipe them down with a simple soap solution and sponge. More advanced George foreman grills have detachable plates which allow the cleaning process to be easier. You can either wash them in the sink or washing machine.

Cleaning basic panini George Foreman grills with non-removable plated

There are three different ways you can use to clean basic George foreman grills with non-removable plates

Method one

First, you need to unplug the grill. While the grill is still hot, place a wet paper towel on the grill using nonmetal tongs. Using the paper towel, wipe down the hot grill surfaces. The goal is to get as much debris and grime off the plates as you can. While doing this, watch out for the hot grill so you do not burn yourself

Wait for the grill to cool down. Once it’s cool, use a soft sponge soaked in soapy water to wipe the inside of the grill/ make sure to wipe the edges and anywhere else with food stains. Once you are done, do a final wipe with a clean sponge soaked in water only to rinse any remaining food particles and the soapy water. Take out the drip tray and clean it the same way or place it in the dishwasher for cleaning.

Method two

Once you are done cooking, unplug the grill and let it cool down. Always ensure the grill is unplugged when cleaning it to avoid electrical accidents. While still warm, place some layers of damp paper towels on the plates and close the lids. This traps in some steam which helps loosen char and particles on the grill.

Once it has completely cooled down, wiped it down with a paper towel. Use a soft sponge and mild soapy water to clean out the rest of the debris and oil. Rinse by wiping down with a sponge and water and completely dry the grill with some paper towels.

Method three

Another method you can use is by spritzing water on the hot grill plates immediately you are done cooking. This should only be done once you turn off the grill and unplug it from the power source. Once you spritz the grilling surfaces, let them cool down and wipe them down with paper towels or a rag with mild soap solution. Rinse the rag in clean water and wipe it down one more time and then dry the grilling surfaces with paper towels.

How to clean and advanced George Forman grill with removable plates

Some George Forman grills have removable plates and drip tray which makes them easier to clean. This is because they can be detached from the grill for the cleaning process

Method one – sink

To clean such grills, remove the plates and drip tray while the gorge foreman grill is warm or cool. Avoid removing hot plates as they may burn you. Submerge the plates in a sink full of warm soapy water.

The warm water will loosen the food debris and remove any oil. Scrub using a soft sponge then rinse the plates and tray. Allow them to dry before putting them back onto the grill

Method 2 – dishwasher

Advanced George foreman grill are ceramic and coated, which makes them dishwasher safe. To clean them, detach the removable plates and drip tray. Place the grills at the bottom rack of the dishwasher and the drip try at the top rack of the dishwasher. Clean them with warm water, and let them dry before reattaching them to the grill. Wipe down the grill with water and sponge before attaching the parts.

How to clean premium George Forman grill with interchangeable parts and a broiler

Premium George foreman grills are cleaned the same way you would clean their advanced grill. You can choose to detach the parts and wash them in a sink of soapy water or place them in a dishwasher for an easy clean.

How to prevent a grill from getting dirty

Place aluminum foil on your grill plates

This is one of the best ways to keep a George foreman grill clean. Use a long piece of aluminum foil that covers both the top and bottom grilling surfaces. Having one long piece of foil ensures there is no space for grease to spill onto the grill plates

You can use the two foil surfaces to grill your food. When done grilling, remove your food together with the foil then turn off your grill. B very careful not to drip any of the food back onto the grill when taking out the foil. The only disadvantage of using a foil is that the food won’t brown and crisp as it would on the bare grill.

Here is what not to do when cleaning a George foreman grill

Use a scouring pad or brush – Scouring pads and brushes will completely ruin your grill. They are abrasive and ill scrape the non-stick coating off the plates and ruin the grill completely.

Submerge the entire grill in a tank full of soapy water – Submerging the grill into water to clean it will damage the entire grill and its heating elements.

Final word

After cooking with your George Foreman grill, you should always clean it properly to prevent permanent stains and maintain food hygiene. Their grills are easy to clean whether they have removable parts or not.

FAQ

Should I clean the George foreman grill every time I use it?

Yes, it is highly recommended that you clean all the plates and any other dirty spots on the grill every time you use it. This will help maintain the grill and extend its lifespan. Do not use hard chemicals and abrasive pads when cleaning as they may scratch the coating on the plates and ruin the grill

How do I keep food from sticking to my George foreman grill?

First, you have to ensure the grill is clean before you use it. Next, preheat the grill before adding any food to it. You can also brush the grill with some oil before cooking to prevent the food from sticking while you cook.