A George Foreman grill is always great if you like barbecuing but can’t do so outside. George Foreman grills are relatively small electric grills that can be used indoors and outdoors. In addition, they are electric, so they can be used indoors without risk. They’re even allowed for use in apartment buildings.
However, like a regular grill, a George Foreman grill requires maintenance. In other words, you have to keep your George Foreman grill clean. If you don’t keep your George Foreman grill clean, it will quickly deteriorate.
Moreover, whenever you grill anything on it, the leftover food bits will burn and smoke. Therefore, this article discusses how to clean a George Foreman indoor grill. You can use several methods depending on the George Foreman grill model you have, so let’s look at them.
How to Clean a George Foreman Grill with Non-Removable Plates
The first type of George Foreman indoor grill has non-removable plates. These grills have two grill plates, one on the top and one on the bottom, and they cannot be removed from the main unit.
Therefore, these grill plates must be cleaned while still attached to the grill. However, you can follow some simple tricks to make cleaning this type of George Foreman grill easier. Follow the steps below to clean the George Foreman grill with non-removable grill plates.
One of the biggest secrets is that you should clean this George Foreman grill when the grill plates are still relatively warm. You do not want to let them cool down, as food debris will harden and make this process much harder.
When you have finished using your George Foreman grill, wait 10 or 15 minutes to let the grill plates cool. However, they should still be warm.
Wet a relatively thick paper towel. Use a pair of tongs, preferably not made of metal (metal tongs will scratch the grill plate coating), and wipe the surface. Use the wet paper towel to remove as much debris as possible.
Then, wait for 10 or 15 more minutes until the grill has cooled more. Next, use some water with mild dish detergent and a sponge to wipe the inside of the grill plates. Ensure you also get the edges of the grill and the bottom where grease and debris often build up.
Once the debris has been removed, take a sponge with plain water and wipe everything down. Remove all remaining residue and the soap; you don’t want any soap left when you go to cook the next time.
Next, clean the drippings tray, which can be done by hand, or you can put it in the dishwasher. Most drip trays are dishwasher-friendly.
With the grill still slightly warm, put a few pieces of wet paper towel on the bottom plate and close the lid. This will help loosen up any debris that is still there.
Then, repeat the above steps. Next, use a sponge and warm soapy water to wipe everything down and remove any remaining debris. Once that has been done, use water (no soap), and wipe everything down again. Your George Foreman grill should now be clean.
How to Clean a George Foreman Grill with Removable Plates
Cleaning a George Foreman indoor grill with removable grill plates is much easier. Follow the steps below.
Once you are done cooking, allow the unit to completely cool off. Unlike non-removable grill plates, these plates do not need to be warm when you clean them.
When the grill plates are cool, remove them from the grill and submerge them in warm, soapy water. Use a relatively mild dish detergent. Let the grill plates soak for around 20 minutes to loosen any stuck-on debris.
Use a relatively soft sponge, nothing too coarse or harsh, and scrub those grill plates until you’ve removed all debris. Then rinse the grill plates, so there’s no soap on them.
You can let the grill plates air dry or use a paper towel or a soft cloth to dry them. In addition, George Foreman removable grill plates are usually dishwasher safe, which could make cleaning easier.
The drippings tray can be cleaned in the same way. Just soak it in hot soapy water, scrub it, rinse, and let it dry.
Cleaning the Exterior of George Foreman Grills
Cleaning the exterior of a George Foreman grill is the same for both models. The grill’s exterior can get dirty, especially if you cook a lot of greasy food.
Simply take a wet and soapy sponge, and wipe it down. Moreover, if there is stuck-on debris, you might have to do a bit of scrubbing. However, don’t want to use a harsh or coarse sponge, as you will scratch the exterior. Therefore, this process might take time to remove all stuck-on debris.
Once you have cleaned away the stuck-on debris, just use a bit of water to remove any remaining soap. Next, you can use a cloth or paper towel to dry the grill’s exterior. Needless to say, when you are doing this, always make sure the unit is unplugged.
Conclusion
As you can see, cleaning a George Foreman indoor grill is relatively easy. You need a sponge, water and soap, and paper towels. Moreover, cleaning your George Foreman grill is easier if you do it regularly. If you let the debris build up, it will be heavily stuck on when you go to clean it.