Showing posts with label wood fired grills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wood fired grills. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

George Foreman GR20WHT XL Grill

George Foreman GR20WHT XL GrillSimple to use. Quick. Easy to clean up. Makes food taste delicious. Quality construction. I use this to prepare 4-5 meals a week and am never disappointed. It makes delicious chicken, burgers, grilled sandwiches, fish, steaks, vegetables, quesadillas, fajitas, etc... I love the fact that there are no complicated switches or settings, just plug it in and get cooking. What a relief from todays overly complicated world. I received my grill as a gift, and now it is my gift of choice to others. Those who receive it may at first have hesitations (George Foreman grill wasn't that on a cheesy infomercial?), but once they use it they absolutely love it. My only complaint is that it is a little small to cook for 3 or 4 people the larger model maybe the way to go.

This appliance has literally changed my life. To explain this bit of what may appear at first to be hyperbole, you must understand that I am in the military, am currently deployed to faraway lands, and am living in what can only be described as "primitive conditions."

Prior to purchasing my "George" cooking meant microwaving some tasteless frozen or canned product into that uniquely textured, unevenly heated form that only a microwave oven can produce. When I wanted to eat well, I ate out -which in the military, usually means fast food.

It was on a trip to Iceland that I discovered "George": several of my compatriots had smaller versions of this grill in their barracks rooms, and the wonderful smells of their steaks, chicken breasts, and pork loins cooking at dinnertime led me to investigate and eventually purchase one of my own.

The grill is simplicity itself: plug it in and it works. There is no temperature control and no on/off switch. Wait till the little light goes out, then throw your chosen foodstuff on the non-stick surface. Both sides of whatever you're grilling are seared at once, making the meat (or veggie) moist and tender. Fat drains down the sloped surface into the helpfully-provided receptacle. Cooking time is remarkably short due to heating elements both above and below, and if you like your meat slightly crispy on the outside, you will be very, very happy.

Cleanup is a simple matter of wiping the nonstick surface with a few paper towels and is best accomplished with the grill slightly warm. A quick wipe with a damp sponge and you're done.

So far, I have cooked steaks (fabulous!), chicken breasts (delicious -be careful not to overcook), pork loin (particularly good after marinating -like chicken, be careful not to overcook), grilled cheese sandwiches (the best I've ever had), fajitas (veggies and meat - turned out great!), and fish (stick to more steak-like fish such as salmon and tuna and you'll love it).

I highly recommend this grill to anyone who loves the taste of grilled food -especially folks like me who are cooking just for themselves or who find it difficult to find the time or a place to fire up the barbeque.

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This is a bachelors kitchen dream! No mess, no fuss and no dishes!! Just wipe it clean after each use and enjoy a juicy hamburger, steaks cooked to perfection and grilled chicken that's perfect and juicy. Anybody can use the George Foreman Grill! Just plug it in, set your favorite meat on the grill, close it up and cook until it is golden brown! This grill works fast, which is why it is perfect for us single fellas who hate cooking and love a hot meal once in awhile when we're not eating at a friends house where someone else is cooking for us:)

The only flaws I have with this unit: 1) TEMP CONTROLS! Where are they??? There are none to be found and unfortunately this grill doesn't cook fish real well unless you're standing next to the grill at all times to avoid overcooking. 2) ON/OFF SWITCH! Nowhere to be found! To turn off the unit you have to "unplug" an electrically charged unit, meaning that sparks initially fly when turning it off (possible fire starter).

Those are the only flaws I found. I love this thing and every mother looking for a good gift for their son or daughter at college or stationed in the military should not omit this from their son or daughters Christmas list. Don't pass this one up!!

Read Best Reviews of George Foreman GR20WHT XL Grill Here

I purchased the George Foreman GR20CB XL Grill on a recommendation from a friend and Im very glad I did.

The grill is perfect for barbecuing steaks, chicken, hamburgers, fish, and vegetables when the weather is too poor to do so outside. However, its a little small. Only two steaks or chicken breasts can fit on it at one time. If you are cooking for a family a larger version is available.

I think this grill would be great for college students in dorms (if they're allowed to cook in theirs) or those who live in apartments or condos and cannot have regular barbecues.

One of the great features of grilling is that most of the fat drips away, leaving you with leaner healthier cuts of meat. Since this grill cooks very quickly it sears the meat and locks in all the flavor.

I only wish it had a longer cord and an on/off switch.

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I'll admit it -I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to kitchenware. I love to cook, I entertain frequently, and I collect cookbooks. I'd heard about the George Foreman Grill, and generally figured it wasn't for me. If I wanted something grilled, I'd do it the "proper" way -on an outdoor gas grill! However, I kept hearing about this George Foreman grill, and figured it was worth a look -especially since the weather had made it impossible to grill outdoors for several months.

I purchased the "middle" size (called XL), figuring that if I didn't like it, I wasn't out that much $$, and I could probably give it to my mother. I have to say -I was VERY pleasantly surprised.

As others have said, it's virtually fool-proof. There's no "on-off" switch -you plug it in, wait for it to heat up, and start cooking. When you're finished, you unplug it. It has a short cord to prevent accidents, so if you don't have an outlet handy, it could be awkward. Also, the cookbook that comes with the grill is woefully lacking in general advice (for example, a "time needed to cook" chart for various types of meat and fish, based on thickness, would have been a nice touch). You pretty much have to figure things out for yourself.

That said, it does a fine job on steak, salmon, chicken breast, and pork chops. I haven't tried it on veggies or sausages yet, but I anticipate no problems. The food turns out nicely seared (in a grill-stripe pattern), and juicy inside.

My biggest complaint is clean-up. You cannot immerse the grill in water, so you have to do the best you can with paper towels and damp sponges. It would have been nice to have made the grill plates removable, so that they could be washed properly.

In all, however, I'm quite pleased with this grill. I anticipate using it far more than I expected I would. I've only had it a week, and I've already used it 4 times. If you're looking for something that is quick, easy, and produces good results with just a little attention, definitely give the George Foreman grill some consideration.

I'm keeping mine; Mom can get her own.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Charcoal Companion Nonstick 12-Inch Square Grilling Wok

Charcoal Companion Nonstick 12-Inch Square Grilling WokThis grill basket worked great for a couple months with heavy use. The price is good and it had a very large grilling area. It's perfect for grilling vegetables. I suppose I was a bit rough on it because the coating started flaking off over time (not sure if it was from utensil scratches or from scrubbing it clean). With all the concern about cookware chemicals getting into food, I threw it away. I have a feeling most grill baskets probably just need to be replaced every so often...

I 've used this Grill wok with non-stick twice and only used rubber or plastic tools.And the coating is peeling off I'm not happy. Trying to return.

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This is a very good pan for grilling vegetables on a barbecue. Wide area, good heat transference and it cleans up easily. Has lasted in almost new condition through many uses. Would be five stars, but the small handles are not always easy to grab.

Read Best Reviews of Charcoal Companion Nonstick 12-Inch Square Grilling Wok Here

Used this for the first time last week. We grilled a variety of vegables. They turned out great but the best part was the clean up. There was no sticking and it washed up so easy. 5 stars is not enough!!!!!!!!!!

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Great for vegetables on the grill. They don't spill out and it's easy to stir and rearrange. Came clean in dishwasher.

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Friday, January 31, 2014

Tayama Multi-Cooker 2.2 Liter Shabu Yaki

Tayama Multi-Cooker 2.2 Liter Shabu YakiPut boiling broth in the hotpot and it starts boiling again within a couple of minutes. No problem contolling the boiling. Good size for one or two people. My wife and I used it 5 times in the first two weeks.

Product worked as described and is excellent for shabu shabu use, or any situation where a hot/boiling soup or liquid is required at the table.

I haven't tried fondue in it yet, but I'm sure it'll work well for that, too. So far, the shabu shabu I made was great. Unit heats evenly, too.

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This is not the exact Shabu Yaki that I purchased, but is just like it and needed a review. It is the perfect cooker for a fun Mongolian Hot Pot party. Being that it is electric and has the temperature dial to regulate the heat it is the perfect pot to use for a fuss-free party. ANd clean up is a breeze as the pot is just taken off the hot plate and plunged in sudsy water for a quick wash.

For your Hot Pot Party just fill with a nice vegetable broth and get it hot, set out the tray of raw veggies, meats, shrimp, scallops, and several dipping sauces, set everyone up with chopstix and have one of those wire basket spoons handy to retrieve lost morsels. Dinner guests take pieces of meat or veggie and hold it in the boiling broth until it is cooked. Then they let it cool on their plate just a little and spoon a smidgen of one of the sauces on it for a tasty bite. After all the meats and veggies have been cooked and eaten, noodles are tossed in and everyone helps themselves to a portion of noodles in a bowl.

This makes for a great party. Ask your guests to come dressed in Asian style. Set the mood with some Chinese lanterns and a hanging dragon for decoration, put some traditional Chinese music on the CD player, make sure you have plenty of chopstix and the fondu-like fun begins.

I also set up an electric wok at another table and filled it with peanut oil to do tempura battered veggies, shrimp, and to fry egg rolls at the same time. Half my guests started at one table and then after 30 minutes or so they switched with the hot pot table.

I had hidden little red bags with money and small gifts inside in my back yard for the kids to find after dinner, and we set off small fireworks too (sparklers, fountains, party poppers, etc.). Everyone helped themselves to the fortune cookies and some stayed for a game of Chinese checkers (the Mah Jongg game that I had ordered didn't arrive in time).

The kids LOVED this party. My kids and our guests just raved that this was the best one ever. The kids loved cooking their own food. (Make sure you have a sturdy table to set the pots of hot liquid on no card tables)! So get yourself this perfect little cooker and have some Chinese fondu fun at your house soon!!!

Read Best Reviews of Tayama Multi-Cooker 2.2 Liter Shabu Yaki Here

I use this pot every day in my dorm room and I have yet to encounter any problems. It heats up very quickly and holds just enough for my roommate and I to eat our fill. Cleanup is simple and it doesn't take up a lot of room. Perfect for the college student.

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Ok ,after reading the previous very good reviews, I chose to order this one. My first use of it, I put in 6 cups of already hot water. After 25 minutes, it was not anywhere near boiling. I removed about half of the water. The pot was filled about 1/3 rd or less. I waited another 15 minutes. It still was not anywhere near boiling. I could put my finger in and it was not hot enough to burn me.

I've tried unplugging it turning the dial down and back up all of the way. Most of the time, the pilot light stayed off. It's pretty obvious to me that it is not going to even come to a simmer (which is all you need for shabu shabu)

I guess I should have tried it before cutting up the amount of meat and veggies that I did.

Not impressed and regretfully I can't join the other 4 satisfied users who left their reviews.

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Monday, November 25, 2013

Eco-friendly Diamond GreenLight Matches

Eco-friendly Diamond GreenLight MatchesWell, I'm almost embarrassed by this one. Last night, I went to start the furnace and I didn't have a match. (For those of you who might question the December 14 starting date, well I live in San Diego, so eat your heart out.) Alas, and I needed one of those long wooden ones so I could reach into the innards of the furnace to ignite the pilot light. Well, I found a box of Diamond Greenlight "Strike on Box Matches" at a nearby store and all was solved. One match did the trick. Plus, there's 299 more of them so I'm stocked well into the future. In addition, these things can be real handy on camping trips. Nice matches from an old trusted brand. Who could have asked for more?

Gary Peterson

You're probably buying these matches because of their ethical sourcing, but I also recommend them for being extremely easy to light. You won't have to keep hitting the strike pad over and over again. If you're looking for small, all-purpose matches (or camping matches), you can't do better.

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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill

Char-Broil 12601578 Patio Bistro Tru-Infrared Electric Grilli'll start this review by saying I have sold grills for years and am a huge fan of the big guns such as Weber. Sadly do to living in a condo i can only have electric grills. In the past Char-Broil has made some sub-par items. Not this time. This is THE best electric grill option for under five hundred bucks. the people bashing it have obviously never grilled or assembled somthing as much as legos.

1ITS EASY TO PUT TOGETHERAll these people on here complain as to how hard it is to put together. WHY? It took me a bit over an hour and a half working slowly and I didnt even curse once. Thats a miracles in and of it self. Simple tools, easy instructions, and not a ton of steps. There is a bit of lining up holes at one point but thats it. If you even have the slightest ability to put things together you'll be fine. Putting together Ikea furniture is WAY harder than this.

2IT HEATS UP BLAZING HOTAnother complaint was that it didnt heat above 150 degrees. Mine will get to 600 degrees if left for a bit, within 20 minutes probably. It says in the manual don't keep lifting the hood it lets the heat out. This is true. If you keep it closed you should have not a single problem.AND I even use an extension chord which it suggests against and it still heats fine. Cooked a full london broil in under 12 minutes.

3ITS ELECTRIC NOT CHARCOALKeep in mind its an electric grill. Its not gonna taste like a charcoal or gas grill. Wood chips help but its still not the same. But it is your best option by far if you dont have another option.

This grill is awesome for what it is. Ignore the bad press seriously. Char Broil has done right by this one. If your in an apartment or condo and dont want to drop $500 dollars on stainless steel electric monsters this is your grill. Happy Grilling

The Bottom Line: 3 Stars and Rising.

The Patio Bistro does its intended purpose. I like this grill the more I use it. It gets, hot, is easy to clean, and has a nice large cooking area. With time my rating may improve as the painfull memory of assebly fades into the past. This would be a nice choice for use where charcoal and propane grills are not allowed.

As of this writing I have owned the Patio Bistro Grill for a little over 1 month. I own and have used various charcoal and gas grills, smokers, and barbeques over the past 30 years. I consider myself as very experienced in outdoor grilling.

This remainder of this review will be in two parts.

First the Good! The Patio Bistro Grill Does Cook Food quite Nicely: 4 Stars

Once assembled the Patio Bistro is quite a nice little grill. It has a nice large grilling surface, and heats quite adequately for grilling and roasting. Once the lid is closed, the temperatures easily rise to over 400F.

I never let it get much higher than that, though I expect it would get above 500F if left on its own.

Heating time is quite reasonable. When compared with a charcoal grill it is very quick (if you include the time it takes to light the charcoal).

I have roasted chickens, grilled hamburgers and steaks, and, using a non-stick pizza pan as a griddle have cooked bacon, eggs, and toast quite easily.

The grill surface is fairly generous in size for an electric grill; useable for cooking a dozen burgers at a single time. It even comes with a removable warming rack located at the rear of the grill.

The knobbed electric dial used to specify cooking temperature has a nice range, and the included on/off light is usefull for levelling off interior temperatures once they have been reached.

The grill surface is relatively easy to clean off, and cools quickly when unplugged. The greatest virtue of Electric Grills is in not having to buy, carry, store or ignite fuels, and KNOWING that the grill is turned off, simply by ungplugging the unit.

Second the Not So Good: Assembly: 1 star

As other reviewers have stated, this grill is unnecessarily difficult to put together.

In this day and age of premanufactured and buyer assembled products, there should be no need to designe something that requires so many different tools, different fasteners, and lengthy instructions.

It took me the better part of 90 minutes to assemble this correctly. The instructions were only marginal.

Also, Once Assembled the whole product can be a bit wobbly, so you will spend time tightening and retightening nuts and bolts.

The Bottom Line: 3 Stars and Rising.

The Patio Bistro does its intended purpose. I like this grill the more I use it. It gets, hot, is easy to clean, and has a nice large cooking area. With time my rating may improve as the painfull memory of assebly fades into the past. This would be a nice choice for use where charcoal and propane grills are not allowed.

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As a condo dweller, I've been a fan of the earlier model Patio Caddie for years. Reliability, fast/high heat generation, and never running out of fuel have been huge advantages. I've known about infrared grills for years, but knew they cost up over a grand. 'Saw this new Infrared Bistro model and had to have it! I gave my beloved Caddie to my son (who loves it!) and got this new model.

Putting the grill together was logical and straight forward. It did not go together instantly, but what's the big deal? I took it step-by-step and it came together just fine. When completed, the Bistro looks good; much more substantial and better styled than the ol' Caddie. Plus, the grill size is substantially larger.

'Plugged it in, turned up the power, and WOW! This sucker was up over 550 degress in about ten minutes. As I'd done before, put a small handfull of hickory chips into a foil pouch, poked a few holes in it, and tossed it on the grill and closed the lid. In a few more minutes the awesome aroma of hickory smoke wafted through the patio. Our first test was marinated sirloin skewers. As the meat hit the grill the intense sizzle was terrific. These cooked fast and clean, with that terrific hickory smoke essence.

I've now been using this grill almost daily for a couple of weeks with chicken, beef, pork, veggies, and shrimp and I love it! Guests are amazed.

Read Best Reviews of Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill Here

I read ALL the reviews before purchasing this grill. I was sick and tired of my gas grill not being able to function in the cold, not being able to provide a high enough pressure to cook anything, running out of propane. I didn't even use it last summer! I saw this grill on display at a store and it was love at first sight. Then I started researching it. Then I bought it.

Assembly: The instructions are the easiest, best-written instructions for assembly of anything I have ever seen. And the nuts and bolts are all individually packaged and labeled so you know you have everything to start off with. It took me an hour to assemble, watching TV at the same time, leaving to check e-mail intermittantly. Someone who was hurrying through it could do it much faster. I never had any questions at all about the instructions.

Ease of use: I have to use a fairly long extension cord, about 20 feet, to reach the grill in an area near my porch light. It very quickly heats up to 550Fsay about 15 minutes. I get nice grill marks. The cooking surface is simple to clean; it virtually just wipes right off.

Small footprint: it takes up very little space on my patio. I ordered the specific cover for it and it looks very nice. Much better than even the smallest gas grill and big propane tank.

Lightweight yet sturdy: It feels well-put together, not fragile and rickety. I am very happy with the looks and quality.

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It's not gas. Once you understand that this is a sweet grill with plenty of cooking area. I have had this for three weeks--done dogs, burgers and a pork loin. Everything cooked to perfection.

Construction: Great assembly manual. It said "about an hour" and that's what it was. After opening the package I spent 10 minutes familiarizing myself with the parts and procedures. After that actual assembly was 45 minutes. I'm no mechanical genius, but I can follow directions.

Production: If you need instantaneous response a la gas, this grill is not for you. If you can accept a slower heat up (15-20 MIN.) this will suit you just fine. I have found that the best way to work with it is to preheat the grill about 25-50 degrees above your desired cooking temperature. After you place your food on the grill and close the lid it will be just about where you want it. There is no doubt that the grill takes longer to recover lost heat from opening the lid than a gas grill would, particularly after you put your food on, which is why you want to preheat it higher than you need. However, I have not found that to be a problem. It's all about the learning curve---and it's just not that steep.

I am quite happy to have freed myself from the gas grill and would buy this again in a heartbeat.

UPDATE: After going through a winter season with this grill I'm going to have to give it up. Here in coastal NC we grill year round (avg. Jan. high, 52), but this grill just wasn't up to the challenge when the temp dipped at all. Way too long to heat up and absolutely impossible to get back to temp after opening the lid to turn the meat. My original review still stands if all you do is grill "in season".

FYI: My new solution is a Weber Q120. Small, portable and no big propane tank. Uses those disposable tanks you can get in any hardware store. Fired it up just to test it. 300 degrees in 5 minutes. Full review in a couple of weeks...and an update after winter. ;-)

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Friday, September 13, 2013

R&D Enterprises, Inc DBA Motorhead Products GH-61025 BBQ Grilling 4-Piece Utensil Set Featuring Guy

R&D Enterprises, Inc DBA Motorhead Products GH-61025 BBQ Grilling 4-Piece Utensil Set Featuring Guy Harvey Logo and SignatureI have not used it yet, but looks better in person than it does in the picture online. So far so good.

Bought this for my Dad since he's a fishing fanatic. It was supposed to be for his boat, but he keeps it for the grill at home since he loves to work with them.

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