How to Clean Your Foreman Grill

The Foreman Grill is really handy for grilling meat and vegetables quickly and it's a healthier way to do this as the fats released during cooking are bled away from the food into a drip-try. This is also great for the plumbing in my home as now far less fat gets into the plumbing clogging things up in mid-winter.
The problem I quickly encountered is that the grill plates are really difficult to clean. The lid plate is especially difficult to clean as there is less oil on that plate during cooking.

These are my tips on cleaning and keeping the grill clean.

Prior to Cooking
Oil the surface of the lid prior to cooking with canola or sunflower oil to prevent food burning onto it. The fats and oils all run down away from this plate and food seems to burn onto it and remain there very stubbornly.

You may also lay a sheet of tinfoil over the lower plate, moulding it to conform to the surface of the plate. Don't forget to allow openings for the fats to drip from. After cooking just scrunch the foil up and dispose of.

After Cooking
Lay a saturated paper towel on the plate immediately after cooking and shut the lid. This will absorb and remove lots of the loose mess and also steam soften the harder particles. Remove and dispose of the towel after dinner.

It is easiest to clean the grill when the plates are warm, but take care not burn yourself.

Use cooking oil to lubricate burned and hard food crust rather than soap. I use clean canola or sunflower oil to wipe and moisten the burned, stubborn crusts with. I prefer this to using soap water.

Use paper towels and sponge to wipe off loose food and oils and the plastic spatula supplied or similar shaped wooden fork or spatula to scrape off harder crusts. Don't use steel wool or any metal to scrape and clean as this will remove the non-stick coating.

Moron Alert!
Use oven mitts to protect your hands from burning
Beware of the metal plates as they do retain heat even after switching off
Always switch off electricity supply and unplug grill before cleaning
Never submerse the grill in water. No, not even when unplugged
Beware of the hot oil and fat, it's ahmm hot
Use the drip try when cleaning or else clean over an empty sink