More Uses for Your Indoor Grill: Dust Off that George Foreman!

An indoor grill is one of the best inventions for fast, everyday cooking at home. Unfortunately, this often overlooked kitchen gadget is not used enough. If you have an indoor grill, such as a George Foreman grill, taking up space in your cupboards or on your counter top, it's time to put it to use!

An indoor grill cooks more than just hamburgers and chicken breasts. It is an indispensable kitchen appliance for getting a quick, healthy meal on the table fast. An indoor grill is great for barbecueing inside in the winter. Or, if you don't have a barbecue, it's raining, or you just don't feel like hassling with it, use your indoor grill instead. Here are some ideas of what you can use your indoor grill for, other than quickly cooking meat and poultry. These ideas will save you time in the kitchen, and help you get the most use out of your indoor grill.

Sandwiches. Instead of getting out a pan to make some grilled cheese, just throw your sandwiches on your indoor grill. This is less messy because you don't have to flip the sandwiches, faster because both sides cook at once, and healthier because you don't even need to butter the bread. You can get rid of your sandwich maker; an indoor grill does this job just as well.

Panini. Do you like the look and taste of the fancy, pressed sandwiches you can buy at your local bakery? Make them at home on your indoor grill. Just load up your sandwich, toss it on the grill, and press down on the lid. You will even get the fancy charbroil marks on your bread. You can make a panini out of any kind of hot sandwich.

Pitas. Another one along the sandwich lines, you might not think of grilling a pita sandwich on an indoor grill, but it is delicious! Make sure the open side of your pita is facing the top of the grill so your filling doesn't get squished out when you close the lid.

Quesadillas. Don't overlook cooking tortillas on your indoor grill. A quick sprinkle of cheese on a tortilla, fold it in half and toss it on the grill and you have a quick, easy snack. If you want something a little heartier, add some sliced grilled chicken and serve with a fruit salsa. Quesadillas are great cooked on your indoor grill for the same reasons as sandwiches: you don't have to flip them or butter them.

Burritos. Chimichangas are delicious, but a deep-fried burrito is the last thing many of us should be eating. For a lighter and yummy alternative, grill your burrito on your indoor grill. A lidded grill will melt the cheese, help seal the burrito, and add a tasty grilled flavor to it.

Kabobs. Meat, vegetables and fruit strung on a metal or wooden shish kabob are easy to grill on an indoor grill. Have everyone make their own kabobs, and stick them on your indoor grill for a quick and fun dinner.

French toast. That's right, French toast. Again, one of the best time-saving tricks or the indoor grill is that you don't have to flip your food over to cook both sides. Cooking batches of French toast on your indoor grill saves you time and effort.

Fruit for dessert. Grilled fruit is a delicious way to end a meal. Some common favorites are grilled pineapple, and grilled peaches. Sprinkle your fruit with a little brown sugar, or create a marinade using sweetened condensed milk or honey. Be sure to use a non-stick spray when grilling fruit on your indoor grill because the camelized sugars can be difficult to remove.

Indoor Grilling Tips. Thinly sliced top sirloin is best for indoor grilling because it cooks quickly and easily. Indoor grills work great with marinated meat, chicken, or pork. Or, for something, try grilling a piece of breaded meat, such as boneless pork chops, that you would normally bake. This will save you a significant amount of time over the oven.