The George Foreman Next Grilleration Removable Plate Grill Review

A loyal George Foreman Grill fan since the days of the original, which helped feed me through college, I am even more excited about the newest edition to the growing line of products: The George Foreman Next Grilleration Removable Plate Grill with Five Plates (code GRP90WGR). The name is a fitting mouthful because you can create a wide variety of dishes with this one, easily-cleanable wonder. At a retail value of $149.99 (but, recently, $108.94 new on Amazon.com and $77 used), this mega-grill can cook anything from steaks to eggs to waffles.

Like other Foreman Grills, this Next Grilleration is tough. Weighing in at about 15 pounds, the Removable Plate Grill has "exclusive George Tough triple-coated, scratch-resistant, non-stick coating," which is very easy to clean. With a little cooking spray, even stubborn waffle mix comes off with no effort. What's more, all of the removable plates are dishwasher safe. With 84 inches of cooking surface, you can cook for a whole family of four at one time.

The electric grill, which can be plugged into any outlet, comes with a general grill, a steak grill, a waffle maker, a griddle, a baking tray with raised sides, and a pan to catch all of the grease run-off. The interchangable parts are very easy to install. They are labeled "top" and "bottom," so all you have to do is align them with the grill body and snap them in place. Temperature is adjusted by turning a knob on the front of the unit. Though it has many functions, it is small enough to store in cabinets or push into a corner on the counter. The color choices are limited to red, black and white.

I received the Removable Plate Grill as a wedding gift almost a year ago, and I have not been disappointed. I have used it to successfully cook blueberry waffles, turkey burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and vegetables. I've even used it to entertain dinner guests. My husband and I have found it to be a fun way to test marinades as well. Instead of firing up an outdoor grill -- which can take three times as long as the Foreman -- we can cook one to two pieces of meat and be eating in half the time.

The only warning, which fans of NBC's "The Office" painfully realized last season when Michael Scott managed to burn his foot with a Foreman, is that the grill can be very hot. When cooking waffles or pancakes, it can even release heated steam. Make sure to unplug the unit when you're finished cooking and to let it sit for at least 15 minutes before you try to clean it.