George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill Review – GGR50B

Rating: 4.6 Reviewed by Susan LaBorde

This model differs greatly from the other indoor grills reviewed on this site, but it deserves space in the “indoor grill reviews” category because:

• Without its pedestal, it is indeed an indoor grill.
• Consumers love it, as evidenced by the thousands of rave reviews you’ll find online.
• It’s been a George Foreman grill bestseller for years.
• Every person on the planet isn’t looking for a contact grill!

As you can see from the photo below, this George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill is designed for more conventional (my kids would say “old school”) convection type grilling. Whether you decide to cook indoors or out, this grill has a very large cooking surface that is sloped to drain fat from foods, and like all of the newer George Foreman models, its grill plate is removable for easy clean up.

The GGR50B is also very affordable. If you’re looking for a grill you can use either indoors or out, this model is an excellent choice. It isn’t a substitute for a contact grill, but at this price some people may even decide to buy both.

Introduction

First, to save you some time, here’s an important question: Are you expecting to get the exact same taste that comes only from charcoal grilling? If so, then you probably won’t be happy with this George Foreman model. Electric grilling is delicious, but it’s different.

I grew up eating beef, chicken, pork and even goat (no kidding!) that was cooked on a huge outdoor charcoal grill. I absolutely love that wonderful smoky flavor. To me that is “real” grilling!

At the same time, I also love my electric grill. (I own an indoor countertop model, not the GGR50B). While you don’t get that genuine charcoal flavor, electric grills do give you a unique taste that’s a heck of a lot better than basic broiling, baking, or stove top cooking. If you’re okay with that taste compromise, electric grills have a lot of advantages. They’re fast, easy, convenient, and will save you a fortune on charcoal.

For an outdoor grill, this particular model is especially good for apartments and condos where charcoal and gas grills are prohibited. In most cases an electric grill is allowed even where open flame grills are not, but you’ll have to read your bylaws or other applicable legal documents to be sure.

Features

• 240 square inch cooking surface
• Non-stick, Removable Grill Plate
• Variable temperature control
• Sloped plate for draining fats
• Can be used as indoor countertop grill
• Includes pedestal for use as outdoor grill
• 3 year limited warranty

As you might expect, this grill has the sloped plate design made famous by George Foreman. It features a center channel drain to catch liquids that run off of foods and a grease tray that detaches for cleaning.

Another helpful feature is the variable temperature control that lets you adjust heat based on the foods being cooked. This control does not show actual temperatures in degrees. Rather, you simply select from settings 1 through 5. Levels 3 and 4 are for cooking most foods, and level 5, the highest setting, is for searing meats.

The high domed lid allows you to grill a lot of foods that just don’t work well on a contact grill – for instance, large bone-in chicken breasts or chicken halves, beef or pork roasts, and bulky vegetables like whole corn on the cob. A vent in the lid can be opened to let steam escape.

Another big plus about this grill is the large cooking surface. That doesn’t mean it’s just for big families or cooking for crowds. Personally, I like to cook 2 meals at once whenever I can – throw on chicken breasts for tonight and turkey burgers for tomorrow night and do it all at once to save a little time.

Some Important Points to Know Before You Buy

Utensils: To protect the non-stick finish on the grill plate, be sure to use only plastic or wooden utensils for turning and lifting food.

For roasting foods, you can place meat or chicken in a shallow baking pan and place the pan on the grill. Simply resting a metal baking pan on the grill surface is not going to damage it.

Cord Length: Some people complain that the power supply cord is very short, but the fact is, that’s a safety feature. You can, of course, use an extension cord, as long as you adhere to the manufacturer’s guide. The instruction booklet explains how to choose the proper cord and also how to arrange it safely for either indoor or outdoor use.

Indoor Use: For indoor use, be sure your countertop surface can withstand temperatures of 150 degrees F. If not, the finish on your countertop can be discolored or damaged.

Also be aware that when you use the grill indoors, it can be somewhat top heavy because of the shape and the fact that the bottom is not weighted. If you have limited indoor space, consider where you plan to use the grill for inside cooking, and make sure you have ample counter space.

Storage: The manufacturer recommends storing this grill inside when not in use. If left outside, the grill itself will become weathered looking over time, but the main issue is the temperature control. This control is not immersible and won’t fare well if exposed to the elements. Many users just leave the pedestal outdoors and store the grill indoors. Others choose to simply remove the power supply cord (which is where the temperature control is located) and store the cord/control inside out of the weather.

Keep in mind that this grill is not as large as a lot of gas or charcoal grills, so indoor storage may be feasible for you. Covers are available. Amazon recommends one that gets some good reviews, and you might also search for a good smoker cover which should be about the right size for this grill.

What About Cleanup?

Like virtually all of the newer George Foreman grill models, the GGR50B features a removable grill plate. That makes for easier cleanup, but let’s be clear on that. This grill plate is immersible so you can wash it in the sink, but it is NOT dishwasher safe.

The non-stick surface makes the grill plate relatively easy to clean. Just be sure not to use any sort of abrasive pads or brushes with hard bristles. George Foreman makes some good sponges especially for this purpose, which you can see below under Accessories.

While having so much cooking space is great, there is one possible down side to that, and it comes at cleanup time. Depending on the size of your sink, the large grill plate can be a little cumbersome to clean. That could be difficult in a very tiny apartment or a camper. Otherwise I wouldn’t consider it a deal breaker. For one thing, it’s still easier to clean than most other outdoor grills.

Size & Capacity

The grill is highly advertised as a “15 serving size”, but of course that depends on what you’re grilling and your definition of the size of a serving. In fact, the grilling surface is round with a total of 240 square inches of cooking area.

Exterior dimensions are 22.2 x 20.5 x 13 inches. Total height with the pedestal attached is approximately 38 inches.

What’s Included

Basically, what you get is exactly what you see in the picture, and that’s it.

The grill does come with assembly sheets that include a cooking time chart for various foods, but it doesn’t give any details. If you’re new to grilling you may want to also buy a good grilling cookbook. For some great free recipes, check out The Healthy Kitchen Shop on Pinterest.

Optional Accessories

There are no accessories specifically designed for this particular grill. Thinking ahead (to when you’re actually using it), you may want to consider getting some grill sponges. George Foreman makes those pictured below, and they work well for grill plates on this and other models. Click image to see them on Amazon.

Customer Reviews

Overwhelmingly, customers love this product and give it rave reviews. After years on the market it has thousands of reviews, and over 90% of them rate it with 4 or 5 stars.

A few of the bad ratings involved defects in the grill plate or the product, but I didn’t find a lot of complaints about customer service. Most reports indicate that the manufacturer responded and replaced the product or part where appropriate.

Interestingly, a lot of the lower ratings involved the taste or quality of the grilled food. They were either unsatisfied with the results of their cooking, or they didn’t like the fact that foods don’t taste exactly like what you get on a charcoal grill.

The solutions here are pretty straightforward. First, if you only like charcoal grilled food, chances are good that you won’t be happy with an electric grill like this one. Second, be aware that it won’t be exactly the same as cooking over charcoal or an open flame. Because food sits directly on the grill plate, you may have to adjust your usual cooking methods and experiment until you’re pleased with the results.

For example, cooking with the lid can cause some foods to have more of a “steamed” appearance. That’s especially true in high humidity climates. Your grilled hot dogs might end up with a some condensed moisture on them. To avoid that, remove the lid during the last part of the cooking time, and turn the meat so the grill’s heat will evaporate all the excess moisture. Also, remember that the lid has vents that you can open to allow more steam to escape while cooking.

Complaints about this grill or the way it cooks are by far the exception. The majority of customers are extremely happy with it. They love the fact that it’s a fast and convenient way to grill, works well with a variety of foods, is relatively easy to clean, and is very affordable.

Average Customer Rating (Out of 5 Stars): 4.6

Pros

• Affordable quality – good value for the price
• Easy to assemble
• Cook either indoors or out
• Large cooking surface, sloped to drain fats
• Domed lid accommodates larger foods
• Heats up quickly
• Can usually be used where gas/charcoal grills are prohibited

Cons

• Not as versatile as typical contact grills
• Somewhat top heavy without the pedestal
• Requires ample counter space for indoor use
• Size of grill plate makes for cumbersome cleaning in small sinks

Summary

If it seems like I’ve written a very negative review, that isn’t my intention at all. In fact, everything I found in my initial research was overwhelmingly positive. Based on that it would have been very easy to write a glowing sales pitch, but that’s doing you a disservice. To make a good decision, you need to know all the bad points too, so I dug deeper to find everything I could. Some (or all) of the negative points above may not matter to you, and that’s fine. My purpose here is to make sure you are aware of any possible drawbacks before you spend your hard earned money.

Overall, I think this is a quality product at a very reasonable price. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants a dual duty indoor/outdoor grill that’s easy to use, cooks fast, and does a good job on all sorts of foods. It works for bulky items that can’t be cooked on a contact grill, drains off fats for healthier eating, and is reasonably easy to clean. All in all, I have to agree with the thousands of owners who have given the George Foreman GGR50B Indoor Outdoor grill high ratings and rave reviews.

Still undecided?

You may want to see all the latest indoor/outdoor grills from this famous maker: George Foreman Indoor Outdoor Grill – Newest Models