George Foreman grills are amazing. They allow you to grill foods without pulling out your heavy-duty natural gas grill or portable pellet grill.
Best of all, since George Foreman grills are smaller than their counterparts, they won’t be as hard to clean.
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Can You Wash a George Foreman Grill in the Sink?
Absolutely not. George Foreman grills cannot be submerged in water.
These grills are electric appliances. Therefore, submerging them in water can cause electrical shock.
How To Clean George Foreman Grill
Cleaning a George Forman grill is very easy. There are a few different types of George Foreman grills.
So, I will show you how to clean 4 types of George Foreman grills.
In addition to this, I’ll also show you how to clean the exterior of any George Forman grills and the tray and spatulas that come with the grill.
Trays and Spatulas
George Foreman grills are designed with trays. These trays are designed to catch the grease and juices that run down the grill as the food cooks.
This also makes the George Foreman grill easier to clean.
George Foreman grills also come with plastic spatulas.
To clean the grease tray and plastic spatulas, place them into a sink with hot soapy water and wash them like you would any other utensil.
Exterior Cleaning
Remember, George Foreman grills cannot be immersed in water. Therefore, you must manually clean the grill’s exterior without getting it wet.
To clean the grill’s exterior, wipe it down with a damp cloth or paper towels and let it dry completely.
Make sure you do not damage the grill’s temperature gauge when you are cleaning the outside of the grill.
Removable Grill Plates
Unplug your George Foreman grill and let it cool for 10-15 minutes. If your grill is still hot, let it cook for another 10-15 minutes.
Do not clean a hot George Foreman grill, as you can get burned.
You can also wear oven mitts while you are cleaning the grill to err on the side of caution.
Next, arrange paper towels on your countertop. Remove each grill plate and place them onto the paper towels.
The paper towels will prevent grills grates from damaging your countertop.
You can wash your grill plates in the dishwasher since they are dishwasher safe.
However, you should wash the grill plates with a small load of dishes so they are cleaned adequately.
If you wash them with a big load of dishes, the plates are likely to have gunk stuck on them after they are washed.
Alternatively, if you do not have a dishwasher, you can soak the grill plates in water.
Simply fill your sink or a large container halfway full of water and add a few drops of dish soap.
Add your grill plates to the water and let them sit for 4-5 minutes in the water.
With a soft towel, dry the grill plates making sure to remove any food residue or soap.
Once the grill plates are dry, reattach them to the grill.
Remember, George Foreman grills feature electrical wiring. Therefore, the plates must be dry before placing them back on the grill.
If they are not dry, the plates can cause the wiring inside the grill to short circuit.
Non-Removable Grill Plates
George Foreman grills with non-removable plates are a little different. It’s best to use to clean these grills while they are still warm.
If you clean the grill once it has cooled, any food that is stuck to the grill will be harder to remove.
Once you have grilled your food, unplug your George Foreman grill, and let it cool for 10-15 minutes. Arrange 2-3 damp paper towels onto the grill and close it.
Let the paper towel sit on the grill for about 5 minutes, then use the paper towels to wipe it clean.
You may need additional paper towels to remove any gunk from your grill, so keep the roll of paper towels near your grill.
Ensure you wipe beneath the George Foreman grill as drippings often accumulate in this area. Most George Foreman grills come with plastic spatulas.
You can use these spatulas to remove caked-on food residue.
Do not use metal or other harsh scrubbers on your George Foreman grill.
These scrubbers can damage the non-stick coating. If you do not have a plastic scrubber, you can also use a soft soapy sponge.
Interchangeable Plates and Broiler
You can clean the grill plates by hand or place them in the dishwasher. However, these grill plates can be slightly harder to clean.
Unplug your George Foreman grill and allow it to cool completely. Remove the grill plates and soak them in hot soapy water for 1 hour.
Soaking the grill plates will loosen up the gunk and leftover food residue. You can also place the grill plates in the dishwasher to remove caked-on grime.
If any remaining residue is stuck to the grill grates, use a plastic spatula to remove it.
Wash the grill plates with warm water, then dry them completely before assembling your George Foreman grill.
Outdoor Grills
Both George Foreman indoor and outdoor grills have ceramic or non-stick grill plates.
Place damp paper towels in between a pair of tongs and use them to wipe down the grill plates.
Be careful as you don’t want to burn yourself.
Let the grill cool completely. Clean the grill grates using a soft sponge and mild dish soap to eliminate any grease.
Wipe the grill plates with damp paper towels to remove any remaining soap.
Make sure you do not get the electrical components of your grill wet.
Final Thoughts
George Foreman grills make grilling super easy. They are especially perfect for newbies in the grilling world.
However, before you run to the store and purchase a George Foreman grill, you need to consider how to clean it.
Luckily, you can now grill foods on your grill until your heart is content since you know how to clean it.
Keeping a clean George Foreman grill is the best way to keep it working for as long as possible.
You might also be interested in the following:
- How To Clean a Weber Grill
- How To Clean a Blackstone Grill
- How To Clean a Flat Top Grill
- How To Clean a Traeger Grill
- How To Clean Pit Boss Pellet Grill
- How To Clean Grill Grates
- How To Clean BBQ Grease off Concrete
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.