George Foreman Grill

Last updated

George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine
InventorMichael Boehm, Robert Johnson [1]
Inception1994;30 years ago (1994)
Manufacturer Spectrum Brands
Available United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia
Website George Foreman U.S.A.
George Foreman UK
A George Foreman Grill George foreman grill.jpg
A George Foreman Grill

The George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine, also commonly referred to as simply the George Foreman Grill, is a portable double-sided electrically heated grill manufactured by Spectrum Brands. It is promoted by two-time world heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman. Since its introduction in 1994, over 100 million George Foreman grills have been sold worldwide. [2]

Contents

History

The concept for the grill was created by Michael Boehm of Batavia, Illinois. The original intention was to create an indoor grill that cooked on both sides at once. [3] A second key benefit was to reduce the fat content of hamburgers and other meats by draining away the fat into a separate reservoir. Boehm designed the product with a floating hinge and slanted grilling surface to accommodate foods of differing thicknesses and drain fat away from the food. Engineering work was performed by Bob Johnson. Boehm and Johnson brought a JVC camcorder and a sample of the product in bright yellow to the office of Barbara Westfield at Salton, Inc. The video was played, showing fat dripping from the grill into the collection tray. They presented the product as "The Fajita Express". The fajita grill had been promoted at industry trade shows in the early 1990s, but garnered little interest. [4]

The slanted grill concept was pitched by Tsann Kuen to Salton, Inc. After one year, and several trade shows, Salton sent samples of the grill to George Foreman's colleagues, who then sent the grill to Foreman to test. Boehm was not involved in teaming up the grill and Foreman. Salton made several changes to the technical function of the product, removing the four risers meant for the user to lift up the grill, slide in one of the two included trays, and fill taco shells. One tray was for grease of fajita meat, and the second tray was to hold a taco shell, as was shown in the demonstration to Westfield in the original presentation at the Salton office in Mount Prospect, Illinois.

The Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine, as it became known, was introduced in 1994 and promoted with distinctive infomercials which featured Foreman. A combination of his affable personality and the unique features of the product made it a huge success. Such was the popularity of these infomercials that Foreman's tagline, "It's so good I put my name on it!", [5] is now part of popular culture. In Asia, the grill is endorsed and promoted by both George Foreman and Jackie Chan. [6]

Design

A George Foreman Grill George Foreman Grill.jpg
A George Foreman Grill

The product has a clamshell design that simultaneously heats the top and bottom surfaces of the food, eliminating the need to flip it. [7] Each heating surface is grooved to reduce contact area, and covered in a non-stick coating. The lower heating surface is angled to allow hot, liquid fat and other fluids to drain through the grooves into a removable drip tray, which shows the amount removed from the food. This arrangement has been marketed as a way to "knock out the fat", suggesting a healthier way to cook.

The grill is offered in various sizes for cooking individual or multiple servings. In 2006, the George Foreman "Next Grilleration" Health Grill was launched, featuring detachable grilling plates for easier cleaning. It has gone through several other versions, differing in their control interfaces and design.

In 2014, an updated Foreman Grill was released called the "Evolve Grill". The Evolve grill features interchangeable PTFE-free ceramic plates. [8] The plates available are the traditional grill plates, waffle plates, a bake dish, mini burgers, a flat griddle, and a muffin pan. [9]

Reception

The worldwide popularity of the George Foreman grill has resulted in sales of over 100 million units since it was first launched, a feat that was achieved in a little over 15 years. Although Foreman has never confirmed exactly how much he has earned from the endorsement, Salton, Inc. paid him $138 million in 1999 in order to buy out the right to use his name. Previous to that he was being paid about 40 percent of the profits on each grill sold, earning him $4.5 million a month in payouts at its peak, so it is estimated he has made a total of over $200 million from the endorsement, a sum that is substantially more than he earned as a boxer. [10]

Competition

The success of the George Foreman Grill spawned a variety of similar celebrity-endorsed products, such as the Evander Holyfield Real Deal Grill, for which Holyfield starred in a 2007 infomercial, [11] [12] and the Carl Lewis Health Grill. None of these imitators, however, achieved the level of success of the Foreman Grill. [13] The Jackie Chan Grill is the same grill as the George Foreman grill, but targets the Asian market, and is marketed by both Jackie Chan and George Foreman. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taco Bell</span> American fast-food chain

Taco Bell IP Holder, LLC, doing business as Taco Bell, is an American multinational chain of fast food restaurants founded in 1962 by Glen Bell (1923–2010) in Downey, California. Taco Bell is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. The restaurants serve a variety of Mexican-inspired foods, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, novelty, and speciality items, and a variety of "value menu" items. As of 2018, Taco Bell serves over two billion customers each year, at 7,072 restaurants, more than 93 percent of which are owned and operated by independent franchisees and licensees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grilling</span> Form of cooking that involves dry heat

Grilling is a form of cooking that involves heat applied to the surface of food, commonly from above, below or from the side. Grilling usually involves a significant amount of direct, radiant heat, and tends to be used for cooking meat and vegetables quickly. Food to be grilled is cooked on a grill, using a cast iron/frying pan, or a grill pan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Foreman</span> American boxer (born 1949)

George Edward Foreman is an American former professional boxer, entrepreneur, minister, and author. In boxing, he competed between 1967 and 1997 and was nicknamed "Big George". He is a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. As an entrepreneur, he is known for the George Foreman Grill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evander Holyfield</span> American boxer (born 1962)

Evander Holyfield is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2011. He reigned as the undisputed champion at cruiserweight in the late 1980s and at heavyweight in the early 1990s, and is the only boxer in history to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes in the three belt era. Nicknamed "the Real Deal", Holyfield is the only four-time world heavyweight champion, having held the unified WBA, WBC, and IBF titles from 1990 to 1992, the WBA and IBF titles again from 1993 to 1994, the WBA title a third time from 1996 to 1999; the IBF title a third time from 1997 to 1999 and the WBA title for a fourth time from 2000 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Souvlaki</span> Greek fast food

Souvlaki is a Greek fast food consisting of small pieces of meat and sometimes vegetables grilled on a skewer. It is usually eaten straight off the skewer while still hot. It can be served with or inside a rolled pita, typically with lemon, sauces, vegetables such as sliced tomato and onion, and fried potatoes as a side. The meat usually used in Greece and Cyprus is pork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cookware and bakeware</span> Food preparation containers

Cookware and bakeware is food preparation equipment, such as cooking pots, pans, baking sheets etc. used in kitchens. Cookware is used on a stove or range cooktop, while bakeware is used in an oven. Some utensils are considered both cookware and bakeware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tray</span> Shallow platform designed for carrying things

A tray is a shallow platform designed for the carrying of items. It can be fashioned from numerous materials, including silver, brass, sheet iron, paperboard, wood, melamine, and molded pulp. Trays range in cost from inexpensive molded pulp trays which are disposable and inexpensive melamine trays used in cafeterias, to mid-priced wooden trays used in a home, to expensive silver trays used in luxury hotels. Some examples have raised galleries, handles, and short feet for support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbecue grill</span> Device for barbecueing or grilling

A barbecue grill or barbeque grill is a device that cooks food by applying heat from below. There are several varieties of grills, with most falling into one of three categories: gas-fueled, charcoal, or electric. There is debate over which method yields superior results.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ninfa's</span> Mexican restaurant in Houston, Texas

The Original Ninfa's on Navigation is a popular Mexican restaurant located at 2704 Navigation Boulevard in Houston, Texas. The restaurant serves both Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine. The Original Ninfa's was started by Ninfa Rodríguez Laurenzo, a Mexican-American woman, in a tortilla factory. Ninfa Laurenzo became a full-time restaurateur and the tortilla factory closed. Mama Ninfa is widely credited with popularizing the fajita among Houstonians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of the Southwestern United States</span> Food eaten in the southwestern United States

The cuisine of the Southwestern United States is food styled after the rustic cooking of the Southwestern United States. It comprises a fusion of recipes for things that might have been eaten by Spanish colonial settlers, cowboys, Native Americans, and Mexicans throughout the post-Columbian era; there is, however, a great diversity in this kind of cuisine throughout the Southwestern states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banana leaf</span> Leaf of the banana plant

The banana leaf is the leaf of the banana plant, which may produce up to 40 leaves in a growing cycle. The leaves have a wide range of applications because they are large, flexible, waterproof and decorative. They are used for cooking, wrapping, and food-serving in a wide range of cuisines in tropical and subtropical areas. They are used for decorative and symbolic purposes in numerous Hindu and Buddhist ceremonies. In traditional homebuilding in tropical areas, roofs and fences are made with dry banana-leaf thatch. Bananas and palm leaves were historically the primary writing surfaces in many nations of South and Southeast Asia.

Rick Cesari creates infomercials. Under his direction his agency, Cesari Media, produced campaigns for OxiClean, George Foreman Grill, Sonicare, Rug Doctor, Eagle One, and for his own company, the Juiceman Juicer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flour tortilla</span> Soft, thin flatbread made from wheat flour

A flour tortilla or wheat tortilla is a type of soft, thin flatbread made from finely ground wheat flour. Made with flour- and water-based dough, it is pressed and cooked, similar to corn tortillas. The simplest recipes use only flour, water, fat, and salt, but commercially-made flour tortillas generally contain chemical leavening agents such as baking powder, and other ingredients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Home + Housewares Show</span>

The Inspired Home Show, formerly known as the International Home + Housewares Show, is an annual housewares show staged at McCormick Place in Chicago and organized by the International Housewares Association. In 2008, the Show covered 785,000 net square feet (72,900 m2) of exhibit space. It is one of top 20 largest trade shows in the U.S. and in the top 10 in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texan cuisine</span> Food and drinks from Texas

Texan cuisine is the food associated with the Southern U.S. state of Texas, including its native Southwestern cuisine influenced Tex-Mex foods. Texas is a large state, and its cuisine has been influenced by a wide range of cultures, including Tejano/Mexican, Native American, Creole/Cajun, African-American, German, Czech, Southern and other European American groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman</span> Boxing competition

Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman, billed as The Battle of the Ages, was a professional boxing match contested on April 19, 1991 for the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Moorer vs. George Foreman</span> 1994 professional boxing match

Michael Moorer vs. George Foreman, billed as One for the Ages, was a professional boxing match contested on November 5, 1994 for the WBA and IBF heavyweight championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pork rind</span> Pork skin, raw or fried

Pork rind is the culinary term for the skin of a pig. It can be used in many different ways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican-American cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Mexican Americans

Mexican-American cuisine is the cuisine of Mexican Americans and their descendants, who have modified Mexican cuisine under the influence of American culture and immigration patterns of Mexicans to the United States.

References

  1. "US Patent 5,606,905" . Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  2. "George Foreman". Thebiographychannel.co.uk. 2009. Archived from the original on December 8, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  3. Hope Hamashige (November 7, 2000). "An Inventor's Success Story". CNN Money. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  4. A. K. Cabell. "Celebrity Endorsements Reach for the Stars". Brand Channel. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  5. "George Foreman brand expands into ready-to-grill snack foods | In-Depth Analysis". Marketing Week. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  6. roidweiser (January 29, 2020). "A George Foreman and Jackie Chan grill". r/mildlyinteresting. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  7. "George Foreman Grill is the hottest new product in years". Money.cnn.com. November 7, 2000. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  8. "George Foreman Multi-Plate Evolve Grill With Ceramic Grilling Plates | Easy Kitchen Appliances". easykitchenappliances.com. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  9. "5-Serving Evolve Grill with Waffle Plates and Ceramic Grill Plates - Black | George Foreman". www.georgeforemancooking.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  10. "George Foreman: Marketing Champ Of The World". Bloomberg. December 19, 2004. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  11. Wilson, Mark (October 1, 2007). "Evander Holyfield Announces Real Deal Grill". Gizmodo .
  12. "Evander Holyfield v. George Foreman: Who's Got the Better Grill?". Geek.com . October 1, 2007. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  13. Kaser, Ken (January 1, 2012). Advertising and Sales Promotion. Cengage Learning. p. 307. ISBN   9781111573232 . Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  14. Pang, Kevin (April 16, 2020). "The George Foreman Grill Revolutionized the Way Men Cook". Men's Health. Retrieved March 15, 2021.