George Foreman Smokeless Digital Grill — Review

Intro

The George Foreman Smokeless - Digital Smart Select is a family-size indoor contact grill that aims to make hearty, fast grilling possible inside the kitchen. The listing positions it as a 4–6 serving appliance with a 90 sq. in. cooking area, a touch-sensitive digital control panel, removable dishwasher-safe plates, and a built-in drip tray. It’s listed in stainless steel, runs on 1500 watts at 110 volts, and ships with a 3 year limited warranty. Owners repeatedly praise the cooking speed, the removable plates, and how little smoke it makes — but a handful of critical notes about plastics and a rare overheating/melting incident are part of the public record.

What it is / first look

On paper this is a modern take on the classic George Foreman contact grill: a stainless-steel-bodied, touch-control indoor grill designed to sit on the counter and do contact grilling for a small family. Key, listing-backed facts to hold in your head:

• Family size: listed as suitable for 4–6 servings and a 90 sq. in. cooking surface.
• Controls: touch-sensitive, digital control panel with time and temperature options and visual/audio cues (described by the listing).
• Power: 1500 watts, 110 volts (direct from the product specs).
• Plates & cleanup: removable grill plates and a dishwasher-safe drip tray; the listing describes plates with Advanced George Tough Nonstick Coating and calls the plates removable and dishwasher-safe.
• Design details: an open-plate design and a sloped grilling surface intended to cool and drain grease before it burns; the listing highlights grease drainage and smoke reduction claims.
• Size & weight: the listing gives dimensions of 8.5" D x 7.5" W x 5.75" H and an item weight of 4.2 pounds; the external finish is stainless steel per the listing.

Look and feel: owners describe the stainless-steel exterior as higher quality than recent cheaper plastic models and note the appliance runs hotter and takes longer to cool than older, simpler versions. The plates and grease drawer are removable for cleaning, and several buyers appreciate the upright storage option when counter space is tight.

Who this is a good gift for

Be specific when matching this to a recipient. The grill is a practical, appliance-forward gift rather than a novelty — think useful weeknight upgrade more than a decorative present.

The busy weeknight cook (family or couple)

Why it fits: the listing claims 3X faster cooking and gives an example of two 1/4 lb burgers reaching doneness in about six minutes on a preheated grill. Owners consistently report fast, even cooking and praise the ability to prepare proteins, panini, and sandwiches quickly. Assumption: the recipient wants a contact grill and uses a countertop appliance regularly.

The apartment or condo dweller who can’t use an outdoor grill

Why it fits: the listing frames the product as “smokeless” and describes features intended to reduce smoke (sloped plates, grease drainage, and an open-plate design). Multiple owners report low smoke in practice, making this useful for people limited to indoor cooking. Assumption: the recipient is allowed to have plug-in cooking appliances where they live.

A practical housewarming or wedding gift for a couple setting up a kitchen

Why it fits: family-size capacity, dishwasher-safe removable plates, and a stainless finish give it everyday utility and a fairly neutral look that suits many kitchens. Assumption: the recipients want small appliances and have bench space to store it.

The RV or small-space traveler who wants a compact grill

Why it fits: several owners say the model works well in RVs or small kitchens and that it stores upright. Assumption: the recipient has a suitable 110V hookup and checks any appliance restrictions for their RV or rental situation.

The gift for someone upgrading an older George Foreman

Why it fits: owners who replaced older GF models praise the removable plates and digital controls as meaningful upgrades. Assumption: the recipient prefers the contact-grill format and wants an easier-to-clean unit.

In daily use

How it cooks: the listing emphasizes controlled time and temperature through a touch panel, and owners report the grill cooks meats, sandwiches, and frozen items quickly and evenly. The product copy positions it as faster than older models, and owners consistently mention fast cook times and good results for burgers, chicken, fish, and panini.

Preheat, cook, and cleanup

• Preheat & cook time: the listing claims contact grilling can be up to 3X faster and gives specific burger-cooking examples; buyers reinforce that the grill is noticeably quicker than stovetop frying or traditional oven methods for similar tasks.
• Cleanup: the listing identifies removable, dishwasher-safe plates and a dishwasher-safe drip tray. Owner comments echo that cleanup is much easier with removable plates and a large grease drawer that collects runoff.
• Storage: owners note the grill can be stored upright to save counter space, an important detail for gift shoppers concerned about kitchen real estate.

Performance quirks owners mention

• Heat and cooldown: several owners say the stainless-steel exterior gets hot and can take longer to cool down. One owner specifically mentions using a wooden cutting board under the unit during and after use to protect counters.
• Preheat/cook cadence: a few owners say the unit takes longer to preheat and cool than older, simpler models; others describe that deliberate heating as part of improved safety and performance.
• Versatility: owners report using it for burgers, chicken, fish, grilled sandwiches, and even frozen proteins; a number of reviewers mention getting consistently even cooking across the plate surface.

Materials & build quality

What the listing says: the main exterior is listed as stainless steel, the grill plates are described as removable and coated with Advanced George Tough Nonstick Coating, and the product spec lists a material-free claim bundle (BPA Free, Lead Free, PFAS Free, PFOA Free). The listing also calls out dishwasher-safe parts and a robust drip-tray design that reduces grease contact with the heating elements.

Owner-sourced notes on build: buyers often describe the stainless exterior and heavier, taller build as an upgrade from recent lower-cost plastic models. Several strong positive reviews call the plates durable and easy to clean; people replacing older George Foreman models said this feels like a noticeably better-built version. That said, a recurring owner signal is long-term plastic fatigue: a subset of buyers who’ve owned multiple prior GF grills report exterior plastics cracking over extended use in previous models. That pattern appears in crowd feedback as a caution, though owners expect the stainless exterior here to help.

Warranty: the listing states a 3 year limited warranty, which is a concrete level of post-purchase support to note for a gift purchase.

Safety considerations

Listing claims that relate to safety: the grill’s open-plate, sloped design is described as cooling grease before it can burn and directing runoff into the drip tray — the listing ties those features to reduced smoke and to less grease contact with heating elements.

Owner safety signals to weigh:

• Heat of the exterior: multiple owners report the stainless-steel outside gets hot and stays hot longer than older models. That’s a user-visible heat hazard for kitchen counters and curious hands; owners often recommend placing a heatproof surface beneath the grill.
• Plastic failures: there are several owner reports (including non-English feedback) that internal or external plastic parts have melted or cracked with extended use. One buyer reported a serious failure where plastic around the hot plates melted and caught fire within minutes on first use. That appears to be a rare but high-severity complaint in the owner notes — it’s an important signal for safety-conscious gifters.
• Grease management: the listing emphasizes grease cooling and drainage to a dishwasher-safe drip tray to limit burning/ smoke; many owners confirm that grease ends up in the drawer rather than on heating components, which owners link to lower smoke production in practice.

What to do about it: for gifts, consider pairing the grill with a clear note to the recipient to place it on a heat-resistant trivet or board while in use, to read the included instructions about plate installation and dishwasher cleaning, and to register the warranty. If the recipient is particularly concerned about electrical or plastic-part risks, this model carries that rare but documented report and you should weigh that when deciding.

Who should skip it

• Someone who needs very large-capacity grilling: the model is listed as family size for 4–6 servings and a 90 sq. in. cooking surface; shoppers who regularly feed large groups will want a bigger solution.
• A giftee who demands an outdoor-grill flavor or open flame: this is a contact indoor grill, not an outdoor charcoal/ gas smoker, and it won’t replace that charred, open-fire taste.
• Buyers who cannot store or use 1500W countertop appliances where they live: the unit needs a 110V outlet and produces substantial heat.
• Someone extremely sensitive to appliance plastics or worried about rare overheating: owner notes include at least one severe case of plastic melting and an ongoing pattern of long-term plastic cracking in earlier model families; cautious gifters should weigh that signal.

Verdict

Bottom line: the George Foreman Smokeless Digital Smart Select is a strong practical pick for gifters shopping for a busy home cook, small household, or someone moving into a new kitchen. The listing-backed features (digital touch controls, removable dishwasher-safe plates, 90 sq. in. surface, 1500W power, and a 3-year limited warranty) and the consistent owner praise for fast, even, low-smoke cooking argue that it’s an upgrade-style small appliance that will be used, not shelved. The biggest downside is a real but apparently rare safety/durability signal around plastic parts: several owners report exterior plastic cracking over time, and there’s at least one report of a plastic melt/fire incident. For most giftees who want an easy-to-use indoor grill that’s simple to clean, this is a buy; for very safety-cautious giftees or those who need much larger capacity, consider alternatives.

Check before you buy

• Confirm the recipient has bench space and a 110V outlet for a 1500W appliance and enough storage room for a family-size grill.
• Verify the current listing if dishwasher use is planned: the listing describes removable, dishwasher-safe plates and a dishwasher-safe drip tray.
• Ask whether the recipient prefers stainless finish and a digital control experience — the product is listed in stainless steel and uses a touch-sensitive panel.
• Register the 3 year limited warranty after purchase and keep packaging/receipt for returns if you’re gifting.
• If the recipient is safety-sensitive, mention the owner reports about hot exterior surfaces and rare plastic failures; suggest they place the grill on a heat-resistant surface and follow the manufacturer’s usage instructions.