George Foreman Smokeless Grill Review (2026)
Quick Verdict: The George Foreman Smokeless Digital (GRD6090B) is the modern, grown-up version of the contact grill that made the brand a household name. It keeps the famous sloped grease-draining design that gives Foreman grills their reputation for “leaner” cooking, adds digital temperature control and a smoke-reduction system that the brand rates at up to 85% less smoke, and sizes the 90-square-inch plate for 4-6 servings. It is not a do-everything multi-cooker and it does not sear like a 500°F outdoor grill — but for fast, fuss-free indoor grilling of burgers, chicken, fish and paninis with genuinely easy cleanup, it remains one of the most sensible, affordable picks in the category. Researched editorial overview; not a hands-on lab test.
| Specification | George Foreman Smokeless Digital (GRD6090B) |
|---|---|
| Type | Contact (clamshell) indoor electric grill, smokeless |
| Cooking surface | 90 square inches |
| Capacity | 4-6 servings (family size) |
| Power | ~1,275 watts |
| Smoke reduction | Up to 85% less smoke (brand-rated) |
| Controls | Digital with adjustable temperature and timer |
| Grease management | Sloped plate + removable drip tray |
| Price tier | $$ |
How We Researched the George Foreman Smokeless
This overview combines George Foreman’s published specifications with the broad pattern of independent reviewer commentary and owner reception across major retailers. We focus on confirmed data — wattage, plate size, smoke-reduction rating, control type — and on the trade-offs reviewers repeatedly raise about contact grills of this class. We did not perform our own laboratory testing; this is researched editorial buying advice, honestly framed, rather than invented hands-on benchmarking. No payment was accepted for placement.
Design & Build
The GRD6090B follows the classic Foreman clamshell layout: two hinged plates that close over the food so it cooks from both sides at once, halving the cook time of a single-sided grill. The defining feature is the sloped cooking surface that channels rendered fat down and away into a removable drip tray — the design element that gave the brand its “knock out the fat” identity decades ago and still works exactly as advertised.
The Smokeless Digital model dresses this up with a stainless-steel housing and a digital control panel in place of the simple on/off light of budget Foreman grills. The floating hinge lets the top plate sit level over thicker foods like a bone-in chop or a stacked sandwich, so both plates make even contact. Build quality is appropriate for the price tier — this is a well-made everyday appliance rather than a heirloom, and it stores compactly, which is one of its genuine advantages over bulky multi-function units.
Grilling Performance
Contact grilling is fast: because both plates heat the food simultaneously, a burger or chicken breast cooks in a fraction of the time it would take on a single-sided grill, and you never flip. The 90-square-inch plate comfortably handles four to six servings, making it a practical weeknight workhorse for a family. Digital temperature control is the meaningful upgrade here — instead of a fixed heat, you can dial the surface to suit delicate fish versus a thick steak, which improves results noticeably over the brand’s simpler models.
The honest limitation is searing intensity. A contact grill presses food rather than blasting it with radiant heat, so you get attractive sear lines and thorough cooking, but not the deep crust-and-char of a high-output open grill. Within the category that is expected, not a flaw — but buyers chasing steakhouse-style searing should set expectations accordingly.
The “Smokeless” Claim, Honestly
George Foreman rates this grill at up to 85% less smoke versus a comparable open grill. That figure comes from the combination of the sloped grease drainage (fat leaves the hot zone quickly instead of pooling and burning) and the contact design (less exposed surface area smoking into the room). In practice this means dramatically less smoke than a cheap open-coil grill — not zero smoke. Searing a fatty cut will still produce some vapor, so a range hood or open window remains a good idea. “Smokeless” here is a meaningful reduction, not a literal absence.
Cleanup & Maintenance
This is the Foreman’s strong suit. The grease drains away during cooking, the drip tray lifts out, and the nonstick plates wipe down easily once cooled. It is far simpler to clean than a multi-part grill-griddle-air-fryer — there are essentially two surfaces and a tray. For buyers whose top priority is “cook dinner and clean up in five minutes,” this simplicity is the whole point. Note that the plates on this particular model are fixed (not removable for dishwasher submersion), so cleaning is a wipe-down rather than a dishwasher run; some shoppers prefer the removable-plate Foreman variants for that reason.
Everyday Cooking & What to Expect
In daily use the Foreman’s appeal is speed and predictability. Because the clamshell cooks from both sides, a couple of chicken breasts or four burgers are ready in roughly half the time of a single-sided grill, and you are not standing over it flipping. That makes it a true weeknight tool: plug in, preheat, press, and dinner is done in well under fifteen minutes for most foods. The digital readout removes the old Foreman guesswork — you can hold a lower setting for delicate fish that would otherwise overcook, or a higher one for a thicker chop, which materially improves results across a range of foods.
It also handles the everyday repertoire well beyond burgers: paninis and pressed sandwiches, chicken and vegetables, sausages, and quick lunches all suit the format. The floating hinge means a thick sandwich or a bone-in piece still gets even contact on both plates. What you trade for that speed is the visual experience of open grilling — you cannot watch the food sear or flip it mid-cook the way you can on an open grate like the Hamilton Beach Searing Grill, because the lid is closed over it. For most weeknight cooks, that is a fair trade for the time saved.
How It Compares Within the Category
Within indoor electric grilling, the Foreman occupies the simple-and-affordable lane. Step up to the Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe and you gain griddle surfaces, dual temperature zones and more capacity, at a higher price and larger footprint. Step over to the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro and you add air-fry, bake and roast modes — a different appliance category entirely. Move to the Hamilton Beach Searing Grill and you swap contact pressing for open grilling with a dishwasher-safe grate. The Foreman’s argument against all of them is the same: it is cheaper, simpler, lower-smoke and quicker to clean, and if your only goal is fast lean contact grilling, that focus is a feature, not a shortcoming.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Fast two-sided contact cooking — no flipping, quick weeknight meals
- Sloped design drains fat for leaner results — the classic Foreman strength
- Digital temperature control suits everything from fish to thick chops
- Up to 85% smoke reduction (brand-rated) versus an open grill
- 90 sq in handles 4-6 servings; compact to store
- Simple, fast cleanup — drip tray plus a wipe-down
- Affordable relative to multi-function units
Cons:
- Single-purpose: grills and presses only, no griddle/air-fry/bake modes
- Contact pressing won’t deliver deep steakhouse char
- “Smokeless” reduces but does not eliminate smoke on fatty cuts
- Fixed plates mean wipe-clean rather than dishwasher submersion
- Lower wattage than premium grills limits peak searing heat
Value: Where Your Money Goes
The Smokeless Digital sits a notch above George Foreman’s most basic grills, and the upgrade money goes to two places: the digital temperature control with timer, and the smoke-reduction system rated at up to 85%. Both are worthwhile if you grill indoors regularly. The digital control turns a one-temperature appliance into one that can handle delicate fish and thick chops with equal competence, and the smoke reduction makes everyday indoor grilling genuinely livable in a small kitchen or apartment. What you are not paying for — and do not get — is the versatility of a griddle, dual zones or air-fry. For a buyer who wants fast, lean, low-smoke contact grilling and nothing more, that focused feature set is exactly right and keeps the price friendly. Buyers who want more capability should look at the step-up options rather than expecting this grill to stretch beyond its lane.
Who Should Buy the George Foreman Smokeless
Best for: Households that want fast, lean, fuss-free indoor grilling of burgers, chicken, fish and sandwiches with minimal cleanup and a friendly price.
Buy it if you: value speed and simplicity over versatility; want the fat-draining design for leaner cooking; cook for a family of four to six; and prefer an appliance that stores compactly.
Skip it if you: want one machine that also griddles, air fries and bakes (look at the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro); chase aggressive steakhouse searing; or specifically want dishwasher-submersible removable plates.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe (GR-150) — More Versatile Contact Grill
Best for: Buyers who want grill-and-griddle flexibility with dual-zone temperature control.
The Griddler Deluxe is an 1,800-watt unit with reversible nonstick plates totaling 240 square inches and six configurations, plus two independent temperature zones so you can cook two foods at different heats at once. It is pricier and larger than the Foreman, but it does considerably more — full griddle, panini press, half-grill/half-griddle — while remaining a flat clamshell. A natural step up for buyers who outgrow the Foreman’s single-purpose simplicity.
Hamilton Beach Searing Grill (25361) — Open-Grill Alternative
Best for: Buyers who want an open (single-sided) searing grill with a removable, dishwasher-safe grate.
The Hamilton Beach Searing Grill takes a different approach — an open 118-square-inch grate (serves up to 6), adjustable temperature to 450°F, a viewing window in the lid, and a PFAS-free removable nonstick grate that goes in the dishwasher. It sears in an open style rather than pressing, and its removable grate is easier to deep-clean than the Foreman’s fixed plates. A good pick for buyers who prefer open grilling and dishwasher cleanup.
Longevity & Care
The Foreman’s simplicity works in its favor for longevity. With a sealed clamshell and fixed plates, there are few moving parts to fail — the main care task is wiping the nonstick plates clean once they cool and emptying the drip tray. Use non-metal utensils on the nonstick surface and avoid abrasive pads, which are the usual cause of premature coating wear on any grill of this type. Because the plates are fixed rather than removable, never submerge the unit; wipe it down instead, and keep moisture away from the electrical housing. Stored flat in a cupboard between uses, it takes up little space and stays out of harm’s way. Owners who follow these basics commonly get years of dependable service, and the low replacement cost means it remains a low-stress appliance to own over the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the George Foreman Smokeless really smokeless?
It is rated by the brand at up to 85% less smoke than a comparable open grill, achieved through the fat-draining slope and the contact design — not a literal absence of smoke. Searing fatty cuts will still produce some vapor, so using it under a range hood or near an open window is still sensible. The reduction is genuine and significant compared with a cheap open-coil grill.
How many people does it feed?
The 90-square-inch plate is family-sized, rated for 4-6 servings. That comfortably covers four burgers or several chicken breasts at once, making it a practical weeknight grill for a typical household.
Does it drain fat the way older Foreman grills did?
Yes. The sloped cooking surface that channels rendered fat into a removable drip tray is the brand’s signature feature and is fully present here. It is the core reason Foreman grills are associated with leaner cooking.
Can the plates go in the dishwasher?
On this Digital model the plates are fixed and cleaned by wiping down once cooled; the drip tray is removable. Buyers who specifically want dishwasher-submersible plates should look at George Foreman’s removable-plate variants instead.
Does it sear like an outdoor grill?
Not to the same degree. A contact grill presses and cooks food from both sides, producing sear lines and thorough cooking quickly, but it cannot match the radiant crust-and-char of a high-output gas or charcoal grill. Within the indoor contact-grill category, its performance is exactly what you’d expect.
Is it worth the upgrade over a basic Foreman grill?
If you value precise heat, yes. The digital temperature control and timer let you tailor the surface for delicate fish versus thick chops, which a basic on/off Foreman cannot do — and that control noticeably improves results. If you only ever grill burgers on one setting, a cheaper model will serve.
Final Verdict
The George Foreman Smokeless Digital is a focused, well-judged contact grill that does exactly what it promises: fast, lean, low-smoke indoor grilling with cleanup measured in minutes. The digital controls and 85% smoke-reduction rating modernize a proven design, and the 90-square-inch plate suits real family meals. It will not griddle, air fry or sear like an open flame — but it was never meant to. For buyers who want simplicity, speed and a friendly price over do-everything versatility, it remains one of the smartest value picks in indoor electric grilling.
Last updated: June 2026
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