What is this black stuff coming off my George Forman grill?
I bought this George Forman Grill with detachable trays that are supposed to be dishwasher safe. I noticed that after the dishwasher there's this black soot on them. What causes this? Is there anyway of preventing it? The drip tray that came with the grill has written on it "wash in top rack only", should the same be done with actual grills? What difference does it make if something is washed in the top or bottom rack?
Best Answer
Most likely your problem is caused by your dishwasher detergent. Many of them will cause aluminum to oxidize creating the issue you are experiencing.
I would suggest that you hand-wash and remove the oxidation as it looks quite extreme. (You don't want any of it to come off in the dishwasher and be deposited on other dishes.)
While it technically may be 'dishwasher safe', to prevent the oxidation from reoccurring I would recommend going forward that you hand-wash. The other option may be to try different dishwasher detergents to see if you can find one that does not cause this reaction.
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Quick Answer about "What is this black stuff coming off my George Forman grill?"
Show activity on this post. I agree that it is the heating element on the grill producing the black soot. Neither dish washing or handwashing makes it better or worse.How do I get the black off my George Foreman grill?
While the grill is still warm, but not very hot, place about 3 layers of damp paper towels on the bottom plate and close the lid. The steam that forms will help to loosen the food particles and char. Once the grill has completely cooled down, clean it grill with mild soapy water and a soft sponge.Is George Foreman grill toxic?
According to the National Cancer Institute, outdoor grilled meat and poultry may also contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which may be carcinogenic. Using the George Foreman grill instead may reduce your exposure to these compounds.How are you supposed to clean a George Foreman grill?
Unplug and allow your grill to cool before cleaning. Wash the plates and drip trays after each use. If plates are heavily soiled, soak them in warm soapy water, and use a nylon or nonmetallic scrubbing pad to clean. Wipe outside of unit with a warm, wet sponge and dry with a soft cloth.Do George Foreman grills wear out?
The grill plates for George Foreman grills are coated with a finish to prevent food from sticking. When this finish starts to wear or flake, replacing the plates is the quickest and safest solution. However, if you can't replace the damaged plates, there are a few other things you can do to keep your grill usable.No Clean Up Cooking On the George Foreman
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Answer 2
It's definitely oxidation. I bought a new dishwasher recently and that same thing is now happening to all the outside bottoms of my nonstick pots & pans. At the same time I switched from powder dishwasher detergent to those muti-colored liquid pouches, so I'm not sure if it's the new dishwasher which gets hotter than the old one or if it's the new detergent or a combination of both. Super annoying. The reason most people own a dishwasher is so they don't have to wash things by hand... duh.
Answer 3
I also have the exact same model and the same issue. I'm sure that it's an oxidation layer that is likely caused by the dishwasher detergents. It's however not preventable as its an unwanted side effect of this particular kind of aluminum alloy. I had some pots that exhibited the exact same problem. I got rid of them all because they drove me crazy. I paid some extra bucks for a quality set of pots that have a better aluminum alloy that won't corrode.
Unfortunately, the ceramic coating got damaged at the small dotted line in the middle lower plate due to repeated mechanical contact with the top. It is a design flaw that happened twice for me in the last 2 years. As this oxidized aluminum is not healthy, I have to throw it away. I'm done with this grill and the brand until they prove that they can create a lasting product that is also safe to use.
One last tip: I did a custom modification to the plates. I removed the two handles and put some masking tape around the edges of the plates. I then spray painted the plates with a black coloured extreme high heat resistant paint. The paint is usually available in most hardware stores. Pick the highest heat rated one and put several layers on the backside. This locked the oxidized layer inside and my hand/dishwasher never got soiled after that. ....until the ceramic coating chipped away duh. You take it or leave it, I'm done with this for good.
Answer 4
I agree that it is the heating element on the grill producing the black soot. Neither dish washing or handwashing makes it better or worse.
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