In The '90s, This Cooking Gadget Was All The Rage. Here's What Happened

The 1990s saw the rise of the digital age and also the creation of some of the most iconic infomercials, including those for a celebrity-endorsed cooking gadget that people still know by name today. The George Foreman Grill, first sold in 1994, went on to sell over 100 million units. By some estimates, the grill could be found in 15% of U.S. homes at the height of its popularity. This appliance, which featured a 10-degree slant to drain fat away into a drip tray, was also known by the name "George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine." Designed with a lid that grilled food from above, this appliance was sold as a healthier way to cook meat. While it's not necessarily one of the most useful kitchen gadgets that you should have two of, this indoor grill was cleverly marketed to boost its popularity. 

Despite its name, which is now inseparable from the late George Foreman, this tabletop indoor grill was invented by Michael Boehm. His patented tabletop grill is a design that proves the 1990s were the best decade for kitchen appliances. The goal of the celebrity endorsement was to increase the sales of this unique grill design, which at the time was owned by Salton Inc. George Foreman, who had won a medal at the 1984 Olympics and was a heavyweight boxing world champion, spoke about the benefits of lean eating in connection with the grill. Customers in the '90s, many who were beginning to become more conscious of their health in relation to food, found Foreman to be a very credible spokesperson.

But why exactly did the George Foreman Grill get so popular starting in the 1990s? First, there was a new level of enthusiasm for low-calorie foods. People wanted to eat healthier, which they felt the George Foreman Grill could help them accomplish easily. But beyond people who loved the aspect of the machine that helped drain fat for less fatty meals, it also appealed to college students and those with limited kitchen space. George Foreman himself appeared in various infomercials and advertisements where he showed people the grill and why he personally liked using it. The appeal of his endorsement was that he seemed real and genuine, like the time he casually ate a burger on the home shopping network QVC. 

You can still purchase George Foreman Grills online, including the Fully Submersible Grill and Indoor Outdoor Electric Grill. However, the grill is now owned by a different company and the days of seeing George Foreman himself on the television with his famous grill are long gone. But that doesn't mean you cannot enjoy a brand new or thrifted George Foreman Grill in your own kitchen. An easy way to bring the '90s kitchen aesthetic into your home could be getting your own George Foreman Grill to use and display like a true '90s aficionado.