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    Home » Our Favorite Things » Lifestyle

    Nov 11, 2013 · Modified: Nov 3, 2017 by Sues · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · 13 Comments

    T-fal's OptiGrill: for Grilling Meat to Perfection

    I went to the mall this weekend and Santa was there. Like, what? Who is talking to Santa the first week in November? To be fair, there wasn’t a line and Santa appeared to just be chilling all by his lonesome, but it kind of woke me up to the fact that it really is already the holiday season. So, I ran home and ordered my Christmas cards. Then I momentarily freaked out over the fact that I haven’t begun Christmas shopping and that it’s too late to buy candy corn. That’s before I remembered the holiday season is meant to be enjoyed and I took a deep breath and fell asleep on the couch. Because man, all that stressing sure makes me tired.

    But the holiday season also means I get to work on my Holiday Gift Guide for Food Lovers, which is one of my most fun posts to write. I’ve already started pulling my ideas together since clearly shopping is already underway for many. But I have one idea I already want to talk about. A couple months ago, my friends at T-fal sent me the new OptiGrill to review and I wanted to write a post about it before including it in my gift guide because um, this thing is amazing.

    OptiGrill 2.jpg

    My first thought when they told me about the grill was “meh, I just got rid of my George Foreman grill because I never used it and lord knows I have enough appliances to fill a small retail store.” But then I learned more about this particular grill and was intrigued. Like the fact that it cooks meat perfectly with just the push of a button. And the fact that it cooks frozen chicken to perfection. As in, you can grill your chicken without thawing it!

    But the first thing I made on my OptiGrill was a flank steak that I was using for a steak, fig, and nectarine flatbread.

    Flank Steak.jpg

    You basically warm the grill up and let it know what you want to grill. I told it red meat:

    OptiGrill 5.jpg

    I mean, do you see how easy that is?

    Then you let it work its magic and grill to whatever stage you want.

    OptiGrill 4.jpg

    I chose medium and shazam, my steak was legit the most PERFECT medium.

    Flank Steak Cooked.jpg

    Unlike other grills, you don't have to keep checking the doneness of your meat... it's just done when the little light lights up to the color you want.

    I added the flank steak on top of the flatbread and Chris immediately requested I make this every night.

    Flank Steak Flatbread 3.jpg

    I wasn't about to argue because, I mean, it was really good. He seriously wouldn't stop talking about how delicious the steak was. Job well done.

    Flank Steak Flatbread 7.jpg

    Of course, I was really curious to see how this baby would do on frozen chicken. See, I always run into the chicken dilemma. I buy chicken breasts. And then I fail to cook them. So then, at the last possible minute (second?) I pop them in the freezer to use another time. Good plan until I take them out of the freezer to thaw for the day and then end up at work until 8:00 p.m. at which point I come home and collapse and the chicken goes bad. It happens time and time again to the point that it's almost kind of a joke. Oh, and obviously on the nights I do have time and energy to cook, I haven't taken the chicken out to thaw. Major womp womp.

    So, this time I took my frozen like a brick chicken breast:

    Frozen Chicken.jpg

    And didn't even bother to begin to thaw. I popped them in the OptiGrill, pushed the snowflake button and the poultry button and let it grill away.

    OptiGrill 3.jpg

    Obviously I peeked several times, majorly skeptical.

    Frozen Chicken Cooking.jpg

    But about 20 minutes later? It was cooked to perfection!

    Chicken Cooked.jpg

    I shredded the chicken up and made a delightful chicken pot pie with it.

    Chicken Cooked Shredded.jpg

    Life is indeed good.

    Chicken Pot Pie Filling.jpg

    Much to Chris's dismay, we know have another appliance in our pantry. But much to my delight it's one I'll actually use and one that won't sit there and collect dust. Which I certainly can't say about too many of my appliance.

    Anyone who likes to cook on your holiday shopping list? Or perhaps anyone who doesn't like to cook, but does enjoy good food. I'm pretty sure I just did some holiday shopping for you. Hooray!

    Now I'm anxious to see how this bad boy works on fish.

    OptiGrill 2.jpgHave you started your holiday shopping already? Are you panicking yet?

    [Sues]

     

    Disclaimer: T-fal sent me this fabulous OptiGrill, but I've tested it out and am giving my 100% honest review!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joanne says

      November 12, 2013 at 9:01 am

      i have one of these!! And it really is amazing. It's opened up whole new grilling doors for me!

    2. Beth says

      November 12, 2013 at 9:20 am

      This lookalike a great appliance. I have just started my Christmas shopping - and I never panic!

    3. Megan says

      November 12, 2013 at 11:23 am

      That is crazy! I can't believe it cooks frozen chicken breasts like that. What a great way to simplify dinner.

    4. Victoria says

      November 12, 2013 at 1:26 pm

      Wow, what a smart appliance!! I don't do much indoor grilling although I have a grill pan I occasionally whip out. This seems like such a cool idea, and I love that it can just cook the meat to the perfect doneness without continuously checking.

    5. Kitchen Belleicious says

      November 12, 2013 at 4:45 pm

      okay so basically I need one of those!

    6. Shannon says

      November 12, 2013 at 9:13 pm

      wow, i'm totally impressed by that chicken! very cool 🙂

    7. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

      November 12, 2013 at 11:53 pm

      Great review. I'm glad to see you tried it on frozen chicken 🙂

    8. Odetta says

      November 13, 2013 at 9:16 am

      This is so much cooler than a "normal" grill! The chicken looks awesome.

    9. Hoda says

      November 13, 2013 at 4:30 pm

      That steak looks terrific! Please share the recipe! and that grill is going on my wish list for xmas!

    10. Monique says

      November 13, 2013 at 5:03 pm

      I Need one of these!!!! Why would you do this to me Sues!?!?! Don't you know I don't have any room in my kitchen for another toy but I need this!
      P.S.
      You get to play with all the cool toys!!! lol

    11. Gia Grossman says

      November 13, 2013 at 5:10 pm

      Ammmmmazing! I can always fit another nifty appliance in my cabinets!

    12. Heather says

      December 29, 2013 at 4:45 am

      We just got one of these and have been playing with it. Almost daring it to fail...for what reason I don't know but that has been our experience with so many small appliance promises. Not with the OptiGrill! Its even better than the PR material! We love it! We have had great steaks, burgers, paninis, chicken etc over the last few days!

    13. SarahJo says

      October 06, 2014 at 7:22 pm

      I am literally trying mine for the first time right now with chicken! I'm skeptical but extremely excited!!! can't wait to see what happens!

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