The Sunbeam Rocket Grill is a revolutionary upright grilling machine that prepares tasty entrees--including fresh or frozen meats--in just minutes.

This unit consists of a half-round grilling chamber with two internal grill plates that close to surround the food with heat. The Rocket Grill adds another level of convenience by introducing a parchment pouch cooking concept. Food is placed into the specially designed pouch and then inserted into the grill. The upright design allows any grease and fats to drip down, where they are trapped in the folds of the parchment. Since the food does not actually come in contact with the grill plates, cleanup is as simple as tossing the used parchment pouch.

The Rocket Grill stands 10 inches tall and has a 9- by 11-inch elliptical base. There is a 15-minute timer dial on the front, along with a fresh/frozen setting and an on/off button. Separate power and ready lights indicate when the machine is in use and properly preheated.

The closed design and concentrated heat from the grill plates sears foods quickly, cooking most items in just minutes, while retaining essential moisture. Fresh chicken or hamburger cooks in 3 to 8 minutes; frozen foods cook in 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the meat.

The parchment concept takes a bit of getting used to and can be challenging for first-time grillers. It is important to follow the instructions and cooking guidelines exactly to achieve the desired results. You can cook steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, vegetables and more. The unit's only limitation is its capacity. Each pouch can accommodate one or two servings--generally up to two medium hamburgers, steaks or chicken breasts. Foods should be no more than 1-inch thick and should fit comfortably inside the 8- by 6-inch pouch. If you are cooking for a larger group, you'll need to prepare the food in multiple batches. The Rocket Grill's amazing speed, however, lets you prepare multiple batches in a relatively short amount of time.

A startup set of 36 pouches is included with your initial purchase. You also get a set of stainless-steel tongs and a cookbook with sample recipes to get you started. Additional pouches are available online for $14.99.

We loved the versatility of this machine. You can cook sausages in it in the morning, grilled cheese sandwiches at lunch and a steak for dinner with grilled pineapple for dessert. The Rocket Grill's ability to handle frozen food is a real plus.


Pros: Cooks fresh or frozen foods in minutes; easy cleanup
Cons: Limited capacity

Warranty
1 year, limited