George Foreman The Next Grilleration 6-Burger, $100

Choose a Contact Grill If: Your main interest is sandwiches and burgers; you want to drain off as much fat as possible or grill nearly as fast as you microwave.

Best For: Anything thin enough to cook evenly when pressed between heating plates (burgers, fish fillets, vegetable slices).

Why It Won: In the 1,440-watt Foreman, temperature and cooking time are set digitally; when the grill is preheated, it beeps. The “floating hinge” allows the top grill plate to rest evenly on your thin chop or fatter panino, so it won’t turn out squashed at one end and barely cooked at the other, as can happen with fixed-hinge grills. And the triple-layer nonstick coating and removable grill plates mean almost effortless cleanup.

Bonus: The sloping design drains grease away from the food and into the drip tray as the meat cooks, making this a great fat-busting grill.

To Clean: Stick the grill plates in the dishwasher, and wipe down the rest with a damp paper towel. Or, if you’re hand washing, remove the plates while they’re a bit warm, then clean the grill in a minute with soap, warm water, and the included sponge.

To Buy: Salton, www.esalton.com.