 "Great Griddler/Grill" | 2009-11-01 |
| - Reviewed By User: A21RTRHZSLWKCV |
| Easy to use and switch plates for grill or griddle; cleans up beautifully. Unit does not occupy much counter space. Like ability to control temp. I would recommend this product, especially if cooking for 2-4 people. Works even better than I had hoped. |
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 "Outstanding grill with understandable limitations" | 2009-10-29 |
| - Reviewed By busotti |
I am impressed with this grill and find it far superior to my old Foreman grill. The plates detach for cleaning and the top plate can press down at variable heights/angles to adjust to the height of whatever you have on the grill.
The temperature adjuster is a great feature to have and the grill heats up within 5 minutes to its maximum. I've been using it mainly for paninis and grilling.
On nonstick finishes: I have read some complaints about the nonstick finish and suspect some users are not quite aware of the limitations and proper care of nonstick cookware. In general, nonstick finishes are not so much "poorly designed" (as one reviewer puts it), they just have real life limitations no matter what brand you use. Even cast iron, fairly durable, has its own limitations. Be suspicious of complaint reviews that don't suggest a better alternative.
Nonstick surfaces show best longevity if oiled just before food is placed on them. Furthermore, temperatures above 500 degrees (around the max setting here) cause them to break down a bit. So don't grill something messy on these at max temperature if you want them to last. The nonstick finish on this is a little less potent than on some cookware I've used, but I suspect this is because of the higher grill temperature they are expected to endure (so users won't get flecks of Teflon on their food). I shouldn't have to say this but I will: You can't expect to use metal on nonstick surfaces (knives, scouring pads) and expect it to last. I've had this about 6 months and use it 2-3 times a week and the plates are still in great shape. Bread and sandwiches clean up easily. If I am going to cook something messy and don't want the hassle of cleanup, then sometimes I use aluminum foil. You still get a nice set of char marks.
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| "Strange design" | 2009-10-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: ALNYO7MW7ALT0 |
Why design a product that regardless the switch position, it heats both plates the same way, just either in degrees or low to high, I was hoping for an option of individual controls for the upper and lower plates, but that isn't to be. The 3 foot cord is too short, but there is a small cover you can remove to replace the cord, and I will replace it with a 6 foot cord, will also add a switch to disconnect the upper element when not needed.
Now the good stuff, heats quickly, evenly and indicated temperature settings seem accurate. Plates are easy to remove and load and heat retention is excellent. Compact design, and large hinge movement allow for great upper hinge travel. |
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 "Hinge wont stay locked open and grease doesn't drain." | 2009-10-25 |
| - Reviewed By ehtech2000 |
I bought this item at Sam's club as a replacement for my George Foreman grill and my Wolfgang Puck griddle. I think others have reviewed this quite thoroughly, so let's give ya a brief rundouwn of this unit. I have successfully grilled brats, hot dogs, grilled cheese, monte cristo, hot dogs, salmon filets, hamburgers, and raw vegetables on the grill. It comes with 4 interchangeable plates, but I have only ever used it for the grilling.
Worked fine for the first month, however after 30 days, not the hinge that opens the unit, but the hinge halfway up the handle that allows cooking of foods up to about 2" tall uses magnet to stay open so you can scrape the top plate, but it doesn't lock well, and one can easily get burned if any pressure is put on the top plate, causing it to swing down and deliver burns to one's fingers.
I have had this unit for about 1 year. I'm planning to go buy a George foreman grill, because the CUISINART GRIDDLER DOESN'T DRAIN! It took me awhile to realize that this was causing other problems. A year later, the non-stick paint on the bottom plate is coming off because I have to apply alot of pressure when cleaning it. I actually use the "approved" fancy sponges made just for cleaning "Foreman" type grills, but the coating is coming off none-the-less. I think that is poor design. They could have put riser feet on it to make it drain ... go figure.
So, overall, although this unit performs well, it's longevity is dubious, and seems to be designed with the Gillette business model (you have to keep buying "refills") with regards to the plates. Personally, I'm not about to pay ANYTHING for new plates, when I can just as easily pay $20 for a decent new George Foreman grill. Whatever Foreman I get, I won't get one with interchangeable plates either. My recommendation is to avoid this unit unless aesthetics is your main concern, and money is no object. BTW: Historically, the downfall of the Foreman grills has be, for me anyway, that there is no power switch; one only has the option to plug or unplug. Maybe the new models have resolved that. I hope this has been helpful! |
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| "love it!" | 2009-10-19 |
| - Reviewed By lmpatch2 |
| I've had my eye on this for awhile, and found that this was the best price I could find. I love the floating hinge feature, which cooks the sandwiches evenly. I highly recommend that you choose one, like this, that has removeable plates for ease of cleaning. Enjoy! |
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| "Must have for every kitchen!" | 2009-10-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1PAGA2ESU3T25 |
| This griddler 4 is the best kitchen "gadget". I use it for everything. It is so easy to use and so easy to clean up. Pop off the grills and wash them in the sink or dishwasher. Do not use sos pads or they will scratch. We use this for eggs, sausage, toast, chicken, everything. It is just the best addition to an already functional kitchen, I can't imagine what a welcome it would be for someone who wasn't already organized in the kitchen. Amazon.com definitely had the best price too. I shopped around because at 110 bucks, that's a lot of money for an "extra" in my world, and finally I bought it and I use it all the time. An idea for the future would be for Cuisinart to come up with a storage shelf underneath for the grills. That would be very slick indeed. So if you are reading the reviews like I do and did? go for it, you won't be disappointed. It's a great product. By the way, I did the George Forman type grills before too, while they are much cheaper than the Cuisinart, it's not the same. The 3 way temperture control is KEY to this product, along with the even heat through out the grill plates. |
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