 "Very nice griddle, only minor criticisms..." | 2009-09-29 |
| - Reviewed By specialmn1 |
I purchased this griddle for my 17 year-old daughter for Christmas because she loves to make pancakes. We have used the griddle about 2-3 times a month for the last 9 months and we really enjoy having it. I find that it cooks evenly enough...perhaps some very slight differences on the griddle, but certainly nice enough for someone who is monitoring the cooking process. Nothing has ever burned. I've used it for pancakes, bacon, zucchini rounds, American fried potatoes, carmelized onions and peppers...it has worked great and I keep finding new uses. Overall, I'm thrilled we got this and enjoy using it...but it could be even better. I find it easiest to clean ON the counter..I just put something to catch the drainage underneath and bring my soapy cloth to the counter. It's so big that I find it very unwieldy at the sink. For things like pancakes, clean up is a breeze..I rate it a 5. Bacon and chicken breasts make clean up complicated, but manageable. I'd rate it a 3 for those. I actually don't like making bacon on this...the clean up isn't worth it to me...I'd rather do a large amount of bacon in the oven and have a pan that can fit in the sink.
Some minor criticisms: 1) The cord is very short and I can only put the griddle in ONE place on my counter because of this. Some people might need an extension cord if they don't have ideal outlet locations. 2) Mine seems to fall into tilt mode all the time..I think it'd be better if it had to "click in" or "click out"..mine just sort of slides into tilt. 3) The drain area should be removable from the bottom for easier cleanup...it's hard to get in there, and that worries me when it comes to cooking chicken breasts, etc...
With all the criticisms, we're still glad to have this and when my daughter moves out, I'll have to get my own...maybe they'll have an improved one by then? |
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 "Uneven heating kills it" | 2009-08-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1BZY8JMICZXKL |
| The Presto grill fails in the most critical area, even cooking. It is easy to clean, has a clever system for draining, and has a large cooking surface. However, these attributes are secondary benefits for griddles. It first has to cook right and this Presto does not. We returned it. |
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 "Great size and quality" | 2009-08-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A351SP0YVFFPA4 |
So far, we love this griddle! It replaces a cheap, Black and Decker griddle we got for Christmas a year and a half ago. We used that one once or twice a month and it was ready to throw out in just over a year. The surface had deteriorated and the plug became unreliable, falling out mid-cooking. Furthermore, the griddle never seemed to heat evenly from the day we got it.
The Presto is a huge upgrade. If given 10 minutes to heat up, it heats more evenly than the B&D. It is not perfect, but not annoying. We've gotten used to which areas need just a few extra seconds for browning pancakes. Again, not a big deal. All but the higher end griddles (aka bigger $$$) seem to have this problem to some degree. For the size of this griddle, we're very pleased with it.
As for size, this is perfect for our family. We can easily cook 9 decent-sized pancakes at a time. A big upgrade from the standard griddle as more people can start eating immediately after the first batch is done.
We've used the tilt feature once so far, and it worked OK. We were cooking bacon, which turned out wonderful. I did have to tilt it manually a bit more in order to get the excess grease to drain. Not a big deal to us. It is nice that the built-in tilt handles some of it.
I had read another review that said the tilt feature was easy to accidentally engage. I thought this was ridiculous until it happened to me! This was not a big deal, however, as it only happened once and didn't cause any major problems. The sides are cool to the touch, so I merely pushed them back together, bringing the surface back to horizontal. I do love how easy it is to engage/disengage. I'll accept the occasional accidental tilt.
I do recommend, as another reviewer stated, forgoing the Pam. The non-stick surface is excellent, so we don't risk "gunking it up" by using any type of greasing agent. Plastic/wood implements are key, though, as you don't want to ruin this excellent non-stick surface!
Love it! |
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| "New griddle owner" | 2009-07-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: A23JMFRXXWF81S |
| This is my first griddle and I just used it for the first time last night. I was impressed with how quickly it cooked bacon and drained the grease away so it didn't pop everywhere. I wondered how you were supposed to control the popping, but the grease draining away took care of that. I was also able to cook bacon on half and grilled cheese on the other half at the same time. I don't have kids, so was considering the Liddle Griddle, but went for this instead because it was only $7 difference where I bought it (Kohl's). Overall very pleased with the item. I can also stand it on end and clean it in my regular kitchen sink relatively easily. I do overspray a bit with the sprayer when rinsing, but that's it. |
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| "I love this griddle!" | 2009-07-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: A381FM1EHNAHMN |
| When we agreed to host a pancake breakfast for our family reunion (35 people), I needed a griddle that was large, maintained an even temperature, didn't weigh a ton and was easy to clean. This Presto filled the bill. I'd read some of the negative reviews and did have some concerns about even heating, as some complained that this was a problem. However, I gave it a trial run, sprayed it with cooking spray, gave it plenty of time to get to and hold the correct temp, and the heating was even, my pancakes cooked uniformly (and quickly) so were fluffy and golden and cooked through. We turned out well over 100 pancakes for our breakfast and I was proud to serve every one. Cleaning was a LITTLE difficult only because of its size -- it definitely did not fit into my sink, although it's nice to know it's completely submersible (without the electrical plug and cord, of course). But it cleaned up easily on my countertop -- just be careful to clean every corner so grease doesn't build up. Remember, too, that it is quite large, so before you order, check the dimensions and be sure you have a place to store it. (Mine fits nicely in the space between the wall and my refrigerator.) I can't comment on the "Tilt" aspect as I have not used it yet, but it does tilt easily. |
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| "fantastic - perfect" | 2009-05-21 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3FNWXRA2CTRSK |
| My husband and I own and operate "Green Hectares Bed & Breakfast" Obviously a great breakfast is an important part of our service. I did a lot of research for a new griddle and bought this one based on the reviews. It is every bit as good as promised. It is large enough to cook breakfast for my guests so they can eat at the same time. I love the drip tray and tilting function. I did need to find a suitable spot to store it (the storage drawer under my stove is perfect). Previously I owned a folding griddle because it would be easy to store - my experience was no advantage at all because the grease dripped all over the counter top. With any large cooking items, we need storage space in the kitchen, that's a given. I find that it cooks evenly and keeps its temperature. All round a real gem. I would recommend this griddle to anyone who cooks for large crowds. We couldn't find this in the stores in our area and ordered it special in the States. My first unit was accidently pulled off the counter and broke a leg, so we ordered a second immediately - proof enough we love it. |
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