Cuisinart Gourmet Griddle Griddler Panini Press GRID-8PC

by Cuisinart

Product Features

• Multiple cooking options: Two sets of plates and adjustable housing offer four cooking options
• Open it to use as regular grill or griddle. Close it and it's a panini press or contact grill
• Extra-large, nonstick grill plates and griddle plates let you cook more servings of a wide variety of foods in less time.
• Pop-out plates are easy to remove and dishwasher-safe. Housing wipes clean with a damp cloth
• Includes: scrapper for cleaning frill and griddle plates, two removable drip cups, and instruction/recipe book

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17 x 13 x 10 inches ; 15 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 18 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0049URLT0
• Item model number: GRID-8PC
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,995 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #57 in Kitchen & Dining > Cookware > Griddles

Product Description

Cuisinart redefines multifunctional with Griddler Gourmet. Two sets of removable plates make it a contact grill, a panini press, and an extra-large open grill or griddle. You will never want to put the Griddler Gourmet away!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

133 of 133 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great at first, but does not last..., September 14, 2006

By 

L. T. Beasimer "www.LBphoto.net" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

I bought the griddler in February of 2005 and have taken care to ensure it lasts. The Griddler is heavy and sturdily constructed. It heats up quickly, and cleans up even faster. We have used it for Panini, grilling meat, and toasting burger buns. The griddler comes with interchangeable dishwasher safe griddle and grill plates. The unit can be used as a Panini press or as a griddle.

The base of the unit heats up and maintains temperature better than the top. This creates uneven toasting of the Panini or other items. It's not so much of a problem using as a griddle, since one side will simply cook faster than the other.

After a year the nonstick surface has started pealing off of the grill plates. I have never used metal on the nonstick surface and have taken great care to preserve the finish. Perhaps it is in the design, but the now I will have to take care not to get pieces of the nonstick surface in my food. The plates don't stay attached in the top anymore either. It's very annoying trying to reposition a hot plate into place.

On the surface, the Griddler has the looks and design to be a great product. Cuisinart has some bugs to work out to attain even heating and plates that last. If I were to buy a new Panini press, I would not look to Cuisinart again.

PROS:
Heavy and sturdily construction
Heats up and cleans quickly

CONS:
Non-stick surface does not last
Uneven heating

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but gimmicky., October 14, 2006

By 

Steve Cabito "Your Average Consumer" (Santa Rosa, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I wanted a Breville but bought this instead at half the price, mainly because the plates (it has two flat and two ridged) pop out and can be easily washed off at the sink. But Cuisinart would have you believe it's more versatile than it really is: the right and left temperature knobs control both heating elements and the center knob merely activates the right or left control. They both do the same thing, and could just as well be replaced by one "Off/Temp" control. I mention this because mine failed after 30 days - one of the thermostats stuck closed and the thing almost caught on fire. Too many points of failure, thanks to the marketing people.

The surfaces are that sandy-gritty nonstick, not as easily cleaned as most. Other than that, it works well and I use mine often.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars fire hazard!! BEWARE!! deserves no stars, October 30, 2007

By 

aurora "owner of stuff" (pacific northwet) - See all my reviews

Used this once as a griddle, and everything was fine. On the second use, it overheated and melted the plastic griddle plate release knob, and sparked. What a mess.
Too bad, we thought this would be everything we wanted. will be looking at other brands.