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The most helpful favorable review
The most helpful critical review
55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
BEST for sandwiches
I had lusted after this little baby for some time and finally bought it when I found a great deal on it. It makes the most amazing sandwiches, which you can custom-tailor to your tastes. I also used it for a rolled flank steak, stuffed with mushrooms and cut into thick slices. Each slice cooked perfectly at medium heat, although like all steaks, it requires a watchful...
Published on March 30, 2004 by Manya
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Works great, but hard to clean...
Pros:
So Pretty!
Cooks evenly!
Non-stick surface works great!
Especially great for sandwiches because of the flexible hinge.
High quality product!
Cons:
Grooves are deep making it a pain to clean, especially after cooking meats.
Doesn't have a digital tempature gage.
No timer.
Doesn't have removable...
Published on October 1, 2004 by M. Hamilton
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55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
BEST for sandwiches, March 30, 2004
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
I had lusted after this little baby for some time and finally bought it when I found a great deal on it. It makes the most amazing sandwiches, which you can custom-tailor to your tastes. I also used it for a rolled flank steak, stuffed with mushrooms and cut into thick slices. Each slice cooked perfectly at medium heat, although like all steaks, it requires a watchful eye to prevent overcooking.My experience with vegetables was similarly good. Peppers, onions, eggplant slices all cook in minutes with good result. I have not tried chicken breasts, but from reading the other reviews, imagine that the results will be similar. One negative: fish can be a tricky business on this grill. I cooked an ahi steak for only a few minutes and it was overdone. I bought a stovetop grill pan specifically for fish after that (well, I confess I do throw a little bacon on it too from time to time). I am quite satisfied with this panini grill, and love my homemade paninis. I found that a sliced kaiser or hoagie roll works well, as well as thickly sliced Italian or sourdough bread. My favorite sandwich?: thickly sliced bread, olive tapenade, roasted red pepper slices and sliced fontina. Who said heaven isn't right here?
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92 of 98 people found the following review helpful:
Grate Grill, October 16, 2003
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
I've had this panini press for 6 months now, and use it at least twice a week. Works extremely well, as advertised. Easy to clean, and stores well, too. It gets verry hot unlike some countertop grills on the market steam the meat. Crispy well marked dinner and lunch entree's. Non-stick coating still shows no indication of wear. This grill looks snazzy too! Makes super panini; the recipes enclosed, (of which I've used 2) are a great guide to the world of hot pressed sandwiches. Next purchase, is a panini and bruschetta cookbook. Overall, very happy with this purchase
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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
Best Countertop Appliance I've EVER Purchased!!!!!!!!!, January 28, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
I love, love, love, love, love this Panini Grill!!! We just bought it two weeks ago and used it nearly every day last week and probably every other day this week and look forward to using it much, much more. We paid the full price for it through Crate and Barrel (that was a mistake - I know better to check Amazon.com first) and it was well worth the full price, but the price it's offered for here is a great bargain. I agree with another reviewer in that I think this is a much better quality grill than the George Foreman (which I don't own, but have used at my in-laws). It's sturdy, very easy to clean with the included tool, has a grease catch that can be thrown in the dishwasher, and to top it all off it's great looking and has a latch that allows it to be stored standing on end - I keep mine on my counter top for easy access. Again, can't say enough good things about this great grill. Doesn't matter if you're a serious cook, a weekend griller or a microwaver; this appliance is easy to use and with a little imagination you can make the greatest appetizers and meals. This is one small appliance that won't be collecting dust in our home and I bet it won't in yours either. P.S. Two great cookbooks I'd recommend to use with this grill:
**Nancy Silverton's Sandwich Book: The Best Sandwiches Ever...**
**Panini, Bruschetta, Crostini: Sandwiches Italian Style**
They are both available through Amazon at a competitive price.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
Want an awesome kitchen gadget??, April 7, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
I pondered buying a Foreman grill until my eye caught sight of this baby. I compared the two grills and by far the Villaware is a better quality grill. I have other Villaware gadgets and this unit is built the with the same high quality standards. I looked no further and bought it on the spot. What an amazing little grill! Yes, it makes great (make that fantastic) panini, but it does so much more. I grilled marinated chicken breast and it cooked them so fast (to my amazement) that I overcooked them. Now that I am aware of the cooking speed, chicken breast comes out juicy. It seers in the juices, so unless you don't pay attention (as I did), it is hard to screw up. Don't underestimate the power of this grill!Cleaning is a snap - yes, it has that handy dandy comb which does a great job cleaning. What I find very helpful is to pour some hot tap water over the grill once you're done cooking and have unplugged the unit. It loosens the residue and makes the final cleaning extremely easy. This grill shares top billing with my Kitchen Aid and Magic Mill. The unit is sharp looking and slick. It has a lock on the cover which allows the unit to be stored on end. It takes up very little counter space (yes, I like to look at it all the time..). The fact that it doesn't have a power switch is not an issue for me. In fact I consider it a safety feature (hence the 5 stars). It is also quite heavy and sturdy. My favorite panini (so far that is....) is from Lidia's Italian-American show. Take a can of tuna packed in olive oil, a can of chick peas drained and lightly smashed, ½ chopped onion, salt, pepper and some additional olive oil. Mix it all together, spread between thick slices of Italian bread and grill in the mighty Villaware. Delizioso...... Buon appetito!
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
Great Quality for the Money, March 7, 2004
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
I was a big George Forman fan, but after all the non-stick surface eventually peeled off, I deceided to see if there was another brand on the market with similiar purpose. First the negative, there is NO ON / OFF switch. I guess this isn't the worst because it's probably unsafe to leave a 1400 watt grill plugged in all the time.I knew this could create great panini sandwiches, but how could it do with meats. I had previously cooked for over a year on the George Forman grill and the hamilton beach steam grill, but would the Villaware compare? I was familiar with Villaware from my Waffle Maker, so I was willing to try the brand again. I cooked two pork chops. I marinated them on the grill with sauce. I wasn't sure what heat level to use, so I figured about 3/4, but this was to much. I lowered it slightly, cut into them to check the progress. They seemed to cook very fast and even, but also browned with thin lines throughout. They looked picture perfect when completed. Wow, restaurant quality at home from a bachelor. The taste was excellent, it seemed to trap the flavor, unlike the watery results with the competition. What a great grill. I will say the clean up was very easy with the "plastic tool" that is provided (just don't ever loose it). The plastic cleaning tool with "teeth" seems to be of high quality plastic, unlike the flimsey george forman cheap plastic. Also, the drip tray is stainless steel type metal, what a difference from the cheap plastic tray from GF. In fact my GF cheap plastic trey once melted from touching it with a hot object, no worries with the Villaware. I might actually buy a cook book for the first time. I feel like I'll be able to impress friends with this grill. Did I also mention that it opens up to 3" when cooking and automatically forms a parallel cooking surface of the top and bottom. I would have given it a higher rating if they had an on/off switch and a timer. Maybe they'll put these features on a future version.
Enjoy...
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Works great, but hard to clean..., October 1, 2004
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
Pros:
So Pretty!
Cooks evenly!
Non-stick surface works great!
Especially great for sandwiches because of the flexible hinge.
High quality product!
Cons:
Grooves are deep making it a pain to clean, especially after cooking meats.
Doesn't have a digital tempature gage.
No timer.
Doesn't have removable plates, which would be especially nice.
If I were to do it again, well, I'd probably still be tempted by this grills beauty and quality. But there's a new George Foreman grill that I think I'd rather have now. It has it all, removable plates, digital tempature gage and timer, it just doesn't have the beauty of the Villaware. Although review aren't in on that one yet.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
NICE!!, March 19, 2004
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
This has got to be the best grill out! I just about bought a Foreman grill, until I happened across this grill in a store. I quickly rushed home to see how it was reviewed on Amazon, and to check Amazon's price.
I used to work at a store that had a deli that made Paninis, and ate them all the time. Love em, love em, love em!
I've had it for 2 months, and still use it 3-4 times a week.
Once you buy this, you will never eat another "regular" sandwhich again!
It's easy! All you do is make your favorite sandwhich while the maker is heating up, spray with a little bit of olive oil (or whatever oil you like), and put your sandwhich in the grill, pushing down on the sandwhich every once in a while to create that melding of the flavors I love so..... mmmmm...
Oh, and what sandwhich isn't made better by bacon!?! It literally takes less than a minute for bacon to cook (just make sure you've got your drip tray in place), and it comes out perfectly flat and ready to put on your sandwhich.
Plus! Look how much cheaper it is to eat sandwhiches made at home, rather than those you buy at McRonald's or BurgerStink. Now, not only is it cheaper, but it tastes soooo much better!!!
Words of advise:
*Make sure temperature selector is at highest setting for the best paninis.
*Wait until after you've grilled your sandwhich before adding stuff like tomatoes, lettuce, or other stuff you don't want to get soggy- they will be heated, too (although, I happen to like the way the lettuce tastes after it's been cooked with the sandwhich).
*Oh-my-gosh, these sandwhiches taste sooo much better with thinly sliced RED onions, red wine vinegar, deli style mustard, and the new fancy smancy mayonases (such as the chipolte or sun dried tomato).
*Use a good bread. I like to get a nice loaf of Italian and slice it on a bias, so as to get a longer sandwhich. The bread will smush down, so I like to cut the slices a little thicker, also. Plus, if you use a crusty bread, it just adds that "little extra" to it.Well, what are you waiting for!?! You'd be a fool not to get a panini maker! LOL! I almost slapped down a wad of cash (20-30 more than this one, bought at Amazon) on one of the Foremans, but this does all they can do, plus makes THE BEST sandwhiches! We used to eat at the fast food places all the time, but we haven't been to one since we bought this! Even scrubway!! 6 grams of fat?? I can do better than that with tons more flavor!
I haven't seen a better price than on Amazon, either.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
Best bang for the buck, March 31, 2005
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
Last fall I was wandering around Sam's Club and happened on a stack of these marked for closeout at $29. Yeah only $29. Not really in need of another kitchen appliance it nonetheless only took me about 2 seconds of thought before I grabbed one. For the $29 I paid it has to be the best bang in an electric grill/sandwich maker.
The unit has an ample plate size for grilling more than single serving sizes of veggies, meats, or sandwiches. Perfect size for two empty nesters. The adjustable thermostat is very useful. There is no on/off switch, as others have said, but how hard can it be to plug/unplug the power cord? There are lights on the thermostat that provide ample visual clue the unit is still on. This unit it heats up pretty fast and produces a hot cooking surface for searing and browning. It doesn't have removable plates, which admittedly does make cleanup more of a challenge than other units that do. Suggestion: Use Q-tips to clean between griddle ridges. The unit stands upright/vertically for more compact storage. The cord stores out of sight under the bottom plate. You can get all the missing features on other manufacturer's units but no where close to the price that I paid for this unit.
So how does it cook? It makes terrific sandwiches; worth what I paid if only just to make grilled Reubens. It grills meats and seafood very quickly; be sure to keep an eye on them because you can easily over cook them. You might need to experiment a bit at different temperature stettings to find the right timing. It's also one of the best bacon cookers I've ever used, and best of all there is no grease splatter. All in all, very I am very satisfied with the unit.
So here's the best part. After giving me some trouble for dragging home another kitchen gadget, the wife quickly changed her mind after eating the first pannini to off it. She really, really liked it - liked it so much she sent me scurrying back to Sam's to see if they had any left as she wanted to give one to her sister. Good luck. They had two left. Great luck. They were now marked down to only$20! So, I grabbed 'em both. Best $20 gift we ever gave, and now I've got a cheap backup for the first one should it ever break.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
Great for panini, not as good for meats, April 17, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
I have owned this Villaware Uno Panini Grill for about a month, and use it constantly. I bought it as a George Foreman substitute, and use it primarily for chicken, fish, and burgers. Although it does a very good job on all of those meats, I have spent an inordinate amount of time cleaning this machine. With meat, as opposed to a sandwhich, cleanup is a bit more involved, and since you can't get some of it wet - complications arise. Could someone please invent a machine just like this one, but with removable grill plates?The other thing to be aware of is the temperature gage. Paninis seem to require a hotter surface, while meats sear instantly on the lowest temp. Be careful with steaks if you like them rare to med-rare. It is easy to overcook them. At times, i'd like to slow down the cooking a little, but this is not really a major problem.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
Not so hard to clean, June 17, 2005
This review is from: Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill (Kitchen)
I was another lucky person who found this panini maker reduced at Sam's. I really like it a lot, and only deducted a star because it's a bit unwieldy when cleaning. I learned long ago, with GF grills, that I could not be happy scraping one clean. I need what I cook in to be washed. My trick is that I take it to the sink, Hold it on it's side, and give it a quick spray on the plates, Then I clean it with a nylon vegetable brush, and spray again. It cleans easily and quickly. I never let it sit in water, and stand it on it's side, drain side down, to dry. I've been doing this for over a year and haven't had a problem, and did it with my GF before. Removeable plates would be wonderful, but till then, I love the even heating and ability to grill a lot at once. I do a lot of grilled vegies besides chicken, burgers, steaks and chops.
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