If you need a contact grill it’s important to choose one that’s right for your needs. This article covers the pros and cons of one popular grill that gets very good feedback from users — the Cuisinart 4 in 1 Griddler.
By the way, I do use this grill myself.
Features of the Cuisinart 4 in 1 Griddler
The Griddler can function as a closed or open grill, using the ribbed grill plates or the flat griddle plates.
The Griddler is designed for:
- grilling meat, poultry or fish (recommended only for boneless cuts of meat).
- grilling wraps (flat or filled) and panini or plain sandwiches.
- when opened out flat – cooking sausages, pancakes, French toast or open-face sandwiches, eggs, bacon, etc.
- grill fresh veggies (zucchini, carrots, onions, peppers etc.).
- anything else you can invent!
The Griddler includes:
- one set of grill plates, one set of griddle plates, both with non-stick coating, dishwasher safe.
- two plastic cups for catching fat that drains during cooking.
- a cleaning tool for scraping the grill plates.
- floating hinge that adjusts automatically for everything from thin burgers to thick panini sandwiches.
- heat-proof handle for opening/closing the grill.
- three control knobs, one for on-off, two for heat settings by degrees or by low-high.
- sturdy stainless steel construction.
- 3 year warranty coverage.
Why Did I Choose the Cuisinart 4 in 1 Griddler?
I did a lot of research before buying the Griddler and settled on it because:
- it was more versatile and suitable for our needs than the other grills I looked at.
- user reviews were very high on several different sites
- we have been happy with Cuisinart appliances (they had a replacement bowl for our 30-year-old food processor and gave it to us free).
- it was a very good value for the price
Cooking on the Cuisinart 4 in 1 Griddler
Our experience with the Griddler has been good. The main use for it in our kitchen is grilling red meats, chicken, or burgers, and we grill sandwiches and wraps. All of this it does very well. Meat gets done quickly, and stays tender if you don’t overcook it.
I find the Griddler the best tool for grilling sandwiches and wraps. The fillings get warmed, or cheeses melted, without being overdone. And it does a good job of browning the outside nice and crispy and even.
I’ve never bothered to use the Griddler opened flat. Our counter space is small so it’s not convenient to cook with the Griddler flat. I think it could be quite good for sausages and bacon because the fat does drain away as they cook — but it will be more messy than a frying pan. I think it would do a really nice job of French toast, but I’m not sure about pancakes – they tend to be more fussy.
The Griddler and Cleanup
Cleanup after cooking on the Griddle is not too bad. Since we don’t use a dishwasher I put the plates to soak when they are cool and finish washing them after the meal is done.
If you clean the Griddler housing after each use it’s quick and stays clean. If you don’t it will build up a layer of oily residue that won’t come off easily.
I have to say that the “non-stick” coating is not all it could be — but I’ve never found a really good non-stick surface anywhere. When I’m cooking pork loin chops or boneless skinless chicken I want the meat seared anyway, so I will either brush the meat very lightly with oil, or brush the hot plates with a little oil (using a silicone pastry brush). It doesn’t add any amount of fat and it makes a nicer job.
Cuisinart 4 in 1 Griddler – Pros and Cons
Removing and replacing the Griddler plates is easy; they snap on and off in a few seconds. Opening it flat takes the push of one button.
We find this appliance very well-built. After several years of use everything is still tight and the controls still work fine.
The drip cups that catch draining fat are a bit of a nuisance; you have to watch them so they don’t slide away from the drain! But we don’t usually cook anything with a lot of fat, so we can live with the inconvenience.
Cooking on a contact grill is a bit messy if you are grilling anything oily. Fat does spit and spread around when it’s hot, so the counter needs more cleanup.
Cuisinart service is good. There was a problem with one set of plates, so I called and they replaced them immediately. I did have to send the defective plates back, but that’s to be expected.
Because we’ve had small appliances fail after the first year, I now look for two or more years of warranty. The three year coverage from Cuisinart is a definite advantage.
The bottom line is this: Would I choose the Griddler again? The answer is, “Yes.”
Go to the Cuisinart 4 in 1 Griddler blog for recipes, pictures, and sources for the Griddler.
