Contact Grills

Best contact and convertible grills

Contact grills, which press and cook food from above and below can be handy cooking gadgets. According to some expert- and owner-written reviews, contact grills are more convenient since they have the ability to cook both the top and bottom of a food's surface at the same time. Contact grills are often tilted to encourage fat drainage, and many come with drip pans, although many reviews say the drippings can drain off in other areas and create a mess during cooking. Unlike open grills, contact grills can make paninis and other grilled sandwiches in addition to grilling meats and vegetables. Removable grill plates are convenient for cleaning and come with several units, but some experts say they can lead to inconsistent heat on grilling surfaces.

One contact grill is a standout in reviews: The versatile Cuisinart Griddler GR-4 (*Est. $140), which can be used as a contact or open grill, includes a nonstick flat grill plate for fixing favorites like pancakes and eggs. This grill's lid also has an adjustable hinge to cook thicker foods. When used in an open position, the Griddler's 140-square-inch cooking surface heats evenly (from 200 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit).

The Cuisinart Griddler GR-4 receives excellent reviews from users at several consumer sites. Testers at Prevention magazine like its compact size and temperature control, recommending it as the most versatile grill. Good Housekeeping magazine editors say they appreciate the Griddler's dishwasher-safe removable plates and adjustable lid, which enable users to cook supersized burgers, thick steaks or stuffed sandwiches with ease. Derrick Riches, in a review for About.com, praises the product's controls, noting the wide temperature range and "ability to set [them] on each side of the grill."

More than 200 owners on Cooking.com give the Cuisinart Griddler GR-4 an average rating of 4.7 stars out of five, noting its easy cleanup (thanks to its removable plates) and its convenient temperature control. However, a review in The Wall Street Journal takes issue with this grill's surface design. Reviewer Charles Passy writes, "The model's one unique feature -- the grill plate flipped over to become a griddle -- proved to be its biggest drawback. Thanks to the dual purpose design, the plate lacked enough holes for the fat to drain away, turning cooking into a greasy, splatter-filled chore." Likewise, one reviewer on Cooking.com mentions that a drip pan would be useful underneath the grill's hinged area. While the majority of over 600 owners posting on Amazon.com, Cooking.com and Epinions.com rave about this grill, some users do complain about its thermostat control and nonstick coating.

A smaller version of the Cuisinart Griddler, the Cuisinart Griddler Junior (*Est. $70) is the top-rated indoor grill in a review at TasteOfHome.com. The original Cuisinart Griddler weighs 14 pounds and is 13 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep and 6.5 inches tall. The Junior version weighs only 8.5 pounds and has slightly smaller dimensions at 12.5 inches wide, 11 inches deep and 5.25 inches tall. Editors say the Griddler Junior is both easy to clean and use. This product comes with removable, dishwasher-safe grill plates, as well as helpful drip cups and scraping tools. This grill can be used as an open grill (users can release its hinge and completely open the grill to create one large, flat surface), a contact grill by keeping the hinge in the closed position, or as a panini press. Like the larger GR-4, it has a floating hinge and an adjustable temperature control. About three dozen owners posting to Amazon.com give this grill an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Most owners say they appreciate its versatility and compact size. Some drawbacks: There are a few complaints about grease drippings not making it into the drip cup, causing a mess on the counter, and some reviewers say this unit isn't large enough to accommodate their cooking needs.

The DeLonghi Indoor Grill and Panini Press (*Est. $65) also receives positive owner reviews on Cooking.com and Amazon.com. The budget price of this grill doesn't mean you'll be sacrificing size; the 182-square-inch cooking area is large enough to grill four big burgers at one time. Editors at TasteOfHome.com select this grill as their best pick and commend the DeLonghi for its user-friendly temperature control and adjustable hinge. While its grill plates aren't removable, they are easy to clean, according to the editors at TasteOfHome.com. Additionally, about two-thirds out of nearly 150 owner-written Amazon.com reviews give the Indoor Grill and Panini Press a perfect five-star rating. An equal number of owners on Cooking.com give this grill an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Reviewers love this grill's easy cleanup, even heat and temperature control. Most owners say it works just as well for cooking meat and fish as it does for sandwiches. Its most common complaints: This grill doesn't have an on/off switch, and some users say they wish it had removable plates.

The Krups FDE312-75 Universal Grill and Panini Maker (*Est. $90) is also recommended in several reviews. One foodie magazine gives it a highly recommended designation, saying it is "the only one to pass all our tests with flying colors." (The Cuisinart grill was not in their lineup.) Though the grill plates are fixed, its performance and large size make up for the extra cleaning required, say the editors. Testers also like its wide yet closely spaced ridges, which ensure that most of the cooking surface is in contact with the food. Prevention magazine editors also like the Krups grill, praising it as the "best looking" of their grill bunch. Still, the Krups does receive a few dozen negative reviews on Amazon.com. Out of more than 110 owner reviews, the grill earns an average rating of just three out of five stars -- a low rating. The reason: It appears to have a manufacturing weakness -- many owners say their grills broke down within several months of use. Additionally, some owners say the unit is difficult to clean, since its plates are not removable. Bottom line: While there are an equal number of positive reviews, the aforementioned problems made us hesitant to include this product in our Best Reviewed.

George Foreman, arguably the most well known manufacturer of electric grills, gets mixed reviews. Several models receive positive feedback, while other George Foreman electric grills get bashed for uneven cooking, difficult cleanup and baking rather than searing meat. George Foreman grills also get largely ignored in some professional reviews. Still, two George Foreman Next Grilleration products do get good reviews.

One electric grill, the George Foreman Precision Grill GRP99 (*Est. $95) is recommended by both Prevention and Good Housekeeping magazines. Editors at Prevention magazine rave that the Precision Grill is the best grill for families, since it sports a whopping 96 square inches of cooking surface. Their editors also appreciate its easy cleanup, oversized LED display and floating hinge. Good Housekeeping magazine editors also say the Precision Grill is easy to clean -- more so than other George Foreman grills. However, reviews on Amazon.com are mixed. More than 250 owners give this grill an average rating of only 3.5 stars out of five. Many like its removable plates and temperature control, but several users say it doesn't get as hot as older George Foreman grills. Some also complain that its power cord is too short.

Another George Foreman grill, the GR5 Grill GRP90WGR (*Est. $140) receives good feedback. In fact, this grill gets rave reviews from a whopping 550 owners on Amazon.com and Viewpoints.com, collectively. Though this unit offers less cooking space than the Precision Grill GRP99 (84 square inches), it features five removable, dishwasher-safe grilling plates for grilling, baking, griddling and more. Additionally, more than half of the 500 plus owners who have reviewed the GR5 on Amazon.com give it a perfect five-star rating. Most owners appreciate this product's different cooking options, although a few note that it is a pain to store the extra plates. Several reviewers also mention that it's not possible to find replacement plates should you misplace any of these accessories. Overall, owners love the grill's versatility and easy cleanup, and those with limited storage space appreciate its various cooking options.

Lastly, The Hamilton Beach Meal Maker Express 25285H contact grill (*Est. $60) offers 60 square inches of cooking space, but if you flip the lid over there's another usable cooking surface, making the total cooking area 120 square inches. This model doesn't double as a flat griddle, but its grill plates are removable and dishwasher-safe. The Meal Maker gets a nod from About.com's Derrick Riches for its adequate heat, as well as its removable cooking surfaces. Owners posting at Amazon.com say they like its small, compact size. Despite this, the Hamilton fails one foodie magazine's test, landing in the "not recommended" category. Editors say its "browning was pale," and its sandwiches turned out soggy. The grill plates' sharp ridges also deeply cut into sandwiches and burgers.