Cuisinart Griddler GR-4

I bought this as an upgrade to a cheapo Foreman Grill. Looks nice but it's been a huge disappointment. Essentially, the simple rectangular heating element combined with the very low mass (lightweight)… plates create rather unfortunate hot spots along the perimeter. This takes all the convenience out of the design as you have to open it up and shuffle things around lest they be half cooked (or at least half browned.) The Foreman grill, while certainly not perfect, at least had heavy enough grates to distribute the heat evenly and make acceptable looking food. Boo.

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I first bought a Griddler about 6 months ago from a discount warehouse store. Unfortunately, the unit would turn itself off when I used the griddle function. Although I'm not 100% positive, but I think… the Griddler seemed to be overheating when it reached a certain temperature and would subsequently turn itself off. The grill function always worked perfectly. I explained what was happening to representatives from Cuisinart and I was told that the machine was defective. I returned the item to the store and was given a replacement. However, I have the same griddle problem with the new machine. While I love the grill function, the fact that the griddle does not work is a huge disappointment. I'm going to see if I can return the second Griddler, but at this point, I'm willing to cut my losses and buy a reversible griddle/grill pan. While Cuisinart had a wonderful concept for this device, I believe Cuisinart failed in execution.

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I am impressed with this grill and find it far superior to my old Foreman grill. The plates detach for cleaning and the top plate can press down at variable heights/angles to adjust to the height of… whatever you have on the grill. The temperature adjuster is a great feature to have and the grill heats up within 5 minutes to its maximum. I've been using it mainly for paninis and grilling. On nonstick finishes: I have read some complaints about the nonstick finish and suspect some users are not quite aware of the limitations and proper care of nonstick cookware. In general, nonstick finishes are not so much "poorly designed" (as one reviewer puts it), they just have real life limitations no matter what brand you use. Even cast iron, fairly durable, has its own limitations. Be suspicious of complaint reviews that don't suggest a better alternative. Nonstick surfaces show best longevity if oiled just before food is placed on them. Furthermore, temperatures above 500 degrees (around the max setting here) cause them to break down a bit. So don't grill something messy on these at max temperature if you want them to last. The nonstick finish on this is a little less potent than on some cookware I've used, but I suspect this is because of the higher grill temperature they are expected to endure (so users won't get flecks of Teflon on their food). I shouldn't have to say this but I will: You can't expect to use metal on nonstick surfaces (knives, scouring pads) and expect it to last. I've had this about 6 months and use it 2-3 times a week and the plates are still in great shape. Bread and sandwiches clean up easily. If I am going to cook something messy and don't want the hassle of cleanup, then sometimes I use aluminum foil. You still get a nice set of char marks.

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Why design a product that regardless the switch position, it heats both plates the same way, just either in degrees or low to high, I was hoping for an option of individual controls for the upper and lower… plates, but that isn't to be. The 3 foot cord is too short, but there is a small cover you can remove to replace the cord, and I will replace it with a 6 foot cord, will also add a switch to disconnect the upper element when not needed. Now the good stuff, heats quickly, evenly and indicated temperature settings seem accurate. Plates are easy to remove and load and heat retention is excellent. Compact design, and large hinge movement allow for great upper hinge travel.

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