Best Review on DeLonghi CGH800 Contact Grill Panini
We never have plain "sandwiches" any more, we have "Paninis!" Slice some sourdough bread or ciabatta or whatever you have, add lunch meat, cheese, spinach leaves, a few slices of red onion and/or roasted red peppers, a few basil leaves if you have them ... whatever ... add the top piece of bread, brush it with olive oil, and close the lid. The lid flexes to accept a relatively fat sandwich, but up to 1-1/2" thick works great. Grill till it is oozy and golden brown and voila! a gourmet sandwich in your own kitchen!
Also we make toasted bread to go with dinner ... any leftover bread will do ... just brush with olive oil or spread some butter and toast it crispy ... good with soup or any dinner. This is the greatest invention since sliced bread! :)
After trying ours, we bought two more for Christmas gifts this year.
This is a terrific product. My wife and I have enjoyed several panini dinners. My son and grandson also liked it, the seven year old remarked that it sure beat dad's old toaster oven. There is little mess, easy cleanup and the panini turn out hot and crisp. I read all the reviews and worried about the absence of an on/off switch. I think this complaint is ill founded. It's very easy to pull the plug and it is cool. Because there are heating elements on top and bottom it could be difficult to place a switch on the machine that would not get hot or cause fingers to come in contact with the hot chassis. Besides, pulling to plug is full proof. People have stated that the grill ridges are too far apart, but when you consider the ease of cleaning, I think the design is justified. Certainly the panini is nicely marked after 4-5 minutes of grilling. The cord wraps underneath, but the plug doesn't exactly fit into the restraint. If you skip one corner when winding the cord it works much better. I have found that cooking on the highest setting works very well. The hinged top is sufficiently heavy to press the panini properly. The only problem I had with excessive oozing of cheese was when I pressed the top down by hand. Placing a layer of meat (or any non-cheese layer) just below the top piece of bread allows you to open the panini when it is done and add lettuce, tomatoes, etc.
BalasHapusBy A Customer
BalasHapusI have hoped by now that I would see a review on the DeLonghi Retro Panini Grill CGH800 and have been looking since October 2003. I have read other reviews on competitor's models, but to date no one has written in on this wonderful unit so I feel I should.I had a bad experience with another Panini Grill, also comparable in price but with handle breakage problems. In the reviews for the one I had purchased prior there was another with the same problem. I was hesitant about getting another, but I loved the concept and was willing to try another brand with high quality standards. In November I purchased this product.The unit is very heavy and well made, and the handle is strong. I have made many Panini sandwiches and everyone is excellent. The grilling of the sandwich takes about 4-5 minutes and produces wonderful grill marks and the contents inside are very hot. I have used homemade bread, French bread, rye bread, pitas (which I feel are too thin) hoagie rolls and even store bought rolls all proving wonderful.The combinations of sandwich fillings for Panini's are endless. I serve a large Panini with a bowl of soup for an easy weeknight dinner and a change of pace from the many recipes I make on other nights. We really look forward to each and every one and I am not disappointed in this product.I want to comment on the non-stick - it is absolutely wonderful! Cheese or anything that may ooze out just comes up with a piece of toweling, nothing ever sticks. I have not grilled meats on it as I have three sizes of another well-known grill, but have grilled zucchini along side the sandwich. With the excellent coating I would not hesitate to cook meats and I like the fact that it has a trough for the grease to drip into the cup that is provided.I also have not used anything but the highest temperature on the control as I only use this grill for Panini sandwiches, but I am sure that it would be perfect with something that needed a lower temperature. Also an additional plus, --it certainly would be ideal if my husband was not finished with something I served first and the thought that I could keep sandwiches warm and not burn the bread by turning the temperature to a low (keep warm) setting for sure is a wonderful addition to this product. The product is pricey, but if you want quality and long life --this product is worth the investment. I am very happy with my purchase.
BalasHapusWorth every penny, March 2, 2004
BalasHapusWe just got our DeLonghi Panini Grill about a month ago when we saw this sale. The unit itself is great--very nice looking, not too heavy and can fit sideways in smaller spaces. Although the griddles don't detach, we've had easy clean ups every time. It doesn't take long to heat up and maintains well. The press-bar is wide and easy to use. Our 14 year old loves it to make his own grillers with this. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a sturdy, reliable grill at a bargain price.
BalasHapusI have had my panini grill for two years now. Recently, though, it has been seeing more and more use. It is a great way to make a wonderful sandwich (using whatever combination of ingredients you choose) in just a matter of minutes. It is quick to heat up...generally it's ready by the time I assemble my sandwich. I like using large slices of bread (sourdough, Italian, etc.) so I can make 2 sandwiches at a time with it. I brush the outside of the bread with olive oil, but spraying it with cooking spray also works well. Absolutely nothing sticks to the grill.
BalasHapusI have also used it to grill chicken, which produces those nice grill marks without the hassle of a grill. I like that it cooks on the top and the bottom at the same time. It also conveniently stores in an upright position, which means it takes up way less storage space on your counter or in the cabinet.
I have never owned another panini maker (and don't see myself needing another one for a long time...the quality is nice!). I do know several people who have liked my panini maker and tried to buy their own (cheaper) version. They have always been unimpressed, and end up wanting one of the DeLonghi ones. I say it's well worth the money.
I own two panini makers- this one and a Breadman. They are both very good machines and both do a great job with panini. The marks left on panini by the Breadman are a little deeper (which I like) and the controls/lights are nowhere near the problem some people think. Likewise cleaning the Breadman has not been a problem - but this is only for panini. In short, if all you are doing is panini save the $20 and buy the Breadman. For the price the build quality is amazing.
BalasHapusHowever, if you are using it for anything else in addition to panini like burgers, chicken. etc then the DeLonghi is your machine. With variable temperature, grease drain spout etc the DeLonghi is more versatile and is a wonderful, high quality machine. It is also easy to clean. I do not like the marks left on the bread as well on the DeLonghi but that is personal taste and not a reason not to buy the machine. The build quality is also very good but it is a bigger machine than the Breadman if that is an issue.
BalasHapus174 of 179 people found the following review helpful
BalasHapus
BalasHapus5.0 out of 5 stars
BalasHapusI'll never eat a cold sandwich again! This is a great panini maker. It arrived very well packaged, in perfect condition. I fired it up and ate a sandwich right away! It's super easy to clean. Temperature control is a big plus: not all panini presses have this. You can make sure your bread doesn't burn and everything inside is hot. Plus, a light tells you when the grill has reached the appropriate temperature. So many combinations to try, so few meals! It even comes with a handy recipe book: so don'y buy one of the panini cookbooks with mixed reviews.
BalasHapus
BalasHapus