Read First Before Buy Cuisinart GR 2 Griddler Express Contact
This is an excellent grill for the price. I have had a George Foreman grill for several months before getting this one. My GF was a fixed temperature without an on/off switch, so that's my previous electric grill experience. I have also owned, and hated, sandwich grillers, none of which work as advertised. I live in an apartment so neither a charcoal nor propane grill were an option.
The pros: A switch with variable settings so you don't have to plug and unplug it for use; the high setting is much higher than the GF and is great because I like my steak rare with a charred exterior and this comes as close to a barbeque as anything I've used; the swing away top is easier for cleaning than the early GF; the fact that the griddle sits flat instead of a slope is a huge plus as often times on the GF the meat would slide down and/or off the edge; the quick warm up, even on the high setting; the even heat distribution on the grill.
The cons: My favorite grilled sandwich is toasted cheese with nothing else but bread and cheese. The grill flattened the sandwich too much for my taste and the bread was limp instead of crispy. I didn't buy it for sandwiches because I'm on high protein because of diabetes, so that isn't an issue for me. With ground beef the top tends to push down on one side causing it to cook a little unevenly.
Regarding the cleaning. I learned from an Internet search how to clean the GF and it works just as well for this one. I use nothing but a damp wash rag and clean it when it's warm, the hotter the better. I waited until I'd cooked some extra lean beef patties before I wrote this review, and the grill cleaned up easily after all the drippings from those guys. It only takes a couple of minutes and I actually clean it right after my last piece of meat or ground beef when it's good and hot.
Someone knocked off a star because it isn't restaurant quality. Yet for the minor cons I cite above I just have to give this 5 stars because the Costco price is only $40. You can't expect restaurant quality at that price and besides, it's a darn good grill.
This is an excellent grill for the price. I have had a George Foreman grill for several months before getting this one. My GF was a fixed temperature without an on/off switch, so that's my previous electric grill experience. I have also owned, and hated, sandwich grillers, none of which work as advertised. I live in an apartment so neither a charcoal nor propane grill were an option.
BalasHapusThe pros: A switch with variable settings so you don't have to plug and unplug it for use; the high setting is much higher than the GF and is great because I like my steak rare with a charred exterior and this comes as close to a barbeque as anything I've used; the swing away top is easier for cleaning than the early GF; the fact that the griddle sits flat instead of a slope is a huge plus as often times on the GF the meat would slide down and/or off the edge; the quick warm up, even on the high setting; the even heat distribution on the grill.
The cons: My favorite grilled sandwich is toasted cheese with nothing else but bread and cheese. The grill flattened the sandwich too much for my taste and the bread was limp instead of crispy. I didn't buy it for sandwiches because I'm on high protein because of diabetes, so that isn't an issue for me. With ground beef the top tends to push down on one side causing it to cook a little unevenly.
Regarding the cleaning. I learned from an Internet search how to clean the GF and it works just as well for this one. I use nothing but a damp wash rag and clean it when it's warm, the hotter the better. I waited until I'd cooked some extra lean beef patties before I wrote this review, and the grill cleaned up easily after all the drippings from those guys. It only takes a couple of minutes and I actually clean it right after my last piece of meat or ground beef when it's good and hot.
Someone knocked off a star because it isn't restaurant quality. Yet for the minor cons I cite above I just have to give this 5 stars because the Costco price is only $40. You can't expect restaurant quality at that price and besides, it's a darn good grill.
I bought one of these for my sister in law for christmas last 2 years ago and she absolutely loves it. She takes it everywhere with her including on vacation. It heats up quickly and cleans up very well. The cooking space is also sufficient to get several panini's done at the same time. Great product and always available at a great price.
BalasHapusIt's large enough to handle two large sandwiches or 3-4 boneless chicken breasts. Both sides cook evenly. The floating lid adapts well to different thicknesses. It's easy to clean even though the plates aren't removable. Be sure to let it cool down before moving it. Many outside surfaces get hot
BalasHapusWe bought this as a replacement for an aging "George"... We got very tired of the impossible job of scraping the "George" wondering if we were eating teflon!! The Cuisinart is extremely easy to clean, cooks faster than "George" and performs as advertised. As a matter of fact, we bought five more as this years Christmas gifts for our 5 children!!
BalasHapusI have not cooked anything but Paninis with my GR-2, but every time I've used it, the results have been perfect. The non-removable plates might not clean up as fast as the removable plates in other brands, but I promise you that you'll love the perfect, even heat these plates provide. I would buy this same item again, no doubt! The sandwiches I make with this unit always come out deliciously browned and very tasty.
BalasHapusI have had a Wolfgang Puck Panini grill with removable plates and I didn't like the way they cooked. The top didn't cook as hot as the bottom so I had to flip things. Also, the plates in the dishwasher tend to rust. I'm going back to non-removable plates. Just a thought for those of you who think they're a good deal. I had a WP also w/o removable plates and the cleanup is worth it to me.
BalasHapusI love my new Grill and found the best and easiest way to clean is,
BalasHapusto put a double sheet of very wet paper towels on the grill while its still hot ,
hot and let stand while you eat your delicious grilled dinner - cleanup is a breeze
We recently purchased the Cuisinart Gr-2 Griddler Express and decided to try it out by having our children and grandchildren come over for a Panini Party. It was wonderful, the panini sandwichs made of precooked chicken cutlets with roasted peppers and mozzarella cheese encased in foccacia bread toasted up to perfection. We made a large number of them keeping the already prepared items warm in an oven heated to 175 degress until serving time. An excellent versitle product with limitless usage. T.S Huntington, NY
BalasHapus
BalasHapus