Cuisinart GR-2 Griddler Express Contact Grill
by Cuisinart
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List Price: Our Price: $69.95 You Save: $35.05 (33%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Cuisinart GR-2 Griddler Express Contact Grill
Customer Review: Great grill for the price
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Customer Review: Must have item for the kitchen
Summary: 4 Stars
I no longer have any desire for a cold sandwich after getting the Cuisinart GR-2. It's a much used item in our kitchen now. The hinged lid works great and it grills up a sandwich in no time. It cleans up really quick. Though it is large enough for 2 sandwiches, I only cook one at a time because our sandwiches are rarely the same thickness. I used french bread, italian rustica bread, wheat bread slices and ciabatta bread all with great results. The bread slices just makes a quick and easy grilled cheese style sandwich. Now we can have artisan, deli-style sandwiches at home. The recipe book that comes with the panini grill is pretty good and gives plenty of ideas for breakfast, meal and dessert sandwiches. I'm hooked!!Customer Review: Panini Perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
I 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.Customer Review: Panini Party
Summary: 5 Stars
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, NYCustomer Review: Good, not great
Summary: 4 Stars
Good for the price. Great would require restaurant quality. As far as non-removable plates, they are not a negative but a positive. Non-removable plates are generally more sturdy, secure and permanently attached to the heating element. Removable plates generally mean poor heating time and coverage.