I've had many indoor grills, this one outshines all of them! It is a large grill, with space enough for four burgers, sandwiches, chicken thighs or breasts, etc. It heats up fast with minimal, if any smoke. I love the timer option and control of the temperature. It is super easy to clean and the removable plates fit nicely in the dishwasher. The drip tray is huge and located where it should be, in the back, so when you open up your grill while cooking, the grease goes in it and not on your counter or under the grill. This is a bonus safety measure which I describe in detail later on in this review.
The cooking quality is excellent. One of the reviewers complained about how poorly his chicken and steak turned out. I do not understand that, he must have cooked at the wrong temperatures (too hot), because we've had perfect results every time. It doesn't taste like steamed anything, but like grilled food. And yes, it makes a mean panini sandwich!
This grill is well made with quality parts. The only part that is questionable is the adjustable height knob, which is plastic, and I could see this breaking down the road, since we use this grill daily. I called customer service about it, and they said should it break, they would send out a new part, no problem. Good to know.
This grill looks so good on the counter, that I leave it there. It does not look tacky like the other models out there, where I found myself wanting to hide them right after use.
There was a huge fire hazard defect on a no-name cusinart model that I bought from Walmart for $50, which occurred well after the warranty ended. That grill ended up in the trash can. What happened with it is the grease leaked underneath whenever I opened it while cooking, melting the plastic that housed the wires, leaving the wires exposed. Thankfully I caught this before anything bad happened. So, when I looked for my next grill, I specifically looked for one that addressed this issue (the grease leaking underneath whenever you open the grill while cooking). The Calphalon addresses this issue with the drip tray in the back. Other grill makers need to follow suit!
The price tag seemed high to me, but it does come with a much better warranty than other models, it is made from higher quality parts, and it looks like something one would see in a professional kitchen. My husband is a chef, and is extremely happy with this grill as well. I'm not one known to buy high-end appliances, but in this case I did and can honestly say that I have no regrets. I highly recommend this grill!
JULY 18th 2010: UPDATE
I just wanted to update and let everyone know that after daily use for well over a year, I can happily report my Calphalon indoor grill is still going strong!
Cleanup is still a breeze and the coating is still perfect. After you cook on it and the plates have cooled down, place the plates in the sink and spray a little water on them, let them soak for a few minutes. Then rinse. I have never had anything clean as easily as these plates!
I read that some people have problems with the front panel coming off or knobs breaking. I haven't had that happen. I'm wondering if there was a bad batch of these, and somehow I lucked out. I bought my grill from Amazon, if that helps. Everything still works like a charm and we put this grill through its paces!
Someone mentioned the top plate coming off while they were cooking. They must not have put it on correctly. If it doesn't snap in, it isn't on there right. Be careful with that.
My grill heats up in about 5 minutes. No problems there. I love the timer. 350 degrees seems to be a magic temperature for me. I cook almost everything at that setting. This is a wonderful grill. I'm very happy we splurged last year and bought it.
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Calphalon HE600CG Removable-Plate Nonstick Countertop GrillProduct Description: Cook for a few or for a crowd with the extra-large capacity of this countertop grill. The unit features heavy-gauge cast-aluminum nonstick grill plates that can fit up to six burgers, six 4-ounce chicken breasts, or four Panini-style sandwiches at a time. And, since it cooks both sides simultaneously, food grills quickly and efficiently. To use, simply turn the control knob to select the desired heat setting from 200 degrees F for warming up to 450 degrees F for searing. After about five minutes of preheating, a "ready" light will illuminate. Place food on the lower grill plate, close the lid, and select "always on" for continuous grilling or set the 30-minute timer for a designated cooking time--a bell will sound at the end and the grill will stop heating. Other highlights include an Opti-Heat system for premium heating, adjustable height to accommodate everything from thick steaks to grilled-cheese sandwiches, an internal drip tray to catch excess fat, and easy-to-read controls. To protect the nonstick coating on the grill plates, use only non-metal, temperature-resistant utensils, such as wood or nylon. The removable drip tray and grill plates can go in the dishwasher or be washed by hand and the base wipes clean easily with a soft, damp cloth. For compact storing, simply empty and clean the drip tray, close the grill, move the height selector into the lock position, and tuck the grill away either laying flat or standing upright. Housed in stainless steel with a sleek contoured shape, the 1500-watt grill measures 12-8/9 by 15-2/3 by 6-3/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
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I really like this design. It has a slight raised lip running around the outside edge which contains any batters, grease, or other liquids which might run over the edge and create a mess; the grease drain is only on the front edge and is treated with the same sturdy non-stick coating as the rest of the surface, making for easy clean up. Indeed, the lack of plastic attachments make cleanup easy, and I really like the simple design, a very large cooking surface, two plastic handles and a removable plastic grease catch.
