I bought a G4 Griddler from Amazon in 2005, and used it a couple of times a week (at least) until it had to be put out to pasture in 2010 due to failure of the non-stick coating on the plates.(The coating started to bubble and peel, and no one wants that in their food...)I loved it. (See my review of the Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler Stainless-Steel 4-in-1 Grill/Griddle and Panini Press) It was still working great, but replacement plates were not available.
I was elated when offered the opportunity to review its smarter younger brother, the GR-4NAM Griddler.I could hardly wait for it to get here and run it through its paces.
At first glance, the GR-4NAM looks virtually identical to the G4.However, closer inspection reveals that it has been totally redesigned, and for the better.
Improvement:The grease catcher used to be a little cup that had to be set under a spout on the side of the bottom plate.If it was positioned incorrectly, (or forgotten about), greased dripped out on the counter.The grease catcher is now integrated into the Griddler as a drawer-like device that can be pulled out to clean, and then put back in place for the next use.
Improvement:The original G4 had two sets of plates - one flat set, one ridged set (for paninis).There is now one reversible set of plates (ridged on one side, flat on the other), and therefore no need to find a storage place for the plates not in use.The new plates have a good substantial weight.I don't have the old ones here for comparison, but the quality of the plates certainly was not cheapened.
Improvement:It used to be a little tricky to put the plates in place and to remove them.There was also a difference between the top plate and the bottom, so you had to be careful not to try to put them in the wrong way.The plates now have an identical shape, so they are interchangeable, and the release buttons activate a spring-loaded mechanism that pops the plate loose for easy removal.Now, to see how it cooks:The Griddler takes about as long to warm up as a good-quality waffle iron.Just when you start to get impatient with it, it's ready.
The first thing that I cooked was a no-no in the eyes of Cuisinart - a bone-in, skin-on leg and thigh chicken quarter.Too thick, they say.HA! says I, because I am a bit of an anarchist.I marinated the chicken in olive oil and rosemary, heated the Griddler to Medium. I cooked it on the panini plates because I love those little fake barbeque stripes across my food.It worked just fine.(I should have taken a picture, it came out looking beautiful.But I was hungry.)
Word of warning:Do not cook thick or fatty meat on High - you will get grease spatters all over the place. Medium works just fine in such instances.
I discovered from my old Griddler that when cooking meat it's best to turn off the heat before it's done, and let it finish cooking with the residual heat in the plates. That way the meat does not get overdone.
For clean-up, I let the plates cool down, and then put a wet paper towel across the bottom plate and close the lid and let it sit for a while.The dampness softens anything that is stuck to the plates, and then it can be easily washed off with a sudsy sponge or dish wand.
Today for lunch, I made myself a sandwich with sliced sourdough bread, cooked sliced chicken breast, fresh grated parmesan cheese and dried basil.I followed the panini directions in the small cookbook that comes with the Griddler.Well, I sort of followed the directions...Cuisinart recommends brushing the outside of the sandwich with olive oil.I prefer to use melted butter on panini because it makes the sandwich crisper.
I preheated the Griddler on High, placed the sandwich inside, and applied light pressure for about 30 seconds, and then let it cook.The directions say to cook panini for about 4 -5 minutes, but my sandwich was ready to eat in 2 minutes.Maybe the butter makes the bread brown faster than olive oil.
In any case, it was beautiful - evenly browned, crunchy and delicious, and I did take a picture (see product images).
How durable will the GR-4NAM be?Good question.From everything that I can see so far, Cuisinart has only made the Griddler better.But time is the real test of quality. I will report back from time to time regarding durability.
Right now, I'd say this looks like an excellent buy.
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Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 GriddlerProduct Description: Compact in size but big in features, Cuisinart's countertop Griddler offers five-in-one functionality as a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, and half grill/half griddle. The stylish brushed stainless-steel housing looks sleek and modern in the kitchen and features a wide panini-style handle and a hinged floating cover that adjusts to various food thicknesses. On the base, two temperature controls and a function selector are clearly marked and have indicator lights for quick reference and accurate, no-guesswork operation. Open the cover and customize the cooking surface with removable and reversible nonstick grill and griddle plates that snap in and out easily and drain grease to an integrated drip tray for healthier cooking. The Griddler also comes with gourmet recipes and a cleaning scraper tool. The cooking plates, drip tray, and scraper all go safely into the dishwasher. Limited three-year warranty.
From the Manufacturer Parts & Features - Base and Cover: Solid construction with stainless steel self-adjusting cover
- Panini-Style Handle: Sturdy cast-metal handle adjusts cover to accommodate thickness of food
- Removable and Reversible Cooking Plates: Nonstick and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
- Grill Side: Perfect for grilling steak, burgers, chicken, and vegetables
- Griddle Side: Prepare flawless pancakes, eggs, bacon, and seared scallops
- Controls: Indicator lights signal Power On and Ready to Cook
- Selector: Choose the Grill/Panini or Griddle function
- Grill/Panini: Adjust temperature from "warm" to "sear"
- Griddle: Adjust temperature form 200°F to 425°F
- Drip Tray: Collects grease and removes from base for easy cleanup (dishwasher safe)
- Cleaning/Scraping Tool: Helps clean grill and griddle plates after cooking
- Plate Release Buttons: Push in to release and remove cooking plates
- Hinge Release Lever: Allows the cover to extend back for cooking in the flat position
The Griddler's Many Uses Contact Grill Use the Griddler as a contact grill to cook burgers, boneless pieces of meat and thin cuts of meat and vegetables. The contact grill function works best when you want to cook something in a short amount of time or when you are looking for a healthy method of grilling.When cooked on the contact grill, food will cook quickly because you are grilling both sides of the food at the same time. The ribs on the grill side of the plates, combined with the grease spout at the rear of the plate, allow the grease to drip from the meat and drain off the plates. When the Griddler is used as a contact grill, the grill side of plates is recommended. Rest the cover evenly on top of the food until it has reached the desired cooked temperature. The Griddler was designed with a unique handle and hinge that allow the cover to adjust to the thickness of the food. You can easily grill anything from a thinly sliced potato to a thick sirloin steak with even results. When cooking more than one food item in the contact grill, it is important that the thickness of food items is consistent so the cover will close evenly on the food.
Panini Press Use the Griddler as a panini press to grill sandwiches, breads, and quesadillas. The sandwich is pressed between two grill or griddle plates to toast the bread and warm the sandwich. We recommend using fresh-baked bread to produce the best tasting panini. Popular breads used for panini are focaccia (a flat bread frequently baked with rosemary, salt and onion on top), michetta (a small round roll with a crisp crust), ciabatta (a rectangular bread with a slightly domed crust), and thick slices of classic Italian bread. When the Griddler is used as a panini press, the grill side of the plates is recommended. We recommend the grill side of the plates because traditional style panini sandwiches have grill marks on the bread.However, depending upon the type of sandwich you are preparing, you may wish to use the griddle side of the plates or any combination of the two. The Griddler functions as a panini press in the same manner that it functions as a contact grill. The Griddler was designed with a unique handle and hinge that allow the cover to adjust to the thickness of the sandwich you are preparing, and to rest there evenly.Light pressure can be applied to the handle to press and heat the sandwich to your liking. When cooking two or more panini, it is important that the thickness of the sandwiches is consistent so the cover will close evenly on the panini.
Full Grill Use the Griddler as a full grill to cook burgers, steak, poultry (we do not recommend cooking bone-in chicken, since it does not cook evenly on a full grill), fish, and vegetables. Full grill refers to using the Griddler with the cover lying flat, creating a double, flat cooking surface. In this position, the foods you are grilling will have to be turned over for cooking. When the Griddler is used as a full grill, the grill side of the plates should be used. Cooking on the full grill is the most versatile method of using the Griddler. With the full grill, you have double the surface area (200 square inches) for grilling. You have the option of cooking different types of foods on separate plates without combining their flavors, or cooking large amounts of the same type of food. The full grill also accommodates different cuts of meats with varying thickness, allowing you to cook each piece to your liking.
Full Griddle Use the Griddle as a full griddle to cook pancakes, eggs, French toast, hash browns, and breakfast meats. When you use the Griddler as a full griddle, open the cover so it lies flat, creating a double, flat cooking surface. In this position, the foods you are preparing will have to be turned over for cooking. When using this cooking function, the griddle side of the plates should be used. Cooking on the full griddle is a wonderful way to prepare breakfast for two or for a large family.The large surface area allows you to cook a variety of different foods at the same time, or large amounts of your favorite food.
Half Grill/Half Griddle Use the Griddler as a half grill/half griddle in order to create full meals like bacon and eggs or steak and potatoes at the same time. When using the Griddler as a half grill/half griddle, simply place the unit in the flat position and insert one plate with the grill side facing up and another plate with the griddle side facing up.This cooking option allows you to use either the grill/panini temperature or the griddle temperature selector.
To Insert Cooking Plates Adjust the Griddler to the flat position with the controls directly in front of you.Insert one plate at a time.Each plate is designed to fit in either the upper housing or the lower housing of the Griddler.If you are facing the Griddler, the drip spout should be at the rear of the plate.Locate the metal brackets at the center of the housing.Tilt the back end of the plate and line up the cutouts at the back of the plate with metal brackets.Slide the plate underneath the brackets and push down the front end of the plate.It will snap into place.Turn the Griddler around and insert the second plate on either its grill or griddle side into the upper housing as you did with the first plate.
To Remove Cooking Plates Once the Griddler is cooled, adjust to flat position.Locate the plate release button on one side of the unit.Press firmly on button and the plate will pop up slightly from the base.Grasp the plate with two hands, slide it out from under the metal brackets, and lift it out of the base.Press on the other plate release button to remove the other cooking plate in the same manner.
Drip Tray The drip tray is located on one side of the base inside the slot.Grease from the food will run off the plates through the grease spout and into the drip tray.In between recipes, use a wooden or heat-proof plastic utensil to scrape excess food buildup through the grease channels and into the drip tray, and then wipe off any residue with a paper towel before proceeding with the next recipe.Grease should be safety disposed of after the Griddler has cooled down completely.The drip tray can be cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher and stored in the Griddler when not in use.
Cleaning and Care Once you have finished cooking, turn the selector dial control to the Off position and unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.Allow the unit to cool down for least 30 minutes before handling. Use the cleaning/scraping tool to remove any leftover food from the cooking plate.The scraping tool can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher.Dispose of grease from the drip tray once cooled.The drip tray can be cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher.Press the plate release buttons to remove plates from the housing.Be sure that the plates have cooled completely before handling (at least 30 minutes).The cooking plates can be washed in the dishwasher.The housing base, cover and control knobs can be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth.For tough stains, dampen cloth.
Bringing the Good Life Home Cuisinart products are designed to make life delicious all day long. Specialty items, like the Griddler, offer today's consumers a variety of menu options, and fun and easy new ways to entertain family and friends.
Cuisinart first came into home kitchens over 30 years ago when it introduced the now legendary food processor. People discovered that routines could be broken and creative cooking quickly became part of the new lifestyle. Preparing fresh ingredients with products that offered easy and interesting new techniques meant healthier meals and more free time.
Today Cuisinart develops products to make every meal memorable. From breakfast toast and coffee to elegant five-course dinners, the preparation and cooking have become a pleasurable part of the total experience. Today's relaxed lifestyles and the convenience of Cuisinart products make it easier than ever to Savor the Good Life, right at home with family and friends.
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