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There aren’t many small appliances that can take over your stovetop, but there is one that almost could – the Griddler. If you like making pancakes on the same small appliances that you can make waffles and grilled cheese, a Griddler might be the perfect appliance for you.
In this article, we will review the Cuisinart GR-4N 5-IN-1 Griddler. We will go over all of the features, details, pros, and cons so that you can decide if it is the one for you.
Specifications
The Griddler isn’t the smallest appliance but it isn’t too bulky either. It comes in at about 13.50” long, 11.50” inches wide, and 7.12” high. It weighs 13.20 pounds and takes up 1.13 cubic feet.
Pros and Cons
Here is a breakdown of some of the main pros and cons of this Griddler.
The cooking plates are removable
Durable brushed steel exterior
Waffle mold included
Great for college/university
Aesthetically pleasing
Can cook a variety of foods, both sweet and savory
Lack of an additional knob with extra settings specifically for sandwiches, this would make it even easier to use
What is it Capable of?
The first question you should ask yourself when considering a small appliance is what the capability of the machine is. Many small appliances claim to have a ton of different features. It is important to know if those features are useful to you or if you are paying for something you don’t need.
The Cuisinart GR-4N Griddler claims to be a 5-In-1 multifunctional counter-top machine. Cuisinart claims that this unit can replace a grill, panini press, full grill/griddle, half grill/half griddle, and a waffle maker. If you have at least two of these small appliances, this Griddler has the potential to free up some of your counter space and make life a bit easier for you. But can it be used as an indoor grill for steaks? Find out in our articles.
Additionally, if you are living in a dorm at college or have a kid who is going away to university, this unit is perfect. A lot of the time, college students don’t have access to full kitchens, aren’t allowed certain appliances, or just don’t have the time to cook.
A Griddler is perfect because it gives them the opportunity to make quick and easy yet healthy meals even when they have no time.
The Grill Plates
It really doesn’t matter what you are in the mood for, Griddler seems to cover all the bases. It comes with different grill plates for different tasks. There is one set of reversible 11” x 9” grill plates included with the Griddler.
These grill plates both have a smooth side and a ridged side. The smooth side makes it easy to cook pancakes while the rigid side leaves beautiful grill marks on your paninis.
If that wasn’t enough for you, you can swap out the existing plates for the included waffle molds. Within a few minutes, you will have fresh waffles that you made without a specific waffle maker.
Appearance
Whenever you buy a small appliance, you want it to look nice and hold up for the long run. These appliances will most likely spend a lot of time on your countertop so they better look as good as they perform.
One of the first things you will notice about this unit is the exterior material. The Griddler is coated in a brushed stainless steel finish that adds a modern yet classic feel to the unit. Not only does it look good, but the brushed stainless steel adds a durable and rugged aspect to the Griddler. It won’t show fingerprints, stains, scratches as other materials.
Additional Features
One of the main selling points of this griddle is the floating hinges. This seems like a small detail, but in reality, it makes all the difference. When you are grilling a steak, for example, the last thing you want is the heavy top part of the unit crushing your steak and turning it into a pancake. Fortunately, the floating hinges adjust to the thickness of your food.
This allows you to put pressure on the food you are cooking but not squish it. Additionally, if you are making eggs or something that doesn’t require pressure, you can open it right up and watch it cook.
While the Griddler doesn’t have an LCD screen to make your choices, the knobs are well constructed with easy to read temperature labels. Additionally, there is a red/green indicator light on each knob so that you know exactly what setting you are using when it is turned on. A lot of small appliances just expect you to look for a tiny arrow and hope you are on the right setting, not this unit!
While any small appliance is usually designed to make your life a bit easier, a lot of them come with small parts that are impossible to clean. This Griddler has made sure that your time cleaning is just as painless as your time cooking.
The 11” x 9” cooking plates and waffle mold are not only non-stick but they are dishwasher safe too. This means that you can make your food in the Griddler, toss it in the dishwasher and you are done with it. If you do have some issues with food sticking or don’t have a dishwasher, it comes with a scraping tool that won’t scratch up the plates and makes clean up a lot easier.
Last but not least, there is a drip tray that is integrated into the Griddler. This allows you to drain excess grease and make your meals healthier. Additionally, the drip tray collects the grease so that you can store it and use it for something else, or dispose of it in a responsible manner.
- GR-WAFP Griddler Waffle Plates
- Brand New - Cuisinart USA Warranty
- Griddler is brushed stainless-steel housing; sturdy panini-style handle; floating cover to adjust to thickness of food
- Nonstick baking plates for easy release of waffles
How to Use the Griddler
Once you have plugged in the Griddler, using it is as easy as turning a knob. On the front of the Griddler, there are three knobs with various programs to choose from. The first knob you need to turn is the central knob.
It is called the selector and this is where you will choose off, grill or griddle. If you have chosen griddle you must then focus on the knob to your left. The griddle knob will allow you to choose a temperature to use such as 350 degrees.
If you have selected the grill/panini program, you will need to focus on the knob to your right. From this knob, you will select different heats such as warm, low, medium, high, and sear. The sear option can be really beneficial as it eliminates the need for breaking out the pan and turning on the stove every time you want a steak.
Best Foods to Cook on a Griddler?
A lot of the time, a Griddler might seem like an appliance designed just to make pancakes or paninis. However, they are actually capable of cooking a host of different meals that we tend to make on a day to day basis.
While the Griddler won’t be able to make a nice pot of soup or cook your morning oats, it can work well with any type of food you make on a stovetop. The flat side of the griddle plates could make hash browns, eggs, stir-fries, quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, and
The rigid side of the cooking plates would leave amazing grill marks on your steaks, chicken, grilled vegetables, shrimp, fish, grilled potatoes, and more. These grill marks don’t just look good but depending on how you have seasoned your food, you can bring out different flavors.
If you are looking for inspiration on how to use a Griddler, the included instruction manual comes with a recipe book. These recipes range from quick and simple to gourmet. Whether you are in the mood for a late-night grilled cheese sandwich or are ready to grill up some chipotle shrimp with lemon pepper asparagus, this unit can come in really handy at a reasonable price point.
Conclusion
Buying anything for the kitchen can seem like a daunting task with all of the options out there. Fortunately, there are a lot of companies that are making functional and innovative products that make life a bit easier. If you are currently on the market for a multi-functional griddle, we hope that this review provided you with the information you were looking for and that you enjoyed reading it.
Guidance Videos
Here are a couple of videos showing how this machine works to give you a better understanding of it!
