Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press Review
If you enjoy eating sandwiches, you will love the versatility that you get with a sandwich press like the Cuisinart GR-1. It simply makes any sandwich that you choose to make taste better. With its brushed stainless steel and sturdy-looking housing, the Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press stands out as the best in the market.
The Cuisinart GR-1 can serve as a:
- Full-contact grill
- Full griddle
- Panini press
- Half grill
- Half griddle
Key features of the Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press
Adjustable floating hinge
One of the features that people like most about this unit is that the top plate is on a floating hinge. What this means is that the appliance will adjust to the height of the sandwich that you place in it.
The top part is quite heavy, so it presses down on your sandwich to flatten it as well as warm your filling. It also ensures that you will get authentic cafe grill marks on your panini or hot toasted sandwich.
The controls are straightforward and easy to understand
This appliance is operated with just three knobs, all at the front side of the panel. The first knob in the center initiates the cooking mode while the left and right knobs are utilized for setting the temperature.
There are two ways to set the heat: by degrees or by preset values like low, medium and high. Also, there is a color lightning system built into the center knob. It is red when the Cuisinart grill is heating up and turns green when the desired temperature is reached and it is time to cook.
How to grill chicken on a panini maker
Ease of use
The griddle is very easy to use because of its removable, reversible nonstick cooking plates. The grease drains easily because of the non-stick surface, so this makes for healthy cooking.
The controls are pretty big, so they are simple to use and the indicator lights are easy to see. Everything on this Panini press is dishwasher safe. This includes the plates and scrapper.
Also, this appliance is really simple to use for kids. Just show your kids how to use the handle to push down on the sandwich and how to set the timer. Kids like pushing down and watching the steam for some reason. A perfect sandwich for kids to make is a ham and cheese sandwich. They can do their thing without disturbing you.
Allows cooking as on a stove
As a full contact grill, this Cuisinart Griddler allows you to cook everything as you could on a stove. This includes an array of meats such as burgers, salmon, chicken, steaks. You can cook your food quickly as you are cooking both sides at the same time.
Since you can use the handle to adjust your food to the desired thickness, you can cook any type of food, from a thin vegetable to a thick piece of meat such as a steak.
Enables cooking of all types of sandwiches
You can use the Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press to cook any type of sandwich. You can make whatever you desire as long as you can fit your fixings on to a piece of bread and fit it in the press. You can also make quesadillas. The types of bread that work best with this machine are focaccia, michetta and thick slices of famous Italian bread.
Cleaning the Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press
The Cuisinart GR-1 is also really easy to clean if you only use it for making hot sandwiches. Most of the time, you will only have to wipe off some bread crumbs, although sometimes you may find that some cheese leaks out of your sandwich.
The worst case scenario might be that some tomato juice squirts out, in which case you would have to give it a wipe with a damp cloth.
One thing to remember about cleaning the Cuisinart GR-1 Sandwich Press is that you must let it cool for at least 30 minutes before you clean it. This is because it is a potential danger to you and it is also possible to damage the non-stick coating if you try and clean it while it is still hot.