Cuisinart Griddler Elite review: restaurant-quality paninis at home

A pressed grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with tomato slices and fresh basil is one of my all-time favourite lunches. But the difference between a grilled cheese cooked on an open-faced skillet or griddle and one pressed between two piping-hot cooking surfaces is not to be overlooked. Pressing your sandwich increases the surface area for browning and crispiness, which for me, is what a great panini is all about.

I recently started making my grilled sandwiches using the Cuisinart Griddler Elite, which does much more than make a mean grilled cheese, and I won’t be looking back. This well-designed countertop appliance is outfitted with smart bells and whistles that make it a highly versatile appliance for any kitchen. And yet, the Griddler is straightforward to use and clean.

If you’re wondering if the Cuisinart Griddler Elite is worth it, here’s what I learned while testing it, and what to consider before you buy.

Cuisnart Griddler Elite review: price and availability

The Cuisinart Griddler Elite costs $199.95 in the US directly through Cuisinart, but it’s often on sale on Amazon. A similar Griddle & Grill is available in the UK for around ‎£160, but it’s been discontinued by Cuisinart Australia. 

Cuisnart Griddler Elite review: Design and build quality

Cuisinart is known for producing durable, high-quality kitchen appliances, and the manufacturer did not skimp on the Griddler Elite. This countertop grill is heavy-duty (and plain heavy, it weighs 16.8 pounds) It’s made from durable brushed stainless steel, which gives it an elevated look and feel. My favourite feature is that the two cooking surfaces are reversible and nonstick, so you can mix and match between a smooth-top griddle and a ridged grill-style cooktop.

The cooking surfaces are embedded with heating elements that help them reach a searing-hot temperature quickly. They also maintain an even temperature for uniform cooking without any hot spots or cold zones to avoid. When you’re done, you can pop them directly into the dishwasher.

The machine has a clear, bright, and easy-to-operate LCD display where you dial in the temperature (from 200°F to 450°F) and set a timer (up to 1 hour). With dual-zone temperature control, you can dial each side of the griddle to a different temperature. This comes in handy if, for example, you’re searing burgers on one side and lightly toasting buns on the other, or crisping up bacon on one and flipping pancakes on the other.

The lid of the Griddler Elite can be set to hover just above the lower cooking surface if you want to get a crisp top crust or melt cheese without making direct contact with the hot surface. Or, you can lock the lid into position to apply pressure to a pressed sandwich. For the largest cooking surface, the lid hinges open to create a single flat 240-square-inch cooktop for searing or grilling indoors.

If your meat releases fat while cooking, don’t worry about making a mess. The rendered fat and juices run into a removable drip tray installed in the bottom of the machine, which is also dishwasher-safe.

Cuisnart Griddler Elite review: Performance

To put the Griddler to the test, I made grilled cheese sandwiches using the panini setting and cooked burgers and hot dogs on the open-faced grill-top surface. The heating elements took just a few minutes to reach temperature, and I never had issues with food sticking to the cooking plates, even without oil.

For my panini, I locked the griddle lid to press down on the sandwich, which gave it some nice darker brown indents from the grill surface ridges. My sandwich came out golden and crisp on the edges and gooey and melty in the center in about five minutes cooking at the maximum heat of 450°F.

For burgers, I cranked up the flat-top cooking surface to get a nice sear and let it preheat for about three minutes. The meat sizzled and browned up quickly, and the fat from the meat ran right off into the drip tray, which I popped into the dishwasher after dinner. To melt cheese on a few of my burgers, I moved them to the lower cooking surface and topped them with cheese. I folded the lid so it hovered just above my burgers and dialed up the heat to the maximum for searing, 500°F (the griddle will only stay at 500°F for two minutes). My cheese quickly bubbled up and melted, and dinner was served.

Cuisnart Griddler Elite review: Verdict

This is an impressively hard-working countertop cooker with versatility and power. The efficient heating, uniform cooking, and multiple configurations make it a handy appliance for indoor grilling, panini-making, big-batch breakfasts, and dozens of other culinary applications. The large surface area and dishwasher-safe cooktops also make this a great product for anyone who regularly cooks for a crowd. 

Cuisnart Griddler Elite review: Alternatives to consider

Cuisinart’s original Griddler is about half the price of the Elite model and has many of the same functions, including reversible cooking surfaces and a lay-flat option. It’s also smaller and lighter.

For more of an outdoor grilling experience, we love the electric Weber Lumin Compact grill. We also like the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker if you have outdoor space.