This is the 2nd generation model, I have the 1st at home and use it CONSTANTLY!I use it to grill meat (any kind), as a panini press (from fancy Cubanos to 5-minute grilled cheese for my four-year-old), as a quesadilla maker, and recently discovered its true hidden talent...bacon.Cooks it faster, crisper and leaner than any fry pan.The only negative is cleanup; the cooking surfaces aren't removable so you have to wash and rinse them without getting too much water near the electrical components on the bottom of the grill.NOT just a fancy Foreman.I had one of those and it doesn't compare.First and foremost the biggest difference is the floating hinge.Try grilling something thick on a Foreman and it'll cook the sides unevenly since it can't close around the whole steak.Also this gets much hotter (1500 watts).And finally the nonstick surface on this is very good in its durability (no nicks or marks after 3 years of heavy use) and its nonstick-edness.If you grill a sandwich with cheese and the cheese melts out the side, it will actually stay with the sandwich rather than stick to the grill!
Looks like this one is reconditioned and I bought mine new so I can't speak to the condition.But if mine broke today I'd drop the $180 for a new one in a heartbeat.
Pros:
1. Large surface area. You can cook a lot of food on this grill. This is also a con as I explain below.
2. This grill gets hot enough to sear meats. Some other grills (including George's) do not get hot enough to do this.
3. Non removable grill plates. This is both a pro and a con. Because they can't be removed, the plates also can't accidentally fall off. Other Breville grills have this problem.
4. Sturdy, quality build.
Cons:
1. It's a big grill. When I raise the top, it hits the bottom of my cabinets. Also, it takes up a lot of surface on the counter making it cumbersome to store and to cook with. This grill takes up a lot of space.
2. Non removable grill plates. This makes the plates more difficult to clean than removable ones. This also makes them impossible to replace.
3. Timer does not turn the grill off.
Bottom Line:
I believe that the major deciding factor on whether to buy this or not is the size of the grill. If you have the space, this grill will suit you fine. It cooks everything from from sandwiches to steaks beautifully. But if you have a small kitchen with limited counter space and storage area, you might want to consider something else.
Buy Breville XX800GRXL Factory-Reconditioned Die-Cast Indoor Barbeque and Grill, Stainless Now
Being greatly disappointed by the Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler, I searched for a quality replacement and found the Breville 800GRXL Die-Cast Indoor Barbeque and Grill.The Griddler and Breville 800GRXL can prepare the same foods, but are design differently.
The 1500 watt Breville 800GRXL heats up quickly and evenly.The griddle plate on the bottom and a grill/Panini plate on top are not removable.The grill/Panini plate swivels to accommodate thicker food, and when laid out flat angles to drain juices into the pull out dishwasher safe drip tray.The bottom plate has an adjustable tilt for draining as well.The temperature can be adjusted from 350 to 450 degrees, plus a convenient timer is included.
The stainless steel Breville 800GRXL is a bulky kitchen appliance compared to the Griddler.Measuring 14.5 x 19.25 inches, the 800GRXL takes up a lot of counter space.When opening the grill to lay flat, the bottom of our upper cabinets are in the way of doing so.I either try to use the grill on the bar area or pull it partway off the counter top and balance it while opening.The majority of our lower cabinets have a 10 inch wide opening, making storage an issue as well.We either lug the Breville 800GRXL to the pantry or leave it resting on the countertop.The Griddler by comparison weighs less and is compact, eliminating the problems related to laying flat.
As much as the Breville 800GRXL's size is a problem, it is an asset as well.I can easily make 6 Paninis at once, make pancakes while grilling ham or bacon, or grill burgers while toasting the buns and grilling onions.At first I was concerned with having fixed plates, swapping plates on the Griddler seemed like an advantage.However the larger cooking surface area and versatility of the fixed plates are far more advantageous when cooking.Removable plates also seemed to be a clear advantage for clean up, however the Breville 800GRXL typically requires a quick wipe down to clean pushing the debris into the drip tray.Additionally the temperature of the plates is far more consistent than the Griddler.
Considering the price of the Griddler, the Breville 800GRXL costs three times as much.Is it fair to compare the two appliances?I think it is, as they both attempt to provide the capabilities.The Griddler is more economical choice when purchasing, however in my case the Griddler didn't perform well and only lasted a little over year.Considering I've been using the Breville 800GRXL regularly since Dec 2006, the cost of use is comparable at this point, and undoubtedly will become the better economic choice.Unlike the Griddler, the Breville 800GRXL has been performed well and lasted much longer.I would highly recommend paying the extra and purchasing the Breville 800GRXL over the Griddler.
PROS:
Long lasting
Even temperature
Easy to clean
Versatile kitchen appliance
Stainless-steel body
CONS:
Heavy and bulky
The size doesn't work well with our kitchen cabinetsFirst, the advertisement says it has a 'nonstick aluminum cooking surface'.The instruction manual says it's a coating called quantanium.I purchased it for the (assumed less toxic) aluminum but it appears to be some kind of coating.It does clean unusually easily however.
The timer sounds a bell but doesn't shut off power.All that metal gets fairly hot.Can't move it as easily after use as my Hamilton Beach grill. The drip tray is of excellent quality but is 14 " long and so could be easier to handle and clean.
It does work properly. It doeshave extra features like the variable temp and the center pivoted top plate.
I bought this to replace a big old Foreman grill that was losing its antistick coating.This is not as big as that really big Foreman grill (which could cook eight burgers).This can cook six burgers.But the difference is in the juiciness!
The Breville gets much hotter, sears better, cooks quicker and produces much tastier burgers.Steaks, too.
Cleanup is as easy as the Foreman but there are more drips over the back edge to clean off the table.
Lost one star for capacity and drips.
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