Cuisinart Griddler GR-4NNAS: A Panini Press That Opens Flat

Breakfast can call for a spread of pancakes, while lunch needs hot plates around a filled sandwich. The Cuisinart Griddler GR-4NNAS changes between those arrangements using the same pair of removable plates. Close the lid to press a sandwich; release the hinge and lay it flat to cook across both surfaces.

The attraction is having both forms available in one appliance. Think about how often you would use the open griddle as well as the press. That second job gives the GR-4NNAS more reason to occupy a place on the counter.

Close the lid on a layered sandwich

The floating cover lowers a heated plate onto the sandwich while the bottom plate heats the other side. Its hinge adjusts to the stack's thickness. For a tomato-and-mozzarella sandwich, you can apply light pressure at the handle to compress the bread and filling, following Cuisinart's instructions.

Choose the ridged faces for the traditional panini pattern, or use the smooth faces when that better suits the sandwich. Both surfaces are built into the supplied pair of plates, ready to select before heating.

Keep sandwiches in the same batch a consistent thickness. Cuisinart specifies this so the cover can close evenly across them. A single floating lid still has to rest on the food you put beneath it, so piling one sandwich much higher than its neighbor works against the arrangement.

Let breakfast spread across two plates

With the machine cool, use the hinge release to open it flat, then fit both plates with their smooth sides facing up before heating. The upper plate becomes a second upward-facing cooking surface. That gives pancakes or French toast room to spread across both plates, with access from above for turning them.

You can also fit one ridged face and one smooth face for a mixed meal. The change is in the surfaces available for the food: perhaps a smooth area for eggs beside a ridged area for another part of breakfast. Plan each food's cooking time separately.

Open cooking needs counter space around the extended machine and room to work a spatula. Cuisinart's instructions prohibit operating it under a wall cabinet, so check the intended spot as well as storage space. The cover and metal handle arms get hot; use the black grip, and an oven mitt when adjusting the cover.

Choose the cooking mode before the heat

The three front knobs have distinct jobs. The center selector chooses Griddle or Grill/Panini. You then use the corresponding temperature dial: 200°F to 425°F for griddle cooking, or the Warm-to-Sear scale for grilling and pressing.

The two outer dials are alternative controls for the selected mode, rather than separate thermostats for the two plates. Even with one ridged face and one smooth face installed, you choose one control. Pick foods that suit a shared setting and adjust their timing or cook them in batches.

The ready light indicates when the selected operating temperature has been reached. It does not tell you whether the filling or meat is cooked. This U.S. version is specified for 120-volt outlets.

Lift out the surfaces that need washing

The current GR-4NNAS has ceramic nonstick cooking plates. Their release buttons let you remove the parts that touched the food, making it easier to deal with crumbs and cooked-on residue away from the electrical housing.

After cooking, turn the selector off and unplug the machine. Let it cool completely; Cuisinart calls for at least 30 minutes before handling or cleaning. The plates, drip tray and supplied scraping tool can go in the dishwasher. Wipe the housing, cover and knobs separately with a cloth.

Use wooden or heatproof plastic utensils on the plates, and avoid abrasive pads. The included plastic scraper is for cooled surfaces. Waffle plates are a separate purchase.

For someone who enjoys pressed sandwiches but puts off cleaning around fixed cooking plates, removability is a useful reason to choose this model. Once cool, the food-contact plates can be washed separately and fitted back with either their ridged or smooth faces ready for the next meal.