Cuisinart Waffle & Pancake Maker, Electric grill, even cooking, Non-stick Removable, interchangeable plates, Dishwasher safe, 210°C, Frosted Pearl

So, I have had a previous model Cuisinart sandwich maker for something over a dozen years (Model GRSM1U).It had its flaws - the clip to lock the plates was plastic and had to be "modified" to work after a few years and the temperature control was eventually unpredictable - but it kept working, was easy to clean and made excellent toasties.So, I finally accepted it was time to replace it and found this one.So, initial impressions (3 weeks of use so far) are as follows:It is big and heavy!I do not view this as a bad thing, but it does weigh a fair bit. Apparently it is 5.4kg (or 12lbs to those of a certain age).This weight is reflected in the apparent build quality. It looks solid and the design appears well thought out.It does an excellent job of sealing sandwiches, if you use the right type of bread.I have found bloomer slices to be outstanding at adding lots of filling and keeping it as filling!The locking mechanism when doing a toastie is different.No click to tell you it is sealed, you just apply steady pressure on the handle (use both hands, one each side) and then try and lift the lid.Once you have applied enough it won't move.I read somewhere that someone complained it broke very soon after purchase...I can only guess they tried the (unwise) approach of slam down and push hard!Honestly, just apply steady pressure and it locks. It does not need anything violent.Unlocking is done by a simply press mechanism in the middle of the handle. Hopefully it will last.Temperature control is a dial on the front, as with my old one.To be honest I just use it on maximum (for toasties) so I can't comment on the variations in temperature.It comes with the plates for standard toasties and grill plates for...grilling!I have tried the grill plates to do Paninis and they were excellent. I will try it for grilling other things in due course.The plates are easily removable for cleaning (just let it cool down after use!) with push releases on the sides.There are a few reviews giving one star claiming it arrived broken (so maybe contact Amazon & get a replacement rather than giving a one star review??) or broke after a few weeks use.Not sure what they are doing with them, but I suspect a lack of thought when using.Overall, I am very impressed, but I will add updates as time passes to measure the longevity. However, based on my experience with the old one, I suspect it will last (I know how to look after things).Thanks for reading and I hope you found the review useful.

I originally wanted a toastie maker with removable plates to make washing easier. I can't stand the ones with cracks where the cheese melts into the machine. The ones with removable plates do seem to be more expensive. I decided to spend a lot more and buy this on offer due to it also serving as a grill for grilling healthy meals and also bring able to make panini's and various other food. It is of good build quality. It is quite heavy. I wouldn't say it's compact like the description says but obviously serves as two machines, saving space. The handle sticks out a lot and needs clearance at the back the way the mechanism works. I've made a few toasties so far and they seal perfectly. It's easy to wash and keep clean due to the plates removing and being non stick. Used the grill twice for grilled veggies, to do them all at once they will need to be cut to same thickness otherwise a quick turn of the thinner ones is needed. I have also done two paninis, which came out perfect. I love this machine!

I had a previous CuisineArt gril that lasted 12 years. Bought this as a replacement - faulty, kept on shorting out and triggered that consumer board. Returned.

Makes excellent toasties, perfect every time, in just 5 minutes.On my particular unit however, the catches at either side are a bit rickety and sit right at the edge which means that when first fastening, due to the compression of the ingredients, the catch at one side will pop off. It takes a bit of fiddling and persuasion to get the catch to stay in place. Once in place, its fine.I haven't tried to fix/tighten it, or contact support, as its only a minor annoyance.

This is the best panini maker and grill in my opinion - I have bought 2 of them. Easy to clean and reliable

Easy to use. Great amount of griddle/grill space. Easy to clean because the plates are removable

I bought this in July 2024, with high hopes for delicious, easy-to-make sandwiches. The features sounded fantastic, especially the non-stick removable plates and the promise of a health-conscious grill that required less oil. Plus, the sleek midnight grey color was a nice touch!However, I quickly ran into some bumps with this product. First off, the size was a bit of a letdown for my wife. We were hoping for something more compact that could easily fit on our countertop without taking over the kitchen. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite meet our expectations in that department.When it came to making sandwiches, it wasn't as impressive as I'd hoped, either. The results were decent, but nothing that made us go “wow!” It felt like a bit of a struggle to get that perfect crisp and melt that you expect from a good sandwich maker or panini press.On a brighter note, I have to give a shout-out to Amazon’s customer service. They were absolutely fantastic when it came to processing our return. They made it super easy, and I had my refund in no time, which is always a relief when you're not satisfied with a purchase.In summary, while the Cuisinart Grill & Sandwich Maker has some appealing features, it didn’t quite deliver for us, especially regarding size and performance. If you’re looking for something more compact and reliable, you might want to keep searching. But if you do go for it, just know that the return process is smooth sailing if it doesn't work out!

I have had other waffle makers, but the reason I like this. Is that it has a thermostat, which makes all the difference