- Are the cooking plates interchangeable?
- Can I use a grill plate with a griddle plate?
- How do you insert the cooking plates?
- How do you adjust the Griddler® to the flat position?
- When I adjust the Griddler® to the flat position the cover doesn't lay perfectly flat but rests at an angle. What am I doing wrong?
- Do the plates need to be seasoned before cooking?
- The plates smoke a bit when I turn the Griddler® on and there is a strange smell. Is that normal?
- The green indicator light turns off and on while cooking. Is this normal?
- In the flat position, what side of the Griddler® should I use for cooking?
- Can I use the cleaning scraper while I am cooking on the Griddler®?
- What is the thickest piece of food that I can cook on the Griddler® when using it as a contact grill or Panini press?
- When should I use the grill plates and when should I use the griddle plates for cooking?
- What parts of the Griddler® are dishwasher-safe?
- How do you clean the exterior of the Griddler®?
- What are the temperature ranges for the Grill/Panini control dial?
- What is the wattage of the Griddler®?
- How large is the cooking surface of the Griddler®?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are the cooking plates interchangeable?
No, the plates are not interchangeable. The cooking plate marked "lower" must be attached to the lower housing and the cooking plate marked "upper" must be attached to the upper housing.
2. Can I use a grill plate with a griddle plate?
You can use a grill plate and a griddle plate together, but the lower plate must be attached to the lower housing and the upper plate must be attached to the upper housing.
3. How do you insert the cooking plates?
Adjust the Griddler® to the flat position before inserting the plates. Each plate is designed to fit in either the upper housing or the lower housing of the Griddler®. The word "lower" or "upper" is embossed into each grill or griddle plate to let you know where to attach the plate. Pick up the lower grill/griddle plate with the cutouts for the heating element facing down. If you are standing in front of the Griddler® the drip spout should be at the forward left-hand corner of the plate. Locate the metal brackets at the center of the housing. Tilt the back end of the plate and line up the cutouts at the back of the plate with the metal brackets. Slide the plate underneath the brackets and push down the front end of the plate. It will snap into place.
Make sure you attach the matching grill/griddle plate to the upper housing. If standing in front of the Griddler® the drip spout will be at the far right-hand corner of the upper plate. Insert the upper plate as you did the lower plate.
4. How do you adjust the Griddler® to the flat position?
Start with the Griddler® in the closed position. Locate the black hinge lock release switch on the right arm. Slide the lever toward you and hold there while lifting the handle up and back until the Griddler® is in the flat position.
If you begin in the open position, with the cover at a 100-110° angle with the base, pull the handle toward you just slightly and lift the hinge release switch. Push the handle back until the Griddler® is in the flat position. Pulling the handle forward slightly before lifting the hinge release switch will take some of the pressure off of the hinge and you will be able to adjust the Griddler® more easily.
5. When I adjust the Griddler® to the flat position the cover doesn't lay perfectly flat but rests at an angle. What am I doing wrong?
If the cover of the Griddler® is tilted too much when opening the unit, the cover will stay at that angle and will not lay flat. If necessary you may need to adjust the cover slightly when laying it in the flat position. The easiest way to manage this is to make sure that the cover is aligned with the handle as much as possible when opening the unit and it will automatically lay flat.
If you need to adjust the cover at any time during or after cooking, make sure that you use an oven mitt to prevent burning.
6. Do the plates need to be seasoned before cooking?
The plates have been treated with a special nonstick coating. It is not necessary to apply cooking spray or oil unless so desired. Clean all plates before cooking with them for the first time.
7. The plates smoke a bit when I turn the Griddler® on and there is a strange smell. Is that normal?
The first time you use the Griddler® it may have a slight odor and smoke a bit. This is normal and common to appliances with a nonstick coating.
8. The green indicator light turns off and on while cooking. Is this normal?
Yes, this is normal. When you first turn on the Griddler® and select the desired cooking temperature, the green light will not be on. When the Griddler® reached the selected temperature, the green light will turn on to signal that the unit is hot enough and you can begin cooking. During cooking the green indicator light will continue to turn on and off as the thermostat regulates the temperature.
9. In the flat position, what side of the Griddler® should I use for cooking?
We recommend using the lower plate when using only one side of the Griddler in the flat position. The heat originates from bottom of the unit and will heat up quicker than the upper plate.
10. Can I use the cleaning scraper while I am cooking on the Griddler®?
No. The cleaning scraper should only be used after cooking when the Griddler® has cooled down. If the scraper is used on the plates while cooking, the heat will melt the plastic over time. Use heat-proof plastic utensils while cooking with the Griddler®. We do not recommend metal utensils as they can scratch the nonstick coating.
11. What is the thickest piece of food that I can cook on the Griddler® when using it as a contact grill or Panini press?
Depending upon how much food your are cooking at once you can cook pieces of meat or sandwiches that up are up to 3 inches thick. Notice that as you open the Griddler®, with the upper and lower plates parallel to one another, the more distance that you put between the plates decreases the amount of space you have to cook your food using both the upper and lower plates. Also try to find pieces of food that have an even thickness throughout so that the food is cooked evenly on all sides.
12. When should I use the grill plates and when should I use the griddle plates for cooking?
Choosing what plates to use for cooking is really your preference. Cuisinart recommends using the grill plates for meat, poultry, seafood and vegetables although you can also cook these items on the griddle plates. We recommend cooking most breakfast items, such as eggs, pancakes, French toast, bacon and hash browns on the griddle plates. Traditional Panini sandwiches have the grill marks in the bread so we recommend using the grill plates for Panini, although for some sandwiches, such as Cuban, we recommend using the griddle plates. There are recipes for cooking food on both the grill plates and griddle plates in the open and flat positions in the Griddler® instruction manual.
13. What parts of the Griddler® are dishwasher-safe?
All removable parts of the Griddler® can go in the dishwasher for cleaning. This includes the grill plates, griddle plates, drip cups and cleaning scraper. You may also clean them by hand in the sink. The base should never be submerged in water.
14. How do you clean the exterior of the Griddler®?
Make sure the Griddler® has been turned off and unplugged before handling. Allow the unit to cool down for at least 30 minutes before cleaning.
The housing base, cover and control knobs can be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth. For tough stains, dampen cloth. Never use an abrasive cleaner or harsh pad, as it will scratch the exterior.
15. What are the temperature ranges for the Grill/Panini control dial?
The warm setting on the Grill/Panini control is equal to 150°F and the sear setting is equal to 450°F.
16. What is the wattage of the Griddler®?
1500 watts
17. How large is the cooking surface of the Griddler®?
One cooking plate is approximately 11x9 inches or 99 square inches. In the flat position the grill is 11x18 inches or 198 square inches.