Cuisinart GR-11P1 Griddler Indoor Grill & Panini Press Review (2026)

Who this multi-function press is for

The Griddler suits anyone who wants one countertop appliance to cover panini pressing, contact grilling and open griddle cooking instead of buying three separate machines. Its removable plates and hinge that lets the top lid open fully flat mean it can go from a closed sandwich press to a full double-sided griddle surface for pancakes or a large grilled cheese batch. This makes it a good fit for households that actually cook a variety of foods on a contact appliance, not just paninis, bacon, burgers, grilled vegetables and pancakes are all realistic uses once the plates are open flat. Anyone who only ever makes the occasional panini and has limited storage space would be better served by a smaller, single purpose sandwich press instead.

Plates, design and cooking modes

The unit ships with nonstick, removable cooking plates measuring about 10 and a quarter by 6 and a half inches each, and the hinge design allows the top lid to open completely flat, doubling the usable cooking surface for full griddle use rather than staying locked in a closed press position. A preset temperature is built in and optimized for grilling, and power-on and ready-to-cook indicator lights let you know when the plates have reached cooking temperature. Adjustable front feet help direct grease runoff away from food during grilling. At about 6 inches tall and 7 pounds, it is a countertop appliance meant to live out on the counter or in a lower cabinet rather than a top shelf.

Cleaning and everyday cooking

The nonstick plates are removable and dishwasher safe, which is a meaningful convenience advantage over presses with fixed plates that require careful hand scrubbing around a hinge. Because the plates lift out, switching between panini mode and full flat griddle mode, or simply cleaning up after a greasy breakfast, is more straightforward than with single-configuration presses. The tradeoff for all of this flexibility is size, a three-in-one Griddler with removable plates takes up more counter and storage space than a compact two-slice panini maker built for one job. Cuisinart notes this specific model, the GR-11P1, has since been discontinued by the manufacturer, so buyers should confirm current stock and replacement parts availability before purchasing.

How it compares with simpler panini presses

Within the same panini press roundup, this Griddler ranks first out of eleven, ahead of the Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo and the Dash Compact Panini Press, both of which are simpler, smaller nonstick sandwich makers built for panini duty specifically rather than a flat griddle mode. Breville and Dash both take up less counter space and cost less, a real advantage for anyone who only makes sandwiches, but neither opens fully flat into a griddle the way the Cuisinart does. The Griddler's top ranking in this list reflects that added versatility and Cuisinart's generally sturdier build quality, not necessarily a lower price or smaller footprint.

Verdict

Pick the Cuisinart GR-11P1 Griddler if you want one appliance that genuinely handles panini pressing, contact grilling and open griddle cooking, and you have the counter or storage space for a larger unit. It earns our score of 8.6 out of 10, the top score in its own roundup, for delivering on that versatility with dishwasher safe plates. If you only ever make sandwiches and want the smallest, cheapest option, the Breville or Dash panini presses in the same list are worth a look instead. Since this exact model has been discontinued, confirm current availability and consider Cuisinart's current Griddler lineup if this one is out of stock.

Frequently asked questions