Shopping for a Cuisinart Griddler? You’re looking for a great way to cook up your favorite foods without having to use an outdoor grill, but you’re not sure which Griddler is right for you.
The Cuisinart Griddler 8NPC and the GR-4N are both amazing griddles that fit modern kitchens, but they have different features that might make one better for your needs than the other. Cuisinart Griddler 8NPC and GR-4N are two of the best griddles on the market. They both offer different features that make them stand out from one another. The Cuisinart Griddler is an electric grill, panini press, full contact grill, and half contact grill all in one. It has a non-stick coating with dishwasher-safe parts which makes it easy to clean up after cooking. The GR-4N is also an electric grill but it doesn’t have as many features as the Cuisinart Griddler does.
The Cuisinart Griddler 8NPC is a grill, griddle, and panini press that lets you have it all. With the GR-4N, you only get the grill function. It’s an excellent choice if you don’t need to cook more than one type of food at a time or want to save some money by not buying two appliances.
Let’s take a closer look at these two fantastic Cuisinart Griddlers and see which one would be best for you.
Contents
Cuisinart GR-4N Overview
- Removable, nonstick 11" x 9" grill and griddle plates
- Dimensions: 13.50" x 11.50" x 7.12" (L x W x H)
- All removable parts are dishwasher safe
- Two adjustable temperature controls with indicator lights
- Selector knob with "power on" indicator light
The Cuisinart GR-4N is a versatile grill, griddle, and panini press made with sturdy construction that can cook anything from pancakes to steaks with its five cooking options. Made with brushed stainless steel housing, it also has dual temperature controls so you don’t have to worry about burning your food with this indoor grill. With one set of reversible nonstick cooking plates for easy clean-up, this appliance is an investment worth making.
Standard benefits:
– Cooking versatility
– Dual-zone temperature control for precision cooking
– Removable and reversible 11″ x 9″ dishwasher-safe nonstick cooking plates
– Settings range from Warm to Sear
Emotional benefits:
– No more burnt food!
GR-4N Cooking Modes
- Contact Grill – The GR-4N Contact Grill can do more than just make pancakes and eggs. It is a versatile appliance that is perfect for when you want to cook something quickly or want a healthy method of grilling. The contact grill function cooks food evenly on both sides at the same time.
- Panini Press – The Panini Press on the Cuisinart GR-4N is a great feature that can be used to grill sandwiches, bread, and quesadillas. It’s perfect for making savory or sweet sandwiches for any meal. When the Griddler is used as a Panini Press, the grill side of the plates is recommended. You can apply light pressure to the sturdy Panini-style handle to press and heat the sandwich to your liking.
- Full Grill – The Full Grill option is a great option for cooking burgers, steak, poultry, fish, and vegetables. It offers double the surface area for grilling and has the option of cooking different types of foods on separate plates without combining their flavors or cooking large amounts of the same type of food.
- Full Griddle – With the Griddler’s cover open, it can be used as a flat surface to cook food like pancakes, eggs, French toast, hash browns, and breakfast meats.
- Half Grill/Half Griddle – The Half Grill and Half Griddle cooking option on the Griddler is great for cooking full meals at the same time.
Cooking Plates/Cooking Surfaces
The two cooking plates on the GR-4N are nonstick, removable, and reversible.
Grill plates side – perfect for grilling steak, burgers, chicken, and vegetables. The grate features ridges (perfect grill marks) that allow the juices and flavors to drip down, keeping your food moist and delicious.
Griddle plates side – is great for pancakes, eggs, bacon, and seared scallops. It has a smooth surface that cooks food evenly without sticking.
Cleaning the GR-4N
The drip tray is a helpful feature that collects grease as you cook. This is a great feature for those who are looking to cook healthy meals, as it helps to prevent the grease from building up and contaminating your food. The drip tray is also easy to store, as it folds up compactly.
The dishwasher-safe plates are removable and reversible, making it easy to cook with the Griddler. The included scraping tool (also okay for the dishwasher) makes for easy cleaning!
Check out the full owner’s manual.
Making Waffles with the GR-4N
Unfortunately, the Cuisinart GR-4N does not include waffle plates, but you may buy additional waffle plates that are compatible with the GR-4N model to cook waffles.
Cuisinart GR-WAFP Griddler Waffle Plates
The Waffle Plates for the Cuisinart GR-WAFP Griddler are a wonderful way to cook waffles on your Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler. The plates are nonstick and easy to remove, and they’re also dishwasher-safe for convenient cleanup.
- This item does not come with a clip and screw. It is only the plates.
- Bakes 4 deep-pocketed, 3/4-inch thick Belgian waffles
- Nonstick baking plates for easy release of waffles
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
- Recipe book included
You can also get the GR-4N 5-in-1 with Waffle Plates Bundle:
- Griddler is brushed stainless-steel housing; sturdy panini-style handle; floating cover to adjust to thickness of food
- Nonstick baking plates for easy release of waffles
- Removable and reversible nonstick cooking plates drain grease for healthy cooking; integrated drip tray
- Waffle plates bakes 4 deep pocketed, 3/4-inch thick Belgian waffles
Cuisinart GRID-8NPC Overview
- 5-in-1 countertop unit works as a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, and half grill/half griddle
- Removable & reversible nonstick cooking plates drain grease for healthy cooking
- Integrated drip tray collects grease and is easy to store
- Sturdy panini-style handle with hinged floating cover adjusts to the thickness of food
- Selector knob to choose grill or griddle function
- Adjustable temperature controls for grill or griddle
- Red/green indicator lights for easy operation
- Brushed stainless steel housing that stays cool to the touch
The scraping tool and cooking plates are both dishwashers safe for easy cleanup
The Cuisinart GRID-8NPC is a countertop 5-in-1 unit that offers a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, and half grill/half griddle functionality. It comes with removable and reversible nonstick cooking plates that drain grease into for healthy cooking, an integrated drip tray for easy storage and cleaning, and adjustable cooking temperature controls for the grill or griddle function. The stylish brushed stainless-steel housing stays cool to the touch and has a hinged floating cover that adjusts to various food thicknesses.
Standard benefits:
– You can grill, panini press, and cook as well as a full range of griddle options.
– It’s easy to clean with dishwasher-safe cooking plates.
– Comes with a grease tray to collect and drain grease.
Emotional benefits:
– Save time on food prep by doing it all at once.
– The sleek design ensures you’ll have an attractive kitchen appliance that will last for years to come.
8NPC Cooking Modes
Like the GR-4N, the 8NPC has the same 5 cooking functions:
- Contact Grill – The contact grill is a function of the Griddler Gourmet that allows you to cook burgers, boneless pieces of meat, thin cuts of meat, and vegetables quickly. The contact grill cooks food evenly because both sides of the food are grilled at the same time.
- Panini Press – The panini press can be used to grill sandwiches, bread, and quesadillas. It is important to use fresh-baked bread for the best-tasting panini.
- Full Grill – The full grill is a cooking method that uses the Griddler Gourmet with the cover lying flat, creating a double, flat cooking surface. This position allows for grilling burgers, steak, poultry, fish, and vegetables. The full grill offers a versatile cooking method with double the surface area (200 square inches) for grilling. It accommodates different cuts of meat with varying thicknesses, allowing you to cook each piece to your liking.
- Full Griddle – The full griddle function on the Griddler Gourmet allows for two flat surfaces that can be used to cook pancakes, eggs, French toast, hash browns, and breakfast meats. When using this function, the griddle side of the plates should be used. This is a great way to cook breakfast for a large family or group.
- Half Grill/Half Griddle – The Half Grill/Half Griddle function of the Griddler Gourmet® allows you to cook two different items at the same time. You can use it as a Half Grill or Half Griddle, depending on what you are cooking.
Cooking Plates
The 8NPC also has nonstick, dishwasher-safe, reversible, and removable cooking plates with similar functions as the GR-4N. However, on the 8NPC, you’ll need to use the release button to remove and insert the cooking plates.
Making Waffles with the GRID-8NPC
Just like the GR-4N, you’ll have to buy waffle plates separately that fit the 8NPC Griddler.
Cuisinart GR-WAFP Griddler Waffle Plates
The GR-WAFP is also compatible with the GRID-8N series for Griddlers.
- This item does not come with a clip and screw. It is only the plates.
- Bakes 4 deep-pocketed, 3/4-inch thick Belgian waffles
- Nonstick baking plates for easy release of waffles
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
- Recipe book included
Sear Function
Within the Grill or Panini press mode, you can adjust the temperature from Warm to Sear. It takes about 4-5 minutes to sear a steak to medium.
GRID-8NPC vs GR-4N Side by Side Comparison
Let’s look at these Cuisinart-brand Griddlers side-by-side and see which is best for indoor grilling:
Video Comparison: Cuisinart Griddler 8NPC vs. GR-4N
Conclusion
Both the Cuisinart GR-4N and 8NPC offer a wide range of cooking abilities in one appliance, which is beneficial for those who want to cook different types of foods. They both have dishwasher-safe, nonstick, reversible, and removable cooking plates with 5 cooking modes. However, the GR-4N seems to be a much more updated and modern Griddler compared to the GRID-8NPC as the GR-4N doesn’t require a release button to insert/remove a cooking plate.
You love to cook, but you don’t have enough time to do everything.
Who has time to slave over a hot stove for hours when you can get the same great results in a fraction of the time?
The Cuisinart GR-4N Griddler is the answer. This amazing appliance has 5 cooking functions, including a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, and half grill/half griddle. It also has dishwasher-safe cooking plates and an adjustable hinge that allows for thick or thin foods. Plus, it comes with a grease tray to collect and drain grease. With this one appliance, you can grill, panini press, and cook as you like. The possibilities are endless with the Cuisinart GR-4N Griddler! Start cooking now!
Which do you think is better? Let us know in the comments below.
FAQ
What’s the difference between grill and griddle Cuisinart?
The grill mode uses the top cooking plate, which is flat to grill meat, seafood, or vegetables. When using this function, keep the lid closed during grilling. The griddle mode uses both plates so they are flat to use for pancakes eggs French toast hash browns breakfast meats etc…
Can Cuisinart Griddler plates go in the dishwasher?
Yes, the cooking plates are dishwasher safe.
What can you cook on a Cuisinart Griddler?
You can grill, panini press, and cook as you like with this one appliance, so the possibilities are endless. This includes (but is not limited to): pancakes, steaks, burgers, grilled cheese, and much much more.
Does the GR-4N or 8NPC come with an electronic LCD display?
Instead of a digital display control panel, both these kitchen appliances come with adjustable knobs to control the preset temperature per function.
