In-depth review
Cuisinart Griddler 5-in-1 Review (2026)
Five functions, 240 square inches, 1800 watts: the Cuisinart Griddler 5-in-1 is the versatility king. Full review with the trade-offs.
Cuisinart Griddler 5-in-1
Five machines in one footprint.
Our verdict
The Cuisinart Griddler 5-in-1 is the best panini press for cooks who want one machine to do the work of three. Contact grill, panini press, full griddle, full grill, and split mode across 240 square inches, powered by 1800 watts, with reversible dishwasher-safe plates: the spec sheet is unmatched here. The trade-offs are size and specialization. It is the largest, heaviest machine in the group, with more parts to clean and store, and its press mode, while very good, is not quite as refined as the Breville's dedicated geometry. If your kitchen does many jobs, this is the pick. If it does one job, buy the specialist.
What we like
- Five functions: contact grill, panini press, full griddle, full grill, half grill/half griddle
- 240 square inches of cooking surface, the largest here
- Reversible dishwasher-safe plates swap between grill and griddle
- 1800 watts for strong searing heat
What to watch out for
- Larger and heavier than any dedicated press
- More parts to wash and store than a single-purpose machine
- Jack of all trades: the press function is very good, not quite Breville-precise
Who it is for
Multi-tasking cooks who want grill, griddle, and press in one machine.
Design and build
The Griddler opens flat like a book: both plates lie open for full grill or full griddle mode, or close for contact grilling and pressing. The plates are reversible, grill ribs on one side, smooth griddle on the other, and rated dishwasher-safe. At 240 square inches it is the biggest cooking surface here by a wide margin, and at 1800 watts it is also the most powerful. The floating hinge adjusts to food thickness in press mode. The cost of all this capability is bulk: it is heavy, wide, and its plates and drip tray need real storage.
Cooking performance
Published reviews are consistently positive across modes, which is rare for multi-cookers. The 1800 watts give the grill modes genuine searing ability, not the pale steaming that underpowered combos produce. The full griddle mode handles pancakes and bacon for a crowd on 240 square inches. Press mode benefits from the floating hinge and even heating, producing crisp, well-melted sandwiches, though reviewers note the Breville's dedicated plate geometry and height control edge it out on pressing finesse. Temperature control is a dial per plate zone in split mode, simple and effective.
How it stacks up
Against the Breville Panini Duo, the Griddler wins on versatility by a landslide: five functions versus one, 240 square inches versus two sandwiches, 1800 versus 1500 watts. The Breville wins on pressing refinement, the height adjustment and plate geometry produce the more even sandwich. Against the Ovente Electric Grill, the Griddler is simply more of everything: more power, more surface, more functions, dishwasher-safe plates, at a higher price and footprint. The Ovente is the budget compact; the Griddler is the do-everything workhorse.
Who should buy it
Buy it if your kitchen is the kind where one machine earning its counter space matters: you grill, griddle, and press in the same week. Skip it if you only make panini, the Breville does that job better in less space. Skip it if storage is tight: the plates and the unit itself need a real home.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Five cooking modes in one appliance
- Removable, dishwasher-safe plates
- Even heating for most foods
Common complaints
- Top plate may run cooler than the bottom
- Nonstick can wear over time
- Grease drip tray is small
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Key specifications
- Functions
- 5: contact grill, panini press, full griddle, full grill, split
- Cooking surface
- 240 square inches
- Wattage
- 1800
- Plates
- Reversible, dishwasher-safe, nonstick
- Hinge
- Floating, adjusts to food thickness
Also consider
Breville Panini Duo
The dedicated press that does one job brilliantly.
- Wattage: 1500
- Plates: Flat bottom, ribbed top, nonstick
Ovente Electric Indoor Grill
The budget grill that moonlights as a press.
- Function: Electric indoor grill with press hinge
- Plates: Nonstick
Research-based assessment. ThePickLedger has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
How do the five modes work?
Contact grill and panini press use the closed position with the top plate down. Full grill and full griddle open the unit flat to 1800 watts across 240 square inches. Split mode runs one plate as grill and the other as griddle. You flip the reversible plates to switch surfaces.
Is it hard to clean?
The plates are the main job: they are dishwasher-safe, which helps, but hand washing extends the nonstick life. The drip tray catches runoff in grill modes. It is more cleanup than a dedicated press, which is the price of versatility.
Can it really replace a grill pan and griddle?
For most home cooking, yes. The 1800 watts sear properly, and 240 square inches fit a real batch. It will not replace a charcoal grill's flavor or a restaurant flat-top's output, but it replaces the pans for weeknight cooking.