Cuisinart Griddler 3-in-1 Grill and Panini Press Review: Is the GR-11NAS Worth It?

If you cook for one to three people and want an indoor grill that is easy to wash, the GR-11NAS earns a spot on the counter. It has 3 ways to cook: contact grill, panini press, and a full open-flat grill. It runs at one preset temperature, so there is no dial to turn.

We judge a countertop grill by how it handles rushed breakfasts, after-school sandwiches, and quick family dinners. Then we look at how it fits in the cabinet and how much of it goes in the dishwasher afterward.

The numbers below come from the manufacturer and major retailers. Cuisinart publishes the plate size, but not a total cooking area, so we list the plates rather than guess at square inches.

Cuisinart Griddler Grill & Panini Press GR-11NAS specs

Model	GR-11NAS
Cooking modes	3 ways (contact grill, panini press, open-flat grill)
Plates	Two 10.25 x 6.5 inch ceramic nonstick plates, removable
Wattage	1500W
Temperature	Single preset, no adjustable dial
Dimensions	12.8 x 10.9 x 6 inches
Dishwasher-safe plates	Yes
Warranty	3-year limited

Check the current price before you buy.

Out of the box you get the base with its hinged floating lid, two removable plates, a removable drip tray, and a 30-inch cord. There is nothing to assemble beyond seating the plates, which takes a few seconds.

One quirk surprised us: there is no power switch. Plugging it in starts the grill, unplugging it turns it off, and the two indicator lights show its status.

Grilling burgers and steaks

Indoor grilling is where this machine is most pleasant. Beef, chicken, fish, and vegetables cook fast and leave essentially no cooking smell in the kitchen, which matters when the whole family is hungry and the windows are shut.

The hotter sear is a clear step up from a Foreman-style grill, and the grill marks look good. Steaks work well if they are no thicker than the lid can handle, and a thermometer beats guessing doneness from color.

Panini and pressed sandwiches

Here the GR-11NAS is more mixed. Two full sandwiches do not fit side by side; the plate is roughly the size of two bread slices, so a family of five has to cook in batches.

Thick fillings are the other limit. A tall, loaded panini or a thick roll keeps the lid from clamping down, because the lid adjusts to thickness only within a limited range.

Then there was the grilled cheese. We closed the lid on it, and the sandwich slid forward as the lid came down, because the surface is flat rather than slanted. We moved the bread slightly toward the rear of the plate, and from then on it stayed put while the lid slowly settled as the sandwich warmed.

Open-flat mode (double surface)

Open the lid all the way and it lies flat, giving you two plates side by side as one grill surface. Pancakes and bacon both cook evenly there, which makes it a handy way to cook for two at once, though the space is modest next to a full griddle.

Heat-up time and temperature control

The Ready-to-Cook light tells you when to start. We would rather wait for it than guess at a time, since starting early is what gives you pale sandwiches.

The single preset is built for grilling, so burgers and chicken suit it better than delicate eggs or thin pancakes. For adjustable heat you need the Griddler Five.

The GR-11NAS is compact. At 12.8 x 10.9 x 6 inches, it tucks into a cabinet or sits on a counter without taking over, and the 30-inch cord reaches most outlets without an extension.

Retailers list the weight at roughly 7 to 8 pounds, so a teenager can move it with one hand. The housing wipes clean and the ceramic nonstick plates feel solid in daily use.

For kid safety, the plates and lid get hot, and with no power switch an adult should unplug it when the meal is done. We would let an older kid make a grilled cheese here with supervision, and we would keep the little ones at arm's length.

One durability note: some units have the heating element fail within weeks, so durability can be a gamble. The 3-year limited warranty is a useful backstop.

Cleanup is easier because the plates and drip tray come out for washing, while the housing only needs wiping. For melted cheese or a sticky glaze, a short soak loosens it, and a soft sponge protects the coating better than anything abrasive.

The GR-11NAS is the entry model. The Griddler Five adds true temperature control and a full griddle mode, and the Elite adds an LCD display and a hotter sear.

If you cook pancakes and eggs often, the Griddler Five's extra cost is worth it.

Buy it if you want a compact indoor grill for burgers, chicken, bacon, and everyday grilled cheese, and you cook for one to three people. It also suits a small family kitchen where counter space is tight.

Skip it if you make tall, loaded paninis or need to cook for a crowd. In that case, look at the Griddler Five or Elite, or one of the alternatives below.

Hamilton Beach makes a 3-in-1 indoor grill and Breville makes a panini duo, and both are worth a look if you want a different price or footprint. We have not tested them for this review, so we will not compare them in detail.

Within the Cuisinart lineup, our Cuisinart Griddler panini and sandwich press review covers the press-style models, and our Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler review covers the adjustable-heat model. The Cuisinart Griddler Elite review covers the top end of the line, and which Cuisinart Griddler model fits your kitchen helps you choose. To compare it against countertop griddles in general, browse our electric griddles and skillets. Not sure how to run the modes? See how to use the Cuisinart Griddler's grill, griddle and panini modes.

Which step up makes sense depends on what frustrates you. If the fixed heat is the problem, the Griddler Five is the practical upgrade, since it adds a temperature range and griddle modes. If you want programmable control and a hotter 500F sear, the Elite is the top of the line, though we could not verify its price. For everyone else cooking small batches, the GR-11NAS at its lower price is the one we would put on the counter.