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The Cuisinart Griddler Elite is an 1800-watt countertop grill, griddle and panini press that gives you a big cooking surface, dual-zone temperature control and plates that go in the dishwasher. We judged it in our family kitchen, where seven hungry people, five kids reaching for the controls, and a busy cleanup routine put it to the test. It is one of the better options in our electric griddles and skillets coverage for a busy household.
The Elite suits families who want one appliance for breakfast, burgers and sandwiches. Its LCD, ceramic nonstick plates and easy cleanup are the upgrades, while heat control gets mixed marks.
Preheat takes about seven minutes, steaks cook evenly, and grilled cheese comes out well. The Elite excels at panini, and its removable plates are easy to wash. It costs more than the Deluxe for features that matter mostly if you like a digital display.
Note. Retailers list this unit as GR-300WSP1, and the current stainless version is sold as GR-300NAS. Both are the same Elite line, so shop by either number.
We score a griddle on the things a crowded family kitchen feels every day: how much food fits on the plates, how evenly it heats, how loud and hot it is around kids, and how long cleanup takes. A machine that cooks well but fights you at the sink loses points with us.
Heating performance and cleanup carry the most weight, followed by panini results, counter space, and price compared with cheaper Griddlers.
| Wattage | 1800 watts |
|---|---|
| Cooking surface | 240 square inches |
| Plate size | Not published per plate; 240 square inches total |
| Temperature range | Sear up to 500F for 2 minutes at a time; full range not published |
| Dimensions | Listings vary from about 14.7 x 16.2 x 8.1 in to 16.5 x 18.5 x 10.2 in |
| Weight | Roughly 17 to 21 lb, depending on the listing |
| Plate material | Ceramic nonstick, reversible and removable |
| Warranty | Limited 3-year |
Check the current price before you buy. Because published dimensions differ between retailers, measure your counter against the box or the manual.
The Elite is a stainless clamshell with an LCD up front, and it is a solid, simple machine that the whole family can use without smoke or fuss.
Dual-zone control lets one side sear while the other stays gentler. The LCD shows temperature, time and function, plus there is a 60-minute timer. The reversible plates flip between grill and griddle, and the ceramic nonstick coating releases food well.
The plate release buttons sometimes fail to grip or let go, so seat them firmly. The top cover's latch can also loosen with heavy use, which leaves the lid free-swinging so drips miss the tray and land on the counter.
The integrated drip tray catches grease from bacon and burgers. It is plastic, so carry the Elite by the body and never by the tray, because it snaps off if the unit is set down hard.
Warning. The plates and cover get very hot at sear settings. Keep small kids at arm's length, and let an older child handle the controls only with an adult nearby.
Preheat takes about seven minutes, and steaks cook evenly. On a weeknight when everyone is hungry at once, four large frozen burgers cook in about five minutes, which is the speed that rescues dinner. The grill ridges are low, so food sits close to the grease, and the Elite makes grill marks but not outdoor smoky flavor. If you want char from a flame, this is not that tool.
Flat griddle mode is where breakfast gets easy. One session handles sausage, 10 bacon strips, hash browns and vegetables for a family of four, and the bacon cooks flat with grease running into the drip tray instead of pooling, so the plates stay clear for the next round of food.
Scrambled eggs run straight into the drip tray on open plates, so silicone egg rings are worth keeping nearby.
This is the Elite's best job. The floating top plate keeps sandwiches from being pressed flat, so thick bread and fillings stay fluffy rather than crushed. Thin chicken breast cooks in about five minutes using both plates like a panini press, and turkey burgers take about six minutes.
Half grill and half griddle mode cooks sausages on one side and pancakes on the other, and top melt finishes cheese on open-faced sandwiches. Across the plates, the top runs a little cooler than the bottom.
Cleanup is where the Elite pays you back. The plates lift out, the included scraper handles sticky cheese, and everything goes in the dishwasher, which keeps the weekly routine simple for a house with a full sink.
Heavy dishwasher use can slowly wear the nonstick coating at maximum sear temperatures, and hand washing preserves it. Older Griddlers lose their easy plate cleanup after years of use several times a week, and replacement plates alone can cost more than a new unit.
The Elite and the Deluxe are close: both are 1800 watts, both have 240 square inches of cooking surface, and both sear at 500F for up to two minutes at a time. The Elite adds the LCD and lists ceramic nonstick plates, while the Deluxe uses red and green lights and describes its coating as nonstick. Read our Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe review if you want the full picture of that model.
| Feature | Elite | Deluxe | Base Griddler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 1800W | 1800W | Not verified |
| Cooking surface | 240 sq in | 240 sq in | Not verified |
| Temperature control | Dual-zone, 500F sear | Dual-zone, 500F sear | 175F to 450F, sear |
| LCD | Yes | No (LED lights) | Yes |
| Plates and accessories | Ceramic nonstick, reversible, dishwasher-safe | Nonstick, reversible, dishwasher-safe | Nonstick, reversible, dishwasher-safe |
The base Griddler costs far less and keeps the LCD, but it caps at 450F and lacks the dual-zone sear. If you only need panini and breakfast, which Cuisinart Griddler fits your kitchen is a good place to compare them side by side.
Buy the Elite if your family cooks on a griddle most mornings, you like a digital readout, and you want a roomy surface. Choose the Deluxe if the LCD is not worth the extra cost, because the cooking hardware is so similar. Choose the base Griddler if budget matters most and you can live without the higher sear.
Skip all three if you want smoky flavor or have little counter space.
Only if you want the LCD and the ceramic nonstick plates. Power and cooking surface match, so the Deluxe is the better value for most cooks.
It is the part to watch. The latch can fail within the first few months of heavy use, leaving the lid free-swinging and allowing drips onto the counter; keep a towel handy if you cook on it daily.
Yes. It does contact grilling, panini pressing, full grill, full griddle and half-and-half cooking, plus top melt for finishing cheese.
It is simple enough for the whole family to use without smoke, but the plates and cover get very hot at sear settings. Older children should work with an adult nearby, and small kids should stay back.
It is a full-size unit, and listed dimensions vary by retailer, so measure shelf space against the manual before storing it.
Most families will be just as happy with a cheaper Griddler, and that is the real buying question here. If budget is tight, the cheaper base Griddler keeps the LCD and handles panini and breakfast, and anyone chasing smoky char or short on counter space should pass on all three. The Elite earns its premium only for households that will use the ceramic plates and display daily.
Key takeaway. The Cuisinart Griddler Elite is our pick for families who want a big, easy-to-clean grill, griddle and panini press and don't mind paying extra for the LCD. Rating: 4.2 out of 5.
Browse our buying guides to find the right appliance for your family.