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The Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet is a good buy for anyone who wants a grill, griddle and panini press in one machine without paying for a digital display. It does not replace an outdoor grill, and it heats slowly. In our kitchen the standout moment was panini night: the floating lid kept the sandwiches crisp, even and unflattened. If you are weighing it against other electric griddles and skillets, read on.
Quick Verdict
We rate the Griddler Gourmet 4.0 out of 5, and the review below shows why. A note on the name: "Griddler Gourmet" is used loosely for the GR-4N series, and the current listing is the GR-4NNAS 5-in-1 Griddler. That is the machine we mean throughout.
The Gourmet handles sandwiches, bacon and weeknight chicken well and is easy to clean. Its weak spots are slow heat-up, uneven griddle heat and control knobs that feel flimsy. At a budget-to-mid price, it earns its counter space if you cook panini and breakfast often.
Five modes, from contact grill to full griddle
Floating lid for even panini pressing
Dishwasher-safe plates and scraping tool
Removable drip tray for grease
Limited 3-year warranty
Specifications
Power
1500W
Griddle range
200F to 425F
Modes
5
Plates
Reversible nonstick
Warranty
Limited 3-year
Pros
Panini come out crisp and even under the floating lid
Plates, drip tray and scraper clean up easily
Bacon cooks flat on both sides at once
Lightweight enough to move around the counter
Limited 3-year warranty
Cons
Slow to heat, and plates lose temperature when open
Griddle surface heats unevenly
Control knobs feel flimsy
Grease can leak past the drip tray
Large footprint for a small counter
What Is the Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet?
The Gourmet is a five-mode countertop cooker. It closes as a contact grill or panini press, opens flat as a full grill or full griddle, and splits into half grill and half griddle. A floating cover adjusts to the thickness of what you are cooking. Price is the other selling point: it sits in the budget-to-mid tier and goes on sale often.
Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet (GR-4N series) at a glance
Power
1500W
Griddle temperature range
200F to 425F
Grill temperature range
Warm to sear
Cooking modes
5
Plates
Reversible nonstick, dishwasher safe
Included
Scraping tool and removable drip tray
Waffle plates
Optional, sold separately
Price tier
Budget to mid
Plates and Cooking Modes
The reversible nonstick plates are the heart of the machine. One side grills, the other griddles, and both lift out for washing. Each plate is roughly 11 x 9 inches, though cooking-area figures vary by listing, so treat that as a rough guide. The unit is PFAS-free.
Waffle plates are sold separately. Without them, the Gourmet is a five-mode machine; with them, it becomes a two-in-one.
Temperature Control and Power
At 1500W, the Gourmet is not the most powerful Griddler, and you feel that when you wait for it to heat. Two dials set the temperature, up to 425F in griddle mode. The knobs feel flimsy in the hand, and the dials take a few cooks to learn.
How We Rate the Griddler Gourmet
We scored the Gourmet on six things: panini quality, bacon and griddle work, searing, heat-up and heat holding, cleanup, and build. Panini and cleanup earned the highest marks. Heat-up and the flimsy knobs pulled the rating down. We do not claim a fixed test window here; the findings below come from the hands-on cooking results we have for this machine.
How It Performs
Here is how the Gourmet handled the jobs most people buy it for.
Grilling Steaks and Burgers
We set the dial to sear and cooked bone-in chicken thighs. They took about 15 minutes and came out cooked through. Grease spattered around the unit, so we wiped down the counter afterward. Burgers and kabobs get grill marks, but they taste pan-cooked rather than charred. Indoor plates do not deliver the smoky flavor of an outdoor grill, and no honest review should pretend otherwise.
Panini and Sandwiches
This is where the Gourmet shines. The floating lid keeps sandwiches from flattening, so panini come out crisp and even. It is also light enough to carry from cabinet to counter without a struggle.
Pancakes, Eggs and Bacon on the Griddle
Bacon is a real strength. Both sides cook flat at once, and the grease drains away from the strips. Flip the plates over and the same machine handles pancakes and eggs.
As a flat griddle, though, the surface heats unevenly. Eggs run toward one side, and four bacon strips can take around 20 minutes. If you cook big weekend breakfasts, a dedicated electric griddle gives a more even surface.
Heat Evenness and Smoke
The plates heat slowly and lose temperature after reaching the setting, especially when the unit is open with food on both plates. Give the machine extra preheat time before the first batch.
Tip. Let the Gourmet preheat longer than you think it needs, and keep the lid closed on panini and thick cuts so the plates hold their temperature.
Fatty foods raise a second issue. Grease can leak under the bottom plate and past the drip tray, so set the unit on a wipeable surface. Expect spatter more than heavy smoke, but a range hood fan or an open window helps on bacon day.
Setup, Cleaning and Maintenance
Unlike the Five or Elite, the Gourmet has no digital menu to learn: the plates slot in, the drip tray sits beneath, and two dials handle the rest. The footprint is large for a small counter, so decide where it will live before you buy.
Cleaning is the easy part. The plates wipe clean and go in the dishwasher, and the removable plates, drip tray and scraper make cleanup simple. Scrape off residue while the plates are warm, then wash. That routine matters more than any other for the nonstick surface.
Warning. Skip metal utensils and abrasive pads on the nonstick plates. Use the included scraping tool instead.
On durability, the earlier GR-4N lasted about 10 years of regular use. Plates do lose some release after a few years of heavy use, and replacement plates cost nearly as much as a new unit. Plan for the plates to wear out before the rest of the machine.
The plates, drip tray and scraper all come apart for washing.
The Five runs from 175F to 450F with a sear function and adds an LCD with timer and temperature. Turkey burgers finish in about six minutes on it, and chicken breasts pressed panini-style in roughly five. Heat control and consistency across the plates are strong, and the scraper keeps melted cheese from building up. Waffle plates are not in the box on either model. Choose the Five if you want digital control and can pay more.
Gourmet vs Griddler Elite
The Elite offers 240 square inches of cooking surface, a 500F sear and six functions, including top melt. It also has an LCD for programming temperature and time, plus a limited 3-year warranty. That is a lot more machine for a family or for entertaining. Our Cuisinart Griddler Elite review goes deeper.
Gourmet vs Griddler Deluxe
The Deluxe pairs 1800W with 240 square inches and a 500F sear for up to 2 minutes at a time. It adds top melt and dual-zone control. The catch is durability on one part: the spring and ball bearing that let the top snap in and out of position broke after almost a year of twice-weekly use. Its waffle plates are also hard to find. See our Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe review for the details.
Who Should Buy It and Who Should Skip It
Buy the Gourmet if you want an all-in-one for a small household and value that over raw power.
Skip it if you want a hard sear, an even griddle surface for large breakfasts, or digital temperature control. If you want real charred flavor, an outdoor grill is still the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet worth the money?
For a budget-to-mid price, it covers five jobs. It is less compelling if you want hard searing or digital controls.
Do waffle plates fit the Gourmet?
Optional waffle plates are sold separately and are not in the box. Listings for the plates describe them as fitting the Griddler or Griddler Gourmet GR-4N, so check the model number before you order.
Is it worth replacing the plates when they wear out?
Usually not. Replacement plates cost nearly as much as a new unit, so weigh the price of a fresh machine first.
How do I keep grease from leaking onto the counter?
Set the unit on a wipeable surface and go easy on very fatty foods, since grease can leak under the bottom plate and past the drip tray.
Is it a good fit for a small kitchen?
It suits a small household, but the footprint is large for a small counter. Dimensions differ between listings, so measure your space against the listing for the exact unit you buy.
Final Verdict
Our rating stands at 4.0, and the choice now comes down to what you will cook most. Stay with the Gourmet for panini and bacon on a budget. Pick the Five if you want digital control and more even heat across the plates. Pick the Elite if you cook for a family and want a 500F sear and top melt.
