The ease and comfort of the indoor grill has made it a staple in my kitchen. Since it is not always possible to grill outside due to weather, time or space constraints, indoor grills have become extremely popular. I have owned both the Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet and the George Foreman Grill so I decided that it would be helpful to write this article that compares the two popular brands. I have chosen the George Foreman G5 and the Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet. Both indoor grills are similar in size and price range with prices around $100-$120.
The first contender for the title of best indoor grill of all time is the George Foreman G5. Let’s take a look at what the George Foreman G5 brings to the ring.
George Foreman G5 Indoor Grill:
Features:
MSRP $129.99
Temperature control
Tilt feature
One-inch floating hinge
On/off button
Power and ready light
Pop-out plates are easy to remove and dishwasher-safe
Accessories:
One grill plate
One steak plate
Two waffle plates
One shallow pan
Drip pan
Scraper for cleaning grill and griddle plates
The next contender is the Cuisinart Griddle Gourmet. Let’s take a look at what the Cuisinart Griddle Gourmet brings to the ring.
Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet Indoor Grill:
Features:
MSRP $139.99
Brushed stainless-steel housing
Indicator lights
Floating hinge adjusts to thickness of food
Adjustable temperature controls
Three control dials
Limited 3-year warranty
Pop-out plates are easy to remove and dishwasher-safe
Accessories:
Scraper for cleaning grill and griddle plates
Two removable drip cups
Recipe book
Two grill plates
Two griddle plates
Both the Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet and the George Foreman G5 appear to have high MSRP values but I can assure that if you shop around you will find much lower prices. I bought my Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet indoor grill at Costco for around $90. I don’t recall what I payed for the George Foreman indoor grill but I’m sure that it was much less than the MSRP. I know that Wal-mart sells them for under $120.
I can tell you now that in my kitchen the Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet won the fight. I liked the sleeker look of the stainless steel and the three control dials were a big decision maker. I found the George Foreman G5 would often overcook the meat and make my hamburgers a bit dry. I also liked that the Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet came with two grill plates that are perfect for use as a panini press. I started eating these sandwiches from Safeway for lunch and just love the ability to make them at home and bring them to work.
The George Foreman G5 did score some points as well. The waffle plates are great for a good quick breakfast and it is a bit lighter and easier to move around in the kitchen. I didn’t use the shallow pan that comes standard with this George Foreman grill, but it would be great for quickly cooking a personal pan size pizza.
Both indoor grills have easy clean-up, non-stick cooking surfaces that are dishwasher safe. Some people prefer the conventional method of cooking meats and vegetables but when you are in a hurry to get supper on the table the indoor grill cannot be beat when time of preparation is placed in the equation. I hope that this article will help anyone who is deciding which indoor grill will best suit their needs. Like I mentioned earlier the Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet was the grill for me. Please enjoy cooking and I will leave you with this recipe from the Cuisinart Griddler Gourmet cookbook.
1 Cuban roll
Butter Low fat mayonnaise
Brown deli mustard
Thin sliced Ham
Thin sliced roast pork
Swiss cheese
Long deli sliced pickle
Cut bread roll horizontally, spread butter on the cut side of the roll, mix mayonnaise and mustard in a small bowl and spread on the roll then place meat and cheese in the sandwich, top with pickle slices, place in grill press and bake for 3 to 5 minutes until bread is lightly toasted. Serve hot.
