Kitchen

[momtochloe]

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@Tigriss wrote:
Ceramic grills are just coming out in many areas, so this one is probably replacing the T-Fal coated one. The T-Fal sitre doesn't have the Plus model either. I check to make sure the plates were regular teflon and not ceramic. I was shopping for one for several weeks now and had a $29 Oster Duraceramic one in my Amazon cart. i wanted the Optigrill but didn't want to pop for it, so this worked out well. I got it on easy pay so I could easily return it if it didn't work out.

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I agree tigriss.  As much as I am not hapy about the s&h charges for me (since I cook for one and don't have a working stove or oven) this appeals to me and they had me at I can return it under the holiday return policy.

It's always intrigued me, I hope it works out in the long run.

[Snoopp]

You will love this grill.  I just bought mine a few months ago and I have the teflon.  Would much prefer the ceramic but that will  have to wait since mine is brand new.  I cook steaks on it all the time, so easy and fast too.

[DiAnne]

I have the small Cuisinart grill.  I use it all the time.  Once you figure out how long things take to cook it is clear sailing.  Mine only cost $35 at Costco with a coupon. 

[Moonchilde]

I bought the original either from BBB or Kohls with coupon/discount, I forget which, and I absolutely love it! I cook steaks fresh or frozen, sausages/brats/hot dogs the same.

One thing I would suggest to a new owner is to err on the side of under-done. If you like your meat medium to well it won't matter, but I have found the timing between rare and medium rare a bit tricky. When it beeps for rare-ready, don't leave it on much longer to go just past rare to MR. And if you like it rare I would advise shutting off as soon as it beeps rare.

[momtochloe]

Thanks for the head's up.  Mine should be here tomorrow and I was planning on test driving a frozen steak just to see how it worked.  I'm glad to hear so many people are so pleased with this purchase, I can't wait to make dinner after it arrives!

[Queen Linda]

I cooked my first steaks today and they did not brown at all.  The marinade had oil in it too.  What did you do to cook your steaks and did they get brown.  Also did burgers and the same thing...no browning. 

[Tigriss]

I cooked bone in chicken thighes from frozen in less than 20 minutes.  I let it preheat nice and hot before I added my chicken skin down.  It browned nicely, but I will ditch the skin because it is just too fattening/grease for me these days.  The chicken was done and juicy.

[momtochloe]

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@Queen Linda wrote:

I cooked my first steaks today and they did not brown at all.  The marinade had oil in it too.  What did you do to cook your steaks and did they get brown.  Also did burgers and the same thing...no browning. 

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I am having the same problem and I have tried both steaks and burgers from frozen and thawed.  I get grill marks but that's it, not the kind of browning I would like.

If anyone could speak to some tips I would greatly appreciate hearing them!

[momtochloe]

I sent it back today.  It does cook to the perfect temperature but no matter what I did (oil/no oil, frozen/not frozen) I felt the product (meat or veg) was more steamed than grilled and keeping veggies on there was a nightmare.

Bummer.

[denisemb]

mtc, I'm sorry you didn't like your grill.  Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

We always bring the meats to room temp and pat them dry, I wonder if that makes a difference?  Have done frozen hamburgers and I agree they don't brown as well.