Cuisinart GR-2 User Manual

Cuisinart®Griddler Express

™

For your safety and continued enjoyment of this product, always read the instruction book carefully before using.

GR-2

INSTRUCTION AND

RECIPE BOOKLET

1

IMPORTANT
SAFEGUARDS

When using electrical appliances, basic
safety precautions should always be
followed, including the following:

1. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS.

2. Do not touch hot surfaces; use handles
or knobs.

3. To protect against fire, electric shock, and
injury to persons, DO NOT IMMERSE CORD
OR PLUG in water or other liquids.

4. Close supervision is necessary when any
appliance is used by or near children.

5. Unplug from outlet when not in use and
before cleaning. Allow to cool before
putting on or taking off parts, and
before cleaning appliance.

6. Do not operate any appliance with a
damaged cord or plug, or after the appli­ance has malfunctioned or has been dam­aged in any manner. Return the appliance
to the nearest Cuisinart Repair Center for
examination, repair or adjustment.

7. The use of accessory attachments not rec­ommended by Cuisinart may result in fire,
electrical shock, or risk of injury to persons.

8. Do not use outdoors.

9. Do not let power cord hang over edge of
table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.

10. Do not place on or near hot gas or electric
burner, or in a heated oven.

11. Unplug the unit when finished using.

12. Do not use appliance for other than
intended use.

13. Extreme caution must be exercised when
moving an appliance containing hot oil or
other hot liquids.

14. To disconnect, turn control to OFF setting,
then remove plug from wall outlet.

15. WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE
OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, ONLY AUTHO­RIZED PERSONNEL SHOULD
DO REPAIRS.

SAVE THESE
INSTRUCTIONS

FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE ONLY

SPECIAL CORD SET
INSTRUCTIONS

A short power-supply cord is provided to
reduce the risks resulting from becoming entan­gled in or tripping over a longer cord.

Longer extension cords are available and may
be used if care is exercised in their use.

If a long extension cord is used, the marked
electrical rating of the extension cord should be
at least as great as the electrical rating of the
appliance, and the longer cord should be
arranged so that it will not drape over the
countertop or tabletop where it can be pulled
on by children or animals, or tripped over.

NOTICE

This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade
is wider than the other). To reduce the risk of
electric shock, this plug will fit in a polarized
outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully
in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not
fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not modify
the plug in any way.

CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Parts and Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Before the First Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Contact Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Panini Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Assembly Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

User Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Cleaning and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Recommended Cooking Te m p e r a t u r e Chart . 13

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

INTRODUCTION

Plug in your Griddler Express™ and get ready
to add a little variety to brunch, lunch and din­ner! You'll find yourself grilling more than ever,
because you can do it right on your countertop.
This contact grill cooks both sides of food at
once. Burgers are healthier because the
Griddler Express™ drains away unhealthy fat as
it cooks. And wait until you make panini! Filled
with your choice of fresh vegetables, protein­rich meats and cheese, or deep, dark choco­late, they’ll give you delicious new ways to
please family and friends. Enjoy this two-in-one
appliance, constructed of classically elegant,
always brilliant, polished stainless steel.

PARTS AND FEATURES

1. Base and Cover: Shiny chrome housing

with self-adjusting cover and sturdy base

2. Panini-Style Handle: Sturdy cast metal
handle adjusts cover to accommodate food
with varying thicknesses

3. Grilling Plates: Nonstick plates are perfect
for panini or grilling steak, burgers, chicken
and vegetables

4. Temperature Control Knob: Allows
you to choose Off, Low, Medium or High
settings

5. Indicator Lights: (not shown)
Red and green lights signal “power on”
and “ready to cook”

6. Drip Cup: Collects grease and is
dishwasher-safe

7. Cleaning/Scraping Tool: Helps clean grill
plates after cooking

BEFORE THE FIRST USE

Remove all packaging materials and any
promotional labels from your grill. Be sure
all parts (listed under Parts and Features)
of your new appliance have been included
before discarding any packaging materials.
You may want to keep the box and packing
materials for use at a later date.

Before using your Griddler Express™ for the
first time, remove any dust accumulated during
shipping by wiping the base, cover, grill plates
and temperature knob with a damp cloth.
Thoroughly clean drip cup and cleaning tool
by using soapy water or dishwasher.

CONTACT GRILL

Use the Griddler Express™ as a contact grill to
cook burgers, boneless pieces of meat and thin
cuts of meat and vegetables.

The contact grill function works best when you
want to cook something in a short amount of
time or when you are looking for a healthy
method of grilling. Food will cook quickly
because you are grilling both sides of the food
at the same time. The grill plates combined with
the grease spout at the corner of the plate allow
the grease to drip from the meat and drain off
the plates.

When cooking more than one piece of food at
a time, it is important that the thickness of all
pieces is the same so the cover will close
evenly on the food.

PANINI PRESS

Use the Griddler Express™ as a panini press
to grill sandwiches, breads and quesadillas.

The word “panini” is an Italian term for grilled
sandwiches. Panini can include any combina­tion of ingredients such as vegetables, meat
and cheese layered between two pieces of
freshly baked bread. The sandwich is then
pressed between two grill plates to toast the
bread and warm the filling. Experiment with a
variety of savory or sweet sandwiches for any
meal. We recommend using freshly baked bread
to
produce the best-tasting panini. Popular breads
used for panini are focaccia, michette, ciabatta
and thick slices of Italian bread.

The Griddler Express™ functions as a panini
press in the same manner that it functions as
a contact grill. The Griddler Express™ was
designed with a unique handle and hinge
that allows the cover to adjust to the thickness
of the sandwich you are preparing, and to
rest there evenly. Light pressure can be
applied to the handle to press and heat the
sandwich to your liking.

When cooking two or more panini, it is impor­tant that the thickness of all sandwiches is the
same so the cover will close evenly on the pani­ni.

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1

2

3

6

4

7

A S S E M B LY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the Griddler Express™ on a clean flat
surface where you intend to cook.

2. Position drip cup directly below the grease
spout.

3. Turn temperature control to the Off position
and plug the cord into a standard electrical
outlet.

4. When unit is in the Off position and plugged
in, the green light will be illuminated.

5. Your Griddler Express™ is now ready for use.

OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS

Once the Griddler Express™ is assembled
p r operly and you are ready to begin cooking,
t u rn the Te m p e r a t u r e Control Knob toward the
back of the unit and select the desired tempera­t u r e setting, Low, Medium or High. When the
knob is turned from the Off setting to any temper­a t u r e
setting, the indicator light will switch from green
to red to indicate that the power is on and the
unit is heating up.

It may take up to 5 minutes to reach operating
t e m p e r a t u r e, depending on the temperature
setting selected. When the thermostat has
reached operating temperature, the green
indicator light will illuminate; your Griddler
E x p r ess™ is ready for cooking. During
operation, the light will continue to switch
f r om green to red as the thermostat regulates
the temperature. This is normal.

The temperature control is used to set and
maintain the temperature of the cooking surface.
You may vary the setting of the temperature
c o n t r ol knob at any time during cooking.

Always exercise caution when handling the
Griddler Express™ during cooking. To open the
Griddler Express™ grasp the black plastic are a
of the handle. This part of the handle stays cool
to the touch while cooking. The arms are made
of die-cast aluminum and will become hot during
use. Do not touch them during or immediately
following cooking.

The Griddler Express™ housing will become hot
during use. The cover is made of polished
stainless steel and will become very hot and
should not be touched during or immediately
following cooking. If you need to adjust the cover,
be sure to use an oven mitt to prevent burn s .

Allow the Griddler Express™ to cool down
b e f o r e handling (at least 30 minutes).

N OT E : The first time you use your Griddler
E x p r ess™, it may have a slight odor and may
smoke a bit. This is normal and common to
appliances with a nonstick surface.

The Griddler Express™ comes with a black
cleaning/scraping tool. This can be used for
cleaning the grill plates after you have finished
cooking and the unit has cooled down complete­l y. Using the cleaning tool on a hot surface for
too long will cause plastic to melt.

USER MAINTENANCE

Never use metal utensils, as they will scratch
the nonstick plates. Instead, use only wooden
or heatproof plastic utensils.

Never leave plastic utensils in contact with the
hot grill plates. This includes the cleaning tool
p r o v i d e d .

In between recipes, scrape excess food buildup
t h r ough grease channels and into drip cup, and
then wipe off any residue with a paper towel
b e f o r e proceeding with the next re c i p e .

Allow the Griddler Express™ to cool down
completely (at least 30 minutes) before cleaning.

CLEANING AND CARE

CAUTION: BEFORE CLEANING THE
APPLIANCE, MAKE SURE IT HAS
COOLED DOWN COMPLETELY.

Once you have finished cooking, turn the
t e m p e r a t u r e selector knob to the OFF position
and unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
Allow unit to cool.

Use the cleaning/scraping tool to remove any
leftover food from the cooking plate. The scraping
tool can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher.

Dispose of grease from drip cup. The drip cup
can be cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher.

If you have been cooking seafood, wipe the grill
plates with lemon juice to prevent seafood flavor
transferring to the next recipe.

The housing base, cover, handle and contro l
knob can be wiped with a soft, dry cloth. For
tough stains, dampen cloth. Never use an
abrasive cleaner or harsh pad.

S T O R A G E

Always make sure the Griddler Express™ is
cool and dry before storing.

The power cord can be wrapped around the
bottom of the base for storing.

3

Recipes

Mini Tomato, Basil

& Mozzarella Panini

Makes 9 mini panini

18 slices crusty French bread

(slices about 3x2x1/4

inches)

9 slices mozzarella (size of bread slice)

9 slices ripe, firm tomato

(size of French bread slice)

9 large fresh basil leaves, rinsed and dried

olive oil or olive oil cooking spray

Preheat the Cuisinart®Griddler Express™ on
medium setting.

Assemble the mini panini by topping each of 9
slices of bread with a slice of mozzarella, a slice
of tomato (may be lightly sprinkled with kosher
or sea salt and freshly ground pepper), basil
leaf, and another slice of bread. Lightly brush or
spray each sandwich. Turn and brush or spray
the other slice of bread.

Arrange panini evenly spaced on the Griddler
Express™. Close lid. Apply light pressure for
10 seconds. Bake panini for 21/2 to 31/2 minutes
until cheese is warm and partially melted, and
bread is desired level of golden brown and
toasty.

Serve warm.

Nutritional information per serving (one sandwich):

Calories 110 (32% from fat) • carb. 12g • pro. 7g • fat 4g

• sat. fat 2g • chol. 8mg • sod. 205mg • calc. 110mg • fiber 0g

Smoked Turkey, Roasted

Pepper & Baby Swiss

Panini with Pesto

Mayonnaise

Makes 4 panini

8 slices crusty country bread or artisan

wheat bread (about 7x31/2 x1/2 inches)

4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

or melted butter (can use half of each)

3 tablespoons light or regular mayonnaise

1 tablespoon prepared pesto

8 ounces thinly sliced smoked

turkey breast

2 roasted red peppers, well-drained,

cut into 1/2-inch strips

4 ounces Baby Swiss cheese,

very thinly sliced

2 ounces very thinly sliced

red onion (optional)

Preheat the Cuisinart®Griddler Express™ on
medium setting.

Combine pesto and mayonnaise. Lightly brush
one side of each slice of bread with the olive oil.
Lay 4 slices of bread on the work surface, oiled
side down. Spread lightly with pesto mayon­n a i s e . Build the sandwiches in this order –
smoked turkey, roasted peppers, cheese, onion
if using
– using equal amounts of each item on each
sandwich. Top with the remaining sliced bread
that has been spread lightly with the pesto
mayonnaise, oiled side up.

Preheat oven to 175° if desired to keep panini
warm when finished cooking.

Lay sandwiches evenly spaced on the bottom
grill plate of the preheated Griddler Express™–
depending on the size of the bread, you may
only fit two at a time. Close Griddler Express™
and apply light pressure to handle for about 30
seconds. Grill panini for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove
to a rack and keep warm in oven. If necessary,
grill remaining sandwiches in the same way. Cut
in half on the diagonal and serve warm.

Nutritional information per serving (one sandwich):

Calories 439 (43% from fat) • carb. 36g • pro. 25g • fat 21g

• sat. fat 8g • chol. 56mg • sod. 1400mg • calc. 294mg • fiber
2g

Pizza Panini

Makes one 8-inch double-crusted panini,
2 to 4 servings

1

/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

or may use olive oil spray

2 8-inch thin-crust pre-baked pizza crusts,

such as Boboli

®

1

/4 cup thick marinara sauce*

4 ounces sliced part-skim mozzarella

(can be increased to 6 ounces if a
“cheesier” sandwich is preferred)
or provolone

crumbled cooked sausage or julienned
thinly sliced pepperoni, or cooked thinly
sliced vegetables such as mushrooms or
zucchini (optional)

P r eheat Cuisinart®Griddler Express™on
m e d i u m setting.

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