Cuisinart GR-4HK User manual

For your safety and continued enjoyment of this product, always read the instruction book carefully before using.
Cuisinart®Griddler
GR-4HK
INSTRUCTION
BOOKLET
Recipe
Booklet
Reverse Side

Important
SafeguardS
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 Selector Dial 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.
16. This appliance is not intended for use
by persons (including children) with
reduced physical, sensory or mental
capabilities, or lack of exprence and
knowledge, unless they have been
given supervisin or instruction
concerning use of the appliance by a
person.
17. Children should be supervised to
ensure they do not play with the
appliance.
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. Extension cords may be used if
care is exercised in their use.
If an 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.
CONTENTS
Important Safeguards............................ 2
Introduction............................................ 3
Parts and Features ................................ 3
Before the First Use............................... 3
The Griddler Does it All ......................... 3
Assembly Instructions ........................... 5
Operating Instructions ........................... 6
User Maintenance.................................. 7
Cleaning and Care ................................. 7
Storage................................................... 8
Warranty................................................. 8
2

INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the
Cuisinart®Griddler. This product is
actually five appliances in one. A hinged,
floating cover and two sets of removable
cooking plates turn the Griddler into a
contact grill, panini press, full grill, full
griddle, or half grill/half griddle. Dual
temperature controls and indicator lights
make this product easy to use.
Dishwasher-safe plates, integrated drip
tray and a cleaning/scraping tool make
cleanup fast and easy.
PARTS AND FEATURES
1. Base and Cover
Solid construction with stainless steel
self-adjusting cover
2. Panini-Style Handle
Sturdy cast-metal handle adjusts cover
to accommodate thickness of food
3. Removable Cooking Plates
Nonstick and dishwasher safe for easy
cleanup
a. Grill Plate: Perfect for grilling
steak,
burgers, chicken and vegetables
b. Griddle Plate: Prepare flawless
pancakes, eggs, bacon and seared
scallops
4. Controls
Indicator lights signal Power On
and Ready to Cook
a. Selector
Choose the Grill/Panini or Griddle
function
b. Grill/Panini
Adjust temperature from “warm” to
“sear”
c. Griddle
Adjust temperature from 200ºF to 425ºF
5. Drip Tray
Collects grease and removes from base
for easy cleanup (dishwasher safe)
6. Cleaning/Scraping Tool
Helps clean grill and griddle plates
after cooking
7. Plate Release Buttons
Push in to release and remove
cooking plates
8. Hinge Release Lever
Allows the cover to extend back for
cooking in the flat position
BEFORE THE
FIRST USE
Remove all packaging materials and any
promotional labels or stickers 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 Cuisinart®Griddler for
the first time, remove any dust from
shipping by wiping the base, cover and
controls with a damp cloth. Thoroughly
clean cooking plates, drip tray and
scraping tool. The plates, drip tray and
cleaning tool are dishwasher safe. Refer
to Assembly Instructions for plate
removal.
THE GRIDDLER
DOES IT ALL
The Griddler is the ultimate kitchen
appliance, offering you five separate
cooking options. Simply flip the
removable cooking plates and adjust the
hinge to use as a contact grill, panini
press, full grill, full griddle, or half grill/half
griddle.
See Assembly Instructions and
Operating Instructions.
Contact Grill
Use the Griddler as a Contact Grill to
1
2
3a
4a
5
4c
4b
7
8
3b
6
7
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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.
When cooked on the contact grill, food
will cook quickly because you are grilling
both sides of the food at the same time.
The ribs on the grill side of the plates,
combined with the grease spout at the
rear of the plate, allow the grease to drip
from the meat and drain off the plates.
When the Griddler is used as a Contact
Grill,the grill plates are recommended.
Rest the cover evenly on top of the food
until it has reached the desired cooked
temperature.
The Griddler was designed with a unique
handle and hinge that allow the cover to
adjust to the thickness of the food. You
can easily grill anything from a thinly
sliced potato to a thick sirloin steak with
even results.
When cooking more than one food item in
the Contact Grill, it is important that the
thickness of food items is consistent so
the cover will close
evenly on the food.
Panini Press
Use the Griddler as a
Panini Press to grill
sandwiches, breads
and quesadillas.
The word “panini” is Italian for grilled
sandwiches. Panini can include any
combination of ingredients such as
vegetables, meat and cheese layered
between two pieces of fresh-baked bread.
The sandwich is then pressed between
two grill or griddle plates to toast the bread
and warm the sandwich. Experiment to
make a variety of savory or sweet
sandwiches for any meal. We recommend
using fresh-baked bread to produce the
best tasting panini. Popular breads used
for panini are focaccia (a flat bread
frequently baked with rosemary, salt and
onion on top), michetta (a small round roll
with a crisp crust), ciabatta (a rectangular
bread with a slightly domed crust) and
thick slices of classic Italian bread.
When the Griddler is used as a Panini
Press, the grill plates are recommended.
We recommend the grill plates because
traditional-style panini sandwiches have
grill marks on the bread. However,
depending upon the type of sandwich you
are preparing, you may wish to use the
griddle plates or any combination of the
two. The Griddler functions as a panini
press in the same manner that it functions
as a Contact Grill. The Griddler was
designed with a unique handle and hinge
that allow 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 more
than one panini, it is
important that the
thickness of the
sandwiches is
consistent so the
cover will close
evenly on the panini.
Open Grill
Use the Griddler as an Open Grill to
cook burgers, steak, poultry (we do not
recommend cooking bone-in chicken,
since it does not cook evenly on a Full
Grill), fish and vegetables.
Cooking on the Open Grill is the most
versatile method of using the Griddler. In
the open position, you have double the
surface area (200 sq. inches) for grilling.
You have the option of cooking different
types of foods on separate plates without
combining their flavors, or cooking large
amounts of the same type of food. The
open position also
accommodates
different cuts of
meat with varying
thicknesses,
allowing you to
cook each piece
to your liking.
“Open Grill” refers to using the Griddler
with the cover lying flat, creating a double,
flat cooking surface. In this position, the
4

foods you are grilling will have to be
turned over for cooking. When the
Griddler is used as an Open Grill, the
grill plates should be used.
Griddle
Use the Griddler as a Griddle to cook
pancakes, eggs, French toast, hash
browns and breakfast meats.
Using the Griddle function is a wonderful
way to prepare breakfast for two or for a
large family.
The large surface area allows you to
cook a variety of different foods at the
same time, or large amounts of your
favorite food.
When you use the Griddler as a Griddle,
open the cover so it lies flat, creating a
double, flat cooking surface. In this
position, the foods you are preparing will
have to be
turned over for
cooking. When
using this
cooking
function, the
griddle plates
should be used.
ASSEMBLY
INSTRUCTIONS
Place Griddler on a clean flat surface
where you intend to cook. The Griddler
can be positioned in three ways:
Closed Position – Upper plate/cover
rests flat on lower plate/base. This is
your starting and heating position
when using the Contact Grill or Panini
Press functions.
Open
Position –
Upper plate/
cover is open
and in the
100° position.
Open the
cover to this position before using the
Griddler as a Contact Grill or Panini
Press.
To adjust the Griddler to this position,
simply lift the handle until you feel it come
to a locking
position. The unit
will stay in this
position until you
close the cover or
continue to open it
to the flat position.
The cover will stay
in the upright
position until you lower the handle for
cooking. When this is done, the cover will
release itself so that it lies flat on the top
of the food you are preparing. This allows
you to cook your food evenly from both
top and bottom. When you lift the handle
to open the Griddler after cooking, the
cover will remain in the flat position,
parallel with the lower plate. In order to
lock the cover back into the upright
position, you must close the Griddler,
without any food in place, and open it
again.
Flat Position – Upper plate/cover is level
with lower plate/base. The upper and
lower plates line up to create one large
cooking surface. The Griddler is in this
position when it is used as a Full Grill, Full
Griddle, or Half Grill/Half Griddle.
To adjust the Griddler to this position,
locate the hinge release lever on the right
arm.
With your left hand on the handle, use your
right
hand to slide the lever toward you.
Push the
handle back
until the
cover rests
flat on the
counter. The
unit will stay
in this position until you lift the handle and
cover to return it to the closed position.
If the Griddler is already in the open
position and you wish to adjust it to the
flat position, pull
the handle slightly
toward you and
then lift the hinge
release lever.
Push the handle back until the cover rests
in the flat position. Pulling the handle
forward slightly before lifting the hinge
5
Hinge
release
lever

release lever will take some of the
pressure off of the hinge and you will be
able to adjust the Griddler more easily.
To insert cooking plates
Adjust the Griddler to the flat position (see
above) with the controls directly in front of
you. Insert one plate at a time. Each plate
is designed to fit in either the upper
housing or
the lower
housing of
the Griddler.
The word
“lower” or
“upper” is
embossed into each grill or griddle plate
to let you know where to attach the plate.
Pick up the lower grill/griddle plate with
the cutouts for the heating element facing
down.
If you are facing the Griddler, the drip
spout should be at the forward right-hand
corner of the plate. Locate the metal
brackets at the center of the housing. Tilt
the back end of the plate and line up the
cutouts at the back of the plate with the
metal brackets. Slide the plate underneath
the brackets and push down the front end
of the plate. It will snap into place. Turn
the Griddler around and insert the second
plate on either its grill or griddle side into
the upper housing as you did with the first
plate.
To remove cooking plates
Adjust Griddler to Flat Position (see
above). Locate the plate release buttons
on one side of the unit. Press firmly on
button and the plate will pop up slightly
from the base. Grasp the plate with two
hands, slide it
out from
under the
metal
brackets, and
lift it out of the
base. Press
on the other plate release button to
remove the other cooking plate in the
same manner.
Position drip trays
When using
the Griddler
as a Contact
Grill or Panini
Press, only
one drip tray
is needed.
Place the tray directly below the grease
spout while cooking. Grease from the
food will run off the plates through the
grease spout and into the drip trays.
Grease should be safely disposed of after
cooking. The drip trays can be cleaned in
the dishwasher.
When using the Griddler as an Open Grill
or Griddle, both drip trays should be
used. Place the trays at either end of the
unit directly below the grease spouts.
Once the Griddler is assembled properly,
plug the cord into a standard electrical
outlet. You are now ready to begin cooking.
OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
Once the Griddler is assembled properly
and you are ready to begin cooking, turn
the Selector to the left to choose the
Griddle function or to the right to choose
the Grill/Panini function, depending on
what you intend to cook. When the knob
is turned to either function, a red indicator
light will illuminate to indicate that the
power is on.
If you intend to use the Griddler as a
Contact Grill, Panini Press or Flat Grill,
turn the Grill/ Panini Control to the desired
temperature for cooking. Settings range
from Warm (150°) to Sear (450°).
If you intend to use the Griddler as a
Griddle, turn the Griddle Control to the
desired temperature for cooking
Temperature settings range from 200° to
425°.
If you intend to use the Griddler as a Flat
Grill or Griddle, but you do not need the
entire surface, use the bottom plate.
It may take up to 10 minutes to reach
operating temperature, depending on the
temperature level that was set. When the
thermostat has reached operating
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Lower plate
release button
Upper plate
release button

temperature,a green indicator light inside
the chosen control will indicate that the
Griddler is ready for cooking. During
operation, the light will continue to turn on
and off as the thermostat regulates the
temperature. This is normal.
The temperature controls are used to set
and maintain the temperature of the
cooking surface. You may vary the setting
of the control knob at any time during
cooking, and may wish to do so
depending on the types of foods on the
cooking plate. Refer to the Cooked Food
Temperature Chart on page 17 of the
Recipe Book for recommendations.
Always exercise caution when handling
the Griddler during cooking. To open the
Griddler grasp the black plastic area 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 housing will become hot
during use. The cover is made of 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 burns.
The lower housing is made of plastic, and
while it will become very warm it will not
burn you. If you need to move the
Griddler during cooking be sure to handle
it from the base only. Do not touch the
cover.
Allow the Griddler to cool down before
handling (at least 30 minutes).
NOTE: The first time you use the Griddler,
it may have a slight odor and may smoke
a bit. This is normal and common to
appliances with nonstick surfaces.
The Griddler comes with a black cleaning/
scraping tool.This can be used for
cleaning the grill and griddle plates after
you have finished cooking and the unit
has cooled down completely (at least 30
minutes). Using the cleaning tool on a hot
surface for too long will cause the plastic
to melt.
USER MAINTENANCE
• Never use metal utensils, as they will
scratch the nonstick plates. Instead, use
only wooden or heat-proof plastic
utensils.
• Never leave plastic utensils in contact
with the hot grill plates. This includes
the provided cleaning tool.
• In between recipes, use a wooden or
heat-proof plastic utensil to scrape
excess food buildup through grease
channels and into drip tray, then wipe
off any residue with a paper towel
before proceeding with next recipe.
• Allow the Griddler to cool down
completely (at least 30 minutes) before
cleaning.
CLEANING AND CARE
CAUTION: BEFORE CLEANING
APPLIANCE, MAKE SURE IT HAS
COOLED DOWN COMPLETELY.
Once you have finished cooking, turn the
Selector Dial control to the Off position
and unplug the power cord from the wall
outlet. Allow the unit to cool down for at
least 30 minutes before handling.
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 the drip tray once
cooled. The drip tray can be cleaned by
hand or in the dishwasher.
Press the plate release buttons to remove
plates from the housing. Be sure that the
plates have cooled completely before
handling (at least 30 minutes). The
cooking plates can be washed in the
dishwasher. Do not use metallic objects
such as knives or forks for cleaning. Do
not use a scouring pad for cleaning; the
nonstick coating can be damaged.
If you have been cooking seafood, wipe
the cooking plate with lemon juice to
prevent seafood flavor transferring to the
next recipe.
The housing base, cover and control
knobs can be wiped clean with a soft, dry
7

cloth. For tough stains, dampen cloth.
Never use an abrasive cleaner or harsh pad.
STORAGE
Always make sure the Griddler is cool and
dry before storing.
The power cord can be wrapped around
the back of the base for storing.
One set of cooking plates should be
stored in the Griddler when not in use.
The other set can be stored in a drawer or
cabinet, along with the drip trays and
scraping tool.
WARRANTY
LIMITED THREE-YEAR WARRANTY
This warranty is available to consumers only. You
are a consumer if you own a Cuisinart®Griddler
that was purchased at retail for personal,
family or household use. Except as otherwise
required under applicable law, this warranty is
not available to retailers or other commercial
purchasers or owners.
We warrant that your Cuisinart®Griddler will be
free of defects in materials and workmanship
under normal home use for 3 years from the date
of original purchase.
If your Cuisinart®Griddler should prove to be
defective within the warranty period, we will
repair it, or if we think necessary, replace it. If
you bought the product in Hong Kong, please
login to www.cuisinart.com.hk for warranty
registration.
Conair Far East Ltd. Customer Service Center:
35/F., Standard Chartered Tower, Millennium City 1,
388 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Customer Service Hotline: [phone]
Notice: Chinese version is taken as standard for
guarantee period and specifications.
This warranty expressly excludes any defects or
damages caused by accessories, replacement
parts, or repair service other than those that have
been authorized by Cuisinart®.
This warranty does not cover any damage
caused by accident, misuse, shipment or other
than ordinary household use.
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©2010 Cuisinart
Cuisinart®is a registered trademark of Cuisinart
Conair Far East Ltd., 35/F.,
Standard Chartered Tower,
Millennium City, 388 Kwun
Tong Road, Kwun Tong,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Printed in China
IB-10/341