Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The immediate comparison I made when I received this Panini press was to the Cuisinart GR-3 Griddler Jr, Brushed Stainless Steel, and the key difference between the two products (and the reason I'm giving the better constructed, perhaps even better performing press three stars rather than five) is you can remove the plates in the Cuisinart, and you cannot in the Breville. Convenience and ease of use are central considerations when it comes to just how much you're going to want to use these 'extra' kitchen devices, and if it's a headache to clean something like burnt/stuck preserves, then you're going to be less likely to want to pull it out and use it again.
I want to back up a little bit, because I think Breville generally designs and manufactures outstanding high-quality but still affordable products. This press is no exception. Having used both this Breville and the aforementioned Cuisinart, I would give the Breville the edge on almost every single front. It feels more solidly constructed of higher quality materials, it seems to heat more evenly, although the Cuisinart does allow a range of temperature settings as opposed to Breville's one-temp-fits-all approach. I actually like having one flat and one grilled plate in the Breville, compared to the two grilled plates in the Cuisinart -- the flat surface providing a much more even and consistent heat that really radiates into the middle of the sandwich better than the more limited surface contact provided by just grill plates (but you still have the all-important texture and grill marks from the top plate). Both adapt to larger sandwiches. Both sport non-stick surfaces (although the Breville's is much smoother as the Cuisinart employs a grittier non-stick treatment). Both are perfectly sized for a couple good-sized sandwiches, without all the wasted space that comes with and from the larger models in each line.
I like this press enough that even as I wrap this review up I wonder if I should be giving it 4 stars rather than 3. Standing on its own, it deserves every bit of 4 stars. It's when it's held in contrast to a like-priced alternative like the Cuisinart that the Breville loses some of its luster, and then really only due to a question of pure convenience (in the form of removable plates).
If those removable plates aren't of particular importance to you, I actually recommend this press over the Cuisinart. For me, the convenience of cleaning the removable plates provide is what makes it an easy decision between the two when I want to grill a sandwich.
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Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini PressEasily create restaurant-quality grilled panini sandwiches and more with this convenient panini press. The unit features a powerful 1500-watt element for fast heating, and its upper and lower grill plates provide a nonstick, scratch-resistant Quantanium surface for lower-fat cooking (no need for butter or oil), effortless food release, and quick cleanup. The bottom plate, which measures 11-1/4 by 8-3/4 inches, offers a flat design for more thorough cooking (also suitable for pancakes and eggs), while the 11-1/4-by-7-3/5-inch ribbed top plate creates authentic cafe-style grill marks. Even more, the grill's floating top plate and four adjustable height settings make it possible to accommodate even the most ambitious of sandwiches or to keep the top plate suspended above food, radiating heat down when cooking breakfast items or open-style melts. Other highlights include "power-on" and "ready-to-cook" indicator lights, heavy-duty die-cast arms, nonslip feet for stability, a locking clip for upright storage, and a cord wrap in the base. The included user manual offers simple-to-follow instructions, as well as an array of delicious recipe ideas--from herbed omelet panini, warm Caesar sandwiches, or grilled chicken lavosh with mango and pinenut mayonnaise to dessert items like sweet fig focaccia, toasted chocolate panini, or crispy brioche with berries. Elegantly housed in brushed stainless steel, the panini press measures 13 by 11-3/4 by 5-1/4 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
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