I have wanted a grill for panini and maybe meat if there is one that does both well. Well, Ken bought be a Breville Ikon Grill for Christmas and I am not sure it is what I want. Has anyone had experience with this one? I just feel that it is wrong--but maybe not.

Any input? I don't want to use it until I am sure it is what I want. Thanks

Jane, what about it makes you unsure that it is not what you want? I have the Cuisinart Griddler, which is not as stylish looking as the Breville, but it has many of the same features... removable plates, floating head, variable temperature, etc.

I love it. It's easy to use and to clean. I make panini on it all the time, with both the smooth and the ridged plates. I don't use it much as a grill or griddle because I just use my range for that sort of thing. I prefer the control you have on a gas range.

-Krista

Operating here by word association: I just bought a Breville Ikon little toaster, which I had never heard of before yesterday. My new apartment asked for one, so who am I to refuse?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Marian:
Operating here by word association: I just bought a Breville Ikon little toaster, which I had never heard of before yesterday. My new apartment asked for one, so who am I to refuse?[/QUOTE

And how Marian did it ask? Nicely, I hope. And--how nice is it to finely be home?

Krista, I am not sure why I am thinking this--maybe because I keep reading and hearing that the lid must be really heavy to appropriately squash the panini and this doesn't seem all that heavy. But then--maybe heavy is relative. Guess I will try it.

The biggest challenge is where to keep it when not in use.

quote:

I have the Cuisinart Griddler,

I have that one too Krista and I love it! I use it at least once a week. I mainly use it for grilling veggies and chicken. I have made panini and am pleased with the squishy pressing maneuver too.

I've never ever heard of Breville.

Mindy

Mindy, I guess I might have to try it for grilling something other than panini.

Jane, when I first put in the panini, I press down hard on the handle for about 30 seconds, then I let it finish off without any pressure. It seems to flatten them out nicely.

Also, like Mindy, I use mine about once a week, so I do keep it out on the counter.

Let us know how it turns out.

-Krista

I had never heard of Breville either, so I just googled it. Apparently it's an Australian company, based in Sydney, that recently merged with a bigger Australian company. So they have just been selling in North America for a few years. (I'm assuming that the info I saw on Amazon is a company blurb, so there may be more to this.)

Sur le Table is right down the street and carries both the Breville and the Cuisinart, so I checked them out. The Breville is heaver and larger and more expensive than the Cuisinart ($199 vs $129), comparable quality. I'll probably go with the Cuisinart because it is smaller, I'm running out of room for "stuff" in my kitchen.