Breville Smart Grill

[ElsieD]

I am thinking about purchasing a Breville Smart Grill. I would like to know if anyone has one and if they do, what your thoughts are on this appliance. Does it really work? Did you buy extra plates for it? I would be using it for cooking meat (steaks, chops, bacon, etc.) as well as making pannini sandwiches, pancakes and probably eggs, plus whatever else catches my fancy. Thank you.

[Anna N]

Elsie,

I can't speak about the Breville model (although it looks amazing) but I can tell you I own the Cuisinart Griddler. Initially, like most new toys, I used it frequently but it takes up a lot of counter space and soon I had other toys and the Griddler migrated further and further away! Out of sight means out of mind and so it became yet another abandoned toy. It is heavy and awkward to store and yet is smaller and lighter than the one you are contemplating. Bottom line--if you cannot keep it on the counter and readily available I would think twice before investing that kind of money. If you have the real estate then by all means go for it.

[Chris Amirault]

Funny you should mention that. I was at a local Williams Sonoma yesterday and overheard the staff talking about how the Breville Smart Grill they were demoing that day was much better than they expected. It wasn't for the benefit of customers: it was backroom work chatter about how clearly it stood out against all the other sorts of things they've demoed there.