We mentioned yesterday that there will be some new gear making an appearance at this weekend's FirstGrill event. Both items are from Cuisinart. The first is a 5-in-1 electric panini machine with both grilling and griddle capabilities. The second item is an improved ice cream maker which can make frozen treats in less than 30 minutes. We thought we would take a quick FirstLook at both today and put them through their paces this weekend...sort of a trial by FirstGrill fire :-)
The Griddler packs a lot of grilling into a very compact size. We have lots of room in the RainyDayKitchen, but we wanted to check out the Griddler because of its versatility. With five separate cooking options (contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, half grill/half griddle), the Cuisinart Griddler can handle breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The floating cover and reversible plates makes setting up the exact Griddler configuration fast and simple. The front-mounted dual temperature controls allow precise adjustments and ensure everything is perfectly cooked.
The floating hinged cover and panini-style handle automatically adjusts to the thickness of the items being cooked. The integrated drip tray collects grease from the drainage at the rear of the grill. The tray is located underneath, slides out from the side, and is easily accessed for cleaning. Note the cord-wrap notches built into the stand...nice touch.
The cooking plates are non-stick and reversible, dishwasher-safe, and removable for easy storage. The unit measures 13" x 11-1/4" x 6-1/2" and carries a limited three-year warranty. The housing is brushed stainless steel and it will look great in the RainyDayKitchen.
FirstGrill desserts will be an assortment of yummy concoctions created using the Cuisinart ICE-21 ice cream maker. This device is deceptively simple to use. Just put the bowl in the freezer to chill, add the ingredients, turn it on, and in 30 minutes, the ice cream will be ready.
The double-insulated freezer bowl holds up to 1 1⁄2 quarts of frozen dessert. There is a large spout for adding ingredients. The Easy-lock transparent lid makes assembling the unit for use practically fool-proof. The integrated "catch" in the lid automatically aligns with the mixing blade when the motor is activated. Everything comes apart for easy cleaning.
The heat from the motor vents from the bottom and side. For those new to making frozen desserts, Cuisinart has included a book with a nice collection of recipes of frozen yogurt, ice cream, sherbet, sorbet or frozen drinks designed specifically for the ICE-21.
We'll have a full write-up on the event next week with comments from our guests on the ice cream maker, the electric grill, and other gear in the RainyDayKitchen. It is going to be beautiful weekend. Enjoy it and we'll see you next week. [Permalink] -FirstGrill gear
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