Cuisinart GR-3 Griddler Jr
Cuisinart GR-3 Griddler Jr User Manual.
Important Safeguards
- Read the Cuisinart GR-3 Griddler Jr User Manual.
- Do not touch hot surfaces; use handles or knobs.
- To protect against fire, electric shock, and injury to persons, DO NOT IMMERSE CORD OR PLUG in water or other liquids.
- Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
- Unplug from the outlet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow to cool before putting on or taking off parts, and before cleaning the appliance.
- 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.
- The use of accessory attachments not recommended by Cuisinart may result in fire, electrical shock, or risk of injury to persons.
- Do not use outdoors.
- Do not let the power cord hang over the edge of the table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.
- Do not place on or near hot gas or electric burners, or in a heated oven.
- Unplug the unit when finished using it.
- Do not use the appliance for other than intended use.
- Extreme caution must be exercised when moving an appliance containing hot oil or other hot liquids.
- To disconnect, turn the temperature control dial to the Off setting, then remove the plug from the wall outlet.
- WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL SHOULD DO REPAIRS.
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. Longer extension cords are available and may be used if care is exercised in their use. If a long 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.
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Cuisinart® Griddler™ Jr. This product is three appliances in one. A hinged, floating cover and one set of removable cooking plates turn the Gridler™ Jr. into a contact grill, a panini press, or a large, double-open grill. Temperature controls and indicator lights make it easy to use. Dish- washersafe grill plates, drip cups, and a cleaning/ scraping tool clean up in seconds.
PARTS AND FEATURES
- Base and Cover
Solid construction with stainless steel self-adjusting cover. - Panini-Style Handle
A sturdy cast metal handle adjusts the cover to accommodate the thickness of the food. - Removable Grill Plates
Nonstick and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. Perfect for grilling steak, burgers, chicken, and vegetables. - Indicator Lights
Signal “power on” and “ready to cook.” - Temperature Knob
Choose low, medium, high. - Drip Cups (2)
Collect grease and are dishwasher safe. - Cleaning/Scraping Tool
Helps clean grill plates after cooking. - Plate Release Buttons
Push in to release and remove cooking plates. - Hinge Release Lever
Allows the cover to lie back for cooking in the flat position
before the first use
Remove all packaging materials and any promotional labels or stickers from your Cuisinart® Compact Grill Centro. Be sure all parts (listed in 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® Compact Grill Centro for the first time, remove any dust from shipping by wiping the base and temperature control dial with a damp cloth. Thoroughly clean both sides of the reversible grill/griddle plate, as well as the drip cup, kebab drawer, skewers, and hot dog rollers. The grill/griddle plate, skewers, hot dog rollers, drip cup, and kebab drawer can be hand-washed or placed in the dishwasher for cleaning. Never place the housing (base) in water. Always use a damp cloth to
Note: Drip cups are located on the outside of the left polyfoam insert. The scraper is on the outside of the right polyfoam insert. Before using your Cuisinart® Griddles™ Jr. for the first time, wipe the base, cover, and controls with a damp cloth. Thoroughly clean cooking plates, drip cups, and scraping tools. The grill plates, drip cups, and cleaning tools are dishwasher-safe. Refer to Assembly Instructions for plate removal.
the Griddler™ JR. does it all
The Griddler™ Jr. is the ultimate kitchen appliance, offering you three separate cooking options. Simply adjust the hinge to use as a contact grill, panini press, or open grill. See Assembly Instructions and Operating Instructions. Contact Grill Use the Griddler™ Jr. as a contact grill to 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 plates combined with the grease spout at the corner of the plate allow the grease to
Panini Press
Use the Griddler™ Jr. 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 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 bread used for panini is focaccia (a flat bread frequently baked with rosemary, salt, and onion on top), manchette (a small round roll with a crisp crust), ciabatta (a rectangular bread with a slightly domed crust) and thick slices of classic Italian bread.
The Griddler™ Jr. functions as a panini press in the same manner that it functions as a contact grill. The Griddler™ Jr. was designed with a unique handle and hinge that allows 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 two or more panini, it is important that the thickness of the sand
Open Grill
“Open Grill” refers to using the Griddler™ Jr. with the cover lying flat, creating a double, flat cooking surface. In this position, the foods you are grilling will have to be turned over for cooking. Use the Griddler™ Jr. as an open grill to cook burgers, steak, poultry (we do not recommend cooking bone-in chicken, since it does not cook evenly on an open grill), fish, and vegetables.
assembly instructions
Place Griddler™ Jr. on a clean flat surface where you intend to cook. The Griddler™ Jr. 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 – The upper plate/cover is open. Open the cover to this position before using the Griddler™ Jr. as a contact grill or panini
press. To adjust the Griddler™ Jr. to this position,-simply lift the handle until you feel it comes 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 hinge will release itself so that the upper plate 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. To lock the cover back into the upright position, you must close the Griddler™ Jr., 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™ Jr. is in this position when it is used as an open grill. To adjust the Griddler™ Jr. to this position, locate the hinge release lever on the right arm. (see diagram below) 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™ Jr. 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 a flat position. Pulling the handle forward slightly before lifting the hinge release lever will take some of the pressure off of the
To insert cooking plates
Adjust the Griddler™ Jr. to the flat position (see below) 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™ Jr. The word “lower” or “upper” is embossed into each grill plate to let you know where to attach the plate. Pick up the lower grill plate with the cutouts for the heating element facing down.
To remove cooking plates
Adjust Griddler™ Jr. to a flat position. Locate the plate release buttons on one side of the unit. Press firmly on the 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 the other plate release button to remove the other cooking plate in the same manner. To position drip cups When using the Griddler™ Jr. as a contact grill or panini press place the cup directly below the grease spout while cooking. Grease from the food will run off the plates through the grease spout and into the drip cup. Grease should be safely disposed of after cooking. The drip cups can be cleaned in the dishwasher. When using the Griddler™ Jr. as an open grill, place the cups at either end of the unit directly below the grease spouts.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Once the Griddler™ Jr. is assembled properly, plug the cord into a standard electrical outlet. You are now ready to begin cooking. When the temperature knob is turned on low, medium, or high the red indicator light will illuminate to indicate that the power is on. If you intend to use the Griddler™ Jr. as a contact grill, panini press, or flat grill, turn the Grill/Panini control to the desired temperature for cooking. Settings range from mLow (150°F) to High (450°F). If you intend to use the Griddler™ Jr. as a flat grill, but you do not need the entire surface, it is recommended to use the bottom plate. It may take up to 6 minutes to reach operating temperature, depending on the temperature level that was set. When the thermostat has reached operating temperature, the green indicator light will indicate that the Griddler™ Jr. is ready for cooking. During operation, the light will continue to turn on and off as the thermostat regulates the temperature. This is normal. 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 7 for recommendations.\ Always exercise caution when handling the Griddler™ Jr. during cooking, as the housing will become hot during use. To open the Griddler™ Jr. 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 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 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™ Jr. during cooking be sure to handle it from the base only. Do not touch the cover. Allow the Griddler™ Jr. to cool down before handling (at least 30 minutes).
NOTE: The first time you use the Griddler™ Jr., it may have a slight odor and may smoke a bit. This is normal and common to appliances with nonstick surfaces. The Griddler™ Jr. comes with a black cleaning/scraping tool. This can be used for cleaning the grill 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, scrape excess food buildup through grease channels and into a drip cup, then wipe off any residue with a paper towel before proceeding with the next recipe.
- Allow the Griddler™ Jr. to cool down completely (at least 30 minutes) before cleaning.
CLEANING AND CARE
CAUTION: BEFORE CLEANING THE APPLIANCE, MAKE SURE IT IS UNPLUGGED AND COOLED DOWN COMPLETELY. Once you have finished cooking, turn the Selector 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 drip cups. The drip cups 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 from transferring to the next recipe. The housing base, cover, and control knobs can be wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth. For tough stains, dampen the cloth. Never use an abrasive cleaner or harsh pad.
STORAGE
Always make sure the Griddler™ Jr. is cool and dry before storing. The power cord can be wrapped around the back of the base for storage.
COOKED FOOD TEMPERATURE CHART
Check internal temperature, using an instant-read thermometer.
- Beef
The USDA recommends cooking all ground beef to at least Medium (160°F) doneness, or until the center is no longer pink. - Pork
Always grill using an instant-read thermometer until the internal temperature reaches 160°F when tested. - Poultry
Boneless poultry breast should be cooked to an internal temperature of 170°F. Ground poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165-170°F. - Seafood
Fish – Cook until opaque and easily flaked with a fork. Scallops – Cook until opaque and firm. Shrimp – Cook until shrimp turn orange/ red and flesh is pearly opaque. - Bacon
Cook bacon until crispy to taste (½ lb. at a time) Hot Dogs/Smoked Sausages Although they are pre-cooked, we recommend cooking hot dogs and smoked sausages until the internal temperature is 165°F when tested with an instant-read thermometer. - Beef
WARRANTY
Limited Three-Year Warranty
This warranty is available to consumers only. You are a consumer if you own a Cuisinart® Compact Grill Centro 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® Compact Grill Centro will be free of defects in materials and workmanship under normal home use for 3 years from the date of original purchase. We recommend that you visit our website, www.cuisinart.com for a fast, efficient way to complete your product registration. However, product registration does not eliminate the need for the consumer to maintain the original proof of purchase to obtain the warranty benefits. If you do not have proof of purchase date, the purchase date for purposes of this warranty will be the date of manufacture. If your Cuisinart® Compact Grill Centro should prove to be defective within the warranty period, we will repair it, or if we think it necessary, replace it. To obtain warranty service, simply call our toll-free number,
1-800-726-0190, for additional information from our Customer Service
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ONLY
California law provides that for In-Warranty Service, California residents have the option of returning a nonconforming product (A) to the store where it was purchased or (B) to another retail store that sells Cuisinart products of the same type. The retail store shall then, at its discretion, either repair the product, refer the consumer to an independent repair facility, replace the product, or refund the purchase price less the amount directly attributable to the consumer’s prior usage of the product. If the above two options do not result in the appropriate relief to the consumer, the consumer may then take the product to an independent repair facility if service or repair can be economically accomplished. Cuisinart and not the consumer will be responsible for the reasonable cost of such service, repair, replacement, or refund for nonconforming products under warranty. California residents may also, according to their preference, return nonconforming products directly to Cuisinart for repair, or if necessary, replacement, by calling our Consumer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-726-0190.
BEFORE RETURNING YOUR CUISINART PRODUCT
If you are experiencing problems with your Cuisinart product, we suggest that you call our Consumer Service Center at 1-800-726-0190 before returning the product for servicing. Often, our Consumer Service Representatives can help solve the problem without having the product serviced. If servicing is needed, a Representative can confirm whether the product is under warranty and direct you to the nearest
service location. Your Cuisinart® Compact Grill Centro has been manufactured to the strictest specifications and has been designed for use only in 120-volt outlets and only with authorized accessories and replacement parts. This warranty expressly excludes any defects or damages caused by attempted use of this unit with a converter, as well as use with accessories, replacement parts, or repair services other than those authorized by Cuisinart. This warranty does not cover any damage caused by accident, misuse, shipment, or other than ordinary household use. This warranty excludes all incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of these damages, so these exclusions may not apply to you. You may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. Important: If the nonconforming product is to be serviced by someone other than Cuisinart’s Authorized Service Center, please remind the servicer to call our Consumer Service Center at 1-800-726-0190 to ensure that the problem is properly diagnosed, the product is serviced with the correct parts, and to ensure that the product is still under warranty
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