Good for Single-Person Cooking with Some Limitations
Review by ReviewM /
(Posted on 4/5/2024)
I've had this for a little over a year. I always struggled with crepes and pancakes on the stove, and this worked great for that. It's also great for omelettes. When using for those things, it is easy enough to clean and wipe out.This helped me work out recipes for flat breads, but it would be a bit better at this if it had controls. If it had controls, it would cost 20-30 dollars more. The only company that made a smaller grill with controls was Bear, but you can't get the small one anymore.So this is "meat the heat" cooking. Whatever the setting is, that is how you cook. I keep track of times to try to replicate cooking.With meats, vegetables, and other foods, yes, you can sautee foods. It would be better with equal heat elements and a lid that could open flat, but again, we are talking about much more money. This is simple, easy, and if you are a dough-in-can kind of person, you can do some creative and fast cooking with this including pizzas, pancake, and more interesting, non-American things.Unless it's crepes, you still have to flip it. I consider the lid something that helps from grease splattering, but know this will generate oil all around it. So it is better to use if you have lots of counter space, despite it's small profile. Grease leaks through the sides and makes a mess on the counter, even if you could use light oil.Do you have to use oil? Not inititally, but the non-stick does wear. I bought this at the end of Jan. 23, and the non-stick surface is now worn and everything is sticking to it. I am deciding whether to replace it. Most non-stick pans last at least a couple years. And no, I didn't use spray cans in it or harsh tools (just silicone). It just wore very badly.I have some little ones too that I use for small sandwiches and burgers. I don't use them as frequently, so didn't get the some amount of wear. I have used this almost daily.If they put better non-stick on this, heat controls, and true dual-sided heating, I'd be willing to pay 70 or so dollars because this is the perfect size for a single person. I love it. But I don't love the lack of longevity of the coating.Also, I find this absurdly hard to clean after sauting food or meat. I think it shines when used for pourable batter and eggs. Probably I will buy another and restrict my use to breads. Cooking meats and other foods seemed to be much harder on the finish. It's worth 20 dollars, well worth it. But I don't feel good about throwing another pan in the trash... Stainless steel might be a nice option, with removable plates. Does anyone do that? Non-stick always seems to fail to live up to its name... But not everything can be cooked in cast iron...I love Courant products. I hope they improve their coating and keep going with these round grill designs.
