De'Longhi America CGH1020D Livenza All Day Combination Contact Grill and Open Barbecue, Stainless Steel

I don't use the flat griddle plates, and only care about the panini press function of this machine, and it's MAGNIFICENT! This machine is a major upgrade over the little plastic panini presses out there. With this unit I'm able to make two large paninis (5 inch x 9 inch bread) at the same time. The top grill plate is heavy and presses the sandwich properly to create a nice crust on the bread. The grill shape is perfect, with straight lines that press into the bread. I set the machine at 375 degrees and set the timer for 3 minutes. Comes out perfect every time, with a nice crust outside and melted cheese inside. The bread should be brushed or sprayed with olive oil. Amazon sells olive oil spray bottles. Pesto spread, mozzarella cheese, and prosciutto ham, is marvelous. It's a larger unit, so I keep it on a side counter in the kitchen, and it looks nice too. But the performance and taste is most important, and this makes excellent panini sandwiches. Worth the extra cost if you enjoy perfect paninis, and the ability to make two sandwiches at once.

Over the years I have moved from George Foreman (great at the time), to a Griddler (hated it- not sure if it was a lemon but I did not have a single positive experience with this appliance), to a Breville panini press (my beloved, found it a thrift store). It was time to upgrade and this seemed like the best (although a bit extravagantly priced) option. It has not disappointed. I use it often enough to have a dedicated space on my countertop for it. It is large but it is handy having such a large cooking surface. It heats fast and every (although sometimes it seems like the bottom plate is not as a hot as the top even if they are set to the same temp. The plates are sturdy and nice. It is a beautiful machine. I have cooked waffles, hash browns, steaks, quesadillas, grilled chicken, eggs, pancakes and many other things and the results are always great... and it is easy to clean and operate. Handy gadget. I am not a Vine reviewer- although I wish I was. This would've been an amazing to score for free.

We're using this appliance almost every day! I started looking for a waffle maker, but I was not happy with the plastic parts and loose-feeling hinges. When I came across this appliance, I realized I could get rid of our crappy countertop electric grill and have a single appliance meets my family's needs for countertop cooking. I'm so glad I found this! We use it several times a week, for grilled cheese sandwiches, waffles, chicken, pancakes. And OH, for the bacon. The interchangeable plates are super easy to clean, if challenging to store. The settings are easy to use, and switching from standard to panini to double-griddle configurations is simple to figure out. The elements heat more quickly than I expected, which is a welcome time saver in dinner prep! The heating has been very even, resulting in perfectly cooked waffles/chicken/bacon/etc. The grill does take up a fair amount of counter space, but it looks good doing it. I'm so glad I made the investment--the quality of this appliance means we're sure to get a lot of use, for years to come.

This is a game changer, especially for a panini. I’ve only had this for a week, and have made three meals on it. Easy to use, cleans up easily, and it’s fast!

After incorporating the De'Longhi CGH1030D Livenza All-Day Grill into our kitchen, it's quickly become a family favorite, especially with our teenagers. This versatile appliance has transformed our meal preparation routine, making it easier and more enjoyable to create delicious grilled dishes at home. Versatility at Its Best The standout feature of this De'Longhi model is its incredible versatility. It's not just a panini press – it's a complete cooking station that serves as a grill, griddle, and waffle maker all in one. The reversible plates and adjustable cooking surfaces mean you can easily switch between making morning waffles and grilling sandwiches for lunch. Perfect for Paninis As first-time panini maker owners, we've been thoroughly impressed with its performance. The grill creates those coveted crispy, golden-brown lines while ensuring the inside of sandwiches stays perfectly melted and warm. The floating hinge system ensures even pressure regardless of sandwich thickness, which means no more squished or unevenly cooked sandwiches. Teen-Approved Perhaps the most telling endorsement comes from our teenagers, who have made grilled sandwiches their go-to meal choice. The convenience and quick cooking time make it perfect for after-school snacks or quick lunches. It's gratifying to see them excited about making their own meals, and the consistently delicious results keep them coming back for more. Build Quality and Design The silver finish gives the appliance a professional, sleek appearance that looks great in any kitchen. The construction feels solid and durable, suggesting this is an appliance built to last through years of family use. The large cooking surface is particularly appreciated, allowing us to prepare multiple sandwiches at once – a crucial feature for feeding hungry teens. Practical Features - Contact grill with floating hinge system adapts to food thickness - Digital controls with multiple temperature settings - Removable plates are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning - Built-in drip tray catches excess oils and fats - Clear indicator lights show when the unit is ready to use Room for Improvement While the appliance excels in most areas, the initial setup and plate removal system has a slight learning curve. Once mastered, however, it becomes second nature. Final Verdict The De'Longhi Livenza All-Day Grill has proven to be an excellent investment for our family. Its versatility, ease of use, and consistent performance make it a standout kitchen appliance. Whether you're making breakfast waffles, grilled sandwiches, or searing vegetables for dinner, this multi-functional tool delivers restaurant-quality results at home. For families with teenagers or anyone looking to simplify their cooking routine while maintaining quality results, this De'Longhi model is definitely worth considering. It's transformed our family's dining experience, making meal preparation more enjoyable and bringing us together in the kitchen.

Let me tell you about this grill/griddle it is awesome! I first seen this at my sons house ,the food tasted great he tellls me I not that good of a cook , trust me it’s the grill tpit makes everything taste better . Well at first I looked around ended up buying another brand , it was comparable but still not the same long story shot returned it with a week ,then went and brought this unit the one my son has , after having this about a month ,I love it ,convenient, easy clean up ,came with three sets of plates, included is waffle plates that no one else gives you or they just don’t make them . It for whatever reason make the food taste better ,everything taste s better when cook on the grill / griddle! One of the Best Buy’s I made in. Long time ...it cooks everything , I haven’t use my large stove since !! The first morning I made breakfast on this grill /griddle it looked like a picture out of a food magazine ! I never seen eggs ,beacon ,home fries look so prefect all due to the delonghi grill/griddle ! You can not go wrong with this purchase.

so I really liked the waffles this machine made! they were awesome.. but Delonghi did clearly little to know product testing on the design... like they clearly have never made waffles in this machine. there's a gap in the casing that batter flows into.. i LITERALLY only used it once.. but i can see that if you used this over and over it might overflow the wires eventually.. why they didn't overlap the metal so overflow would go outside the machine is a bit beyond me. I decided to take it apart and clean it out... (see pictures) .. I've also decided that in future I'm going to use some ultra-high temperature gasket silicone to fill the gap- it doesnt touch the food so it should be fine... this will let me cut the silicone if i ever need to but will still fix the issue of batter, fat or other liquids running into the innards of the machine. So i'd maybe recommend you do the same as this will fix the issue right off the bat. NOW, that being said.. the waffles were amazing.. and i 100% loved the fact that you can pop off the plates to clean them.. my last waffle machine had fixed plates which is beyond stupid having an electric machine that you cant fully clean. Once i fix the bad design i think its a 5 star product... and i think its definitely the nicest waffle / burger maker I've had... it's very cool... oh the other thing I wasnt a super fan of they cheaped out on the dials.. they're really cheapy plastic which for a $300 machine is stupid.. spend the money and use nice metal dials.. it really cheapens the machine.... but again it's not a core function just an aesthetic.. but still would have been nice to have nice dials. I mean come on guys.. its a $300 machine... should be high quality components. the inside is mostly just a few wires so i'm sure theres plenty of markup / margin they could have used to make the dials nice too... but yeah.. if you're looking for a waffle machine this is one of the nicest ones i've seen. UPDATE: fixed design flaw myself… to fix it before you use it get high temp gasket silicone from the auto parts store the one that goes up to 700 degrees .. apply around edge.. see pictures… it’s not near the food and makes the product the way it should have been…

I used it to cook Italian sausage first. Flawless results. Then this weekend I used it to cook bacon and sausage patties. I love the ability to keep the lower plater at one temperature and the upper at a higher temperature. It allowed me to cook bacon and sausage at the same time. Then the ability to turn one plater off when the bacon was done. Additional uses later: The cooking guide (very helpful) said to cook my sirloin at 450 F for 7-9 minutes. I went with 6 minutes, as I prefer my steak medium/rare. It was slightly beyond where I like it (I'll go with 5 minutes next time) but having a steak ready in 5 minutes?! Love this appliance! Also, beautiful char marks.