CuisinartCGWM-057 XL 360° Griddle Cover,Grey

I use this several times a week, all year round. (I live in SE Pa) I've had it about two years and it has changed the way I cook in a major way. I keep it in my front yard, about 15 ft from the door, and even on the coldest days, I can go out & quickly cook breakfast. I have cast iron Lodge griddles that fit over the electric range-top burners, but this is quicker and easier to use, and cleans up faster even though I have to go outside. And no smoke-filled rooms, all-day onion or bacon smell, or smoke alarms triggered. Also, for french toast & pancakes, I can load the whole batch on, where even with the large range griddle, they don't all fit at once. Veggies and thick onion slices come out perfect. The only complaint I read is 'no grill marks'. Well, if I feel the need, I just use the cast iron grill plates from my portable Nexgrill Cast Aluminum Table Top Gas BBQ which has been relegated for use in the backyard, mainly for quick hotdogs or something when I'm out in the garage. I set those grill plates on the Cusinart griddle surface to heat up, along with a couple presses when I first fire up, & put the dome on so everything gets evenly hot. You could also buy those Nexgrill grates, or another brand separately. The heat distribution is not quite even, but the learning curve solved that for me. This is among the best 3 appliances I've ever purchased in my 50+ years of adult life. Get one while they're still reasonably priced. Also, don't neglect to buy the cover if you plan on leaving it outside.

I noticed that the reviews are a mix of a couple of grills which can be confusing. This one is for the larger Cuisineart 360 XL.I would always go with the larger one even if it is a bit pricey compared to its smaller cousin. I have had it for a week and love doing stir-fry and smash burgers. Less splatter on the floor and food flying off the top with the larger surface. I looked at the EVO with I found out is a little less than $4000, yikes, I'm sure it is heaven, heats evenly and lasts forever, but too rich for me. This grill works great and seems just as fun to cook on, though I wonder how many years it can last in the open.You will want to buy a cover for the unit, as the metal cover doesn't completely cover the sides of the grill top, and has a vent hole that I'm sure will leak. If you don't keep it under an awning, you will need a cover.And the unit is very wide and will not fit through most doors, so if you have a patio with a door you'll want to either decide it to be indoors or outdoors as once you bolt on the base, that's pretty much it.Pros:- Great 30" round cooking surface. Pretty thick enough to hold heat. Surprisingly good against sticking when seasoned. Larger surface also means cooking in middle helps minimize splatter when grilling, and less food flying when stir-frying.- Surface gets about 550 F and can get a little higher. Good for "smash burgers" or stir fry.- Easy to clean with water and a scraper. Use towels to wipe drip catch around the grill to the drip pan.- Comes with a big metal cover.- A left and right foldable shelves (thought wish a little larger).- 3 burner zones so you can have the center to be hot, and the sides for holding/warming if you are stir frying.Cons:- Base is a bit cheaply made. I do worry about long term rust, I suggest if you see rust to immediately use anti-rust treatment and/or paint.- There were some minor manufacturing defects and minor scratches, but fortunately no dents. There was one issue, there was a very sharp piece of metal pin-point on the sheet-metal of the drip cup (and pricked me!). I was able to remove it, but ouch!- Though it has 3 burner zones, I wished the side zones were curved rather than straight to help even out the heat to the side. With that, the heat on the top can be a bit uneven.

Every outdoor cooking appliance is a trade off between functionality and price. If money is not a concern, then the EVO griddle for $5,000 is the best for a 30" diameter round. If price is a concern, then get the Cuisinart 360 XL. Both provide over 705 sq. inches of cooking space.1. High heat output of 50,000 BTU similar to the EVO, but the 360 XL has three separate burners running vertically. Left/Right single burners and center in a "U" shape. The EVO has two concentric round burners which makes heat control easier; however, the 360 XL can be managed knowing you will have some hot/cold spots. Wind shielding isn't the greatest, but isn't bad and you can rotate it if you have straight line winds.2. The round steel griddle is heavy, but not very heavy. It could have been beefier, but that would require the rest of the frame to be sturdier.3. Grease management is excellent with the all round drip tray that drains into the grease cup. If food falls into it, just pick it up and put back on the griddle.4. Made in China and made cheaply. Don't leave it out in the rain, it will rust, and will rust if you don't keep it clean. The control knobs are made of plastic, which will break if you frequently turn them hard. Amazon shipping is also an issue, often times these grills will get beaten up in shipping. It may be worth paying $20 for inside delivery so you can inspect the package or refuse delivery.At the price point of $440 after tax, it is a better product than the standard Blackstone griddle. If the price was $500 or higher, then I would look into a better standard rectangular griddle between $500-$900 that could attain the similar heat per sq. inch. I expect to use this griddle for 3-4 years, then it will likely break down, but by then I'm sure other companies will have more price competitive round griddles.

Assembled and seasoned the grill and used it the same dayWorked great

Merveilleux

I love the grill, but on the 5th time using it while cooking on it it made a pop sound and the surface warped. Called Amazon and they were right on it. Waiting to hear back from Cuisinart.

Ordered in nov for Christmas present for my hub but really wanted for myself! No problem putting it together just took time. Used yesterday to make a big batch of meatballs for the freezer. Started right up and I am glad I can cook bacon or hamburger with out stinking my kitchen up. Just a little worried about the finish on the grill I would imagine steel tools are a no no I think it could scratch off easily but great to use so far.

We love it!