Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've been through my share of non-stick electric griddles over the years. All of them ended up losing their non-stick capability fairly early and a couple of them heated unevenly right from the start. Since I've read a good bit about the health concerns of using non-stick (Teflon) cookware, this time I wanted to get a ceramic non-stick surface that is PFOA and PTFE free. Now that I've used the unit a number of times, I'm finding that there are things I love about it and other things that I'm disappointed with. For starters, here is what I like about it: - The heating controls go up to 450 degrees which is higher than many models - The ceramic coating is healthier than Teflon and VERY non-stick - It heats evenly. I've filled the entire surface with pancakes and everything browns evenly with no "stripes" or pale areas. - Although a tad slow to reach the set heat, it maintains the set heat well for extended periods (my others didn't) - It looks nice and appears to be sturdy and well constructed - Any type of utensils can be used on it - The grill side leaves grill-lines on meat and vegetables making them look more authentically grilled - Can go in dishwasher (I generally wash by hand, though, as it takes up too much space and fits awkwardly in my dishwasher) And, the stuff I don't like so much: - Its cooking surface is smaller than my previous griddles - I find the drip pan can be somewhat ineffective and inconvenient to clean when cooking fatty meats like bacon on the grill side - It's a bit slow to reach the desired temperature; although once there, it maintains the heat well - There's a gap between the griddle/grill and the support base where food and meat fats can fall in (over 1/2" in certain areas) - High-priced, especially for my use of it primarily as a breakfast griddle My main reason for buying this product is for cooking large breakfasts for my family which sometimes includes a troop of extra college kids. For that purpose, I'm very happy with the griddle side and would give it a 4.5 rating (a drop of half a star for its limited size). However, assuming that many Amazon customers will consider buying this product for its grilling capabilities also, I'm lowering my overall star rating to a 3.5. I've used the grill side for burgers and grilled vegetables. The veggies came out okay, but the grill doesn't seem to get quite hot enough for thick burgers or other meats in my opinion. This product is a great option for those people who are primarily interested in its griddle capabilities (pancakes, French toast, eggs, etc.). It should also be considered by those people interested in a healthier alternative to traditional non-stick coatings. The grill capability is perfectly adequate; however, it's important that potential customers recognize that it's not going to sear meat like a skillet, George Foreman grill, or traditional BBQ grill will. For those people, like me, who are using it primarily as a griddle, I highly recommend it. And, again, the grill side is adequate but I find that I don't really use it because I have other options that work better for me. UPDATE: Nearly a year and a half later and after hundreds of uses, I'm still very happy with this griddle's capabilities. The ceramic surface remains very non-stick and it still heats evenly.