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Yes, the Cuisinart Griddler & Deep Pan GR-5XA works as an open BBQ: you open the appliance flat and cook on its grill or griddle plates. It is a flexible indoor benchtop cooker, not a replacement for the atmosphere, capacity or cooking behavior of a traditional outdoor barbecue. The strongest case for it is convenience and multiple cooking formats; the main compromises are bench splatter, limited open cooking area and the need to adjust cooking times.
The operating details below come from Cuisinart Australia’s GR-5XA instruction booklet. The performance comments are observations reported by CHOICE in its first-look evaluation, last updated 31 August 2021, rather than current testing or personal testing for this article.
What is the GR-5XA, and what does “open BBQ” mean?
The GR-5XA is a multi-use electric benchtop appliance that CHOICE describes as a 5-in-1 model. Its supplied configuration includes reversible cooking plates, a deep pan with a detachable handle, a scraping and cleaning tool, instructions and a recipe booklet. The appliance can operate as a contact grill, flat grill or griddle, sandwich press, deep pan cooker and open BBQ.
In open BBQ mode, the hinged unit is opened flat so both cooking surfaces are exposed. You cook directly on the fitted grill or griddle plates instead of closing the lid over the food. The Cuisinart booklet groups open BBQ with the grill temperature settings. It also says the appliance detects GRILL or DEEP PAN mode from the lower plate that is installed, so the lower plate determines which operating family appears on the control system.
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“Open BBQ” therefore describes the appliance’s layout and plate configuration, not a charcoal, gas or smoke-cooking system. There is no claim in the supplied material that it creates a traditional barbecue environment.
How to use open BBQ mode
Use the following sequence as a concise guide to the manufacturer’s instructions. Read the complete booklet for electrical and safe-use directions; this summary does not replace it.
- Choose a location. Set the unit on a clean, flat indoor surface. Allow enough room for the lid to open flat, and position the supplied drip tray before cooking.
- Fit the plates. Install the selected plates, including the lower plate required for grill operation. The appliance identifies GRILL or DEEP PAN from the lower plate fitted.
- Open the appliance flat. Open the hinged top so the grill or griddle surfaces are available as two horizontal cooking areas.
- Select a temperature. Rotate the PRESS TO SELECT dial to the required grill/open-BBQ setting, then press the dial to confirm.
- Preheat. Watch the display and status bar. The unit signals that preheating is complete with a beep.
- Cook with or without a timer. The timer is optional. After preheating, set a countdown if you want one; when that countdown ends, the display begins counting upward rather than stopping the appliance automatically.
The display, status bar and beep are the official readiness indicators described in the booklet. They are not an independent measurement of the plate surface temperature.
What temperature does the Cuisinart GR-5XA reach?
For grill, griddle, sandwich-press and open-BBQ operation, the booklet lists six selectable temperatures. The 200°C setting is the preset. These are official control settings, not temperatures independently measured for this article.
| Selectable setting | How to interpret it |
|---|---|
| 80°C | Lowest selectable grill-family setting |
| 120°C | Selectable grill-family setting |
| 160°C | Selectable grill-family setting |
| 180°C | Selectable grill-family setting |
| 200°C | Preset grill-family temperature |
| 230°C | Highest selectable grill-family setting listed in the booklet |
If you need the maximum available heat, 230°C is the relevant control setting. That does not mean every part of every plate will hold exactly 230°C while food is cooking; the booklet provides selectable settings, not a laboratory surface-temperature profile. Ingredients, food thickness, loading and recovery after adding cold food can all affect results.
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What CHOICE reported in its 2021 evaluation
CHOICE tester Matthew Tung used the appliance for steak, chicken wings, cake and toasted sandwiches. The review presents it as a useful multi-purpose cooker, while also identifying limits that matter if you are considering it specifically as a barbecue.
Steak required timing adjustment
CHOICE reported that the first steaks were somewhat dry or overcooked. A shorter cooking time improved the result. This is a practical warning against transferring a time from another grill: start checking earlier and build your own timing for the thickness and cut you use. CHOICE notes that trial and error may be needed.
Chicken wings cooked quickly but needed more crisping
With the lid closed, CHOICE reported that chicken wings were ready within eight minutes, but needed longer to crisp. That observation illustrates the difference between being cooked through and achieving the exterior texture you want. The eight-minute result belongs to CHOICE’s 2021 test conditions, not a universal promise for every quantity or recipe.
It handled several food types
The tester also prepared cake and toasted sandwiches, supporting the claim that the GR-5XA is more versatile than a single-purpose grill. Those examples do not establish a complete recipe range or guarantee identical results with different batters, breads or loads.
Grease can reach the benchtop
CHOICE observed grease splattering onto the benchtop. Open-flat cooking exposes more of the cooking surface, so plan the appliance position and surrounding work area accordingly. The supplied drip tray helps collect runoff, but the review does not say that it prevents every splatter.
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Setup and cleaning were easy in that test
CHOICE found setup and cleaning easy and notes that a scraping or cleaning tool is supplied. “Easy” is an observation from that evaluation, not a claim that every residue disappears without attention. Greasy foods and browned material can still require deliberate cleanup using the supplied equipment and the booklet’s directions.
Can the GR-5XA replace a barbecue?
It can replace some barbecue tasks, but it does not reproduce a traditional BBQ experience. CHOICE explicitly says the unit is not a substitute for a traditional BBQ. Use it when you want an electric indoor appliance that can grill food on an open surface, close for contact cooking, or switch to a deep pan. Do not choose it expecting the capacity, open-air cooking environment or distinctive experience of a full outdoor barbecue.
| If your priority is… | What the GR-5XA offers | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor electric grilling | Open-flat grill or griddle operation with selectable settings up to 230°C | Grease splatter was reported in CHOICE’s 2021 evaluation |
| One appliance for several methods | Contact grill, flat grill/griddle, sandwich press and deep-pan use | Plate selection and configuration determine the mode |
| Traditional BBQ cooking | Open cooking on electric plates | CHOICE says it is not a substitute for a traditional BBQ |
| Repeatable cooking times | Optional countdown timer and preheat alert | CHOICE found that steak times needed adjustment and recommends trial and error |
How much cooking and storage space does it need?
CHOICE reports closed dimensions of 19 cm high and 34 × 35 cm for width and depth. When opened, the depth increases to 55 cm. Measure your bench with the appliance closed and open; a location that fits the stored unit may not leave enough room to operate it flat.
The related CHOICE BBQ-mode listing identifies the appliance as electric and balcony/portable, reports a weight of 5.4 kg and repeats dimensions of 19 × 34 × 35 cm. Those figures describe the product listing and closed form; the 55 cm open depth is the dimension to use when planning open-BBQ operation.
Open-area expectations
The GR-5XA gives you two exposed plate surfaces when open, but the supplied material does not state a total cooking-area measurement. Avoid assuming that the open area equals the surface of a full-size outdoor grill. For a small household meal, its compact format can be useful; for a large gathering, the available area and the need to cook in batches may be limiting.
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Is the Cuisinart Griddler easy to clean?
CHOICE reported easy setup and cleaning, and the package includes a scraping/cleaning tool. The practical cleaning workflow is to install the drip tray before cooking, use the supplied tool as directed for residue, and follow the complete Cuisinart booklet for handling and cleaning instructions. The evidence does not establish dishwasher compatibility, a specific soaking method or a guaranteed cleaning time, so those details should not be assumed.
Open BBQ cooking deserves extra attention to the area around the appliance because CHOICE saw grease on the benchtop. Let the cooking session finish before cleaning and keep the work surface clear enough to wipe safely according to the manufacturer’s directions. The key distinction is that the plates and tray may be straightforward to deal with, while splatter can add cleanup outside the appliance itself.
What is included and how the design affects flexibility?
CHOICE lists reversible plates, a deep pan with detachable handle, a cleaning/scraping tool, instructions and a recipe booklet. Reversible plates let the same appliance serve different cooking surfaces, while the deep pan changes the job from surface grilling to contained pan cooking. The detachable handle is part of the deep-pan setup described by CHOICE.
That flexibility is most valuable when you want one benchtop appliance for different meal types rather than a dedicated grill. It also means more configuration decisions: you must fit the intended plates, and the lower plate determines whether the unit identifies GRILL or DEEP PAN mode. Store the accessories so the plates, pan and handle remain together; the supplied material does not specify a separate storage system.
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A practical decision guide
Choose it when you want compact electric versatility
- You need grill, griddle, sandwich-press and deep-pan functions in one appliance.
- You can provide a flat indoor bench with at least 55 cm of depth available when the unit is open.
- You value a selectable temperature range ending at the official 230°C setting.
- You are willing to adjust cooking times for food thickness and desired doneness.
- You prefer an electric countertop format over maintaining a separate outdoor barbecue.
Look for a different type of cooker when these are non-negotiable
- You want the capacity or cooking environment of a traditional outdoor BBQ.
- You cannot accommodate the 55 cm open depth or potential grease around the bench.
- You require a published surface-temperature test, because the booklet lists control settings rather than independent measurements.
- You need a guaranteed cooking time for a particular food; CHOICE’s steak and chicken observations show that timing depends on the food and desired finish.
Setup checklist before the first open-BBQ session
- Confirm that the appliance can sit on a clean, flat indoor surface with the lid fully open.
- Place the drip tray and fit the intended grill or griddle plates before switching modes.
- Check that the lower plate is the one required for GRILL operation so the appliance detects the intended mode.
- Have the supplied scraping/cleaning tool available before cooking greasy food.
- Choose a starting temperature from the six official settings and allow the preheat beep before adding food.
- Use the timer only if a countdown helps; remember that the display counts upward after the countdown ends.
- For unfamiliar foods, begin checking earlier than a recipe written for another grill and adjust on the next batch.
Troubleshooting common expectations
The unit does not behave like an open grill
Check that it is physically opened flat and that the lower plate is the grill configuration. The booklet says mode detection depends on the fitted lower plate, so a deep-pan plate can lead to a different mode.
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Food is cooked but not crisp
CHOICE saw this with chicken wings: they were ready within eight minutes with the lid closed but needed longer to crisp. Continue only within the manufacturer’s operating directions and judge the result by the food, not the timer alone.
Steak is too dry
CHOICE’s first steaks were somewhat dry or overcooked, while a shorter cooking time improved them. Reduce the next cooking interval and account for thickness, starting temperature and the result you want.
The bench is greasy
CHOICE reported grease splattering onto the benchtop. Reposition the appliance on a suitable clear surface, use the drip tray, and plan to clean the surrounding bench as well as the cooking components.
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The related CHOICE BBQ-mode listing reports a three-year warranty and a weight of 5.4 kg. One CHOICE product page showed a page-reported price of $249, while a separate CHOICE listing showed $269. These are historical page figures, not a current market quote, and they should not be treated as a confirmed selling price today.
Current Amazon Australia price, stock and replacement-plate availability were not verified. If you shop for the exact appliance, confirm that the listing says Griddler & Deep Pan GR-5XA and check which plates, pan and handle are included before paying. Compatible replacement plates are a plausible category, but no verified GR-5XA replacement SKU or current stock information is established here.
Verdict
The GR-5XA is best understood as a flexible electric cooking station with an open-BBQ setting, not as a miniature outdoor barbecue. Its official grill-family controls run from 80°C to 230°C with a 200°C preset, and its reversible plates and deep pan cover several cooking styles. CHOICE’s 2021 evaluation supports the versatility and easy setup, while its steak timing adjustment, wing-crisping limitation and benchtop grease warning explain the learning curve. Buy it for compact indoor flexibility; choose a traditional BBQ if that specific cooking experience is the requirement.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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