I am just opening and getting ready to make friends with a new Breville Grille. I could sure use some help here.

I would really appreciate information from experienced users.

What/how do you cook on yours?

Recipes? Techniques? Which plate when? Following suggestions in other threads, I bought extra plates, so I have two ridged, two plain. Do you use both top and bottom ridged plates for steaks? (Gonna try steaks tomorrow.)

I'm pretty much NOT impressed by the recipes and instructions that come with it. Thank goodness for GW!

Sandra

I am hoping to be able to get this one hot enough to grill steaks. I like them rare, so it has to heat enough to sear the outside without cooking the steak all the way through. Maybe closing the adjustable lid gently so juices aren't pressed out and searing both sides at once will work? Like you say, I don't want a grilled cheese sandwich type steak. Guess I'll find out. It's gotta get HOT though. And the top ribbed grill has to just touch on the steaks, not smash them. (When the weather is bad and I don't want to go outside to the wood/gas grills, I frequently cook steaks on a big flat grill over two burners because the broiler in my 8 yr old Jenn Air is totally useless. That's also how I sear steaks cut from sous vide' roasts. I am hoping this expensive toy will tide me over until I can get a CC to replace the Jenn Air.

I think fish and shrimp will work--again, if it gets hot enough.

Hamburgers and other patties of any ground meat, brats or other round sausages, I am sure will work. Bacon and ham should work.

Panini type sandwiches will work, of course. I wonder about grilling veggies--asparagus, sweet potatoes, green beans, which I usually do in a big skillet or the big two-burner grill when it's just too hot to heat up the oven and roast them.

I think I will try sliced apples, pancakes, bacon, and eggs, using a flat grill and a ribbed one.

I'm hoping that someone who uses a Breville will comment about how they use theirs.

Sandra

I can report that bacon, eggs, sliced apples, and pancakes were a success.

The bacon cooked perfectly on the ribbed side, draining into the drip tray. The apples browned nicely (and quickly) with a little butter.

I had the unit on the highest temp (450), which was a bit much for the pancakes. They cooked through before they were too brown, but barely. Eggs were perfect.

Tonight I'll do the steaks. Xing my fingers.