De’Longhi CGH1020D is not only a contact grill, it can also be used as a broiler and grill oven for non-contact frying of thick foods. The device is equipped with two types of interchangeable panels: smooth and corrugated, and the temperature of each is set separately. De’Longhi promises that using the device will be comfortable and easy: the LCD display will tell you all the necessary information, comfortable handles will not heat up during operation, which means that you will not get burned if you accidentally touch them. The device looks very solid, and we can’t wait to start testing. By the way, we got hold of additional waffle iron panels and will certainly use them.

Characteristics

Manufacturer	De’Longhi
Model	CGH1020D MultiGrill
Type	contact grill
Country of Origin	China
Warranty	2 years
Service life *	2 years
Declared power	2000 W
Housing material	metal, plastic
Removable panel material	non-stick coated metal
Pickup area material	plastic
Case color	metallic, black
Panels included	with a flat and corrugated surface; it is possible to purchase panels for waffles
Control	push-button mechanical
Display	LED display
Indicators	heating, readiness for operation, as well as sound signals
Temperature control	yes, from 60 to 230 °C
Timer	yes, from 10 seconds to 90 minutes in 10 second increments
Peculiarities	removable and interchangeable panels, 3 operating modes: contact grill, open grill, grill oven; temperature control for each panel, Sear mode, automatic shutdown
Accessories	container for collecting fat and liquids, spatula for cleaning
Panel dimensions (L×W)	37×23 cm
Cord length	88 cm
Instrument weight	9.5 kg
Instrument dimensions (W×H×D)	458×185×343 mm
Retail offers

^* Contrary to common misconception, this is not the period after which the device will definitely break. However, after this period, the manufacturer ceases to bear any responsibility for its performance and has the right to refuse to repair it, even for a fee.

Equipment

The grill is supplied in a voluminous cardboard box, designed in the De’Longhi corporate style: a high-quality photograph of the appliance and panels against a black and blue background. On the side faces of the box, you can find the technical data of the device, although not in Russian: the information is given in English, Italian, German, French and Spanish.

Opening the box, inside we found:

• grill body
• two sets of panels
• manual and service book
• leaflet with recommendations for preparing for work in the expanded position of the panels

The device is protected from external damage by foam inserts. Sheets of soft packaging material are placed between the panels, protecting their surface from scratches and damage.

The waffle plates are packed in a white and blue square box, we also found a scoop for dough in it.

At first sight

The steel body of the CGH1020D MultiGrill looks brutal and expensive, with a minimum of plastic in the finish. The entire front side of the grill base is occupied by the control panel. The grill is opened with a massive handle with a plastic grip zone.

The lid with the top frying plate is hinged to the handle of the grill, thanks to which it automatically adjusts to the height of the products and is held in a horizontal position without deforming or squeezing the contents of the grill. The black panel release buttons are on the right side.

On the right outer side of the handle are a platen lock/release lever (keeps them closed) and a hinge release lever that allows the grill to be brought to the fully open position. The locking lever also ensures the operation of the grill in stove mode: the lid is fixed horizontally at the height you need (from 2 to 6 cm from the bottom plate) by turning this knob. This cooking method is suitable, for example, for moist vegetables, soft sandwiches and foods that do not require pressure.

A capacious removable container for fat collection peeps out from behind. An electrical cord exits to the right of it, long enough not to put the grill close to the outlet.

In the open position of the grill, there is no need to hold the folding part – the base of the appliance is very stable.

In the “barbecue” mode, the grill lid rests on the handle and is at a slight angle to the base.

The grill comes with two sets of panels with a built-in heating element: smooth and ribbed. They are symmetrical, and therefore each can be installed both above and below. The panels are heavy, with a thick non-stick coating on the working side, and on the back they are covered with a protective material. The coating is applied evenly and smoothly.

A contact group, a panel presence sensor and a latch are hidden under the panels.

But the waffle panels (purchased separately) are not interchangeable: the lower holes for the dough are deeper.

A measuring spoon is attached to the waffle iron panels, which is convenient to scoop up and pour the dough into the mold.

Already at the stage of visual inspection, it is obvious that De’Longhi CGH1020D MultiGrill is a high-quality and thoughtful device. It has large and high-quality panels, convenient operation, and a powerful steel case. We did not find a single reason to find fault with the build quality. In general, “you pick up – you wave a thing.”

Instruction

The instruction manual is written in as many as 18 languages. The Russian-language block starts on page 144 and ends on page 163.

The content is standard: safety measures, a description of the device, its individual parts and design, a list of actions before starting operation, operating rules, a description of the features of various modes. The text is written in small but easy to read type and is complemented by illustrations. The table completes the instruction: one lists possible errors and methods for their elimination, the other gives recommendations for the preparation of various products. After the tables, recipes for various dishes are given, from scrambled eggs to waffles.

De’Longhi MultiGrill App

The application does not control the device, but rather helps to work with it, so we write about it in the “Instructions” section, and not “Controls”, as usual.

For the Android operating system, the application is downloaded from Google Play. With installation there are no difficulties. For the application to work adequately, you just need to remember the model number of your grill and select it from those offered.

Navigation is very simple and intuitive. In the main menu on the home page, it is proposed to select a product, then indicate in what form the user is going to cook it.

The next page asks you to choose the thickness of the product, the amount and the desired degree of roasting; after which the program gives recommendations on preparation, panel configuration, temperature, and also calculates the time required for cooking according to the given conditions.

The user only needs to start the timer after the raw product is placed on the panel and follow the prompts that will appear on the phone screen.

The chef’s hat tab takes us to the “Recipes” section. In the “All recipes” item, in fact, the recipes are presented in alphabetical order. The bottom three items offer lists that are filtered by certain criteria. Recipes in the app are filtered by ingredients (cheese, eggs, fruits, pastries, poultry, etc.), dishes (buffets, main dishes, side dishes, desserts). The Special Dishes category includes gluten-free, quick, vegetarian, egg-free and dairy-free dishes.

The recipes are well thought out and easy to follow. All information is logically divided into tabs “Ingredients”, “Method” and “Hints”.

The third tab of the main menu is a hint or help section. You can download the manual in PDF format here. The information provided duplicates the “Problem Solving” section of the paper instructions. The rightmost menu item, marked with an asterisk, perhaps, does not require explanation – this is “Favorites”, where the user can place the recipes that are most beloved or of interest to him.

Control

The control panel consists of an on / off button, a display, timer buttons and two rotary controls for the temperature of the panels. At the center of each knob is a Sear button that launches the corresponding mode. In it, the upper and / or lower plate is heated to an elevated temperature for several minutes. This mode is suitable for quickly frying food at the beginning of cooking (ideal for thick pieces of meat).

After turning on the network, the grill emits a beep. When the knob is turned, the display lights up and shows the target temperature of the panels. The left knob sets the temperature of the bottom panel, the right knob sets the temperature of the top. Temperature range: 60-230°C in 10°C increments. When the temperature is set, you need to start heating by pressing the Start/Stop button. When the panels are heated to the set temperature, the Ready message lights up on the display. When the food is placed on the grill, you can adjust the cooking timer, its step is 10 seconds. At the end of cooking, the grill will emit five loud beeps and stop heating. The temperature or operating time can be changed during the cooking process.

Exploitation

Before use, it is recommended to wipe the handle, cover, panel controls with a damp cloth. Removable panels, tray and scraper must be thoroughly washed by hand or washed in the dishwasher.

The grill may emit an odor when first turned on. As the instructions clarify, this is a normal phenomenon inherent in all devices with a non-stick coating. The specific smell disappeared literally within a couple of minutes when the grill was heated to maximum temperature.

De’Longhi CGH1012D is not only a classic contact grill, it works in two more modes:

• grill oven – cooking mode with the lid ajar. It is used for non-contact frying of dishes or semi-finished products of great thickness, as well as soft sandwiches and products that do not require pressure;
• deployed position (brazier) – the upper and lower panels are in the same plane, forming a large surface for frying. In this mode, the appliance can be used as a barbeque grill or smooth stove.

The instrument must be placed on a stable horizontal surface away from flammable objects and materials. It is also worth bearing in mind that when frying some foods, not only thick and strong-smelling smoke appears, but also fat is sprayed in all directions. This is not a problem with a particular device, but rather an inevitable feature of most such devices.

The panels heat up very strongly, running far beyond the set temperature. But after a couple of minutes, the heating returns to normal. On the one hand, this is not bad: the same steaks are fried almost instantly, vegetables with a high moisture content are not stewed in their own juice, but acquire an appetizing crust. On the other hand, a user who is not yet accustomed, relying on the recommendations of the instructions and recipe books, may inadvertently burn food.

Through trial and error, we found that in most cases, the time recommended in De’Longhi recipes should be reduced. Often we set the temperature of the grill to a lower one. We also noticed that the panels heat up unevenly: in the center and in the corners, the thermometer read different temperatures. But in practice, it became obvious that the products are fried evenly, in whatever part of the grill they are placed.

Separate adjustment of the heating temperature of the upper and lower panels is very convenient. For example, in the “barbecue” mode, if only one panel is involved, the second one can not be connected at all. And you can simultaneously cook products that require different temperature conditions.

We really liked working with the grill: everything is fast, simple, convenient. One small detail overshadowed the general delight a little: it used to be necessary to work hard on washing the ribbed panels, because the dirt from the recesses sometimes leaves with difficulty.

Care

The rules for caring for De’Longhi CGH1020D are simple:

• allow the appliance to cool down for at least 30 minutes before cleaning
• do not use metal tools that can damage the non-stick coating of the panels
• do not leave plastic tools, including the complete scraper, on hot panels,
• before a new bookmark, it is necessary to remove food residues through the grease drain hole and wipe the panels with paper towels.

The grill body is recommended to be cleaned with a sponge and a mild detergent. The panels, scraper and drip tray are dishwasher safe. However, the instructions note that frequent washing of the panels in the dishwasher may degrade the quality of the non-stick coating.

The scraper should preferably be used when the panels have completely cooled down. If there is an urgent need to remove dirt from a hot grill, the tool should not come into contact with the hot surface for more than a couple of seconds.

Our measurements

When both panels are heated, the grill power reaches 1950-2010 watts. In the heating mode of only one panel – 975-1003 watts. The grill reaches the maximum temperature of 230 °C when both panels are heated in 5 minutes, while consuming 0.17 kWh.

We also checked the actual temperature of the panels. We set the temperature, turned on the grill, and after a beep, measured the temperature of the top and bottom panels at several points.

Set temperature	Heating time, min:sec	Actual bottom panel temperature		Actual top panel temperature
		in the center	in the corners	in the center	in the corners
100°C	1:40	117-140°C	110-120°C	125-150°C	108-125°C
230°C	5:00	262-302°C	220-246°C	233-300°C	206-243°C

To test the Sear mode, we heated the panels twice to 150°C: once with Sear, the second time in normal mode.

Mode	Heating time, min:sec	The temperature in the center of the panel immediately after the signal about the end of heating		The temperature in the center of the panel 5 minutes after the end of heating signal		Power consumption during warm-up
		the bottom panel	top panel	the bottom panel	top panel
Sear	5:00	330-271°C	265-274°C	177°C	158°C	0.193 kWh
normal	2:30	177-195°C	185-225°C	138-148°C	154-170°C	0.104 kWh

practice tests

Sandwiches with tuna

In this test, we climbed ahead of the father, that is, measurements, into hell. I was really eager to test the De’Longhi CGH1020D MultiGrill in action. We decided to start with something simple – hot sandwiches. For the filling, we took tuna, added a little celery, cheese and a boiled egg. Bread was smeared on the outside with butter.

We checked the De’Longhi MultiGrill app: it advised to grill the sandwiches for 3 minutes on smooth panels at 230°C. We decided to do just that, only the panels were ribbed: we love the stripes!

It’s good that we looked into the grill in a little over a minute. Our breakfast was one step away from turning into coals.

In general, the first pancake is lumpy.

We tried again. The bread was not smeared with butter, it was fried for one and a half minutes at 200 ° C on smooth panels. Eureka!

“Today we understood a lot” ©. Firstly, the panels heat up very strongly, and the food in them cooks very quickly. Secondly, the time and temperature suggested by the De’Longhi MultiGrill app may be too high.

Result: not immediately, but in the end excellent.

Fried potatoes

De’Longhi MultiGrill offers to fry potato slices on smooth panels in the “BBQ” mode, but we have already done this more than once in a contact grill, so we decided not to change ourselves. The grill was preheated to 210°C instead of 230°C as suggested by the app. Potatoes marinated in oil and spices.

In 8 minutes, the potatoes were completely cooked (the thickness of the slices was about 7 mm). A very quick and tasty side dish. If you cut the potatoes thinner, you can cook them while, for example, a steak is resting under the foil.

Result: excellent.

Provencal chicken thighs

We marinated chicken thighs overnight according to the recipe from the instructions (although it was about whole legs).

• 250 ml dry white wine
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons mustard with seeds
• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Provence herbs
• grated garlic, 2 cloves
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1 teaspoon red cayenne pepper

We cooked again with the De’Longhi MultiGrill, but in this case we had no doubts about the adequacy of the proposed parameters. The ribbed panels were heated to 200 ° C, the chicken was laid out and the grill was closed. According to the appendix, they were to be turned over in nine minutes.

When the phone signaled the end of the first stage, they opened the grill and found already noticeably fried thighs. We turned them over twice more, the total cooking time was 25 minutes.

Finally everything is ready. The chicken has a golden crispy crust. The pieces look the same, despite the difference in temperature of different sections of the panels, noted during the measurements.

The meat is completely cooked, while it is magically juicy. We almost ran out of spices, next time we will put more. But the work of the grill itself is beyond praise.

Result: excellent.

Steak

We had a small round steak weighing about 250 grams. The thickness of the piece was uneven, in the thickest part it was about 2.5 cm, and along the edges – two times less.

Dropped by De’Longhi MultiGrill. The application does not recognize steaks thinner than 3 cm. To medium such a 3 cm piece, it suggests setting a timer for 6 minutes at a temperature of 230 ° C. Time seemed to us very high, and we also have a small steak. We set it to 3 minutes and turned on Sear.

Outside, the steak was covered with a very appetizing almost crispy crust. The center of the piece is still pink, but we would rather classify this color as medium well. A couple of minutes would have been enough for our steak.

The De’Longhi MultiGrill app, of course, confuses us – we had to rely on the internal steak meter. And we rate the work of the grill itself as a five. The meat is perfectly fried: the steak was instantly sealed, all the juices remained inside. It’s great when you can have a delicious dinner in a matter of minutes.

Result: excellent.

Bacon and eggs

In the “BBQ” mode, we decided to cook breakfast. Two types of scrambled eggs – scrambled eggs and fried eggs – required the classic addition of crispy bacon. The panels were heated up to 200 °C. One egg was carefully released onto the grill directly from the shell, and the ice cream was poured onto the opposite side. The egg mixture immediately flowed towards the fat collection container, so it had to be very actively prevented with a spatula. Bacon was placed in the middle of the panel.

The scrambler was ready almost instantly. The fried eggs took a little longer to cook. It took a few minutes for the bacon to become crispy. Bread was toasted on a free panel.

Result: excellent.

Belgian waffles

We used the recipe from the instructions:

• 2 cups / 460 g flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons / 10 g yeast
• 2 spoons / 30 g white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1.5 cups / 345 g warm milk
• 75 g melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

All dry ingredients were mixed, eggs were beaten with warm milk, then everything was mixed in a planetary mixer. The grill was heated in a special setting for waffles. The dough was very thick and fell into the mold in heaps. It was possible to level it with a spatula, but we decided not to bother with it much so that the waffles would not burn as a result from below. The De’Longhi MultiGrill app indicated a cooking time of 5 minutes.

Indeed, after this time, golden waffles with a crispy crust were waiting for us.

The waffles are sweet but not cloying. If you cook without vanilla, then they can be eaten with salty toppings. But next time we would put less flour so that the dough would not be so dense.

Result: excellent.

findings

De’Longhi CGH1020D MultiGrill impresses with its appearance. The solid steel case, the convenient handle, the clear control panel. Inside it hides excellent interchangeable panels with a built-in heating element. Powered by 2000 watts, the grill roasts vegetables and meat incredibly quickly, steaks stay juicy and crispy on the outside (especially in Sear mode).

The area of the panels is enough to cook several servings on them at once. We found the heating to be even, and the ability to set a different temperature for each panel is useful when working in the “barbecue” mode, as well as when frying foods that require more intense heating on one side.

We also note the De’Longhi MultiGrill application, which has come in handy more than once. However, it should be borne in mind that the suggested cooking time in it is very high.

Pros :

• ease of operation and maintenance
• enough power for fast frying
• large work surface
• Removable, interchangeable panels that are dishwasher safe
• heating off timer
• independent panel heating controls
• three operating modes: contact grill, open grill, grill oven

Cons :

• the panels heat up very much, due to inexperience, you can burn food