Black & Decker 4-In-1 Grill, Waffle Maker, Sandwich Press & Griddle

I cleared a corner of my counter for a single appliance that promised four jobs: a grill, griddle, waffle maker, and sandwich press. After several breakfasts, lunches, and a few quick dinners with the Black & Decker 4‑in‑1, I have a pretty good sense of what it does well—and where it asks for compromise.

Design, setup, and first impressions

The 4‑in‑1 is compact and tidy. The plates slide in and out with a firm click, and the hinge opens 180 degrees to lay flat, so you can run it as a double‑wide griddle or grill. It stores vertically without drama and the cord wraps around the base, which makes it easy to tuck away in a narrow cabinet. I appreciated the short cord on a crowded counter—less spaghetti, fewer snags.

Fit and finish are acceptable for the price. The plates are on the thinner side but heat quickly. The exterior is mostly plastic with a cool‑touch handle; the body itself does get hot during longer cooks, which is normal for this category. A single indicator light handles preheat and “ready” duty; there’s no temperature dial or timer. That simplicity is both a strength and a limitation.

Swapping plates is quick. They’re clearly labeled and keyed, so I never forced the wrong plate into the wrong side. Removal buttons work cleanly, and the non‑stick coating releases well with typical foods. I had best results hand‑washing the plates with a soft sponge once they cooled—cleanup usually took under two minutes.

Controls and usability

This is a set‑and‑forget appliance: plug in, wait for the light, cook. The ready light is tied to plate temperature, not to food doneness. In practice, I found preheating longer than the light suggests yields better results. For waffles and paninis, a 7–10 minute preheat improved browning noticeably, especially on the bottom plate.

Because there’s no temperature control, you’re relying on plate design and preheat for sear and crispness. That’s fine for sandwiches and light grilling, but it’s the main reason the 4‑in‑1 struggles to deliver truly crispy waffles without some technique tweaks.

Waffle performance

The waffle plates are Belgian‑style with deep grids. Using a standard batter, the iron produced thick waffles with nice lift but modest crispness. The top plate ran hotter in my tests, so the upper face browned faster than the lower face. Extending the cook time helped, but the bottom remained a shade lighter.

What worked for me:
- Long preheat: 8–10 minutes before the first waffle.
- A slightly thicker batter or adding a bit more batter than I would in a traditional thin‑grid iron to fully engage the deep pattern.
- Letting waffles rest on a wire rack for a couple minutes after cooking to set and crisp the exterior instead of trapping steam on a plate.
- For even color, I flipped the waffle and closed the lid for an extra 30–45 seconds—awkward, but it evened out the pale underside.

What didn’t work: opening the lid every minute to check progress; the heat loss outweighs the benefit. If you love classic, shatter‑crisp, diner‑style waffles, you’ll find the lack of a hotter “boost” setting limiting. If you prefer soft‑center, Belgian‑style waffles with modest crunch, the 4‑in‑1 can deliver that consistently once you dial in your batter and preheat routine.

Sandwich press and panini

This is where the 4‑in‑1 shines. As a press, it’s quick and reliable. With a long preheat, I was getting a solid golden crust on buttered sourdough in about 4–5 minutes, and cheese melt was uniform edge to edge. The hinge has enough float to accommodate a generously stacked sandwich without squashing everything flat, and the non‑stick makes removing oozy grilled cheese a no‑stress affair. Cleanup was as simple as wiping with a damp towel once the plates cooled.

If your primary goal is a compact panini press that can double as a waffle iron occasionally, this unit makes more sense.

Grill and griddle

Opened flat, the 4‑in‑1 gives you two plate surfaces that heat independently but at the same fixed temperature. As a griddle, I cooked two eggs and two strips of bacon per side comfortably—so breakfast for two is its realistic capacity. Heat distribution is good in the center and falls off slightly near the edges, which is typical with plate‑style heaters. Pancakes browned evenly enough that I didn’t have to chase hot spots.

On the grill plates, I seared thin chicken cutlets and zucchini planks. You’ll get grill marks and a gentle sizzle, not the high‑heat char of a heavy cast‑iron grill pan over gas. For weeknight vegetables, quesadillas, and pressed tortillas, it’s more than capable. For thick steaks or aggressive searing, this isn’t the tool.

Capacity and speed

This is a two‑servings appliance. You can squeeze three small pancakes per plate or two medium ones. Most sandwiches fit two at a time when used closed; as a griddle, the opened surface can handle a light lunch for two. Preheat is 5–7 minutes to “ready,” but, as mentioned, I recommend giving it 2–3 more minutes for better browning. Recovery between batches is quick—about a minute.

Cleaning and maintenance

The removable non‑stick plates are the star feature. They release most foods without oil. I avoid aerosol sprays and use a light brush of oil or butter only when I want extra crust on bread. After cooking, I pop the plates out once they’re warm (not hot) and hand‑wash in the sink. Grease tends to pool in shallow channels, so a quick wipe before it fully cools keeps things simple.

Crumbs and drips do collect along the edges of the housing—worth a quick wipe with a damp cloth. I would not wrap the cord around the base until the unit is completely cool. During longer grill sessions the base gets warm, and wrapping a warm cord around warm plastic isn’t a recipe for longevity.

Heat, safety, and durability notes

A few practical observations from extended use:
- External surfaces get hotter than the “cool‑touch” handle suggests. Keep it on a heat‑safe surface with a little air around the sides and rear.
- The vertical storage base is stable, but make sure plates are fully locked in when moving the unit so a plate doesn’t slide out unexpectedly.
- The cord wrap is convenient, though the plastic around it warms up during use. Let the unit cool fully before stowing; I’d also avoid pulling the cord taut against the wrap tabs to reduce stress on both plastic and cord.
- Plate latches and release buttons worked consistently. I didn’t see flaking or peeling on the non‑stick during my test window, but use silicone or wood tools to protect the coating.

Who it’s for

• Small kitchens and dorms where vertical storage and multi‑use gear matter.
• Anyone who wants a compact panini press and occasional grill/griddle in one chassis.
• Households cooking for one or two; it’s sized right for that.

Who should skip it

• Waffle purists who want thin, ultra‑crispy waffles or precise control over browning.
• Cooks who need high‑heat searing or the capacity to feed a family of four at once.
• Users who prefer appliances with temperature controls and timers.

The bottom line

The Black & Decker 4‑in‑1 earns its counter space if your priorities are sandwiches and quick griddle work, with waffles as an occasional bonus. Its strengths are clear: compact footprint, truly easy cleanup thanks to the removable plates, and the versatility of opening flat. Its trade‑offs are equally clear: no temperature control, waffles that skew more fluffy than crisp, and plastic components that benefit from a bit of care in storage and handling.

Recommendation: I recommend the 4‑in‑1 for small households that want a space‑saving sandwich press and light grill/griddle with the option to make Belgian‑style waffles. It’s easy to live with, cleans up fast, and delivers consistent results once you extend the preheat and adjust expectations. If a crisp, diner‑style waffle or high‑heat searing is your priority, look for a dedicated appliance with adjustable temperature and heavier plates.