Zojirushi Gourmet Sizzler EA-DCC10: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-05

Summary

The recorded problems on this griddle are design limits rather than breakdowns: no drain hole or grease tray, a 425°F ceiling, a six-minute preheat and a lid owners call thin. Zojirushi sells no proprietary consumables, so the yearly cost is cooking oil plus occasional replacement parts — the plate is $80.50 and the cord with temperature control plug is $43.35 on the Zojirushi Online Store in October 2026. It is a fair buy at its $169.99–184.99 retail band and a strong one below $120.

Common problems and fixes

No drain hole and no grease tray — Good Housekeeping found this was the only one of 12 griddles they tested without one, so bacon grease pools on the plate. Their workaround is to cook everything except bacon first, then the bacon, let the plate and grease cool before pouring the grease off, then clean. It is a design limit, not a defect, so warranty does not apply. [5]
425°F maximum temperature — the dial tops out at 425°F, which is 25°F below the 450°F the Wolf Gourmet reached in the same Good Housekeeping test, and one verified Best Buy purchaser who wanted it to warm tortillas found it “not that hot.” Not fixable; plan on it for searing. No warranty coverage. [2][5][6]
Six-minute preheat — Good Housekeeping measured six minutes to reach 375°F, a Walmart owner wrote it “takes some time to heat up,” and the manual lists insufficient preheating as a cause of food not cooking well. Fix is simply to preheat fully before loading. [2][5][7]
Thin-feeling lid — a verified Best Buy purchaser rated ease of use 4.9 but wrote the lid “is not the best” and “seems like a toy lid.” A replacement lid set is sold separately. Not a warranty item. [3][6]
Not dishwasher safe — Good Housekeeping lists it as dishwasher safe: No, and the manual requires a mild kitchen detergent and a sponge (never the rough side) and bans abrasive cleanser, scouring powder and nylon or metal brushes. Hand-wash only. [2][5]
Vinegar, salt and soy sauce residue corrodes the coating — the manual requires cleaning the plate right after acidic or salty food and warns that food left on the surface causes corrosion and uneven cooking. Fix is immediate hand cleaning and complete drying before storage. [2]
Deep-fry cooking and stovetop use are prohibited — the manual forbids deep-frying and says putting the plate on a stovetop burner can peel or corrode the coating and deform the plate. Follow the manual; damage of this kind is excluded from warranty. [2][4]
The temperature control plug is excluded from warranty — the plug carries the dial, the manual says to remove it and clean the release buttons after every use, and the one-year warranty specifically excludes power cords and plugs. A replacement cord with plug is $43.35. [2][3][4]

Parts and consumables

Cooking Plate Set (BG197810GC-00) — $80.50 on the Zojirushi Online Store, October 2026; owners replace it when the nonstick coating wears, discolours or peels, and Zojirushi’s own guidance is to buy a new plate in that case. [2][3]
Lid Set (BG197800GC-02) — $40.80 on the Zojirushi Online Store, October 2026; replace if it is lost or damaged. [3]
Power Cord with Temperature Control Plug (BX145801A-00) — $43.35 on the Zojirushi Online Store, October 2026; the detachable plug doubles as the temperature dial and is the part most likely to need replacing outside warranty. [2][3][4]
Stainless Steel Spatula (717011-00) — included with the griddle; no replacement price was found. [2]

Yearly running cost

There is no proprietary consumable: no filters, pods or subscription, so no annual consumable figure can be computed from the sources. The only recurring input is cooking oil or butter. The parts cost to plan for is the replacement plate at $80.50, which is roughly 44% of the $184.99 list price, and the cord with plug at $43.35 (Zojirushi Online Store, October 2026).

When it is a good buy

Retail prices on the check date: Zojirushi Online Store $184.99, Target $184.99 and Everything Kitchens $184.99, with Best Buy showing $169.99 for the same machine (October 2026). [3][9][10][6]

Under $120: good value. No US non-Amazon seller carried it there on the check date, so treat this as a clearance or open-box band.
$121–150: fair to good, but this is where the comparison bites. Good Housekeeping’s own value pick from the same test was a $50 Dash Everyday Nonstick Electric Griddle that scored highest on cleanability, and Wirecutter recommends the Presto 22-inch Slimline for quick, even heating on a large surface. Choose either of those if evenness and cleanability matter more than the Zojirushi’s 19 x 12-1/2 in surface, full-width lid and immersible plate and body guard. [5][8]
$151–170: weak value. This is close to today’s actual band; the defensible reasons to pay it are the 19 x 12-1/2 in surface, verified even heating, the immersible plate and guard, and factory replacement parts. [3][5][6]
Above $185: poor value. Nothing in the documentation improves on the base unit for griddling above Zojirushi’s own $184.99 figure. [3]