T-Fal OptiGrill senses food to soothe fearful cooks

The T-Fal OptiGrill is one odd-looking panini press, or is it?

This countertop appliance certainly opens up like a typical clam-shaped sandwich press.

On the handle are buttons to cook using preset programs.

As its name suggests, a circular LED glows in shifting colors to match the doneness level of food the OptiGrill is cooking.

Press the sandwich key to make hot panini.

The steak icon is for grilling red meat.

When it starts cooking the OptiGrill's light glows purple then blue.

Grease and oil collect in the drip tray.

Steak was cooked to temperature but cooled quickly as juices leaked away.

Resting usually caused "medium" cooked steak to carry over to medium well or well done.