Double contact grill

A double contact grill for cooking foods, the grill comprising:

• a bottom cooking plate having a heating element;
• support means for supporting the bottom cooking plate on a surface;
• a top cooking plate having a heating element;
• control means for said heating elements;
• a pivotal connection between the bottom cooking plate and the top cooking plate wherein the top cooking plate is moveable between a lower position adjacent to the bottom cooking plate and a raised position;
• and
• a counterbalance disposed on an opposite side of said pivotal connection from the side of said pivotal connection on which said top plate is disposed, wherein said counterbalance is of a weight and a position to provide a seating force causing said top cooking plate to seat against said bottom cooking plate when said top cooking plate is in the lowered position and wherein when said top cooking plate is in the raised position said counterbalance provides a resisting force to maintain the top cooking plate in the upright position.