Panini is a mouth-watering cheese sandwich made with Italian bread served by grilling. It is a delicious dish liked by everyone. The Panini press makes the task of making a panini very easy and almost in no time.
Basically, a Panini press or grill is used to grill or griddle the sandwiches, meat products, vegetables, burgers, eggs, etc. The function of the panini press is to heat the food, melt the cheese, crisp the food, and put grill marks on the dish. You can make any type of sandwich by using different fillings and grilling it in a panini press to enjoy a delicious meal anytime.
If you want a yummy, crispy, and mouthwatering sandwich like the one made on a commercial panini press then you must go through this article and select the one that best suits your needs.
Top 8 Best Panini Presses Quick List
- Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press Grill with Locking Lid
- Cuisinart Electric Griddler
- George Foreman 5-Serving Removable Plate Grill and Panini Press
- Cuisinart GR-4NP1 5-in-1 Griddler
- Chefman Panini Press Grill and Gourmet Sandwich Maker Non-Stick Coated Plates
- Cuisinart GR-150P1 GR-150 Griddler Deluxe
- GOTHAM STEEL 2108 Panini Maker Press
- Breville BGR820XL Smart Grill
8 Best Panini Press Reviews
1. Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press Grill
Gone are the days when you had to go out to a restaurant to enjoy your favorite yummy Panini. The Hamilton Beach Panini Press can get you the most delicious panini right at your home in a quick time and at a pocket-friendly price. It is one of the best panini makers available in the market today.
You don’t need to compromise on the freshness of your ingredients. From melting the cheese to making the most delicious kebabs, Hamilton Beach offers a variety of recipe options.
One of the major features of the press grill is its floating lid. It offers even pressing sandwiches of all sizes. Besides, you can select the thickness of the sandwich as per your choice.
The press grill is highly user-friendly. It has a large enough cooking surface to allow you to prepare 2 to 3 sandwiches at a time. The sandwich maker is equipped with a power light showing the continuity of power and also has a preheat light indicating the press to be ready to use. Moreover, the sandwich maker has a non-stick grid which makes it very easy to remove the sandwich after cooking
Overall, the Hamilton Beach Panini Press offers a quick way to make the most delicious recipes at the convenience of your home with your favorite ingredients.
Pros
- Very convenient to use
- The floating lid allows adjusting the thickness
- Two different size options
- Non-stick grid
- Attractive appearance
Cons
- Heating is not even across the press
- Delicate
2. Cuisinart Electric Griddler
Cuisinart already had a high-performance Griddler with Griddler-5. The 5B version comes with some attractive design features while maintaining the old performance level of the earlier one. The GR-5B Griddler has a sleek design and is equipped with many different control functions to make it more convenient and user-friendly.
The Griddler continues to offer five-in-one cooking options in this version, as well. It additionally has easy-to-use digital controls. Moreover, the Griddler is also equipped with an LCD to indicate different power and heating status. It also has included sear function over and above these design features making it extremely versatile.
The floating cover of the Griddle is very easy to remove. Together with the reversible plates which too are easy to take out, the Griddler allows for a quick transformation from the grill to griddle. It has a very high durability with arms made of die-cast aluminum. The cover made with stainless steel material enhances its longevity even further.
While the high-quality build material imparts high durability to the Griddler, it also keeps it pretty hot when cooking. So, it is recommended not to touch the arms and the plates during and immediately after the cooking. Besides, it is also advisable not to use metal utensils to avoid plates from scratches.
Pros
- Highly functional Griddler
- LCDs to indicate the heating status
- Safe for dishwashing
- Non-stick, easy to remove plates
- Highly attractive design
- High durability
Cons
- Cover becomes too hot to touch during and immediately after the cooking
- Can’t use metal utensils
3. George Foreman 5-Serving Removable Plate Grill and Panini Press
The George Foreman 5-Serving Panini press is one of the best panini press grills in the market. From cheese melting to making meat products, George Foreman can do all cooking activities in a quick time. The grill plates of the unit are removable making it highly convenient to use. To make it more efficient and less messy, the double-layer non-stick plates have a ceramic coating over them.
The grill has a searing burst feature and also has a quick preheating time. Besides, the highly efficient design of the press offers consistent heating to any food item. The dishwasher-safe plates allow for quick, effortless, and effective cleaning. All these features reduce the cooking time and allow you to cook your favorite food quickly.
The grill has got an LCD to indicate the heating status of the grill. Besides, it is equipped with a drip tray to collect excess oil. The material used in making the grill keeps the exterior cool at all times, thus making it safe for use.
The grill is pretty spacious and the 72 inch2 grilling area allows you to prepare five servings at a time. It makes this grill a perfect companion to prepare different food items for all your family members simultaneously.
Pros
- Convenient to use and clean
- PTFE and PFOA free
- Searing burst feature
- Adjustable temperature and timer
- Multiplayer non-stick plates
- LCD for heating status
Cons
- The non-stick property does not last for long
- Only one pair of removable plates are included in the package
4. Cuisinart GR-4NP1 5-in-1 Griddler
The GR-4NP1 from Cuisinart is a 5-in-1 Griddler. Its multiple usages include handling the sausages, cheese, steaks, Paninis, and so on making it the best panini press for bistro-level sandwiches at home. The Griddler has a very user-friendly design. Besides, it also facilitates very easy cleaning- thanks to the nonstick plates which are also easily removable. Moreover, the plates are also dishwasher safe.
The Griddler is equipped with highly functional control features. It includes adjustable temperature control for each function and an easy-to-use selector knob to choose the desired function. The unit is also equipped with Red and Green indicators that light upon attaining the desired preheating temperature.
The Griddler is made with highly durable material. Its 5-in-1 feature and reversible plates allow you to prepare a delicious meal for your entire family.
Pros
- Highly versatile
- It is possible to set the desired temperature
- The flat-open feature saves space while cooking
- Easy to use, clean, and maintain
- Non-stock, dishwasher safe plates
- BPA free
Cons
- Difficult to pull out the grease trap
5. Chefman Panini Press Grill and Gourmet Sandwich Maker
The Chefman Panini Press is a wonderfully designed press that gives you a professional as well as an elegant look. It is one of the best sandwich makers available in the market. It has a floating hinge that gives flexible cooking with this press. As the grill opens 180 degrees flat it is perfect to grill meat, vegetables, and fish.
It has a spacious grill so that you make a variety of food at the same time. An integrated drip tray prevents your kitchen top from a mess. The unit is perfect for making any kind of food quickly and tasty. A floating hinge is very useful to adjust the height according to the thickness of the sandwich.
It has non-stick plates that ensure that nothing sticks on them. This feature allows easy cleaning of the plates. Besides, the plates are dishwasher friendly making them even more convenient to clean.
The grill comes equipped with an indicator to prevent overcooking. It has advanced safety technology that makes the unit extra safe to use.
Overall, Chefman Panini Press is an elegant and compact press that is useful in grilling almost all types of food items in its larger and spacious grill room.
Pros
- Versatile
- Non-stick plates making it easy to clean
- Compact design
- 180 degree flat open
Cons
- The cord is very short
6. Cuisinart GR-150P1 GR-150 Griddler
Cuisinart is one of the most popular brands among all Paninis Presses. It introduces a new way of grilling. The reversible grill and griddle plate make it unique from other panini presses. It has dual-zone temperature control that makes it easy to operate.
The Cuisinart is best suitable for eggs, pancakes, burgers, and open-faced sandwiches. It has a very spacious grilling surface that can make a large amount of food quickly and easily.
It has a SearBlast feature that adds flavor to steaks. It can sear for 2 minutes to a temperature of up to 260°C.
The Cuisinart has an integrated drip tray that helps in avoiding the unwanted mess on the kitchen counter. The grill is dishwasher friendly.
The grill has a very elegant look with a gray exterior and black cooking plates. It also has an adjustable hinge with 6 presets. 1800 watt heaters help this panini press to heat faster and help maintain the heat throughout the cooking process. Overall, Cuisinart GR-150P1 is one of the best panini presses that offers extra space for easy cooking and has the Searblast technology to enhance the cooking flavor of the food.
Pros
- Dual-zone temperature control
- 6 preset temperatures
- Adjustable hinge for a variety of cooking
- Large grilling surface
Cons
- Consume more power
7. GOTHAM STEEL 2108 Panini Maker
Gotham Steel Toaster & Electric Panini Grill is an ultimate Panini Grill that comes with pure nonstick plates made with a combination of tough and strong titanium and shiny ceramic. It is a highly durable panini press so much so that its name has become synonymous with durability. Moreover, it also has earned huge popularity for its non-stick properties. and nonstick.
With the help of Gotham, you can make 4 perfectly toasted sandwiches within 5 minutes. Its strong non-sticky behavior helps to make food delicious and oil-free. From cheese burnt to melted candy, everything can be made easily on this panini grill.
As the food prepared in this grill is oil-free it makes the food very healthy. High quality of non-stickiness helps to clean the toaster easily and quickly. You can clean the press by wiping it out with a damp cloth after finishing the cooking.
The material used in the Gotham toaster and griller is highly durable. Besides, the coating of copper offers even cooking of the food added with a soothing flavor. It heats the food pretty fast thereby reducing the power consumption.
The combination of outer black and inner copper gives a fabulous look to this panini press. With the portable and compact design, you can store Gotham panini press anywhere comfortably and operate it easily.
Overall, Gotham Steel toaster and griller is a tough and durable unit that makes the food extra healthy due to its non-sticky plate.
Pros
- Easy handling
- Virtually no cleanup required
- Light indicator
- Compact design
Cons
- Leaves the food soggy
8. Breville BGR820XL Smart Grill
To make grilling a new experience Breville Smart Grill comes with a variety of grilling experiences with unmatched technology.
Most of the countertop presses can not cover their heat loss. Besides, they reheat very slowly when cold meat or other food is placed on the plate. That results in uneven cooking of the meat which eventually makes it hard. Breville overcomes this problem with its smart grill technology called Element IQ.
It has a built-in temperature sensor that senses the sudden drop in temperature when placing cold food on the cooking plate of a preheated sandwich press and automatically reheats the plate up to the desired temperature. The 1800-watt embedded heating design helps to heat the cooking plate faster and also reduces the pre-heat time. As it heats up fast, it is the ideal grill for sizzle and searing.
One more positive feature of Breville is its flat bottom plate that allows preparing the egg and pancakes easily. Besides, it has a ribbed top plate that leaves brownish marks on the food to make it look stylish.
Breville Smart grill has an adjustable hinge that can adjust the height as per the thickness of the sandwiches. You can select among six height adjustments suitable to make large sandwiches, burgers, and many more.
The removable plates allow for very easy cleaning of the plates and also allow you to change them as and when desired. The cooking plates are non-stick which helps to make an oil-free, non-sticky healthy food.
Pros
- Flat Plate Design
- Adjustable hinge
- Temperature sensor
- 3 mode settings
Cons
- It is not suitable for veggie sandwiches
Panini Press and Grill Buying Guide
There is a variety of Panini Presses available in the market. Here are some tips that can help you with buying the best panini press to fulfill your requirements and enjoy a delicious panini with your friends and families.
Quality
Quality is the most important factor to observe while buying any panini press. The effectiveness of heating, high durability, and non-stick plates determine the quality of a panini press. You have to pay a little extra amount for the quality product.
Capacity
If you have a big family then larger paninis will be required to suit your needs. Whereas if you have a small family then small or medium size paninis will serve your purpose. It should be remembered that large paninis make the food faster but also consume more power. Larger paninis can also make a variety of foods at the same time. Generally, medium size paninis are better to buy because it works for both big and small families.
Cooking Plate
The cooking plate should be non-stick. Non-stick plates allow food to be removed easily and also make the cleaning of the plate much easier. The cooking plate should heat the food evenly for proper cooking. You should also ensure that the non-stick property of the plates lasts for a long duration.
A panini with removable plates is also available. These types of panini are very easy to clean, some of them are even dishwasher compatible.
The design of the plates also makes an important buying consideration. There are three types of plates available in the market, they are smooth, grooved, and mixed. Smooth plates are very easy to clean while grooved plates allow you to give attractive marks on the dish.
Drip Tray
The drip tray is very useful as it collects all the material dripped from the press and prevents the kitchen countertop from an unwanted mess. These trays are very easy to wash and can be made ready to reuse in a quick time.
Adjustable Hinge
An adjustable hinge helps to adjust the height of the hinge or the cover as per the thickness of your sandwich or food. If you want to make ciabatta loaf, traditionally grilled cheese, or authentic panini, it is very easily done with the help of an adjustable hinge. Besides the adjustability, you should also consider the hinge style when shopping for the best Panini Press.
Grill or Griddle
In traditional paninis, the grill is the top part that allows you to give attractive marks to the food. The griddle is in the bottom part to make the food evenly cooked and it is used for multipurpose cooking like egg, chicken, steaks, etc. In some of the models, the grill and griddle are reversible. You can choose any of the options among- ‘Only Grill’, ‘Only Griddle’, or ‘Both Grill and Griddle’.
Temperature Control
Paninis come with or without temperature control. You can choose any of the models that best suit your cooking patterns. If you want to cook your food at a higher temperature then certainly you need a temperature-controlled panini. Generally, grill paninis come with a temperature control option because they are multifunctional. If you wish to use your panini press for preparing foods apart from sandwiches, then a temperature-controlled panini is the best choice.
Accessories
The tools or accessories you get with paninis depend on the model you choose. Some brands offer many different accessories with the panini press. These tools make it easy to prepare the food and e make it convenient to clean the press, as well. You should check the accessories that the company is offering and select the press as per your requirement.
Model Type
Both manual and electric models are available in the market. In the electric model, the features are much easier to use. The automatic model prevents the unit from overheating and also protects the food from burning.
Warranty
The warranty of a panini press varies from one model to another. It is suggested to buy a brand that offers a longer warranty. A longer warranty ensures the replacement of the parts due to any manufacturing defect in the unit.
Budget
It is also one of the most important aspects to cover before buying any of the panini presses. Which are the best Panini presses for the money you can afford? If you want a good quality panini press it will be a little costlier compared to the regular one. Weigh the price and the features to select the press that best fits your budget and also suits your requirements. The presses that we have reviewed have some of the best panini press grills under $100. You can select any one of them that suits your specific requirements.
Final Words
Panini Press is an important kitchen appliance to make a delicious sandwich in a quick time. It is a must-have appliance for all sandwich lovers. It not only makes your sandwich crispy and tasty it is also useful in making other foods like eggs, chicken, steaks, burgers, meats, and so on.
In the above panini maker reviews, we have reviewed the top 8 panini makers along with the detailed buying guide. We hope that the information provided is useful for you in selecting the best press that fulfills your requirement.
You should always keep in mind that the best paninis press not only cooks the food in a quick time but are also durable as well as efficient.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What can I make in Sandwich Press?
A: Sandwich Press or Panini press is used to make many of your favorite dishes like sandwiches, meat products, bacon, eggs, pancakes, steaks, etc. It is used to melt cheese, make the food crispy, and put attractive grill marks on the dish. With the help of a sandwich press, you can prepare sandwiches with any filling within a minute in delicious flavors.
Q: Can you use regular bread in Panini Press?
A: It is recommended to use bread that can easily take the heat. Usually, Italian bread like ciabatta, focaccia, and baguettes are used to make a sandwich as they cook evenly and have a good flavor.
Q: Can you put a paper towel in Sandwich Press?
Yes, paper towels can be used in Sandwich Press. It helps to absorb excess moisture from the slice. Keep the paper towel underneath the bread slice to get a crispy sandwich.
Q: Do you butter bread when using a panini press?
A: You can butter the bread before using the panini press to make the sandwich crunchy and tasty. All you need to do is to apply some butter on a cooking plate of a panini press and put a bread slice on this plate. This will give you a crunchy grilled slice of sandwich.
Q: Can you cook bacon in Sandwich Press?
A: Yes you can very much cook bacon in Sandwich Press. And you make them without adding any oil to it.
Q: Can you cook sausages in Sandwich Press?
A: Yes, with the help of the Sandwich press you can make anything whether it is kebabs, sausages, burgers, and steaks.
Q: Can you put aluminum foil in Sandwich Press?
Yes, an Aluminum foil is used to wrap the melted cheese and toast the sandwiches. Foil can maintain the temperature up to 1000°C and keep your food safe without releasing toxins.
Q: What temperature a panini press should be?
A: It totally depends upon the type of sandwich or food you are preparing with the paninis press. If you are preparing simply grilled cheese panini in which grilled bread with melted cheese is needed, a medium to a high temperature of 375°C for 3 minutes will be perfect.
If you are preparing heavy sandwiches with meat products then use low heat of approximately 200°C temperature for 10 minutes for a perfect grill.
In any case, it is better to check the sandwich by opening the upper lid periodically. In the case of cheese sandwiches, whenever you hear a sizzling sound your sandwich is grilled and cheese melted.
Q: How long should I panini press?
A: 3-5 minutes is more than sufficient for grilling the sandwich. Preheat the panini press, place the sandwich on the plate and cook according to the instructions given in the manual.
