Best panini press

How to choose the best panini press for you

Ever wondered why some sandwiches just look more mouthwatering than others, like they were ordered straight from your favorite café? That’s thanks to the panini press. A panini maker uses a pair of heated plates that apply pressure on bread as they are toasted or cooked.

In case you’re wondering, a panini is a grilled sandwich that uses any kind of bread except for sliced bread. The most commonly used breed are Marchetta, ciabatta, and baguettes. You can use a variety of deli ingredients in your panini, but top favorites are cheese, salami, ham, and mortadella. Paninis are served warm and just a little bit crunchy.

The Many Uses of a Panini Press

A panini press is a nifty kitchen equipment for fans of easy-to-make, delicious paninis or sandwiches. But contrary to popular belief, a panini press does not only make paninis. You can also use it to make other delicious foods, like hamburgers, French toast, waffle sandwich cookies, omelets, grilled chicken, grilled potatoes, hash browns, waffle cones, and even brownies!

Components of a Panini Press

The best panini press always has plates for grilling, an easy to operate and easy to read temperature control, a drip tray, flexible hinges, and good heating zones.

Panini press grill plates ridged and smooth

Grill Plates

Plates on a panini press are made of glass ceramic, cast iron, or nonstick Teflon material. These plates come in both electric and stove top models. If the plates are removable, they are often considered to be easier to clean up, and you can efficiently clean hard to reach areas in the panini press.  The plates are normally rigid. Some panini maker machines, however, have smooth plates without any ridges. Some people say flat plates are easier to clean than ridged plates, and allow you to cook additional foods. The drawback with these flat or smooth plates is that they don’t leave pro-looking grill marks on your panini. Higher end panini grills have reversible plates (if you want reversible plates, check out the Cuisinart GR-4N).

Panini Press Temperature ControlsTemperature Control

Some panini presses have a temperature control dial to adjust it to your desired temperature, and to indicate if the panini press is hot enough to start making your panini. Also, if you’ll be using your panini press to cook other foods like burgers and hot dogs, a temperature control will be very handy in having a consistent cooking temperature every time.

Drip Tray

When you make paninis and other delicious dishes in your panini press, all the fat, grease, and oil go to the drip tray and away from the main cooking surface.

Panini press floating hinge

Hinges

The best panini maker has floating hinges for flexibility. With a floating hinge, you can close the panini press without any problems even if you decide to make a really thick and tall sandwich. If you’re making an open-faced panini, a floating hinge can allow the upper plate to heat the panini without actually having direct contact with it. Floating hinges are important if you will constantly be making height adjustments on your panini press.

Heating Zones

A panini press must have a dual heating zone to facilitate faster and efficient cooking. The heating zones should have stable and consistent cooking temperatures as well. If you love a great panini, better get one that has a big grill surface area so you can make several paninis in one go.

Now that you know about the key things to look for when buying a panini press, take a look at our reviews of the best panini presses and start making delicious sandwiches in the comfort of your own home!

1. Hamilton Beach 25460A Panini Press Gourmet Sandwich Maker

You can grill sandwiches of just about any thickness with this panini press. It’s also equipped with a cafe-style floating lid, enabling you to evenly press sandwiches of all sizes. Not only does the lid accommodate sandwiches of just about any size, but it also leaves those desirable grill marks behind. Storing this grill is easy thanks to its convenient upright storage design. If you enjoy keeping close track of your food’s progress, you’ll appreciate the grill’s power and preheat lights.

2. Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler

This five-in-one countertop grill is a panini press as well as a full grill, full griddle, contact grill, and part grill/part griddle. Making paninis is a breeze thanks to a durable panini-style handle along with a floating cover that adjusts to the thickness of the sandwich. A contemporary brushed stainless steel housing gives this panini press a modern appearance. Nonstick cooking plates promote even heat distribution. They’re also removable and reversible, allowing you to drain off extra grease for a healthier meal. Adjustable temperature controls with indicator lights allow you to stay in control of your panini and follow its progress. This product includes gourmet recipes and a scraping tool.

3. Hamilton Beach 25450 Gourmet Panini Press

This panini press features a floating lid that allows it to make contact with and cook sandwiches of just about any size. If you’re in the market for a high-quality panini press that allows you to cook deli-style paninis at home, this one is an optimal choice. This panini press features a number of goodies, including power and preheats lights along with a locking lid and a convenient upright storage design. It’s also equipped with nonstick grids, enabling a less stressful cleanup. This panini press is large enough to let you make multiple sandwiches at once.