Sandwiches are an excellent lunch or dinner choice when you’re strapped for time, but if you want to transform your sandwich from a passable meal to a genuine culinary delight, consider getting a panini grill.
A panini press heats your sandwich and gives it a crispy texture and flavor typically only experienced at a deli, cafe or fast-food restaurant. With a panini press, you can make hot and tasty sandwiches the way you want from the comfort of your home.
In this article: Cuisinart Griddler, Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press and Chefman Sandwich Maker.
The cooking plates on a panini press are either cast-iron or nonstick metal. Cast-iron panini presses are more durable than nonstick metal plates. While they take longer to heat up, they retain heat better once they reach a certain temperature.
Nonstick presses are cheaper, are easier to clean and offer better heat distribution. However, there’s a risk of chemicals leaking into your sandwich if the surface is chipped or damaged.
If you’re looking for a cheap panini press, you might find that many low-end models have fixed plates, meaning you can’t flip them over. This makes cleaning the plates more challenging, so it's better to get a grill with removable ones. Panini presses with removable plates typically have one side suitable for grilling and the other for use as a griddle.
Larger panini presses are usually more powerful than compact grills, but they’re heavier and not always practical. If you have limited countertop space in your kitchen, you may want to consider getting a compact press. However, they’re only suitable for households of one or two people.
A floating hinge lets you use a panini press as an open grill, giving you extra room to cook more food. For example, you can close the press to toast a sandwich or open it to grill burger patties, steaks, chicken, fish and other foods. A press with removable plates allows you to simultaneously use one side as a griddle for making foods like eggs and the other as a grill for toasting.
Most panini presses let you adjust the heat setting manually from 200 to 450 degrees, typically in increments of 25 degrees. High-end grills are versatile enough that you can set different temperatures on individual cooking plates. For example, some presses with floating hinges let you cook food at different temperatures on either side. Alternatively, you can use just one side of the grill and keep the other turned off.
When cooking specific foods, oil or fat can sometimes melt off and drip into the appliance. Not all panini presses have integrated drip trays, but the ones that do usually have a removable one that makes cleaning up after using it much more manageable.
The Cuisinart Griddler comes with removable, nonstick plates and has five functions: contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle and half grill/half griddle. It has adjustable temperature controls, a drip tray and red and green power indicator lights.
Sold by Amazon
Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press
This press has nonstick top and bottom grills and a cafe-style floating lid that evenly presses sandwiches, quesadillas and fruit turnovers. It has a top lid lock for open-faced sandwiches and a built-in ready light once it’s preheated to the right temperature.
Sold by Amazon
This grill has a floating hinge that can accommodate and press any sandwich and opens 180 degrees to cook burgers, steaks, veggies and more. It has a closed surface of 5.5 by 8.75 inches, which is ample enough to accommodate two regular-size sandwiches.
Sold by Amazon
Ovente Electric Indoor Panini Press
This 1,000-watt press has top and bottom cooking plates that give your sandwiches even grill marks and a thermostat that cycles on and off to prevent overcooking. It has an indicator light, and its compact design makes it ideal for those with limited countertop space.
Sold by Amazon
This compact press has brushed stainless steel housing and an innovative crush control hinge that grills your sandwiches without crushing them. It has flat cast aluminum plates with a nonstick surface for easy cleaning and an adjustable height control clip.
Sold by Amazon
George Foreman Five-serving Classic Plate Electric Indoor Grill & Panini Press
This space-saving grill has 75 square inches of cooking surface and is excellent for making burgers, chicken and fish. You can adjust the angle to a tilt for grilling or keep it flat to press your sandwiches.
Sold by Kohl’s
Better Chef Panini Press Contact Countertop Grill
For those who want a compact panini press at an affordable price, this is an excellent choice to suit all your grilling needs. It has nonstick grilling plates, a locking closure clamp and a cool exterior for safety.
Sold by Home Depot
It’s more expensive than some of the other choices listed, but it has two independently controlled heat zones, giving you the freedom to use low and high-temperature settings simultaneously. The cooking plates provide even heat distribution, and it has adjustable rubber feet.
Sold by Wayfair
Breville Duo Nonstick Panini Press
It’s an affordable panini grill that gets the job done and saves space on your countertop. It has a scratch-resistant cooking surface, a ribbed top plate that gives sandwiches grill marks, a floating hinge with four height settings and a locking storage clip.
Sold by Amazon
Brentwood Indoor Electric Copper Grill and Panini Press
With this high-powered electric press, you can grill hot sandwiches and other foods, such as burgers, steaks and fish, for up to two people. It has an indicator light, gold copper-plated cooking plates and a dishwasher-safe drip tray.
Sold by Kohl’s
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
