The Best Panini Press For Every Panini Lover! (2022 Edition)

In the past, the panini is a delicacy you can only savor in restaurants. But with the advent of modern technology, the best panini press has come to life. With the help of the device, you can make this delicacy within the comfort of your own kitchen. Moreover, it is a cost-efficient option. In the long run, you can save more by creating paninis yourself, rather than buying them at costly diners.

A panini is an Italian grilled sandwich with several layers of vegetables, meats, and condiments. The flavors are very varied so you won’t get sick of them. If you use a panini press with a bacon cooker and a toaster, your breakfasts will never be the same again!

If you want to know what the best options for a bacon cooker, we have a separate article on it. Of course, we’ve also written reviews for the most awesome 4-slice and 2-slice toasters, so that a food lover like you won’t run out of choices when it comes to cooking.

The panini press is the latest addition to the mix, as we just love the taste of the sandwiches that it makes! But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we list all the products. See which one of the following will benefit your appetite the most!

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How To Choose The Best Panini Press

Out of the dozens of models available on the market, only five devices stood out for their noteworthy performance and features. We have tested each of them so that we can deliver our verdicts.

Do you want to know more about them? Then check out the respective reviews!

Best Panini Press: Features, Performance, And More!

1. Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N

Image from Amazon.com

The Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N is definitely the rightful owner of the top spot, as it will enhance your cooking versatility. This unit has a 5-in-1 purpose. Apart from being a panini press, it can work as a contact grill, full griddle, full grill, and half griddle/ half grill. You can’t find a feature like this among its competitors.

The Cuisinart Griddler GR-4N has a stainless steel construction, making it among the sturdiest units that we have ever tested. Furthermore, its sturdy handle is specially designed for making paninis, providing you with stability while making your favorite sandwich. It also comes with a floating cover that adapts to the thickness of the food you are cooking.

The cooking plates are reversible and removable, and have non-stick properties, which means less mess. They can also drain any grease and liquid residue while you’re cooking. As a result, you can always enjoy sumptuous food that is healthy at the same time!

Pros

• Comes with temperature controls.
• Indicator lights give cooking progress.
• It is a versatile kitchen tool.
• The construction is compact and robust.
• Heats up pretty fast.
• The oil drain doesn’t catch all the grease.

Image from Amazon.com

2. Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe GR-150

The Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe GR-150 is the cousin of the GR-4N. Both of them work fine and have similar capabilities, but the Deluxe GR-150 has an additional cooking capacity, which is top melt. Therefore, when it comes to versatility, it is slightly better that the GR-4N.

This unit has removable and reversible cooking plates, which enhance its overall functionality and make the griddle plates easy to clean. The Deluxe GR-150 offers a dual temperature control to ensure the heating is balanced, and can heat up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit in as fast as two minutes.

The cooking surface of the Deluxe GR-150 is almost the same as the GR-4N. They are pretty spacious, so you can do multiple servings in one go. There is a built-in drip tray device and the scraping tools and other included accessories are all dishwasher-safe. The Deluxe GR-150 is also available in an Elite model.

Pros

• Large cooking surface.
• Comes with a drip tray.
• Removable and reversible griddle plate.
• Can heat up quickly.
• Six cooking pre-sets.

• The drip tray is still an issue.
• Susceptible to grease splatters.

Image from Amazon.com

3. Hamilton Beach Panini Press Gourmet Sandwich Maker

The Hamilton Beach is another excellent brand and we just love the way it handles bread and sandwiches of any sizes. Thanks to its floating lid, it presses the sandwich evenly, regardless of how big it is. This is good, considering that some devices cannot cater for different thickness of bread.

The cooking surface is quite spacious and the grids and the cooking area have a non-stick coating, so you can always guarantee mess-free cooking. There are also LED indicators for the power and cooking progress, which removes all the guesswork. At most, this panini press can prepare three sandwiches in one go!

We are also impressed by the ergonomic design. Unlike some of its competitors, it has upright storage, which will save you a lot of space! Moreover, the top and bottom heat evenly. Therefore, there is no need for you to flip the sandwich!

Pros

• Grills have non-stick coating.
• Compact and upright storage.
• Durable construction.
• Doesn’t require sandwich flipping anymore.
• Comes with LED indicators.
• The cooking surface is not removable.

Image from Amazon.com

4. George Foreman 5-Serving Removable Plate Grill And Panini Press

If you want a panini press that can cater your entire household, you better choose the George Foreman. Just like all the other devices here, it is a good quality product. It uses ceramic with a non-stick property as the main material for its cooking grill, so it is durable and stain-free.

The George Foreman offers one unique feature, its grill has a sloped design and so you can take out 42% of the fat from the meat. As a result, you can always savor a healthy meal. There is also an integrated drip tray is dishwasher safe and easy to clean.

Pros

• Indicator light for cooking progress.
• Sloped grill design removes fat from the meat.
• Comes with a non-stick ceramic coating.
• Integrated drip tray really works.
• Can cater huge servings.

• Doesn’t heat up as high as other panini presses do.
• Comes with a short cord.

Image from Amazon.com

5. Breville Panini Duo

Another choice you should try is the Breville Panini Duo. It has an innovative design that allows efficient and quick food preparation. Specifically, it has a Quantanium grilling surface that is scratch-resistant and has non-stick properties. The bottom plate of this device is flat, which somehow contributes to the fast and thorough food preparation, and the top plate has a ribbed design for creating those iconic grill marks.

The Breville Panini Duo has a floating hinge with 4-adjustable height settings, so it can accommodate bread for various sizes and thicknesses. This appliance is pretty ergonomic as well. It has LED indicators, non-slip feet for improved usability and locking clip you can use when you store this device.

Pros

• Sturdy construction (cold-wrapped and stainless steel housing).
• Height can be adjusted to four settings.
• The surface has a non-stick coating.
• Stores safely.
• Non-slip feet gives stability while cooking.

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• The cooking plate is not removable.
• The bottom plate doesn’t heat too well.

Our Ratings

Benefits Of A Panini Press

We have now given you the best options for a panini press. so let’s discuss some important details about this kitchen tool.

The first thing to know are the benefits that this tool can give. Is it worth having a panini press? Will your days in the kitchen be better if you have this device around? For us, the answer to both these questions is yes.

Investing in a panini press might not be necessary for some other people. But for those who know its real value, getting one is really essential.

Aids In Healthy Living

If you are on a strict diet and want to eat healthily, a panini press can help you to maintain a healthy regime. After all, it specializes in making green and leafy sandwiches, and means you won’t get sick of the taste. Who doesn’t love the flavor of a panini?

Ease Of Use

A panini press is a simple kitchen tool that is not difficult to operate, and the cooking process only takes few minutes. If you are always in a rush, preparing for meticulous meals is not practical anymore, which is why bacon cookers and toasters were invented to create a quick alternative. All these devices give you a fast but healthy way of preparing food.

A panini press is no different. Its biggest benefit is that your cooking will always be convenient and smooth. You can find ergonomic versions, where the interface and controls are very easy to learn, and you don’t need to become an expert to use them correctly.

It Can Prepare Other Dishes

The panini press can also cook other dishes as well, such as an omelet and grilled meat. With all of these benefits, who doesn’t want to get this simple yet practical kitchen appliance?

What To Look For A Panini Press

If you have already decided to get a panini press, then congratulations. You’ve just made one of the best decisions in your life. You won’t regret investing in this product, especially if you get a good one.

But do you know which model is worth your money? Fortunately, there are clear indicators that will save you from buying a bad product. We just have to think that a panini press is like all your other home appliances.

They have specific functions, which should be performed well. The parts and components of the machine should be able to cope with your needs if it is to really meet your standards.

Modern technology means that manufacturers have included various innovations on their devices. Therefore, they have advanced a great deal compared to what we had five or ten years ago. Specifically, here are the things that you should look for on this appliance.

Floating Lid

The lid is quite an important factor as it can tell you if it is worth buying or not. The lid should have a hinged or floating mechanism that lets you adjust it.

You also need to consider that not all sandwiches are the same size, and some paninis even have multiple layers of meat and vegetables. If the lid is adjustable, then such task is easy to accomplish. But if not, you’ll have a hard time.

Adjustable Temperature

It’s essential that a panini press allows you to control its heat. Each of us has different preferences when it comes to the type of grill that we want for our favorite sandwich, so an adjustable thermostat or temperature is beneficial. It will also allow the device to prepare recipes other than paninis, so it can really improve your versatility in the kitchen.

Size Of The Cooking Area

The grill’s surface area is another factor that you should pay attention to. Some people don’t mind having a compact panini press. If you are living alone, then a small one will not concern you too much. But if you are living with your family, then you will need a larger one. There is no such thing as an “ideal cooking surface size” for this type of device. Just determine the level of your needs, and you will get the right one for you.

However, remember that a large panini press will eat up a lot of counter space and be difficult to store. Therefore, plan ahead before buying a particular unit.

Removable Plates

The plate or the grill should be removable because making a panini isn’t always mess free. Sometimes, the grease pours into the grill, so you have to clean it. But will your panini press allow you to do that?

Cleaning will be difficult if you have a hinged or connected grill plate. You could put it in the dishwasher, but that’s pretty dangerous as this device has electronic components. You might damage the entire device if you don’t do it carefully.

So it is much easier to get a panini press with a removable plate, so you can clean the device thoroughly without any worries of damaging it.

Final Verdict

A panini press is a must-have tool for any modern kitchen and household. Apart from the delicious treats it creates, it can also help you to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Since it has multiple capabilities, you can cook other recipes with it. As long as you have a creative mind in the kitchen, anything is possible.

Our Ratings

But, of course, all of these units we’ve listed here are worth trying. So check them out and find which one will give you the utmost pleasure and convenience.

Did you learn from this article? Have we missed out any panini press that is worthy of being mentioned? Tell us in the comment section below!