10 Best Panini Presses (With Pictures!)
This Italian sandwich that swept American food culture of the 1990s has a long and varied history. The one constant, though, is using using quality ingredients. And a high-quality panini press.
It is these Italian origin ingredients that are the detail that sets panini apart from a mere sandwich. First, there’s the bread. For panini made in Italy, the accepted bread types are ciabatta, Foccacia, Italian baguettes, and Michetti.
The most important aspect is not to use sliced bread, as this is too soft and won’t keep the ingredients inside once it is grilled. Also, Italian panini has mostly four ingredients, namely, one type of Italian cured meat, one type of cheese, and vegetables.
Traditionally, no dressing is used because it will just soak into the bread and overpower the taste of the other ingredients. Also, the most important aspect is grilling the sandwich, whether in an electric panini press or using a cast-iron press and a pan.
In Italy, the first reference to panini dates back to the 16th century, when the name appears in an Italian cookbook. The first American panini was documented in 1956, and during the 1970s and 1980s, panini became very popular in Milan.
The trend was later picked up in the US, where panini became a cultural staple of the 1980s and later developed into the go-to food of office workers in all big cities. During the 1990s, panini became part of the menu in family restaurants and different institutions, such as colleges, hospitals, and airports.
Check out below our round-up of the best panini presses you can buy right now!
1. Staub Cast Iron Square Grill Pan & Press Set
This panini press is used by Chef Jon Ashton when preparing Butternut Squash Panini. It has to be pre-heated in the oven, as it is a cast iron grill pan, and the result will be a panini with an extra crispy crust that won’t adhere to the pan, as it is enameled. Once the panini is in the pan and pressed, the pan goes on the stovetop where it remains until the crust of the sandwich browns.
The manufacturer, French company Staub, guarantees exceptional browning, braising, and roasting due to the rough texture of the cast iron, which comes already seasoned and requires no additional treatment. The grill pan is dishwasher safe and suitable for all stovetops, whether they are gas, electric, or induction, as it has a smooth enamel bottom.
This product is top quality and it is very easy to clean. Although the price is higher than usual cast iron grill pans, the Staub grill pan is a sturdy product, suitable for professional use.
2. Cuisinart Electric Griddler
The Cuisinart Griddler Five represents five appliances in one: a panini press, contact grill, full grill, full griddle, and half grill/half griddle. It is an electrical griddle with a contemporary design and a versatile look, which displays function, temperature, and timer on an LCD screen.
The enameled cooking plates are removable, reversible, and dishwasher-safe, and it also comes equipped with a dishwasher-safe scraping tool.
The digital display is very useful, the warming up time is fast (5 minutes), and the drip tray is well-designed. The Cuisinart Griddler Five also gets great ratings on Reddit, where many users rate it as the best overall electrical grill.
3. Breville BGR700BSS Sear and Press Grill
Recommended for sandwiches and generously packed panini, the Duo panini press by Breville offers a plate large enough for two sandwiches or a large panini. The most valuable asset is the adjustable thickness level, so any type of artisan bread can be fitted inside the press grill, no matter how thick the loaf.
The grill and griddle plates are ceramic and non-stick, and this guarantees even browning and easy cleaning.
The Breville Grill has simple manual controls, which are very easy to use. It is easily stored when not in use, as it stands upright.
Similarly to Cuisinart Griddler Five, Breville BGR700BSS Press also enjoys high ratings on Reddit and is regarded by some users as the best product for making panini.
4. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Grill Press
The Lodge Grill Press may come as a surprise when searching for panini presses, but many people attest to its usefulness.
Although it is primarily used for smash burgers, bacon, or grilled cheese sandwiches, the Lodge press works very well for panini.
It is the best-priced product, but it can’t be used alone, as it needs to be paired with a grill pan. The cast-iron Lodge press is pre-seasoned and it has a flat surface, unlike other panini presses, meaning that it will flatten and brown the bread evenly.
According to some Amazon reviewers, some attention is necessary when fixing the screws that attach the handle to the press, but this is not a major issue as it can easily be fixed.
5. Oster DuraCeramic Infusion Series 2-in-1 Panini Maker and Grill, Charcoal with White Griddles (CKSTPM21WC-IECO)
While cast iron may be the traditional choice for non-stick materials, ceramic cookware represents the modern approach.
Besides being nonstick, ceramic has the advantage of not needing any fat or oil cooking, as nothing will stick to the surface of the cookware, and the additional perk of being non-reactive, so no damaging chemicals will seep into your food.
The Oster DuraCeramic Panini Maker ceramic plates are guaranteed to last ten times longer than other non-stick surfaces and to cook faster than other panini makers.
The plates are easy to clean, the food doesn’t stick, and the ceramic coating is much healthier than Teflon.
6. Waring Commercial Compact Italian-Style Panini Grill
Designed for professional use, the Waring Commercial Compact Italian-Style Panini Grill is a sturdy product, with two cast-iron plates, guaranteed to last for a long time, even when used frequently.
The two cast-iron plates distribute heat evenly, so that the cooking time is lower than with many other grill presses. It also comes with a drip tray, meaning that it can cook lots of other foods besides paninis, such as hamburgers, chicken, and vegetables.
The Waring Panini Grill is primarily suitable for small coffee shops or food trailers. Although it is pretty heavy, it doesn’t take up any more space than a non-professional panini press, so you can also use it at home.
7. Dash Compact Panini Press
The perfect space saver, the Dash Compact Panini Press represents an ideal wedding gift or new home gift.
Taking up very little counter space, it is well-adapted even to the smallest living space. It is suited for more than panini alone, as it can be used for grilled cheese, omelets, waffles, and all kinds of other snacks, and meals. The heavy lid ensures that the sandwich is flattened and crispy.
It is very easy to use and to clean, is suitable for small sandwiches and panini with 3 or 4 ingredients, and that it heats quickly.
However, the Dash Compact Panini Press may not suited for those looking for an appliance that can cook larger paninis or sandwiches with lots of ingredients.
The main problem when stuffing the sandwiches is that the melted cheese drips out and it very hard to clean.
8. Dash Mini Maker
Unbelievably, Dash has an even smaller appliance which doubles as a panini maker, the Dash Mini Maker. So small that it fits in one’s hand, the Mini Maker is essentially designed for waffles, but it can also cook panini, hash browns, and other snacks.
It is far less pricey than any other appliance that makes panini, and it will produce a novelty kind of sandwich in the shape of a waffle. Reviewers say they made pancakes, waffle sandwiches, keto egg buns, chaffless, and grilled cheese panini. For the latter, the reviewer even left a recipe:
This baby is the bee’s knees for my breakfast grilled cheese. Here’s the recipe… cut a slice of bread in half, stick a thick chunk of cheddar between the slices, melt a skinny pat of butter on the bottom plate, put the sandwich on there with another thin slice of butter on the top piece of bread. Press down lightly, wait about a minute, press down harder, presto magic…. a perfect cheese panini…. hint…. don’t use cheap bread, use a good hearty slice of whole-grain or you will end up making a mess.
9. George Foreman 4-Serving Removable Plate Grill and Panini Press, Platinum, GRP3060P
A brand best-known for grills, George Foreman uses the same grill plates for the panini press, which means that the nonstick coating is durable, easy to clean, and needs very little butter or oil.
The panini maker comes with a dishwasher-safe drip tray, which ensures that the cooking process doesn’t get too messy. The grill plates are removable and dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning them very easy.
It heats quickly, makes a crispy bread crust, and is very easy to clean. Although it does not have a temperature control knob, the temperature setting seems to be just perfect for making panini.
10. Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press Grill
Considered the best panini press grill for home use, the Hamilton Beach Electric panini press is also suitable for sandwiches and quesadillas.
Also, because the top lid can be locked in a horizontal position, it can be used for pizzas, open-face sandwiches, and bruschetta. The lid can be adjusted to fit any kind of artisan bread.
It’s nonstick and easily wipes clean, as long as it is wiped right after use.
It is very easy to use because it has few settings to worry about. It also takes up little space and it can be stored upright. Unfortunately, it does not come with a drip pan or removable plates.
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Fillings and Panini Recipes
There are several original Italian panini filling combinations. A very simple, yet full of flavor filling is a mix between mozzarella and tomato, with or without arugula and/or prosciutto. Another flavorful variety is prosciutto and fontina cheese.
The mix between prosciutto, cheese, and olive tapenade boasts a strong, savory taste, while bresaola and goat’s cheese (plus lettuce and/or tomato) present a somewhat softer note. There is also the vegetarian version of panini, filled only with grilled vegetables.
For those who want to go beyond Italian ingredients, you can always choose different meats or cheeses. Grilled chicken, turkey, and roast beef are great fillings. However, one must note that rare meat has to be cooked beforehand as cooking the sandwich in the panini press or a pan with a panini cast iron only heats the ingredients and melts the butter and cheese. There are countless other ingredients from which to choose, such as spinach, roasted peppers, basil, olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and oregano. For vegetarian panini, there are several suitable vegetables, such as eggplant, zucchini, or any vegetable that can be cooked on a grill.
For those looking for some fancier panini versions, we have selected some recipes recommended by top chefs. Chef Utkarsh Bhalla, brand executive chef at Azure Hospitality, recommends a vegetarian panini with mushrooms and caramelized onions.
For the recipe, caramelize the onions in butter with some thyme or oregano for flavor. Next, saute the mushrooms with some garlic until they soften. Now layer the panini inside half a loaf of garlic bread, cut down the middle. Cover the inside of the bread with a thin layer of mustard, and top it with the caramelized onions, mushrooms, and some shredded spinach. Finally, butter the outside of the garlic bread and grill it using a panini grill or a pan and a cast-iron press.
Another autumn-inspired vegetarian panini recipe comes from Chef Jon Ashton at Crystal Cruises. For Butternut Squash Panini, peel a butternut squash, cut it into chunks and roast them.
Then, saute an onion in butter, with some brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and paprika, until caramelized. Next, add the roasted squash to the onion mix, gently mash it and season with salt and pepper.
Then put the squash on slices of bread (sourdough bread can be used), together with spreadable cheese or Swiss cheese. Butter the outside of the bread and cooked in a panini pan until crisp.
A meat-filled panini recipe is recommended by Chef Robert Irvine from the Food Network. For Grilled Chicken di Parma Panini, the chef uses basil pesto, provolone cheese slices, grilled chicken breast, prosciutto, roasted red peppers, onion, artichoke hearts, and ciabatta rolls.
Slice the ciabatta rolls, spread on the pesto, and top with cheese, chicken breast, prosciutto slices, roasted peppers, artichokes, and another slice of provolone cheese. Brush the outside of the ciabatta roll with grapeseed oil and place in a panini pan or a panini press until crispy on the outside.
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