Enjoying a hearty, artfully made panini doesn’t need to be confined to expensive trips to Italy. You can buy a solid, at-home panini sandwich maker for home and make these staples of sandwich satisfaction year round, with minimal cooking and cleaning. After exhaustive review, here are what we’ve found to be the best selling and highest-rated panini sandwich makers.
The Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press is undoubtedly one of the best selling panini presses on the market, and among the highest reviewed, making it the best panini sandwich press overall. It has virtually every feature you’d expect a panini sandwich press to have:
- Acts as both a Panini Press and Sandwich maker within an attractive Stainless Steel housing
- Upper and lower 11-by-7-inch nonstick, non-removable grill plates
- Floating hinge adjusts to accommodate any size sandwich; preset temperature
- Helpful indicator lights; instructions, recipes, and cleaning tool included
- Measures 14-1/2 by 6-1/2 by 12 inches; 3-year limited warranty
At well less than 50 dollars, with a list price of 90 dollars, this is an amazing value. This high quality and versatile panini sandwich maker will be a counter top sandwich staple for many years.
Here’s one of many glowing reviews:
I feel like I am back on the streets of Paris every time I plug in my beautiful Cuisinart Panini and Sandwich Press. This press makes the best grilled cheese sandwich you ever ate, I guarantee it. I love how you can stick a whole hoagie roll or chunk of french bread loaf with sandwich makings inside into it and squish it into a hot & yummy hunk of cheese-oozong goodness. Or, you can use regular bread and make toasty club sandwiches or grilled cheese.
This guy hangs out in the cupboard and is easy to pull out, just plug in and wait for the green light to come on. You can have a quick french dip dinner ready in 5 minutes that everyone will love- also perfect for grilled cheese and tomato soup night- or just want to make some garlic bread to go with your spaghetti without heating up the whole oven? I LOVE my panini press.
It is really easy to clean- although I haven’t tried grilling meats or anything beyond sandwiches and bread. Gooey cheese comes off easily and the whole thing wipes down quickly with a damp washcloth.
Elvis would have died over the peanut butter and banana sandwiches we make in this baby! The frying pan’s got nothin’ on our Panini Press.
Now, onto our second choice:
The West Bend 6112 Panini Press and Sandwich Maker is also a great choice, featuring nearly flawless reviews. It’s similar in function to the above mentioned, but provides a different aesthetic touch. It also is great for those without much countertop space, as it can be folded vertically when not in use. Here are its features:
- 1000-watt panini press and sandwich maker with easy-to-raise heat-resistant handle
- Upper and lower nonstick cooking surfaces provide even grilling and toasting
- Floating hinge automatically adjusts to accommodate different foods
- Convenient “power on” and “ready” lights; stands upright for compact storage
- Measures 14-1/2 by 7-2/7 by 15-1/2 inches; 1-year limited warranty
Online retailers offer a superior buy when compared to local department stores: Considering its hefty list price of $75, for less than fifty dollars, this is a deal not to be missed out on. Here’s a helpful review:
Firstly let me tell you why all the others suck : I had a fancy Cuisinart for 2 months with the removable heating plates and ended up throwing it way. They are made into “sandwhich shapes” for whatever reason and are supposedly dishwasher safe – NONSENSE . The problem here is that they are impossible to clean. I think the “crinkle cut” ones are also going to be super hard to keep clean. Everything sticks to them – so you have to be very aggressive when you remove your sandwich especially since everything is unbelievably hot and you have starving kids plucking at you. FRUSTRATING.
The West Bend on the other hand is flat. Just use a spatula and the sandwhich pops off. No need to use butter or Pam. Wait for it to cool and then wipe with a damp paper towel. I think the big thing is to not scratch the non stick surface – and the fact that this one is flat makes a big difference. It also has plenty of heat to warm everything up all the way through without having to burn the bread. No temp controls – really don’t miss them.There is an indicator to tell you when the press is at temperature. All you need.
Very nice product – very nice price. I was prepared to spend up to $300 and I just got this. Very very happy! If all you want is a really good (small – or should that be compact ) toasted sandwich maker (2 max ) – stop here and just buy it.
Yes it won’t do nice grill marks on chicken or on your sandwiches – but who cares.
It also has ridges all round the bottom – so the fat/chess etc doesn’t run out and onto the counter – most of the others just let it ooze out the front .. (if you are lucky )
And our third choice:
The Hamilton Beach 25450 Gourmet Panini Press is another excellent choice, especially at less than 50 dollars for what will become a permanent fixture in your kitchen. This specific model is also one of the best-selling presses available, with vastly optimistic reviews. Here are its features:
- Gourmet sandwich press for deli-style grilled panini at home
- Floating lid makes even contact with thick or thin sandwiches
- Nonstick grids measure 8-1/2 by 12 inches
- Power and preheat lights; locking lid; upright storage design
- Grill unit measure 13-1/2 by 11-1/2 by 4 inches; 2-year warranty
With its griddle-surface resulting in attractive grill marks, a 2 year warranty, upright storage, and other great features, this panini sandwich maker is sure not to disappoint. However, this one isn’t too much cheaper online when compared to retail stores. If settling on this specific model, it’s not a bad idea to shop around locally. Here’s a quick review:
You can’t give this machine a bad rating. This Hamilton Beach Panini Press does one thing and one thing only, but it does it very well. If you enjoy pressed/grilled sandwhiches you will love this machine. As I write this I’m eating a feta/olive/artichoke/roasted peppers on pita sandwhich hot off the panini press, and it’s scrumptious. I actually bought this as a christmas gift for my mother, but I probably use it more than she does.
admin Mid-Range Panini Sandwich Makers