The 10 Best Panini Presses to Give Your Sandwich an Upgrade
The 10 Best Panini Presses to Give Your Sandwich an Upgrade
It’s hard to beat a delicious sandwich, especially when it has been pressed to a warm crisp. Panini presses can transform just about any breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and support a wide variety of ingredients. They can double as burger grillers, bacon fryers, or omelet makers, so the press is far from a one-trick pony: Think of them as a ridged two-sided skillet. The best part about a panini press is that they do all the work for you, so you can bring the gourmet café vibe home—no special culinary skills required.
They can come in handy for busy people who want delicious, warm sandwiches that taste professionally made. To help pick the right one for you, we've created a list of presses that we think will suit people who live solo, have big families, are casual panini consumers, or expect gourmet results. Get ready to find the best panini press for your needs and budget below.
1) Cuisinart Electric Griddler
Cuisinart
amazon.com
$119.95
This stainless-steel Cuisinart performs as well as it looks (and it looks great). The modern design will fit into any kitchen, and it features an LCD display with digital controls and adjustable temperatures from 175-450 degrees. It isn’t just a panini press either: It’s a contact grill, full grill, full griddle, and half griddle, depending on how you use it.
When you do decide to make a panini, you’ll be able to adjust the height to accommodate thin and thick breads. It also features removable dishwasher-safe nonstick cooking plates that are easy to store and comes with an easy-to-follow instruction manual with recipes.
2) George Foreman Panini Press
George Foreman
amazon.com
$33.84
This panini press is one of Amazon’s top sellers in contact grills. It features removable, dishwasher-safe, nonstick grill plates, and upgraded heating elements that preheat 35% faster than their previous version. Simply put, this panini press doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it heats up quickly and works as a panini press and small grill, suitable for burgers, chicken, and vegetables.
Fans of large-size George Foreman grills love this panini press as a sandwich maker, but also as a micro-grill for taking on the road or cooking for one.
3) Waring Commercial Panini Perfetto
Waring
amazon.com
$489.00
If you want to make paninis like a pro or if you plan to serve paninis at a big event or party, this Waring press is perfect for you. The price tag is hefty, but the 208-volt stainless steel industrial appliance will cook your paninis quickly and consistently.
This press has a hinged, auto-balancing top plate to grill food up to three inches thick, and the strong cast-iron plates will also grill meats and vegetables to perfection. We also like that the press has a removable drip tray to catch grease.
4) Dash Mini Maker
DASH
amazon.com
$8.99
This maker gets an average of 4.7 stars from more than 176,000 reviewers, and while it’s technically a waffle maker, it can make much more, including paninis. Its micro-size makes it a win for those living by themselves, or travelers who want pressed sandwiches, hash browns, or waffles on the road. The maker features dual nonstick surfaces that cook evenly and clean up easily, and it’s backed by a one-year warranty.
5) Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler
$99.95
This stainless steel press also works as a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, and half grill. With five different cooking options, we know it’s bound to be a crowd-pleaser.
The Cuisinart has adjustable temperature controls and an on/off indicator light, which adds an additional layer of safety. We like how attractive the brushed stainless-steel exterior is, and that the sturdy floating handle can adjust to the thickness of the food. Plus, the nonstick cooking plates are removable and dishwasher-safe.
6) Brentwood Compact Press
Brentwood
amazon.com
$17.55
This nonstick panini press has cool-touch handles, an on/off and preheat indicator light, and a safety lock lid. Our favorite feature is that it offers convenient upright storage, which is perfect for saving space in a small kitchen. The stainless steel panini press offers a great value for the price, too.
7) George Foreman Multi-Plate Press
George Foreman
amazon.com
$109.99
This hinge-model press offers serious power. The digital control panel allows you to set the grill temp between 325-400 degrees, or opt for the 500-degree searing burst, which will cook your panini in 90 seconds. With this model, you’ll get maximum control, and slash your cooking time if you opt for the searing burst.
The grill plates are covered with a multilayer nonstick ceramic coating that makes cooking and cleaning easier, and they’re removable and dishwasher-safe.
8) Hamilton Beach Panini Press
Hamilton Beach
amazon.com
$46.99
Featuring nonstick top and bottom plates and a floating lid for even heat distribution, you'll get perfectly toasted sandwiches every time with this panini press. The top lid extends open 180 degrees for easy grilled pizzas and open-faced sandwiches. One Amazon reviewer called this an "excellent little grill," writing, "This one is nice because there aren't a lot of settings to worry about. Just turn it on, watch for the light, and you're ready to throw your sandwich on there."
9) Maxi-Matic Elite Platinum EPN-2976 Electric Panini Press
Elite Gourmet
amazon.com
$35.99
Not only does this multipurpose appliance come with an affordable price tag, but the highly-rated model also doubles as a portable countertop grill thanks to its 180-degree opening design. It has a floating hinge, so it's big sandwich-friendly and has a discreet grease tray for easy cleanup. According to its five-star reviewers, the non-stick plates heat up fast and can handle the messiest of creations, and the model's adjustable feet make removing excess oil easy.
10) Yabano Panini Press Grill
Yabano
amazon.com
$49.99
Priced at under $50, this press is going to give you the most bang for your buck. It has a sleek, lightweight build that can easily go from cabinet to countertop. Its surface area can hold about four conventionally-sized sandwiches or wraps at a time. Plus, it doubles as an open-faced, two-sided grill that can be used for meat and vegetables (aided by the oil drain lips on each side).
Rev up your kitchen game with these easy-to-use presses.