A panini is one of the most versatile dishes you can make, as you can put almost anything in it, and this is possibly why so many people all across the globe love ordering these when going out for lunch. Eating out too often can get a little expensive in the long-run, and perhaps it is time to start making paninis at home? By investing in one of the best panini presses on the market, you will be able to make the most delicious sandwich creations without leaving the house, which is a great way to impress family, friends, and other guests!
These are the best panini presses and grills on the market right now, followed by a buyers guide to help you find the best panini maker for you and your household.
View The Best Panini Press Below
1. George Foreman Grill and Panini Press
This is a product that is easy to clean thanks to the removable dishwasher safe grill plates, and it heats the content 35% faster than many similar products. Up to 42% of the fat is drained during the cooking process, making your meals lighter and healthier, and it is an Amazon’s Choice product for a reason! The red and green lights let you know when your sandwich maker is done and ready to use, it is big enough for up to 4 servings, and the non-stick coating prevents your food from burning or sticking to the plates.
Pros:
+ Adjustable floating hinge
+ 35% faster heating process
+ Available in black and platinum
+ Drains 42% of the fat
Why We Like It – The non-stick coating makes it incredibly easy to succeed with your sandwich-making using this panini press, and it only takes a few minutes thanks to the improved heat-up process.
2. Cuisinart GR-5B Electric Griddler
When looking for the best panini presses or panini duo presses, this handy little grill is a product worth considering! It has dishwasher safe plates that can be reversed if needed and controls for adjusting the temperatures, which is excellent if you want to make more things other than sandwiches. The scraping tool that comes with the product makes cleaning incredibly easy, and you get digital controls (including temperature control) that are so easy to use that you will barely even need to read the manual.
Pros:
+ Adjustable temperatures
+ Dishwasher safe, top plate, and bottom plate
+ Included scraping tool for cleaning
+ Easy-to-use digital controls
Why We Like It – The digital temperature settings make this panini press sandwich maker an excellent option for someone who wants to use it also to grill meat, as it gives you a long list of useful cooking options.
3. Dash DMG001PK Mini Maker Portable Grill Machine + Panini Press
If the regular panini press type does not convince you, or if you just want something small and compact that won’t take up too much space in your kitchen, then this lightweight Amazon favorite is possibly the best panini press for you! It comes in fun colors like baby blue, light pink, red, black, and white, and you can use it for making anything from sandwiches to burgers and s’ mores. It is the perfect appliance to give to someone who is moving away from home, as it is easy to use to make all kinds of foods.
Pros:
+ Lightweight, small and compact
+ Available in colors like pink and blue
+ Perfect for single-servings
+ Light indicator for when finished
Why We Like It – This is without doubts the best 1500-watt nonstick panini press for someone with reduced space, as it is minimal and handy, while still getting the job done!
4. Breville Duo Nonstick Panini Press
The Breville BSG520xl panini duo press is an excellent product for making the most delightful looking panini, thanks to the ribbed plates that will leave those irresistible grill marks. It is also a highly durable product with a scratch-resistant exterior that will last you for many years to come.
There are four different height settings, allowing you to adjust it to whatever you plan to grill, and the feet are non-slip to make sure it stays securely on the kitchen counter. With this panini press, you even get an included manual full of recipes!
Pros:
+ Scratch-resistant Quantanium plates
+ Stainless steel press housing
+ With four height settings
+ Ribbed top plates for grill marks
Why We Like It – When you purchase this Breville BSG520xl panini duo press, you get everything you need to make delicious sandwiches and more, and the ribbed plates will give your panini those beautiful grill markings!
5. Isiler Panini Press Grill
Everyone wants to find the best panini press possible, and with the Isiler, you get ribbed cooking plates, a cooking surface that folds out and turns into a grill, an oil outlet that drains excess fat to make your meals lighter and healthier, and much more. It is perfect for indoor grilling, with enough space to make two paninis at once, and it is also effortless to clean as the design allows you to reach areas that would otherwise be difficult to clean after using. If what you want is a functional press that also looks great and is easy to store, then you can’t go wrong with the Isiler.
Pros:
+ 1200-watt even heating
+ Specialized oil outlet
+ With intelligent temperature control
+ Flattens to 180 degrees
Why We Like It – You can use this sandwich maker to make paninis, but you can also double the cooking surface to use it for making burgers, meat, and veggies.
6. Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press Grill
A Hamilton Beach Panini grill is, after all, a Hamilton Beach grill, and it is one of the top brands known for its high-quality and innovative products. It requires little space as it can be stored upright when not in use, and the press converts into a grill that you can even use to make your favorite pizza!
Such a versatile gourmet sandwich grill is most likely just what you have been looking for, as it is the kind of product that basically has it all, and it also looks excellent standing there on the counter thanks to the unique and sleek design.
Pros:
+ Timeless and sleek design
+ Non-stick top and bottom plates
+ Presses every sandwich evenly
+ Lights for powering and preheating
Why We Like It – Get one of these sandwich and panini presses and make any types of paninis fast and easy, while also enjoying having this beautifully designed product standing there in your kitchen.
7. IMUSA GAU-80103 Electric Panini Maker
The exterior of this press is made in polished stainless steel, which is resistant to scratching and denting. Therefore, it is likely to remain looking great for many years. Also, it has quickly become a favorite on Amazon.com and other sales points, with convenient lights indicating when it is on and when it is hot enough to start cooking.
There are so many things you can do with a device like this, such as irresistible panini sandwiches, crunchy grilled vegetables, meat and more, and many aren’t aware of what an asset a panini maker can be in the kitchen! This electrical product is no exception, and it has many beneficial features such as a cool-touch handle to prevent burns, indicator lights, adjustable temperatures, and non-stick plates.
Pros:
+ Non-stick removable plates
+ Easily cleaned after use
+ Cool-touch handle
+ Adjustable temperatures
Why We Like It – A great feature here is that you can adjust the temperatures to make sure you always get a perfectly grilled sandwich, piece of meat, and more, and the grill is designed to be cooler to the touch to prevent burns.
8. Chefman Electric Panini Press Grill
Are you looking for a compact panini press with excellent Amazon reviews? This one right here is CETL approved, has skid-resistant feet that keep it in place (because nobody wants to knock their panini press off the counter accidentally). It also features a floating hinge to accommodate both larger and smaller items, and the material is no-stick to prevent your food from sticking to the plates without the need for cooking spray or oil. You can use it for making sandwiches, delicious quesadillas, or why not grilled vegetables?
Pros:
+ Skid-resistant feet with a floating hinge
+ For paninis, steak, veggies and more
+ Conveniently CETL approved
+ No need for cooking spray
Why We Like It – The compact design of this panini press makes it easy to store when you are not using it, or to take it with you when you head over to a friend’s house!
9. Elite Cuisine EPN-2976 Electric Panini Press & Contact Grill
The hinge can be flattened to turn this panini press into a 180-degree indoor kitchen grill, which is perfect for when you want to have friends over for a get-together, and it is one of the best panini making products you can get thanks to all the additional features.
The press has no-stick plates, a grease tray that slides out, indicator lights, and it can be stored in an upright position. The feet are adjustable, which in itself opens up for various cooking options (such as tipping off the grease), and it is an overall great little panini duo press to have at home!
Pros:
+ Great for all types of sandwiches
+ 180-degree grill feature
+ Slide-out tray for grease
+ Duo 1500-watt
Why We Like It – When you stumble across this beauty on Amazon or anywhere else, it is not hard to see the possibilities! The way it flattens out means you can host a mini-BBQ no matter where you are, and its construction is both timeless and durable.
10. AICOK Panini Press Grill
This is a beautiful BSG520xl panini grill made with durable stainless steel, removable plates, and drip tray, lights to indicate when it is on and when preheating is done, a floating lid as often seen on café equipment that leaves those desired grill marks.
This touch-handle is always cool to the touch, and the design makes it incredibly easy to clean. Make the best panini sandwiches with this duo 1500-watt Amazon favorite – a press sandwich maker suitable both for someone new in the kitchen and for those who already take pride in their sandwich creations.
Pros:
+ Lid for the perfect grill marks
+ Removable drip tray
+ Possible upright storage
+ Preheat and power lights
Why We Like It – When you see the perfect sandwich with grill marks that come out of this panini press, you will wonder why you didn’t get it sooner, and it can be stored upright to save space when not in use.
Panini Press Buyer’s Guide
There is nothing wrong with a good old sandwich, but it becomes something entirely different when you turn it into a panini or put it on the grill. There are multiple different models to choose from, and this is a guide for you to learn what to look for in a sandwich maker, along with a quick guide to choosing grill plates, what a floating hinge can do for your sandwiches and much more.
If you have never dealt with panini presses before – you have been missing out, and while you might not have realized you needed one until now, you won’t be able to picture your life without it once you start making your delicious paninis.
What Will the Panini Press Be Used For?
The first thing to do when you are trying to decide o the best panini presses is to sit down and figure out what you will be using it for. For someone only interested in making paninis, there isn’t much of a point in paying for a product with additional features, and you are probably best off with a simple nonstick panini press. However, if you think you might also want to use it for cooking other things, then you will need a product that can be turned into a fully functional grill. Some grills can be opened up and turned into an open grill rather than a press, and this is an excellent option for someone hoping to use it more like an indoor grill than a panini press.
Cooking Plates
There are a few different types of panini press products, and much comes down to the grill plates. Some want their sandwiches and paninis to have inviting grill grooves on both the top and the bottom bread slice, and if so, you need a product with two grooved grill plates. It is worth considering another option, though, where only the top plate has grooves, while the bottom plate has a griddle.
That way, you still get your grooves, but you can also use your sandwich maker for making other things, like a stack of delicious breakfast pancakes! If you are unsure of which kind would be best for you, then you can set out to find a grill that has removable plates with additional plates either included or available for purchase, so that you can switch them out if needed.
Cooking Surface Size
Will you mostly be using your panini maker to make yourself something before you head out the door or when you feel like a delicious sandwich? Or will you be preparing food for the whole family, or perhaps for guests coming over? The cooking surface and its size determine how many paninis or sandwiches you can make every time you use it, so make your choice based on how many people you plan to feed regularly. There will usually be information available for how many sandwiches or other food products that can be fit into the press or onto the grill simultaneously, and whether it is meant for individual use or not.
Adjustable Temperatures
For someone who plans to be making more than just sandwiches in their panini maker, it could be relevant for the product to have adjustable temperature settings. This is especially true for someone who will be using it for meat products and other food items that require more extensive cooking.
Floating Hinge
When making paninis, the bread might not always have the same thickness, and a floating hinge accommodates this without flattening your panini and sandwich creations. It might not matter all that much what your food will look like when it comes out, but the floating lid hinge is definitely an advantage both to fit different types of bread in there and also to get a great looking sandwich every time you take it out of the panini grill. When you are choosing a model, have a quick look at the product specifications to see if it also features this.
Drain Dish or Drain Cup
This is something you won’t find on every gourmet sandwich maker, but it is a feature you will find incredibly useful, and that will aid with easy cleaning. When making a panini or a sandwich, there will often be excess fat left inside the unit, often coming from cheese or other greasy food items, and the way to deal with this is by choosing a press with a drain cup or a drain dish! The way a drain dish is built into the actual press comes in handy when it is time for cleaning, as it can be removed and (if dishwasher safe) washed in the dishwasher.
Easy to Clean
Keeping your panini press clean is extremely important, just like with anything else you use to cook food, so you want to make sure you get a product that isn’t too complicated to clean after using it. A press with griddles is generally a lot easier to clean than one with grooves, but when it comes down to it, how easy to clean gourmet sandwich presses depend on the material, but also on whether they have removable plates you can wash in the dishwasher.
Storability
Not everyone has unlimited storage space, so make sure you choose sandwich makers that can fit into the space you have available. Some of the best panini presses can be stored in an upright position, which will save you plenty of space in a kitchen cabinet or wherever you choose to store it. This makes the design highly relevant when wanting the best panini maker but also one that won’t be in the way when not in use.
What can you use a panini press for?
You can make so much more than just paninis with sandwich presses like these, and examples are quesadillas, bacon, burgers, grilled veggies, chicken breasts, and much more!
Can a George Foreman grill be used as a panini press?
Yes, you can use a George Foreman grill! This brand is one of the best brands on the market, and you can find various options on, for example, Amazon.
Which brand is best for a sandwich maker?
It is not so much about the brand, and more about what type of grill you want and how you plan to use it, so focus more on the features, rather than on the brand itself.
Conclusion
It is so easy and fast to make a tasty panini, and it is a great lunch option both for when you want to impress guests and for when you just need a quick bite. You can put almost anything between two slices of bread, so the important thing becomes to find a quality gourmet sandwich maker you can count on. These reviews should have given you a solid foundation for your search and the knowledge you need to make a qualified choice and ultimately end up with the best panini press available.
Expert Tip
Don’t be afraid to experiment once you have your panini maker and download some recipes online for ideas for what to make with ingredients you have at home.
Did You Know
You have probably heard of Thomas Edison, the inventor, but did you know that Thomas Edison is credited for having invented an early version of a sandwich grill?
