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Are you like thousands of other folks, in pursuit of the best Panini press, but are not sure what exactly it is you need? You need not to worry anymore! Read through this page for everything you need to know.
Top 3 rated Panini Press on the market
What Is A Panini Press?
Breaking down the name of this wonderful device will shed light on its basic function.
A Panini is defined as an Italian, stuffed grilled sandwich. These sandwiches are generally filled with different types of goodies held together by melted cheese.
A press is defined as a tool used for applying pressure to something in order to flatten or shape it.
To state that a Panini Press is a device used to make pressed sandwiches is essentially correct. However, this popular tool has evolved well past its basic function and is used in a variety of ways.
An online search of recipes will show that these appliances are used for many meals and dessert options. You could, in fact, cook an entire three-course meal, provided you have purchased the correct size.
The options you choose when purchasing will determine its versatility. If you have never seen one, it is an appliance that fits on your counter with a cover that opens and closes. Inside you will see two grilling pads one on the bottom and one on the top.
Each pad emits heat so you are cooking the food from the top and bottom at once. This enables the user to perfectly toast each slice of bread while warming the delicious ingredients placed between the buns.
Also, the two grilling pads allow for cooking a host of other foods in half the time. In short, it is an appliance worth looking into.
Top 5 Best Panini Press Reviews
1. Waring WPG250 – Best Commercial Panini Grill to buy
The Waring Commercial WPG250 is quite convenient for preparing relatively smaller foodstuffs ordered by a customer.
It has a great surface for grilled Panini hamburgers, sandwiches, vegetables, chicken and many more.
It has ribbed cast-iron plates that provide quick cooking by distributing heat evenly on its surface.
Users enjoy cooking with this appliance due to an adjustable thermostat where one can regulate heat energy up to 570 Degrees Fahrenheit.
Its hinged top plate can hold food up to 3-inch thickness, providing adequate space to prepare sufficient food for a customer.
It has heat resistant handles for maximum safety to the user, and a power-on feature with ready indicator lights to inform the cook (user) whether the food is ready or not.
Our Rating: 
(4.5 / 5)
Pros
- Don’t need to use stoves any more in the grills and cafes.
- It works perfectly and gives delicious results for every food prepared.
- The temperature control allows the user to have exact timing after placing the food on the griddle.
- It can be used to prepare meat or any other food due to the accurate temperature control dials.
- The adjustable and hinged top plate, which prevents squishing all juice allowing tasty and delicious burgers.
- It is quite appealing with well-made parts that reflect a good and reliable commercial unit.
Cons
- It is small since you can only prepare at most 3-inch thick food. It’s not sufficient for commercial purposes.
Summary
The Italian large Panini Grill is a great purchase because it has a limited one year warranty. Also, it results in delicious foods as a result of the temperature control feature. It’s a great product for a new grill or café shop.
2. Cuisinart GR-150 Griddler Deluxe – best Cuisinart panini maker for the money
There can be an overwhelming list of options to choose from when decided on a proper Griddle to buy. However, if you are looking to save time and money to have something dependable and useful, then the Cuisinart Griddler Deluxe is for you.
With its brushed stainless design, the Griddler Deluxe is built to make your cooking life easier and is great for family dinners or parties. It also includes a new Searblast feature, which locks and maintains flavor in steaks, making them just as good, if not better than normal grills!
Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)
Pros
- The grill plates are easy to remove and even dishwasher safe. Clean up with the Cuisinart GR-150 Griddler Deluxe, Brushed Stainless is a simple job, especially with the removable drip pan.
- The Griddler Deluxe maintains the taste in food, with the floating top helping to not squish food or release juices, along with Searblast technology that keeps the flavor “locked in.”
- It is great for a variety of uses, from sandwiches, pancakes, steaks, and juicy burgers. You can even cook two different foods at the same time, with the independent temperature control setting.
Cons
- The temperature can be hard to maintain at regular levels, especially with the grill lid open.
- Sometimes grease can leak from the bottom, due to a buildup in the pan, mainly from cooking large quantities of uncooked meat.
Summary
The Cuisinart GR-150 Griddler Deluxe, Brushed Stainless is an excellent buy.
However, only if you are mainly using it for small amounts of uncooked meat at a time. This is because when too much meat is introduced at one time, the temperature can have trouble keeping up, and grease tends to leak from the bottom.
If you are only using it for one or two steaks at a time, it is a perfect buy! The Searblast does wonders, making steaks and burgers deliciously competitive to actual restaurants.
The cleanup is also a walk in the park, just throw the plates in the dishwasher and use a simple washcloth on the Griddle, it will be spotless!
This Griddle Deluxe is perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a great choice for families.
3. Waring Commercial WPG150 – Best budget Panini Grill
If you are a real chef at heart, then the Waring Commercial WPG150 Panini Grill is a great addition to your kitchen experience.
It has multiple uses and can cook vegetables, chicken, hamburgers, raw meat, and press Paninis.
Its flexibility and reliable use make it an ideal choice in cafes and restaurants, as well as personal use at home.
There are some important features to take note of with the Waring Panini Grill, and a variety of ways to use it for any occasion.
Our Rating: 
(4.3 / 5)
Pros
- The Waring Compact Italian-Style Panini Grill has a durable, dependable design. This heavy-duty press is built to last and does a great job in replacing a normal grill.
- It cooks raw and uncooked foods effortlessly, maintaining desired heat with excellent distribution across the plates. The dependable 120 volt AC contributes to great performance.
- The compact size with the Waring allows it to work in multiple settings, such as cafes, restaurants, or the countertop at home. It is designed to fit in the tightest of spaces.
Cons
- Due to the cast iron and stainless steel, the Waring Panini Grill is a heavy machine. It is made to stay in one specific area, and not to be carried around or on the go.
- It has been reported to take a while during the warming up process, taking minutes before the ready indicator light turns on.
Summary
Over and above all, this tank of a Panini grill is an excellent buy, great for all types of families and even restaurant businesses.
It is a highly reliable device, with reported frequent use of up to 14 hours a day! The Waring will also cook just about any type of food imaginable, you name it, and it will cook it, and at any desired temperature.
Most importantly, it is easy to use and clean up, with the removable drip pan conveniently catching any excess grease and juice.
It also makes some of the tastiest Italian style Paninis, along with delicious hamburgers and steaks.
This Compact Italian Style Panini Grill easily trumps overall consumer brands in terms of durability, reliability, and quick handling, and has won the opinions of countless consumers, from restaurant owners to single individuals looking to eat some great food in their apartment.
This is not only a great product but a spectacular investment; you will be using the Waring for many years to come!
4. KRUPS FDE312 Universal – Best Panini Maker for home
When it comes to versatile performance and convenience, the KRUPS FDE312 Universal Grill and Panini Maker are one of the best in the world. It has a non-stick surface.
Thus, one does not have to struggle at all when cleaning it after use. One of its outstanding characteristics is the floating hinge system.
In addition to that, the silver color and design of this grill are simply impressive. Read on to learn more about the Krups universal grill and Panini maker.
Our Rating: 
(4.1 / 5)
Pros
- This grill has plates for grilling food on its top and its bottom that heat up and grill the food.
- It has a floating-hinge system that adjusts itself automatically to accommodate the food.
- It has a regulator light that goes off after the grill reaches the ideal temperature.
- Some indicator lights also go on to indicate that the grill is cooking.
- To keep it closed firmly when it is upright, it has a locking latch.
- It is wrapped in shiny, attractive chrome.
- Its handle stays cool throughout the cooking process.
Cons
- It stops working after a short time.
- It has a life span of less than one year.
- Its thermal fuse tends to break after every few uses.
- The appliance runs much hotter than its designers expected, hence the early failures.
Summary
It is a great purchase because of its versatility. It is a grill and Panini maker. Moreover, it has a compact design and is attractive to look at.
Its non-stick plates give one an easier time when taking the food out of the appliance as well as when cleaning it.
Its handles stay cool and the floating-hinge system is great for those who enjoy cooking various sizes of steaks and sandwiches.
5. Waring Commercial WPG300 Panini
The search for the perfect grill is one that every cook takes very seriously. What someone ends up with will determine the enjoyment level, he or she derives from it.
It will also determine whether the grilling process is easy or not. For everyone on the search for that perfect grill, the Waring Commercial WPG300 Panini Tostato Ottimo Dual Italian-Style Flat Grills, 240-volt deserves to be in the running. Its features and benefits make it worthy of consideration.
So, what does the Warning commercial WPG300 flat grill offer the average home cook?
Our Rating: 
(4 / 5)
Pros
- The Waring flat grill has 13-amp, 240 Volt, 6-20P NEMA plug rating and is NSF, cUL, and UL certified. As far as power capabilities go, the grill allows for high heating capacity in the safest manner possible. Chances of electric malfunctions are quite low, which enhances safety for users.
- The grill comes with a limited one –year warranty.
Cons
- The flat Italian-style grill is not free. Its price tag is quite hefty.
- The grill is also not as big as avid grilling fans would like, especially those who cook for large groups of people.
Summary
The Waring WPG300 can be used to grill many types of foods, at high temperatures, with a lot of conveniences and little prep work. Despite the hefty price tag, the grill is a great purchase. In the long term, it will be worth the money.
6. Adcraft Countertop Panini Grill
The Adcraft SG-811E Commercial Panini Press Grill NSF is an important piece of equipment that you’ll be using for years to cook dinner with friends and family.
It’s important because, like most things in life, it builds lasting impressions on people. Bad food will make you a bad cook while good food will make you everybody’s favorite!
So if you want the best in everything, there’s nothing better than Adcraft’s electric grill.
Our Rating: 
(3.5 / 5)
Pros
- It cooks like a real Italian Panini.
- Commercial business owners (especially restaurants and food chains) love it because it’s easy to use, competitive price and it is power efficient.
- Small and lightweight
- High-temperature yield
- Easy to clean
Cons
- No warranty or guaranty.
Summary
Essentially the Adcraft SG-811E Commercial Panini Press Grill NSF was designed with the intention for commercial use.
Although it may not be the most high-tech electric grill out there, it does live up to its name which is being able to match those Italian Panini meals that people are so fond of.
Only a few other brands are on par with Adcraft’s electric grill and clearly, the designers gave so much thought in designing this machine which thus has earned its reputation in the market.
Most online customers gave this amazing device five-star feedback on sites such as Amazon, eBay, and other similar websites. Local stores highly recommend the Adcraft SG-811E Commercial Panini Press Grill NSF as well.
Top 10 Products Often Purchased With a Panini Press
A Panini press allows food lovers to make their favorite deli sandwiches in their kitchen. This list of top 10 products that are frequently bought together with Panini presses will help buyers get the perfect accessories to go with a new press.
Cookbooks
Making a good Panini is intuitive, much like making a good sandwich or a cup of tea. However, to add variety and get the most use out of a Panini maker, these cookbooks will add to the best chef’s arsenal of great recipes.
The Everything Panini Press Cookbook by Anthony Tripodi
Our Rating: 
(4.4 / 5)
This cookbook is comprehensive and has easy recipes to use with a Panini Press that range from delightful sweet breakfast sandwiches to bold Latin lunches, and everything in between. There are 300 different recipes in this easy to use cookbook that follows the well-known Everything Series format that is easy to understand.
The Ultimate Panini Press Cookbook by Kathy Strahs
Our Rating: 
(4.7 / 5)
Ideal for the Panini cook who has a little experience with the machine and is ready to move up into more complex and delightful recipes. The book has over 200 hundred recipes using a Panini press, and not all of them are sandwiches. Think outside the bread with fish tacos, grilled pears, and even homemade ice-cream cones. There are also plenty of sandwich recipes included to get full use of the Panini press for every single meal.
The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches
Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)
This book is a must-read for sandwich lovers everywhere. It will inspire the chef to try new things, and cook with a deeper context, knowing the history of the meals prepared. The debate about the benefits of open-faced vs. closed, and grilled vs. cold and crisp.
There are no wrong answers, however, the debate can go on and on between die-hard sandwich lovers. From the classic PB&J sandwich to pressed Cubans, and Panini’s this book has it all for sandwich lovers to enjoy between meals. Readers will drool over the full-color glossy pictures and get inspired to make a new sandwich that has never been created before.
Utensils
The wrong utensils can cause the non-stick coating to get little scratches and stick to the bread. Using silicon-coated utensils will make a Panini press last a lot longer.
Norpro 1975 Grip-EZ Grab and Lift Silicone Tong
Our Rating: 
(3.8 / 5)
This gentle silicone tong will not harm the non-stick coating on the machine. It is shaped with a spatula on one side and a three-prong gripper on the other to fit between the ridges of the Panini maker perfectly. It has stay-cool silicon lined handles to make sure that hands stay safe and cool when removing hot sandwiches from the grill. It is also heat resistant and useful for flipping fried eggs perfectly to go along with a breakfast sandwich.
Chef’n Slicester Cheese Slicer
Our Rating: 
(3.6 / 5)
The chef who uses and Panini press, and perhaps make their bread would never use individual wrapped cheese products. A block of cheese is typically more cost-efficient, and always tastier. The only problem is slicing the cheese into sensible pieces. This utensil is ideal for making perfect slices of cheese to put between bread quickly. The user will grasp the handle on the top and push down for an evenly sliced piece of cheese that is as thick or thin as desired.
Wilton Easy Flex 3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set
Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)
A good spatula set will make spreading butter, mayonnaise, and other condiments a breeze. These are great for mixing recipes such as herbed mayo or cinnamon butter as well. The non-stick silicone material is easy to clean and the pretty colors look great on the counter. The set comes with three pieces of various sizes for many spreading or mixing jobs. The material is heat resistant and can be used in a pan as well.
Accompanying Appliances
A Panini press is a great appliance for both beginner and pro chefs. These appliances can make any chef turn their Panini sandwich into a work of culinary art. Making the ingredients that go into a Panini at home can also save money.
Cuisinart CBK-100 2-Pound Programmable Breadmaker
Our Rating: 
(4.2 / 5)
Making homemade bread to use in a Panini press has never been easier than with the Cuisinart bread maker. The smell of fresh bread in the home will compete with the smell of cheeses and meats steaming between the bread when it gets grilled in the Panini Press. Using a bread maker will offer the cook more control over the taste and nutritional content of the bread. Adding a few whole grains or nuts to a recipe can turn normal bread into a protein, fiber-rich, tasty treat.
Handy Caddy Sliding Kitchen Under Cabinet Appliance Moving Caddy
Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)
This handy caddy lives up to its name. A Panini press that is used often should stay available; however, moving it back and forth out of the way as needed can become an aggravation. Install this simple system to move the Panini press back and forth between underneath a cabinet to reach within seconds.
Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven
Our Rating: (4 / 5)
A good Panini can be made great with the right cut of meat. Making large roasts, hams, and turkeys right on the countertop will save the Panini connoisseur from spending a ton on premade deli meats. The cuts will likely taste better because a pressure cooker makes meat fall off of the bone tender. Once the cook figures out a signature seasoning blend for the meat their Panini’s will likely become addictive. The meat will cook with more flavor, juice, and up to 70% faster than roasting, baking, or grilling.
Maintenance and Cleaning
A Panini should not be scrubbed with just anything. Use the right tool to get between the ridges and not harm the coating for the best results.
OXO Good Grips Electric Grill and Panini Press Brush
Our Rating: 
(4.6 / 5)
Gentle cleaning will keep a Panini maker good as new for years. The OXO brush has gentle bristles that will not scrape the non-stick lining off of the Panini grill. It is shaped to reach all of the little spaces between the grill rivets. The OXO is easy to clean, and stores well with other cleaning supplies.
How Do I Use A Panini Press?
Although the basic use of these appliances is to make sandwiches it is a very versatile appliance. This device can cook vegetables, hamburgers, steaks, fish, and even desserts.
It is perfect for the homeowner or renter that does not have a working stove, as you can prepare entire meals using just this appliance.
Some college students find it to be an invaluable tool when it comes to dorm living as it cuts down on the food bill by allowing students to prepare meals rather than purchasing pre-prepared food which is often more costly than preparing the food for themselves.
Because they cook food from the top and bottom simultaneously, it can be a great benefit for busy or working moms as they can prepare an evening meal in literally half the time.
Ever wished there was a way to cook a meal without heating the entire house?
The best Panini press can assist in that desire. Because it is smaller than your stovetop it puts off less heat, plus since it takes half the time to cook the food, it will be on half as long. Say goodbye to sweating over a hot stove in order to prepare a meal for your family.
Utilizing any of these features certainly makes them an appliance that is well worth the investment.
For Your Health
Grilling your food is a delicious and healthy way to feed your family. Because these appliances cook food from the top and bottom, juices are sealed in during the cooking process.
This is in direct contrast to other methods of cooking that have a tendency to cook the juices out of the food. This is especially true of proteins.
Is there anything worse than a dry steak? With the best Panini press, you will find that cooking your meats to perfection is practically a guarantee.
Besides, you can grill your vegetables. This not only seals in the natural juices of the veggies; which negates the need for butter but also seals all the healthy vitamins inside.
Boiling your vegetables removes the vital nutrients and deposits them in the water. Top chefs will tell you that presentation is just as important as taste.
These appliances leave eye pleasing grill marks on everything you cook. Thus making your family’s mouth water before they even taste the delectable meal you have prepared.
Using this device to prepare an entire meal is, in the end, a much healthier and eye-pleasing way to feed your family.
Things To Consider Before Purchase
There are many different options available. Sizes range from a small family to commercial use. Some presses allow for the varied thickness of food while others do not.
You will find that the ability to adjust the temperature is available with some models, while others are pre-set and not adjustable.
Other models will offer removable plates increasing the ease of cleaning your grill. Others will come with additional attachments for added versatility.
Prices range from $40 to over $300 while it may seem like your best bet is to purchase the lowest-priced press you may find that it does not suit your needs.
This can result in not using it to its full potential or increase your desire to purchase one that does suit your needs.
Therefore, it is wise to do your research considering; size, temperature control, adjustable hinges, ease of cleanup, and available attachments before purchasing.
Size Matters
First off you will need to determine the size of the press you will need. To determine the best size for you, think about the amount of storage in your kitchen and how many sandwiches you will be making at a time.
If you will be making two or fewer sandwiches at once, then a grill area of 11” x 7” would suit your needs. Larger families will generally require a larger grill area, as more food will need to be prepared at the same time.
When it comes to the size of the grill area; the bigger they are the higher the cost. However, in the end, it is more costly to purchase an item that does not fit your needs than to purchase the correct tool the first time.
So before you buy, think about how much you will be cooking, the storage space available, and how you intend to use the appliance.
A small family may want a larger grill area if they intend to cook an entire meal upon the grill. You could even start your own Panini business as these appliances also come in commercial sizes.
Who knows you could be the next big thing in your area with the marvelous sandwiches you create.
How Hot Is It?
Look for a grill with temperature control if you are planning to use your press for foods other than sandwiches. The grills that do not offer this feature will often be on the lower end of the cost spectrum and are pre-set for the correct sandwich-making temperature.
However, since these grills can be used for a wide variety of food, temperature control comes in very handy. Therefore the cost difference is well worth it for the additional options temperature control provides. If for example, you are cooking a steak on your press the ability to set the temperature to obtain the perfect internal temperature is invaluable.
Besides, if you are looking at recipes online, to prepare in your press, you will find that many give a specific cooking temperature. In short, the ability to control the cooking temperature adds to its versatility.
Depth Adjustment
Bread comes in a variety of sizes and thicknesses; therefore an adjustable hinge not only comes in handy, but it is also essential. You will want your press to close more fully with regular sliced bread than you would when making a sandwich with ciabatta bread.
Some models come with the additional benefit of locking at adjustable heights so that the top grill hovers above the food you are cooking. This feature may well be a favorite of college students as it makes creating your pizza easy and inexpensive.
Having the best Panini press that can adjust to varying thicknesses comes in very handy. Of course, adjustable hinges are also a great benefit when preparing other items for consumption, such as steak, chicken, and burgers. This feature is not difficult to find when researching presses and does not add much to the price.
Cleaning
Anything you cook on your press will require some cleanup. Nearly every model offers non-stick plates that can be easily wiped up after cooking is complete.
Which in theory makes cleanup a breeze, however anybody that has used a non-stick skillet can testify that this is not always the case.
Inevitably you will not be able to clean your press right away and food will be stuck to the surface.
Also, some foods are stickier than others and simply do not acknowledge the fact they are stuck to a non-stick surface. For this reason, choosing a grill with removable plates can add to the ease of cleaning your grill.
Once removed these plates can most often be put into the dishwasher for cleaning. As previously stated this is not a feature that is necessary, but it adds to the convenience when cleaning.
If you find the perfect press, but it does not have removable plates, fear not, there is a brush available that is designed specifically for cleaning these appliances.
Attachments
When researching for a model to fit your needs you may run across products that come with additional attachments. These attachments generally accompany models that offer removable plates.
If you are interested in making pancakes on a grill surface you can simply change out your plates and make a delicious breakfast for your family.
The same holds for waffles as some models offer a waffle attachment. Imagine how special your family will feel when you make waffles a Sunday tradition. Change the attachment and grill some pineapple as a special treat to go with those waffles.
Again cleanup is a breeze due to the removable and interchangeable plates. This feature also adds to the versatility of your machine and can often replace several different appliances within your kitchen.
In other words, purchasing a press with attachments may end up adding storage space in your kitchen.
Why Do We Need To Get The Best Panini Press?
Choosing the appropriate appliance to fit your needs is important. Ensuring that you are purchasing the correct grill to fit your needs can save you time and money.
Say you purchase one just to see if you like it, turns out this grill opens a whole new avenue of creativity for you. Suddenly you are creating your culinary masterpieces.
It is then that you realize that you would benefit from additional features, like temperature control or removable plates. You are now searching for a press that offers this feature and spending additional money.
Not to mention the additional time it takes to research the best press that will meet your needs. This additional cost and time could have easily been avoided had you purchased the correct grill the first time.
Of course, passing your old press onto a friend or relative will make you a hero in their eyes, but is the additional cost and time involved worth it?
Purchasing the best Panini Press can allow you to immediately benefit from its many functions.
Proper Research Equals The Proper Purchase
When you are researching the press that best meets your needs make sure that you look at the consumer reviews. This can add valuable insight from people that have already purchased a specific grill and have put it to use in their kitchen.
Pay attention to the features the press offers, most store sites have the option of looking at the specifics of the items they have for sale. The important thing to remember is to look for the models that have the predetermined features that will best fit your needs.
Whether you intend to use the best Panini press to make sandwiches, as your main source of cooking, an additional option of feeding your family, or a way to keep from heating your kitchen on those sultry summer evenings once you begin using it you will wonder how you ever lived without it.