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 it as a ridged two-sided skillet. The best part about a panini press is it does all the work for you, so you can bring the gourmet café vibe home — no special culinary skills required.
A panini press can really come in handy for busy people who want delicious, warm sandwiches that taste professionally made. However, not all panini presses are designed in the same way, so keep the following in mind if you want to end up with the perfect press for you.
Safety concerns: If you live with a lot of people or have young children, you may want the extra security of having a panini press with an indicator on and off light, and a cool-touch handle.
Multiuse: Would you like to be able to grill meat or vegetables, or make pancakes, in addition to making paninis? Several of our selections are more than “just” a press.
Hinged:If you see yourself making paninis with super thick bread, look for a hinged option where you can press slim and hearty sandwiches.
Easy to clean:Some of our selections feature presses with removable plates that you can put in the dishwasher.
How We Evaluated
We reviewed dozens of panini presses, consulted professional assessments, and took consumer reviews into account. Ultimately, we included presses that we think will suit people who live solo, have big families, are casual panini consumers, or those who expect gourmet results. We also feature presses at a range of price points. Get ready to find the best panini press for your needs and budget below.
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.
This panini press is Amazon’s number-one seller 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.
If you want to have a completely hands-free panini making experience, this press with a built-in timer will allow you to walk away while your food is being made. It features nonstick plates that make for easy cleaning, and has built-in temperature and timer settings. (Bonus: When the time is up, the grill turns off.)
We like that the floating lid also allows you to adjust the press to accommodate thick and thick panini breads. In terms of safety features, this OVENTE press has a cool-touch handle and power-on indicator light, both of which are especially important for busy families. Each press also includes a grill brush and a one-year warranty.
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 3 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.
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. It’s super cute and comes in red, blue, and pink, as well as several patterns including leopard print. We think it will make a cheerful addition to any kitchen.
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 1-year warranty.
This griddle-style press makes melty, crispy-golden sandwiches, and features nonstick surfaces for fast, even cooking and easy cleaning. The press also has a preset temperature knob, rubber feet for stability, and a polished stainless steel exterior with cool touch handles. It’s great for sandwiches, but also pancakes, omelets, arepas, and more. The hinged close allows for a variety of thicknesses in bread, too.
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.
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, overall, offers a great value for the price, too.
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.
This Breville panini press has a nonstick, scratch-resistant surface, and a flat bottom plate and ribbed top plate for fast and efficient cooking that’ll give grill marks.
The floating hinge offers four height settings, making both slim or hearty paninis possible. It also has on/ready lights, a locking storage clip, nonslip feet, and a user manual with recipes.
Breville offers a 1-year limited warranty, too.
Kathleen WillcoxKathleen Willcox is a journalist who writes about parenting, technology, shopping, food and wine.
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