5 Best Sandwich Press Grill | Make Perfect Panini Effortlessly

Toasty sandwiches filled with fillings and melted cheese can indeed make the limpest of lunches into something irresistible. But what if we told you that you do not have to make your way to a gourmet sandwich shop just to get grilled sandwiches that taste heavenly?

Yes, it is very much possible to get perfectly toasted sandwiches while being in the comfort of your home. So, what is the secret? Well, we are talking about having the best sandwich press grill.

Some will even let you cook burgers and act like a waffle maker. But how will you get one of them?  That is where we step in. Using our experience and expertise, we will make it easier to get panini presses that are actually worthy of the money.

5 Best Sandwich Press Grill

We are pretty serious about sandwiches. And we always want more than what the stores offer. To step up our sandwich, we have considered more than tens of panini presses. After doing making one or two sandwiches with all of them, we compared them head to head. These are the ones that stood out:

1. iSiLER 4 Slice Panini Press Grill

The first thing we looked for while looking for the best panini presses is non-stick plates. And this offering from iSiLer impressed us in that regard.

It utilizes food-grade aluminum for the overall build. Both the top plate and bottom plate have a non-stick coating that will ensure no food residues.

Also, as both the grill plates heat, this electric panini press will be highly efficient in making hearty sandwiches. It even integrates a protection chip to ensure you do not burn the foods while grilling meat and sandwiches.

There is a simple sliding switch that will help you open the floating hinge. And you can close the floating lid pretty effortlessly for that too. It also features a design of a good contact grill, and it can act as a full grill.

Pros

• Utilizes food-grade aluminum
• Grill plates have a non-stick coating
• Has a floating hinge
• Sports a safety mechanism
• Versatile and can grill meats

Cons

• Not dishwasher safe
• Does not have a removable drip tray

Verdict

The design of the sandwich maker allows it to act as a full griddle. Its efficient grill plates will not only allow you to make just sandwiches but also grill meat.

2. Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press 25462Z

What most of the sandwich makers can not offer is a floating lid. But that is not the case for this.

This sandwich maker has a café-style floating lid that will let you evenly press paninis. Also, there will be no need to flip as both the plates heat up. They even have nonstick surfaces.

Other than that, this small panini press has a pre-heat option. That will ensure that the sandwiches you remove from the plates are perfect. It even has a lock for the top plate, which will make the pieces of bread contact grill surfaces efficiently.

The indicator lights of this panini press from Hamilton Beach will make sure that you have complete control over the temperature. And its stylish red finish will make it blend exceptionally well with other appliances in your kitchen.

Pros

• Has a café-style lid
• Does not require that much counter space
• Boast pre-heat cooking functions
• Features a sleek red finish
• Can heat the food evenly

Cons

• Does not come with waffle plates
• Some of the models might have some heating spots

Verdict

This high-quality panini press from Hamilton Beach is an excellent pick for the best panini press. It can evenly heat up food and has a pre-heat mechanism that will make it easier to make delicious paninis.

3. Yabano Panini Press

While looking for the best panini presses, you might want to get something that has a large surface. In that case, consider what Yabano has to offer here.

This panini press comes with two large 11 x 9.8 inches cooking plates. In total, you can make this sandwich maker hold up to four slices of bread at one go. Also, it will be possible to make the lid go in half-grill or full-grill mode.

The plates even have a nonstick coating that will make it easier to take food off the sandwich maker. This coating is there for easy cleaning as well. And the compact size of this indoor grill will make the storage process a breeze.

There is a drip tray that will catch grease falling from food. Thanks to the design of this grill, you can even make hash browns and other food items on it. It will cook all of the foods quickly for the 1200 watts heating element.

Pros

• Has two large cooking plates
• Features proper nonstick coating
• Compact and easy to store
• Can operate at half griddle or full griddle mode
• Packs a powerful heating element

Cons

• Does not have a digital control panel
• Coating on the grill is not long-lasting

Verdict

The large cooking surface combined with the powerful heating element makes it a good pick for the best panini press. It also has a brushed stainless steel exterior that makes it look exquisite.

4. Chefman Panini maker

Easy cleaning is one of the things that we prioritized while choosing the best sandwich makers. And this panini press from Chefman managed to excel in that.

To start with, it has tilt-up and skid-resistant feet. That will allow the grease to slide down to the drip collection tray. In other words, cleaning this sandwich maker will become an easy task.

The electric panini press integrates a heating element on each grill. For that reason, you can use it as an indoor grill if you want to. The overall stainless steel construction makes it achieve a higher overall lifespan as well.

Other than that, the stainless steel build will also make it look elegant on your countertop. Also, the hinge of this sandwich maker is highly adjustable. It will make the cooking process more manageable.

Pros

• Features tilt-up and skid-resistant feet
• Easy to clean
• Has heating element in each grill
• Durable and long-lasting
• Sports and adjustable hinge

Cons

• Does not have removable grill plates
• No temperature control is available

Verdict

The sandwich maker from Chefman is pretty easy to clean. It also features durable overall construction, making it a worthy pick for the best panini press.

5. Aigostar Electric Panini Press

Looking for the best panini presses that come with a light indicator? Well, you need to check out what Aigostar is offering here.

As mentioned, the panini press comes with indicator lights. The green light will glow up when the grill has reached the proper temperature. As a result, it will be possible to make perfect paninis with this panini maker.

The heating process will not require that much time as well. Why? This panini press utilizes a heating element that has a 1500 watts rating. And the grill can reach up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

It does not have a flat bottom plate like any average panini press. There are grates on each grill. Those will let you get perfect grill marks on the paninis. Also, for the non-stick layer on the grill, foods will not stick on it either.

Pros

• Has temperature indicators
• Integrates 1500 watts heating element
• Plates have proper grates on the plates
• Sports a non-stick on the grill
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Not dishwasher safe
• Includes no removable plates

Verdict

This panini press from Aigostar will not let you down. It has LED indicators for the temperature and is highly capable of making crispy paninis.

What to Look for Before Buying?

Before you decide to spend your valuable money on any of the panini presses, you should keep a couple of factors in your mind. Those will increase the chances of getting a panini press that will be well-worthy of the money. So, without further ado, let us get into describing those factors, shall we?

Size

First of all, consider the size of the panini press. Factor in how many paninis you want to make in one go. If you wish to prepare more than two sandwich pieces at one shot, consider getting the large ones. Otherwise, stick to the panini presses that are small and compact.

Heating Element

Even if a panini press utilizes strong cast iron plates, the food will take a considerably long amount of time. For that reason, you need to check the power. You can scrutinize the power of the panini press grill by taking a look at the wattage rating. The higher the rating, the more powerful it will be.

Durability

Usually, these presses will be of either cast iron, stainless steel, or aluminum. On a durability scale, the cast iron press would take the lead. But the thing with cast iron presses is that they are pretty heavy. So our recommendation would be to get a panini press grill that is made of high-quality stainless steel and aluminum.

Cleaning Process

Some of these presses will have dishwasher-safe removable plates. However, even if the unit does not come with removable plates, it at least needs to have a drip tray. That will contain all of the excess greases and make the cleaning procedure a lot easier for you.

Non-Stick Surface

Just the removable plates can not really make a unit easy to clean. It also needs to have an excellent non-stick surface. That coating will ensure that foods do not stick to the cooking surface easily. So, it will be easy to take off the food from the cooking grill. And there will be no residues too.

Benefits of Sandwich Press Grill

So, why should you even consider getting the best panini press? Well, making sandwiches with those will become an effortless task with one of those. But is that all? Not really! Let us explain.

Capability of Making Thicker Sandwiches

With the best panini presses, it will be possible to make delicious sandwiches with more fillings inside. The sandwich makers will offer more room to press thick pieces of toasted bread together.

Offers Temperature Controls

Many opt for a waffle maker to make pressed sandwiches. However, hearty sandwiches need love. And the temperature control mechanism of the panini presses will provide exactly what those types of sandwiches need.

Grill Marks

Last but not least, the best panini press will let you get perfect grill marks on both open-faced sandwiches and other sandwiches.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is sandwich press grill?

Think of it as a waffle maker that is for making a sandwich. It will have plates with heating elements. Also, some might come with removable plates, while some will have fixed plates. Nonetheless, both will make toasty, crispy, and loaded paninis.

2. How does a sandwich press grill work?

Basically, there is a heating element connected with each of the plates. When you turn the unit on, the heating elements heat up. And once you press the lids together, the grills start to heat up the sandwich.

3. Are sandwich makers worth it?

Absolutely! They will make it easier to make delicious paninis. Some are exceptionally versatile and will let you prepare other dishes too.

4. What is the difference between a panini press and a sandwich press?

You can consider both of them as the same thing. However, if you are really looking for differences, a sandwich maker would have triangular-shaped plates. But a panini press would have flat plates with rivets.

5. Should I buy a sandwich maker or a panini press?

If getting an instant triangular sandwich is not a priority, we would recommend the panini press. It will have heavy-duty plates that will even let you make other dishes.

6. How much electricity does a sandwich maker use?

That will depend on the power rating of the heating element. For example, running a 1200 watts unit for 0.20 hours a day will cost $0.12 per hour.

7. How do you clean a sandwich maker?

You can use a cloth or sponge to wipe away the excess food from the surface. But do make sure that the unit is off while you are carrying out the cleaning process.

8. How to repair sandwich presses?

In most cases, the switches might stop functioning. You would need to work with a soldering machine and attach a new button to the unit. However, if the heating element stops working, we would recommend taking the help of repair shops.

9. Can you cook vegetables in a sandwich press?

Yes, it is totally possible to grill vegetables in your sandwich maker. Starting from eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and onions, you can cook them all.

10. Can you cook pancakes in a sandwich press?

If the press comes with a flat tray, you can undoubtedly make pancakes on it. With the regular plates, however, the pancakes will not have a normal shape.

Final Words

With the best sandwich press grill, you can get deli-grade sandwiches right at home. In fact, you can get completely wild with the combinations and create something that you will not find in a sandwich shop.

That said, you can not go wrong with any of the models we have covered because each of them has gone through severe levels of scrutinizations.