The case for investing in the best panini press is simple: There is perhaps no greater, more dependable lunch than the humble sandwichāand no better way to upgrade that sandwich than to throw it onto the plate of a panini press. In just a few minutes, itāll emerge deeply golden, cheese dripping down the sides and puddling to form frico-like crisps. Sound enticing? We thought so too, which is why we tested some of the top-rated panini presses out there to figure out which was the very best. Do you need a panini press to make a pressed sandwich? No, not necessarily. A hot skillet and the firm press of a spatulaāor, better yet, a cast-iron grill pressācan give you a comparable result. But in order to achieve a perfectly squished sandwich with those classic grill marks, there really is no better gadget than one designed specifically for the job. Read on for our top picks at two different price points; for more on how we tested and what we looked for, scroll on down.
The best panini press overall: Cuisinart Griddler Five
The Cuisinart Griddler Five is an updated version of its original Griddler, a model beloved by both professional product reviewers and home cooks. With its sleek stainless-steel design and clean digital interface, it feels luxe and well-made while maintaining a moderate price tag. We loved how lightweight and compact this model was compared to some other higher-end options we testedāfeatures that are ideal for an appliance that is likely to be stored away in either a particularly low or particularly high cabinet when not in use. The simple controls consist of an LCD display, an on-off switch, and a dial that lets you set the exact temperature, select a cooking function, and set a timer. Thereās a removable drip tray, and the nonstick cooking plates are removable and dishwasher-safe, all of which makes for easy cleanup. The cooking plates are also reversible, one side of them flat and the other grooved. And though itās not part of its function as a sandwich press, the appliance unfolds so that you can use both plates as individual grills or griddles, allowing for maximum versatility.
But none of those features matter if the thing canāt make a great panini, right? Well, weāre happy to report that this model performed beautifully in our testing: Not only did each sandwich come out golden and crispy, but the floating hinge mechanism also allowed the top plate to remain parallel to the bottom, ensuring a sandwich that stayed flat and evenly pressed. If youāre looking for an appliance that grants you the power to enjoy a hot, pressed sandwich in minutes with ease, you canāt go wrong with the Cuisinart Griddler Five.
The one thing to note about the Cuisinart Griddler Five is that because it is relatively lightweight, you may need to manually press down on the handle to get your sandwich going at the start, especially if itās on the thicker side. We found this was the case with every press we tested except the two largest, heaviest, most expensive ones; Ultimately, we thought that the trade-off in terms of price and convenience was well worth it.
Size: 10.5" x 12" x 7"
Weight: 12 lb.
Removable plates: Yes
Floating hinge: Yes
The best budget panini press: Chefman Panini Press
If youāre looking to buy a panini press but donāt want to shell out over $100 in the process, this model from Chefman will get the job done at less than half the price of our top overall pick. The stainless-steel exterior gives it a feel thatās more luxe than its price tag would indicate, and it felt better constructed than any of the other models we tested at this price point. It lacks the temperature control that you get with the more expensive models, equipped only with an indicator light to tell you when itās preheated and when your sandwich is ready, but those are the sorts of trade-offs weād expect with a price reduction. In the end, we found that temperature precision doesnāt matter all that much for an appliance that is meant solely to make paninis, so long as the machine gets just hot enough to heat the whole sandwich through without burning the bread. The Chefman press churned out melty, golden grilled cheeses and handled thicker panini sandwiches loaded with fillings with relative ease.
Like the Cuisinart (and most other models we tested), youāll need to manually press down on the Chefman to get a thicker sandwich going. The biggest drawback to our budget pick though is that the nonstick surface is not removable, which makes cleaning more of a hassle.
Size: 10" x 12" x 5"
Weight: 4 lb.
Removable plates: No
Floating hinge: Yes
How we tested panini presses
For our first round of testing, we made lots and lots of grilled cheeses on white sandwich bread to get a feel for each panini makerās heat distribution, melting capabilities, and ability to handle softer bread without overly squishing it. Then we moved on to paninis made on thick pieces of ciabatta and piled high with prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. For the purposes of this review, we were interested solely in these panini makersā performance as sandwich presses, and did not test their capabilities as griddles or indoor grills. If you are interested in that, take a look at our full indoor grill product test and review here.
Factors we evaluated
Unless every day is panini day in your household, weāre willing to bet youāll want to store your panini maker away when itās not in use rather than permanently sacrifice all that precious counter space. We were looking for a press that was compact without sacrificing cooking surface area, and lightweight enough that you wouldnāt have to practically deadlift it from its storage spot onto your countertop. We also wanted something that felt thoughtfully constructed and built to last.
We took note of any burned or bald spots left on the breadāwe wanted even heat distribution, and a temperature setting that would simultaneously achieve a perfectly golden exterior and an ideal, melty interior. For panini presses with adjustable temperature controls, we played around a bit with the settings but ended up doing most of our testing around 400Ā°F.
Some panini presses have a āfloating hinge,ā which allows you to tip and fix the top plate in a different position in order to accommodate a sandwichās height and press down parallel to the bottom of the appliance, creating a panini that is evenly level across the top. We awarded extra points for this, as opposed to models whose hinges meant that one side of the sandwich was under more pressure than the other, necessitating turning it around halfway through pressing.
Panini-making can be a drippy, messy endeavor, so we took note of models that made the cleanup task less of a bear. We awarded major points for removable nonstick plates and drip trays to catch the inevitable excess grease.
Other panini presses we tested
As the name suggests, the Sear and Press Grill from Breville is far more than just a panini press. Itās got panini, burger, and sear presets at the touch of a button, and not only do the plates unfold into an open grill or griddle, but they each have independent temperature controls. That means you could be cooking veggies on one side and searing meat on the other. You can even use the thing as a waffle maker if you purchase Brevilleās waffle plates. All great features, yesābut for the purposes of this article we were interested in this appliance as a dedicated panini press. Did it perform well in our tests? Yes. Do we think the extra heft (itās 15 pounds!), footprint, and price ($200 at the time of publication) are worth it if all you want is a sandwich press? No.
The Griddler Elite seems like Cuisinartās answer to Brevilleās Sear and Press: Itās nearly identical in size and even heavier at 21 pounds; it, too, has dual-zone temperature control and reversible nonstick plates; and it, too, is $200 at the time of publication. The difference is that this model didnāt perform nearly as well as the Brevilleāits grill plates have sizable grooves rather than the more standard ridges we saw on other models, meaning our grilled cheeses looked like those wavy Lays chips instead of Ruffles.
We had high hopes for the George Foreman considering its ā90s icon status. It has removable plates that we loved in our top overall pick, all at a budget-friendly price. The grillās downfall, though, was its construction: The āfloating hingeā feature really just meant that the grill felt loose at the joints, and the plastic exterior was a far cry from the brushed stainless steel of our winning budget choice. The resulting sandwiches were certainly passable, but weād recommend spending an extra $10 on a machine that may actually last you.
Another contender for our best budget pick, this model from Hamilton Beach seemed promising. It has a floating lid that locks if youād like to set it to a specific height, and is comparable in overall size to the Chefman. But in testing, we found that the heating component of this panini press was one of the most uneven of the bunch, leaving our grilled cheese singed at the edges and pale in the middle. The size of the handle makes it unnecessarily bulky considering the relatively small area of its cooking surface. It also has no drip tray, which resulted in grease dripping down the back and onto the counter.
The takeaway
If youāre looking for a kitchen appliance that will allow you to make toasty pressed sandwiches to your heartās content, you canāt go wrong with the Cuisinart Griddler Five. It strikes the right balance when it comes to price, heft, ease of use, and luxe features, and we trust it will serve you well. If youāre looking for a more affordable option, the Chefman Panini Press is a solid option that will have you on your way to panini perfection for around $50.
