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If you have ever had a panini when you have been out to lunch, then you already know how tasty and delicious they are. So it’s no wonder why they are fast becoming a necessity in every kitchen all over the world. With so many different fillings and types of sandwiches you can make, they are a real must have for all families. By using panini makers at home, they are more accessible than ever.
The ability to cook with fresh ingredients and add the fillings of your choice, means they are suitable for everyone, whether you’re a vegan or a meat eater. Let’s take a look at just some of the many benefits that they provide.
Benefits of Panini Makers
Healthy Meals
As already mentioned, you can use as little or as many healthy ingredients in your paninis as you wish. So you can have really healthy sandwiches whenever you want them. Vegetarians can add the ingredients they want and enjoy a perfect panini.
Easy To Use
Anyone adult can use a panini maker because they are just so easy to use. Simply put your sandwich together and put in onto the press. Pull down the lid and set the timer and you’re done. When the timer ends, you’ll have a great panini ready to eat in minutes.
Fast
The sandwiches themselves cook in no time at all, so you can easily prepare paninis for the whole family in just minutes. Plus you only have the grill to clean afterwards, so you don’t have to wash lots of pots and pans.
Multi Use
Some of the best panini makers allow you to do more than make paninis. They have built in griddles too, so you can make all sorts of different meals right on the one machine.
Affordable
The prices of each model will differ but you can pick up a basic model for a very cheap price. If you want more features then you’ll have to pay a little more but the benefits far out weigh the price.
The Best Panini Maker Reviews
We have researched lots and lots of different brands and models of panini presses and grills on Amazon and picked out the top 4 outstanding performers. We have compared prices, features and reviews, so you can be sure that these are the most impressive panini makers that are currently on the market. So let’s get started with our #4 choice.
#4 – Oster DuraCeramic Maker
The Oster DuraCeramic machine is one of the most affordable panini makers you can buy. It has a unique non-stick ceramic coating which has been designed to last a lot longer than regular coatings. It also means it won’t flake or peel like other machines can after a while, and makes it super easy to clean after use.
The lid of the machine opens up flat, meaning you can use both sides at the same time for grilling different items. So it’s basically two machines in one. The feet are adjustable, so you can set it up to guarantee the fat and liquids run away from the food. It comes complete with drips cups and a cleaning tool.
If you just need a basic machine for cooking paninis, then this could just be what you are looking for.
#3 – Cuisinart GR-11 Griddler
If you need a few more features, then check out the Cuisinart GR-11 Griddler. It too will open up flat, allowing you to cook lots of different things such as burgers, steaks and sandwiches.
Both the upper and lower plates are completely non-stick, so your food won’t stick to them when cooking and also makes it very easy to clean after you have finished cooking. The hinge of the top plate is floating, so it will automatically adjust to the thickness of the sandwich or food you put on the lower plate. This is great if you like your panini packed full of great ingredients.
There is a removable drip tray, which catches all the liquid and can be emptied and cleaned really easily. Even the grill plates can be removed for cleaning and are dishwasher safe. It comes with a recipe booklet too, giving you more inspiration for what to cook.
#2 – Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
If you want even more features than the two models above, then take a very close look at the Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler. It can be used in 5 different ways to cook your delicious meals.
Not only does it function great as a panini press but it can also be used as a full grill, full griddle with half grill, half griddle or as a contact grill. So you can make lots of various foods including sandwiches, steaks, sausages, burgers and even pancakes. You can cook an entire meal with different ingredients at the same time on this machine.
It’s really easy to use, the selector knob let’s you set the function you need and the indicator lights let you know what is happening. The griddle plates are non-stick and can be removed and put into the dishwasher for cleaning.
#1 – Hamilton Beach 25460A Press
Now we come to our #1 choice, which is the Hamilton Beach 25460A Press.
We chose this as our best panini press because of the affordability along with the shear popularity of it. It allows you to make delicious sandwiches right at home that taste like they have come direct from a restaurant. But you don’t have to just cook paninis on this machine, you can cook pizza, quesadillas and bruschetta’s too.
The lid has the floating style, which means it will automatically adjust to the thickness of food. This is great for cooking thick sandwiches. When not in use, it can be stored upright to save space on your kitchen counter. The top and bottom plates both heat the sandwich, so you don’t need to flip it over halfway through.
To use it is easy, just turn it on to pre-warm and the green light will come on telling you when it is ready. During that time, you can get your sandwich ready, so you’re not waiting around.
If you need a great quality sandwich press from a leading manufacturer, then you don’t need to look any further than the Hamilton Beach 25460A Press.
We hope these panini press reviews will help you in your search for the perfect model for your kitchen!