Sandwich maker or panini press: How to choose the right one

Coming inside on a cold day is a great time for a nice hot sandwich. Grilled cheese is a favorite, but it can be a bit hard to get just right. If it gets too hot, it burns, or the cheese leaks out the sides, or the cheese in the middle of the sandwich doesn’t melt at all! A good sandwich maker will solve all of these problems for you. You will be able to make the perfect grilled sandwich every time.

Choosing the best style

There are essentially only two kinds of sandwich makers on the market right now. There is the classic sandwich maker. These simply press sandwiches into two halves, creating a pocket-style sandwich. These halves are pressed in a triangle shape diagonally across the sandwich from corner to corner.

Sandwich makers are made for standard bread sizes, and are only made to cook sandwiches. Because they have been around so long there are a lot of styles of appearance to choose from, but there is not a lot of variety of function.

Classic Sandwich Presses

The other type of sandwich maker is the panini press. These sandwich presses are similar to an indoor grill. A panini, just in case you do not know, is a sandwich grilled in a press, usually buttered on the outside and sporting distinctive lined grill marks. A panini press is a great way to make a gourmet meal in minutes. You can load the sandwich up with lots of goodies and still grill it in a good panini press.

Panini Presses

You have two options for panini presses. The low-tech version just involves a grill pan with a heavy top that lays on top of the sandwich (in some cases, you can buy the top on it’s own). The grill pan can be used for other purposes; just use the top when you’re hankering for a sandwich.

Mario Batali Panini Grill and Press, Pesto

Electric panini presses, on the other hand, are at their simplest small grills that automatically adjust the height with a specialized hinge mechanism, so that all you will need to do it press it down. One thing to look for is: Will you need to hold the press down the whole time, or can it lock down no matter the height of the sandwich?

Krups Panini Maker Grill

Which press best fits your needs?

A good old fashioned sandwich press has one great feature over a panini press: your sandwiches will be sealed so that the contents will not drip all over you. Panini presses, on the other hand, can accommodate thicker specialty breads and more copious toppings. Another bonus of a panini press is that you can make small cuts of meat on the grill as well or some skewered veggies.

The other thing to consider is the ideal size. Some sandwich makers can make several sandwiches at one. A small maker may be fine for a student coming home for a quick lunch, but it may not be so great if you want to feed a family or all of your friends at the same time. Think ahead to how you will be using a press and find the right size for you and your situation.

Reviews and feedback

One of the best ways to choose a press is to look at customer reviews. Look for sites where anyone can add a review. These reviews will let you know how each sandwich maker worked for others. Did sandwiches tend to burn? Have people had to return them due to defective parts? How many complaints are there? You can look for reviews on sites that sell sandwich makers, but there are some sites that are dedicated to reviews of products by the public where you are most likely to get the most honest reviews.

Ease of use

Most sandwich makers are very simple. With a good sandwich maker ,you will just put the sandwich in, turn it on and then it will give a signal when it is done; a light comes on or changes color. This process is similar to how waffle irons work.

Panini presses might take a little longer to get used to, since they are designed to cook a greater variety of sandwiches. The tops adjust to fit larger breads or more fillings, so you’ll check how easy these are to adjust. Some also are slanted like standard grills. The problem with slanting for a sandwich is it makes it more likely for the filling to dribble out as it cooks. If you get a panini press with more options, be sure that the slanting grill can also be set to a flat grill for your messier sandwiches.

You may just want to go see some sandwich makers in person. This way you can play with some and see how they feel for you and how easy they are to work with. Just remember that purchasing them online may save you money. One other option is to call the manufacturer or visit the website and see if they offer a video that demonstrates the product or any other material that will help you decide.

Proprietary features

The simplest sandwich presses come with one set heat and you just take the sandwich out once it is done. The next step up will have a timer to let you know when the sandwich is done. Some will have temperature settings so that you can get the sandwich as dark or lightly toasted as you like. Do they buzz to let you know it is done or is there just a light indicator? Can you remove the plates to clean them? Will you risk shorting the whole thing out if you run it under the faucet? What cleaning options does it have? Most sandwich makers and grills are not dishwasher safe, though some have dishwasher safe parts that are removable.

Getting the best value

To get the best value, you should know what you want and need first. Do you have a growing family or will the sandwiches be for you and an occasional friend? How much counter space do you have? Will you be using it a lot? Does it come with a lot of options for the price? Remember to consider these questions when buying your sandwich press, and good luck!