It used to be that making a gourmet grilled sandwich required going to a novelty café or restaurant and shelling out for an expensive meal. However, electric Panini makers allow you to bring the quality and taste of a restaurant Panini to your own kitchen. With so many sandwich presses available for purchase finding the right model can be a challenge. Consequently, we’ve decided to do the research for you by compiling a list of the five best Panini makers.

Check Out the Best Panini Press of 2018 at Amazon

Best Panini Press 2018

Summary: Here are the best panini presses of 2018

1. Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press
2. Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler
3. IMUSA GAU-80102
4. Hamilton Beach 25460a Panini Press Gourmet Sandwich Maker
5. Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini Press

You can find more details and panini press reviews below!

Name	Cuisinart GR-1	Cuisinart GR-4N Griddler	IMUSA GAU-80102	Hamilton Beach 25460a	Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo
Specifications
Weight:	7 lbs	12 lbs	9.7 lbs	5.8 lbs	8.1lbs
Dimensions:	14.5 x 6.5 x 12 inches	17 x 13 x 10 inches	16 x 5.5 x 16 inches	5.6 x 13.8 x 12.7 inches	5.25 x 13 x 11.75 inches
Panini & sandwich measures:	11" wide x 7" deep	11.5" wide x 9" deep	12" wide x 10" deep	10" wide x 8" deep	11.5" wide x 7" deep
Recipe book:	yes	yes	yes	no	yes
Cleaning tool:	yes	yes	no	no	no
Plate type:	ridged	ridged & flat (reversible)	flat	ridged	top: ridged / bottom: flat (non-ridged)
Drip tray:	drip spout	yes	no	no	no
Warranty:	3 years	3 years	3 years	2 years	1 year
Ratings
Ease of use:	5/5	4/5	5/5	4/5	4/5
Cleaning:	5/5	5/5	5/5	4/5	4/5
Durability:	5/5	5/5	4/5	5/5	4/5

#5 Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini Press

Despite being a not as well-known a brand in the US and being the last Panini maker on our list through Amazon, the Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo is still a good machine. The product has all the standard features you look for in a panini press. The BSG520XL also has a unique design with a flat bottom plate for easy cleaning and grilling, and a ridged top plate to create restaurant style grill marks. You can’t go wrong with this panini maker, but many reviewers like to go with a more well-known name brand.

#4 Hamilton Beach 25460a Panini Press Gourmet Sandwich Maker

Available at a budget friendly price, and the cheapest Panini maker on our list, the Hamilton Beach 25460 Panini Press Gourmet Sandwich Maker is the perfect option for people living the single or couple lifestyle. Although it produces high quality sandwiches, many reviewers felt that they would be better off spending a little bit more money for a larger Panini press.Furthermore, some users stated that the deep ridges were difficult to clean and that it took a long time for the appliance to reach the desired temperature. However, on the flip side, storing an appliance that is only made for making two sandwiches at once is much easier than a larger grill.

#3 IMUSA GAU-80102

Known for its sleek design and easy to use interface, the IMUSA GAU-80102 Electric Panini and Sandwich Maker is our number 3 ranked appliance. Featuring a large and flat grill surface, this Panini press is a bargain at less than $50 on Amazon. What separates this sandwich maker from many others is that it uses a flat cooking surface. On the one hand, this means that you will not get the grill marks on both sides of a sandwich; however, it makes cleaning so much easier. Instead of having to use a knife to scrape in between each grill line to remove grease and food, the IMUSA can be wiped clean with a sponge in no time. On the downside, some reviewers stated that they wished the sandwich maker included a method of adjusting the temperature to different settings.

#2 Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler

Best designed for cooks who wish to use sandwich maker as an indoor grill too, the Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler is an excellent value. With a large 11.5 inch by 9 inch grilling surface, people should have no trouble grilling multiple sandwiches or pork chops at once. Unlike many other Panini makers, users are actually able to adjust the temperature of the grill with a rotating dial and a selector between grill and griddle functions. A green indicator light on the grill makes it easy to know when it is has reached the wanted temperature. The GR-4N also differentiates itself from the other items on our list because of it’s reversible grill and griddle plates that are also removable to make cleaning a cinch! Unlike the easy to transport design and shape of the other Panini makers, some reviewers do not like the bulky and heavy shape of the Cuisinart. Not only does it take up substantial counter space, but also it can be difficult to move especially if using as an indoor grill. That said, the GR-4N 5-in-1 is a super flexible appliance that allows you to cook not only great panini and sandwiches, but to also grill whatever you fancy!

#1 Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press

This appliance is the best panini press on the market nowadays. Although it’s an older model, it still is the best from a quality and cost perspective – even beating out it’s newer successor the GR-11. The GR-1 does what it’s supposed to do: make a great pressed sandwich. The excellent restaurant quality grilled sandwiches that can be made will surprise users of the Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press. In addition to a delicious Panini, the GR-1 can also be used to grill vegetables, burgers and pork chops with the convenience of a single machine. Available in a stainless steel design, the Cuisinart resembles a professional panini maker found in restaurants. Designed to accommodate sandwiches and meats of different thicknesses, the Cuisinart features a floating hinge that automatically raises or lowers depending on the thickness. However, what really separates this Panini maker from the others on our list is its easy to use design. The sandwich maker has different indicator lights to alert the user when the appliance is both hot enough for food to be put inside and when the item is fully cooked.

How to choose the best panini press for you

Ever wondered why some sandwiches just look more mouthwatering than others, like they were ordered straight from your favorite café? That’s thanks to the panini press. A panini maker uses a pair of heated plates that apply pressure on bread as they are toasted or cooked.

In case you’re wondering, a panini is a grilled sandwich that uses any kind of bread except for sliced bread. The most commonly used breads are michetta, ciabatta, and baguettes. You can use a variety of deli ingredients in your panini, but top favorites are cheese, salami, ham, and mortadella. Paninis are served warm and just a little bit crunchy.

The Many Uses of a Panini Press

A panini press is a nifty kitchen equipment for fans of easy-to-make, delicious paninis or sandwiches. But contrary to popular belief, a panini press does not only make paninis. You can also use it to make other delicious foods, like hamburgers, French toast, waffle sandwich cookies, omelets, grilled chicken, grilled potatoes, hash browns, waffle cones, and even brownies!

Components of a Panini Press

The best panini press always has plates for grilling, an easy to operate and easy to read temperature control, a drip tray, flexible hinges, and good heating zones.

Grill Plates

Plates on a panini press are made of glass ceramic, cast iron, or non-stick Teflon material. These plates come in both electric and stovetop models. If the plates are removable, they are often considered to be easier to clean up, and you can efficiently clean hard to reach areas in the panini press.  The plates are normally ridged. Some panini maker machines, however, have smooth plates without any ridges. Some people say flat plates are easier to clean than ridged plates, and allow you to cook additional foods. The drawback with these flat or smooth plates are that they don’t leave pro-looking grill marks on your panini. Higher end panini grills have reversible plates (if you want reversible plates, check out the Cuisinart GR-4N).

Temperature Control

Some panini presses have a temperature control dial to adjust it to your desired temperature, and to indicate if the panini press is hot enough to start making your panini. Also, if you’ll be using your panini press to cook other foods like burgers and hotdogs, a temperature control will be very handy in having a consistent cooking temperature every time.

Drip Tray

When you make paninis and other delicious dishes in your panini press, all the fat, grease, and oil go to the drip tray and away from the main cooking surface.

Hinges

The best panini maker has floating hinges for flexibility. With a floating hinge, you can close the panini press without any problems even if you decide to make a really thick and tall sandwich. If you’re making an open-face panini, a floating hinge can allow the upper plate to heat the panini without actually having direct contact with it. Floating hinges are important if you will constantly be making height adjustments on your panini press.

Heating Zones

A panini press must have a dual heating zone to facilitate faster and efficient cooking. The heating zones should have stable and consistent cooking temperatures as well. If you love a great panini, better get one that has a big grill surface area so you can make several panini in one go.

Now that you know about the key things to look for when buying a panini press, take a look at our reviews of the best panini presses and start making delicious sandwiches in the comfort of your own home!

Check Out the Best Panini Press of 2018 at Amazon

If you haven’t already, check out our best panini press cleaning techniques to help you pick out the best panini maker for you.