Panini Perfection: How to Make the Ultimate Panini Sandwich at Home

Thomas Edison may be most famous for his invention of the lightbulb, but did you know he also invented the modern panini sandwich press?

Thanks to his ingenuity, people all across the world have been indulging in sandwiches that are crispy on the outside and melty in the middle. Once you’ve tasted a perfect panini, it’s hard to go back to cold sandwiches.

Want to learn how to make a panini sandwich like a pro? Keep reading for 8 must-know tips.

1. Invest in a Good Panini Press

It’s possible to find copycat panini recipes that use more common kitchen tools. However, no method will ever compare to grilling your sandwich on a real panini press. With this device, you’ll be able to achieve the perfect texture and get beautiful grill marks.

The reason why paninis taste so good is because the press is able to toast both sides of the bread evenly at the same time. The weight of the grill also blends all of the ingredients together. Since the bread gets flattened, the flavors get sealed inside a crunchy, buttery exterior.

If you don’t own a panini press already, you can check out this review to find the best presses of 2020.

2. Choose the Best Bread for Panini

Carb lovers can rejoice since there are tons of different breads that create delicious paninis. For the easiest assembly, you can buy bread that’s pre-sliced. When you’re working with flatbread, it’s easier to lock all of the ingredients inside.

The best types of panini bread include ciabatta, sourdough, focaccia, and other Italian breads. Whole grain breads can add more flavors and texture to your sandwich as well.

3. Learn How to Make a Panini Stay Crunchy

One step you don’t want to miss is to butter the outside of each bread slice. When the panini heats up in the press, the butter will help your sandwich get crunchier while also enhancing the richness.

The placement of your ingredients is also important for the overall texture. On both sides of the sandwich, you should create a barrier of drier ingredients to shield the bread from wetter ingredients. Dry meats and cheeses should be the base of each slice while vegetables get sealed in the middle.

If you’re including tomato slices in your panini, it can be helpful to remove the seeds and surrounding areas since those are the wettest part of the tomato.

4. Experiment with Flavor Combinations

The main components of a panini are bread, meat, cheese, vegetables, and condiments. With so many different options in the market, you could eat a new flavor combination every day for a year! Since there are no rules on what can and can’t be included in a panini, it’s up to you to get creative with your unique palate.

For a Mediterranean panini, you could include grilled chicken, mozzarella, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and bacon. For a Cuban panini, you could include pulled pork, dijon mustard, mayonnaise, pickles, onions, and Swiss cheese. If you love Philly cheesesteaks, try making a panini with sliced beef, provolone, onions, and bell peppers.

5. Add Creaminess to Your Panini Sandwich

There’s nothing worse than biting into a dry sandwich that’s hard to swallow. It’s also terrible to bite into a sandwich that’s soggy and leaking all over the place. The best way to achieve the perfect bite is to add some fat to your panini.

Mayonnaise may be the most obvious choice, but there are more creative options you can try. Avocado slices are a nice way to incorporate some healthy fats. If you’re trying to cut down the calories, you could even spread some hummus on your sandwich.

6. Cook Low and Slow for the Perfect Panini

The process for making the perfect panini is quite similar to making a grilled cheese. Both sandwiches taste best when the outside of the bread is buttered and it’s cooked over low heat.

When you cook low and slow, you give your sandwich the chance to heat all the way through without burning your bread. The gooey cheese combined with the perfectly-toasted bread is well worth the wait.

7. Add Fresh Greens Last

If you’re a veggie connoisseur, you might not be a fan of wilted greens. The cool thing about paninis is that you can add more ingredients even after the sandwich is pressed. The presentation may not look as tight, but the cool, crisp greens can add a pleasant lightness to your sandwich.

Some greens that can be added in later include lettuce, fresh herbs, spinach, arugula, and microgreens. If you realize you forgot to add anything else to your sandwich, don’t feel bad about sneaking it inside. If any added ingredients need to be heated, you can always pop your panini back in the press on the lowest heat setting.

8. Cut with a Sharp Straight Knife and Serve

The last step in creating an authentic panini is simple. After you take the sandwich out of the press, make sure you cut it with a sharp, straight knife. If you try to use a serrated knife, the finished product will look sloppy.

Although paninis are incredible on their own, your plate will look much more impressive with a side dish. Chips, fries, salad, or soup are some simple but delicious pairings that let your panini shine.

Bonus: Don’t Forget About Dessert Paninis

If you thought that paninis could only be made savory, wait until you try a dessert panini. Since there are just as many unique sweet flavor combinations as savory options, you’ll have a blast experimenting with different recipes.

Do you love chocolate? Then you’ll be in heaven when you add some Nutella, marshmallow creme, and strawberries onto your panini bread.

If you love apple pie but don’t have the time to bake one, you can whip up a panini in less than ten minutes. Just add sliced apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, and honey to your panini bread.