Panini Grills and Presses: Which to Buy?

[Kent Wang]

We have a Cuisinart GR-4, and I absolutely like it. Makes really nice pressed sandwiches, and I've even had good luck with pancakes using the 2nd set of plates.

The nice thing about the GR-4 is the "floating" top, so it nicely accepts thicker sandwiches, and it can handle more than 1 sandwich at a time.

Yeah, that looks really nice. Have you used it for grilling other things like burgers and steaks?

I'm also wondering if this replaces the need for a toaster? I only toast bread for sandwiches, not to make, uh, toast with eggs or anything like that.

Edited August 8, 2011 by Kent Wang (log)

[LindaK]

The old Toas-Tite sandwich press has been reborn and looks like fun. Some background in the New York Times: Return of the Toas-Tite

[blue_dolphin]

The old Toas-Tite sandwich press has been reborn and looks like fun. Some background in the New York Times: Return of the Toas-Tite

I saw that article yesterday, too. I also pulled up this e-gullet thread on the topic to help me decide whether to spring for one or not. Still on the fence at the moment.

[ScoopKW]

I have a 15" Nuova Simonelli grill that someone gave me to settle a debt. I didn't really want a $800 panini grill. But it was that or nothing. That being said, I've come to really, really like the thing. It makes a fantastic sandwich.

Having a commercial model, I can't understand why people buy lightweight panini grills. I've yet to see one that feels heavy enough to make a proper sandwich. The model I have weighs more than 50 pounds.

I also can't imagine how ceramic would do as good a job as cast iron. Ceramic makes a great insulator. Iron makes a great conductor. I want a great conductor for crusting up my sandwiches.

[Mjx]

. . . .

Having a commercial model, I can't understand why people buy lightweight panini grills. I've yet to see one that feels heavy enough to make a proper sandwich. The model I have weighs more than 50 pounds.

. . . .

I'm guessing that a price tag in the range of $800 has a lot to do with it. That, and for some reason, people don't take smaller kitchen appliances that seriously.

[Snadra]

The old Toas-Tite sandwich press has been reborn and looks like fun. Some background in the New York Times: Return of the Toas-Tite

I saw that article yesterday, too. I also pulled up this e-gullet thread on the topic to help me decide whether to spring for one or not. Still on the fence at the moment.

It's a jaffle!! Or at least that's what they're called here. The cheese can get surface-of-the-sun-hot, but a tomato in it is usually worse. We have an old electric jaffle maker an I have used to make ersatz fruit pies with purchased puff pastry and whatever sounds good as a filling.

I have a Breville at home and am about to buy a second one for the staffroom. The non-stick surface conducts heat just fine, an it seems that it doesn't take an enormous amount of pressure to crisp and flatten the sandwiches. When we were renovating the kitchen it was our only cooking surface.

[OliverB]

I have a Foreman thing that has exchangeable plates to turn it from a panini grill to a waffle iron and that thing works surprisingly well. I don't use it as much as I used to, but it's been a handy machine that I'd not want to throw out. Use it more for waffles now with the kids, but it also worked great to make nice crips bacon or those paninis.

[rotuts]

I’ve become very interested in the Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler. Im hoping someone has purchased the waffle inserts and is very happy with them. I’m hoping to make whole-ish grain waffles.

Ill probably use this more for waffles than panini, but now that Im back to baking bread (via machine) I might get interested in panini with all the SV 'cold cuts' I now have.

Thanks

[mgaretz]

I have the Cuisinart and considered the waffle plates, but they cost as much as a complete waffle maker! (I actually have a GE waffle iron that works well.). The Costco version of the GR-4 (I think it's a GR-8) appears to be identical in every way except it costs about half. I got mine for even less when they had a coupon.