Sandwich makers and panini grills have gained popularity in the past few years as their ability to turn a sandwich into a hot meal has become really easy. They come in a wide range of styles with different features depending on if you go with a sandwich toaster or a grill. The panini grills are more expensive and definitely more versatile than just a sandwich toaster. A standard sandwich maker has fixed hinges that work great for regular sized bread and turn out 2 sandwiches in separate compartments. A sandwich press is more basic than the panini grills which have floating hinges that conform to thicker breads like ciabata, panini and focaccia. If you are adventurous with a sandwich grill you can cook chicken, steaks and plenty of other foods. Most people panini grills over sandwich makers since the grills don't have compartments to limit the size of your sandwich or food.
How does a panini grill work? First, it need to heat up and both sandwich presses and grills have indicator lights that tell you when it's ready to cook. The power on the panini machines is from 600 to 1000 watts with the more powerful panini makers costing more since they can cook faster. The metal plates on the inside of the sandwich maker or grill are what heat up and when pressed against the bread and food contents, they will cook or grill your sandwich. You want non-stick, scratch resistant coated metal plates. The removable plates are the easiest to clean since you can put them right into your dishwasher with minimal cleaning work on your part. The more heat control options on the sandwich maker the more likely you will be able to cook a variety of paninis and sandwiches to your desired levels. The slanted panini grills allow the fatty juices to drain away from your sandwich meaning it should be healthier for you. Some of the higher priced models have timers that will go off when your sandwich is done cooking. You will often hear sandwich grills referred to as "contact grills" and sometimes they will convert into a flat griddle-style piece of cookware. Indoor grilling is no longer dangerous and the foods you can make with these innovative sandwich makers are getting better. The top brand names are Cuisinart, Breville, Breadman, Hamilton Beach, DeLonghi, Krups, Toastmaster, Villware, and West Bend. They range in price from $30 to $100 for home panini makers and well into the $100's for commercial style panini machines and sandwich makers. We looked at reviews from consumers on top sites like Epinions, Amazon.com and Cooking.com to find the best and most popular panini presses and sandwich grills on the market.
The Italian Panini is growing in popularity and appearing in restaurants and specialty shops
around the world. Now you can experience the new taste of the Old World right in your own home!
