Since a past few years, sandwich makers and Panini grills have started to gain popularity, as they are able to make a simple sandwich into a hot meal. Depending upon various features, as you want to have a toaster or a grill, you can find a wide range of styles in the market. The Panini grills are more expensive and undoubtedly more versatile than a simple sandwich toaster.
The Panini grill is a generally a small counter-top sized grill, comparable in size and function to a Waffle Maker. Heat is applied on both sides, but unlike the waffle iron, it is generally ridged, which produces an aesthetically pleasing set of brown bars on the top and bottom of the Panino, the sandwich it grills.
The top brand names of a few Panini makers are Cuisinart, Breville, Breadman, Hamilton Beach, DeLonghi, Krups, Toastmaster, Villware and West Bend. The home Panini makers have a range from $30 to $100, while the commercial style Panini machines and sandwich makers fall into the range of $100's.
Some points to be kept in mind, while buying a Panini sandwich maker:
- Type – A few Panini press have ridged cooking surfaces, like a grill grate, best for cooking meats or poultry because the ridges allow melting fat to slide away from the food. Some Panini grills do not have ridges and have flat cooking surfaces. These are good for making sandwiches, as it is less versatile with other types of food such as steaks or other meats.
- Adjustable Heat Control – Most of the Panini press as compared to other indoor grill and sandwich makers, have a variable heat control, to find the right heat to cook food thoroughly without burning the outside. Always try to avoid an indoor grill with a fixed heat control.
- Lid Type - Lid hinges vary on different Panini grill and indoor grills. Make sure you get one which can accommodate a thick sandwich or steak. Some lids have trouble handling thicker foods.
- Other features - Most indoor grills are dishwasher safe, helping you to save your time. While a small one, is best suited for a single sandwich or steak, and a bigger one is usually for making a bigger sandwich maker may be important. Also, some indoor grills have other features like build in bun warmers to speed up preparation of hot dogs and grilled burgers.
