Panini Press Showdown: My Top 5 Picks After Rigorous Testing of 12 Models
I pressed over a dozen tomato, basil and mozzarella paninis and flipped almost 50 burgers.
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There's something about pressed panini sandwiches that feel more superior to their cold sandwich counterparts. They have crisp, caramelized exteriors, gooey, molten cheese centers, and a compact structure that’s easier and less messy to eat. Typically, a panini is a sandwich delicacy enjoyed at restaurants or as takeout from your local sandwich shop — unless you own a panini press. And I'm here to say as a kitchen appliance expert, that maybe you should consider owning a panini press.
They're not limited to just pressing sandwiches; many models function similarly to an indoor grill, and can be used for searing meats, cooking burgers, grilling veggies or even making pancakes if the model includes griddle plates. They're also super convenient during those hot summer months when you don't want to turn on your gas oven or you don't have space for an outdoor grill.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, I've tested over a dozen different panini presses in the last three years. And in the last decade, our team of experts have tested over 45 panini presses and indoor grills, by grilling pounds of hamburgers, toasting hundreds of slices of bread and pressing many panini. We also evaluate how quickly and evenly they heat up, their ease of use, grease drainage and how easy they are to clean and store in your home kitchen.
Pros
- Easy-to-use control panel
- Three cooking presets
- High score in heat distribution
Cons
- Burgers had less grill marks than those made on competitors
Dimensions: 14 3/4" x 13 3/4" x 8 1/2" | Weight: 15 lbs | Wattage: 1,800 watts | Temperature range: 210–450ºF | Cooking configurations: Panini press, open grill, open griddle, half griddle/half grill
The Breville Sear & Press Grill received top scores in ease of use and performance Lab tests, plus it has a fair price point to boot. While it doesn't have a digital control panel like other models, I found the manual knobs and buttons easier to control. You can remove the nonstick double-sided ceramic-coated plates (griddle on one side, grill on the other) and easily clean them in the dishwasher. You can also purchase compatible waffle plates. All temperatures on the panini press are written on the dials and there are three presets: Panini, Burger and Sear.
The top and bottom plates are independent from each other and you can adjust each plate to any of the temperatures within the 210–450ºF temperature range. That means you can heat one plate at a low temperature of 210ºF for keeping something warm, while the other plate can be set to 450ºF for searing proteins.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN LAB TESTS: This panini press received a high score in heat distribution and churned out a crispy, golden brown panini. The burgers that were cooked on the open grill were juicy and flavorful, although they had less grill marks than those made on competitors.
Cuisinart Griddler FIVE
Pros
- Produced an impressive tomato-mozzarella panini
- Easy-to-read LCD control panel
- Sear function for quickly searing meat
Cons
- Heat distribution could be more even
Dimensions: 7'' x 12'' x 10.5'' | Weight: 11.6 lbs | Wattage: 1,500 watts | Temperature range: 175–450ºF | Cooking configurations: Contact grill, panini press, open grill, open griddle, half griddle/half grill
This Cuisinart offers a lot of versatility with five different cooking configurations at such a great price. It has an easy-to-read LCD display panel, built-in timer and knob to control a temperature range from 175°F to 450°F in 25-degree increments, plus there's a sear function that allows you to heat the grill at 450°F for two-minute increments, great for quickly searing meat. Even better: The plates are removable and dishwasher-safe for quick cleanup. You can also purchase compatible waffle plates for this model.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN LAB TESTS: This panini press pressed up an impressive tomato-mozzarella panini; it was beautifully browned, crispy and had a gooey center. Hamburgers were also nicely cooked on the open grill. I did find the heat distribution of this model to be not as even as other models on this list.
Pros
- Deep grooves on plates for nice grill marks
- Easy-to-navigate control panel
- Juices nicely flow into drip tray without a mess
Cons
- Heavy
Dimensions: 19 1/4" x 14 1/2" x 9" | Weight: 16.8 lbs | Wattage: 1,800 watts | Temperature range: 250–525ºF | Cooking configurations: Panini press
This sleek panini press from All-Clad is a little heavy at almost 17 pounds and costs almost $300, but had great performance in Lab tests and had the largest cooking space for pressing multiple panini (others only have larger cooking spaces when opened up as a grill).
It features a control panel on the handle of the appliance with clearly written-out presets, so there is little-to-no guesswork, but a lot of customizability. The presets include: Burger, Chicken, Pork, Sandwich, Beef, Fish, Seafood, Sausage and Lamb, plus there's a Frozen function. You can also manually control the temperature using buttons that say: Rare (250ºF), Medium Rare (315ºF), Medium (375ºF), Medium Well (450ºF) or Well Done (525ºF).
According to the brand, it has auto-sense technology, meaning it adjusts the panini press's cooking time based on an ingredient's thickness, which might attribute to the presses' even heat distribution. The grooves are pretty deep on the press plates, which help ingredients get nice grill marks. Thankfully, it has removable plates that are dishwasher-safe because I did find them hard to hand wash.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN LAB TESTS: It's the only panini press on this list that cannot lay flat like an indoor grill, but it was still able to cook burgers nicely and I was incredibly impressed with its heat distribution as well as the outcome of the panini it made. You get very even results with this panini press across the board without any hot or cold spots. And when I did press hamburgers, all the juices flowed directly into the drip tray without any mess — although they were a bit drier than the rest.
DASH MultiMaker Flex Press Grill System
Pros
- Boasts multiple cooking configurations
- Better performance than some larger models
- Easy to use with no settings to control
Cons
- Hamburgers were slightly overcooked in testing
Dimensions: 10.9" x 9.3" x 3.9" | Weight: 6.8 lbs | Wattage: 1,000 watts | Temperature range: One setting | Cooking configurations: Panini press, open grill, open griddle, half grill/half griddle
If you're short on storage or counter space, look no further than the DASH MultiMaker Flex Press Grill System, which performed better than some competitors that had more features, settings and accessories. It's a lightweight and compact model that is just around $50.
While you cannot adjust the temperature on this model (you just plug it in and let it preheat), I still found it to have good cooking performance. It does have four cooking configurations though, which is unique for such a small panini press. And like other models on this list, the plates are removable and dishwasher-safe.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN LAB TESTS: The panini from this model came out golden brown with excellent grill marks and stringy cheese inside. While the heat distribution wasn't perfect, it was relatively evenly brown. When it came to cooking hamburgers, we found them to be slightly overcooked, but some had very nice grill marks.
GreenPan Premiere Multi Grill, Griddle, & Waffle Maker
Pros
- Easy-to-use digital interface
- Removable, dishwasher-safe nonstick plates
- Dual-zone heating
Cons
- Will automatically shut off after extended use
Dimensions: 14" x 13 3/4" x 7 3/4" | Weight: 15.6 lbs | Wattage: 1,800 watts | Temperature range: 175–500ºF | Cooking configurations: Panini press, open griddle, open grill, closed griddle, closed griddle, waffle maker, half griddle/half grill
This easy-to-clean and versatile panini press from GreenPan offers seven (!) different configurations for cooking: griddle, panini press, grill and waffle maker, to name a few. With dual-zone heating, the digital interface allows you heat up each side at different temperatures with separate timers, so you can grill breakfast sausages on one side at 450ºF and griddle pancakes on the other side at 350ºF.
Another feature of this panini press is that it has a top cover that locks at four different heights for maximum (perfect for your panini) to minimal (ideal for catching some splattering from proteins) contact with food. Like other GreenPan products, it features a proprietary nonstick coating which released ingredients easily in testing and the removable plates are dishwasher-safe.
HOW IT PERFORMED IN LAB TESTS: In my testing, this panini press went above and beyond. I made panini that were fully melted with a crispy exterior and no soggy areas as well as several types of waffles that were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, including homemade gluten-free ones.
I've been using this model in my home kitchen for a few years now and still love using it for everything from pressing paninis to making waffles. My only issue while testing was that the grill automatically shuts off if it gets too hot after awhile, though this acts as a safety measure.
How we test panini presses
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we've tested over 45 panini presses and indoor grills in the last decade.
✔️ Heat distribution test: To determine how evenly each panini press cooks, our analysts completely cover the cooking grates with sliced white bread. The slices are assessed for even browning as well as even grill marks.
✔️ Grilling test: To test the grill function in action, we grill four quarter-pound burgers on each panini press. If a panini press can configure to lay flat (most can), we position it that way; if not, we press burgers between the two plates. Following the instruction manual's recommendations, we document the grill marks on both sides of a burger and the patties' internal temperature.
✔️ Panini test: One of the most important tests for this category is the panini press test. Each panini is made with a standardized recipe and we follow the user manual for cooking temperature and time recommendations. We take the internal temperature of the panini, evaluate grill marks, assess interior melting and note any sogginess.
✔️ Additional tests: If an indoor grill has waffle plates, we test them as well, following our waffle maker testing procedure. And if it has griddle plates, we make pancakes, following our electric griddle testing procedure.
✔️ Taste tests: An important part of both our burger and panini press testing is taste tests. We evaluate each burger or panini for grill marks, texture and flavor.
✔️ Ease of use: Our experts rate how easy the panini press is to set up, whether it has a drip tray and how successfully it prevents messes. We take into consideration how the temperature control works, how helpful the user manual is and how easy the grill is to clean.
What to consider when shopping for a panini press
✔️ Size: For home use, there are two general sizes of panini presses. The average size is around 14" x 13" x 8, but there are more compact options like the model from Dash on our list which is 10.9" x 9.3" x 3.9". We recommend compact models for small spaces, those who only want a panini press to cook press sandwiches or those with a small household. The larger size usually offers more versatility, can fit more sandwiches or burgers, but needs more space for storage.
✔️ Temperature range and presets: While some models offer multiple temperature settings and presets like burger or panini, others simply need to be plugged in to operate. If you want to cook a variety of recipes with your panini press, we recommend one with multiple settings. If that's too complicated, some models without any temperature settings will still press great paninis and burgers.
✔️ Cooking configurations: Some models open flat for easy indoor grilling and allow you to swap out the grill plate with a griddle or waffle plate. The more cooking configurations that your panini press provides, the more opportunities to use it. However, that also means more pieces to store. Thankfully some models have reversible plates, like grill grates on one side and a flat griddle on the other side of the plate.
✔️ Cleanability: Panini presses with removable plates that are dishwasher-safe make cleanup a breeze. I didn't put any on this list that didn't have removable dishwasher-safe plates because — trust me, it's a huge pain to hand-wash them. Selecting a model with a drip tray, especially a dishwasher-safe one, cuts down on cleaning too.
Can a panini press be used as an indoor grill?
Yes, a panini press can be used as an indoor grill. In fact, most models can be configured to lay flat on your countertop just like an indoor grill. You can grill burgers, sear meat and even cook veggies.
The only things that some panini presses might not have are drip trays and we haven't found any panini presses that have a lid or splash guard like some indoor grill models do to reduce smoke and grease splatter.
What is the secret to a good panini?
I have many secrets to a good panini, but here are my top five tips for making an excellent panini at home:
✔️Always preheat your press. A hot panini press will ensure that you get nice grill marks and that you cook your panini evenly and quickly.
✔️ Oil your bread. Whether you use butter or olive oil, we recommend brushing a thin layer on outer sides of your bread for a crisp and golden exterior.
✔️ Don't overfill. The two slices of bread should be able to almost touch when you're pressing your panini. Stuffing your panini with too many ingredients could make it steam and become soggy or not compress your sandwich enough.
✔️ Season thoughtfully. Remember to season your ingredients for flavor, but don't overdo it with thick sauces, aioli or mustard or you will end up with a soggy panini. Even just a little salt, pepper and herbs will go a long way.
✔️ Press firmly. Ensure that your panini press lid is closed well and that your panini is clamped in place while it cooks. This will ensure that you get dark grill marks and a golden exterior.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Eva Bleyer has professionally tested all kinds of kitchen equipment, from oven ranges to juicers, kitchen scales and blenders. Bleyer has rigorously tested 12 panini presses and even more indoor grills in the Good Housekeeping Institute in the past three and a half years. She especially likes them for pressing panini because it reminds her of her time studying abroad in Italy.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
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