Best Panini Sandwich Presses Recipes For Grilled Sandwich Makers

One of the things which you should definitely consider to be a must have feature when you are looking for a Panini sandwich maker, is that it has removable grilling plates. Panini presses can get messy with all those delicious cheesy ingredients, sauces and sandwich fillings so you want them to be as easy to clean as possible. Choosing to buy a removable plate Panini press over a fixed plate model is something you will definitely come to appreciate when it comes to cleaning up after a sandwich making session. These removable grill plate Panini makers often come with different types of replaceable grilling plates so you can switch out and interchange them for different types of cooking. Mine comes with both ribbed hot plates or smooth plates which can be switched out in seconds to cook different foods and this has proved very useful to me.

I use my Panini press for much more than just making Panini sandwich recipes at home. The most basic Panini makers are good for just that, making sandwiches, which is great but for more versatility it is definitely worth investing in a more feature rich machine.

Mine opens out flat and has two different types of grill plate which turns it from a sandwich maker into a flat griddle great for making pancakes, bacon, sausages, eggs and other breakfast items. I've also used it to grill burgers and hotdogs and I know other people use theirs for grilling pork chops and many other purposes. I have a George Foreman grill too but the panini press generally does exactly what that does and more, so it has become somewhat pushed to the back of the cupboard in favor of the more versatile panini maker and grill.

There are numerous panini makers on the market ranging from cheap panini presses which just toast paninis, to more versatile panini and griddle contact grills which are capable of cooking more than just sandwiches, to the commercial panini presses seen in sandwich bars and bistros around the country.

Which type you choose and which is the best panini press for you, specifically, will depend upon your own personal requirements. There are a few things you should always be on the lookout for however, in order to make an informed buying decision.

Firstly, there are cast iron panini presses which need to be seasoned before use, or panini presses with non stick grill plates to choose between. Personally, I like the convenience of nonstick grilling plates but many people prefer the cast iron grill plates.

Secondly, you need to look at how easy to clean the panini press is. An easily cleanable panini press is almost a must have if you are going to truly enjoy your new kitchen gadget. Toasted sandwiches are greasy, they ooze cheeses and other filling which touch the hot surfaces and burn on...and basically, it can get pretty messy, especially when you get adventurous and start really loading up your sandwiches with ingredients. Some panini presses have fixed plates whilst others have removable plates are more easy to clean up after use. Even the non-stick plates are easier to clean when you can remove the top and bottom plates and throw them in a bowl for cleaning.

Thirdly, you want to consider your size requirements. If you are liable to be making one or two paninis at a time then a cheap single sandwich panini maker may be perfect for you, and it'll be easier to store as well as being a little cheaper than a larger model. One of those larger models is perfect however for couples, who get to cook their sandwiches two at a time side by side and eat at the same time, or for larger families or get togethers so you can cook more at one time. A double panini press, or twin panini maker is large enough to cook two Italian panini sandwiches side by side between the hot plates...or four burgers, several pieces of chicken etc. basically a larger machine gives you more cooking options.

Once you know what you are looking for, the easiest way to find the best Italian panini sandwich maker machine for your needs is to look at reviews and ratings online. All the products featured on this page are amongst the top rated by real consumers at Amazon with ratings of at least 4 - 5 stars out of 5. The top rated panini press machines are more likely to give you what you require and last longer and a quick scan through real user comments will give you real user experiences from people who have actually used the Italian panini sandwich making machine rather than a paid magazine reviewer's opinion.

If you are looking for grilled panini recipes for making the best paninis with your new sandwich toaster then there are many great resources to look at online which can be found with a quick google search. I personally feel you can't beat the basic mozarella cheese, tomato and basil panini but there are plenty of different panini recipes out there.

There are also numerous great books you can pick up with recipes for paninis and instructions on how to make awesome sauces etc. to boost the flavor of the ingredients inside. I own the books listed below and can vouch for them containing excellent panini sandwich recipes which are well worth the cover price.