No need for restaurants when a good quality panini press grill can deliver, for a fraction of the cost, perfectly toasted panini sandwiches made with your own fresh ingredients – right in the comfort of your home. But for the tiny storage space they require, panini grills can accomplish so much more than crispy gooey gourmet toasted panini sandwiches.
Panini Grill RECAP
Power (watts)
1,500: Breville Duo BSG520XL
1,400: Hamilton Beach 25460A; IMUSA GAU-80102
1,150: George Foreman GRP360P
1,000: IMUSA GAU-80103
760: George Foreman GR10B
Adjustable Height Control
Breville Duo BSG520XL
George Foreman GRP360P
Hamilton Beach 25460A
IMUSA GAU-80102
IMUSA GAU-80103
Grilling Surface (square inches)
120 (12″x10″): IMUSA GAU-80102
98.4 (11.25″x8.75″): Breville Duo BSG520XL (Bottom Plate)
85.5 (11.25″x7.60″): Breville Duo BSG520XL (Top Plate)
80 (10″x8″): Hamilton Beach 25460A
77 (11″x7″): IMUSA GAU-80103
60: George Foreman GRP360P
36: George Foreman GR10B
Warranty
1-year: Breville Duo BSG520XL; Hamilton Beach 25460A
3-year: George Foreman GRP360P; George Foreman GR10B
90-day: IMUSA GAU-80103; IMUSA GAU-80102
Breville Panini Press Duo BSG520XL
The Breville Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini Press is a shining example of a small appliance that has proven invaluable when it comes to creating scrumptious, simple meals quickly and efficiently. Its elegant, easy to care for brushed stainless-steel housing hides 1,500 watts of power. The Breville panini grill measures 4.9″H x 12.3″W x 11.96″L, weighs 8.38 lbs and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
Cooking Plates
The Breville panini Duo’s cooking plates are large enough to cook two sandwiches. Made of Quantanium aluminium, they are scratch-resistant and easy to clean due to a top quality PFOA-free non-stick coating. Though not removable, they are very easy to clean with either a sponge or a wet paper towel.
The top plate (11.25″x7.60″) is ribbed, creating appealing grill marks on your sandwich, while the flat bottom plate (11.25″x8.75″) allows for even cooking – perfect for a quick breakfast of eggs or pancakes.
Special Features
* Adjustable Height Control
A floating hinge with four settings lets you move the top plate to different positions above the bottom plate, allowing for even pressure no matter the thickness of your sandwich – making all kinds of open melts a walk in the park… 🙂
This feature enables the BSG520XL Breville sandwich press to achieve perfectly toasted paninis no matter what type of bread you use – whether sliced “sandwich bread”, baguette, focaccia, brioche, bread rolls, raisin bread, etc. Just be aware that sweet breads will brown faster due to their high sugar content.
* Integrated ‘On/Off’ Power setting and ‘Ready’ Lights
* Non-Slip Rubber Feet
* Convenient Locking Clip and Cord Wrap for easy storage
Pros & Cons
Customers value this sandwich grill for how easy it is to use and clean, as well as its durability and versatility. Even heat distribution and adjustable height positions also contribute to make this model a big favorite.
George Foreman Panini Grill GRP360P -4 servings
George Foreman grill and panini presses quickly gained in popularity and have remained popular over the years. Let’s find out if they can actually stand on their own four feet regardless of their branding.
Made of thermoplastic with a neutral platinum finish, the housing of this GRP360P covers 1,150 watts of power with a maximum heating temperature of 392F. Its embedded heating elements allow it to deliver a hot meal in up to 10 minutes from plug-in to plate, heating up 35% faster than the previous GRP0004 model. It measures 12″W (including drip tray) x 15″D, weighs 2.8 lbs and comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Cooking Plates
The larger George Foreman 4-Serving Removable Plate Grill and Panini Press GRP360R offers 60 square inches of grilling surface, enough for four servings.
Its two ribbed removable plates are dishwasher-safe and feature a new Advanced George Tough non-stick coating which is scratch-resistant and is three times more durable than the standard George Tough™ non-stick coating.
Special Features
* Adjustable Height Control
Its 1-inch adjustable floating hinge provides fast grilling for a variety of food such as steak, burgers, chicken, veggies, and more.
* Integrated Power Indicator Light
The power light turns on when you plug in the grill and shuts off when it’s preheated and ready to cook.
* Patented Slope Design
The sloped surface allows up to 42% of the fat to drain off into a dishwasher-safe drip tray.
Pros & Cons
Users appreciate how easy it is to use and clean, as well as the versatility of foods that can be cooked on this grill. However, some are disappointed that the non-stick surface of their grilling plates wears off relatively quickly.
Also beware that the plate tabs do not have insulators on them, so they must be allowed to cool before being removed to wash. Occasionally, buyers also complain that the metal clips holding the plates in place are flimsy, causing the top plate to fall off.
Another issue is the lack of rubber feet to help keep the unit in place while in use. The drip tray is not fastened to the grill which can then cause grease to spill.
George Foreman Panini Grill GR10B -2 servings
Made of black thermoplastic, the George Foreman 2-Serving Classic Plate Electric Indoor Grill and Panini Press GR10B has 760 watts of power with a maximum heating temperature of 428F for fast grilling. It measures 8.5″W x 9.5″D, weighs 2.9 lbs and comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Cooking Plates
The 36 square-inch grilling surface of the GR10B George Foreman grilling machine is large enough for two servings and therefore ideal for small spaces. Its non-removable plates can easily be wiped clean with a paper towel.
Pros & Cons
Customers appreciate that it is versatile enough to cook a variety of foods including steak, burgers, chicken, veggies and more. They also like how easy it is to use and clean as long as the anti-stick coating remains intact.
But some complain that the grill surface will only accommodate two SMALL servings and that the unit does not heat up enough to melt cheese, etc.
Hamilton Beach Panini Press Gourmet Sandwich Maker 25460A
The Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press Grill with Locking Lid25460A features a chrome finish stainless steel housing with black accents which hides 1,400 watts of power. It is also available in Stainless Steel (25410) or Red (25462Z). This Hamilton Beach sandwich maker measures 11.6″L x 12.6″W x 4.5″H, weighs 5.19 lbs and comes with a 1-year warranty.
Cooking Plates
The Hamilton Beach panini maker’s 80 square inches (10″x8″) of nonstick cooking surface provide enough space to make 2 or 3 sandwiches, and the unit opens 180 degrees for a larger grilling surface. Both top and bottom plates are ribbed and easy to clean.
Special Features
* Adjustable Height Control
A café-style floating lid enables you to evenly press sandwiches of various sizes. A lock hinge allows the lid to hover over open-face sandwiches, pizza, bruschettas or turnovers.
* Integrated Power & Preheat Lights
For best results, it is recommended that you preheat the sandwich maker 6 minutes before use. The built-in light will turn green when the press is ready.
* Convenient locking clip for easy storage
Pros & Cons
Customers appreciate that it is simple and easy to use and clean. It is also versatile and can be used to cook chicken, burgers and steak. However, some users complain that their units have started browning unevenly.
IMUSA Panini Press GAU-80103 (Small)
The polished stainless steel exterior of the IMUSA USA GAU-80103 Electric Stainless Steel Panini Maker hides 1,000 watts of power. The GAU-80103 measures 11.8″D x 13.43″W x 5.43″H and weighs 7 lbs. A 90-day warranty may apply, provided your return qualifies.
Cooking Plates
The GAU-80103’s 77-square inch (11″ x 7″) cooking surface is enough to hold 2-3 sandwiches. Flat non-stick plates provide easy cooking and cleaning.
Special Features
* Adjustable Height Control
An adjustable lock knob allows you to customize press height to four different settings for a perfectly grilled panini. Beyond sandwiches, the GAU-80103 can handle pancakes, arepas, pizza dough, veggies, eggs and meats including bacon.
* Integrated Power and Heat Indicator Lights
* Non-Slip Rubber Feet
* Convenient Locking Clip and Cord Wrap for vertical storage
Pros & Cons
Customers believe this panini press offers value for money. Some have complained of malfunctioning indicator lights and would like to see some starter recipes provided.
IMUSA Panini Press GAU-80102 (Large)
This larger IMUSA USA GAU-80102 Large Electric Panini Press also sports a polished stainless steel exterior, but the GAU-80102 offers 1,400 watts of power. The GAU-80103 measures 14.76″D x 15.91″W x 4.92″H and weighs 11 lbs. A 90-day warranty may apply, provided your return qualifies.
Cooking Plates
The 120-square inch (12″x10″) cooking surface is enough to press 3-4 sandwiches. The flat non-stick plates provide easy cleaning.
Special Features
* Adjustable Height Control
The floating hinge of this larger IMUSA sandwich maker adjusts to the height of the sandwich. Beyond pressed sandwiches, this model can accommodate quesadillas, veggies, meats, eggs, pancakes, etc.
* Integrated Power setting and Heat Indicator Lights
* Non-Slip Rubber Feet
* Convenient Locking Clip and Cord Wrap for vertical storage
Pros & Cons
Some customers love cooking with this panini press; however, many mourn the passing of their beloved sandwich maker within a few months of purchase.
From a basic grilled cheese to thick multi-layered crispy sandwiches for a satisfying lunch, easy weekday meals are just minutes away with a panini press. No need to fiddle with multiple pots and pans – this clever small electrical appliance will do all the work and deliver a healthier meal in the process since you won’t even need oil or butter!
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