Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press Grill
Last updated date: February 10, 2020
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We looked at the top Panini Presses and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Panini Press you should buy.
Overall Take
The floating lid on the Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press Grill lets you press down to make items like sandwiches and quesadillas or leave up for heating items that don't need to be pressed. It heats up quickly to cut down on cooking time. You'll also get lasting quality at an affordable price, making it a great value. In our analysis of 26 expert reviews, the Hamilton Beach Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press Grill placed 3rd when we looked at the top 8 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
Editor's Note May 5, 2020:
Checkout The Best Panini Press for a detailed review of all the top panini presses.
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From The Manufacturer
You don’t have to go out for lunch to enjoy those toasty, hot and delicious Panini’s you love. With the Hamilton Beach Panini Press Gourmet Sandwich Maker you can have restaurant results at home for a fraction of the cost. Using your own fresh ingredients, you can make everything from a basic grilled cheese to a thick, mouth-watering Reuben sandwich. Thanks to a café-style floating lid that evenly presses sandwiches of all sizes, how thick or thin you’d like your sandwich is up to you. The sandwich maker is easy to use. Power and preheat lights let you know when it is ready and the 10x8 inch cooking surface gives you plenty of space to make 2 -3 sandwiches at once. When complete, the sandwich is easy to remove from the nonstick grid. Warm, delicious Panini sandwiches in minutes, all in the convenience of your own home. ..now that’s Good Thinking.
An Overview On Panini Presses
Paninis may just be the perfect food. More than a sandwich, they combine the taste of the grill with the ease of stacking items between two slices of bread. They may have first become popular in Italy, but Americans have embraced paninis as a quick meal option for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack.
For a good panini, though, you’ll need a grill that can tackle the job competently. Panini presses bring the grill experience indoors, letting you get those char marks that you’d normally only have on a commercial cooktop or an outdoor grill. Today’s panini presses go beyond making sandwiches, though. With some, you can also cook eggs, pancakes, quesadillas and more.
One important feature to keep in mind, though, is the size of your chosen grill. If you’re in a dorm room or studio apartment, you may need a smaller press that you can tuck away in a drawer or cabinet when you aren’t using it. Smaller presses also are easier to transport.
But some larger presses have expanded grill surfaces, which means you can make multiple sandwiches at once. You can also use some presses for cooking items like eggs and pancakes, making them handy for feeding houseguests. However, you’ll need to make sure you have a place to store something that large in between uses.
DWYM Fun Fact
Paninis traditionally have been loaded with cured meats like ham, along with cheese. But don’t feel limited by classic recipes. In recent years, chicken spinach and mozzarella and tomato paninis have become increasingly popular, both requiring their own extra ingredients and a little extra preparation. To make a proper panini, though, you’ll need the right kind of bread. Flavored bread can add a little something extra to your panini. In fact, ciabatta bread is the most popular, but you can also use focaccia bread for delicious results. If you’re health-conscious, a whole grain baguette can make a great panini. The key is to use a weightier, hearty bread that retains its moisture during the grilling process.
The Panini Press Buying Guide
- One factor missing in many small grills like panini presses is an on/off switch. This may not matter to you, as it simply means you’ll have to unplug the unit when you’re finished with it. However, it’s worth considering as you’re looking at features.
- Temperature control is another missing feature with many panini presses. That means you won’t have control over how hot the surface gets, limiting what you can cook on the surface.
- If your panini press comes with a lid, look to see if it has a latch that holds it in place when it’s lifted. Otherwise, you’ll have to keep a hand on it unless it’s in the closed position.
- Some grill surfaces take longer to preheat than others. You may be looking at a preheat time of five minutes or more with some panini presses, making those that advertise a quick heat-up time much more attractive.
- Paninis can be messy, especially if you include ingredients like cheese. To ease the cleanup process, look for a panini press that has removable plates. Bonus points if those plates are dishwasher safe.
- Another factor in cleanup is that drippings can slip from the grill surface while cooking. There are grills that are designed specifically to drain fats and oils away from items that are cooking, which makes your food a little healthier. But whether your panini press drains off oils or not, look for one with a drip tray that can catch all these liquids to prevent a mess on your counter.