For superior grilled cheese, smash burgers, and more |
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Having grown up on the Jersey Shore, I’ve had my fair share of hoagies. (Yes, it’s a hoagie, not a sub.) But for every cold hoagie I’ve enjoyed from Wawa (IYKYK), I love a hot panini just as much. Every time my Italian mother pulled out the panini press, I experienced a wave of joy and eager anticipation. There’s something about perfectly crusty, char-marked bread, oozing mozzarella, layers of cured meats, and garden-fresh pesto that just slaps, without fail.
But panini presses have come so far from my mom’s bare-bones version of the 90s—today's models are much more than two hot plates that smush together. The best models double as indoor griddles, opening flat so you can grill veggies, sear chicken, or smash burgers without firing up the outdoor grill. Our contributor Mark Marino spent two days in the Test Kitchen testing them with grilled cheese and paninis (I helped with the very important tasting), and we found a clear winner. It’s a versatile appliance you’ll pull out for more than just crunchy grilled sandwiches. |
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Panini presses come in a variety of sizes and styles, from single-function presses that only make sandwiches to multipurpose models that double as griddles and open-face grills. The best panini presses, however, all have a few things in common: They give bread a crunchy, evenly toasted exterior with signature grill marks; warm and meld fillings such as cheese, meat, and veggies without overcooking them; and squish the sandwich just enough so that it isn’t too flat.
We tested some of the most popular models on the market to find the absolute best panini press, and there was one clear winner. |
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We’re all ears. Let us know what you want to see more (or less) of in your inbox. |
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