Hamilton Beach 25450 Gourmet Panini Press Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)You can't give this machine a bad rating. This Hamilton Beach Panini Press does one thing and one thing only, but it does it very well. If you enjoy pressed/grilled sandwhiches you will love this machine. As I write this I'm eating a feta/olive/artichoke/roasted peppers on pita sandwhich hot off the panini press, and it's scrumptious. I actually bought this as a christmas gift for my mother, but I probably use it more than she does.
The machine looks good on the counter, and has a large, non stick service. It's not on a hinge so it's designed to accept even the thickest sandwhiches without squeezing all the filling out. You can even "lock" the lid down to apply constant pressure, or lock it up to maintain minimal pressure or to not make contact with the top at all. It's great for quesidillas as well. Ignore the user that says it takes too long to heat up, it takes only a couple of minutes, about the time a waffle maker would take to heat. Even cooking on the stove you need to take a few mins to heat the pan! Also ignore the comment that this machine burns the bread before heating the filling, I've never had such problems, although I do wish there was a temperature control for further versatillity. But my bread never burns... I find 2-6 min will brown the bread perfectly, from lightly browned to nice and crispy (depending on how you like it) without burning it at all. I've never burned anything on this machine. I even once used it to grill some chicken, and it did the job nicely, though it's not really designed for that.
The only down sides are that there are no frills. I've seen other models that come with nice recipe books, this one has just a few hastily thrown together recipe ideas in the instruction booklet. There's no temp control either, which is fine, but it would be nice to have some kind of control (it would be more convenient if you wanted to use it for alternative purposes. The machine gets very hot, but that's to be expected. There's no alternate "plates" or cooking surfaces for say a flat "griddle" style surface, so you'll have to settle for the striated grate style surface, which in all honestly is not a big deal at all.
This is a great machine, at a decent price. It could be better with a temp control, some extra features, and a better recipe book, but all-in-all, you can't complain. It does its job, and does it very well.

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The Hamilton Beach Panini Press Gourmet Sandwich Maker is an excellent appliance to have on hand to make grilled cheese and other hot sandwiches. Every deli sandwich tastes better hot and with melted cheese. This Panini Press can handle sandwiches of any size.

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Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini Press Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The immediate comparison I made when I received this Panini press was to the Cuisinart GR-3 Griddler Jr, Brushed Stainless Steel, and the key difference between the two products (and the reason I'm giving the better constructed, perhaps even better performing press three stars rather than five) is you can remove the plates in the Cuisinart, and you cannot in the Breville. Convenience and ease of use are central considerations when it comes to just how much you're going to want to use these 'extra' kitchen devices, and if it's a headache to clean something like burnt/stuck preserves, then you're going to be less likely to want to pull it out and use it again.
I want to back up a little bit, because I think Breville generally designs and manufactures outstanding high-quality but still affordable products. This press is no exception. Having used both this Breville and the aforementioned Cuisinart, I would give the Breville the edge on almost every single front. It feels more solidly constructed of higher quality materials, it seems to heat more evenly, although the Cuisinart does allow a range of temperature settings as opposed to Breville's one-temp-fits-all approach. I actually like having one flat and one grilled plate in the Breville, compared to the two grilled plates in the Cuisinart -- the flat surface providing a much more even and consistent heat that really radiates into the middle of the sandwich better than the more limited surface contact provided by just grill plates (but you still have the all-important texture and grill marks from the top plate). Both adapt to larger sandwiches. Both sport non-stick surfaces (although the Breville's is much smoother as the Cuisinart employs a grittier non-stick treatment). Both are perfectly sized for a couple good-sized sandwiches, without all the wasted space that comes with and from the larger models in each line.
I like this press enough that even as I wrap this review up I wonder if I should be giving it 4 stars rather than 3. Standing on its own, it deserves every bit of 4 stars. It's when it's held in contrast to a like-priced alternative like the Cuisinart that the Breville loses some of its luster, and then really only due to a question of pure convenience (in the form of removable plates).
If those removable plates aren't of particular importance to you, I actually recommend this press over the Cuisinart. For me, the convenience of cleaning the removable plates provide is what makes it an easy decision between the two when I want to grill a sandwich.

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Easily create restaurant-quality grilled panini sandwiches and more with this convenient panini press. The unit features a powerful 1500-watt element for fast heating, and its upper and lower grill plates provide a nonstick, scratch-resistant Quantanium surface for lower-fat cooking (no need for butter or oil), effortless food release, and quick cleanup. The bottom plate, which measures 11-1/4 by 8-3/4 inches, offers a flat design for more thorough cooking (also suitable for pancakes and eggs), while the 11-1/4-by-7-3/5-inch ribbed top plate creates authentic cafe-style grill marks. Even more, the grill's floating top plate and four adjustable height settings make it possible to accommodate even the most ambitious of sandwiches or to keep the top plate suspended above food, radiating heat down when cooking breakfast items or open-style melts. Other highlights include "power-on" and "ready-to-cook" indicator lights, heavy-duty die-cast arms, nonslip feet for stability, a locking clip for upright storage, and a cord wrap in the base. The included user manual offers simple-to-follow instructions, as well as an array of delicious recipe ideas--from herbed omelet panini, warm Caesar sandwiches, or grilled chicken lavosh with mango and pinenut mayonnaise to dessert items like sweet fig focaccia, toasted chocolate panini, or crispy brioche with berries. Elegantly housed in brushed stainless steel, the panini press measures 13 by 11-3/4 by 5-1/4 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I feel like I am back on the streets of Paris every time I plug in my beautiful Cuisinart Panini and Sandwich Press. This press makes the best grilled cheese sandwich you ever ate, I guarantee it. I love how you can stick a whole hoagie roll or chunk of french bread loaf with sandwich makings inside into it and squish it into a hot & yummy hunk of cheese-oozong goodness. Or, you can use regular bread and make toasty club sandwiches or grilled cheese.
This guy hangs out in the cupboard and is easy to pull out, just plug in and wait for the green light to come on. You can have a quick french dip dinner ready in 5 minutes that everyone will love- also perfect for grilled cheese and tomato soup night- or just want to make some garlic bread to go with your spaghetti without heating up the whole oven? I LOVE my panini press.
It is really easy to clean- although I haven't tried grilling meats or anything beyond sandwiches and bread. Gooey cheese comes off easily and the whole thing wipes down quickly with a damp washcloth.
Elvis would have died over the peanut butter and banana sandwiches we make in this baby! The frying pan's got nothin' on our Panini Press.


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The Cuisinart Griddler Panini & Sandwich Press makes everything from popular panini to great grilled cheese.Designed like professional units, our floating hinge adjusts to sandwich thickness to perfectly grill thin or thick panini and sandwiches.A preset temperature ensures restaurant-quality results-always crisp and golden brown.

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