When browsing for a panini press all the models on the market may look similar to you. Admittedly, at first glance they look the same. But there are some key things to look out for when you’re after the best panini press. In this article, we will explain what the most important factors are that make that amazing crunchy panini you love, and give you our top picks for the best panini press of 2025.
We’ve analyzed a long list of panini presses and compared their features and setbacks. However, before we dive in we must first explain what we compared and why.
You can use this table of contents to skip straight to the results.
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How To Find The Best Panini Press
There are two parts to this equation:
- The taste of the panini
- The panini must be crunchy on the outside & soft on the inside
- The panini must be browned evenly
- The ingredients should not have been squeezed out
- The effort to make the panini
- The amount of time it took to make the panini
- Panini press efficiency (power, capacity, handling)
- How hard to clean the panini press is
Please note that the quality of the ingredients and the skills of the chef are left out. We will assume that these are fine to begin with.
Ever tried Dutch stroopwafels? We recently compared stroopwafel irons too.
Characteristics Of A Good Panini Press
In order to achieve the best all-round experience we seek panini presses with the following characteristics.
Non-Stick Coating
Nowadays, it is very uncommon to still come across panini presses without non-stick coating. Yet, it remains a dealbreaker if a panini press does not have this feature. It can ruin both the panini and the handling of the panini press completely.
Clearance
One of the most important things we seek out in a panini press is clearance. It must be able to press the panini from the top, not coming in from a side angle. As this would squeeze out your toppings, make only one side crispy, and will not result in an evenly browned panini. To display the difference it’s best to look at the panini press from the side, like in the examples below. On the left-hand side you clearly see the angle, whereas on the right-hand side the pressure is applied straight from the top.
Dishwasher-safe
Once you are finished with the panini press you don’t want to spend more time than needed cleaning it. Extra points for panini presses that boast this feature, because we don’t nearly see this as often as we like. Dispite the fact that this greatly reduces the handling time of the device.
Speed
How fast your panini’s will be ready depends on the power and size of your panini press. A larger panini press can grill more paninis in one go, while a more powerful panini press can grill your paninis faster. Both have an effect on your experience, yet how much it actually does is determined by your usage and needs.
Nerdy Tip:
Grilling speed is an important factor in improving the flavor of the panini:
When adjusting the temperature it is important to consider the bread type and it’s sugar content. High-sugar bread will brown faster.
Furthermore, it is important to understand that a thicker panini will take longer to melt. A lower temperature setting may be the preferred way to go. Otherwise, the bread may get burnt before the cheese has melted.
The Best Panini Press of 2025
Based on the aforementioned criteria we couldn’t just narrow it down to one panini press. So aside from selecting the best panini press of 2025, we added top picks in certain categories.
Minimum required features for the best panini press 2025:
- Non-stick coating in the grills
- Ready-to-cook indicator light
- High clearance / Floating top
Please rest assured that all panini presses feature the qualities mentioned above. We will now cover all top picks in detail.
Best Budget Panini Press of 2025:
Proctor Silex Panini Press Sandwich Maker and Electric Indoor Grill
We start with an entry-level panini press. The Proctor Silex Panini Press isn’t very feature-dense. Still, it got the basics right.
It has a high clearance thanks to it’s floating lid, which presses the paninis from the top. Therefore, it grills evenly and makes amazing paninis. Or should we say panini, as it can grill just one panini at a time. This should come at no suprise though, considering the price.
The Proctor Silex Panini Press is the most affordable panini press on this list and is most suitable for small households who use it infrequently. To suit the less frequent panini makers it even has a locking lid that allows for compact vertical storage.
Reasons to Choose
- Affordable
- Compact upright storage
Reasons to Avoid
- Panini capacity: 1
- Not Dishwasher-Safe
- Slow grilling (1000W)
- No temperature settings
Best Value-For-Money Panini Press of 2025:
Hamilton Beach Panini Press, Sandwich Maker & Electric Indoor Grill
One step upward we find the Hamilton Beach Panini Press. This is still a quite an affordable panini press, yet has a lot going for it.
It comfortably fits two paninis at a time. In addition, it has a lot more power to get the paninis ready faster. At 1400W this is a noticable and welcome upgrade from the Proctor model.
Furthermore, it is the lightest panini press we’ve examined. This can be useful when handling and storing it. Especially combined with the lockable lid this makes for convenient storage. Finally, it is worth to note that it is not dishwasher-safe. Altough this is to be expected in this price range.
Reasons to Choose
- Compact upright storage
- Fast grilling (1400W)
- Panini capacity: 2
- Affordable
Reasons to Avoid
- Not dishwasher-safe
- No temperature settings
Best Compact Panini Press of 2025:
Cuisinart Griddler® Compact
The Cuisinart Griddler Compact is a panini press with a lot of fans. It is easily the panini press with the most positive feedback online. And for good reasons. It features all the main qualities we like to see in a panini press, dispite the fact that it is a smaller panini press.
Cuisinart delivered a 1361W panini press, dishwasher-safe removable parts, and as an extra, they added in a spatula. Yet, it remains a compact model that allows for 1-2 paninis to be made at a time. However, it is possible to open the lid fully and create a larger grilling surface. This BBQ-mode is not suitable for paninis but does allow you to use it as an electric griddle for meat or vegetables.
Reasons to Choose
- Fast grilling (1361W)
- Dishwasher-safe
- BBQ-mode
- Spatula included
Reasons to Avoid
- Panini capacity: 1-2
The Best Panini Press of 2025:
Breville Sear & Press Grill
The undisputed best panini press of 2025 is the Breville Sear & Press Grill. For anyone who regularly makes paninis this panini press will safe you a lot of time in the process. In fact, we would consider it suitable for commercial use.
It has the capacity to grill 4 to 6 paninis at a time, which can cook paninis for a whole family in one go. It is a 1800W panini press, but due to its size it spreads this power out over a larger surface area. Nevertheless, it will still cook the paninis in no time. If you prefer slow grilled paninis (perhaps due to extra toppings), then Breville has got your back. The temperature settings are very customizable and also include presets for your convenience.
But Breville wasn’t finished quite yet, as they added a lot of extra features. The plates aren’t just removable and dishwasher-safe, but on top of that are reversable. Thus, allowing you to choose between a flat plate or one with ridges. In addition, it is possible to set the temperature for each plate seperately.
These plate customizations are particularly useful when you fully open up the panini press and place it into BBQ-mode. Doing so will create 240 square inch (1548 square cm) of grilling surface. Consequently, this turns the panini grill in a full fledged expansion of your kitchen.
Reasons to Choose
- Rapid grilling (1800W)
- Panini capacity: 4-6
- Dishwasher-safe
- Memorizes your favorite settings
- BBQ-Mode
- Independent plate temperature settings
- Reversible Plates
Reasons to Avoid
- Less affordable
Conclusion
It is worth taking the time to search for the best panini press. There are many options and features to choose from. Hence, it is important to keep in mind how often and for what purposes you will be using the panini press.
To conclude, hereby an overview of our top picks for 2025:
- Best Budget Panini Press: Proctor Silex Panini Press
Affordable, compact, and great for occasional use - Best Value-For-Money Panini Press: Hamilton Beach Panini Press
Balances affordability, power, and efficiency - Best Compact Panini Press: Cuisinart Griddler® Compact
Everything you want in a compact panini press. - Best Overall Panini Press: Breville Sear & Press Grill
The ultimate choice for the true panini fan.
