Thread: Panini makers

On 9/27/2012 11:38 AM, [email protected] wrote:
> I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has any
> suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look ing at different brands
> online, but wonder what features are good to llok for. Thanks.
>

I just got this one the other day. It was cheap and the shipping was
free. I've only used it once to fry some chicken but it worked fine. The
cooking area is about right for the price and the temperature goes high
enough for me which is saying a lot cause I'm power hungry. The grill
plates are not detachable which might be a deal breaker for you. Anyway,
that's my initial impressions. I'll know more in a few days.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AQEPMM/

Oddly enough, it appears to be the same as the "Hamilton Beach 25331
Steak Lover's Indoor Grill" which goes for $15 more on Amazon.

On 2012-09-27, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
> I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has any
> suggestions as to what I should look for?

I would think getting a multi-purpose version would be the ticket.
Doesn't a George Foreman grill turn into a panini maker, waffle iron,
and a men's tie press? If not, it should.

nb

--
Definition of objectivism:
"Eff you! I got mine."
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

On Sep 27, 3:01*pm, notbob <not...@nothome.com> wrote:
> On 2012-09-27, rfd...@optonline.net <rfd...@optonline.net> wrote:
>
> > I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has any
> > suggestions as to what I should look for?
>
> I would think getting a multi-purpose version would be the ticket.
> Doesn't a George Foreman grill turn into a panini maker, waffle iron,
> and a men's tie press? *If not, it should. *
>
> nb
>
> --
> Definition of objectivism:
> "Eff you! *I got mine."http://www.nongmoproject.org/

Yes it does. We have one and it works great.

dsi1 <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 9/27/2012 11:38 AM, [email protected] wrote:
>> I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one
>> and has any suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look
>> ing at different brands online, but wonder what features are good to
>> llok for. Thanks.
>
> I just got this one the other day. It was cheap and the shipping was
> free. I've only used it once to fry some chicken but it worked fine.

How does one fry chicken in a panini press?

notbob <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 2012-09-27, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
>> I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one
>> and has any suggestions as to what I should look for?
>
> I would think getting a multi-purpose version would be the ticket.
> Doesn't a George Foreman grill turn into a panini maker, waffle iron,
> and a men's tie press? If not, it should.
>
> nb

I like the one that also makes donuts and retreads old tires.

On Sep 27, 4:07*pm, "Nunya Bidnits" <nunyabidn...@eternal-
september.invalid> wrote:
> notbob <not...@nothome.com> wrote:
> > On 2012-09-27, rfd...@optonline.net <rfd...@optonline.net> wrote:
> >> I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one
> >> and has any suggestions as to what I should look for?
>
> > I would think getting a multi-purpose version would be the ticket.
> > Doesn't a George Foreman grill turn into a panini maker, waffle iron,
> > and a men's tie press? *If not, it should. *
>
> > nb
>
> I like the one that also makes donuts and retreads old tires.

Mine makes new tires.

On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:38:04 -0400, [email protected] wrote:

>I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has any
>suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look ing at different brands
>online, but wonder what features are good to llok for. Thanks.

I'd buy something with reversible plates
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...95007&csid=_61


Cuisinart Griddler GR-4NFR

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-GR-4.../dp/B002YD99Y4

It is much more versatile than a dedicated panini maker

We got a waffle maker/griddle for a wedding gift 46 years ago and we
still use it for grilled sandwiches.

On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:38:04 -0400, [email protected] wrote:

>I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has any
>suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look ing at different brands
>online, but wonder what features are good to llok for. Thanks.

Thanks for the replies so far. I meant to ask one other thing. I am not blessed
with a dishwasher. I'm the dishwasher. So how easy are these things to clean
without one?

"Nunya Bidnits" wrote in message news:k42m5j$n0s$[email protected]..

dsi1 <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 9/27/2012 11:38 AM, [email protected] wrote:
>> I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one
>> and has any suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look
>> ing at different brands online, but wonder what features are good to
>> llok for. Thanks.
>
> I just got this one the other day. It was cheap and the shipping was
> free. I've only used it once to fry some chicken but it worked fine.

How does one fry chicken in a panini press?
**************
Excellent question! It's not a deep fryer and it isn't a George Forman
grill. How does one cook chicken in a panini press?

Jill

On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 22:55:27 -0400, Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> wrote:

> We got a waffle maker/griddle for a wedding gift 46 years ago and we
> still use it for grilled sandwiches.

Is that (sandwiches) what the flat side is for?

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

wrote in message news:[email protected]..

On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:38:04 -0400, [email protected] wrote:

>I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has
>any
>suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look ing at different
>brands
>online, but wonder what features are good to llok for. Thanks.

Thanks for the replies so far. I meant to ask one other thing. I am not
blessed
with a dishwasher. I'm the dishwasher. So how easy are these things to clean
without one?
***************
Should be fairly easy to clean the plates as long as you don't let things
dry/stick on them. I have a one with lots of plates. You can make waffles,
paninis or cookies or waffle-cones for ice cream. The plates are easily
washed by hand.

Jill

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:57:08 -0400, jmcquown wrote:

> Excellent question! It's not a deep fryer and it isn't a George Forman
> grill. How does one cook chicken in a panini press?

A panini press is basically a glorified Georgio Foremani grill.

-sw

jmcquown <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Nunya Bidnits" wrote in message news:k42m5j$n0s$[email protected]..
>
> dsi1 <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 9/27/2012 11:38 AM, [email protected] wrote:
>>> I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one
>>> and has any suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look
>>> ing at different brands online, but wonder what features are good to
>>> llok for. Thanks.
>>
>> I just got this one the other day. It was cheap and the shipping was
>> free. I've only used it once to fry some chicken but it worked fine.
>
> How does one fry chicken in a panini press?
> **************
> Excellent question! It's not a deep fryer and it isn't a George
> Forman grill. How does one cook chicken in a panini press?
>
> Jill

Not just cook, fry. That's the pressing question.

On Sep 27, 5:51*pm, rfd...@optonline.net wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:38:04 -0400, rfd...@optonline.net wrote:
> >I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has any
> >suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look ing at different brands
> >online, but wonder what features are good to llok for. Thanks.
>
> Thanks for the replies so far. I meant to ask one other thing. I am not blessed
> with a dishwasher. I'm the dishwasher. So how easy are these things to clean
> without one?

These things clean easily when new. Not so after the coating gets
damaged. Removable plates are easier to clean than fixed plates. If
you're making paninis, cleaning is very simple and easy. If you cook
steaks, it's harder. If you grill steaks marinated with some sugar
you'll get burnt carbon which can be tough to remove. I don't bother
to clean these units very well, I just wipe it down as best as I can
with a damp paper towel. I don't use soap because a coating of oil is
desirable. If you're the type that wants grill plates that are
spotless, you should find one with removable plates.

I made a couple of paninis this evening. I've had these grills
previously but this is the first time that I've ever grilled a
sandwich. It was pretty good even though the grill is not sold as a
panini press. I'll probably make more paninis tomorrow.

As of now, I'm pleased with the unit, it has what I want in a contact
grill - it heats up fast and is capable of high temperature, grill
area is at least 100 square inches and cost is less than $50. I'll
probably use it a lot and if it lasts over a year or so, I'll consider
that money well spent.

On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 22:03:04 -0700, sf <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 22:55:27 -0400, Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> We got a waffle maker/griddle for a wedding gift 46 years ago and we
>> still use it for grilled sandwiches.
>
>Is that (sandwiches) what the flat side is for?

That is what we use it for, but anything can be cooked on it. Panini
is just a grilled sandwich anyway, but suddenly there is a market for
a new appliance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panini_(sandwich)

In Italy, panino (Italian pronunciation: [pa'ni?no]) is the word for a
sandwich made from bread other than sliced bread, in which case
Italians call it a tramezzino or porco. Examples of bread types used
are ciabatta, rosetta and baguette. The bread is cut horizontally and
filled with deli ingredients such as salami, ham, cheese, mortadella,
or other food, and sometimes served warm after having been pressed by
a warming grill. A toasted sandwich made from sliced bread is not
called "panino" but "toast" (pronounced as "tossed"), or "tosto"
(pronounced "tossed-toe") by Italians, and is usually filled with ham
and a few slices of cheese, and heated in sandwich press. A popular
version of panino in Central Italy is filled with porchetta, slices of
pork roasted with garlic, salt, rosemary, and sage.

In the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, the term panini has
been adopted to refer to a pressed and toasted sandwich; there is
widespread availability and use of sandwich presses, often known as
"panini presses" or "toasted sandwich makers."

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 05:59:09 -0400, Ed Pawlowski <[email protected]> wrote:

> A popular
> version of panino in Central Italy is filled with porchetta, slices of
> pork roasted with garlic, salt, rosemary, and sage.
>
> In the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, the term panini has
> been adopted to refer to a pressed and toasted sandwich; there is
> widespread availability and use of sandwich presses, often known as
> "panini presses" or "toasted sandwich makers."

Not a big "toasted" sandwich eater here, but I'd try that pork
sandwich once and see how I like it if I ever get the chance.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 23:50:01 -0400, [email protected] wrote:

> On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:38:04 -0400, [email protected] wrote:
>
> >I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has any
> >suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look ing at different brands
> >online, but wonder what features are good to llok for. Thanks.
>
> Thanks for the replies so far. I meant to ask one other thing. I am not blessed
> with a dishwasher. I'm the dishwasher. So how easy are these things to clean
> without one?

Every modern iron and panini press I know about has a non-stick
coating on the (removable) plates, to make them as easy as possible to
clean. How dirty they get is up to you.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has
> any
> suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look ing at different
> brands
> online, but wonder what features are good to llok for. Thanks.

Be sure you can detach the grill plates to clean. Otherwise they are a
nightmare.

Paul

On Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:38:04 -0400, [email protected] wrote:

>I've decided to get a panini maker. Anyone out there who uses one and has any
>suggestions as to what I should look for? I've been look ing at different brands
>online, but wonder what features are good to llok for. Thanks.


Invest in the edition of "Cook's Illustrated" entitled "Modern
Classics." It has instructions on making panini without a special
maker.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)