Are you searching for a feature-rich and efficient panini press for your food business? Probably, you are excited to serve customers at your restaurant with crispy bread loaded with flavored veggies, meat, and melted cheese. A panini press is used for roasting, pressing sandwiches and making quesadillas. In this post, I have compiled a list of the best commercial panini presses currently available online.
A commercial panini press is the most necessary kitchen equipment which can reduce your workload instantly. The commercial sandwich and panini grill is a great asset for the foodservice business. It is best to make panini sandwiches with ciabatta, baguettes or michetta bread.
The market is loaded with a wide range of panini presses; you may find it challenging to choose the best one. Well, in order to pick the best panini press for your routine needs, it is better to check a few key features and compare available products accordingly. Below I have highlighted a few tips to choose the best sandwich grill to ease your business purchase decision.
The 5 Top-Rated Commercial Panini Press
| Editor's Pick | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall-Most Sold | Stainless Steel Cuisinart GR-300WSP1 Griddler Elite | 4.5 |
| Runner Up | Waring Commercial WPG150 Compact Italian-Style Panini Grill | 4.0 |
| Best Budget Pick | Breville BGR820XL Smart Grill | 4.5 |
| Best Panini Grill | Single head SS Durable Panini Sandwich Press Grill by ALDKitchen | 4.2 |
| Panini Grill with Waffle Plates | Cuisinart 5-in-1 Grill Griddler Panini Maker with Waffle Plates | 4.2 |
Tips for Choosing the Right Commercial Panini Press
Floating Hinge
With a floating hinge, it is possible to close the grill at variable height ranges; it means, you can prepare a shorter grilled cheese sandwich and a bigger baguette sandwich with ease. The great news is that the new age model with this feature falls in the affordable spectrum; you can easily buy one for your restaurant business.
Adjustable Thermostat
This feature is usually available in the high-end grill models only, but once you have such a machine, it can help you prepare a variety of food every day. It offers easy adjustment of temperature for sandwiches and burgers as well. Hence, you can enjoy a versatile service with a single purchase.
Surface Area
Some people love to choose grills with a smaller surface area to save some space in their kitchen, but when you are buying this appliance for commercial needs, the larger surface area will be an excellent choice. But it is essential to understand that the price of the panini press also increases with its size.
Removable Plates
The new-age manufacturers are also offering removable plate designs for easy cleaning. You can look for the one whose plates are dishwasher safe. It will save much of your cleaning time in routine. Some brands also offer cleaning brushes with the product.
Here are the Best Commercial Panini Press Brands
Now you are aware of the essential features of a panini press; it will be easier to make the final purchase decision. Below I have listed some of the best commercial grilled sandwich maker products that you can think of buying to meet your everyday needs:
1. GR-300WSP1 Griddler Elite Stainless Steel (1960+ ratings)
This griddle is designed with six impressive cooking functions that can handle all your cooking tasks with ease. This all in one unit can work like a grill, half grill, griddle, half griddle, top melt sandwich, panini press, appetizers, and meats as well. The overall cooking surface on this griddle is 240 square, and it can sear up to 500 Degree Fahrenheit.
Key Features:
- 6 cooking functions
- Removable plates and integrated drip tray for easy cleaning
- Dual-zone temperature control
- Adjustable top cover
- 60-minute countdown timer with electronic LCD display
- LED indicator
2. Commercial WPG150 Compact Italian-Style Panini Grill
This compact panini grill is made up of brushed stainless steel material, and it can be used to prepare vegetables, chicken, hamburgers, sandwiches and many more. The ribbed cast-iron plates ensure even heating, and the hinged, auto-balancing plate on the top can handle food with a maximum thickness of 3 inches. Moreover, the thermostat can reach up to a maximum temperature rating of 570-degree Fahrenheit.
Key Features:
- High quality brushes stainless steel design
- Ribbed cast iron plates that ensure even heat distribution
- Heat resistant handles and indicator lights
- Certified by NSF and UL
- It is good for the small cafe and home too
- It comes with a specific brush called wire brush
3. BGR820XL Smart Grill (560+ ratings)
The Smart Grille Element IQ technology from Breville has finally omitted the gap between indoor and outdoor cooking. Manufacturers have added advanced sensors to this grille that make automatic adjustments for the cooking temperature. Also, the 1800W heating system provides rapid heat recovery by detecting heat losses on time.
Key Features:
- Comes with removable non-stick plates that are easy to clean
- Adjustable plate tilt
- 6 adjustable height control settings
- Removable and integrated drip tray with dishwasher safe plates
- Two different cooking modes: barbeque and panini
- Timer control and temperature control dial
- It has a lock for storage
- It cooks meat within a minute
4. Stainless Steel Panini Sandwich Press Grill
This professional-quality panini press grill is rated high for its ultra-durable design and high-quality finish. This energy-efficient model can be used to prepare burgers, steak, fish, hot dogs and sandwiches as well. People find it an affordable solution for their food business with all-in-one cooking ability.
Key Features:
- Comes with heat resistant handles
- Fast and efficient panini grill
- Made up of stainless steel material
- Adjustable temperature control
- Removable grease tray for easy cleaning
- Manufacturers offer a 100% guarantee with money back offers & 6 months repair warranty
5. Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Panini Maker Griddler with Waffle Plates
Cuisinart has introduced another versatile counter-top panini griddler equipped with waffle plates where you can prepare many things besides panini. You can easily cook waffles with the waffle plates that come with this maker. The dual temperature setting feature gives you great results on everything you cook.
Key Features:
- Versatile cooking
- 11*9 inches plates are nonstick & reversible
- Adjustable temperature settings with indicator lights
- Sturdy finishing
- Very easy to clean
Uses of the Panini Grill Press
The panini presses are designed for press and grill sandwiches. But the panini press is not limited to it’s binding and you can do a lot of things using a panini maker. Here is the list below:
- Bake a small cake in a panini press
- Make waffle cones for holding scoops and ice cream sandwiches
- Frying up the bacon
- Make crispy and golden hashbrowns dish
- Bake jumbo brownie
- BBQ smashed potato
- Grill boneless and skinless chicken
- Fry donut chips
- Cook healthy cheesy spinach & ham Omelet
- Make grilled cheesy crouton
- Grill hamburger
- Grill vegetables and salmon
- Reheat pizza, bread, roll, and cinnamon
- Bake Nutella waffle sandwich cookies & croissant french toast
More Commercial Panini Press I Reviewed
6. Durable Stainless Steel Commercial Sandwich Press
This sandwich press grill is designed with adjustable temperature control settings that can go up to 50-degrees Centigrade. Users can easily adjust the temperature as per the type of food they are preparing. Also, the coated surfaces ensure easy and even heat transfer to the entire area. This grill can be used to prepare fried bacon, tofu, chicken wings, fried steak, and squid as well.
Key Features:
- It is loaded with dishwasher safe, removable plates
- Made up of premium quality stainless steel material
- Heat resistant handles and non-slip feet
- Easy to clean, removable grease tray
- Ribbed cast iron plates
7. Silver & Black Commercial Panini Grill
Chef’s Supreme – Commercial Panini Grill is one of the best panini pressing machines to add great value in the restaurant business. It has both side griddle plate that is made of high strength cast iron. The grooved plates and the iconic marks of the grill increase the flavor and the presentation of the dish.
Key Features:
- Only for commercial use
- 14*9 inches nonstick plates so huge cooking surface
- 120v
8. 4 Slice GP1000BR Panini Press Grill with Accessories
It is one of the decent grill press that helps to cook fish and meat to maintain a healthful diet. Ovente GP1000BR press has an automatic timer to help you stop auto if you are working and forget. The power button on the front panel allows you to start and stop the press. It has an LCD and buttons which offer easy control. This machine is for everyday use but not for a busy restaurant.
Key Features
- Stainless steel housing and a heat-free handle
- Automatic shutdown
- 10.2*9 inches non-stick plates
- Can reach a maximum of 400 deg temperature
- It comes with a grill brush and recipe booklet with instructions.
- For multiple uses like grill/sear fresh steaks, fish, chicken, chops, and more
9. USA GAU-80102 Electric Panini Press (Large size)
If you have a small sandwich shop and you’re ready to serve sandwiches or quesadillas every day, then it’s an excellent option for a starter. It has a sturdy housing and a cool-touch handle for operation. A preset temperature control setting offers perfect panini without care. The IMUSA offers restaurant-quality paninis such as grilled sandwiches, chickens, veggies, potatoes, meats, and more.
Key Features
- Flat grill plates
- Solid housing
- 1400 watt
- Indicator lights and an adjustable floating hinge
- Available in 2 different models
- At the same time, it is easy and quick to clean
10. GRP99 6-Serving Removable Plate Grill & Panini Press ( 1,240+ ratings)
Here is a feature-rich product from the most popular brand in the market. This 6-serving removable plate can help you to prepare a variety of food items by working as a half griddle, half grill, full griddle, full grill, panini press, waffle maker, and contact grill as well. Also, it comes with a detailed user guide to ease the operation for beginners. The best news is that this product also works like a top melt.
Key Features:
- 6-serving plate with digital timer & temperature indicator light
- Easy to remove drip tray that can be washed in the dishwasher
- Non-Stick cooking surface
- FDA certified product
You can pick any of these products to serve your customers with the most delicious food collections at your restaurant.
See also:
FAQs
#1. How long does it take?
It is effortless and easy to cook panini with a panini press. It may take about 3-5/6 min to cook as per the manufacturer’s guidance until it is golden and crisp.
#2. What temperature should a panini press be?
Mostly it is based on what you need the heat to do for a panini. A medium-high temperature of around 375 deg would be best if you like to melt cheese and grill bread for a simple grilled cheese.
#3. Can we make sandwiches with this?
Yes, use the low configuration setting and the panini switch. It does an excellent job with the crispness of the quesadillas. I use it for eggs, bacon, pancakes, or sausage, and almost everything else.
#4. Can I use George Foreman’s cleaning sponges on this?
I read the advice for using them; flat plates are easier to clean. Here you go…
#5. Does it generate smoke when grilling?
Yes, it creates a little smoke; however, not a great deal.
