Ok, so Panini Presses are all the latest rage it seems. The basic idea behind these sandwich grills are a lower and upper non-stick cooking surface connected by a hinge (similar to a George Foreman grill). You just put sandwiches inside and close the press on it. The heat makes nice grill markings on the sandwiches and also cook the contents to some extent.

Cuisinart makes a few pretty nice presses including this “Griddler” Panini Press which sports 11 x 7 inch grill plates. One of the best things about it is that it features a “floating hinge” which allows you to adjust the grill hinges to accomodate larger than normal type sandwiches like hoagies. Others that don’t have the hinge often struggle to contain a taller type of sandwich.

I’m interesting in getting one of these because people have said that they can be used for other things besides normal panini sandwiches including grilled cheese sandwiches, veggies and pork chops.

One note is that the grill plates do not detach, though that doesn’t seem to make it any harder to clean because of the non-stick surface. I suppose it also depends on what food you put directly on the surface. Grilling meat on it would definitely entail a more difficult cleanup.