A panini maker is a grill press used to make Italian grilled sandwiches. It can also be used for other sandwiches and grilled foods. Most are electric and cannot adjust heat, but some have high and low settings. When shopping, consider size and ease of cleaning.
A panini maker is a specialized grill press designed to be used to make panini, Italian grilled tramezzini, particularly popular in casual cafes and bistros. In addition to being used to make a sandwich, a sandwich maker can be used for a variety of other sandwiches and grilled foods, making it a somewhat handy thing to have around in some households. Many kitchen supply stores carry sandwich makers and they can also be ordered from specialty suppliers.
In Italy, a panino is simply a sandwich, but in other regions of the world, the term has come to refer specifically to grilled sandwiches, a hot sandwich that is made by pressing the sandwich into a grill for a few minutes before serving. The bread is usually oiled or buttered before grilling, so it develops a crunchy, crunchy flavor that some people find quite pleasant.
While a sandwich can be made on a flat grill, a sandwich maker greatly simplifies the process and speeds it up. A panini maker is essentially a hinged grill; to use it, people place a sandwich on one side, then fold the other side of the grill rack over the sandwich, pressing the sandwich between the two heated sides of the grill rack. After a few moments, the sandwich is grilled and reheated and can be served immediately.
Most sandwich makers are electric and work much like a waffle maker. The grill heating elements half-heat the metal grate, providing continuous, radiant heat during the cooking process. Typically the heat cannot be adjusted, although some sandwich makers have high and low settings. The heat is typically calibrated to be effective for most cooking tasks.
As you might imagine, a bun maker can be used to grill just about anything, from tofu to hamburgers, in addition to the bun it’s designed for. Depending on the design, the grate could be made from a nonstick material or it could be cast iron, which will need to be seasoned before use. Either way, the grill is usually wiped clean with a light, dry towel, rather than being scrubbed.
When shopping for a sandwich maker, you may want to think about how it will be used. If you plan on grilling other things than just the sandwich, variable heat is a good option, and size is also something to think about, as some sandwich makers are quite large, designed to accommodate sandwiches for a crowd, while others can only handle one or two sandwiches. You might also consider ease of cleaning; look for nooks and crannies that might collect gunk, and see if the grate can be removed for an occasional deep clean.
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