The Best Way to Make a Panini

[Carolyn]

What is the best way to make a panini if you don't have a panini maker? can i use a frying pan or is a grill better? and what kind of bread is better?

[ironchef]

At home I usually use a grill pan with a weighted saute pan to press down the sandwich.

For the bread, I prefer one with a denser consistency like a Ciabatta. I find that it holds up better to getting "smashed".

[momcooks]

I always figured if I actually wanted one, I could use my waffle iron, it has a floating hinge.

[buckytom]

a clean brick wrapped in aluminum foil works well for the weight, if you're using a cast iron grill pan. or a large saucepan, with a few heavy cans in it.

[college_cook]

What about a George Foreman Grill?? You could put your biggest cookkbook on top for added weight, or ALL of your cookbooks, as long as I'm being creative

[kitchenelf]

I would do a stovetop grill pan with a brick wrapped in foil - wrap 2 bricks so you can do 2 sandwiches at once - Or the weighted saute pan is good too.

Ciabatta is my absolute favorite bread to use.

[norgeskog]

Originally Posted by momcooks

I always figured if I actually wanted one, I could use my waffle iron, it has a floating hinge.

I tried that, momcooks, the cheese made a mess when it spilled out, but it all turned out okay. Think I prefer my cast iron grill pan with another cast iron on top with an old fashion weighty iron holding it down to supress. Needs to be a firm bread, the roll-up-into-a-ball stuff will not work.

[htc]

I just made several panini sandwiches over the weekend. They turned out wonderful! This time I tried the brick method, instead of doing it in a cast iron or frying pan, I put it on my gas grill and got perfect grill lines and the cheese melted wonderfully.

I have tried the waffle iron method, and yes it does get a little messy. It also doesn't look as "pretty" as the gas grill w/ brick method.

[jpmcgrew]

I use my george foreman grill it works real good.I also use it for grilled cheese and rubens.You must have a fairly heavy duty bread so it wont get squashed.

[norgeskog]

Originally Posted by jpmcgrew

I use my george foreman grill it works real good.I also use it for grilled cheese and rubens.You must have a fairly heavy duty bread so it wont get squashed.

I can see where this grill would be great for pinini's, guess I will inbest in a small GF, under $18 and a pinnini is nearly $100.

[mraa]

I know this thead is old, but as an FYI ~ Wal-mart now sells GE-brand panini presses for $25.

[eatsOats]

Does a GF get hot enough? The small one I have doesn't seem like it'd work that great.

[college_cook]

I don't know about the small one, but I know the larger models work great. I think the small one is supposed to get hot enough to cook a chicken breast, but whether it actually does or not is not something I know. If it does get that hot, then it is certainly hot enough to make a panini.

[ncage1974]

A cheap panini maker is one of the best appliances i think have have bought. I use it at least a couple of times a week. I have used in the past the george foreman type grill and cast iron pans. To me there is nothing that produces results like a panini maker. Here is the unit i got:
Amazon.com: Breadman TR456 Panini Maker: Home & Garden

If you look at the reviews you can tell that people really like it. Its large, has a lot of heft to the lid so it produces nice results. You can get this unit for under $40 shipped. I absolutly love it. I would have like to have some of the features on the cuisinart gridler like removable plates so you can put them in the dishwasher but for over $100...i don't think so.

Ncage