Sandwiches have been around for centuries and have become the easiest meal for everyone. To illustrate, you can simply add your desired filling between two bread slices, put them in the sandwich maker, and your meal will be ready. However, when it comes down to making the sandwiches, sandwich maker vs. Panini press is the most common comparison. So, let’s see how using these units will impact the sandwich-making process!
Sandwich Maker vs. Panini Press
Sandwich Maker
The sandwich maker is one of the simplest kitchen appliances out there and is a perfect choice for people who want to warm up the sandwich or toast them lightly. This is because all you’ve to do is to put the sandwich on the sandwich maker’s bottom plate, close the lid, and wait for the light to come on. In fact, many people add a bit of vegetable oil or olive oil to the sandwich maker’s plates to make sure the sandwiches are delicious and crispy.
The sandwich makers add brown stripes to the sandwiches, and you can easily put in the regular bread slices in this appliance. The best thing about sandwich makers is that you don’t need to select the temperature (yes, it does it automatically), and when the sandwiches are ready, the LED indicator on the appliance turns on. There are many other sandwich-making appliances available on the market, but regular sandwich makers make perfectly toasted sandwiches within a few minutes.
The only downside of a sandwich maker is that it’s smaller, which means you cannot make tiered sandwiches, but it’s enough to make a ham sandwich or cheese sandwich. All in all, a sandwich maker can be used to make regular sandwiches since it works quickly and is easier to use, even if you are a beginner. On top of everything, you don’t need to be worried about burning the bread slices because it automatically turns on the LED indicator when the slices are toasted.
There are hardly any buttons on the sandwich maker, which makes it convenient to use, and the lid locks in place as long as the sandwich consists of two bread slices only. Also, the plates are smaller, which means the bigger slices will spill out of the plates. All in all, it has a one-size-fits-all approach, so you don’t need to be worried about temperature control or adjustment.
Panini Press
To illustrate, a Panini press can be defined as a small weighted grill, which helps grill the bread slices, which means there will be amazing brown grill lines on the surface of the slices. The best thing about a Panini press is its versatility because it can be used for toasting sandwiches as well as fruits, fish, meat, and vegetables. In simpler words, it’s quite easy to experiment with a variety of recipes if you have a Panini press.
The Panini press is a great choice for people who want to make thick sandwiches (yes, the sandwiches with multiple layers and fillings). For instance, you can use over three to four ingredients to make the sandwiches but be careful because overstuffing is not recommended. To illustrate, you can easily add two layers of cheese, grilled chicken pieces, avocado slices, and other veggies to make sure the sandwiches taste amazing and are easier to grill.
The Panini press is designed with adjustable plates, which means you can adjust the top plate of the press if the sandwich is too thick. In fact, it’s recommended that you opt for thicker bread slices when you want to make sandwiches with a Panini press, such as Italian bread varieties including ciabatta and focaccia. Keep in mind that a Panini press cannot be used to toast the bread slices lightly as it’s designed to grill the slices to perfection.
On the other hand, you must remember that sandwiches take longer to prepare if you opt for a Panini press as the grilling period is higher. In addition, you have to customize the grill’s temperature to ensure the slices aren’t burnt. These presses are larger in size, which makes them enough to handle big and thick slices of bread (yes, the lid will close properly). It’s recommended that you keep the temperature setting low to make sure the grill lines are created without burning the slices.