338776 Tue Oct 31 19:44:10 -0800 2006 21 41 Cookware 0 1986358 I will soon be shopping for a wedding present and the bride really wants a panini press. Any owners out there? Do you love yours? Any tips on what to look for? Would a press with interchangeable plates be a good idea? Particular brands, etc. Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks! Tue Oct 31 19:44:10 -0800 2006 13103 Foodrat 1 1986394 I'm very happy with my Cuisinart. It has interchangeable plates - ridged and smooth, which I think is a great idea. If you want an old fashioned grilled cheese sandwich you'd use the smooth plates; an Italian-style grilled panini - the ridged plates. I haven't used it for anything other than sandwiches (it does a great job), but it also opens flat, for use as a griddle. Tue Oct 31 19:51:32 -0800 2006 1986358 48352 FlavoursGal 2 1987399 I second the recommendation of the Cuisinart Griddler. I use mine not only for panani, but also for grilling kabobs, portabellos, etc. After switching to the smooth griddle plates, I use it to make pancakes. The only drawback is that the system for draining grease leaves a bit to be desired. That should be a problem only if you intend to cook bacon, hamburgers, etc. on it. For all the other applications mentioned, it works great. http://cuisinart.com/catalog/product.php?product_id=295&item_id=397&cat_id=22 Wed Nov 01 01:20:37 -0800 2006 1986394 26466 silverbear 3 1990067 We love our Cuisinart and use it for many things that require grilling or as a sandwich press, etc. It is washable in the dishwasher according to Cuisinart. I spray it with olive oil for veggies and butter my breads. Thu Nov 02 00:47:34 -0800 2006 1987399 12250 Bruce in SLO 4 1990180 I love the Griddler as well. I also wanted a panini press and ended up getting this is due to it being so versatile as both a grill and a griddle. I haven't really seen it on sale. Most places sell it for $129. I got mine from Bed Bath and Beyond and used a 20% off coupon. Thu Nov 02 01:38:23 -0800 2006 1990067 12311 anna 4 1990985 I wash both sets of plates in the dishwasher routinely and have never had a problem. Thu Nov 02 13:28:17 -0800 2006 1990067 26466 silverbear 5 2809360 I love my Cuisinart Griddler, too. I tried the grill for hamburgers once, but there was a bit of smoke. Better off grilling non-fatty items, I suppose. Thu Aug 02 20:01:42 -0700 2007 1990985 113375 salutlemonde 1 1986403 I love, love, love mine, but it's not an electrical model. It's from the Mario Batali cookware line. Extremely heavy, extremely good quality. Gets a lot of use as a grill pan, not just a panini press. Tue Oct 31 19:52:48 -0800 2006 1986358 10846 themis 2 2808633 Hi, Themis I am thinking about getting the Batali because it is so much cheaper than the Le Creuset. The reviews were mixed, but I tend to believe that it should work fine, provided it is used properly. For example, I read a reviews which recommended to simply heat the grill pan with the press on it so that they would both get sufficiently hot. Would you recommend this as well or what other suggestion do you have (the users who were critical said it was hard/slow to get the press hot enough on a burner to sear the top. I would appreciate your input. Thanks claire de lune Thu Aug 02 15:35:54 -0700 2007 1986403 108444 claire de lune 1 1986786 I have a Krups. Very basic, ridged grill. I tried a chicken breast on it one time, but the clean-up was a pain. I'll use the panini press for sandwiches and my iron skillet for chicken! Tue Oct 31 21:40:08 -0800 2006 1986358 13201 Seattle Rose 1 1987221 Beleive it or not, The George Forman grills do the exact same thing as the fancy pannini grills. It won't look as pretty but you can do more with it than just sandwiches too. Cleans up well. Tue Oct 31 23:56:43 -0800 2006 1986358 15774 MSK 2 2859573 I was about to offer the same. It might not do as a wedding present, but the Foreman makes a great pannini press. Hell, I stuck a book under it to level the thing out and made eggs on it this morning. Sun Aug 19 10:30:25 -0700 2007 1987221 113582 GilloD 1 1987682 Panini press? If she wants it... Me? Two cast iron skillets do the trick for panini and cuban sandwiches. Personally, I would adore two well seasoned cast iron skillets over a panini press. Call me cwazy! Wed Nov 01 03:57:00 -0800 2006 1986358 49665 Wanda Fuca 2 1988916 That's what I do ... and it means one less piece of equipment in my kitchen. Wed Nov 01 18:50:30 -0800 2006 1987682 10985 MMRuth 3 2858458 Yes, I used two cast iron skillets to make panini sandwiches for my houseguests, last week, and they raved....over the sandwiches and over the method. I also use a brick which I salvaged from the walk in my backyard. It's been well-scrubbed and wrapped in layers of heavy-duty foil. It works great for one sandwich, whereas I made four with the double skillet method. Sat Aug 18 17:39:52 -0700 2007 1988916 93384 cookingschool 1 1988912 I have n older Villaware model that has a large surface area, very handy when working with odd size breads. A floating hinge is a must as well as some sort of drip catcher. The only thing that would make my unit better is removable dishwasher safe plates. Wed Nov 01 18:49:42 -0800 2006 1986358 10784 Scrapironchef 1 1988945 Ours is a Villaware with removable plates. It also came with plates for Belgian waffles and quesadillas. Wed Nov 01 18:59:06 -0800 2006 1986358 12335 cheryl_h 1 1990075 So get her one. I heard Batali's is really nice. Thu Nov 02 00:50:05 -0800 2006 1986358 23583 EclecticEater 1 2809310 I have Wolfgang Pucks, and love it. I read allot of the consumer feedback AFTER I purchased it which is totally backward. I got lucky, so it's good you're doing the research ahead. I love it, however since I purchased mine his newer model has interchangeable plates, grill and one for pancakes when opened up all the way. That's good if you wanted to use it for more than pressing sandwiches. I can order the plates if I want, but as others posted they come with now. The hinge should be flexible, so that the top rests on the sandwich and it is flat without squishing it. And my panini press is pretty large, so you can get a couple to three sandwiches on it. Reading consumer concerns, I read about the drip issue, that the little tray that catches grease, if you were cooking bacon, there were some people that had problems with getting grease behind the press. I've not experienced that, it works really well, get really hot fast.Takes awhile to cool down. I paid a little over $80 and purchased through HSN? (I think) with free shipping that day. I like this way to purchase, it is no hassle to ship the thing right back if there are problems just box it up, and reship it get a credit or, new item. I do enjoy the sandwiches, all of them. I cook bacon sometimes, sausages, and grilled a few chicken breasts once or twice but not what I normally use the press for. Great in the summer for sandwiches when you don't want to hang out over the stove or bbq. We ate every kind of panini the first month I had it. Take large tortillas and fill with all sorts of veggies and meats fold up all around and press, sandwiches, quesadillas. Spray the grill with Pam, and make stuffed monte Kristos like sandwiches on thick bread. Heats up fast, and it cooks very quick, top and bottom heat the food evenly. This one is heavy, well that's the whole idea anyway. I am sure the presses are all pretty much the same now. Thu Aug 02 19:38:41 -0700 2007 1986358 50431 chef chicklet 1 2810868 My husband wanted a panini maker for our wedding registry. I thought why - it'll just collect dust - was I wrong. We love making all kinds of Paninis - our's is a Breadman Panini Press - nothing fancy but gets the job done.... We've been married 3 years and no problems Fri Aug 03 10:19:11 -0700 2007 1986358 101709 dmfnole 1 2858997 Hmmm. Sounds like something that'll wind up on the dusty closet shelf next to the electric pasta maker and the bread machine real quick. If you're making these things often, it's so much easier to use a frying pan over low heat. Toast one side, flip, press with whatever you've got handy, and there you go. And if you're not making them often, why have a single-purpose machine around? Sun Aug 19 02:40:15 -0700 2007 1986358 25310 Chuckles the Clone 2 2859567 Maybe the case for some. Mine has paid for itself, and its a lot easier to clean, wipe it or pop the plates in the dw. I have a cast iron griddle, I have used that too, pressing with another pan, that slides off and really doesn;t work all that well, least the way I make sandwiches. The little grids are PITA to clean when they get gunked up with cheese and It also doesn't heat from the bottom and the top, as the press does. If you haven't yet already, maybe borrow a friend's and try it, you might see the value. One man's trash, another's treasure. Sun Aug 19 10:27:17 -0700 2007 2858997 50431 chef chicklet