Strahs Kathy - Quick and Easy Panini Press Cookbook

If you plan to use your panini press to grill meats, poultry, and other foods beyond panini, its important to choose a press with drainage features. The grill plates on many panini presses and other indoor grills are designed to drain excess fat, which can make them a healthier cooking alternative. On some models, you can adjust the plates to tilt forward to allow the fat to flow into a drip pan, while others remain flat and drain via the back of the grill.

Some no-frills panini presses do not have any drainage features at allyoull notice that the lower plate stays flat and there are no cutouts or sloped edges to allow fat to roll away. Models like these are intended mainly for grilling panini and shouldnt be used for raw meats.

Feature Comparison

Youll find panini presses on the market with features and price points to suit all needs. Here is a rundown of what you can expect to find at the basic, midrange, and premium levels of the panini press spectrum.

Basic ($20$50)

Pros: Compact size; cooks quickly; affordable

Cons: No adjustable thermostat, drainage feature, removable plates, or adjustable height control; small to medium grill surface area; may not be suitable for grilling raw meats (refer to the manufacturers instructions)

Midrange ($50$80)

Pros: May have an adjustable thermostat and drainage feature; larger grill surface area; greater grilling versatility, including raw meats

Cons: Not likely to have removable plates or adjustable height control

Premium ($80$300)

Pros: Adjustable thermostat; large grill surface area, with drainage feature; may have removable plates; may have adjustable height control; greatest grilling versatility

Cons: Requires more counter space; less portable; less affordable