# The 6 Best Panini Presses on Amazon in 2026 > Best panini presses on Amazon in 2026: a press that also grills and griddles, adjustable-temperature presses, a simple locking-lid press and a compact one. Guide: https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/ · Updated 2026-10-12 · By TwelveTabs · Search it live: https://twelvetabs.com/?q=panini%20press&guide=best-panini-presses As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. Our picks are independently researched, written by TwelveTabs AI and never sponsored. Prices and ratings change often: see the guide for today's. ## The top picks - **One machine that presses, grills and griddles:** Cuisinart Griddler FIVE. A press whose listing names adjustable heat from 175 to 450°F, a sear function, an LCD and removable, reversible plates, so it also works as a grill or a griddle. - **A simple first press with a floating lid:** Hamilton Beach Panini Press with Locking Lid. A press with a floating lid that evenly presses any size sandwich, nonstick top and bottom grids, a ready light, and a lid that locks in place above the food. - **A temperature knob in a compact press:** IMUSA Stainless Steel Panini Press. A compact press with a temperature setting knob, power and ready lights, adjustable height settings with a locking clip, and cast aluminum plates for even heat. - **Tall, loaded sandwiches:** Breville Panini Duo. A press whose top plate moves through a range of heights above the bottom plate, with a floating hinge that keeps pressure even on every sandwich size. - **A small counter and a sandwich for two:** Chefman Compact 2-Slice Panini Press. A compact press with a floating hinge for thick or thin sandwiches, a closed surface sized for two sandwiches, and a lid that opens 180 degrees to lie flat. - **Setting each plate's heat on its own:** Breville Sear and Press Grill. A press with electronic temperature control on each plate, Panini, Burger and Sear presets, and reversible ceramic plates that open flat to a 240 square inch surface. Our top pick is the **[Cuisinart Griddler FIVE](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-1)**. We read the 97 different Amazon listings that came up for "panini press", compared 12 contenders on their own pages and kept six. This one suits the most kitchens: its listing names adjustable heat from 175°F to 450°F and plates that lift out and flip, so one machine presses a sandwich, grills a burger or works as a griddle. Then one press for each other job. For a simple first press, the **[Hamilton Beach Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-2)**. For a compact press with a temperature knob, the **[IMUSA Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-3)**. For tall sandwiches, the **[Breville Panini Duo](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-4)** has an adjustable top plate. For the smallest counter, the **[Chefman Compact Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-5)**. To set each plate's heat on its own, the **[Breville Sear and Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-6)**. ## How to choose a panini press A panini press has two heated plates that close over a sandwich, so the bread browns and the filling melts. Food Network says the grooves in the plates leave the grill marks, and that some presses also open flat to work as an indoor grill. A few small ones seal two slices into a pocket. Food Network says pocket sandwich makers could be a class of their own, and we left them out. Four things matter most. - **Heat control.** The recipe writers Bon Appétit quotes say a press with temperature controls is a much better option than one with a preset heat, and one suggests a press that reaches 400°F to 450°F. Serious Eats found that presses with only on and off ran two ways: slower cooking on some, and bread that burned before the middle was hot on others. The [Cuisinart Griddler FIVE](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-1), the [IMUSA Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-3) and the [Breville Sear and Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-6) let you set the heat. The other three picks do not. - **A floating hinge.** One of the writers Bon Appétit quotes calls it a must: the top plate rises to the height of the sandwich, so thick sandwiches and breads do not get squashed. Serious Eats lists a floating-hinge lid among its must-haves. The [Breville Panini Duo](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-4) goes a step further with a top plate you set to a height. - **Plates you can clean.** Serious Eats found that plates you can remove and soak make cleanup easy. The writers Bon Appétit quotes suggest removable plates and a drip tray, since melted cheese spills into the grooves. Grooved plates give grill marks and drain grease, while a smooth side suits pancakes. The [Cuisinart Griddler FIVE](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-1) and the [Breville Sear and Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-6) list plates that come out and flip. - **Size and storage.** Bon Appétit quotes a recipe writer who says a larger family should look for a press that makes more than one sandwich at a time. Serious Eats called the biggest press in its test a hassle to put away. The listings for the [Hamilton Beach Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-2), the [Breville Panini Duo](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-4) and the [IMUSA Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-3) each name upright storage or a locking clip. ## Our picks in detail ### 1. Cuisinart Griddler FIVE: best for one machine that presses, grills and griddles **Why it made the list** - Its listing says it works as a contact grill, a panini press, a full grill, a full griddle, and half grill and half griddle. - Heat adjusts from 175°F to 450°F, with a sear function, and an LCD shows the function, temperature and timer. - The plates are removable and reversible, the listing calls them dishwasher-safe, and a scraping tool is included. **Drawbacks** - It is bigger than a basic press, with a listed depth of 13 inches and width of 12.4 inches, so it needs real counter space. - Bon Appétit notes that when the timer ends the machine beeps but keeps cooking instead of switching off. **Watch for this:** Amazon's results for "panini press" held nine Cuisinart presses, griddlers and sandwich grills, among them an Elite, a Deluxe, a Compact and a Smoke-Less model. Check that the listing you open says FIVE. **Skip it if** you only make the odd grilled cheese. The [Hamilton Beach Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-2) does that with less to store. ### 2. Hamilton Beach Panini Press with Locking Lid: best simple first press **Why it made the list** - Its floating lid is described as pressing a sandwich of any size evenly. - The nonstick top and bottom grids brown both sides, so there is no flipping, and a green light shows when the press is ready. - The lid locks in place above the food for open-face sandwiches, and the listing says the press stores upright. **Drawbacks** - It has one heat setting and no temperature control, and no on/off switch, so you unplug it to turn it off. **Watch for this:** Amazon groups this press with two other Hamilton Beach presses on one product page, including one with ceramic plates. Check that the title says Locking Lid. **Skip it if** you want to set the heat yourself. The [IMUSA Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-3) has a knob. ### 3. IMUSA Stainless Steel Panini Press: best temperature knob in a compact press **Why it made the list** - Its listing names a temperature setting knob, plus power and ready lights. - It has adjustable height settings with a locking storage clip, and rubber feet to keep it from sliding. - The plates are cast aluminum for even heat, and the listing names French toast and pancakes as uses beside sandwiches. **Drawbacks** - The listing gives its size as 11 by 6.5 inches, and a tall sandwich such as a Cuban or Reuben is a tight fit. - In the listing text we read, no drip tray is named, so fatty food means more cleanup. That is our inference from the listing. **Skip it if** you often feed more than two or three people. The [Cuisinart Griddler FIVE](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-1) has far more room. ### 4. Breville Panini Duo: best for tall sandwiches **Why it made the list** - The top plate can be set to a range of positions above the bottom plate, and a floating hinge keeps pressure even on all sandwich sizes. - The plates are flat and nonstick, and the listing names egg sandwiches and grilled cheese among the uses. - A storage clip and a rear foot let it stand upright, and the cord wraps into the base. **Drawbacks** - Serious Eats' table lists it with no adjustable heat, and notes slightly longer cook times without it. - The listing gives 14.09 inches deep, 12.6 inches wide and 8 pounds, so it is one of the larger basic presses. **Watch for this:** Breville also makes the [Breville Sear and Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-6), a different press with temperature control. This listing is the BSG520XL. **Skip it if** you want grill marks from ridged plates. Its plates are flat. ### 5. Chefman Compact 2-Slice Panini Press: best for a small counter **Why it made the list** - A floating hinge adjusts for thick or thin sandwiches. - The closed cooking surface is 5.5 by 8.75 inches, sized for two sandwiches, and it opens 180 degrees to lie flat at 10 by 8.75 inches for burgers or vegetables. - Tilted, skid-resistant feet let grease run to the back, and a removable drip tray is listed. **Drawbacks** - It has one setting and no temperature dial. - A family meal means several rounds, because the closed surface fits two sandwiches. That is our inference from the listed size. **Watch for this:** Chefman sells this compact press and a larger digital 5-in-1 press under near-identical titles, in the same variation group. This pick's model number is RJ02-180. **Skip it if** you cook for more than two. The [Breville Sear and Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-6) is the other end of the size range. ### 6. Breville Sear and Press Grill: best for setting each plate's heat **Why it made the list** - It has electronic temperature control on each plate, so the top and bottom can run at different heat. - One-touch presets cover Panini, Burger and Sear, and it opens flat to a 240 square inch grilling surface. - The ceramic plates reverse between grill and griddle sides and pop out for the dishwasher. **Drawbacks** - At 15 pounds it is the heaviest press in this guide, and its listed depth is 14.76 inches. - Serious Eats found its panini preset got the plates hot enough to lightly smoke, and saw no gain over setting the temperature by hand. **Watch for this:** Waffle plates fit it, but they are sold separately. **Skip it if** you only need to toast sandwiches. The [Hamilton Beach Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-2) does that and stores in a cabinet. ## What we left out, and why We read 112 result cards for "panini press". 12 were sponsored, and we skipped them. The other 100 were 97 different listings. We narrowed them to 12 contenders, read each press's own Amazon page, and kept six. Six were left out: - **Hamilton Beach Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker.** A breakfast sandwich maker with egg cooker rings, not a press. - **George Foreman GR10B Mini Grill & Panini Press.** A small contact grill that leads with fat-draining grill plates. Our [indoor grills guide](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-indoor-cooking-grills/) covers that kind of press. - **Proctor Silex Panini Press.** A third press with no temperature dial, doing the same job as the [Hamilton Beach Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-2) and the [Chefman Compact Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-5). - **Chefman 5-in-1 Digital Panini Press.** The same job as the [Cuisinart Griddler FIVE](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-1). - **Elite Gourmet EPN-2976.** Its page is grouped with two other listings, and some text shown with it describes a toaster, so we could not tie that text to this press. - **Cuisinart Sandwich Grill WM-SW2N1NAS.** Its listing describes raised ridges that seal the edges of the bread, closer to a pocket sandwich maker than a press. Others were never contenders: 19 commercial presses, a few waffle-iron combos, and stovetop presses and cast-iron weights. Presses that are grills first, such as a T-fal OptiGrill or a George Foreman 4-serving grill, belong to our indoor grills guide. A search for a Wirecutter panini press guide found none, so there is no Wirecutter pick in the comparison table. ## Questions people ask ### What is the difference between a panini press and an indoor grill? A panini press has two heated plates that close over the sandwich. Food Network says many presses can also open flat to work as an indoor grill, so the two overlap. If you mostly cook meat, see our [indoor grills guide](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-indoor-cooking-grills/). ### Is adjustable temperature worth it? The recipe writers Bon Appétit quotes say it is worth having, because a fixed heat can burn the crust before the cheese melts. A press with one setting still toasts a simple sandwich, and the [Hamilton Beach Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-2) is built that way. ### Can a panini press cook more than sandwiches? Yes. Serious Eats says it would use one for weeknight chicken cutlets, quesadillas and vegetables such as asparagus, and warns that nonstick plates should not be heated too high. Pick one that opens flat if you want a grill or griddle, as the [Chefman Compact Panini Press](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-5) and the [Cuisinart Griddler FIVE](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-panini-presses/#pick-1) do. ### How did TwelveTabs choose these panini presses? TwelveTabs, our AI shopping agent, compared Amazon's results for "panini press", read the pages of 12 contenders and named six picks, as of October 12, 2026. We checked the advice against Serious Eats, Bon Appétit and Food Network. AI wrote this guide from that research. To see what it picks today, run the search yourself with the button on this page. ## How we researched On October 12, 2026 we read Amazon's results for “panini press”: 112 result cards, 100 of them organic listings. AI compared them, read the Amazon pages of 12 contenders and named six picks. AI wrote this guide from that research. Listings change: we read them on October 12, 2026, and a press, finish or seller may differ today. Only twelve presses had their pages read, so presses from smaller brands that Amazon lists with a short history are not represented. ### Sources - [Serious Eats: The 5 Best Panini Presses of 2026](https://www.seriouseats.com/best-panini-presses-7972514) - [Bon Appétit: The Best Panini Presses for Crunchy Grilled Sandwiches](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-panini-presses) - [Food Network: Best Panini Presses of 2026](https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/shopping/product-reviews/best-panini-presses)