The convenience of making a sandwich is something that people look for nowadays. Bringing a sandwich to work or wherever you go is a practical way of saving money and avoiding spending $10 dollars or more for lunch. Imagine waking up rather late for an eight o’clock workday and you still need to pack lunch. Having a panini press within your reach can really shorten the process of preparing your own meal. A good panini press should disperse heat evenly through the sandwich so that the ingredients are warmed and melted as they should be. If you live a busy life and relies on tools to make your day a little bit bearable, then adding a great panini press in your kitchen area is a great idea. Here are five tips on what to consider before buying a panini press.
1. Choosing Between Single Vs. Dual
Choosing between buying a single panini press vs. a double panini press depends on several factors. First, do you live alone and you only need to feed yourself or do you have a family and children who are constantly hungry? If you’re the former, then you obviously don’t need to buy a double panini press. A single panini press is enough to get you through the week. If you live in a small apartment with limited counter space, then a single panini press is the more practical choice. Note that a double panini press is also more likely to cost more in terms of price and energy consumed.
2. Different Cooking Options
Do you need a panini press solely for preparing sandwiches? Or are you looking for a multi-function panini press? Some panini press has different cooking options such as a full griddle, full grill, half grill or contact grill. If you want an appliance that can also grill your vegetables or a thin fish, then functionality and versatility are something that you should take into consideration when looking for the best panini press in the market.
3. Adjustable Thermostat
An adjustable thermostat is a feature that is commonly available in higher end panini press models. What it does is it gives you an opportunity to cook or grill your food according to your preference. If you are preparing sandwiches, you can adjust the thermostat if the sizes are too big or too small. This will prevent you from burning your sandwich. You can grill a burger at high temperature and fish at much lower temperature.
4. Floating Hinge
Unlike a fixed hinge, a floating hinge allows you to close the grill and press tall sandwiches without making a mess. This is optional but if you have a few extra dollars to spend then go for one that has this feature. This will save you time and energy for when you have to grill large pieces of bread.
5. Cleaning
If you plan on using the panini press for most of your meals, then you have to make sure that you can clean it regularly and with ease. Any panini press that requires you to disassemble certain parts of the grill is not ideal if you live a busy life. All the crumbs and excess oil should also easily be removed from the iron using a grill brush. The body and handle should not rust easily after washing.
Disclosure: Collaborative Post
Photo Credit: Sandwich 101