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Everyone loves a delicious grilled sandwich, right? And grilled vegetables? They’re certainly some of our favourite foods. But going out to a restaurant for the best panini isn’t always an option, and roasting vegetables on the BBQ isn’t the most efficient thing to do. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to make your favourite grilled foods from the comfort of your countertop?
Well, with a panini press, you can! These small countertop appliances have a hinged lid and durable grill plates on top and bottom so you can roast vegetables, make delicious panini sandwiches, and even cook meat. They’re incredibly user-friendly, usually have adjustable temperatures, and are typically a breeze to clean. Don’t they sound great?
If a panini press sounds like the next best countertop appliance for your kitchen, but you’re not sure what to look for, we’re here to help. Panini presses will vary in things like price, slice capacity, overall size, temperature control, and more. To make the best choice, you’ll need to think about each and every feature.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best panini presses in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Pick: Breville BSG600BSS The Perfect Press Sandwich Maker/Panini Press
Versatile Pick: Cuisinart CGR-4NEC 5-in-1 Griddler
Upgrade Pick: All-Clad PG715851 Electric Indoor Grill
Canadian Pick: Starfrit The Rock Panini Press
Budget Pick: Chefman RJ02-180-4-R Panini Press Grill and Gourmet Sandwich Maker
We are big fans of the Breville BSG600BSS The Perfect Press Sandwich Maker/Panini Press. It’s the ideal sandwich companion for so many reasons, and we’re going to tell you about all of them. The lid design alone has a lot to offer — an adjustable height with the hinge design and tension knobs guarantee you can achieve a light toasting without crushing your ingredients. You can also press at your leisure to create a nice flat sandwich if that’s your preference.
This panini press is also incredibly easy to keep clean, thanks to the removable non-stick plates and wide surface curves — your leftover food bits won’t be able to hide anywhere. We also really appreciate how easy this one is to store. It has a storage clip to lock the plates together and a rear foot for upright storage. Plus, it’s super compact. What a winner.
We want you to be aware of a few shortcomings before you make a final decision. This panini press doesn’t have an adjustable temperature, so it won’t be as versatile for other food types or different toasting speeds for your sandwiches. Also, with only a two-slice capacity, you’ll have to spend some extra time with the panini maker if you’re making more than two sandwiches for the family.
All in all, the Breville BSG600BSS The Perfect Press Sandwich Maker/Panini Press offers the best collection of features for sandwich lovers. It isn’t the most versatile, but if you only want a panini press for paninis, this is the ideal choice. The price is right, too!
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a high opinion of the Breville BSG600BSS The Perfect Press Sandwich Maker/Panini Press. With a simple on/off switch, the panini press is really easy to use for newbies, and the floating lid with height control guarantees that every sandwich comes out perfectly. They don’t have any complaints when it comes to ease of cleaning either. It’s a perfect panini maker in their eyes.
Buy If…
You’ll need to store your panini press in an upright position
Easy cleaning is a priority for you
You prefer a fluffy sandwich over a flat one
You’ll make thick and thin sandwiches fairly frequently
Don’t Buy If…
You’ll need to make more than two sandwiches at a time
You want a panini press with an adjustable temperature
Food versatility is important to you
Dimensions: 12.5” x 5” x 11.5”
Weight: 7.3 lbs
Power: 1500 W
Slice Capacity: 2
Adjustable Temperature: No
Warranty: 1 year
There are lots of things to like about the Cuisinart CGR-4NEC 5-in-1 Griddler. Its main claim to fame, as you might have guessed, is its versatility. Since it offers dual temperature control and reversible plates (they have a grill side and a griddle side), you’re able to make a ton of dishes on this panini maker. Veggies, burgers, sandwiches, omelettes…the list goes on!
All of the removable components (plates and drop tray) are dishwasher safe, too, so cleanup will always be a breeze. Doesn’t that sound nice? Your machine also comes with a scraping tool so you can tackle the bigger food bits before tossing everything in your dishwasher. Longevity won’t be a concern with this one, either. It’s built to last even with daily use.
We only have a couple of minor (potential) concerns to bring up. The first is the price. While it’s priced very reasonably, it isn’t the most affordable option out there. If you’re shopping on a tight budget, you can definitely find better. Otherwise, the only issue you might have is the height — this panini press is a bit thicker than other options, so it might cause a storage problem in small kitchens.
Overall, the Cuisinart CGR-4NEC 5-in-1 Griddler is our top pick for folks who want variety in their panini maker meals as well as a great price tag. It’s super easy to keep clean, too, so it’ll always be available when you need it. Sounds like a great option, doesn’t it?
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have great things to say about the Cuisinart CGR-4NEC 5-in-1 Griddler. The reversible plates and dual temperature control allow them to make a ton of different meals with it, and they absolutely love that all of the removable parts are dishwasher safe. They use this countertop appliance way more than any other. They’d all choose it again.
Buy If…
You’d like to cook a variety of foods in your panini press
You’d love to avoid hand-cleaning your grill plates
You don’t want to worry about buying accessories separately
Longevity is a priority
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a tight budget
You’re looking for an ultra-thin panini press for ease of storage
Dimensions: 13.5” x 11.5” x 7.1”
Weight: 11.5 lbs
Power: 1500 W
Adjustable Temperature: Yes
Temperature Range: 200˚F to 425˚F
Warranty: 3 years
The All-Clad PG715851 Electric Indoor Grill is a pretty special option that we’re excited to share with you. One of its most compelling features is its automation. Not only does it have nine programs for different food items (burgers, sandwiches, poultry, etc.), but it also offers Auto Sense technology that will alter the cooking time or temperature based on the thickness of what you put in. Every dish will come out perfectly, every time, automatically.
The larger capacity of this indoor grill is also perfect for feeding families — it can hold three to four large steaks or eight burger patties at a time. People won’t have to take turns eating! Since the plates and drip tray are all dishwasher safe, you won’t have to spend much time cleaning your panini press by hand. Thank goodness.
One of the only things we see being a problem for some shoppers is the price tag on this one. It’s extremely expensive for a panini press (because it does so much beyond making paninis), and while it’s worth the extra money, it still won’t be a reasonable option for everybody. There’s also a lot going on with different programs, lights, and alerts, so if simplicity is your style, this one might be a bit much.
All in all, the All-Clad PG715851 Electric Indoor Grill is the star of the show in the world of panini presses. With amazing versatility, automatic cooking, and dishwasher-safe parts, this option is the ideal cooking platform for just about every dish.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 1/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have amazing things to say about the All-Clad PG715851 Electric Indoor Grill. The food programs and Auto-Sense technology make it incredibly easy to cook a variety of meat types without any supervision or effort on their part. They appreciate that everything can be cleaned in the dishwasher too. They’re all very impressed and recommend this one to others.
Buy If…
You would appreciate some automation in your cooking
Versatility is a high priority
Dishwasher-safe components would be nice
You’re feeding multiple people
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t want to spend a lot on a panini press
Simplicity is best for you
Dimensions: 13.5” x 17.9” x 6.8”
Weight: 16.1 lbs
Power: 1800 W
Adjustable Temperature: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
The Starfrit The Rock Panini Press offers a ton of excellent features that we think you’ll love. One of them is the non-stick reversible plate design. Not only are these plates incredibly easy to keep clean (especially because they’re removable), but they will also last forever in pristine condition. You won’t ever end up with an uneven or impossible-to-clean cooking surface.
Two other features are especially worth mentioning. The first is the hinge lid. It opens a full 180 degrees to offer a second cooking surface for grilling veggies and other foods in bulk. Isn’t that convenient? We also really love that the lid can lock in place and hover over your melt — who ever heard of a panini press that can broil? Well, now, you have!
There are two potential flaws with this one that we want you to be aware of before you pick your favourite panini press. First, although the dual-sided cooking is a great feature, you need to know that each side has to be set to the same temperature — there’s no dual control with this one. Also, the cooking capacity is a bit small if you’re using it as a panini press/contact grill.
All in all, the Starfrit The Rock Panini Press is a superb choice if you love to shop Canadian and are looking for a supremely well-rounded panini maker. It doesn’t have the largest capacity, but it’s very well-made and is highly versatile. We think it’s a real steal.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are very happy with the Starfrit The Rock Panini Press. They appreciate being able to buy Canadian at such a great price, and the quality is everything they could ask for. The lockable lid, 180-degree hinge lid, and reversible plates provide a ton of versatility for different meals. They appreciate that the plates can be removed for easier cleaning, too. The small capacity is the only concern that comes up.
Buy If…
You’d like the option of cooking on both sides
Reversible plates are a must-have
Easy cleaning is a priority for you
Open-faced melts are something you enjoy
Don’t Buy If…
You’d need to cook on each side at different temperatures
You’d like to cook for multiple people at a time
Dimensions: 10.6” x 12.4” x 6.1”
Weight: 6.8 lbs
Power: 1500 W
Adjustable Temperature: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
The Chefman RJ02-180-4-R Panini Press Grill and Gourmet Sandwich Maker is our top recommendation if you’re shopping for quality on a budget. Of course, as our budget pick, it has one of the most affordable price tags out there, but it has a lot more to offer than that. Like a hinged lid. That’s right, it opens right up to double your cooking surface. Amazing!
We’re also really happy with the four-slice capacity — that’s hard to find even at the higher price points. You can easily serve the whole family with this panini maker in one go. You can say goodbye to taking turns. This option is also surprisingly compact, so all of that cooking space can be easily stored horizontally or vertically in any cupboard of your choosing.
There are two shortcomings that we want to mention before we wrap this up. If you’re a fan of an easy and effort-free cleanup for your countertop appliances, this panini press won’t be a good option — the grill plates aren’t removable, so you’ll need to clean them carefully by hand while they’re attached to the housing. Not ideal, we know. It’s also missing variable temperature control.
All in all, the Chefman RJ02-180-4-R Panini Press Grill and Gourmet Sandwich Maker is a unicorn of a panini press. Not only is it incredibly affordable, but it has a larger cooking capacity than most other options. You won’t find anything better at this price point.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are very happy with the Chefman RJ02-180-4-R Panini Press Grill and Gourmet Sandwich Maker. Some people would prefer that the temperature be adjustable and the plates be removable, but those are the only concerns. The build quality is great, the cooking capacity is superb (and it’s still easy for them to store), and the 180-degree lid is a huge hit. They’d all choose this one again.
Buy If…
You’d like to make four sandwiches at a time
Affordability is your biggest priority
A compact panini press is ideal
You’d appreciate a panini press that can double its cooking space
Don’t Buy If…
You’re looking for a hassle-free cleanup process
Variable temperature control is something you want
Dimensions: 12” x 13.5” x 5.25”
Weight: 6.3 lbs
Power: 1000 W
Slice Capacity: 4
Adjustable Temperature: No
Warranty: 1 year
Panini presses can be priced anywhere between $60 and $500. Most people won’t need to spend more than $200 to find their perfect option, though. In general, more expensive panini presses will have a larger capacity, removable and/or reversible grill plates, adjustable temperature control, and a 180-degree lid.
Most panini presses will offer either a two-slice or four-slice capacity. Four-slice models will generally be more expensive (but not always) and can serve a family more efficiently. Two-slice models will generally be more affordable and will be easier to store.
Many panini presses offer more functionality than just toasting your sandwiches. For the most versatility, you’ll want to look for adjustable temperature control, reversible plates, and a 180-degree lid. These features will allow you to cook burgers, poultry, vegetables, sausages, and even breakfast foods like eggs or pancakes.
Some panini presses offer adjustable temperature control, but not all of them. If you plan to use your panini maker for more than just paninis, an adjustable temperature is something you should prioritize. It usually comes with a higher price tag, but it’s necessary for proper cooking.
Some panini presses are difficult to clean with non-removable plates, but those tend to only be found at the cheapest prices. Most panini makers will at least have removable plates for easier washing by hand, but many also offer dishwasher-safe plates. If you’d prefer to minimize your cleanup time, removable and dishwasher-safe plates are the way to go.
Many panini presses have reversible plates, and that means they have a ridged side and a flat side. If you want to use your panini press for grilling as well as for foods like pancakes and eggs, reversible plates are a must-have. They can be found at most price points.
The lid design on a panini press is another thing to pay attention to. They are all designed for placing the optimal amount of pressure on a sandwich to grill it well without squishing the ingredients, but some lids have special features like 180-degree hinges for extra cooking space or even a lockable hinge to hover and broil your open-faced sandwiches. You might want to look for these extra features if those functions appeal to you.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.