A little bit of foodie resides in every one of us. It is good, though. But a truly passionate foodie wants every bit of his bite perfect. Not to mention, he looks for the best equipment to get his favorite food just the way he likes it.
When thinking of making a Panini, Panini Press is the first choice for anyone. Somebody can only bring the perfect crust, accurate texture, and mouthwatering smoky taste with an authentic Panini press.
Some people want to have an excellent homemade Panini but wish to avoid a Panini press’s hassle. For them, a grill pan set is a solution.
Can’t decide if you want authenticity in a tiresome way or compromise the toil’s taste? Here we have the pros and cons of both the machines just for your better judgment. But first, let’s dig into the food for a little bit.
From the Sandwich to Panini
Panini is authentic Italian food. The basic idea of Panini is a mix of various fillings pressed by two pieces of well-crust bread. This is where it differs from any regular sandwich. Unlike a regular sandwich, Panini requires a brownish crunchy surface. Thus, various Panini makers enter.
Although being Italian food, this pressed sandwich, got more popular worldwide, especially in the USA. It was considered a perfect meal in between office hours, not too heavy, neither too light. An American invented even the first machine to make Panini.
Is there a difference?
People often get confused between a Panini press and a regular grill. People also use these two names, interchangeably. The basic design of the two is the same.
But other than that, these two are different, and they differ in many ways. For instance, the mechanisms of the two are different. The outcome, Panini, varies too.
To know more about the differences between these two cookers, let’s start with the two’s fundamental ideas: the features and how they work.
The Authentic One
The Panini press is the authentic Panini maker. There is no denial in it. The machine was custom-made for this purpose. This is another issue that people can use for making various other dishes too.
This cooker’s primary design is made of two rigid plates, one on the top and the other on the bottom. These two plates are used to put pressure on the sandwich and press them together to make Panini.
The heat sources of the two machines make the main difference. In this cooker, the heat source is inside. It runs on electricity. You can even preheat the plates if you want. And the plates are specialized to make the perfectly lined up array of grilled marks that you love on your Panini.
The Easy One
If you want to go easy on with your Panini, you can always choose a grill pan set. A Panini grill has the same two plates as the previous one, only this time the whole set is lighter. You can carry them anywhere easily.
But the basic difference between the two is in the mechanism. The previous cooker needs electricity to run. On the other hand, you just put your sandwich in a grill pan set and put it on an outside heat source. It can be a stove or even a barbecue or campfire.
You might not get satisfactory grilled marks on your Panini from this source because it clearly cannot press enough like the previous cooker. But this is perfect for any outdoor Panini party for being this hassle-free.
Pros and Cons
Now you have a fair amount of idea about what you are dealing with here. You know how the two machines work. You know the environments they demand better service. Then it is time to discuss the pros and cons point by point.
Pros of Panini press
The first and foremost pro is that this cooker gives you authentic Panini. The model was initially designed for making Panini only. No other grill can beat the smoky flavor and burn marks on your Panini as you get in this machine.
This machine can fit many sandwiches at a time. The plates are considerably larger than grill pan sets, which can save you valuable time. When at an indoor party, you can easily cook in this machine and roam around with your friends.
The plates used in this machine are comparatively heavier. These sorts of plates ensure that your Panini is well-pressed. And a well-pressed Panini means better taste.
Pros of Grill Pan Set
This is the easiest option. When you make Panini in a grill pan set, you simply put the sandwich in between the plates and throw it on a stove or grill set. The rest is taken care of by the heat source you provide.
The whole set is very lightweight. You can carry it anywhere you want. You can put the pan set with your dishes as well. This is the most trouble-free option you can get in hand.
The Panini grill pan set is very easy to clean. You can wash them just like other dishes you have. The grill pan set is comparatively cheaper. You can get the set at a reasonable price in any nearby departmental store.
Cons of Panini Press
It is way too heavy. You cannot carry it anywhere, and the device is fit for indoor use only. Moreover, it takes electricity to run. So you cannot make it work if there is no source of electricity.
There is not much way to exert excess oil or grease from the sandwich elsewhere as it is stuck inside the cooker: this can make the sandwich greasy. This might tell upon your health.
The cooker is not easy to clean. It takes a lot of effort to keep maintain this machine. On top of that, this is not a cheap device. The price can be too high. The cherry on top is the electricity bill you pay.
Cons of Grill Pan Set
The pan set is comparatively smaller in size. You cannot cook more than two sandwiches at a time in this cooker. It takes comparatively more time than the other.
The basic need of a Panini, the grilled marks might be absent here. It is not as heavy as the previous cooker. It cannot provide the pressure it takes to get those burnt marks. This also compromises the taste of the Panini.
A real Panini press can take up to a lot of filling for the extra space it got inside the cooker. This feature is absent in the grill pan set. It takes more effort to cook efficiently.
Heat control is harder in this machine. The machine works depending on the heat source from outside. You cannot control the heat inside the cooker; you have to control heating outside the main device, which can be a bit troublesome.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing if you want an electric Panini press or grill pan set, it depends on how you want to use it. If you are more of an outdoor person and plan on going camping and cooking Panini on a campfire or barbecue, then a grill pan set would be perfect for you.
The Panini press is for the person who wants to be able to fire up a Panini sandwich at home quickly, efficiently, without having to do much thinking. It is for the perfectionist. If you want nice little lines of grill marks on your Panini with a smoky flavor, this is your best choice.