Panini press and griddle are often used interchangeably, but there are certain differences. Perhaps you are wondering which one fits your cooking space or can cook what you usually will eat. The products vary in feature, size, uses, and cleaning process.
Panini makers are smaller electric grills or griddles that have a bottom and a top cooking surface. Usually, the top part is pressed down to cook sandwiches or grill any food. In comparison, griddles are flat metal single cooking surfaces. Panini presses and griddles both are useful and handy appliances. Read on to find out which one is a better fit for you!
Let’s consider the differences in device features, size, application, cooking style, and cleaning methods before making your decision. Please go through the list to weigh what panini press and griddle can offer and what they don’t.
Features of Panini Press and Griddle
Panini Press: A panini press has two parts of grills, a bottom side, and a top side. It means that you don’t have to flip your food while cooking if you press down the top grill lid. Panini presses are electric. Some presses even have floating hinges for more accessible applications. Most panini presses don’t have adjustable temperature settings. Instead, they have low, medium, and high heat settings.
Griddle: A griddle is a flat cooking surface on top of a cooking fire. It is a flat metal surface where you can bake, grill, or fry different foods. Griddles don’t have top grill presses like panini makers, so you have to flip your food.
An increasingly popular type of cookware is the electric griddle. This type of griddles uses electricity as its cooking heat source. They can be placed on tabletops for easy cooking.
They have large ridges around the cooking surface to catch greases, juices, and oils from food while it is being cooked.
Size
Panini Press: They are usually 10-13 inches in length and 7-12 inches in width. The grill tends to be 4-8 x 5-10 inches. They weigh 3-10lbs. Almost all panini presses use 220V. They are available in non-stick grills, stainless steel, plastic, and other varieties. They come in black, chrome-finished, nickel-finished, and other different colors.
Griddle: Most electric griddles use 120V and have a heating area that ranges from 18 inches to 35 inches. The non-electric ones can be from 12 inches to a whopping 72 inches. They are available on a non-stick surface. All griddles have adjustable temperature
Uses
Panini Press: As the name suggests, panini presses are used to make paninis, a type of grilled sandwich. You can make all sorts of sandwiches with this product. However, it is multifunctional.
Since it has a bottom and top grill, you can cook various types of food in it. You can prop down the top grill for usual cooking but also use both sides as flat grills when you have a large cookout.
Besides chicken and fish, you can grill vegetables and mushrooms. When you use ramekins, you can bake cakes, brownies, and even French toast. It is truly a multi-purpose device.
Griddle: You can use a griddle for cooking anything you would generally cook in a frying pan. Since they are rectangular-shaped, they have more cooking surfaces than the standard pan. Their big cooking surface makes them perfect for big families and cookouts.
Griddles are perfect for cooking breakfast foods like pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toasting buns. You can quickly cook them in large batches. They can also be used to make grilled cheese sandwiches, fry burger patties, and much more.
Cooking Style
Panini Press: You don’t need to use oil for cooking in a panini press because it can mess with cooking time and heat. You can add butter to sandwich toasts but refrain from using any grease. It has a small cooking surface that is perfect for students, casual cooking, and small dishes.
Griddle: Due to being powered by electricity, the cooking heat in electric griddles is the same on the entire surface. So, you get consistent cooking. You need to flip your food on time, so undivided attention is necessary. You need to use oil for cooking on a griddle. Its large surface makes it suitable for large families or cooking large portions.
Video Tips: How To Grill on a Flat Top
Cleaning Method
Panini Press: They need to be cleaned after each use. Use a scraper to wipe off any food scraps and cooking residue. Before cleaning, allow the surface to cool. Then, use a damp cloth to wipe the grill.
Do not use any chemicals to clean this device. Some have removable cooking plates. You can wash the cooking plates in sinks and place them back on the press.
Griddle: You need to clean it after you use it every time. This keeps the appliance in good working shape and increases its life. Scrape off all food remains and grease residues from your griddle after you finish cooking.
Wipe it with a moist cloth. Remember to wear protective gloves because the cooking surface might still be hot. Then, wipe the surface with a small amount of cooking oil. Store it for later uses.
Which One is Better?
Both appliances are handy and easy to use. It would be best if you thought about your preferences and requirements. Panini presses are an excellent option for college students. It is perfect for casual cooking like grilling chickens, and vegetables, and making amazing sandwiches.
You can make a maximum of two sandwiches at a time. So, it is useful for making snacks but not dinner for big families. However, you can use both grills at the same for large gatherings.
Meanwhile, griddles, especially non-electric ones, are suitable for large families as the cooking surface is big. Electric ones have large cooking tops as well. You can make dozens of pancakes or eggs at the same time. They take up more space to store than a panini press.
You have to flip foods in griddles for proper cooking, whereas you can press down the top cover in a panini maker. So, the griddle requires more attention to cooking.
Conclusion
Panini press and griddle are efficient appliances. The choice depends on your cooking portion and space requirements. Panini presses are smaller grills, so they don’t require much space. But you can only cook a small amount of food at a time. If you’re preparing a large amount of food almost daily, then griddles are an excellent choice for you.