Americans never fail to be amazing when it comes to the evolution of classic fast food. The panini is a sandwich that has taken the modern grilled cheese to the next level. But the origins of the panini go back farther. The sandwich is loved by all because of all the layers and elements included in it. The panini has become so popular that there are now grills dedicated to making paninis. These grills differ a bit from other grills. Read on to find out the differences between a panini grill and a standard grill.
Difference Between Grill and Panini Press
While we all know they have a few subtle visual differences, theirs is more to it than meets the eye. We’ve illustrated the significant differences between the two types of grills for your understanding. Check these out to clear out all the confusion you might have for these two types of grills.
Features
Normal Grills: Grills have evolved throughout the years, and they keep on changing. Nowadays, you will see grills with ceramic plates, which add to the overall durability. Modern grills include digital displays for timers and temperatures. The grill plates can be easily removed when it comes to cleaning. Standard grills come in all sizes, and you can either serve a small family or even a large backyard party. The newer grills usually have a feature of fast cooking that saves your time.
Panini Grills: Just like standard grills, panini grills also come in various shapes and sizes. But they all perform the same tasks more or less. There are electric panini grills and manual pressing grills. Panini grills are great for actively grilling the food. The grill plates used in the panini grills are non-stick, and the coating has excellent durability. But you do have to buy a premium option if you want the coating to last for a long time. Some models have detachable plates, while others do not. These types of grills are perfect for grilling lean meat.
Size
Normal Grills: Normal grills come in different shapes and sizes. The companies usually come up with the sizes depending on the number of servings. So some grills serve a couple of people, while others will help you throw a pool-side party. The standard size of grills ranges from 360-400 square inches. But some grills can go up to around 1200 square inches too!
Panini Grills: You can see a similar scenario with panini grills too. These kinds of grills also differ in size. But these grills are a bit smaller than standard grills. The average size of panini grills ranges from 160-200 square inches. So if you have a shortage of space and you will do fine with a panini grill, you can easily choose it.
Uses
Normal Grill: Lots of people opt for normal grills instead of stoves for their cooking. You can cook almost anything on a grill that too much faster than a regular cooktop. Food cooked in a grill tends to be healthier also, so that’s a welcome addition. Although you can cook almost anything on a grill, some dishes genuinely taste better. Those include steaks and grilled chicken. You can cook multiple servings together.
Panini Grill: If the name hasn’t given it away, panini grills can make some great paninis. It is the perfect type of machine to make sandwiches. The grooved plates of the grill are great for toasting the bread of the sandwiches just enough. Besides sandwiches, you can also cook bacon, veggies, omelets, burgers, and fish. If you can’t contain your love for sandwiches, a panini grill will be the right one.
Cooking Style
Normal Grills: Grilling might get a little tricky if you aren’t used to it. Spray the plates with a light dose of olive oil. Proceed to put in your steaks or other meat. You can even grill frozen beef on it. The cooking time varies for different types of food. So you have to keep things in check.
Panini Grills: Using a panini grill is rather simple. It would help if you preheated the grill for a few minutes. Gently brush butter onto the plates and put your sandwich in it. Grill for 7-10 minutes or less depending on what you’re grilling. It would be best if you kept a plastic spatula nearby to take the lunch out of the grill.
Cleaning Method
Normal Grill: As there are different types of grills available in the market, they have quite different cleaning methods. Some grills need to be washed with oil after use right on the grill. This applies to the grills that don’t have removable plates. Cleaning this type of grills may become a hassle. Nowadays, grills have plates that come off with a slight pull. This mechanism is included for more natural cleaning. The removable plates are also dishwasher-friendly. They are light in weight, so you don’t have to worry about dropping them.
Panini Grill: Panini grills are somewhat easier to clean than standard grills. A scraper will come in handy while cleaning this type of grill. The grills need to be treated carefully before washing. That’s because if you are a bit too harsh on them, you might rub off the non-stick coating. These types of grills need to be cooled first before cleaning. Then you can wipe off the residues with a damp cloth. If the cooking plates are removable, you can throw them into the dishwasher.
There is no right or wrong when you are choosing grills. The choice entirely depends on you, and for what purpose, you will be using the grill. If you are sure that you will be making sandwiches more often, you can easily go for the panini grill. On the other hand, if you host backyard barbecues often, you might want to consider an ordinary grill as it will offer you more variety. Panini grills are smaller in size than other grills. So if space is a top priority, go for the panini grill.
Conclusion
Modern grills have come so far, and you can cook almost anything on them nowadays. Whether it’s a regular grill or a panini grill, you can mix up your recipes and cook up something simple on the fly. So take a quick peek at the differences between normal grills and panini grills and buy the one for you!
Read More: Panini Grill Cleaning