Hamilton Beach Panini Press Sandwich Maker & Electric Indoor Grill with Locking Lid, Opens 180 Degrees for any Thickness for Quesadillas, Burgers & More, Nonstick 8" x 10" Grids, Red (25462Z)

I bought this for my husband because he had been wanting a panini grill. I looked at the fancier, bigger, higher priced grills, but went with this one because it has a history of good reviews. Perhaps when he proves he is responsible with this one, I will get him an upgrade :)This one is nice because there arent a lot of settings to worry about and try to remember what settings to use for what. Just turn it on, watch for the light, and then you're ready to throw your sandwich on there. He always uses thick sourdough bread and is happy with the way his sandwiches turn out. I told him to butter the grill, not the bread, and so now his results are much better.The non stick grill surfaces are nice and easy to clean. Even if a little cheese oozes out, it wipes right off with a paper towel. Nothing sticks to the surface at all.It is the perfect size for two nice sandwiches (on large bread), but yet not too big and bulky to have to worry about where to store it and it is not so big that it is cumbersome to move around and clean, etc.A lot of the other lower priced models that I looked at did not have the floating lid. This one does have the hinged floating lid so you can get thick sandwiches in there and the lid will lay flat and evenly on top.Aside from sandwiches, it is nice for burgers and steaks too. Nice to have something like this when it is too cold to go outside and run the big propane grill. We eat NY Strip and Porterhouse steaks a lot, so this little grill is really nice to get us through the winter months and not miss out on the beefy goodness. This sears them perfectly and we are able to get them done to our liking of "medium well." Boneless split chicken breasts/tenders work out wonderfully as well.It feels very well made, especially for the price and we are both happy with it. I am happy to have found such a good model at such a good price and he is happy that it works so well and is easy to use. It is the perfect combination of price, performance and value. It is not lacking any necessary features and the build quality is perfect.

Fantastic and Easy! Excellent cooking surface, versatile for many different uses, excellent heat up, clearly visible indicator lights, removable plates for easy clean up.

This Hamilton Beach Panini Press is amazing! It heats up quickly and grills sandwiches and wraps to perfection with a nice, crispy finish. The non-stick surface makes cleaning super easy, and the floating lid ensures even grilling every time. It’s compact yet spacious enough to fit multiple items at once. Whether you’re making a classic grilled cheese or a loaded wrap, this press does the job effortlessly. Super cool product—highly recommend!

Not high end but gets job done. Didn’t have to get out pan and turn on oven.

Best panini press ever.Makes great sandwiches, frozen hash brown, frozen Mortzella stickEasy to cleanNon stick plates are wonderfulDurable2nd machineAmazing value for moneyStorage capacity is very minimalPlate removable is not possibleMakes great taste food

Works great! All you have to do is plug it in and it heats up right away. Cooks evenly on both sides. Easy to clean. Non-stick although I sprayed top and bottom with non-stick spray before I placed my sandwich on it. I love the lock down feature. Just twist the knob and it compresses your sandwich so you're not just standing there trying to hold it down. I assembled additional sandwiches while waiting. Flipped each sandwich once or twice(I made them thick). The red is such a pretty color. I'd buy this again!

I just purchased the Hamilton Beach Panini Press because I wanted to warm paninis and sandwiches, but I quickly discovered that this press does much more—it can also cook steak and other foods.One of the standout features of this panini press is its floating hinged lid, which evenly presses sandwiches of various thicknesses without crushing them. The dual nonstick grill plates (totaling 95 square inches) cook food evenly on both sides, reducing meal prep time to 10 minutes or less—perfect for busy schedules.While it excels at making paninis, this 2-in-1 grill is also great for grilling burgers, steaks, chicken, vegetables, and even fruit. The nonstick surface ensures food cooks evenly without sticking, and the slide-out drip tray helps collect grease for a cleaner cooking experience.Cleanup is hassle-free, thanks to the durable, nonstick ceramic plates that wipe clean with ease. Plus, the included spatula/scraper makes removing food residue effortless. The dishwasher-safe drip tray helps keep your countertops mess-free.Designed with convenience in mind, this panini press features a lid latch that keeps it securely closed for upright or flat storage, making it an excellent choice for small kitchens.My only cons are the non-detachable grill plates and the lack of a button or temperature control, but overall, it's great for grilled sandwiches and quick home-cooked meals.

It's perfect for a reason. I would evaluate the griller on the below scales:1. Size: Fit 2 sandwiches or a half loaf in one go making things quicker2. Quality: Nonstick and requires very little oil. The outer material is also very sturdy3. Efficiency: Top and bottom heating and quick heating time4. Price Point: Got it in sale but the above benefits make it an excellent value for money in the category5. Cleanliness: Easy to clean