The Best Panini Presses for Toasties (2026)
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The best panini press for most UK kitchens is the Sage Perfect Press (SSG600): 1500W, wide plates and the power to press thick sourdough or ciabatta evenly. For less money, Salter's Kuro Health Grill and Panini Maker has a floating hinge, the feature that matters most, and Breville's Café-Style Sandwich Press is a good mid-price option. Choose a panini press over a sealed toastie maker if you use artisan bread or big deli fillings.
Quick answer:
- Sage The Perfect Press (SSG600): best overall
- Breville Café-Style Sandwich Press: best mid-price
- Salter Kuro Health Grill and Panini Maker: best budget, opens flat
- Sage The BBQ & Press Grill (SGR700BSS): best premium with removable plates
- Cuisinart Griddle & Grill: best multi-use griddle
- George Foreman removable-plate grill: best for grilling and pressing
- Breville 3-in-1 (VST098): best if you also want sealed toasties
On this page
Panini press vs toastie maker
A sealed toastie maker cuts and crimps sliced bread into closed pockets. A panini press (or contact grill) has two large flat or ridged plates that press down on a whole sandwich and toast both sides at once, without cutting or sealing. That means it takes any bread, any size and any thickness, from a baguette to a stuffed focaccia, and it gives the crisp, flattened finish of a café panini. The catch is that loose or runny fillings can escape. Our toastie maker vs panini press comparison goes into detail.
What to look for
Floating hinge
The single most important feature. A floating (or adjustable) hinge lets the top plate rise and stay level on a thick sandwich, so it presses evenly from front to back. A fixed hinge tilts the top plate, crushing the back of a tall sandwich while barely touching the front. Some presses also let you lock the top plate at a set height so it toasts without squashing.
Flat or ridged plates
Ridged plates give classic panini stripes, drain fat from meat and give a crisp, slightly chewy finish. Flat plates brown the whole surface, which is better for a toastie-like golden crust and for cooking eggs or pancakes. Some models have reversible or swappable plates.
Power and plate area
Larger plates need more power. Around 1,500W or more keeps a big press hot between batches; smaller 700–1,000W presses are fine for one or two sandwiches.
Opens flat
Many presses open to 180 degrees, doubling as an open grill for vegetables, halloumi or bacon.
Cleaning
Removable plates are rarer on panini presses than on toastie makers, but they make a big difference. A drip tray at the front is useful for meat.
Comparison table
Price bands are typical UK prices, not live prices.
| Model | Hinge | Plates | Power (listed) | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sage SSG600 | Check listing | Fixed, wide | 1500W | £100–£160 |
| Breville Café-Style Sandwich Press | Check listing | Fixed | Check listing | £25–£40 |
| Salter Kuro Health Grill and Panini | Floating, opens flat | Fixed | 750W | £20–£35 |
| Sage SGR700BSS | Check listing | Removable, dishwasher-safe | 1800W | £150–£200 |
| Cuisinart Griddle & Grill | Opens flat | Removable, reversible | Check listing | £70–£110 |
| George Foreman removable-plate grills | Varies | Removable on many | Varies | £35–£90 |
| Breville VST098 | Height-adjustable lid | Removable panini, sandwich and waffle plates | About 820–900W | £30–£50 |
The best panini presses
Sage The Perfect Press (SSG600)
The Perfect Press is built for exactly this job. Its 1500W element heats wide plates with a PFOA-free non-stick coating, with the power to toast thick sandwiches right through. The large plate area takes two big sandwiches comfortably, and the power means it stays hot when you load the next batch. The plates are fixed, so cleaning is a wipe-down, and the price is high. See our Sage toastie maker guide.
- Powerful and fast
- Wide plates
- Handles thick artisan bread
- Expensive
- Fixed plates
Breville Café-Style Sandwich Press
Breville's Café-Style Sandwich Press is a simple, compact press designed to take thicker café-style sandwiches, at a modest price that is frequently discounted. Check the current listing for hinge and plate details. It is the sensible upgrade from a toastie maker if you want to press baguettes, ciabatta and wraps but do not want to spend Sage money. The plate area is smaller than the Sage, so it suits one or two sandwiches at a time. More on the brand in our Breville toastie maker guide.
- Café-style pressing
- Good value
- Smaller plates
- Fixed plates
Salter Kuro Health Grill and Panini Maker
Salter's Kuro grill is listed at 750W with a floating hinge that adjusts to different thicknesses, and it folds out flat to become an open grill. It is a capable, inexpensive panini press for occasional use. At 750W it takes longer than the Sage and suits smaller sandwiches; do not expect it to keep up with back-to-back batches. See Salter toastie makers.
- Floating hinge at a low price
- Opens flat
- 750W, slower
- Smaller plates
Sage The BBQ & Press Grill (SGR700BSS)
Sage's bigger grill adds what the Perfect Press lacks: removable, dishwasher-safe plates, plus presets including panini. Listed at 1800W, it handles meat as well as sandwiches. Some retailers list it as discontinued, so availability varies; check you are buying new stock.
- Removable, dishwasher-safe plates
- Very powerful
- Presets
- Expensive
- Availability varies
Cuisinart Griddle & Grill
Cuisinart's Griddle & Grill is a contact grill with reversible, removable plates (ridged on one side, flat on the other) that works as a panini press, a closed grill or, opened flat, a griddle for pancakes and eggs. It is a good choice if you want one appliance for sandwiches, breakfast and grilling. Check the current UK listing for exact specifications. See our Cuisinart toastie maker guide.
- Reversible flat/ridged plates
- Opens flat as a griddle
- Removable plates
- Bulky
- Mid-to-high price
George Foreman removable-plate grill
George Foreman grills are designed for meat, with sloped plates that drain fat, but they press sandwiches well too. Several models in the range have removable plates. Their hinges and plate sizes vary widely, so for thick sandwiches choose a model with an adjustable or floating hinge. Model codes change often; check the UK listing. Our toastie maker vs health grill page explains the trade-offs, and George Foreman toastie makers covers the range.
- Grills meat too
- Removable plates on many models
- Sloped plates can let fillings slide
- Models vary
Breville 3-in-1 Ultimate Snack Maker (VST098)
If you want both sealed toasties and occasional paninis, a 3-in-1 with panini plates is the compromise. The VST098 has a height-adjustable lid and removable panini plates, plus deep fill sandwich plates and waffle plates. Its plate area is much smaller than a dedicated press, so it suits standard bread and modest paninis. See best 3-in-1 toastie makers.
- Sealed toasties and paninis in one
- Dishwasher-safe plates
- Small panini area
- Not for big artisan loaves
How we chose
We do not run lab tests. We compared hinge design (floating or adjustable hinges preferred where listed), plate size and type, listed power, cleaning features, owner feedback on evenness and reliability, and UK availability at the time of writing.
Getting great results from a panini press
- Choose sturdy bread. Ciabatta, sourdough, focaccia and baguette hold up to pressing. Soft sliced bread compresses to almost nothing. See best bread for toasties.
- Brush the outside with oil or butter for an even golden crust.
- Press gently. Let the weight of the lid do the work; forcing it squeezes out the filling.
- Layer for grip. Put cheese next to the bread on both sides so it glues the sandwich together as it melts.
- Timing: roughly four to six minutes for a thick panini at full power; thinner sandwiches are quicker. See how long to cook a toastie.
Recipes that shine in a press include the Cuban toastie, Reuben and caprese.
Who should buy a toastie maker instead
A panini press is not automatically an upgrade. A sealed toastie maker is the better buy if you mostly use supermarket sliced bread, like wet fillings such as beans or tinned spaghetti, or want the molten, sealed-in centre of a classic British toastie. It is also cheaper and smaller. Our best deep fill toastie makers are the place to start, or see the main best toastie maker guide.
FAQs
Can a panini press make a proper toastie?
It makes a pressed, toasted sandwich, but not a sealed toastie, because there is no cutting edge to crimp the bread. Cheese toasties work well; very wet fillings like beans will leak. For sealed toasties, use a dedicated toastie maker from our best toastie maker guide.
Is a health grill the same as a panini press?
They are very similar contact grills. Health grills usually have sloped, ridged plates to drain fat from meat; panini presses usually have level plates and floating hinges for sandwiches. Many machines are sold as both.
Do I need to preheat a panini press?
Yes. Preheat until the ready light shows, usually a few minutes. A cold start gives pale, soggy bread and uneven melting.
How do I clean a panini press with fixed plates?
Unplug it, let it cool until just warm, then wipe with a damp cloth or a non-scratch sponge. For ridged plates, a soft brush or a folded damp paper towel pressed between the ridges lifts residue. Never immerse the base in water.
Can I cook other food in a panini press?
Yes. Most contact grills handle halloumi, burgers, chicken breasts, vegetables and bacon. Flat plates suit eggs and pancakes. Clean the plates between sweet and savoury uses.