Chefman Electric Panini Press Grill
Score: 73/100
Gotham Steel Panini Press
Score: 68/100Rankings
The Chefman 2-slice compact panini press offers a 180° rotating hinge, dishwasher-safe non-stick plates and a removable drip tray in a lightweight design. Its main limitation is a small cooking surface that restricts batch size, and the plates are not removable for deep cleaning. Best suited for dorm-living, travelers or small households needing a portable, easy-to-use grill.
Gotham Steel's Nonstick Panini Press provides an ultra-compact form factor with TI-ceramic nonstick plates, indicator lights, and automatic shut-off for rapid two-sandwich cooking. The tiny 12 sq in surface and plasticky construction limit its usefulness for larger meals. Best suited for students or travelers who need quick, small-batch meals.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
310.5 cm²best | — | |
310.5 cm²best | 77.42 cm² | |
| ↓ lower better | 1.81 kg | 1 kgbest |
1,400 Wbest | 1,400 Wbest | |
4 servingsbest | 2 servings | |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest | |
120 Vbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Cooking Surface(1) | ||
Cooking Surface Area (cm²) | 310.5 cm² | 77.42 cm² |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 1.81 kg | 1.0 kg |
Dimensions (HxWxD) | 5.0 x 12.0 x 10.0 inches | 9.3 x 4.5 x 9.4 in |
General(1) | ||
Capacity (Servings) (servings) | 4 servings | 2 servings |
Power & Temperature(1) | ||
Power Type | 1400 | Electric |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers highlight the Chefman 3‑in‑1’s space‑saving design, rapid heating and the innovative floating hinge that adapts to sandwich thickness. They commend its versatility for both panini pressing and flat grilling while noting the lack of removable plates and advanced temperature controls as drawbacks for more demanding users.
Everyday users consistently praise the unit's compact footprint, ease of use and the convenience of the 180-degree hinge, especially for small households and on-the-go cooking. The most common complaint centers on the small cooking surface, which limits the amount of food that can be prepared in a single session.
“very convenient”
“I'm a grown ass woman, give me a real sandwich”
Professional testers highlight the panini press's TI-ceramic nonstick coating as a standout feature that prevents sticking and simplifies cleanup, while praising the dual plates for cooking two items at once and the compact, upright storage for portability. However, they note the limited cooking surface restricts it to small-portion meals and criticize the plasticky build quality.
Everyday users consistently praise the ease of use, rapid cooking time, and effortless wipe-clean nonstick surface, especially for quick kids' meals. Common complaints focus on the tiny sandwich size, inability to handle thick or large fillings, and a cheap-looking plastic construction.
