Hamilton Beach Panini Press Sandwich Maker
Score: 73/100
Chefman Panini Press Grill
Score: 75/100Rankings
The Chefman 4-slice panini press offers a floating hinge, 180° rotation and a removable drip tray, making it versatile for small spaces. Drawbacks include fixed plates that are hard to deep-clean and occasional uneven heating. Best suited for dorms, apartments or travelers needing a compact, multi-function grill.
Hamilton Beach's Panini Press delivers a spacious 95 sq in cooking area, floating hinged lid, and ribbed nonstick plates for fast, restaurant-style sandwiches. The six-minute preheat and lack of temperature adjustment can be a drawback for quick snacks. It's well-suited for small families wanting reliable, no-fuss grilling.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
516.13 cm² | 551.5 cm²best | |
612.9 cm²best | 551.5 cm² | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.6 kgbest | 2.88 kg |
| ↓ lower better | 360 secondsbest | — |
1,500 Wbest | 1,400 W | |
— | 4 servingsbest | |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest | |
— | 120 Vbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Cooking Surface(2) | ||
Plate Size (cm²) | 516.13 cm² | 551.5 cm² |
Cooking Surface Area (cm²) | 612.90 cm² | 551.5 cm² |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 2.60 kg | 2.88 kg |
Dimensions (HxWxD) | 12.6 x 12.3 x 4.5 in | 133 x 343 x 305 mm |
Power & Temperature(2) | ||
Power Type | Electric | 1400 |
Wattage (W) | 1500 W | 1400 W |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers and editors emphasize the grill's ability to deliver restaurant-style paninis quickly, noting the floating lid and non-flip dual plates as key conveniences, while pointing out the absence of temperature control and the shipping restrictions as drawbacks.
Everyday users consistently praise the speed, crispness, and ease of cleaning, especially appreciating the ability to make two to three sandwiches at once and the upright storage feature; the most common complaint is the six-minute preheat period and occasional build-quality inconsistencies.
Editors from Target, Best Buy, Lowe's and Chefman highlight the unit's multi-functionality, floating hinge for thick subs, sloped grease-draining design, simple one-button controls with indicator lights, and its compact footprint that fits small apartments. The main criticism from professionals is the fixed plate design, which limits versatility compared to removable-plate competitors, and occasional inconsistencies in listed dimensions and power.
Users consistently rate the grill highly, praising its quick heat-up, easy single-button operation, ability to cook four paninis at once, and reliable nonstick performance. Recurring themes include appreciation for its compact size and portability, while common complaints revolve around uneven heating, a short power cord, drip-tray overflow with fatty foods, and the difficulty of deep cleaning fixed plates.
