are panini presses really worth it? (sandwiches)

[Miaiam]

If you use it a lot I think it is worth it, otherwise not. They are generally not so expensive, but it is one more unitasking appliance sitting on your countertop. I already have a juicer and a waffle maker as unitaskers, so I don't want any more clutter in my kitchen.

I would buy it if I had a ton of space and had panini very frequently. Otherwise, other similar appliances (electric grill) or two heavy skillets would do.
There are also those sandwich pressers (a heavy cast iron lid-like thing) that would give the panini grilling marks, but what it does is essentially what a brick would in terms of weighing down the panini.

[Fontucky]

I use my Mom's old Toas-Tite. Anyone remember those?

[nan5623]

^^ Yes, I remember those. In fact, we have one for camping.

[Fontucky]

I loves me a toas-tite sand. Mine usually consists of white bread, extra-sharp cheddar, raw onion, and some type of bacon, ham, roast beef, pepperoni, bla bla . Whatever I have. Sometimes I'll slap some chile pepper slices in there as well.

Like many of my kitchen things (including my kitchen), it's older than I am, and I'm over 55.

[calel]

Lodge makes a fairly inexpensive cast iron grill press.

I usually just smash my sandwiches down with a spatula while they cook on a skillet. Been making my grilled cheeses super pressed that way since I was kid.

[Fatty MacButter]

I too just use my Foreman grill. I have a smaller one that heats up in only 2 minutes. I usually line it with foil when I cook hamburgers and such, but for sandwiches I go "bare." When finished, I brush out the crumbs with a soft bristled brush.

[Amy996]

Thanks everyone, I think you all confirmed that I don't need a press but can use stuff already in my kitchen!

[Oerdin]

I only have a cheap one (I bought it for like $30) but I don't use it all that often so I really don't need a $200 panini press and the cheap one seems to work well enough.

[SD4020]

I use cast iron skillet and griddle for my press. I heat both. Then come cooking time I put a piece of foil on the top between the skillet and sandwich and I have heat from both sides with press action going on.

[jasper12]

I use the George Foreman. Hint on cleaning, wet down papertowels, unplug the machine, put the towels in there to steam clean, eat dinner, wipe it out...it is clean.