Best Grill Presses
The super versatile grill press sure got a bum rap when manufacturers decided to market it as the perfect appliance for making paninis. Because for those who don’t eat grilled sandwiches every day, they figured it would become one more non-essential kitchen gadget they’d never use. But truth is, they’ve actually missed out on all the other great features this multi-functional grill offers. Such as frying bacon and eggs at the same time, grilling meats, vegetables, and yes, making great paninis, grilled cheese sandwiches, pancakes, and more. So, if you’re starting to re-think the role this handy appliance can play in your family’s daily meal prep, then you’re going to appreciate our top list. We’ve based our selection on features, power, ease of use, and of course, range of price points.
Our Favorite Electric Grills Presses
Chefman Electric Grill Press 3-in-1 Design: For Those Who Want a Multi-functional Grill that Won’t Break the Bank
Overview:
Type: Electric
Material: Stainless-steel
Wattage: 1000-watts
Total Cook Surface: 87 square inches
Warranty: 1 year
If you love the idea of taking your sandwich-making skills up a notch, this Chefman electric grill press is just the ticket. Not only does it feature an impressive 1000-watts of power for quick yet thorough cooking of everything from sandwiches to burgers, chicken, veggies, and more, it has many of the same bells and whistles found on pricier models. Such as a floating hinge that delivers two major benefits. First, you can open the grill-lid 180-degrees up-and-out so that it lays flat and you essentially double the cooking surface. So, you can grill burgers, steaks or hot dogs on one side and toast your buns or veggies on the other side. The second benefit to this type of lid is that it can accommodate any food thickness. Whether a simple grilled cheese, a loaded-up panini, or an extra-thick steak, the top grill plate will always come down flat across the food’s surface to ensure full, even cooking from both top and bottom. And because it features a gentle slop to the back, grease drains away from your foods, and into a removable drip tray. A non-stick finish on the plates makes clean-ups as easy as just wiping them down.
Pros:
- 1,000 watts of power
- Floating hinge adjusts to accommodate thicker foods
- Lid opens up to double cooking surface
- Non-stick grill plates for easy clean-up
- Tilted base drains grease away from food
Cons:
- Does not disassemble for dishwasher cleaning
If you’re looking for a multi-functional grill-press, that delivers great value for a small price, then look no further.
Chef Buddy Electric Press Grill: For Those Who Want a Healthier Way to Grill
Overview:
Type: Electric
Material: Brushed stainless-steel
Wattage: 1400-watts
Total Cook Surface: 60 square inches
Warranty: 30-days
Whether you’re cooking for a group, your family, or just for yourself and you want to grill a little extra so you can enjoy it at a future meal, you’ll appreciate the larger cook surface of this Chef Buddy electric grill press. A full 60-square inches of cook space gives you room for everything from a couple of large sandwiches, to 4 burgers, steaks, or several shish-kebabs. And with 1400-watts of power, you know your foods are going to be ready faster, cooked thoroughly, and tasting like they just came off an outdoor grill. For those who love a good steak, juicy burger, or crispy bacon, but need to watch their fat intake, this unit features a grease channeling system that draws fats away from your foods and directs them into a removable cup at the side of the appliance. Not only does this ensure foods don’t sit in oils and fats during the cooking process, it eliminates any greasy residue on your grill-plate surface. Better still, the plates on this grill press feature a non-stick coating that not only prevents foods from sticking, but makes clean up as quick and easy as a simple wipe-down with a wet cloth.
Pros:
- Grease channel draws fat away from cooking foods
- Large, 6”x10” cook surface
- 1,400 watts of power
- Non-stick grill plates for easy clean-up
- Ergonomic handle keeps fingers away from heat
Cons:
- Not dishwasher-safe
- Lid doesn’t lift back for additional grill space
If you’re looking for a powerful, quality grill-press that cooks quickly and thoroughly while channeling away grease and fats, you’ll want to check this one out.
George Foreman Electric Grill Press: For Those Who Love When Clean-Ups are Easy
Overview:
Type: Electric
Material: Plastic shell, ceramic-coated grill plates
Wattage: 1000-watts
Total Cook Surface: 72 square inches
Warranty: 3-years
You really can’t review the electric grill press without including the granddaddy of them all – the George Foreman grill. Now, you may think that because this is one of the original designs, other brands will have come out with bigger, better models, that cook faster and offer more options; but you’d be wrong. In fact, this unit delivers a number of features that you won’t see in many of today’s contenders. Let’s start with the substantial 72-square inch grill surface and 1-inch hinge that allow it to handle everything from thick steaks to sandwiches, to burgers, and more. And because it has a rather serious (patented) forward angle, all fats drain off the grill and into a generously sized drip tray. The brand even claims it removes up to 42% of fat from foods. When you’re finished cooking, simply unhook it, empty, and rinse. Now the grill plates are special for two reasons. Firstly, they have a premium ceramic coating that ensures foods don’t stick. But perhaps the most impressive reason is that the plates disassemble from the unit and can be popped into the dishwasher for washing. And that’s not something you see on all electric grill-press appliances.
Pros:
- Large, 72-square inch cook surface
- Generous 1-inch hinge for thicker foods
- Patented forward angle drains fat from foods
- Non-stick premium ceramic grill coating
- Grill plates are removable and dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Lid doesn’t lift back for additional grill space
If you’re looking for a top-quality grill-press from a brand name you can trust, this dishwasher-safe unit with extra-large cook surface, is definitely a contender.
Cuisinart 5-in-1 Electric Grill Press with Adjustable Temperature Controls: For Those Who Want to Multi-Task at the Grill
Overview:
Type: Electric
Material: Stainless-steel shell, non-stick plates
Wattage: 1500-watts
Total Cook Surface: 200 square inches
Warranty: 3-years
When the chef in you just has to take control, this Cuisinart electric press is the griller you’ve been looking for. Not only does it deliver a whopping 1500-watts of power for quick, even cooking, it has adjustable temperature controls so you can cook-to-order your burgers, steaks, sandwiches, and more. Now, here’s where it really expands on its repertoire. It comes with plates that are ridged on one side and flat on the other – you just turn it over to change your cooking technique. Channel fat and oils away when cooking meats on the non-stick ridged grill, or flip it to use as a griddle that’s ideal for pancakes, fried, eggs, and more. And while you may think that’s versatile, it gets better because a floating hinge allows the lid to open flat, so you double your cook surface. The selector knob makes it easy to choose either the grill or griddle function, while adjustable temperature controls regulate heat for each plate. Even a red/green indicator light helps take the guesswork out of cooking up your favorite foods by letting you know when the unit has reached the ideal temperature. Best of all, the plates are removable and dishwasher safe.
Pros:
- Floating hinge doubles cook surface
- Dual-sided plates for grilling or griddling
- Adjustable temperature control
- Plates are removable and dishwasher-safe
- Impressive 3-year warranty
Cons:
- Outer surface becomes extremely hot when in use
If you’re in search of a top-quality, multi-function grill press that comes with temperature controls and super easy clean-ups, look no further.
KRUPS Precision Electric Grill Press: For Those Who Love Grilling Made Easy
Overview:
Type: Electric
Material: Stainless-steel shell, die-cast aluminum plates
Wattage: 1800-watts
Total Cook Surface: 93 square inches
Warranty: 2-years
For those who love the tasted of grilled foods, but don’t know how to begin deciding on cook times or temperatures, help is here. The KRUPS precision electric grill press features a rather impressive 1800-watts of power and offers 6 pre-programmed settings to grill your steaks, chicken, veggies, burgers, and more – just the way you like them. Simply choose the applicable cook mode from the unit’s one-touch panel, then select your ideal level of doneness – from rare all the way up to well-done. Hit start. When the grill plate reaches the ideal temperature, an alert lets you know its time to load on the food. And because KRUG’s patented sensor technology is integrated into the grilling plates, it detects food thickness and automatically adjusts the cook time so you’re never putting food back on the grill to cook further. You just can’t go wrong. Better still, you can over-ride the programming to customize foods to your personal tastes. I’m impressed that it can even cook foods straight from the freezer – no waiting around while the steaks thaw. Now that’s, a time-saver. And so is clean-up, because this unit disassembles so you can toss the plates into your dishwasher.
Pros:
- 6 pre-programmed grill settings
- Automatic sensor technology adjusts cook times based on thickness
- Plates are removable and dishwasher-safe
- Adjustable temperature control
- Plates are removable and dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Doesn’t open flat for expanded cook surface
If you’re in search of a top-quality, multi-function grill press that comes with temperature controls and super easy clean-ups, look no further.
A Few Extra Tips on What to Look for When Shopping for an Electric Grill Press
Consider what you will be grilling most frequently, and how often you will use it. If you’re looking for something specifically designed for grilling cheese sandwiches, or paninis, you can find an inexpensive contact press that will do an excellent job. It will be less powerful than the multi-purpose grill press, but will certainly meet your needs. If you plan to use your grill press frequently – such as several times a week – go for a top-quality brand that is built for durability. And for those who want to expand on their grilling skills by trying out different foods, always look for a unit with a floating hinge or at least a hinge designed to accommodate thicker foods. This type of hinge allows the lid to lift up and come down flat onto your foods as they cook – important for any type of meat that requires full, even heat.
The other benefit to this type of hinge, is that it allows the unit to open flat and literally doubles your grilling surface. Many units with this feature also come with multiple plate surfaces so you can choose between grilling or griddling. And if you like the idea of being able to customize your foods, you’ll want a grill press with adjustable temperature controls so you can monitor the cooking process and decrease or increase the heat based on your personal tastes. Now, if a quick and easy clean-up is important, look for removable plates that can be hand-washed or popped into a dishwasher. Not all models offer this option, and while most can just be wiped down with a damp cloth after use, disassembly and dishwasher-safe plates can be a big bonus at the end of a busy day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Ridged Plate Better at Grilling than a Flat Plate?
Whether grilling sandwiches, meats, or vegetables, most people enjoy the visual appeal of grill marks. You’ll only get this with the ridged grill plates – which are also ideal at directing fluids and grease away from your cooking food. Many models offer dual plates that allow you to swap out a ridged version for a flat, griddle plate – perfect for making pancakes or cooking eggs. While this feature is typically available on more expensive models, it certainly adds to the unit’s versatility.
What’s the Difference Between an Open Grill and a Contact Grill?
When talking about indoor grills, there are two types: the open grill where the top plate or cover never touches your food, and the contact grill, that presses down on foods and cooks from both above and below. The contact grill also helps compress certain foods – like panini-style sandwiches – and if a ridged plate is used, it will leave the classic “grill” mark on foods which is often very popular.
Do All Designs Drain the Fat from the Food as It’s Grilling?
The multi-functional designs will typically include a ridged grill plate to channel oil and grease away from the cooking food. Those liquids drain into a small plastic cup or tray that can then be emptied and cleaned in a dishwasher. For grill presses that are designed just for sandwiches, or that have just flat plates, a method for draining oils may not necessarily be a feature.
Is There a Minimum Wattage That I Should Be Looking For?
If you are grilling just sandwiches or paninis, don’t look at any unit under 750-watts. For a multi-function grill-press, you shouldn’t consider anything less than 1000-watts. Otherwise you’ll have to deal with a slow grill process and may not achieve the even, thorough cook temperature that’s so important when grilling meats or chicken.
Conclusion
If you love to grill, but don’t have the space or budget for an outdoor barbecue, an electric grill press is a great solution. Not only does it grill everything from steaks to burgers, and even sausages or bacon, but clean-up is significantly easier than with an outdoor unit. What’s more, you can cook year-round regardless of the weather. What great about today’s multi-functional designs is that they take on the role of a grill, a griddle, and even a panini or grilled cheese sandwich maker. They’re versatile, take up minimal space, and with the typical unit averaging 1000-watts or more, they’re powerful enough to make quick work of the thickest cuts of meat, a loaded-up sandwich, or simply a Sunday morning cook-up. And some, like the KRUPS, can even grill from frozen – so no mess and no time lost to defrosting. We chose these electric grill presses that offer significantly different features. Some are dishwasher-safe, others offer adjustable temperature controls, some have floating hinges, while others just do a great job of grilling at a price that won’t break the bank. Any one of them is a perfect investment in year-round grilling enjoyment.