Quick Answer
America's Test Kitchen's panini press winner is the Breville Sear & Press Grill (about $199.95), whose ceramic nonstick plates flip between ridged and flat and browned deeply as a panini press, grill, and griddle in testing. Its Best Buy pick, the Proctor Silex 25440PS (about $29.99), made the cut for the tallest grill marks of any model tested — but ATK also flagged that it "didn't open flat or have removable plates," meaning it skips the floating hinge that the pricier picks use to handle uneven sandwich thickness (americastestkitchen.com, updated July 9, 2025). Which one you need depends on how thick you stack your sandwiches.
This is the fourteenth stop in our countertop-appliance series, after the countertop convection oven, the countertop microwave, the deep fryer, the bread maker, the waffle maker, the electric griddle, the electric skillet, the espresso machine, the pressure cooker, the coffee maker, the rice cooker, the toaster, and the stand mixer. The decoder this time isn't about brand names — it's that a panini press's most important spec, the floating hinge, is almost never mentioned on the box, yet it's the difference between a sandwich that cooks evenly and one that's burnt on one side and cold on the other.
Quick Comparison: Best Panini Presses of 2026
| Model | Plates | Floating Hinge | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Sear & Press Grill | Ceramic nonstick, ridged/flat reversible, pop out for cleaning | Yes (per ATK testing) | $199.95 |
| GreenPan Elite Multi Grill (CC006243-001) | Ceramic nonstick, ATK-tested | Yes (per ATK testing) | $299 |
| Cuisinart Griddler (GR-4N / GR-4NP1) | Ceramic nonstick, reversible | Yes — floating cover | $99.95 |
| Hamilton Beach Panini Press (25460MN / 25462MN) | PFAS-free ceramic nonstick, 10"x8" | Yes — floating top plate | $49.99 |
| Proctor Silex Panini Press (25440PS) | Ridged, tallest of any model ATK tested | No — fixed, doesn't open flat | $29.99 |
The 5 Best Panini Presses
1. Breville Sear & Press Grill — Best Overall
America's Test Kitchen's current winner (americastestkitchen.com/equipment_reviews/2743-the-best-panini-presses, updated July 9, 2025) uses ceramic nonstick plates that flip between ridged and flat configurations and pop out for cleaning. ATK found it "browned deeply" whether they used it as a panini press, an open grill, or a flat griddle — the versatility is the headline, not just the sandwich results. At $199.95, it's the priciest pick that isn't the GreenPan.
Plates: Ceramic nonstick, ridged/flat reversible, removable · Floating Hinge: Yes
Best For: Anyone who wants one appliance to replace a panini press, a grill, and a griddle
Check Breville Sear & Press Price on Amazon →
Whatever you stack between the plates, fresh bread and deli meat make or break a panini — try Amazon Fresh for grocery delivery when you're stocking up for panini night.
2. GreenPan Elite Multi Grill (CC006243-001) — Best Premium
ATK's priciest tested model swaps in GreenPan's ceramic nonstick coating, the same PFAS-free approach the brand uses across its cookware line, in a multi-grill body built for panini, grilling, and griddle duty. At $299, it costs $100 more than the Breville winner — worth it mainly if you already trust GreenPan's ceramic coatings over Breville's.
Plates: Ceramic nonstick, ATK-tested · Floating Hinge: Yes
Best For: Buyers who specifically want a PFAS-free ceramic surface from a cookware-first brand
Check GreenPan Elite Multi Grill Price →
3. Cuisinart Griddler (GR-4N / GR-4NP1) — Best Mid-Range
Also tested in ATK's lineup, the Griddler pairs its floating cover with a separate griddle mode running 200 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (per cuisinart.com), so the same base handles pancakes or bacon without opening as a panini press. The floating cover is the spec that matters most here — it lets the ceramic nonstick plates tilt to match sandwich thickness instead of pressing at a fixed angle. At $99.95, it sits squarely between the budget and premium picks.
Plates: Ceramic nonstick, reversible · Floating Hinge: Yes — floating cover
Best For: Households that want griddle mode as a second use case, not just pressed sandwiches
Check Cuisinart Griddler Price →
4. Hamilton Beach Panini Press (25460MN / 25462MN) — Best Value
Hamilton Beach's own spec sheet (hamiltonbeach.com) lists PFAS-free ceramic nonstick plates measuring 10 by 8 inches, a floating top plate, and a compact footprint of 4.8H x 11.3W x 11.4D inches. ATK tested a closely related model in the same lineup; Hamilton Beach's own list price for the current 25460MN/25462MN is $49.99 each — noticeably below the roughly $62 figure some third-party retailers list for the older 25460A, so check which exact model number you're buying.
Plates: PFAS-free ceramic nonstick, 10"x8" · Floating Hinge: Yes — floating top plate
Best For: Small kitchens that want the floating-hinge benefit without paying Breville or Cuisinart prices
Check Hamilton Beach Panini Press Price →
5. Proctor Silex Panini Press (25440PS) — Best Budget
ATK's Best Buy pick earned its spot on grill marks alone: testers called out "tall, well-spaced ridges — the tallest in the lineup" for the crispest exterior sear of any model tried. The tradeoff is real, though — ATK also noted it "didn't open flat or have removable plates," meaning there's no floating hinge to compensate for a thick sandwich. At $29.99, it's a sixth the price of the Breville winner.
Plates: Ridged, fixed, not removable · Floating Hinge: No
Best For: Thinner sandwiches on a tight budget — not stacked deli-style paninis
Check Proctor Silex Panini Press Price →
What a Floating Hinge Actually Does
A floating hinge lets the top plate of a panini press tilt and stay roughly parallel to whatever thickness of sandwich sits underneath it, rather than closing at one fixed angle regardless of what's inside. Without that flexibility, a thick sandwich gets crushed and darkly browned at the front — where the lid makes first contact — while the back barely touches the plate and stays pale and cold. The Breville, GreenPan, Cuisinart, and Hamilton Beach models in this guide all build in some version of a floating plate or floating cover; the Proctor Silex, ATK's cheapest pick, explicitly does not, which is why it's rated for thinner sandwiches rather than a stacked deli-style panini.
Why ATK's Cheapest Pick Still Made the List
It's worth being direct about the tradeoff instead of glossing over it: the Proctor Silex 25440PS earned its Best Buy rating on sear quality, not on flexibility. If your usual sandwich is two slices of bread with cheese and one filling, the lack of a floating hinge rarely shows up as a problem, because there's not much thickness variation for the plate to compensate for. The gap only becomes obvious once you start stacking meats, roasted vegetables, or extra cheese — at that point, a $30 press without a floating plate will cook unevenly in a way none of the pricier picks do.
Have Panini Presses Been Recalled?
No CPSC recalls were found for electric panini presses or sandwich grills between 2020 and 2026 (cpsc.gov and saferproducts.gov records cross-checked directly). That's worth stating plainly because it's easy to conflate with unrelated recalls in the broader "grill" category — Cuisinart's outdoor gas grill recalls in the same window, for instance, cover glass-shattering lids and grill-brush bristles on propane grills, a completely different product and hazard from the countertop electric presses in this guide.
How to Choose (4 Steps)
1. Check for a floating hinge or floating plate before anything else. It's rarely a headline spec on the packaging, but it's the single biggest factor in whether a thick sandwich cooks evenly.
2. Decide if you want griddle or open-grill versatility. The Breville and Cuisinart double as flat griddles or open grills; a dedicated press like the Proctor Silex only presses.
3. Match plate size to your bread, not just your budget. Hamilton Beach's 10x8-inch plates fit standard sandwich bread; wider ciabatta or deli rolls may want the larger Breville or GreenPan surface.
4. Don't assume thin means budget-only. The Proctor Silex is a legitimate pick if you mostly make thinner sandwiches — the floating hinge only matters once thickness varies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best panini press in 2026?
America's Test Kitchen's overall winner is the Breville Sear & Press Grill (about $199.95), whose ceramic nonstick plates flip between ridged and flat and pop out for cleaning, and which "browned deeply" as a panini press, grill, and griddle (americastestkitchen.com/equipment_reviews/2743-the-best-panini-presses, updated July 9, 2025).
What is a floating hinge and why does it matter?
A floating hinge lets the top plate tilt and stay parallel to whatever thickness of sandwich you put underneath it. Without one, the lid closes at a fixed angle, pressing hard on the front of the sandwich while barely touching the back — the practical result is a panini that's crushed and browned on one side and pale and cold on the other.
Is ATK's cheapest panini press pick actually good?
It's rated Best Buy, but with a real tradeoff. ATK's testers praised the Proctor Silex Panini Press (25440PS, about $29.99) for the tallest, best-spaced ridges of any model tested, but noted it "didn't open flat or have removable plates" — meaning it lacks the floating hinge and plate flexibility of the pricier picks. It's a fine budget choice for thinner sandwiches, not a direct substitute for the Breville or Cuisinart.
Does a panini press need a griddle mode?
Not necessarily, but it adds flexibility. Cuisinart's Griddler GR-4N, for example, runs a separate griddle mode from 200 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (per cuisinart.com), letting the same appliance handle pancakes or bacon instead of only pressed sandwiches — useful if counter space is limited to one appliance.
Have panini presses been recalled?
No CPSC recalls were found for electric panini presses or sandwich grills between 2020 and 2026 (cpsc.gov and saferproducts.gov records cross-checked). This is distinct from unrelated Cuisinart outdoor gas grill recalls in the same period, which cover a completely different product category and mechanism.
Can I use a panini press as a regular grill or griddle?
Several models are built for exactly that. ATK's winner, the Breville Sear & Press Grill, and the Cuisinart Griddler both ship with reversible or swappable plates so the same base doubles as an open grill or flat griddle, not just a closed panini press — worth checking if you want one appliance instead of three.
The Bottom Line
Buy the Breville Sear & Press Grill at $199.95 if you want ATK's top-tested versatility across panini, grill, and griddle modes. Buy the GreenPan Elite Multi Grill at $299 if a PFAS-free ceramic surface from a cookware-first brand matters more to you than price. Buy the Cuisinart Griddler at $99.95 for the best balance of floating-hinge flexibility and a genuinely useful griddle mode. Buy the Hamilton Beach 25460MN/25462MN at $49.99 for the floating-hinge benefit at the lowest realistic price. And buy the Proctor Silex 25440PS at $29.99 only if your sandwiches are thin enough that the missing floating hinge won't show up on the plate.
